Need I Say More...

Not Your Momma's Cookies...

So for anyone else who wants to join in the fun of keeping up the Christmas tree all year long, here is an easy and fun way to make some seasonal decorations. And if your not keeping your tree up these would even be cute hanging around the house like my sister in love did with her valentine’s hearts. (Check them out on her blog here.) It also makes a great kids project for them to paint and decorate their rooms or give as gifts.

Mix all ingredients together till dough is formed. Knead on a lightly floured surface till dough is elastic and smooth. If it’s sticky, sprinkle with some flour and continue to knead till no longer sticky. Adding too much flour will dry out the dough though so be careful.

Roll it out to about 1/4“ thick. Use cookie cutters to make shapes. I made hearts, tulips, daisies, and shamrocks.

If you plan on making your shapes so they can hang, add the hole before baking. Place on an ungreased sheet for 2 hours (remember ovens vary).

Remove and let them cool completely.

Then paint or decorated to your heart’s desire. If you plan on keeping them and using them year after year you might what to add a clear acrylic coat. (we call that schlack at my house)

Different But Not Less...

People and children with autism are different but not less, is the message of a great film currently playing on HBO. If you have HBO or Comcast OnDemand you need to check out this movie! If you don't have HBO rumors are that this movie will be coming to DVD.

Temple Grandin paints a picture of a young woman’s perseverance and determination while struggling with the isolating challenges of autism at a time where there was not much know about autism, in fact they were institutionalizing children who were diagnosed. As you watch the movie unfold you see her early diagnosis, her development during her high school years, and the loving support she received from her mother, her aunt, and her science teacher. You also see her emergence as a woman with an innate sensitivity and understanding of animal behavior.

Undaunted by education, social and professional roadblocks, Temple turned her unique talent into a behavioral tool that changed the cattle industry and laid the groundwork for her successful career as an author, lecturer and pioneering advocate for autism and autism spectrum disorder education. She is still leading the way for autism research and in the cattle industry.

One of the greatest things of this film is that it actually takes you inside her mind with a series of snapshot images that trace her self-perceptions. It offers you insight into Grandin’s world and journey from childhood through young adulthood to the beginning of her career and beyond.

Everyone should see this movie whether you know someone with autism or not. I have seen the movie 3 times now and each time I have learned something different from it. I have watch it with teachers and non teachers and we were all moved by the story of Temple Grandin and how the movie allows people insight into the mental processing of people with autistic minds. Every autistic child/person mind works slightly different but this movie allows the average person to understand how an autistic person might perceive their surroundings.


 

So Proud...

So proud to be a great party of Thirty-One Gifts! What a blessing God has given me and my family!

Johnstown Company Prospers Despite Down Economy
http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20100303/NEWS01/3030315/1002/Business-is-booming 

Sunday...

My name is Catheleen and I leave my Christmas tree up till February…

Ok so I guess I need to go back and read how to set up scheduled post! This post was set up to post to the blog on 22^nd but it never posted and then it was stuck and I couldn’t get to it! Where is the blogging instruction manual? But anyways …

Original Post:

Gosh it feels good to get that off my chest! I have always admired people who are known for something whether it is an attribute or a special thing they do. My sister is the cute smart one and my sister "in love" is the DIY / craft goddess of the south and well I’m just me. But that all is going to change. I am here to announce that I will now be know as:

That crazy lady who leaves her Christmas tree up all year long!

Yep you read that right John and I are leaving it up all year long! Yeah yeah get it all out....ok you done yet? 

How bout now? 

Good! Feel better?

So how did we come to this decision you might be asking. Well when Valentine’s Day came and left and we still had the tree up. Not just the tree up I’m talking Christmas decorations still hanging on it. We had to make a choice take it down and try to find a space for it or just leave it.

You see we are running out of room here at casa de halfmann. It’s amazing how just the two of us has enough stuff to over take this townhouse, it just keeps piling up. Anyways we talked and we both find it so relaxing to watch tv or read by the light of the Christmas Tree. So we decided to just take off all the Christmas decorations and leave the tree. Then we …well I decided hey why not just decorate it based on the season? So we are! 

 

  

(see people really do this)

  

We missed Valentines Day but I have gotten a few V-Day things on clearance for next year and I thought I would just hold off and do the same for St. Patrick’s Day. I found these at Joann Fabric today. The Valentine hearts were normally 2.99 each but they were on clearance for .89 cents so I got 2 of those. And well the shamrocks were just sooo cute that I knew  if I waited for them to go on clearance they wouldn’t be there anymore. They were on sale though, they were normally $2.99 I got them for $1.47. 

So I figured this year we would start with spring. Our tree will be a little bare but it will work for  now. I actually have some really cute ideas that I am working on for spring! Here's a little peek. Be checking back for some DIY how to's! 

 

I can’t decide what to call it though…I don’t like holiday tree, season tree is ok…but I don’t know. I want something catchy. If you have any ideas on what to call it or fun decoration tips feel free to comment. Anyways you may find it stupid, silly, or weird. And that’s A-ok with us.

We are starting our own little family craziness…I mean traditions.