On the Road Again...

   
         My up close & personal encounter with 

                               Bruce.... THE MOOSE!!! 

      Since my last post I have traveled from one end
         of the country to the other... well almost...
      
          Been in New York.... then Colorado....
   And Up north here in Michigan, on the weekends
                     we have been home.
 
                While in Colorado I met Bruce

                    
      We were near Buena Vista at Frontier Ranch, a Young Life camp. We were there to participate in a work week. Each night between dinner & Worship, we had about an hour... husband & son took showers & naps, so DIL & I decided to take a short drive...
   We drove to an old Ghost town nearby...
                                 St. Elmo

                                  There was absolutely no one around

And we came across Bruce....

        We followed him around town until it started to get dark... about 45 min. (we missed worship that night : )
   When we told some folks who live there, they did not believe us until we showed our proof... they said,  
    "Can't be, there are no moose near here"
    Well, we encountered the one lone Moose....
 who must have wandered his way down from Montana.... just to give us a thrill....
  
      Now I am off to a week of fancy schmancy dinners in Washington DC.... Where they say it will be HOT, HOT, HOT.... from 2 ft. of snow in Colorado.... : )

   

   

                                                                                  
                                

                                 

Old School.... New bag

                                           
                  It has been a while... a LONG while...
  My absence involves a new phone, a slick phone salesman, a new internet connection, getting the old connection back again....
   And a whole LOT of frustration along the way...

      Anyways... this past weekend, I planned & pulled off a great    
                           surprise Birthday party...

                   And for part of her gift from me, I made this....

From this

                                        Her Old Catholic school uniform skirt.
         
       A few months ago her Mom gave me a bag of wool, sweaters & clothing.  She was cleaning & pitching things & knew that I upcycle wool into mittens, purses etc. When I showed the Birthday girl the things her mom had given me, she said, "That is my old skirt from school"
     I loved the plaid & knew that I could do something fun with it.

                                                        

             
                                                                                    
      I had already gotten her a gift, I made the food, got all the prep things needed for the party & then the day before, I decided if I could quick 
          make the bag, it would be a fun gift for this occasion.
    I washed it, & ironed out the pleats & then went with the flow... not knowing how it would turn out until I was finished.... luckily I have a VERY large fabric stash & didn't need to run out for anything to finish it.
                 Took me just the morning from start to finish...

                       It was great fun when she opened it. 
                 Her family had flown in from all over &
                         they all remembered the uniform.

         I had also gotten her a rain coat from a recent trip to New York,
                          But the bag was the hit of the party.
                                  

                The party was great fun!!  Her husband asked me to do this,
                      & we pulled it off... She was surprised.... : )

(I was so busy, making sure that all was perfect, I didn't take any pics....: )
                                  

             
               Joining these Parties... Thanking these hostesses       
         - Sarah over @ Thrifty Decor chic for her Before & After Party
         - Susan over @ Between Naps on The Porch for Met Mondays
      - Pam over @ Becolorful for Motivated Monday
      - Cindy over @ Skip to My Lou for Made by you Monday    
                              
      - Stephanie over @ Under the Table & Dreaming for Sunday   
       Showcase                                           
        - Linda over @ Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays
      - Judy over @ DIY By Design for Swing into Spring