Day 31: Reflection

The photo challenge says "Reflect 2013" for Day 31. I feel sorta silly actually reflecting on 2013 since I know I should only be reflecting on 2015. But, I started looking back at photos from 2013 and couldn't help but make a collage of all the good memories I found. So much happened in 2013!!

2013:

1. I went to Hawaii with my mother to visit with my Aunt Penny!

2. Martha S. got hitched! 

3. My first niece was born. in January

4. The end of my undergrad junior year and the beginning of my senior year.

5. I met my beau!

6. I was obsessed with Thrift Shop by Macklemore

It was a really great year. 

Now, more importantly, the review of 2015....

2015 was another great year. It's difficult to admit that it's actually over. First of all, my beau's niece was born in January, a very happy time indeed. We got inches upon inches of snowfall this year, and it got SO COLD! Also, the last of the musketeers, Captain Something Fun graduated from undergraduate! This summer, all the musketeers attended our 4th annual camping trip., good times had by all! I took a trip to Georgia with my beau and his family...I miss the beautiful beaches and the waves. I also moved into my very first apartment,... how exciting! Finally, a big step in the right direction: I was accepted into the OT graduate program and began the transition year! What a great year it's been! I'm very excited for more adventures in 2016! 

                                                                                                                        -The Farmer's Daughter 

Winter Break

As some of you may know, I was given two weeks off from work while school is closed for winter break. Now that I am currently over halfway through my break, I'll fill everyone up on what I have been doing. The early part of my break consisted of doing a little last-minute Christmas shopping. On Christmas Eve, our immediate family opened gifts. On Christmas Day, my sister and brother-in-law and both of my grandmothers came over and we had a scrumptious meal. It was nice and quiet. Although a bit uneventful, I was happy to visit with everyone and see that they were doing well. A couple years back, I spent Christmas in the Emergency Room after my grandmother dislocated her shoulder (she was chasing after a grocery bag and fell down, of all things), so quiet is good! Haha! 

I haven't spent very much time at home because I have been out and about visiting with my sister and other friends nearby. I am taking advantage of being able to do whatever I want whenever I want and not having to worry about getting up early for work. That being said, I do believe that I have my days and nights mixed up now. I will have to start getting back into my normal routine soon. 

The past couple of days, I have been in a crafty mood. Last night, I helped my mom dye some eggs to give as Christmas gifts (I'm not the only one who procrastinated this year). The process is called Pysanky, which is a traditional craft in Ukraine. It's a little tedious, but fun. Pysanky involves drawing a design on an egg with beeswax, and then dipping it in the dye. The parts of the egg that are underneath the wax are protected from the dye. Once you are finished dying the egg, you melt the wax off with the heat from a candle. My mom likes to put a few coats of polyurethane over the shells to protect them and make them shiny. Once the polyurethane dries, we will be blowing the eggs out, which is something that I haven't learned yet. Below are a couple pictures from last night. 

My mom's original design: A nativity scene.

My original design: a rooster

My rooster after I had completed the dying process. 

After my mom went to bed, I decided to experiment with dying other surfaces other than eggshells. I was curious to see if the dye would stick to a seashell, so I made a Snoopy shell. The dye didn't stick well, but I still think it turned out pretty cool. 

My experimental Snoopy shell. 

 Tonight, I decided try my hand at candy making. I had bought some candy molds at Goodwill awhile back and never gotten around to using them. I made chocolate owl lollipops, and chocolate puppy prints. I also made Oreo balls, since I have been craving them ever since Granny Eyre brought them to our Halloween party. I am planning to take these treats to my sister's New Years Party tomorrow night so that we can have something to snack on. Although I don't want to share, I know how horrible I would feel if I tried to eat them all myself!

That's about all I have for now.  Hopefully, I will make a post soon about my New Years Resolutions

 (that is, if I decide to make any). I hope all is well! 

Until next time, 

Miss Ellaneous