Life is Change

This is certainly the truth of life.  And today my life changes again.  For nearly 16 years I have provided day care for my grand kids while their parents worked.  It's been a wonderful experience - without regular hours.  I was available whenever I was needed, whether it be earlier than usual in the morning or later in the evening.   I have loved watching all of them grow up. It's been a learning experience.   I learned to cath Bubba and hook him up to IV meds when he came home from the hospital. I've learned to recognize the signs of a pending seizure, and what to do when it actually happened. I've learned to make "octopus hot dogs on a bed of sea weed".

We've made corn dog muffins.

We've made heart shaped pancake bites,

When they were all here in the summer, we had movie days where the lunch food coordinated with the movie we watched.  We did cotton candy on pixie sticks for "The Lorax".  They performed 'plays' for me.  They designed costumes.  

But today, a big change is happening.  Jake is starting kindergarten tomorrow.  His Mom took today off to spend the last day of summer vacation with the kids.  Yesterday, he kept hugging me (more than usual) and telling me that he's going to miss me.  When I reminded him that he will still be coming here after school, he replied, "wow, and we'll be smarter too."

To combat any sadness, I've been concentrating on the good things.  I will no longer have to watch children's programming all day long!  I will no longer have kids arguing over the Wii games!  There will be no  more battles over Minecraft games on their phones.(they are old phones that only play games).  But then again, my morning will not start off with hugs and kisses.  No one will ask me to open their drinks.  No one will help me fix lunch.  

And as I move on from what has been 'normal' for so long, I realize that Life is Change.  And I look forward to what the future holds.

Three Weeks and Counting Down

The next Mouse Family vacation is just three weeks away.  I feel like time is moving so fast, and I'm not near ready.  I've ordered some things off Amazon - a nightlight for in our room, a three-outlet surge protector with USB ports for charging our phones, new socks, a water bottle/misting fan, and eyeglass holders for Mr. Mouse's glasses when he rides coasters.  I make "touring cards" for the family.  These have our fast pass times, our meal times and confirmation numbers, and any other pertinent information.  Most of these are done, I just have a few more days to finish.  I also design and make Tip Envelopes for Mousekeeping, and they are done.

One of the things that we do is make our own shirts for the trip.  I like to design my own shirts and some for my family.  Here are some of the designs I did for this trip:

This is for our first day when we are doing the Star Wars Dessert Party

The Cheshire Cat is one of my favorite characters, and this was one of my Dad's favorite sayings.

I love Dory and sometimes I feel like I also have short term memory loss.

We always have so much fun with the Mad Hatter at 1900 Park Fare, and I'll wear this shirt to breakfast there.

The grandkids call me Fairy Grandmother because I try to make all their wishes come true!

I designed this one for my twins.

We can't really start to pack because we're still wearing our hot weather clothes.  I haven't done much sewing because I desperately need an eye exam which I have scheduled for Friday.  Have a good week.

What This Little Mouse is Up To

After finishing the Zip and Go bags in 4 fabrics, I have now decided to add to the wristlets.  So many have sold out and so I'm going to add some old and some new.  Currently, I've gotten two new Star Wars and two 101 Dalmation bags that I'm finishing up and they should be posted to the Etsy site by tomorrow afternoon.  After that, I have two Tinkerbelle and two Olaf bags that are ready to sew.  They should be posted by the end of the week.  After that, I'm planning on using some of the many new fabrics that I have purchased and not used.  Keep following - there's new items in the future.

New Items In the Mouse House

I have been really working, honest.  I got a fairly large order two weeks ago, and finished it on Tuesday night.  I had been working on some first aid roll ups. There's tissues, hand sanitizer, antibiotic ointment, hydrocortisone cream, moleskin, Advil, and Pepto Bismal tablets.  I really love how these turned out, and think they would be great to carry in your bag to the parks.

Contents of each first aid roll ups

All rolled up and tied with a bow

Items stuffed into the pockets

Last weekend we went to a local animal park with my daughter's church group.  While we were eating our picnic lunch, one of the park employees walked by.  I was attracted to the shoulder bag she was carrying, and decided that I needed to make one of them.  I found the pattern, and started working on one after I finished the large order. The shoulder strap is fully adjustable, and the bag is fully lined.  Here's what they turned out like:

They are bigger than the wristlets, but smaller than the crossbody bag.  I can't wait to do some in other Disney fabrics.  You can find them here. 

Have a great weekend!

A Very Exciting Day

I love new things.  Even if they are old to others, they can be new to me.  I  love chocolate, especially chocolate milk.  Mr. Mouse has been buying me no fat or low fat chocolate milk.  And, I also love peanut butter.  Put chocolate milk with peanut butter, and I'm in heaven.  My first year in college, I practically lived on chocolate milk and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Unfortunately, the extra 25 pounds that I went home with weren't so great!

I recently discovered that JIF, my favorite peanut butter, has a line of natural nut butters.  I love the almond butter.  I like to have a protein shake for breakfast; but unlike many others, I don't like mine thick or frozen.  Last Friday, I made my shake with chocolate milk, a large tablespoon of almond butter, and my protein powder.  OMG, it was heaven - like a chocolate covered almond in liquid form.  This morning's shake was with the chocolate milk and Jif Natural Peanut Butter (which hardly separates - a good thing).  Today, I'm excited about my new discovery.

I also love black olives - not the expensive ones at the deli counter, just the black ones in a can.  Friday, I discovered that Pearl makes Olives to Go.  Mr. Mouse found them at Walmart, and it made me so excited.  They are so good!

And now for the most exciting thing of all today.  We have a Disney trip booked for September of thi year.  And . . . . .  this morning Disney released free dining for select dates.  Our travel agent emailed me to let me know that we now have free dining for our trip.  It saved us $740, and saving money always excites me.  Have a good week.

New Items in My Life

I just love something new.  It makes me feel like Christmas.  Today I'm so excited about the fact that Spring seems to have arrived here in Western Pennsylvania.  I've been able to enjoy my back deck this week.  The fish in the pond are doing well, and we have several new babies. We bought 4 new water lilies, and I'm excited to see them bloom.  They're going into the pond today.  Mr. Mouse mowed the lawn over the weekend and the clover smelled wonderful.

We went to the Model Railroad on Thursday, and my mobility scooter died.  With my asthma and bad knees, I don't get around too well, and the scooter has provided me with freedom that I wouldn't have otherwise.  It was pretty old, so it's no crime.  Mr. Mouse and the Mousekids all advised me to get a new one.  So on Sunday, the new scooter was ordered.  It arrived today, and it's got the be the Rolls Royce of Scooters.  It has extra suspension to make for a smoother ride.  It has turn signals,a headlight and seat that adjusts like the seat in a car.  I will certainly be riding in style with this one.

And, finally, there are new water bottle holders on the etsy site.   I am a huge Star Wars fan, and had received an order for a Star Wars bottle holder.  The buyer is sending it to her grandson in Dubai.  

Have a great rest of the week.

Say Whaaat!!!

Today is April 8 - it's supposed to be spring.  My daffodils and forsythia are blooming. The lilacs have buds on them.  Signs of spring, right?  But just wait a second.  We woke up here in western Pennsylvania to snow - yep, two inches of snow.  Is Mother Nature having a bout with menopause?  If so, where are the hot flashes.  But life must go on.

Mr. Mouse is a train collector.  He has a layout in a room in the basement, and it's a work in progress.  Since these photos were taken, he has added a Boy Scout camp area and a waterfall and lake.  Next weekend is the Eastern Division Train Collector's Show in York, PA.  We always attend, and this year is no exception.  It's always a fun weekend for us - time away, no phones, just us.

This year, the show happens to fall on Tax Weekend.  This is a big plus for you.  While we're away, you are the big winners.  We are offering a 10% discount on purchases from The Frozen Mouse if you enter the coupon TaxMan16 in the box for coupon codes when you check out.  Hope this discount can ease some of your tax pain.  Have a great weekend.

April Fool's Day

I've never been a big fan of April Fool's pranks.  I think it's because of the worst prank that I ever fell for.  I was a freshman at Clarion University, and very naive.  I awoke early to make it to my 8:00 am class, and, still half asleep,  trudged to the bathroom.  These were the "olden days" when you had one bathroom per floor.  There were several stalls and showers, but you shared with every room on the floor.  I went into a stall, sat down and proceeded to tinkle.  Some sick individual had stretched plastic wrap across the toilet under the seat.  I woke up in a big hurry when I realized what was happening.  I was so angry - now I needed a shower.  Needless to say, I didn't make that class and my entire day was ruined.  I became a walking, scowling grump!

Enough of April Fool's Day.  I've been working on items for the etsy shop.  I made 4 wristlets with the polka dot Mickey heads.  They've been really popular since the Disney Fashionista featured them on her blog on March 12.  I'd never heard of the Disney Fashionista, but am now a follower of her blog.  Check out her blog and if you comment, tell her The Frozen Mouse sent you.

I also just finished 4 wristlets out of a fun, new fabric.  It's the wallpaper from The Haunted Mansion.  I love them.  

I'm going to make a couple of chemo caps for one of my daughters' friends.  Her mother will be starting chemo in the next few days, and Brittany is putting together a Chemo Survival Kit for her.  

My next project after that will be portable first aid kits.  These will be perfect for camping, sporting events, and of course, touring the Frozen Mouse's favorite parks.  Have a great weekend.

The Mouse Returns

The Frozen Mouse is coming out of hibernation!  Unlike Pennsylvania's groundhog, it takes me a little longer to emerge from my "winter sleep".  I can't believe that my last post was in September, 2015.

I've gotten a lot of new Disney fabrics.  I haven't used most of them, so I'm getting into gear.  I'm cutting back on game playing big time (it's such an addiction), and spending more time at the sewing machine.

I've starting making some cross body bags.  These are two that are currently in stock.

I have also obtained some Haunted Mansion fabric, and need to decide what to make with it.  Stop by to see the new items that are now in the store.