I remember taking this picture a couple years ago.  It was breathtaking with the bright rusts, yellows and green accents!

Well, it was so overcast, again, last night that we were unable to see the northern lights.  (Sigh!)

It's in the low to mid 40's going to mid 40's. Not much change and there is a small chance of rain this afternoon. 

Today I plan on working outside, finishing up the area in front of the driveway and maybe a bit of area by the patio.  I'm also making dinner.  I was wondering what to do with a pound of ground beef and after looking at suggestions, I decided to make a shepherd's pie.  Not a difficult preparation, nor expensive, but it will take a bit of time.

One of the things that everyone likes to make for winter are snowflakes.  All you need is paper and scissors.  I made a few small ones to add to a swag with the Scandinavian Folded Stars I made out of magazine pages.  The snowflakes didn't want to hang nicely so I decided to cover them.  You can use clear contact paper but what I used was clear packing tape on both sides and then cut out.  They really turned out nice.  Check out the photo with both stars and snowflakes.

Remember the house I began yesterday...

Well, this is what it looks like now...

I used some paper that was in a magazine to cover the house and some decorative paper for the roof.  I cut the windows, door and chimney out of cardboard.  I used a marker to color the doors and windows red and a brown marker to color the chimney.  I then added the metallic paper (remember the tea box) to the doors and windows.

The house is a bit on the dark side so I plan on adding some 'snow' when the village is complete either with paint or cotton or fabric stuffing.  

So have you started working on your house?  I hope you can make one this week.  By the way, I also found a box to add things to for the village - egg cartons, paper towel roles, a mac and cheese box, a brownie box and a couple of pieces of cardboard.  There's also some magazines, and miscellaneous odd paper, tape, scissors, glue.  Everything I need for a winter village made out of recycled items!

The shut down is over but for many of us, it will take several weeks to get back on track.  While you're in that recovery phase, I hope you can use these money saving ideas and enjoy both your every day life as well as 

the upcoming celebrations.

By the way, how are you coming with this month's challenge?  It's an easy one but one that will make you feel happier!

Enjoy the day...talk with you tomorrow...