Tuesday?

This is Tuesday, right? I had to keep reminding myself yesterday that it was Monday and not Sunday. I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! Our weekend started with another daytrip on the motorcycle. Another couple went with us and we mandered our way around back to Arrow Rock...with a few stops between here and there....took in a few antique shops and found a few treasures! I was actually feeling some inspiration as I walked thru some shops...finding little things to make this or that with...so maybe this week I'll get a few new things done for my Etsy shop and/or for the Mercantile. We went by the campground to visit with our friends who were there camping for the weekend then ended up back at the J. Houston Tavern for supper!

I found this in my mailbox when I got home. On our last trip to Arrow Rock, I'd picked up the little quilted runner made with Civil War reproduction prints and when I asked the quilter where she finds her fabrics, she mentioned Keepsake Quilters online! Need I say more? I'm all signed up for the Civil War Era Medley of the Month....6 FQ's per month...I can't wait to work up a project, or two or three with this!

www.keepsakequilting.com

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Sunday, we were invited down to a fish fry with John's folks... a cousin who has a little place down near the lake was cookin' up a bunch of fish! It turned out to be a really long day....I was beat by the time we got home!

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Monday, we had a family gathering with my side of the family....I didn't even try to count how many were there and I had to be reminded of who's who with some of the youngin's running around! It'd been a spell since I'd been to a gathering of such. We skip gatherings taking for granted that we can always catch the next one. Glad we made it to this one!

We had some friends and the kids down for supper and a movie.....today it's back to work. John's back in the truck and I've got two gowns in the closet to be altered for the Miss Missouri Pageant that's on my list of things to do today. So guess I'd better get busy so I can get on with some fun work a bit later!!

Have a GREAT day!!

Thursday Ramblin'.....

I can get used to this not setting the alarm thing! Another 8:00 morning for me! For years I'd get up at the crack of dawn to get the day started....even during those years that I would stay up til the wee hours to work while it was quiet...I'm finding now that the older I get the more I like to sleep in! Since I spent yesterday afternoon scrapbooking (after shopping/errands w/Mom), today I needed to work....I needed to set out my garden! My bil got the garden spot tilled early this morning so after my coffee and computer time, I headed out to get started..... tomatoe, zucchini, cucumber, canteloupe and okra plants. I also got a handful of beans to plant....for Briar. I like green beans but after my childhood years of planting, weeding, stemming and snapping them, I'm good with just buying them in the can at the local grocery store! But Briar says that he will do all that and my sister Denni says she likes to stem and snap... so if they do that, I'll cook them! I still would like to get some herbs.....I did get a couple of lavendar plants but I put them out front in one of my flower boxes!

Not only did I get that done, but I also fired up the weedeater and the riding mower to take care of some areas the guys haven't been getting!

I thought I'd share this little pic with you today.... I was headed in or out of the house when I noticed Miss Belle...my outdoor mouser cat...all curled up in this unused flower pot! Even though she's really no bigger than a minute, I don't know how she gets herself all curled up to fit in places like that! Her's a good kitty....she likes to leave me little pressies on the walk every once in awhile.... like she's earning her keep! A funny cat.... she follows me just like Lucy, my lab follows me....if I walk to the mailbox, she follows.....if I take a walk thru the woods, she follows....if I'm in the house, she can usually be found sitting near the door.


So what's going on in your world this week? Do you have plans for the holiday weekend? John will be home (passing thru) for the weekend....we hope to take another little daytrip Saturday. My family has a gathering planned for Monday that we may go to. Other than that...we'll probably just take it easy here at the house. Whatever you do...have fun and be safe!!

Another busy weekend...

...but I think it's slowing down now! Since we missed the bike trip to Iowa, we took a little daytrip on the motorcycle on Saturday. We met up with friends in Boonville to make our way back to the little historic village of Arrow Rock. But before we met them, we stopped by Leeanne's (John's sister) to drop off a little graduation pressie to our niece Christian, who was also graduating high school on Sunday.
We met up with Ronnie and Bridget and meandered our way to Arrow Rock. A neat little historic town....I'd been there before, once on a class trip years ago with Briar then a few years ago when I took my folks and a friend over there but most of the town was closed up that day so we didn't get to visit but maybe one shop. We went and set up their camp first then hit the town. John and Ronnie opted for the local tavern/restraunt while Bridget and I checked out a few of the shops. Be sure to stop in and say hi to Chef Lizzie and have a glass of her wonderful homemade Sangria! She also bottles and sells her own salad dressings. I picked up a bottle of her Pesto Parmesan Peppercorn dressing which I'm very anxious to try! http://www.lettucelizzie.com/

John, Bridget and Ronnie at "the bar". Such a neat place......

These are my treasures from "Lot 2 on the Public Square"...a little shop with a nice mix of antiques, collectibles, MO products and more! This little runner was made by, I'm assuming, the owner. Her signature tag on the back...."Crosses and Losses"...A Civil War quilt pattern constructed with reproduction fabrics. Arrow Rock - 2008....J. Smith.

And a little soy candle.... Giddy-Up Soy Candles made in Westphalia, MO. Red-velvet cake scent...Mmmm......

We're hoping to make another little trip down soon and take a little more time to look around!

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Well....we're done! The long awaited day of graduation finally came! Briar is now graduated! And would you believe that I got just a little teary-eyed at the beginning but I didn't bawl my eyes out as everyone expected!! Rather than having a speaker, they opted for a class-slide show...each student had taken a few photos and someone had put them into a slide show with music....SO neat...they had done this for the Vo-Tech awards program too.

We had a little family gathering at the house afterwards....I had his scrapbook out along with a picture board....to look back over the last 18 years! Where has the time gone? If you have little ones....enjoy every moment because the time passes all too quickly! The music programs, school dances, class trips, halloween costumes and parties.....take in and enjoy every moment that you can!

We are SO PROUD of you Briar! Congratulations!

Wednesday...

Looks to be a cloudy day here in my little corner of the world and it's the first day in several that I'm not having to rush to get something done to get out the door. Not that I don't have things to do and errands to run, it's just today I can go on a little slower speed than I have been. Whew!

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I thought I'd share a couple of photo's taken last Saturday at Mom's party. The first is of a very special lady, Madonna and her husband, Sam Waldrip...I've known her all my life! If you are of the doll world, you may know her name or recognize her as Madonna's Dolls (Madonna Hardy Inlow). She's retired now for several years but she used to make porcelain dolls...many of which were of country music artists.

http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=madonnawaldrip

The next is of her daughter Elaine and myself.....oh my gosh I just about cried when I saw her come in because I had not seen her in probably 20 years! Sad thing is, I found out she lives not far from my sister that lives in Columbia! Why do we let ourselves lose touch with such special people? It was so good to see her again! And I'm not going to let another 20 years get by before we see each other again!>

Sam and Madonna Waldrip

Cindy and Elaine

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I hear thunder out there!

A good day to get to stay indoors! Hopefully, by the time I need to go into town it will be done with!

My list of things to do today consists of finishing the sleeves on a jacket, replacing a zipper on pair of shorts and laundry, of course!

I found a cute little apron pattern yesterday and I picked up a couple cuts of fabric (two on left...the coffee print I picked up some time ago at HL & will most likely become and apron for myself) so I hope to start a couple of projects with that! I just love our new little quilt shop!

I have several other little projects started that need finished.....a doll, bear, garden stitchery...and who knows what else!

Briar decided just the other night that he wants to have a bbq here at the house rather than going out to dinner after graduation on Sunday but I've got that taken care of....yesterday was shopping day with Mom so I got everything needed then so I wouldn't have to fight the last minute shoppers at the weekend!

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Okay, I'm off this thing to get busy....I'm letting the day get by me! I hope you have a wonderful day!!!

Weekend Ramblin'.....& we have a winner!!!

WOW! What a weekend!

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Last Thursday we went to Briar's Vo-Tech Awards Ceremony....he finished as a completer w/distinction in the collision repair department.

And just one more week before graduation!

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Friday, it was girls day out! Let's see...my mil, sil, niece, sil's Mom, our neighbor friend and myself, we all loaded up and went to Amish country! We made the rounds...the general stores, the grocery store then the greenhouse! Mom and Rita got hanging baskets and I got a couple flats of flowers I needed for Saturday. By that time the van was FULL, so I put off getting my own hanging baskets and tomatoe plants til today....hoping she has things left!

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Saturday was a full day.... It started off going over to the church to get everything set up.....

My Mom's 70th birthday is tomorrow, so we celebrated a bit early with a surprise birthday party for her on Saturday! And she was surprised! I don't know how she didn't catch wind of it for as many people that knew and the invites floating around!! But she was surprised! My sister and her husband took Mom and Dad out and about and Susan gave the excuse of needing to pick something up from another church member to get her to the church. There were several friends and family already there by the time she arrived so we all started singing Happy Birthday when she came in! I love it when things go according to plan!!

This is my Mom! We have a very talented cake artist at one of our local grocery stores. We provided her with one of our favorite photo's of Mom as a little girl and she put it to icing! She done a fabulous job! Don't you think?!


And this is my family! We were lucky to have all of us there...and our spouses. Unfortunely all of the grandkids couldn't make it. It was still a wonderful day....the weather was beautiful!

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After all that, John and I went to our friends house for dinner.....nothin' better than a big ol' ribeye cooked on the grill and a baked sweet potatoe! Mmmm.....

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Sunday was church of course....and Mother's Day....Briar gave me a nice clock that has already taken the place of my old living room clock and Ely & Liz gave me a nice bouquet of flowers! It's been a long time since I've gotten flowers like that so I'll especially enjoy those! John, Ely & Briar spent the day together....fixed the truck, which wasn't put back together quite right from the repair job then spent the rest of the day doing yard work. Remember I mentioned the mower fizzin' out on me the other day? Well it turns out it was just having a bad day! (Maybe it was me....I'm just not supposed to operate that thing! Maybe I'd just better stay off of it! Dern!) I was busy inside so I couldn't be outside to do any yard work so the berms will be put off yet again. Besides the kids, we had friends and John's brother and his family down for handbreaded tenderloins for supper.....messy to prepare but oh so good to eat!!

After everyone left, I settled down in my chair and watched Celebrity Apprentice. Didn't do a thing but iron a couple shirts for John!

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Home alone now, in the quiet and sipping one more cup of coffee before getting ready for work.

I suppose I've rambled long enough...I'm sure you are anxious to hear who the winner is for the Mother's Day Give-Away! Thirteen comments were made so thirteen names went into the crock.......

And the winner is................

Betty aka Primitive Betty!

So Betty....drop me and email with your shipping info sometime over the next few days so I know where to send your gift!! I will get that out to you very soon!!

Have a GREAT day!!!

Mother's ~Day~Give~Away

Good Morning Friends!! Since I've had my blog, I've only done one give away so I thought with Mother's Day being THIS coming weekend, it was time to have another one! To be entered all you have to do is post a comment to THIS post anytime between now and Sunday...Mother's Day....I'd like for your comment to include a special memory that you have with your mother...daughter/son...or even your grandma. I will post the winner early Monday morning!! I can't tell you what the prize will be because I don't even know that yet....but I promise it will be great and include a little handmade something! Names will go in a hat and one will be drawn for the winner!

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This is a pic of my Mom with my Grandma and Grandpa....I don't know why this is such a favorite of mine but I love this photo!

Mom will be 70 on the 12th of this month and we have a little something special planned for her and I'll post about that at a later date!

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I worked outside yesterday....took advantage of the beautiful day! I even taught myself how to operate the riding lawn mower (with a little help from John via phone)....this is something I refused to do before because I have a husband and two boys that are quite capable of the task. Well, John is out SO much of the time....Ely has moved out...and Briar is about to graduate and not sure what his schedule will allow once he finds a job! But, as luck would have it, I didn't even get to mow one strip in the yard when the mower fizzled out on me...it wouldn't start! It has a brand new battery so it's not that. I just had it running...turned it off to answer phone then it wouldn't start again!! Ugh!! So I went to the flower boxes and berms. And on a whim, I started digging! I decided to take out the smaller berm....and I hope that I don't lose the plants that I moved! I'm going to try to keep the larger berm but will have to practically redo it. There is still much work to be done out there....and it looks to be a nice day again today to work outside but I just can't....there is too much sewing that needs to be done. By the time I got in last night and supper overwith....I didn't get much in the line of sewing done. So today is sew first then yard work later if there is time.

Have a wonderful day....and I look forward to reading your comments!!!

Monday Ramblin'.....

Remember I mentioned in a previous post about a hen that got away and was sitting on eggs? Well they finally hatched some days ago....I managed to get this picture yesterday morning and I can't believe she let me get close enough to do it....She gets all over Ruger if he even comes within sight of her babies!! Poor Ruger....he just wants to play!!
I'd love to keep them but until I can get a coop and pen put up I'm out of the chicken/egg business! I need to get them to a new home.




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After about a week and a half my bananas finally ripened enough to make some muffins! Mmm...I might of shared this recipe before but I'll post it anyways...it is THE best banana bread recipe! You can make it a loaf or muffins. It will make 12 of the large muffins.








Banana Bread....

1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cup mashed ripe bananas
1/2 tsp vanilla
3 eggs
2 1/3 cup baking mix (I use Bisquick)
1 cup sugar (I have substituted Splenda for baking for this)
1/2 chopped nuts (I actually use like 3/4 cup chopped pecans)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9"x 5" loaf pan w/ non-stick cooking spray or line muffin tins with paper baking cups (large tins). Measure all ingredients into large bowl. Mix until fully combined. Pour into prepared pan. Bake until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes in pan before loosening the sides. Remove to wire rack to cool. Enjoy!!
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It looks to be a beautiful day out today. Hmm....I get to work at home today and I thought I'd stay in and sew but maybe I'll go pull some weeds and prepare the flower boxes for planting. I hope to get over to the Amish greenhouse sometime this week! I can work inside later...and after day....make good use of a beautiful day!

I hope the sun is shining in your little corner of the world....enjoy it!! Have a wonderful day!!

Prom 2009...

Good Mornin' All! I hope you all are having a nice weekend! Last night was prom so thought I'd share a photo or two or three.....of Briar and Calli.

We met with another couple out at Rothwell Park for pictures before they went on their way to dinner .....

Briar, Calli, Kelsey and Patrick....

Briar and Calli at Grand March....apparently a tropics theme.

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Graduation in two short weeks!

I hope you have a wonderful day!!