Christmas Ramblin'.....

You know that saying "be careful what you wish for..." Well, for those that wished for snow on Christmas, they got their wish! This is the wooded area behind our house and while it does look pretty here....it wasn't so pretty out on the roads! I heard that it caused some churches to cancel Christmas Eve services.  Lots of cars slippin' and slidin' off the roads and highways!

I hope you all had a great Christmas weekend.....blessed with lots of family & friends! Ours sure was!

John was home....Ely, Liz & Briar....all home! Ely & Briar both had to work for awhile on Christmas Eve so John, Liz & myself went to church for candlelight service then on out to my moms for our little gathering there.

Me & my siblings....yep, I'm one of seven, right smack dab in the middle!

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Ely & Liz had spent the night with us so we had our own family Christmas on Christmas morning.

Later in the day, we had some friends and family over and even though we all ate way too much, there are still a ton of leftovers in the frig!

Santa was WAY too good to me again this year.....a scarf, a set of embroidered flour sack towels (which are THE best towels), lotions, candles, a digital picture frame, Paula Deen cookbook and rolling pin, a large griddle and a NOOK! 

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Now, here it is Monday....back to the regular routine of the work week! However, our client cancelled on us today so I actually have the day off, so I will venture into town here in a little bit to run a few errands.

Enjoy your day!

Let the countdown begin...

We are getting down to the wire, aren't we? Just one more week! Unless you can take a day off of work or a night owl, this is the last weekend to make the final preparations for Christmas! I'm just about done with the gift shopping and all that I do have is wrapped and under the tree!  I've made a few goodies but not really knocking myself out this year.  Tonight I will decide just what I will make for the Christmas Eve and Day gatherings and get my shopping list all made out.  We will be keeping it simple again this year....with candlelight service at church on Christmas Eve followed with my families gathering at my folks then our own little family gathering Christmas Day. 

Yesterday, we had a bout with freezing rain!  Schools all around were closed....cars slippin' and slidin' all over!  I'm so glad I got to stay home!  I think we are in much better shape today...looks like the sun is going to shine!  I have to wear my seamstress hat today then finish my gift shopping...but first, chores!

Enjoy your day!

FUDGE.....

Baby, it's cold outside! Yesterday, I spent the day at home, my sister and friend were over and we made some Christmas goodies! Thought I'd share the recipe I use for fudge...since coming across this one, I don't use any other, not because I couldn't make it, I could...it's just that this one is SO good and SO easy!

FUDGE

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup milk-chocolate chips

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 tablespoon vanilla

3/4 cup chopped pecans

Place chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk in microwave safe bowl....microwave 1 minute on high.  Stir well then place back in microwave for 30 seconds.  Stir well.  Add vanilla and chopped pecans, stir til well blended.

Line the bottom of 8"x 8" pan with parchment paper but butter the sides.  Pour mixture into pan and spread evenly.  Chill until nice and firm.  Remove from pan (you may need to loosen sides with knife).  Cut into chunks and wrap in cello paper.

Giftie idea: Instead of using a pan, butter the sides of holiday cookie cutters, place upside down on wax paper lined cookie sheet and fill cutters with fudge.  Chill til firm.  Wrap in a cello-bag. 

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Well, it looks as if the sun is going to shine today! Still cold but alot nicer than gloomy rain or winter mix!

Winter chores have begun...oh the fun of life on the farm! 

Missing church this morning....my whole week will be off now! Better get off this ol' machine and get myself busy.  Maybe I'll make up some more goodies today!

Enjoy your day!

Oh the Christmas rush.....

Well it's been over a week since Thanksgiving and my last post....and it's been a very busy week! The day after Thanksgiving, we went with friends to St.Louis to watch our Westran Hornet boys basketball team compete in the state championship game.  They lost the game in overtime by one. They've had an incredible year.....until this game, they were undefeated! Way to go guys! We are so proud!

Saturday, John and I spent the day together.....and it was SO nice! He needed boots so off we went to  Kleinschmidts Western Store in Higginsville.  Since we went the back way, so to speak, we went through Brunswick, where I finally got the chance to stop at the still somewhat new quilt shop, Sew Sweet Quilt Shop http://www.sewsweetquiltshop.com/

Awesome little shop...so much fabric, patterns and notions, scrapbooking supplies

and what most caught my eye was the cupboard full of WOOL fq's!
Well, on to Kleinschmidts for boots!

Then, since we were so close, we went on up to the plaza in Kansas City and had dinner at Buca di Beppo...an awesome little Italian restraunt! As we were leaving, the lights on the plaza were on....I love looking at Christmas lights!

 Sunday to Wednesday was spent cleaning and decorating! 

I thought I'd share a couple pics of my trees.... the living room tree...

This is my Santa tree in the kitchen....

Friday, I got to spend the entire day at home...even though I spent the day doing laundry, it really wasn't so bad since I had a cozy fire going, the lights of the tree, Christmas movies & I got to do some fun work...a stocking order, that's the snowmen in the pic below!

Yesterday, I braved the crowds and traffic to go Christmas shopping.  I got lots but still not done!  I did find the premier issue of Where Women Cook...created by Jo Packham. Can't wait to sit down and actually read it!  Then awaiting in my mailbox when I got home was the latest Create & Decorate! I'm gonna have to find some sit-down time!

I hope I haven't bored you with all the details of my past week!

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Today is our youngest son's 20th birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRIAR! WE LOVE YOU!

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Enjoy your day!



Happy Thanksgiving...

I am so blessed! I just cannot put into words how thankful I am for the many blessings I've been given.

A wonderful husband, two great sons, a beautiful daughter-in-law, and a grandbaby on the way!

Lots of family and friends....And SO much more...how can I list them all?!

I am SO thankful!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving....

Exciting News!...

Yep...that's right! Ely and Liz are expecting their first baby July 12th...John and I are gonna be GRANDparents! We are SO excited! Liz was by last night so I just had to scan one of the sonogram pics to show you!

Can you see him....or her?

Isn't medical technology amazing?!

Not even a full two months along and can already SEE a BABY....and HEAR the HEARTBEAT!  Both very clear!

That is my grandchild!

And while this year has flown by, I know these next 8 months are going to be THE longest!



Potlucks & Parties, Cheesecakes & More...

I'm really likin' these new cookbook magazines from Taste of Home! Like I really need anymore cookbooks, but I couldn't resist! Just look at that cheesecake!

Just thought I'd share!

A Productive Thursday...

I had a day off yesterday....a much needed one I might add...and I thought I'd work around the house for a bit then run some errands in town.  Halfway through the day, it felt so good to be working on what I was working on that I talked myself out of going to town.  I finally finished up a few little projects....

I finished the stitching up on this schoolgirl sampler pocket (a Primitive Betty design) weeks ago and finally sewed it into the little pocket....it will be going to the mercantile later today.

I've had things sitting around in this work room just waiting to be made into lamps and plain shades to be covered and I managed to get a few put together...they will be going to the mercantile as well as a few other little things.

I'm so glad that's how I spent my yesterday as duty calls for today....Mr. Bill called with a stack of pants needing hemmed so will spend part of my day at Duval & Reid then run the errands that I'd put off.

I plan to be back at it when I get home this evening....I have a few works in progress that I hope to get finished up....they've been works in progress for quite some time and I'm determined to get them finished and to the mercantile within the next week!

Enjoy your day!

 

What a weekend....

Good Tuesday morning to you! Hope you had a nice weekend! I spent Friday and Saturday working the Randolph Mercantile holiday preview open house! The store was packed! With holiday goodies and people!

 If you need some inspiration or motivation....or both, to get into the holiday mood, this is the place to be! Over the next few weeks, I will be sneaking in a day or two each week to begin the decorating at my house.  I know it's early....I usually don't start it until after Thanksgiving but circumstances being what they are this year, I will need to start early to get it done in time to host our church womens Christmas party on December 1st! (and we all know that will be here before we know it!)

While blog-hopping the other day  (sorry I don't remember which blog), I came across a recipe for pumpkin muffins...so I made some up and took them with me to the mercantile the other morning. Not only simple, but SO good!

Pumpkin Muffins

All you need is:   1 box spice cake mix and 1 can pumpkin.  Mix these together until thoroughly combined....DO NOT add anything else.....dry mix only and pumpkin....that's it. Spoon into muffin pans....I used the large muffin tins....bake at 350 until done.  I don't even remember the time but if you use the regular size, bake according to the time on the cake mix box.  You can frost with cream cheese frosting or not....good both ways! Enjoy!

Well, off to get ready for my work day! Enjoy your day!

Tuesday Ramblin'...

I hope everyone had a ~fun & SpOokY~Halloween~weekend! 

Our Halloween was spent on the motorcycle for the annual

Trustee's Cycle Shop Toy Run. 

What an awesome ride!  Over 300 motorcycles....

Canned food items and new toys were also collected to benefit those less fortunate during this holiday season.

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On Saturday, I popped out by Randolph Mercantile and snapped a few pics....here's a little something to entice you for the upcoming.....

HOLIDAY PREVIEW OPEN HOUSE

November 5 - 6 - 7

A little sampling of Black Crow Candles...

Snowmen of all shapes and sizes....

Gingerbread galore....and SO much more!

Hope to see you there.....have a wonderful day!

Meet Sally.....

She's a rescue from my mother/father-in-laws garage. She just showed up there! And since we brought her home, another one has shown up in their garage but no one has been able to get hold of it.  We're guessin' that someone just dumped them off at the railroad tracks.

It took a couple of days but she has finally warmed up to us.  She stays outside with Belle....it took a little while for Belle to warm up to her but they're okay now!  And I hope that Belle teaches her her mousin' skills!

She's still not too sure about Lucy! I can't believe she actually let Lucy get that close to her without havin' a hissin' fit! 

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So how goes it in your world? Been a busy week for me but caught a little break this afternoon!  I'm gradually getting some work caught up and hope to move on to some fun work in my "free" time here pretty soon! Mercantile open house is just a few weeks away and all I have to take in are a few leftovers from last year! Yikes!

Hope you all are enjoying these beautiful fall days......We really need to go cut some wood and get this fireplace ready!  Anyone wanna come join the party?

Have a GREAT Friday!

Good Morning.....

WOW! Where does the time go?  Seems like I ask myself that question every other day! October 8th already....we will turn around and it will be Halloween....Thanksgiving.....CHRISTMAS!  Adults told me when I was younger not to rush time because it would pass by quickly enough the older one gets! They weren't kidding!

So where have I been? to of not of posted in so long.  LIFE!  It happens.  I've been working more outside the home and once I get home I'm still busy getting things caught up around the house or too tired to do much of anything.  I've had an overload of sewing come in and been trying to get that caught up.  We did manage to take our little mini-vacation to Fayetteville, AR for the Bikes Blues & BBQ rally last weekend! I'll post more on that another day.  

Finally made progress with the bathroom.....still working on a couple things and it will get there eventually, but this is what it looks like for now....

You see I have not added the H-D border (still undecided about that) and I've not gone over-the-top with the H-D things....I wanted to keep it simple with just a few accents.  They're not in this photo, but there are pictures hanging of us on the three Harley's we've had over the past several years. 

I spray painted the hinges on the cabinet and closet doors and changed all door pulls and doorknobs.  Lighting changed out, cupboard painted, carpet ripped out and replaced with tile.  I painted the baseboard heater black (still there because we still use it when we are burning the fireplace).

Maybe this weekend I'll get around to painting that last piece of baseboard trim to be put on and get the chain I want to use for the curtain tie-backs.

Well I'd better get on with my day....I'm lookin' at a day at the sewing machine, finishing a flowergirl dress and altering the mother-of-the-bride dress for a wedding next weekend!

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

Where have I been?

Hello All!  Yeah, I'm still here.....I've not fallen off the face of the earth.  I have tried to do a little keeping up through Facebook over the past few weeks. Since my last post, besides working, I've spent most of my days at the hospital with John's mom.  She had a regular doctors appointment on the 19th which led them to admit her for some tests.  A CT scan of her stomach came back with a tumor the size of a basketball and not for certain where it was coming from. She was then transferred to another hospital where they decided it was coming from an ovary and finally in for surgery on the 23rd.  She got to come home on the 28th and starting to recover but it's still a long road ahead.  For as upsetting as what this has all been, I'm also thankful that they finally found out what has been making her sick all this time.  Prior to this, she had been in the hospital twice since the first of April.  Oh, the best part? As with all tumors, they must be sent off for biopsy and this one came back NO cancer.  Thank God! And many thanks to those who follow my FB and were prayer warriors for her!  Never underestimate the power of prayer!

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The bathroom has been on hold waiting for the finishing touches...curtains, which I need to drop the hem in, pictures on the wall, still undecided if that H-D border is even going to go up now.  My sewing room looks like a disaster struck. Until I go pick up John later today, I think I actually get to spend the day at home and I think I will spend it on cleaning and doing a little catching up around the house. 

We had a beautiful day here yesterday.  I turned off the a/c and opened up the windows.  It got so cool in the evening though, that I had to close them all before going to bed.  One more cup of coffee then I think I'll open those windows again, turn on some good music and get busy cleaning! 

Hope you all have a GREAT Labor Day weekend!!

Weekend Ramblin'...

Hello world! Hope you all had a great weekend!  Mine started bright and early last Thursday.  My sisters, Denni & Marsha, & I, took a little road trip to the little town of Forsyth, MO to visit our great-aunt Ruby.  We surprised her for her 95th birthday!  And she sure was surprised!  It was so good to see her and spend time with her.  95! WOW!  I love hearing the stories.....And can you even imagine all the changes she has seen and been a part of in that time?  

We also got to spend some time with cousins, Sarah, Jimmy & Rachel

and when visiting, you are usually challenged to a game of dominoes....which she usually wins!

Before taking her over to Branson for a little shopping, we stopped at
Forsyth Flower Cottage & Tea Room for lunch! Cute little shop and the food was excellent!

And of course you can't be  in Forsyth on a Friday night and not jog on over to Taneyville for catfish Friday at their little restraunt! Oh my! I don't usually order fish out but this is one place I just gotta!  YUM!

Saturday, Jimmy and Jane (cousin & his wife) came over for a little visiting before Marsha, Denni & I went over to The Landing in Branson for a little shopping.  A little more visiting when we got back, then Denni & I gathered our things and headed for home.  Marsha is staying for a few more days.

I'd actually intended on driving through to get home around dark or just after...HA! We found a couple of antique malls that were still open so of course we had to stop!  I managed to find a few treasures!  Most will be repurposed, though, and taken to the Mercantile.  I will post pics as I work on them.

I hope to plan another trip down soon or at least stop by on our way to or from Fayetteville in a few weeks.

Have a great day!!!

Progress...

As my friend, Katt, pointed out in a comment on my previous post, it's been awhile since I posted! I don't know where the past two and a half weeks have gone! Time flies when you're having.....fun? Seriously?

As you can see, my bathroom redo is coming along.  Sllooowwwwyyyy.  I have a little touch up painting on the walls to do (hopefully before I head out the door this morning).  We still have the floor to put down and replace the baseboard trim...my wonderful brother-in-law, Michael, will be helping me with that (ok, he will probably end up doing that while I'm gone this weekend) So when I get home, I can put on the finishing touches and we will have our bathroom back in total working order!!!

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We finally started getting some tomatoes from the garden and a couple of cucumbers.   I'm anxiously awaiting the canteloupe and watermelon!  After this years success, or lack of, I don't think I will be putting in a garden next year.  Just not a good gardening year for me... either too much rain or too little time.  I don't garden to can or freeze or for "dirt therapy" to relieve stress, I just want some fresh veggies.  For no more than what I actually use these days, I can get that at the farmer's market and  I'll continue my therapy with needle & thread!

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I hope you all are having a great week and have a wonderful weekend.  I'm going with two of my sisters to see our great-aunt Ruby who will be turning 95 tomorrow! 

Friday Ramblin'.....

I was up waayyy too early this morning!  3:15 I'm wide awake!  And I knew it wasn't one of those times that if I just lay there and close my eyes, I will just drift off back to sleep. So, I got up.  Having my coffee and computer time. 

After several attempts at taking some photos of things to put in my etsy shoppe, I decided to say forget it....I'm just going to take it to the mercantile. I just couldn't seem to get good clear photos.  I think I may close my etsy shop for awhile if not for good.  It's been sitting empty for awhile now and I just don't have  time for everything.  Every once in awhile ya just gotta stand back and look at the whole picture and ya realize somethings gotta give.

The bathroom redo is coming along slow but sure....I was really hoping to get it done this week since I had the time off, but there are little things that come up that delays the process by adding a little more work.  Ya know what I mean?  Once I got the walls stripped, I looked at the ceiling and realized it just couldn't be repaired so I may as well scrape that down and redo it as well.  Do that before I start painting the walls, right?  Then we notice the commode is really tilting to one side.  Weak spot in the floor.  So now looking at that minor repair and hoping that the commode won't need to be replaced as well.

Here are a couple of before photos.....

Wallpaper down, ceiling stripped, towel rings/bars off and holes filled....I changed out the light switches and power outlets yesterday.  The lighting fixtures will be taken out and updated...This vanity will be staying for now....it will just get a little facelift. 

So that's my work in progress....It's never taken me so long to redo just one room...two or three days, tops!

Today I'll be on the hunt for an inexpensive yet attractive lighting bar....one that will mount on the ceiling in the existing box.  Wish me luck!!

I hope you've had a great week.....and have a fantastic weekend!!!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yep....the big 45!  I'm spending it at home....I have to say I was beginning to wonder just how good a day it could be when I woke to no power.  I woke at 6:30 and the little light in my bathroom flickered and the storm had begun outside and I no sooner got out of bed to go turn the coffee pot on when the power went out so back to bed I went!  I'm really not one to do that but if ya can't have coffee first thing in the morning, what's a girl to do?  .So 2 hours later, still no power! For cryin' outloud!!  I threw on some clothes, and was going to run over to the convenience store that is 6 miles away to grab a cup of coffee and lo and behold the power came back on!  All is well in my world again!!

Last Wednesday our a/c went on the fritz.  Then our garbage disposal started leaking and had to be taken out, which didn't bother me none.  A couple of truck issues on top of that but nothing too serious this time.  I got the wallpaper stripped in the bathroom and walls sanded.   There was a gathering of winter Texans here at the farm over the weekend ..... what a wonderful group of people!  Took a group over to visit the Amish on Saturday morning....always nice visiting over there!  So back at it this week....had two cleaning cancellations this week so I have the rest of the week to finish that bathroom! Today, it's scraping the ceiling!  How's that for celebrating a birthday?!! LOL  Works for me....I've been wanting to do this for a long time!

I'll also be getting some things listed in my etsy shoppe later today and getting some things together to take to the mercantile....multi-tasking!  As late as I slept today, I should be able to work a long while this evening!

Hope you all have a wonderful day!!!

Today's the day...

...that I begin, again, to redo our main bath.  For more than a couple years now, I've been wanting to redo our main bath.  I even started to strip the wallpaper.  The border came down easy enough. Then I started on the wallpaper.  Hmm....over the shower was as far as I got for whatever reason.  It's been so long ago now who can remember! That wallpaper has been my holdup....to strip wallpaper takes a great amount of time and patience even when using a good remover solution.  Two things that I don't have alot of for things as such!  You would think that I would of found time over the past two years to get this done.  Instead, I used the time I had for such projects to redo this spare room, which is my sewing/computer room and the laundry room.  

I did remember to snap a before pic...but I will save that to post once the project is complete!

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I hope you are having a great summer!  I can't believe it's already mid-July!! It's been three weeks since my last post....seems I'm going backwards instead of forwards when it comes to my blogging.  Not that I haven't had the time or anything that was blog-worthy, it's just taking the time.  I've hung up my waitress apron since my sister is back to work.  Besides the cleaning service, I'm still hemmin' pants at the clothing store.  I had a little bit of creative time to put together a few things that I will soon be listing in my Etsy Shoppe and some things will go to Randolph Mercantile.  Took a little road trip over to IL this past weekend to meet John.  I visited the Beardstown Antique Mall where I found a few bargains.  I even found some Peaches & Creme yarn on mark-down at the Beardstown Wal-Mart, in case I get hit with that crochet bug!  Then we found a new place over in Jacksonville called The Peddler's, where I found a couple more things.  Of course all these will be repurposed and up for sale soon! (Hopefully soon!)  My Etsy shoppe has been sitting empty for weeks now!

Well, that wallpaper isn't going to strip itself, so I better get myself off this thing and movin'! 

Have a GREAT day!!

The road to Grandma's house...

We had a little family gathering the other day out at my sister's place.  She lives just up the road from where our grandparents lived.  We were reminiscing of the many walks we used to take on that road....so off we went.....just as kids, other than NOT going barefoot, although we were all wearing flip-flops, not minding the heat, we took off down the road that leads to Grandma's house. Remembering the old rickety wooden bridge that is no longer there, the old sandstone that we used to sit on and carve our names into....it's still there but lost in the brush that has grown up over it through the years.  The wild cherry tree, which still stands but the two trees on either side of the driveway, where we all spent many hours playing beneathe as kids, gone from either being cut down or taken out by a storm.  And the house....what was once known, and will always be remembered as the PINK house...is now white and black shutters have been added along with a few other changes. Other family members may live in that house now, but it will always be Grandma and Grandpa's.  The road is just a half mile,  up hill both ways, I might add and we sure got a work out but we also made another memory on that road!

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It's been hotter than blue blazes out lately!  I'm not complaining though....I'll take it over snow and ice anyday! It is so hot that even our outside cat didn't greet me as I went out the front door yesterday....she planted heself amongst the yarrow....

...all stretched out, just nappin' in the afternoon shade.

After a hot sunny day today, the past hour or so has looked like it could come a downpour at anytime. Ahh....here comes the rumble of thunder.  With all the rain we have been getting, I'm afraid that come mid-July we will be begging for rain! Let's hope I'm wrong. 

The garden is coming along nicely, thanks to all the rain....I did finally get out there to use the hoe and do some weeding....and boy have I felt it today! 

I hope you all are having a great week!  Try to stay cool and drink plenty of fluids!

Friday Ramblin'.....

Since it's been two weeks since my last post, I thought I'd pop in and at least let you know I'm still here.  Just working alot....at home and away from home.  I hope to get back to blogging regularly here pretty soon.

I do want to tell you about a couple of new forums.....If you like to cross stitch or like samplers, you might want to check out Samplermakers....the link is over on the sidebar....just click on it and it will take you right there!

The other is Farmhouse Kitchen....a forum I created on delphi for those of us who do enjoy spending time in the kitchen...sharing our recipes, tips and techniques and more.... just click on the link below...

http://forums.delphiforums.com/farmhouse3

If you are not already a member of delphi forums, then you will have to go thru a quick registration.  It's simple and it's free unless you want to upgrade to a paid membership.

 Time for me to get off this thing and get busy!!!  Hope y'all have a great day and awesome weekend!!!

Garden Thyme...

Good Morning All! It has been a beautiful week here in my little corner of the world.  Busy...but beautiful! Hot....but I'll take it!  After all the snow, ice, cold and rain....I'm SO ready for sunshine and heat! 
I've finally gotten my lavender planted...it's a wonder I didn't lose them since they'd been sitting outside in their little greenhouse pots waiting to be planted!  I transplanted the two plants I already had and let's hope I didn't move them at the wrong time.  I've already snipped some of the blooms to dry....as well as some of my yarrow...and from the looks of it this morning, I need to snip it again!

And this lambs ear will be ready to cut soon! 

This plant came from a start I received 10 years ago in a friendship garden swap from a lady out in New Hampshire.  I planted her start in the flower garden at my old house and as it grew, and did it grow!...I took a start and brought it to my MIL for her flower bed, at the house I live now! That little start went wild!  It has taken like six years to get it under control....and I still have to weed a little bit of it out at the beginning of the year....I don't know how it spreads so!

And I have finally gotten some gardening done!  It is definitely a make-do garden....Seems when my oldest son moved out, so did the majority of my gardening tools.  So rather than run around to beg and borrow, I made do with what I could find to put plants in.  The tomatoes won't grow fast enough for John!  I have a nice little assortment of veggies with some watermelon and canteloupe as well as some herbs! 

There are few more things I need/want to put in.....hopefully I can squeeze that in sometime today!

I will be taking off a couple days....a little R&R...then I'll get back to work in the sewing room.....

....to finish up this order of quilt blocks!  It's nice to sit down at the sewing machine to work on something other than alterations!

I hope you have a safe and wonderful holiday weekend. 

Many THANKS to our service men and women and to their families

who sacrifice SO much!

GOD BLESS YOU!!!

May Ramblin'....

Where in the world has the month of May gone to? It's two-thirds of the way passed and what have I been doing that I've not been here?  Work.  Work.  And let's see......Oh!  Work!  I know I make it sound like I've been working 24/7....not the case, just feels like it!  Seems there's always something.....

Just want to share a few found treasures with you today.  The first picture are treasures found in an old shed from my folks place. I don't think they even had a clue that this stuff was in there!  Things left there from the old man who lived there before them.  They are wanting to tear it down this year so while I was out there several weeks ago...shoot, I think it was Easter....I went thru the old shed and found these things.  I packed them around in the bed of my truck for weeks! When I finally caught a nice day and got them out and cleaned them up.  There are  a few other things that I forgot about to make the picture! oops! Oh well....

They will all be put to use....somewhere, somehow. 

This next photo is from my little overnighter to Springfield, IL last weekend. 

The old picnic basket is my new needleworks basket. The fabric will be used for some cross stitching.  The jug will most likely become a lamp.  Now to find the time!

It's been gloomy here for several days now, but we are supposed to be getting some sunshine and much warmer temps.  According to google, it's to reach 90 on Sunday?  I'll take it!!!

I hope the sun is shining where you are!  I'm going to work up a few alteration pieces then settle in with some cross stitch and hopefully find a good movie!!

Have a GREAT weekend!!

Finished!

Lancaster County is finally finished! I bought this frame from the clearance rack at Hobby Lobby....it was one of those friends and family frames and I really thought that's what I was going to use it for....until I finished and stained this piece and realized they would go so well together! And now I don't have to decide which friends and family photos to use in the frame!  And it's already hanging on my wall....I was going to call it my sampler wall but since I have other stitched pieces hanging there as well, I suppose it's more of a handworks wall.

It looks to be a beautiful day out today!  As much as I need to work outside weeding yet again, I must work at the sewing machine today.  I might get flowers and garden planted sometime! It's pretty much been a muddy mess since we got the garden spot tilled two weeks ago.

Time to get busy....hope you all have a wonderful day!!

Tuesday Ramblin'...

Last time I posted, I think I was going to work in the sewing room all day and do laundry.   Haha...well...I went for my walk and when I got back, it was SO beautiful out and I looked at the flower beds....and that's all it took.  That walk led to 2-1/2 hours of weeding and sweeping and planning.  Sometimes our days just don't go according to plan....BUT, at least I did have a productive day and I did end up inside doing something later...just didn't get as much done inside.  The garden spot has been tilled.  I've made a list of spaces that need filled and a list of what we want to plant in the garden, so when I finally make it to the nurseries I will know what I'm after and not be overwhelmed with all the flowers and plants that I forget what I'm actually going for!  I was hoping to do that last Friday but the weather wasn't too cooperative so it's been put on hold.  I want one more till on the garden and with all the rain, it looks like I'll need to weed again before setting out any plants!  UGH!  (I did cave Saturday and bought 3 lavendar plants)

Had a family gathering on Saturday.  My cousin and her three youngin's were in from Kentucky.  We've all sent her our favorite recipes and she's putting together a family cookbook.  It will be in memory of our Grandma & Grandpa Prewitt, our Uncle Roscoe, who we lost to a car accident 11 years ago and her Mom, my Aunt Marilyn, who we lost just one year ago to heart attack.  She's coming right along in the planning and it should be ready by late July! Besides covering her expenses, the proceeds will go towards the upkeep of the old country church cemetary where our family is buried. 

We took this gathering time to take pictures....

Larry, Randy,Rhonda, Bill, Audrey, Dennis & Diana (my mom & dad) David, D-anna, Frank and Norma.

21 of the 27 grandchildren of Jack & Wilma Prewitt

And here we have 32 of the 50 great grandchildren and included in this photo

is 1 great great grandchild.

What a bunch!  Never a dull or quiet moment!

Well I best get on with my day if I'm going to get anything done! 

I hope there is sunshine in your world today....Have a GREAT day!!

Good Morning....

I  hope everyone is enjoying spring...now that it is finally here to stay! There is much to do here....been cleaning out flower boxes and need to move a few things and decide where I'm going to put the pussywillows I brought home from Illinois!  I just set them in some water to let them take root, the little fuzzies are falling off and they are leafing out nicely!  Now to find a spot for them!  The small garden spot still needs to be tilled....hope to have that done in the next day or two!

My great niece, Ava, had her 1st birthday party this past Saturday evening...SO sweet!  I can't believe how fast this past year has gone by....Isn't she a doll!!! Look at that cupcake!!!!

Now look at it!!! LOL She kept digging in there....like there was  hidden treasure inside!

This is my nephew, Andrew....he participated in Special Olympics in Kirksville on Saturday...he brought home 3 medals....hope I get this right....running, long jump and shotput!

WAY TO GO ANDREW!!!

Between sewing and cleaning, I'm not getting much of the fun work done!  I did manage to sneak in some cross stitch time over these past few evenings. Seems like I've been working on this sampler forever...it's slowly but surely getting done...maybe I'll challenge myself to finish it up this week so I can get it hung on my sampler wall and move on to another project! 

Sew much to do....sew little thyme!

Working at home today....while the washing machine does it thang, I will be sitting at the sewing machine!  But I think I might just sneak in a little walk...something I really need to start doing everyday!!! I finally took a walk thru the woods the other evening....oh check out this tree...always found it fascinating the way it grew....

That's a sheet of tin hanging on the back there...where the kids tried putting some sort of stand on it back in the day and that's all that's left!

I love a walk thru the woods....always so peaceful and no matter how busy I am, I don't ever rush a walk thru the woods.

Well, on with my day if I'm going to get anything done! 

Hope you all have an awesome day...take a walk and enjoy the sounds and wonders of nature!

A Beautiful Wedding Weekend!

Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan Ely Hess

April 10, 2010

Jessica (maid of honor), Liz, Ely & Briar (best man)

Our Family

The ceremony was held Saturday, April 10th, 2010 at the Huntsville Christian Church with a dance reception following at the Best Western Inn in Moberly! 

Here are a few pics from the reception.....

First dance.

Father/Daughter dance

Mother/Son dance...yes, I was cryin'! 

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Congratulations Ely & Liz.....we love you!! God bless you!!