Keeping an eye out for squirrels
There goes one
Couldn't care less
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Carolyn's having a give-away!
Chirp, chirp!
There has been some chirping going on out on the patio.
It is time to feed the babies.
Sorry these pics aren't too clear (and no, that chair doesn't look that bad in person!)
There are 4 babies
Kinda hard to see but we are taking pics through the hand hole w/o pulling the drawer out.
Hope you are having a good day. Just enough sprinkles here to wet the windshield and to keep me from cracking out the spray paint but not enough to do any good for the yard. Bummer.
It is time to feed the babies.
Sorry these pics aren't too clear (and no, that chair doesn't look that bad in person!)
There are 4 babies
Kinda hard to see but we are taking pics through the hand hole w/o pulling the drawer out.
Hope you are having a good day. Just enough sprinkles here to wet the windshield and to keep me from cracking out the spray paint but not enough to do any good for the yard. Bummer.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Patio pick-me-up
Hope you had a wonderful weekend!
A couple of weeks ago we started getting the patio ready for spring/summer. (around here we kinda skip spring and go straight to summer)
A few plants on the corner. I need to take new pics - this is from a couple of weeks ago and the plants (mainly the hosta) have grown quite a bit. The flag is the other item in my exchange box from the retreat last month.
Got new cushions for the furniture. (Home Goods) I had the last ones for 5-6 years and at the old house the porch had no cover so they were quite faded (not to mention dirty - the dogs like to sit on the furniture)
The bakers rack that used to be in the breakfast room. The drawer on the left is the one with the bird nest. We now have 4 baby birds in there. (hubby took some pics yesterday but I haven't downloaded or looked at them yet)
I replaced the drop cloth curtains. Loved them, but they started to mildew almost immediately. I don't know if it is because of the humidity around here (which is most often high) or that they took so long to dry when we would get rain. I replaced them with these really light-weight polyester ones from Ikea. Five bucks for 2 panels. We bought 8 panels. So far, so good. Of course we have had no rain to speak of since they were put up, but if we ever do, they should dry quickly.
Looked all last summer for a small table to put out here. Found this one at Ikea - don't ya love it? They had black (they called it gray) and this green one. Of course the green is so much more fun! As an added bonus - it doesn't show pollen like the black would.
Also picked up a new umbrella. The one we got last year broke the first week we had it (wind - our fault for not putting it down) and it had faded. Got this one at Sam's. Love the colors!
Still need to paint the table, chairs and glider. They are starting to get some rust on them. Trying to decide on a color - I'm thinking blue at the moment. That might not actually happen this year. Time will tell. I'm working on another paint project at the moment. Might be a couple of weeks before I have it ready to show.
Guess that is all for now. My blog reader is still at 850+ feeds. Not sure I'll ever get through them all. Maybe I should just mark all read and start over?
A couple of weeks ago we started getting the patio ready for spring/summer. (around here we kinda skip spring and go straight to summer)
A few plants on the corner. I need to take new pics - this is from a couple of weeks ago and the plants (mainly the hosta) have grown quite a bit. The flag is the other item in my exchange box from the retreat last month.
Got new cushions for the furniture. (Home Goods) I had the last ones for 5-6 years and at the old house the porch had no cover so they were quite faded (not to mention dirty - the dogs like to sit on the furniture)
The bakers rack that used to be in the breakfast room. The drawer on the left is the one with the bird nest. We now have 4 baby birds in there. (hubby took some pics yesterday but I haven't downloaded or looked at them yet)
I replaced the drop cloth curtains. Loved them, but they started to mildew almost immediately. I don't know if it is because of the humidity around here (which is most often high) or that they took so long to dry when we would get rain. I replaced them with these really light-weight polyester ones from Ikea. Five bucks for 2 panels. We bought 8 panels. So far, so good. Of course we have had no rain to speak of since they were put up, but if we ever do, they should dry quickly.
Looked all last summer for a small table to put out here. Found this one at Ikea - don't ya love it? They had black (they called it gray) and this green one. Of course the green is so much more fun! As an added bonus - it doesn't show pollen like the black would.
Also picked up a new umbrella. The one we got last year broke the first week we had it (wind - our fault for not putting it down) and it had faded. Got this one at Sam's. Love the colors!
Still need to paint the table, chairs and glider. They are starting to get some rust on them. Trying to decide on a color - I'm thinking blue at the moment. That might not actually happen this year. Time will tell. I'm working on another paint project at the moment. Might be a couple of weeks before I have it ready to show.
Guess that is all for now. My blog reader is still at 850+ feeds. Not sure I'll ever get through them all. Maybe I should just mark all read and start over?
Friday, April 22, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Home Sweet Home
Didn't mean to just disappear! Went to spend a few days with my parents. Mother is getting around fairly well. She is still using the wheelchair, but the home therapy people (finally) showed up yesterday and hopefully she will soon have enough confidence to get back up on the walker.
My blog feeds are back up to nearly 1,000, and I have no idea how many emails I need to respond to. I'm not going to get in a hurry though - it is good to be home and we plan to stay home for the weekend so I may or may not get caught up then! (most likely not, but I'll get there eventually!) I do read (and greatly appreciate) all your comments and try to respond to them if there is a contact email included.
Hope you are all having a great week!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Petals and postcards
Sometimes it is just the little things that can make your day.
A postcard from baby boy and his bride
They will be in Texas for the summer - even though we won't get to spend nearly enough time with them (they will be working 3 hours from here) It just feels better when they are closer to home. I guess that is a 'mom' thing.
Petals on the table.
Hubby brought these home yesterday.
Aren't the colors wonderful?
And more petals on my toes.
Ignore the short, fat, wrinkled toes!
Not been the best of weeks but sometimes the little things can put a smile on your face, even when that smile is hiding a killer headache.
Hope you have a great weekend!
Hugs,
t
A postcard from baby boy and his bride
They will be in Texas for the summer - even though we won't get to spend nearly enough time with them (they will be working 3 hours from here) It just feels better when they are closer to home. I guess that is a 'mom' thing.
Petals on the table.
Hubby brought these home yesterday.
Aren't the colors wonderful?
And more petals on my toes.
Ignore the short, fat, wrinkled toes!
Not been the best of weeks but sometimes the little things can put a smile on your face, even when that smile is hiding a killer headache.
Hope you have a great weekend!
Hugs,
t
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Waiting. . .
These books landed at my front door yesterday. So far I haven't had time to even open the cover of one of them.
Some days (weeks. months.) I feel really inadequate. How is it that some people get so much done in a day and I seem to always be chasing my tail? (which considering the size, should be pretty easy to catch)
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Have I ever shown you the 'game' room?
I still got nothin, so I'm digging around in old pics to find something to post! I don't think I have ever shown the whole 'game' room. (that is what they called it when we bought the house - I have no idea what to call it so that has stuck for now) Anyway - these pics were taken back in the fall but not much has changed. I'm not sure exactly what will happen in here when it finally gets painted. (it is the next room on the list)
The angled wall on the left is where you come in the room, just off to the right as you get to the top of the stairs.
In case you can't tell - this is where things land if they have no other place to go.
The desk is the one I refinished last summer - it used to belong to hubby's dad. There is a television in the tall cabinet. The boxes are no longer stacked on either side - I think they got stuffed in the attic. :)
See that tiny door? That would be how we access the attic.(and by we, I mean hubby - I ain't going in there) Of course the wall behind the half-wall is now green. This room will be painted the same green that is in our master bath. (hopefully soon!)
The posters hanging up here are from baby boy's plays in high school and college. (mostly high school since I had less access when he was in college!) I had these all hanging in the stairway going up to his room at the old house. I don't know if he will ever take them with him or not but I figured I might as well hang them somewhere rather than just leave them in the top of a closet and this was the only place I could come up with to hang them! This group is from college except for the bottom middle - that is from a play in middle school.
These were all high school plays.
He was in a student produced movie at SFA. I can't remember for sure if he did this while he was still in school or the summer after he graduated. My niece is going to school there now and she got the poster for me. Love the picture of him.
See, told ya - I got nothin.
The angled wall on the left is where you come in the room, just off to the right as you get to the top of the stairs.
In case you can't tell - this is where things land if they have no other place to go.
The desk is the one I refinished last summer - it used to belong to hubby's dad. There is a television in the tall cabinet. The boxes are no longer stacked on either side - I think they got stuffed in the attic. :)
See that tiny door? That would be how we access the attic.(and by we, I mean hubby - I ain't going in there) Of course the wall behind the half-wall is now green. This room will be painted the same green that is in our master bath. (hopefully soon!)
The posters hanging up here are from baby boy's plays in high school and college. (mostly high school since I had less access when he was in college!) I had these all hanging in the stairway going up to his room at the old house. I don't know if he will ever take them with him or not but I figured I might as well hang them somewhere rather than just leave them in the top of a closet and this was the only place I could come up with to hang them! This group is from college except for the bottom middle - that is from a play in middle school.
These were all high school plays.
He was in a student produced movie at SFA. I can't remember for sure if he did this while he was still in school or the summer after he graduated. My niece is going to school there now and she got the poster for me. Love the picture of him.
See, told ya - I got nothin.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Grape Kool-aid
Found these at the grocery store yesterday and now my kitchen smells like grape kool-aid! Not sure just how much they taste like grapes but they sure smell like grape kool-aid!
I guess you can tell by the above content - I got nothin' today.
Spent the weekend in ET so nothing got done around here. I'm moving slow as molasses this morning. So far I've managed to dust/vac the dining room and sweep/mop the entry. Guess I should be downstairs cleaning instead of upstairs on the computer!
It has been cloudy all morning. Had a little rain shower a few minutes ago - barely got the street wet - and now the sun is out so I'm sure it feels like a sauna out there. I'm not a fan of humidity. I'm more of an inside with the a/c running kinda girl when it is hot and humid outside.
Guess I'll go put supper in the crock pot, find something for lunch and see if I can get another room or two cleaned.
Have a great week!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Rumpled and Ruffles
Do you like the rumpled look? Do you have it in your home?
I love it in pictures and stores but I have a hard time with it in person. I love the look but have to restrain myself from too much straightening! Looks like I might have tried to smooth the covers out a little too much before I took this picture. (it looks more rumpled in person) I've had this on the bed for awhile now and I'm getting better at leaving it rumpled.
As soon as I got the duvet cover I knew I wanted a ruffled pillow and had every intention of making one but a couple of weeks ago I found this one in Marshall's.
Perfect - and only 14 bucks. Can't beat that with a stick. Considering how much time I would have had to put into it and this one has a zipper so the cover can be removed and washed! Well worth 14 bucks IMO.
We have had some nice weather here. Cooler temps and lower than normal humidity. (even if it has been a bit windy) I'm sure it won't last long and soon we will be dripping sweat as soon as we walk out the door but I have managed a walk around the block twice this week! (don't be impressed - it is a small block and once is about all I can do!)
Hope you are enjoying your week.
I love it in pictures and stores but I have a hard time with it in person. I love the look but have to restrain myself from too much straightening! Looks like I might have tried to smooth the covers out a little too much before I took this picture. (it looks more rumpled in person) I've had this on the bed for awhile now and I'm getting better at leaving it rumpled.
As soon as I got the duvet cover I knew I wanted a ruffled pillow and had every intention of making one but a couple of weeks ago I found this one in Marshall's.
Perfect - and only 14 bucks. Can't beat that with a stick. Considering how much time I would have had to put into it and this one has a zipper so the cover can be removed and washed! Well worth 14 bucks IMO.
We have had some nice weather here. Cooler temps and lower than normal humidity. (even if it has been a bit windy) I'm sure it won't last long and soon we will be dripping sweat as soon as we walk out the door but I have managed a walk around the block twice this week! (don't be impressed - it is a small block and once is about all I can do!)
Hope you are enjoying your week.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
What's in the drawer?
Remember when I put this 'new' piece in the breakfast room?
It replaced the baker's rack that had been there since we moved in.
The bakers rack was moved to the patio.
It has pretty much been sitting there (collecting pollen!) until this past weekend when we decided to spiff up the patio a bit for spring.
Hubby opened one of the drawers
and found this!
Can you see the eggs? We closed the drawer and left it as is. I keep wanting to open it back up to look but I'm trying not to. Hubby has seen a bird coming out a couple of times since so I don't think the eggs have been abandoned.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
From the retreat
Thought I would show you the rest of the goodies I came home with.
Okay - these didn't actually come from the retreat. Took a little ride into town during our 'off time' on Saturday and picked up a few fat quarters. That would be the folded ones - the rolled ones I picked up in a local shop last week. Fat quarters are like Lays potato chips - you can't have just one!
There is always some kind of 'theme' and this year was Lucky 13. (since this was the 13th retreat)
I hate it when I load pictures backwards - well, I'm not going to try to rearrange them so we will just go with the flow here. We each got one of these little wooden needles with the 3 Stitches logo on them. I put it with the ruler so you could see how small it is!
We also made our own counting pins and Pam gave us the elephant pin cushions. I've made counting pins before but it was fun to make them and not have to clean up the mess when I was finished! LOL
We also got some special thread - can you see the name on the card? It's 3 Stitches green! It was dyed especially for the retreat.
One of the ladies made scissor fobs for everyone - see the 4 leaf clover?
Here is more 'loot'. The trivet in the back was also a gift from one of the ladies - she made 40 of those things! It has a magnet in one corner and other stitching related things imbedded in it. (I thought I had a close-up but I didn't get it in here) The 'lady bug' came with grass seeds to grow grass in it, but I threw that away and am using for a snippet jar. The little Sudberry box goes with one of the projects that I didn't get a picture of. We got the chart, thread and fabric to stitch a four leaf clover to go in it. (may or may not end up with that in it - who knows!) The other 'flat' box is for finishing one of the other projects.
*These are pictures of the finished samples from the retreat - I haven't finished stitching mine, much less put them together!
One project was a pin pillow. I actually started on this one but I'm now where finished. It is all stitched on one piece of fabric.
And this is what the back looks like.
I finished most of the stitching on this thread pouch - I might actually get it finished someday.
This is what will go on the top of the box shown above.
and this is the inside. Cute, huh? I will probably paint my box white - or at least 'whitewash' it. The color looks fine with the piece, but I'm just a white paint kinda girl!
Pam always includes all the fabrics to finish out the projects with. The only thing needed to finish this up will be some sewing thread, glue and whatever I choose to stuff my pin pillows with.
We had a great time and are already looking forward to next year!
Okay - these didn't actually come from the retreat. Took a little ride into town during our 'off time' on Saturday and picked up a few fat quarters. That would be the folded ones - the rolled ones I picked up in a local shop last week. Fat quarters are like Lays potato chips - you can't have just one!
There is always some kind of 'theme' and this year was Lucky 13. (since this was the 13th retreat)
I hate it when I load pictures backwards - well, I'm not going to try to rearrange them so we will just go with the flow here. We each got one of these little wooden needles with the 3 Stitches logo on them. I put it with the ruler so you could see how small it is!
We also made our own counting pins and Pam gave us the elephant pin cushions. I've made counting pins before but it was fun to make them and not have to clean up the mess when I was finished! LOL
We also got some special thread - can you see the name on the card? It's 3 Stitches green! It was dyed especially for the retreat.
One of the ladies made scissor fobs for everyone - see the 4 leaf clover?
Here is more 'loot'. The trivet in the back was also a gift from one of the ladies - she made 40 of those things! It has a magnet in one corner and other stitching related things imbedded in it. (I thought I had a close-up but I didn't get it in here) The 'lady bug' came with grass seeds to grow grass in it, but I threw that away and am using for a snippet jar. The little Sudberry box goes with one of the projects that I didn't get a picture of. We got the chart, thread and fabric to stitch a four leaf clover to go in it. (may or may not end up with that in it - who knows!) The other 'flat' box is for finishing one of the other projects.
*These are pictures of the finished samples from the retreat - I haven't finished stitching mine, much less put them together!
One project was a pin pillow. I actually started on this one but I'm now where finished. It is all stitched on one piece of fabric.
And this is what the back looks like.
I finished most of the stitching on this thread pouch - I might actually get it finished someday.
This is what will go on the top of the box shown above.
and this is the inside. Cute, huh? I will probably paint my box white - or at least 'whitewash' it. The color looks fine with the piece, but I'm just a white paint kinda girl!
Pam always includes all the fabrics to finish out the projects with. The only thing needed to finish this up will be some sewing thread, glue and whatever I choose to stuff my pin pillows with.
We had a great time and are already looking forward to next year!
Monday, April 4, 2011
In the (retreat exchange) box
I showed you what I took for an exchange gift last week - here is what I brought home.
This box was all wrapped up in brown paper with floss for a bow. I had no idea there was a pretty box inside - a nice bonus!
There were all kinds of goodies in the box. Two plastic storage boxes - can you ever have enough of those? A notepad, a journal, note cards, a stitching take-along tote, magnifier thingie, needle case, needle threader, small frame, flosses and a teeny tiny little box of tissues! There was also a small flag for a potted plant but it is on the patio - I'll show you that when I show you pics of the patio soon (been working on spiffing it up for the summer)
I didn't buy much this year - I got this pretty pair of scissors and the kit for 'Fresh from the Garden'. I just need to see if I have fabric for it or if I need to buy some. (it came with the floss) I did order one thing she didn't have there - hopefully it will be in soon. I also bought one other tiny thing that is in my stitching bag downstairs and I'll show it when my order comes in.
I will try to post project pictures tomorrow. I haven't made a stitch in mine since I got home.
We are supposed to have some storms coming through this afternoon. We need the rain but it has been cloudy and gloomy so far today - makes me want a nap!
Hope you had a great weekend!
This box was all wrapped up in brown paper with floss for a bow. I had no idea there was a pretty box inside - a nice bonus!
There were all kinds of goodies in the box. Two plastic storage boxes - can you ever have enough of those? A notepad, a journal, note cards, a stitching take-along tote, magnifier thingie, needle case, needle threader, small frame, flosses and a teeny tiny little box of tissues! There was also a small flag for a potted plant but it is on the patio - I'll show you that when I show you pics of the patio soon (been working on spiffing it up for the summer)
I didn't buy much this year - I got this pretty pair of scissors and the kit for 'Fresh from the Garden'. I just need to see if I have fabric for it or if I need to buy some. (it came with the floss) I did order one thing she didn't have there - hopefully it will be in soon. I also bought one other tiny thing that is in my stitching bag downstairs and I'll show it when my order comes in.
I will try to post project pictures tomorrow. I haven't made a stitch in mine since I got home.
We are supposed to have some storms coming through this afternoon. We need the rain but it has been cloudy and gloomy so far today - makes me want a nap!
Hope you had a great weekend!
Friday, April 1, 2011
I can't catch up!
Well, I have unpacked my suitcase but I still haven't unpacked my stitching stuff so I can't yet show pictures of that. I can show you what I put in my exchange gift for the retreat. (we do a 'blind' gift exchange so you don't know what you will end up with! lots of fun!)
I made a needlebook and pillowcase
The pillowcase is folded - it really does fit a regular size pillow. I always take my pillow with me when I travel and when I found this fabric I got enough to make two pillowcases - one for me and one for my gift box. (mine has pink fabric where the blue is on this one)
I also fixed up a stitching box to match
Inside with magnet on inside of lid
and filled it with a few goodies. Then I put it all in the 'book' it is leaning against. I need to go back and get one of those 'books' for myself to put some of the stuff I keep around my stitching chair in when I'm not using it.
Maybe my next week I will have unpacked the rest of my stuff and can show you what I got in the gift exchange, what I bought (actually, not much) and the projects we got to work on.
Have a great weekend!
I made a needlebook and pillowcase
The pillowcase is folded - it really does fit a regular size pillow. I always take my pillow with me when I travel and when I found this fabric I got enough to make two pillowcases - one for me and one for my gift box. (mine has pink fabric where the blue is on this one)
I also fixed up a stitching box to match
Inside with magnet on inside of lid
and filled it with a few goodies. Then I put it all in the 'book' it is leaning against. I need to go back and get one of those 'books' for myself to put some of the stuff I keep around my stitching chair in when I'm not using it.
Maybe my next week I will have unpacked the rest of my stuff and can show you what I got in the gift exchange, what I bought (actually, not much) and the projects we got to work on.
Have a great weekend!
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