Helping My Sister from "Nails in My Pocket"

My oldest sister came by with her grandson, one day this week. My grand son was here and we like to get them together on occasion. They both need to spend time with other children to learn sharing skills and such.They had a pretty good day. We both enjoyed watching them play and learn together, even though they were not aware that that was one of the purposes for the visit.Another was working on Mary's rocker cushions, and also, showing her my new room and basement I'm fixing up a little.We had a wonderful visit. We don't get to do that much. Even though we are both retired now, we both stay so busy, visiting just gets 'pushed on the back burner'.We both help our kids with the grandchildren, as do most grandparents nowadays.Then we help with Mom whenever needed.Then there's our own work of keeping a home running smoothly.We both do most of our own fixing up to the homes.That,along with regular women's work,sure keeps one hoppin'.We both love to work with wood,though, so it really doesn't seem like work.(But, I am not tackling a barn, like my sister,Mary is.I'll stick to smaller woodwork jobs.)Mom and three of us girls will get together tomorrow. We'll be visiting the funeral home,(a good friend of our family passed away Saturday) but since we get together so little, we will probably make an outing of it, too. Usually, we get to visit with several other family and friends while we are there. That's so sad, but that's usually the only way we get to see family and friends anymore.Not a whole lot happening here, but wanted to check in anyway. So until my next post, "Happy Blogging."
P.S. The lamp shade is not right size for my new lamp. I got the pretty lamp at the auction for $3. I'll pick up a nice new shade for it,in town tomorrow.

A Little of This and a Little of That....

I've finished mending the quilt for my niece, and I'm back to my craft room. Here is a picture of the outer wall in the quarter of the basement where we have our wood stove.I don't dare let you see the Craft Room itself,quite yet.I have been doing a lot of trimming, painting, sawing, spackling,etc. I do love doing all of that. I love seeing the end product when I'm finished, knowing that I have utilized every scrap of materials, and kept the cost down to a minimum, and still have a product I can be proud of.I catch flack every day over my junk collecting, but in the end, it pays off, although you would never hear anyone in this household admit it.Nevertheless, I will enjoy the fruits of my labor soon. The little stool is a project I have been wanting to make for a while now. I have held on the the wood seat for 2-3 years, with the little stool in mind.I am 5'9", but I lack an inch or two of reaching the highest shelves in the house. It is a very sturdy stool, but small enough to move to anywhere it might be needed.I am a rather hefty woman, so it had to be strong.I could have made the legs from 2by lumber for more certainty that it would not fall with me, but I have a huge collection of chair and table legs of all shapes and sizes, which I inherited from my mother, so I chose to use a set of them on my stool.I love making all sorts of stools.I am in the process of putting a pillow together for my little stool, so I can use it for a foot rest while I am warming by the wood stove of a morning, sipping on my hot chocolate.The sitting room is getting more comfy and cozy by the day. I am so proud of my works in the basement. I don't mind going down there at all any more. I will show more pictures of it as I go along. I am making it more livable, yet not spending a fortune.It is my wish that everyone could find their passion.It has got to be a horrible life spending all of your days being bored out of your mind. Life is too short, and there are too many things to learn and do, to be bored. Happy Blogging!

My Craft Room.... At Last!

Two of the Amish brothers came yesterday, quite unexpectedly, and built the 2 walls, needed for my craft room. We knew they were coming, but we didn't know quite what day. We left it up to them, since they have to make a living doing what they do, whenever they need it done. We understand that, so we are glad to get their help whenever they can get here.They completed the 2 walls and installed the door. We haven't decided on a ceiling quite yet. That may come later.But for now, I used whatever left over paint I could find, for primer. We used chip board. I had used that before for a wall and really liked it, so I decided to go with it again. I think the cost is about the same as any other wall covering.My final coat of paint will match the entire house for now. Sandelwood Mist. I may make some changes later.I have moved some of my shelves into the room already. I need the space to built some more canning jar shelves. I may work on that tomorrow.Pop ask me today if I would be interested in joining the carpenters union. I could get in a few more good years of work.(I declined. I don't think so.I have worked since I was 12 or so, and I deserve my retirement years, just the way they are.)I did have to do a little compromising on my craft room though.Pop wants me to use it as an extra bedroom,so I guess I'll have a bedroom suit in my craft room. If only I could persuade him to get one of those beds that fold up into the wall. That would be great.Oh well, I guess you can't have everything you way all the time. I'll be content with my craftroom/bedroom.He has promised to get me a new bedroom suit for the grandchildren's bedroom. I'll move my older cherry set down in the craft room.I bought it 30 years ago at an auction for $25 and had it refinished, so it is still nice enough. It was one of the few pieces that survived the fire.I will share more of my room as I get further along with it. I am so proud of it. I can't wait to start rearranging things and decorating it.It's shaping up nicely. Watch for further updates. Until then, Happy Blogging. (P.S. Vicki, we still have lots of snow and ice.)

Priceless treasures.......

My mother made this quilt for one of her grandchildren.I don't know how long ago, but after many washings, it has come apart in a few seams. Most kids wag their special quilt around, more than most quilts, so I'm sure, if this quilt could talk, it would say, it has many good memories.That's why the granddaughter wants it restored. Mom is now 84 and her eyesight is not as good as it once was, or I'm sure she would have tackled it again. The same granddaughter has a son,nearing manhood now, who has a similar quilt that this same grandmother (my Mom,his great grandmother) has made for him when he was a baby. Mom has added on that quilt for him several times in his lifetime as he was growing, so you see, quilts are special, whether they are made by grandmothers or great grandmothers. None the less, I am doing my best to salvage the quilt for my niece, since my Mom is not as able as she once was.I only hope to do it justice. 90% of the quilt will be her original work, so maybe it won't decrease in value for them. You can't put value on memories anyway. (Vicki, I wish you were here to enjoy this project with me. It is so peaceful and quiet. I have my favorite music playing softly in the background. The snow is continuing to fall.I have my cup of green tea. What a life. Love you.)Till my next post. Happy Blogging!

Tying up another loose end....

I thought I would take a minute and 'tie up a loose end'. I had started the little wood box with a few scraps of wood and material, and I decided to use it as a recipe box for my special family recipes. I had cookbooks galore(before the fire)and I now use Cooks.com, so I don't need a lot of recipes lying around, but there are a few special recipes our family use on a regular basis, so that is what I plan to keep in the little box.I have a few other things I want to get done today, so I won't be crafting.I hate those days when I can't get to my crafting, but life goes on, and the house and animals need a little TLC. The Amish fellows will be coming next week to start on my craft room. I am getting anxious about that.I will be busy the rest of the winter planning and organizing it. Painting and building shelves,etc.I hope to get a nice rug to go on the floor. Concrete is so cold, and I like to work where it's cozy and comfy, but with plenty of light and workspace.I only hope I can end up with a craft room that comes close to the vision I have been building in my mind for it.I am hoping the line"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, you can achieve." is true.Will keep you posted on our progress. Till my next post...Happy Blogging!

I think I'm improving...

I didn't think I would ever get anything posted tonight. I have added a new security guard program to my computer, and I'm not sure if it is that, or the fact that so many folks are blogging at once. I just couldn't get my picture to upload. I finished my latest little quilt last night, but had a few errands to run today, so I'm just getting back to my computer.My husband commented to his daughter this morning about me being on the computer so much lately, so I told him that I would run around today, and see which one was cheaper. Working with my computer, or running around the country burning gas and then there's the wear and tear on my truck and tires. No doubt, he couldn't argue on that note, but he'd never say he was sorry for the comment he had made.Nonetheless,I am so proud of my latest project. I can't wait to start another. I tried to go to sleep last night, and I couldn't for thinking about my next one. I went down stairs, at midnight, and dug through my quilting materials, looking for a few ideas. I haven't come up with one yet, but hopefully, tomorrow.Till my next post, Happy Blogging.

A New Day, A New Project

I finished my little quilt today,unless I decide to go on and add a few tabs to hang it. I may do that eventually.(I have it across my rocker at the moment,Connie)I covered another box today. When I finished the quilt, I found myself wanting to go back and work on it some more, so I brought out a little pillow top I had started, heaven only knows when, and decided to use it in another little quilt.I had some strips left from the last quilt, so I have been using them on the new one. I'll probably put it together like the last one,using up a few more scraps.I wasn't as pleased with the finished product as I had hoped to be. The batting was to fluffy, and I hemmed it before I stretched it tight enough, and it doesn't lay as flat as I had hoped, but hopefully, I will learn from my mistakes and do a better job with the next quilt.I think I could get the hang of it shortly, but the quilting part, I don't know about that. I never measure my pieces. I just free hand it all, and that was part of the reason my quilting did not suit me. I tried to follow the seams and sew in the ditch like my sister, Vicki, showed me, but the rows of stitching were showing up crooked on the back, so I ripped them out and tacked it.Mom tacks all her quilts. I tried quilting a couple of my pouches,but can't make myself do too much of that finer intricate work.I think it's beautiful, but I haven't mastered it yet. I don't use a thimble, and my fingers are a little tender tonight.I will not be going to Mom's tomorrow. We are getting a lot of snow, and I'll stay in. No grand kids until Sunday,if Pop will go after them. I don't drive in snow,especially since my little accident a few years ago.So I'll have all day to work on my new project. Till my next post,Happy Crafting.

A Little Further Down the Road...

I'm not quite finished with my little quilt, but I am a little further down the road with it. I am in the process of trying to quilt it now. I have always tacked my quilts, but thought I would attempt quilting this one. Wish me luck. I am truly struggling with it.I'm thinking about using it as a wall hanging when I am finished. It is so nice to look around the room and see things that I have made. I don't think Pop appreciates my work that much, at least he doesn't let on. I guess that comes with growing up with your grandparents. You just assume every woman can do the things your grandmother did, but it does give me a sense of pride to see my works displayed. I guess that counts for something.

Have You Had A Nap Today?

No, I'm not talking about my 5 year old grandson.He gets really grumpy with out his nap, but I speaking of myself.It was my day to spend with Mom and we had a special treat today. My older sister,Mary(Nails in My Pocket)spent a portion of the day with us. We had a great time. We only hit one consignment store. Mom tires so easy. Then we stopped for lunch at McDonald's, then on to do our shopping at WalMart. It was a great day. Mom is going to be featured in a video for a Valentine's Day function at her church. They are having the meal catered for the evening of family fellowship. We were planning for that day. Several of the daughters, and hopefully a couple of nieces plan to attend with Mom. She is so excited. Most of us girls have attended various functions with Mom, over the years, with her church, so they know most of us girls even though it is not our church. They always treat us as if it were.
When we returned from shopping, Mary went on home. It was around 1:00, but Mom rushed in and set out my cot. We always take a nap on our day together. I started doing that a few years ago. Mom doesn't sleep well at night,so I felt she needed the nap, although I'm usually ready for one myself.But lately our nap has ended up being 2 hours long instead of our usual 1 hour. You can probably guess what's happening at my house. I am up till 1:00 in the morning, wide awake. Today I picked up a couple of new quilting tools, and I am enjoying using them tremendously. I don't want to stop, and it's 1:00 already, plus I have the grandkids tomorrow. I will need that nap then, for sure.I have posted a picture of my new tools and a small quilt I have been working on. I have said it before, I am not a quilter, but I could learn to like it much better, if I wasn't too tight to purchase a few tools to make things flow better.Just these new tools alone may help encourage me to do a little more quilting.I think I am winding down from my nap, so till my next entry,Happy Blogging. Good Night All!

Why Do I Love Boxes?

This is the reason I love boxes. I had a very productive day working with them today. I have yet to get my work room built, but I keep in my mind, just how I want it to be as time goes by. You know the quotes,If you can conceive it, you can achieve it. And the one,Act as though you already are what you'd like to be, and it soon will become reality.I want to be a super organized crafter.I have covered a few boxes and labeled them with their contents. Hopefully when I get my room, I will have at least two walls of pretty white shelves, and I will stack my boxes on my shelves in an orderly fashion with all their labels neatly printed for easy access.I will have a nice wide work table for my sewing machine(white, of course)I will have lots of shelves for my nicely folded and organized stacks of material. My sister,Vicki, sorted my material when she was in for Christmas.She has been quilting for years, so she knows what's important in the layout of one's quilting supplies.I have devised a rack for my thread, but I think I will end up rethinking that.It didn't turn out to be as handy as I had planned. My neighbor,Connie, has a nice thread rack on her wall near her machine. I liked that, but you know me. I was trying to be frugal and use something I already had.I may come up with a better plan shortly.
As I stated earlier, I had a very productive day. I must be getting over my "cold". I cooked a pot of pinto beans today and a skillet of cornbread for supper. I even made a batch of chocolate fudge.I painted a while in the basement. I washed a load of clothes or two.And I didn't even need my usual nap. I must be getting better. Hopefully, I will get back to blogging on a more regular basis now.My granddaughter fusses because I post the simplest things on my blog.I always ask her,"Can you do it?" When she says,"No".Then I tell her,"I rest my case.There is always someone out there that doesn't have the insight to make something pretty and usable out of what others would throw away." That is my goal. To show folks how to use up what they have, instead of running out and wasting their hard earned money on something new, when they can make something that works just as well, with what they have at home.
Well, it's another day, and another blog.Till my next post,Happy Blogging.

What's Our Next Holiday?

What's our next holiday? I hear that question a lot from my grand daughter. She loves to decorate. When we were taking down the Christmas decorations, she is asking me that very question.I guess she gets that from me. I use to decorate the school cafeteria where I worked for 27 years,for every holiday. I have boxes of decorations that I've used over the years, stored away, but when it comes time to decorate for any specific holiday, it is more trouble to locate them, then it is to make new ones. I guess the smart thing to do would be to label and organize them or else sell them at a yard sale for someone who doesn't do crafts, to enjoy next year.Then when I end up making new ones, I don't have to worry about the past years decorations accumulating "out in the shed".I now have two sheds for storing such as this. I could probably use a third shed, but I dare not ask.

I am feeling much better from my "cold" or whatever it was. I feel more like blogging today, than I have in weeks. The weather warmed up and I got outside (a little)and I think the fresh air helped me as much as anything,although I did try the saline solution up my nose.Thanks Connie.I think the echinasea helps,too.Hopefully, I will be back to crafting and blogging full force real soon.

On the Mend

Mom and I are both on the mend from our colds or whatever it was we had. I had it for 2-3 weeks. Mom had it about a week so far, but she is adamant about taking her medication to the letter. She is that way with her vitamins and supplements of all kinds, and her prescription meds. I guess that is why she stays as healthy as she does at soon to be 84 years of age this month. I love to study nutrition and natural healing, but I don't practice what I preach that close.Pop has it now, too. I have been working with him a little so as not to let his cold get quite a hold on him as it did me. I took Mom home today. I think she was getting a bit bored. I've posted a couple of things we worked on, and the hair cut I gave her while she was here. She stayed as busy as she could helping me tidy up every minute and working on crafts with me, but it just isn't the same when you can't be in your own home, and I understand that. I hate being away from my "stuff" for very long at a time. I can carry some things with me to fight off boredom, but it still isn't the same.I think she was well enough to go home, and her water had thawed out after a day or two of being froze up. All seems well at her home. No bursted pipes that we're aware of,anyway.Today was suppose to be the last really cold and snowy day for awhile. The weather folks say it will be up in the 30's and 40's for the next several days, so she can handle that.She is tough as a pine knot in so many ways.She appreciates it, but she's not much for imposing on others.She's always said she wants to depend on us, but not be dependant on us.Hopefully I can get back on track here shortly. I must say, I have a lot more energy since I am feeling better. I will be back crafting full force any day.Happy blogging everyone!

Make a Smilebox collage

I Love Boxes!

Boxes,boxes,boxes.I don't know if there is a name for it, but I do love boxes. I was told that there was once a lady that lived downtown,Upton, who was known as The Box Lady. I could easily claim that title. I hate to toss out any box that is firmly constructed and sturdy. Hopefully with a lid, but not necessarily so. I can always construct a lid, if necessary. I use a lot of boxes to hold craft supplies and things I use on a regular basis.I work constantly at being more organized, which will never happen, but I love fixing pretty boxes to hold items I am trying to keep together, for easier access next time I need them.Once I decide what each box is to hold, I simply label that box and they stack easily on a shelf for storage. At least, that's my plan. I take great pride in constructing something I can use, rather than running out and buying something to fill the bill. I did go out and buy 4 little baskets to fit on a set of shelving in my bathroom, and I was sick later, thinking about how much I paid, just so they would match.I paid $5. for the shelf,$2.00 for 2 cans of spray paint to paint the shelf,and $4 a piece for the baskets. How Dumb!!!! I guess in the long run, it was worth it. My bathroom is very small and the shelf worked out fine. I'll bet I could have built something just as nice for that much money.It holds extra washcloths, soap,razors,etc.Pop likes everything he uses to be close at hand when he needs it.

I'm not completely over my cold, but am feeling better. I can tell by having the desire to get back to my crafts. I had the grandchildren for 2 half days and 1 night, and that held me up a little.They wanted to make snow cream and go sledding. So we tackled both jobs.Pop pulled the kids around the yard and drive way with the 4-wheeler. They had a blast. We made a corn hole set. I sewed the bean bags while Leah constructed and painted the box. She made it out of cardboard instead of wood. It will work fine for indoors. She painted it red,white, and blue. It looks nice.I figured it would be a good indoor game for them to play in the basement on some of the worse winter days.It is a job, keeping them entertained, but that is why they love coming to the country. It is never boring, at least hardly ever. I'll post this for now and watch a little TV with Pop before he falls to sleep. And possibly crochet something. Enjoy the snow,everyone.

A New Twist on an Old Favorite

I stumbled across a blog yesterday with a demonstration on the Butterfly loom. http://www.thebutterflyloom.com/ . It is a little different variation of an old time favorite that my family used 40+ years ago. We all took a spell
making doilies from a homemade version of a similar loom. With money, or the lack of, always being a problem , we had to conjure up a lot of

things patterned after some of the latest fads. Most of the time we could get it pretty close, at least to where


we could come up with a similar finished product. We had brothers in wood shop in school, who would help on occasion,if we needed them to, but most of us girls could construct our own projects with no help from the guys.We used plywood to make our loom frame, and finishing nails for the pegs all around the wooden frame. I think Mom still has some of the old looms we made as youngsters. She has made the doilies for her friends in her Sunday School class and her Silver Threads Class in the last few years. I have attached a picture of one of the doilies Mom made in the last few years. I use it at Christmas. I have cut, what I feel, is a close pattern for the Butterfly loom from card stock , but I think by using the looms we used in the past, you could get the same finished product, so I may give it a try. I liked the neck scarves made from the Butterfly loom. If I can make it work, I will try to get one made and post it at a later date. It's always nice to run across a new craft to add to my Want To Try List.

Happy Crafting!

Temporary Setback

Due to a little sickness, I have not been posting. Nothing serious, just a head and chest congestion, and a vicious cough that doesn't give me much relief, but doesn't want to go away either. I've been trying lots of different folks suggestions, short of going to the doctor, but very little results from anything I've tried. Hopefully a little more rest will help. I'm anxiously waiting to get better, so I can get back to blogging. I do miss it. I'm still reading others though, so keep it up, everyone. Later. Sue

Catastrophe Averted

A could-have-been catastrophe was averted by a couple of quick thinking tried-it-all cooks. My older sister had collected all the ingredients to make what was to be the best fruitcake ever, and if you do any baking at all, you know how expensive it can get to fix anything like a fruitcake or an Italian Cream Cake or the like.It was a day or two before the big event for which the cake was planned, so Mary proceeded to follow the directions to the letter. She combined the fruit and nuts and other necessary ingredients and let it set for the two hours recommended, eagerly awaiting, but very impatiently, of course, to get the cake all baked and iced with that delicious brown sugar frosting that she remembered Mom making when we were kids. She had done exactly what the recipe had said, or so she thought, but when she turned the cake pan up- side-down, over the beautiful cake plate which she had previously selected, so her cake would look it's best, the wonderful expensive fruitcake fell all to pieces.Frantically, she called Mom. "Mom, you've got to help me. What am I going to do?" The cake ingredients were so expensive, and she had her heart set on that wonderful fruitcake for all the family that had come home for Christmas.Mom says,"Just calm down. Form it into little balls, and cover them with chocolate. They'll be fine." And of course, Mom was right. Several of us pitched in and proceeded to form the fruitcake into little balls while others melted the chocolate bits with a tad of crisco in the microwave and drizzled it over the entire collection of cake balls. Mary sprinkled the tops with some red and green candies. Wallah! They were a smashing hit with all the family.No one the wiser that it wasn't the original plan from the start.(Maybe next time, we'll try a different flavor coating. There are so many options.)

Thirty one years later.....

I was afraid it would not all be the

same when I hit publish. Here we are,

thirty one years later.

And they said it wouldn't last....

I can't believe I am putting these pictures on my blog, but like they say,

After you reach a certain age, it doesn't seem to matter as much as it once did.

We are all going to get older. The only other alternative we have is to die

young, and I'd rather not go just yet. There is still a lot more I would like to

do in this life.These are not the best pictures in the world, but they are the

only ones I have of these particular days.December 23, 1978 and December

23, 2009.Several years and several pounds ago.Thirty one years, to be

exact, but let's not talk about how many pounds ago.We are both retired now

and living a simple, but comfortable life. We both spend our days, doing

pretty much what we want to. He is a very social person, and spends most

of his days visiting all the neighbors and the restaurants, catching up on all

the news, and chatting with all the local folks. He is an avid story teller,

as everyone in our life will agree. I've always said he was like E.F.Hutton.When he talks,

everyone listens.(I think E.F. Hutton was a highly advertised stock broker on TV, back in the

day.)As for myself, I spend a great deal of my time doing crafts. There are so many things I

want to try and do in that area. My home is filled with projects I have collected over the years

with the anticipation of getting to them all. I am beginning to think it is hopeless to even think I

might accomplish that task. I want to try my hand at everything.If I attempt it and feel it is not

satisfying to me, I will put it aside in hopes that it will interest me more at a later date, and most

usually, it will. Maybe several years later though.There are a few other things that I still must do, even

though I am retired, so my time is never really completely my own, but I manage to squeeze in

quite a few things that I do enjoy on a regular basis.Most of which do not mean a hill of beans to

anyone else, but to me, they give me peace and contentment. What more can one ask for.

The Big Day is almost here,and I only hope the family gets a fraction of the pleasure out of the

day as my sister,Vicki and I have, in collecting, crafting, and wrapping everything to make their

Christmas enjoyable. I have been really sick with a sinus infection, and had to call Vicki in for

support through it all.She has been a GodSend. Thank you, Vicki.

P.S. I found this verse yesterday and at the risk of sounding like I'm tooting my own horn, I wanted to post it. I thought it was a really nice verse.

I'll go ahead and hit publish. I worked on this piece forever yesterday and still couldn't get it just right, so hope it's not too much of a mess when I post it today.

Our Redneck Christmas

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