I Met Me!

This is a post I started, but never completed. I decided to post it, even though it is running a little behind the news I have already posted regarding my One Tough Lady.

I have met a new lady in my neighboring community through an unusual set of circumstances. She has been in Kentucky for nearly 3 years,but I only met her this past week. Another good friend of mine dropped by one day last week, with a precious cargo(a truck load of yard sale items he had just acquired from helping this new found friend, I speak of). He knows me well, so he knows that I let very little go to the trash pick up folks.I can see potential in everything. He has that fault,too.Nevertheless, he thought of me.He had several items that he thought I might be interested in, and of course, he knows me well, and he was right. He left me with 8 small boxes of books and magazines, a couple of homemade book shelves, a mirror, and a few other assorted items.I am refinishing the mirror to match some Victorian items I already have and cherish. I used one of the shelves to mount my chop saw on. It works great for that.The other, I put on my porch. I had been wanting some storage of some kind for my seasonal flower pots and the like.And the books and magazines?That is where the story begins.As I began to sort through the books and magazines, I found there were many of them that were identical to some I had of my own. Many of which I lost in the house fire of 07.This really peaked my interest as to who this lady was. The more I went through the boxes of books, the more eager I was to meet her.Since I was home alone,I got the urge to go meet her. I jumped in my truck and headed down the road towards her place, but for some strange reason, I talked myself out of the visit,and returned home.It bared on my mind so, that I had turned back and returned home, I called and discussed the story with my Mom and Sister. They said that was God telling me to go, and Satan telling me not to go. At the time, I thought it was because I simply had enough on my plate without adding another job to my list of "Things to Do".However,we,my Mom,my Sister,and Myself,decided to take a trip to this lady's home and meet her.We visited her that day, and found she was having to return to her home state of California, due an unusual set of circumstances,regarding the property her family had assumed they were purchasing for the last few years.Nevertheless, the entire family,Mother,Daughter and SIL, was having to move back to their previous locations,California, and Arizona.Their dream of owning a piece of ground had been lost(for now,at this location anyway).

The reason I say I met Me, is because this tough little lady is a pack rat,like myself. Most of the things we spent so much time packing, over the week and a half I spent with her,were the same type of things I collect.Most were related to her various crafts, and since she is a widow, and crafts make up a huge part of her life.There is no way I could fit all of my collection of "stuff" into the truck and trailer she is using. It would take a Tractor trailer type truck to haul my precious possessions. Let's hope I never have the need to move and transport my "stuff".Life takes a lot of unforeseen twists and turns, and one should never say "Never", but for my sake, I hope I never find myself in her situation or anything similar.I doubt I could be that strong.

She calls every night or at least every other night to let me know her progress. She was 20 miles short of the Arizona/New Mexico line,last night.She sleeps in her truck, usually at truck stops or any large parking area where there are other travelers, stopping for the night. That is good to know. There is more safety in numbers.She has been on her journey since Wednesday morning of the 27th of October.That's one week today. Hopefully, she will be in her home state and find an apartment in three or four days. Cold weather is closing in, and she says it does get a bit chilly in her truck, before she awakens each morning, and starts the engine to get warm.Her faith is strong, and I am sure it will carry her through to her destination,safely.I am so glad I had the opportunity to meet her. Going through all that she's going through at 73,is an inspiration to me.I only hope I can be that strong,when I'm her age.

Chickens Make Good Pets

Then...



Now...



Actually, this was taken a couple of weeks ago, so she has grown a bit more. Yes, we think now, she is a hen.We were not real sure for a while there.She's too big for the cookie jar these days, so we keep her in one of the garages at night, and outside in the sun,during the day.We'll need to gradually introduce her to the rest of the flock. You know they can get a bit ugly to new comers at first.Hopefully, she will be use to the rest of the chickens in time to spend the winter out in the hen house, but I hope she still remembers the special raising she had. I guess if we continue to spoil her with the cat food she loves so, or the hot dogs she's learned to eat when we're out of her special cat food,we'll continue to be close friends.We haven't really given her a name yet, but I'm considering Ellie Mae.We've had a Henrietta and an Esmerelda at one time.Those older names are cute for chickens. Maybe she'll like to be called Gertrude or Genaveve. We'll just have to see what feels right for her!

Brendie's Christmas Swap

http://bregleestate.blogspot.com/2010/10/swap-handmade-christmas-decoration-and.html

This is the link to Brendie's Christmas swap. Stop by Brendie's blog and get registered. Sounds like fun. Although I have never been part of a swap before, I think I'll give this one a try.Everyone is invited to participate.Let's help Brendie have a great first swap.

Hop on over for another drawing.

Oh, and by the way! Hop on over to Mountain Home Quilts to enter the drawing for the fat quarter of fabulous fall fabric.(Whoooh!That was a mouthful.)

I hope this link below gets you to the right site. I had a lot of trouble getting the link to work properly. I don't think I know enough about computering to get it right. I hope it gets you to the right place to enter the drawing.You will need to copy and paste it in your browser.


http://mountainhomequilts.blogspot.com/2010/10/o

Is Your Money Going Down the Drain?

While browsing through blog after blog, I ran across this clip from Walletpop.It really got me to thinking about the way I wash my clothes. Most of us look at washing clothes as another dreaded chore that must be done. We never really stop and think about all the different aspects of the cleaning process. Oh,yes, sometimes, I'll spray a stain or two with some type of highly advertised stain remover,and pour in a little extra detergent.If it comes out,fine,if it doesn't.Oh,well.
There are a lot more concerns to clothes washing then we realize. The fellow in the clip listed below,talks about some of them.It made me take a second look at the laundry procedures I was using. Hopefully, it will enlighten some of you,as it did me.

http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/09/28/savings-experiment-coming-clean-with-the-truth-about-the-best-d/

I Love a Challenge!

While answering a few of my comments today,I got an idea for a post.
My Challenge For Today! I realize there are some that cannot be completed in a day, but maybe the challenge for the day could be to complete a certain project. That might give me enough incentive to finish several projects that I've already started.It seems when I have someone waiting to see the finished product, I try harder to complete the project.

Today, I have several WIP projects out and waiting. I will attempt to finish at least one of them today. We'll see how that goes.

The picture above is just showing how I take a lot of little bits and pieces of things most folks would throw out, and make something pretty and usable with it. I love doing that.I do accumulate a lot of "stuff" that way, but on rainy or snowy days when I must stay in, I can pull out my scrap box and go to work creating something pretty at no cost at all.If I don't need it for myself, I always keep a box of little last minute gifts for whatever occasion might arise.

Double Duty!

Guess what! I woke up early and sought out something quiet to do while Pop was still snoozing.I had been working on a set of coaster/hot pads until midnight last night,so I proceeded with them. That was a nice calming and quiet project.The fabric I was using was a bit wrinkled, so I proceeded to pull out the iron and board. That was going to make a lot of noise, so I reconsidered and found something to use as an ironing pad on the counter top. Wallah! My newly made dish draining pads will be perfect. Just the right size for ironing small pieces on the counter top.

My Bird Seed Gets A New Home!

From this......



To this....





I take my recyclables to the neighboring county once a week. Some times when I do, I find something,others have taken in for recycling, that I just can't resist bringing home. It's kinda like dumpster diving, only everything in the recycle bins are clean.They won't take them, if they're not.
Well, on this particular day, I spotted this amazing jug. It is made of plastic, and had a hairline crack. I really didn't know what it was until I got it home and began to investigate.I soon figured out it was a pet watering jug, but was no longer usable for that purpose. It wouldn't hold liquid any longer.Now,the hard part. What can I do with it.My first thought was using it for storage for something dry.That's what I'll do. So I proceeded to cut the neck off, and locate a lid that would fit the new mouth of the jug.Wallah!I found a lid that fits just perfect(after I did a little whittling on it).I got out my can of Barn Red paint.You remember,my new favorite color,and began painting. I am so happy with it now. I think I might use it to store my bird seed.And I think I'll like the lid painted black. What a nice find.

Pumpkin Time!

From this:



To This:



I got this pattern from my Mom a few years ago. We made several for her to use in her Fall Decor. She loves to decorate her yard for any and every occasion.She grew up in South Louisiana, so she is use to things being very lit up.I guess the Mardi Gras celebrations are what comes to my mine, even though I have never been there to see it first hand.I figure that must be part of their culture. With lots of lights and glitter and bright colors everywhere.Mom definitely loves those things.Even in the clothes she wears.She should have been a Rock Star.But back to the little pumpkin...You can probably see just how it was made. Take a short length of a clothes dryer duct works, and cup it around to where you can tie the two ends together with some type of inconspicuous thread or tiny wire.Whatever it takes to tie it securely.You can always cover it with leaves or whatever else you might be using in your arrangement.Then we painted them orange.Added a leaf or two. I made the stems from a piece of corrugated cardboard. The middle layer of cardboard.Dampen the cardboard, and the three layers will separate easily.Let it dry, then cut and roll your stems to suit yourself. I hot glued mine together.One tip when cutting your duct works. Don't cut it too short. Cut one and try it. If it is not long enough to cup around and tie, make your second one a bit longer. If you precut them all,and they are too short, you'll have to come up with another plan on using the shorter pieces.I plan to make a half pumpkin on a board to utilize a couple of my mistakes.Most creative folks will think of some way to use their mistakes.I hate to waste anything.

So Many Projects,So Little Time!

With Summer coming to an end, and the days are getting shorter and cooler,I find myself staying in a lot more. I love working outdoors, when the grass is green and needs mowing every few days,and there's a constant parade of different flowers blooming day after day, but when the leaves begin to fall, and the grass turns brown, and flowers begin to fade,I am just as content in my home, puttering through my many collections of crafting supplies,trying to decide what I will tackle today.The choices are endless. Today I took on a project that may seem silly to many, but I found it most satisfying.I have so many "rags" in the laundry at all times. I decided I wanted to do away with some of them. Some were cheap wash cloths that were too small and scratchy for bathing.Some were simply tea towels that were wearing thin.Some were bath towels I had torn up to use for cleaning cloths.No matter,there were lots of them. I got this hair brained idea to make drip pads for my dishes while they drain, so I have made a couple of those. I lay them in a cookie sheet pan beside my sink when I am doing my dishes with my homemade dish cloth and my home made dish liquid. It is so gratifying to use these "things I have made", rather than bought.Then I decided to put two of the scratchy wash cloths together, with a pretty top and bottom piece of cloth and make hot pads. I made a few of those.I find the need to stretch my legs on occasion, so I went to the basement and painted a few pieces.I had been gathering in all of the pieces of cans of paint,getting ready for my winter crafts.I stumbled across a can of Barn Red paint. I find I love that color.I was so happy to find it. It was a can from way back when T.G.& Y. was in business.It had their label. They have been out of business forever.However, I began painting everything I could find that needed painting. I think that is my new favorite color.I have painted quite a collection of Barn Red items, which I will show at a later date. The little pumpkin pin cushions in the picture,I made while watching Mrs. DoubtFire, a night or two ago. I can't believe I had never seen that movie before.I used some remnants of felt to piece together the little pumpkins, and the stuffing was made from strips of rolled up wool fabric, that no one uses any more to make winter suits.I inherited a huge amount of it from the librarian at the school where I worked. She use to wear a lot of those wool suits.It works great in the cute little pin cushions.I love doing all of these things, but these small projects don't move many of my supplies along fast enough.I need some relief from my collections of supplies. Hopefully, this winter, I will make more quilts and move some fabric that way.I'm not holding my breath on that idea though.You know,"The best made plans of mice and men....."

Here's our typical breakfast foods list,Brendie.

Pop started eating cereal for the first time in our 33 years together, this summer. His cousin works away, and he visits him once in a while.That's where he learned to eat cereal. We have that some,but rarely.We eat oats some,for our cholesterol.Pop is not suppose to have the biscuits, but he cheats a lot and eats them more often than he should. He loves meat, so we have sausage,bacon,fried bologna,or pork tenderloin or country ham at times. We rotate about on the meats. Some times we have only toast and jam, but that is rare, since Pop is not wild about toast. We have eggs quite often, since we have chickens.We are both retired now, so we try to eat a hearty breakfast. We snack at lunch, and eat a very small meal later in the evening.We really eat too much for our age and activity.We are not obese, but we are both rather healthy.I am 5'9" and he is 6'.We both weigh a little over 200 pounds.I don't feel we are that big,since we are both so tall, but doctors say you need to be skin and bones to be healthy. (Sorry, Doc.) We try to loose,but it's nearly impossible to diet and keep your strength up to do your work. At least we haven't had any luck there.If we were getting a grade on our meal plan for each day, we would fail miserably. We eat very few fruits and veggies.Please don't tell Dr. Oz.

My Craft Of Choice!

These are a few pictures of some of the pumpkins I am making. I will make many different variations, and possibly many different finishes. I love trying new things, and maybe I will hit on some styles that appeal to others.I love making the leaves and the curly-ques. I think it adds a nice touch to the pumpkins, although it looks more like an ivy leaf.Some folks may notice that, but I just haven't taken the time to examine a pumpkin leaf that close, to see if it would be easily cut from tin.





As for my craft of choice,it depends on what day it is,how much energy I have today, have I eat too much salt, have I drank enough water,have I eat too many sweets, have I had a good solid breakfast,but not too heavy,is the weather too hot, or is it too cold,and what about the humidity and the barometric pressure.What other jobs are waiting on me and must get done today.And I mustn't forget my biorhythm.I'll need to check on that.
I must take all of this into consideration, on any given day, as to what craft I will throw myself into, head on.If I am feeling really good,I may tackle 3 or 4 crafts at once.

I made the round through the yard this a.m.and I think that helps to get the oxygen to my brain,after a good breakfast. Pop helped me to fix breakfast this morning. We had pork tenderloin,eggs,biscuits,with jelly, and coffee, so I'm good in that department.I let the chickens out into the bigger pen,fed the cats and dogs,and baby chicken in the cookie jar.It has almost outgrown the 3 gallon cookie jar, so I only leave it in there at night. During the day, he goes outside in a bigger cage.Yes,we think it is a HE.We didn't really need another rooster, but he will be such a pet after raising him with the cats, and in a cookie jar, we will have to keep him,somehow.
But back to my craft of choice. For a few days now, all I have wanted to do is make pumpkins. I guess it's the season. I really get in the mood to make crafts for whatever holiday is at hand. That's almost too late to get started, unless I am preparing them for next year.I don't understand why I do that, but I only get excited about seasonal or specific holiday crafts, during that season.

Everyone wins!

These are a few of the projects I worked on yesterday.


These are pumpkins I am making from the pile of old discarded lumber the neighbor brought over after the storm took the roof off his barn.He knows I use a lot of wood.


This is a drain cloth I made from a receiving blanket and an old worn out tea towel. I have been using my home made dish soap, and staying away from the dishwasher as much as possible, so I found the need to drain my few hand washed dishes on something.I generally use several thicknesses of old tea towels, but since I had several of the blankets which I buy at yard sales,for tea towels, I got the idea to use up some of the older towels as batting inside the newer, prettier cloths.So I have made a few and enjoy making them and it uses up a lot of old raggedy towels.



These are dish washing cloths I have been making using up some small remnants of thread. I use whatever thread I have on hand. I don't buy any certain kind of thread.That would defeat my purpose of using up the thread I have. So far, the type of thread I have used, is working great.I love making them.



These are pumpkins I have been making from the old roofing we took off our hen house this Spring. It is aluminum and lightweight, making it easier to cut. I have learned I could make the numerous curly-ques easily by cutting a very narrow strip of the aluminum. It curls as I cut. Then I paint them to match my project at hand.I find it to be a very calming project.

And I might add, I cooked a pot of dried beans and made a skillet of cornbread, while I was working on my crafts.Not bad for a day of playing.

This is a comment I left on Ms.Lottie's post today. It gave me an idea for a post of my own. At least I will try to post, if the Internet stays up long enough.

(Ms.Lottie,I love your plan "not to buy" for a year.I need to make myself a similar challenge on not buying anything(other than food, and even that would be a good challenge)for a year. I bring home so many things to use in my crafting, it gets overwhelming at times.I spent the day yesterday working on half a dozen different projects trying to use up a few of my collection of supplies,but it seems the rate I bring them into the house is much faster than the rate I move them out.I suppose I could offer a craft workshop and invite folks over to use their imaginations on new projects and to help me to move my collections along.We could all contribute a pot luck dish and make a fun day of it.Everyone wins!)

I think that is a really good idea on the craft workshop.It is so hard to get my family together, and they are mostly all crafters of one sort or another. I have craft tools and supplies for any craft known to man, so surely they could find their medium to work with in one of my sheds or my basement, or one of the closets.They are stashed away in every nook and cranny.These are just a sample of my crafts. I could list 500 others I have lying around if only I had the time.Don't you agree, I need to start a Crafters Workshop? After all these years of wondering, that could be my niche.

Frustrated!

I am very frustrated, upset, mad, disillusioned,and down right pissed off at my phone and Internet service. I pay dearly for their service, and this past few months, it has been ridiculous.

I had a whole page typed up on my frustrations, and the service conveniently went down again and I lost it all.

That will not stop me.

We had the phone company come to the house, and look things over. They say it was a broken line here in my yard. They replaced that, and the service still has not improved.The Internet keeps going down when I am trying to use it. Thank God, I don't earn my living with the Internet. We would starve.It amazes me how they can go to the moon, but they cannot install decent phone service that works.It appears I will need to stop blogging for awhile, in hopes they will get the problem resolved.I am not holding my breath. I only wish we had a second choice in phone service providers in my area. I would gladly give them a try.Maybe if I withhold my payment for a few months,that would get their attention, but then maybe they would disconnect me entirely from any service at all. I don't have a lot of choices, do I?Maybe they have Satellite Telehone and Internet Service in my area. I guess I'll need to do some investigating.

A New Day! A New Project!

This is my latest project. I have no clue as to why I latch onto certain projects and go at them with a vengeance, but this has been one of those projects.While visiting the auction this past week end, they offered this box. No one was interested.I got it for 50 cents. Rest assured ,it did not look like it does now in it's present state.(I can never remember to take a "before" picture of my projects.)I decided to see what I could do with the box. I had been to one of the consignment shops, or perhaps a yard sale, and saw some quaint wooden boxes that caught my eye. I figured I would try my hand at making one similar,but ended up using up a few pieces of cans of varnish/stain instead. The boxes I had seen were stained, but not varnished.I think they were black or brown. Some drab color. Most of the Primitive wood crafts are very plain and simple.I suppose that's why they're called Primitive.Pop and I went to the basement to drink our morning coffee while I continued to work on my box.I knew the question was coming. I just didn't know when. Then it came out. "What are you going to do with that box?"I have no idea. I thought it might be a good "catch all" for magazines,crafts in progress,toys.The list is endless.Everyone can use an extra "catch all".It's neat.It's quaint. It's functional.I'll bet if I get tired of it, I can take it back to the auction and get at least $5. for it.

Clarkson's 16th Annual Honeyfest!

September 22-25,2010

Saturday,9-18 Beauty Contest noon
Tuesday 9-21 Decorating Contest Judging (local yards)4-6 p.pm.
Wednesday 9-22 Carnival ($10. armband) 5 p.m.
Honeyfest 5K Race and Walk 6 p.m.
Thursday 9-23 Amateur Pet show 4:45 p.m.
Carnival ($12. armband) 5 p.m.
Food Booths open at 5 p.m.
Gospel Singing 6 p.m.
Cooking contest 6 p.m.
Friday 9-24 Bed turning at Sew Much More 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Carnival ($12. armband) 5 p.m.
Food Booths open at 5 p.m.
Run for the Honey Fun Run 5:30 p.m.
Hat show for kids and adults 6 p.m.
Silent Auction at City Hall 6-9 p.m.
Live Music and Dance (Easy Street Band) 7-10:30 p.m.

Saturday 9-25 Craft Booths set up at 6 a.m.
15-30 Mile Bike Ride (starts at City Park) 6:30 a.m.
Craft Booths (open all day) 8 a.m.
Parade Judging 8 a.m.
Annual Clarkson Honeyfest Parade 9 a.m.
After the Parade
Tae-Kwon-Do Martial Arts Demonstration(bank parking lot)
Carnival open
Line Dancing
Car Show
Antique Tractor Show
Silent Auction
Bluegrass Music in Craft area
Dinner at St. Elizabeth's Church
Karaoke sign-up 10:30 a.m. to noon
Karaoke contest 1 p.m.
Bed Turning at Sew Much More 2 p.m.
Pedal Tractor 3 p.m.
Live Music and Dance (Bobby Joe Bratcher Band)7-11 p.m.
Other events on Friday and Saturday:
Hay Rides by Clarkson Fire Department,
Food Booths,Games,Carriage Rides

For more infmation go to www.clarksonhoneyfest.com

Fall Rocks!

This is some of the aluminum roofing that I begged Pop to let me keep, when he was taking a load of metals to the recyclers. I had an idea I could find some way to use it in my crafts.This is not the greatest creation, but, it's a start.Hopefully as I use my creativeness more and more, it will improve. It's kinda like a sponge that has been allowed to dry out.It can be revived to it's former state with a little help.I hope that's true with my creative abilities. They have appeared to have dried up.

This is the type of thing I use to do with my many bulletin boards when I worked with the Food Service. I would use lots of cut outs and pictures to promote our meals and good nutrition habits. It was one of my favorite elements of my job, along with the bread making and experimenting with various dishes,but as time went by, there was not enough hours in the day to do all the paperwork and all the things which I had enjoyed for so many years.I do miss that, so I thought I would bring some of my tools back out and use some of my ideas on my blog.

I know there are laws against cruelty to animals,but

what about grasshoppers. If they are protected, we're in a world of trouble. I had left the door ajar to the back porch this morning,while we drink our morning cup of coffee. Minnie and Lucky have so much fun running in and out and all around the porches,I couldn't bring myself to shut the door too soon.I got busy with my morning ritual of this and that, and forgot the door. The next thing I knew, Minnie had a new playmate. I don't think she wanted to eat him, as much as she wanted to play with him. It was so cute watching her catch and release him, just so she could chase him again, I never give it a thought as to how the poor grasshopper might feel.I guess it could have been worse. Minnie could have eaten him.I never thought they would be that tasty, since I remember as a child, that they would eat big holes in our tobacco crop. I remember them spitting the tobacco juice on us. I just figured from that point on that all grasshoppers spit tobacco, but then I guess it has to do with what they eat. Hopefully,Minnie will tire of his company, before she gets that hungry.

Australia,Get Ready for Oprah!

This December Oprah will be sending her entire audience to Australia as part of her Grand Finale.She will be winding up her show after 25 years.She's not leaving TV, but she will have her (OWN)Oprah Winfrey Network featuring a different kind of talk from her present show.

This information was taken from the popeater.com website.

The Lion lays down with the Lamb!

Well, it's not exactly a lion and a lamb, but close. Not the best shot,either, but I wanted to get them in the act. The chick raised it's head up as I came close enough to snap the picture, but it had been sleeping, too.



I keep the chick in a terrarium of sorts till it is big enough to put outdoors in a cage,although I did have it outside in a cage for awhile today.The chick and the cats are good friends as long as the glass wall is between them. I saw Lucky and Minnie sleeping next to the chick, so I put them each something soft there for their nap. They use them quite often.I don't want to try removing the wall dividing them just yet, but I'll bet as the chick grows into a big chicken, they will still be friends.At least, that's what I'm hoping.You never know. They might be the best of Bed Fellows even then. Strange things have happened with the animal world.I had a newborn pig once that we raised on a Beagle hound who was nursing her young at that time. I have a picture some where still.I haven't thought of it for years though, so it would take me awhile to locate the picture.

The grandchildren were both here today, so I know the chick and both cats are ready for a nice long nap, as am I.