Red Geranium Cottage

Where's the snow???

I'm waiting but my patience are running out.  For the snow, what else??  I know it's coming but... when??  We have gotten a little bitty bit but that's not enough for me.  I need more!!! Ok so that little bit of wood on that stand is cracking me up. Hunka realized he needed to keep that FULL real quick.  This isn't Ca. Toto!!  He's traded in his shorts too for some long pants.  You saw that coming didn't you?

 

Yep that's snow, and no it's not powdered sugar.  How do I know this?? Why because I tasted just to make sure no one was playing a trick on me.   lol   You know I had to get a picture of it. That may be all I get.  I wanna enjoy it.

Anyone wanna go ice skating?  I'll have my own rink soon.  Guess I'll have to learn how to skate.  Ok not really!!  See that little thing to the right bottom?That's a heater so it won't freeze solid. Don't want fishy to die.  Supposedly we have to do this so toxins don't get in to the fish. If it freezes over that will happen. Really I think a pool must have been easier to take care of.  I say must have because.........I didn't take of that, nor the fish pond. 

Tis the season!!!!  I got gifty's wanna see?   I was surprised one day last week when a little box was sitting on my porch.  It was from Barbie Jo.  My birds will love the seed covered gingerbread guy. And I love the cheese ball bowl. Wonder how she knows I like cheese balls?   Matter of fact, I used it last night for snacks.  Thanks Barbie Jo!!

 

Then my friend Loz sent me a great pkg all the way across the pond.  I LOVE LOVE this book.  It has the cutest stitchery!  I can't wait to get started on that quilt on the cover.

 

She even had it signed for me by Natalie.

 

And.........wait there's more!!  She got me a sweatshirt jacket.  If she says WE had a wonderful time then by golly WE did. I just wished I could remember the trip. lol  I love the jacket even if I don't remember my travels.  I also got a cute little magnet and some buttons.  I'm sorry I forgot to snap a photo of them.  Thanks Loz!!

I saw an envelope in the mail from two of my favorite people..........Frannie and her mom. Look what I got.  Is this not the cutest? That mom of Frannie's is very talented.  That is one cute chocolate bar don't ya think?

 

Next up............my new ADORABLE snow gal that Sprinkle made me. I was so happy to get a new dolly from her. I was secretly hoping she was going to make one.  I love that fabric her dress is out of and that garland belt she's sportin.  LOVE HER!

I also got this neat primitive annie,  my favorite chocolate marshmallows, a cupcake pincushion,  and can ya dig my new pink socks with the fur???

 

Want a closer look at my socks??  You know your jealous!!  Oh yea look at those babies. And they are soooo warm and cozy.  Isn't my cupcake cute too?  Don't even look at my marshmallows back there in the red bag. I said DON'T LOOK!!

And one of my favorite things Deb gave me was this cookbook. Can I tell you how may times I picked this up in the store and put it down??  Something kept telling me to drop it.  Guess I know why now?  It is a great cookbook. Lots of good stuff inside.  I loved my pkg from you Deb.Thank you so much!!! 

I've been baking!!  I love baking cookies.  I will say though, my sugar cookies sucked this year.  Alot of them burnt.  I did not like the dough I made. It was from a new recipe and I wont be using that again. Sugar cookies are my favorite cookie ever!!  But not these.

Although, my peanut butter,  white chocolate chip, dark chocolate chip, Mexican wedding cookies, and butterscotch cookies turned our great.  I have them for breakfast every morning. The breakfast of champions I say.  I told you I was putting on my winter coat didn't I? We had to have a little holiday cheer while baking too.  Just had to.  He's red, Im white.  Usually I'm RED you know.  :-)   Just not when it comes to my wine. And no I did not have that for breakfast. 

Peanut butter anyone?

Mexican wedding cookie??  Now these are a close second for me.   Hunka said they taste like alum???  I said why thank you for the nice compliment.  What would I do without his opinion??

Look who's ready for Christmas!!  She looks so pretty and smells so good. Do ya love her new bling around her neck?

 

She wasn't looking at us after that.  She does not like going and let's us know it too.

Well are you on picture over load yet?  I really do mean to post more often then time gets away from me.  I've been having a good time this holiday season.  I've waited to do  this for years and now I'm enjoying it.  We've had company several times, we've been invited to friends house and dined out with good friends,  We had our work Christmas party, had family over, and we're going to my sister Linda's for our Christmas this weekend.  Even supposed to maybe, just maybe get some snow on Sat.  So life is good for me.  Very good!!And.....Sunday hunka and I along with my boys father will all be Wilsters guest on his radio show. He does a trivia contest on a local radio station every Sun. for two hours. He's asked us three to be his guest this week. Should be fun.  He said he's got the BLEEP button ready just in case. You never know with hunka what will slip out of that mouth.  Oh you bet I'll have my camera with me. I've never been on the air LIVE!!  Oh wait, I've never been on the air EVER.  And after this he may never let us on again.  Dead or Alive!

Now for our winner of the second wall hanging............thank you all for your comments, I love each and every one of them. 

I've picked #25 and I'm sure you know why. But in case you don't that is a special day this month and I hope your all ready for it. If not you best get hopping. Santa's coming.

Soooo after you count and see if YOU won, let me know and I'll get your wall hanging out to you.  Sorry I'm a little late in doing this.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baby, it's cold outside.

Well I think I'm a day late. But.........I'm here.  And I've got another give away.  Oh yes I do.  But you'll have to wait and look at all my pictures first.  Ohhh stop your complaining, you can do it, I know you can.

Can I tell you, it's getting freakin cold here??  I mean COLD.  Oh no... I'm not complaining, I haven't had a hot flash in weeks.  What's to complain about??  If there's one thing good about winter, that may be it for me.  I actually am layering.  Now that's not good when you also are putting on your winter coat. I don't mean the coat that you button up, I mean the one that attaches itself to your body!!!!  It's always something isn't it??  Even the poor fish are cold.  And the waterfall is freezing.  I mean seriously we have ice cycles. or is it icicles???  You know that's a new word for me because we did not have those in Ca.  Nor could we spell that in Ca. 

 

The poor fishy. They are all at the bottom of the pool hovering together. A couple are moving but very, very slow.  Can you imagine spending your winter down there??  Talk about layering???  They were putting on there winter coat for the last few weeks. Hunka has been feeding them this stuff that helps them "bulk" up.  I'm just sayin.... I may have gotten a hold of that stuff myself.   Should I fall in the pond.........I will survive.

Speaking of winter coats...............she best be getting in gear with hers. She has decided that she is now an inside dog. In Ca. we could not get her to stay inside more than 5 min.  I swear. Now............she's all about the inside. The other day I left her inside while I left and ran errands. I came back, opened up the front door and saw her standing on all fours on my COUCH!!!  She was looking to see who was coming in.  I mean if your gonna romp on my furniture can you at least act like a vicious guard dog when the dog opens???

Did some more decorating today............

I love this jolly little guy. 

This guy I got 70% off last year at the end of Christmas in Indiana. 

Hunka moved my favorite cabinet back into the kitchen. He made this for me a few years ago and I love it. I have two of them.  He used old windows to make them. 

I got a little bit of everything going on here. But I found my rooster lamp, which isn't very Christmassy.  My Santa sign and my Annie.  If I love it, it goes out. 

Love my kitchen santa.

Okie Dokie!!!  Here's the give away #2.   Again this was a sample I bought.  I hope someone will enjoy it in there home this Christmas.  It's not quite as bright as it photographed.  You can leave a comment again....that's it.  Nothing more.  I do love all of your comments by the way.  They make me smile. 

Next I'll show the pics of my bedroom.  I've been working on that too.  It seems like we will never get all the boxes unpacked from the move. We got down to unpacking the stuff we needed and left several boxes. Well not it's time to park in the garage so we don't freeze to death getting into our cars sooo hunka spent all day in the garage unpacking more boxes.  Where did all that stuff come from???? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have a winner!!!!

And the winner is....................Rachel!! I picked #25 because that was the date of our 20th anniversary.  Rachel send me an email with your addy and I'll get your new wall hanging out to you asap!!!  Now remember I started with the first 16 that commented on my previous post. 

Guess what??? It's SNOWING here!!!  YIPPEEEE!!! I've been waiting very patiently all day long. The weather guy said yesterday that we would get snow tonight and guess what?? He didn't lie to me.  Can I tell ya how excited I was tonight to see those tiny little white flakes?  Yea, yea I can hear all of you now. You think Ill be complaining soon about the snow. Well your wrong.  Sooooo stinkin wrong.  I love the snow. I remember living here and having to crawl in my car thru the hatch back because my doors froze shut....IN A DRESS.  But I still loved the snow.  Alright I don't wear dresses anymore and I don't own a hatch back so I won't be reliving that moment but.....I will be out there shoveling snow because I love doing that,  and I will be owning the cutest snow boots, because...well I like to look cute.  DUH!!!  I may even look cute when I fall on my butt while trying to walk in my new boots in the snow.   lolol   You know I can't walk without falling even when the ground is dry.  This is a small snow, we're not getting much and there will be no sign of it in the morning. But I'm enjoying it now.  So humor me. 

Since it's snowing we will be needing this..........Ohyea he's still wearing his shorts.

I've been doing a little more decorating in the kitchen and throughout the house. I'm going to show more of my kitchen so if your bored...........look away.  Someone said I've shown enough of it so guess what??? I'm showing more!!!!!   It's MY blog remember??? 

Hunka hung my new picture. I bought this back in June while out shopping with my sister. I loved the cherries and the saying.  Ohhh and did you notice the color of our walls? We went with a light beige that is just a shade darker than the cabinets. 

We put the lampshades on our chandeliers.  I was dying to do that but waiting on the dust to settle.  That one is a bit crooked wouldn't ya say?

I started putting my red/white/blue dishes in one of the cabinets. Still haven't gotten glass put in the door though.

Nuthin in this one yet.  Oh but there will be soon. I have several red/white polka dotted dishes that are going in there.  The jars with the red lids are from Target for those of you that asked where I got them.  I haven't seen them there for awhile though. Only the silver lids.  But you could spray paint them.  The egg tin on top of the cabinet I got at a local shop called Three French Hens.  The same place that hunka got my flower cart. 

Next up is new curtains.  I have the fabric and the new rods......just need to get to the sewing machine. 

The cabinet to the right is all full of my baking stuff.  Pans,  measuring bowls, cups, cookie decorating sprinkles, chocolate chips,  mixes, rolling pins, and on and on.  I love it all together in one spot.  The drawers below have all my measuring spoons,  spatulas, etc.

Some of you asked where I got the red canisters.  I got them last year I think at Joanns.  I know there from Joanns because the tags are still on the bottom. lol 

Okkkkkk so I have another give away tomorrow!!!  Or the next day.  So you'll wanna come back if you wanna enter.  I'll try and not talk about my kitchen anymore.  lol  I said try!!!!! I did not promise. 

 

 

 

 

 

See I came back.... are you surprised?

I must be sick, two post in two days.  Oh wait I am sick.  Someone gave me a cold!  I've been sneezing like crazy for two days.  Luckily it's just a head cold, and no sore throat or anything else.  Please no more flu. Once is enough per season. 

The past few days I've been in the sewing room whipping up Christmas gifties.  Finally I think my sewing mojo might be coming back.  Slowly but surely.  Why oh why do we wait until the month of Christmas to actually start making our gifts?  Would it just not be as much fun if we started in......ohhhh let's say JAN??  Maybe it's the rush of it all that excites me, that's why I wait till the last possible minute to start projects. I finished the binding on this little quilt.  I loved it when I started it last year, just never did the binding. Now it's done and I can enjoy it. It sorta looks Christmassy too doesn't it?

 

Also took some pics of the decorating I've been doing. I started a week ago because I just couldn't wait.  I know, I know..........

The white tray I recently bought at an antique shop.  It will be perfect for all kinds of decorating. The little tree is much greener it just didn't photograph well with all that red I guess. lol  Love me some RED.

I think I need to take down the sunflower basket there. It says Summer all over it. lol

Again this photo is tooo bright. I don't know what the heck I'm doing wrong all of a sudden.

We bought this heavy, and I do mean heavy coat rack on our trip to Branson.  This woodworking guy has a shop where he sells his furniture and he had this hanging on a wall.  It was just perfect for our house.  Hunka had to bolt that baby into some studs. 

Do you like my children's little snow shovel?  I wanna decorate it up for the holidays.  It looks like it's seen better days doesn't it?  I got it at an antique shop that is next door to Homestead Hearth. 

Okkkkk I know what your waiting for. You've probably been saying...JEEZ I wish she would zip it and get to the business at hand.

So here is my give away.  Actually I have two things but this is the first one I'll do.  Now those of you that left a comment yesterday will get an extra name in the drawing.  Everyone else...........leave me a comment,  and preferably a nice comment and I'll throw your name in.  I'm not gonna make you go leave a message on your blog about my drawing, put my name on your sidebar,  on your neighbors sidebar,  come back to my blog, leave a comment on my blog,  touch your toes, turn around in circles five times, then leave another comment.  Nope I'm not gonna do that.  Just one comment.  That's it.  Not sure when I'll draw the name but this coming week for sure.  I did not make this. It was a sample I purchased for my shop.  I'd love to take credit but I won't.  lol

Again...........not a bright quilt.  Darn camera.  Maybe I need to read the instruction book. Because I have clearly hit some button I should not have.  Like the BRIGHT button.

 

I appreciate all of your nice comments you leave and I've been meaning to do a give away for sometime.  Just never did get around to it.  I love doing give aways and am going to try to do more. 

 

 

 

 

The bird, the gifts, and the family.

Thank you for all the anniversary wishes.  It was very nice of you and hunka and I thank you!!! 

How was your turkey day?? Mine was wonderful.  Couldn't ask for a better day.  Hunka made the turkey on the grill outside. I don't think I ever have made a turkey.  Let's hope I never have to.  He does a great job so why ruin a good thing?

BEFORE

 

AFTER

Here's why you DON'T put wine in the freezer!!  Hunka put this in the freezer on Thanksgiving day. Today I opened the freezer to get some ice, and out pops a cork.  I look in and there is a wine bottle that was FROZEN.  Wine all over the ice. He says, I've been wondering why the ice tasted different.  UHHHH maybe you should wonder why your getting drunk on ICE WATER!!! 

We had lots of different appetizers before the meal and of course we had the famous cheese ball. But have you ever had these??  You take the little wienies, wrap bacon around and sprinkle brown sugar all over. OMGGGG!!!!!  What more could you want?

I got two very nice packages in the mail in the last couple days.  One was from my little buddy Stefanie.  OMG what a surprise.  Look what she made me. And just in time for my pie to set on. It is sooo cute.  Thank you Stefanie!!!!!  I love it.  That was sooo very thoughtful of you. 

Look at this cute label.  She's so crafty. Did you see her little one's birthday party??  She whipped up the cutest things.

 

And today...........I went out to the mailbox and saw that I had AIRMAIL!!   WOOHOOO  but...who could it be from??  I wasn't expecting anything.  But I must say I'm getting used to going out there and finding surprises.  I'm just sayin.

My friend Sue sent me this package of goodness.  Talk about another surprise!!!  WOW

Ok this is one cute little pincushion. I think I'm leaving him in the kitchen though.

Do you see the cute coasters and the matching table runner??  Sue also sent some tea all the way from the UK just for me. And guess what? I'm catching a cold so that is going to taste great.  Water is boiling now.

Sue said she sent this stuff because back in the summer I sent her a box with Cracker Jacks and some Fiddle Faddle.  Now if your from the U.S. you know what I'm talking about.  But Sue had never heard of it nor had she tasted. Well you know she LOVED it.  And apparently she loved it alot.  Lucky for me.  :-)   Hmmm what can I send her next??

While we had everyone together yesterday we did our usual picture taking. The kids just hate it.  But we gotta do it when there all in the same place at the same time.  Someday they will understand.  I'll remind them of how much they hated it.  Ok maybe he was having a little fun.  lol  That is my mailbox cover!! 

Now do THEY look like there having fun or what??   Happy Holidays!!!  lolol

Ok Wilster doesn't look like he's totally enjoying this either.  And believe me....he ISN'T!!

Well WE were enjoying it!!!

Is hunka choking Madeline???   That's why her eyes are glowing. 

I hope all of you had as nice of a day as I did.  Because mine was awesome!!! 

Since I've received some very nice surprises in the mail, I'll be back tomorrow (hopefully) with a giveaway!!!   I think you'll like it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY HUNKA!!!

Today hunka and I celebrated our 20th anniversary.  Were did the time go?? Nooo I didn't say it went by fast.  lol   I'd never say that.  It's been quite the 20 years.  We've had our ups and our downs.  But bottom line is we're still around together to celebrate that big 20!!!   And here's to 20 more. 

I woke up this morning and this was sitting by my chair.  Hunka and I had seen it at a local shop. It's a reproduction of an old flower cart.  OMG I wanted it soo bad but I just knew I'd never see one.  Hunka said..........it cost HOW MUCH???   Well..............was I ever shocked this morning.  And happy.

 
  

Boo offered to take us to dinner tonight but I decided to make hunka his favorite dish........no not me!!!   Chicken crotch as he calls it.  Chicken Cacciatore. 

Can you smell it?  He loved it!!

Thanks anyway Boo, it was nice enough to have you here for dinner.  To celebrate with us.

We toasted across our new island.............FINALLY!!!!   Hunka said he's gonna kill me for posting this photo with those pants on. lolol  Sooo there goes another 20 years I guess. 

I remember the day 20 years ago.  I told my mother in law she could plan our wedding. She always wanted a daughter to help plan her wedding, and she had two sons.  She was sooo happy to do the planning,  the whole thing. She even picked the day.  All we had to do was show up. She sent out the invites, did the food, the flowers....everything!!!   I just wish she was still around to see that we  made it 20 years.  She'd be proud of us. 

Happy Anniversary honey, I love you!!

I'm not sure if this week could get any better, yet tomorrow is my first Thanksgiving since being back home.  I am beyond excited. I'll probably not be able to sleep tonight.  I never thought I'd see this day.  It's gonna be a great one. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. 

 
   

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Today we had our feast at school.  We worked out butts off this month making little teepee's,  hats, indian costumes,  turkey cups,  glitter, glue,  more glitter,and did I say glue???  Necklaces,  Indian head dresses,  more glitter and did I say glue???  Name place cards,  glitter and did I say......................Oh lordy I went home each night and had dreams, uhh... nightmares, singing those freakin songs in my head until I couldn't go to sleep.  Well today it all paid off.  Those little kids got up there in front of all the parents and sang their little hearts out.  The parents sat there with big smiles on their faces happy as can be.  It was all worth it right.............It WAS worth it wasn't it?  Did I tell you about the glitter and glue??  I swear when I blew my nose glitter came out. 

This is the BEFORE photo this morning as I was leaving for Glitter heaven.  Are you checkin out the Indian Mocassins?? ARE YOU?? 

And here is the AFTER.  Do you see I'm still smiling?? Is there GLITTER on my face?

Here's my morning little Indians.  I just love them to death!!! I want to bring them all home with me.  Instant grandchildren!! You gotta do what you gotta do right?

This is my afternoon class. I was missing two kids one of which was my only girl in that class of 6 boys.

All in all it was a great day.   After 220 chicken nuggets, 80 mini muffins,  two large fruit frienship salads,  and gallons of lemonade,  I'd say it was a success.   But my question was.....what do we have to do for Christmas??  I'm just ASKIN!!!!

I'll leave you with this..........The turkey is a funny bird....his head goes wobble, wobble, wobble,  He only says one word............GOBBLE, GOBBLE, GOBBLE!!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Boo, Wilster, my little sister Linda and her family all will be here at our house celebrating this year and I dont have to tell you how blessed I feel being here.  I am beyond happy and couldn't be more grateful to my hubby for getting me back here where I feel I belong. 

New tile went in today.

Finally the new back splash went in today.  I'm so glad that the other one was the wrong color because I love the new design I picked out instead.  This was the design I picked out but not that ugly gold color. When I walked in and saw this I wanted to cry. 

The bull nose that goes on the corner and at the top was WHITE instead of all like that darker piece there. 

 

Here's the new one.   LOVE IT. The cabinet above isn't blue it just shows that way in the photo. 

I couldn't resist putting in one red plate.  This side is where my oven/micro used to be.

This is the other side of the kitchen.  That chandelier by the door is going to be strung up with the chain and hung on a cook we'll put in the ceiling.  There we will get a small table just for two.  I love my lights. 

More later. I'm decorating now.  WOOHOOOO!!!!

Route 66 antique shop link

Here is the link http://www.route66antiquemall.com/to the antique shop for those of you that have asked for it. 

Antiquing at Route 66

Hunka and I stopped at this great antique shop on our way home from Branson last month.  We can't wait to go back to this place. It was a primitive place for sure.  I wanted so much stuff from there. And so did hunka.  He's getting into this primitive stuff. And I like it. 

Hunka spotted a cabinet he wanted. Only problem..... where to put it.

Look, he found another one.   They had some awesome cabinets. And great prices.

I could move right in this room.

Love the red cabinet. Isn't the punkin cute in the little chair?

Another cute punkin and chair.  Nice white cabinet too. I bought the stool everything is sitting on. 

This looks like it's right out of the 1800's.

I want that old green cabinet.  Wonder if it's still there?

 Can you see John Boy sitting there writing?   Night Mary Ellen, night John Boy!

 

See the red little bench on the ground??? It  went home with me too.  I love those benches for decorating. 

I thought this was a cool quilt. Kathie I took this photo for you.  It would be a fun one to reproduce. 

I thought this was neat. 

Ok that's it for the tour.  Hope you enjoyed it.  

I've got a few more bundles I found in the sewing room. You know the deal,  send me an email and the price does NOT include shipping.  I sent them flat rate. 

1) Heart & Soul   by Moda.   34 fat quarters and a panel.  $40.00 SOLD thank you.

2) Cold Winter Noses by Moda.... Sandy Gervais 38 fat quarters and two panels $55 SOLD thank you

3) Forever Yours by South Seas...Robyn Pandolph..56 fat qtrs. $50.00 The colors are a little duller than they look here.  Sorry my camera wouldn't cooperate.

SOLD thank you!!!

Nighty Night!!!   Smoochy, smoochy!