Red Geranium Cottage

Where oh where to start................

I didn't mean to be away for so long.  I was doing good too on the blog posts. And I just blew it.  

Hunka and I took a little trip to Tennessee to see my Boo and his girlfriend Hillarie.  We were there over the weekend.  It wa was a nice visit. They took us to Nashville to some Honky Tonks to hear the music.  And they took us to this pizza place the night we got there for dinner.  OMGGGG this pizza was to die for. We have the killer pizza here called Imos in St. Louis but this was so good. I'm craving it right now.  These were the biggest pizzas I've ever seen. Boo kept saying we should get the big one. So we did.  Needless to say we took half home with us.  

After we ate we went to Nashville. Look who I found hanging out on the street.  He's looking pretty shiny these days but he can still bust a move!!

Hillarie has this huge dog. Micah is a German Shephard.  Sweet, sweet dog.  But Madeline is scared to death of him. If he gets up to move, so does she.  She is on the move the whole time.   Hunka decided to take them for a walk.  I now call him the Dog Whisperer.

Here's the cute couple.  We love Hillarie. She is so sweet, just like her doggy.  You know what I'm hoping for here don't you?????   lolol  I won't say it. In case Boo is reading this.  We went to Bell Buckle again. This neat town not far from Boo's house.  Some cute antique shops and this old ice cream place that's been there forever.  We went last year too and had ice cream.  It is soooo good. 

Miss Jeanne's it's called. Love this sign.

Some neat quilts in the antique shop.  

Don't you love this one??? 

And this one.........

And, this one is unreal. The work that went into this one. The guy told us it was from the 1800's.  Maybe someone would love to recreate this.  It's beautiful. 

We kept passing them on the way home.  How cute is this little car??? lolol

Saw the boys serving our country. A whole caravan of them.  

They all looked so, so young.   Thank God for these men and women!!!!  They make me very proud.  

Then we have this!!!  We have to give her a half of a doggy downer so she won't stand for 6 hours. Her poor legs can't take it.  So here she is in the beginning of our trip.

And then here she is...........

And................she's gone.

Here she was after her and Micah had an altercation.  He had her head in his mouth. Not so good.  Poor Madeline lost the battle.  Micah felt so bad afterwards though.  This was on the way home. Before round 2 of the drugs took effect. She was hanging on by a thread there.  

That's the trip to Tenn. Hope you enjoyed.  

I'll be off packing for my two week trip to New Hampshire. I'm going to see my friend Brenda. I can not wait!!!!!!!   I'll be sure and take lots of photos.  

 

 

 

 

 

We have a winner!!

WOW thank you for all the comments and those entries.  The winner is..............................

Ok, you'll have to wait till the end of my post. Otherwise you'll move on. Especially if your not the winner. lol    Just kidding.  

The weather here was so nice today.  I had a brief encounter with Spring fever I do believe.  I opened the front door wide, opened the doors in my sewing room downstairs and let the fresh air in.  I vacuumed and mopped the kitchen floor,  did some laundry, cleaned up the family room,  and yes I even cooked.  I made a Gooey Butter Cake and I have a turkey breast cooking right now. It's smelling so good.  I sort of made up my own recipe for this.  Would you like to hear it??? 

I took a boneless Butterball Turkey Breast, I melted a stick of BUTTER, yes real butter.  I mixed in some garlic ( I use the garlic in the squishy tube)  ground sage, and ground thyme along with some Natures Seasoning.  I use that stuff on everything.  I just tossed in whatever I thought I needed. I didn't measure.  I whisked it all together then took my hands and rubbed it all over that bird.  I mean all over!!!!  The bird was a butter bird when I was finished with him/her.  I cooked it on 325 for almost 2 1/2 hours. But check the temp of yours to make sure it's done.  We don't like real done meat.  It loses it's juices if you over cook.  

Next up I made a Gooey Butter Cake which I make often.  This was a St. Louis cake from way back when I was growing up.  A corner bakery used to make them when I was growing up and they were so good.  I acquired my recipe some 30 years ago and have used it ever since.  

You don't have to have a red Kitchen- Aid but I'm pretty sure your cake will taste better if you do.

You mix in your egg, one stick of melted margarine and one yellow or white cake mix.  

Let that baby roar!!!!  Mix her up. 

This is what it should look like. This will be your crust.  

Put it all in the baking dish and pat it down to form your crust.  Yes those are my finger prints all over that cake.  haaaaa  Looks funny doesn't it? 

Next up the filling. The ooey gooey part.  One package of cream cheese,  two eggs and  and one box of Powerdered Sugar or 4 cups.  

Couldn't you just eat that with a spoon? 

Pour over the crust you made earlier.  The crust is unbaked at this point.  

She's ready to be baked.   This is the easiest dessert to make I promise and everyone loves it.  There are other recipes out there using flour, using much more butter, but this one is the best I think.  Of course I think that because it's the one I've been using forever!!  

Ooops forgot to say that you cook the cake at 350 for 40 min. But watch it cause sometimes I cook mine for 35 and turn the oven off the last 5 min.  It's up to you. I like mine more gooey inside.   Thanks Yvonne for letting me know I forgot this part.  

Debbie are you drooling?????????     Tada!!!!  A Gooey Butter Cake.  I'm dying to cut into this.  My cousin Gary requests this for his birthday from me.  An easy gift.  And Debbie requested this when we would get together.  Should I mail her a slice??  :)

Along with baking I've been gardening.  Inside!!  I brought this Geranium inside when the weather started freezing.  I've never tried to grow one inside but it worked.  I've even had blooms.  I'm so happy.  

Isn't it pretty?  I keep it on the floor in my sewing room by the sliding door.  So green.  

Love the leaf veins.

This is my African Violet.  My Green Thumb has reappeared I do believe.  

Ok for the winner. Drumroll please............................

 

Dianne Mitzel said:

You have a wonderful , sweet husband..what a joy to share you life with someone so very thoughtful. I am blessed with one very much like him..I adore the little sewing kit!! Hope it comes to live with me!

Dianne, email me your mailing address and I'll get your little heart shaped sewing kit out to you.  

Ps. I'll be doing another give away soon!!!  So don't stay away too long.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love is in the air..............

Well around here it is. How about there?  I had one of the best Valentine's Day's I've had in a long time I think.  Remember me showing you the pictures of the antique shopping day? Well look what I woke up to  this morning.

Yep, it's that red stool I wanted and did not go get.  I meant to go back and get it but kept getting side tracked. Hunka said he kept waiting for me to come in all bummed out one day because it would have been gone!  He had it hiding somewhere in the house.  

I wanted this too but the price said FIRM on it and I didn't want to ask them about it.  But  I was dying to have it for my garden this Spring.  Well, guess who went in and  asked and got it for me?  I don't think he still understands what I would want that thing for.  lolol  

Remember this quilt..........

Well it's in my house now!!  The lighting is bad so it looks light colored.   Yes, hunka  went to the other antique shop all the way across town and bought it!!!  

I got these from Hunka yesterday........  I'm sorry girls I will not share him!! I just won't.  I'm keeping him forever.  

And these were delivered yesterday from Boo.........These came yesterday and I had no idea what they were or who they were from. Hunka says,  well it's not from ME. lolol   These are to die for!!  Shari's Berry's I think they are from. I'd have to look at the box again.  But the strawberries are huge!

My doggy got groomed today for her  Valentine's Day. She looks like she's ready for her date.  Rockin that pink polka dotted scarf.  

While I was at the antique shop last week I bought this little sewing kit for a give away. It is the shape of a heart and has little thread spools in it. Too cute.  If you leave a comment I'll pick a winner.

 And if you go to Pam Kitty's blog she has a giveaway going on too.  I'm not sure how long it lasts so hurry!!!

I hope everyone has a Happy Valentine's Day!!!! 

 

 

Happy Birthday Wilster!!!

I'm not sure how this happens. Your children grow up right before your eyes.  

Today is my Wilster's 32nd birthday.  How can that be even possible.  I still remember him being a little guy running around the house in his underoos.  lolol He'll kill me for that. But I won't show a picture of it alright?  Now he's a grown man and I couldn't be more proud of him.  I always tell my boys how much I love them and I need to tell them how proud of them I am more often.  Because I am.  I couldn't have asked for a better son in Bill.  He's a great guy, he has a great career which he loves, and he's just very nice guy over all.  Treats people like he should.  Probably because he knows his momma will smack him upside his head.  lol  I am still the momma right?   

Happy Birthday Bill!!!!  I love you more and more every day.  

Antiquing is so much fun!!

Hunka and I went to another great antique shop close to our house the other day.  I had no idea this one was here until Boo told me. Yes Boo knew and I had no clue.  But he did share his info with me so it's ok.  :)  This is the place where he bought my  sled at Christmas time.  I love my sled.  I took some pictures  this time for ya.  I wanted so many things in here. 

IF this was RED..............well you know where it would be now.

Ditto!!  I know, I know!! I could spray paint but I didn't wanna. 

Lots of good things in this booth.  Can you see one thing that caught my eye?

How about a closer look.   And no we didn't get it. But I think I'm heading back there because it would look so good on my front porch with a pot of RED Geraniums sitting on it.  Don't ya think?  Can you see the wiring holding the thing together under the seat between the legs? It's barbed wire.  Very odd.  But different too.

I wanted this soooooooo bad.  It was sold we think because we couldn't find a price so I'm having hunka make me one.  We have a bunch of old windows and mine doesn't have to be exactly like this one.  I love it!!

Loved the cubby thing in the background against the wall. Oh and that red stool.  lol

I saw a couple little sewing machines.  Loved the blue one.  I think it was 30.00 and I'm sure they would have taken less. I should have asked.  

Then this one...........loved it too. This one was in really good shape and a whole lot more. 

Lots of old spools.......

A laundry bag with clothespins.

Then these three quilts. The one was in such good shape. I really wanted to buy it but passed at the last minute.  

One half of this quilt...............

And the other side. It was a huge quilt.  Still folded in half.  I only took photos of part of it. I love the blue gingham in there.  

This actually was just a top not quilted.  But look how bright that blue still is. 

And I have no idea where this came from or how much "it" was. I didn't ask. I ran!!  I did notice him following me around the store though.   

Have a great weekend!!! I'm going to. My Boo and his girlfriend Hillarie will be in town.  Yippeeeeeee.  :) 

 

 

Red is for Valentines Day.

Sorry I didn't come back right away. I don't know where my time goes. True I stay up till late, then don't get up until 10:30ish everyday but still,  what happens to my time?  Seems like I get going around noon and then it's 7pm before I blink my eye. Don't you remember when you were younger and your mom and gramma would say, "just wait till you get older, time flies by so fast".  I thought to myself, are they crazy? Time moves soooooo slow.  The wait for Christmas day would take forever in my little world.  But now, I swear December is two weeks long.  Haaaa   We would go visit my cousins who lived about a half hour away and now it seemed like that trip was at least two hours long.  Now I always think about that as I'm driving up there to see them.  

I drug out a few Valentine things, very few.  Once Christmas is packed up it seems like the whole house is so emtpy doesn't it?   I have to admit I still have two big bins full of Christmas stuff sitting in the dining room floor waiting to go downstairs.  I'm wondering which one of us will get tired of tripping over it and move it. So far it's not bothering either one of us.  Maybe I should move it over closer to Hunka's path he walks everday.  

I thought my Jubillee quilt I made and kitted for the website would look good on the table now.  I love Pam Kitty's fabric line.  I'm happy I used it for this quilt.  It looks like a great picnic quilt too doesn't it? 

I love my cabinet that Hunka made me.  I always have it on the end of the dining room table.  Good thing we don't hardly ever eat at that table so I just use it to decorate.  Which I really enjoy as you can tell. 

Can't remember where I got the Valentine card holder but I love it. I keep all my cards I get and stick them on there.  I think I bought this when I lived in Ca.  But can't remember where.It's shaped like a heart.  Not sure if you can tell that or not. 

 Red polka dotted things, my favorite!!  I also love how I can use them at Christmas and move right on into Valentine's Day. I need to change out that quilt though. ICK! Doesn't Fen Shuey me one bit.  Matter of fact, I'm feeling queasy.  

The flash really messed up this photo. But I bought this frame at Christmas and I love it. It's a neat red washed out color.  Doesn't look so good there. But hey, I think I was 20 in that photo.  

Moved the birdcage and put in a red lamp. Remember I had it on the table for Christmas.  I changed the shade.  And of course my Valentine Annie that Debbie made me years ago.  I love how her heart is pinned on her apron.

I always have an Annie on my baking area. Nicole has made some cute Valentine ones too, they area all over the house.  

My newest find. My friend Paula invited me out to lunch at a tea house this past week. When I walked in I spotted this beauty right away.  After we lunched I made a dash to the front where this was.  Luckyily she was still there waiting for me.  

I decided to put photos on this table for Valentine's Day.  I love all my photos but with the digital cameras I hardly ever print out photos anymore. I've got to start doing that again.  I love frames and I love setting my photos out.  

Do you see that big photo of the boys hugging? Well I cherish that photo because I don't think I'll ever see that again!!!!  I took the photo and had it restored because it had faded so bad over the years.  It is my all time favorite photo of any I've taken of them.  Be still my heart.  I have the best boys ever. Have I told you that lately??

Isn't this little guy cute? Homegoods!!!  The two guys in the polka dotted frame are pretty cute too.  

Freakin cute  little things.  They make me smile.

Not happy with this little happening but it's all I got.  I need Hunka to make me a red little cabinet like that black one.  Then it would be making me smile.  The quilt on the wall my friend Tammy made me.  Can you see the X's and O's?  So cute.  The heart quilt was a tutorial I did a couple times.  

I had this out for Christmas too but like I said I rolled it right over to Valentine's day if I could.  These candles smell sooooo dang good. Of course I'll never light them.  I love them just the way they are.  I wish my computer was scratch and sniff cause you would be scratching like crazy.  Trust me on that one!  

Guess I'll stop here and get back to my REDwork.  I've been doing a lot of that lately. Red runs through my veins.  Well, yours too, but more so in mine!!!  

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to come back soon.  

 

 

 

RED, RED and more RED

I can't believe we're starting week 2 already this year. Around here it feels like we are having Spring. It was almost 70 on Friday, Saturday  close to 60 and who knows what next.  The poor plants and trees are going to be so confused soon.  I'm wondering what this will do to all of my bulbs that I planted last year?  I hope they still come up. Last winter was so bad it even snowed into March so my bulbs didn't all bloom. I'm thinking this year might not be so good either. I went to get a pedi today and dug out my flip flops. People are walking around in shorts and t shirts.  That's unheard of here in January.  How's the weather where you are?? Crazy too?

I've been quilting on my Gammill. I finished a football themed quilt for Hunka that I started, oh about 8 years ago. Haaaaaa    I swear, it could even be longer.  It's all quilted now and the binding is sewn on, I just need to sew it down.  It's a full size quilt so that will take me awhile. It was a surprise when he saw it. Only bad thing is it's not RED like his favorite football team. The SF 49ers.  It's green and brown. More Packer fan really.  But still he likes it. He better.  :) It's not real exciting unless your a guy and a football fan.  

He liked that it was these retro football players.  I do too.  Just wish it were red/gold.  :(

 

I'm still dragging out my Valentine stuff. I don't have a lot like other holidays but still I've got enough. I love making pillows for Valentine's day each year.  I have another one I just remembered. I'll have to find that one. 

This is the one I made for this year.  It's a kit too on my website.  :)  

Check out what Boo gave me for Christmas. I told him I'd love to have an old rotary red phone just to use for decorating. And he found one!!  This thing is soooo heavy.  I love it. I can't believe he found me one.  Isn't it awesome? I'd love to use it. Do you think it would work with the rotary dial on it?  

I love my red suitcases, cakestands, annies and of course pillows.  All in RED. 

I was just looking through my older photos and found this one. Now where did I put that little quilt?   Isn't it funny how your forget about them, then you make yourself crazy trying to find them again.  

Check out my little helper.  Of all places she could lay in my sewing room. She thinks she's  a cat.  lolol

My pan O hearts!  Some of these were given to me by Doe years ago. And some I made this year. 

Love my dotty clothespins.  

Took down the Christmas stuff and put up a different house. I love this potting shed.  

Put this back up there too by the house. I love the things hunka makes me. 

Ok, enough RED for one post.  Be back soon with more.  :)  I'm a blogging role you know. 

 

 

Nothing much over here!

How's your New Year going?  So far so good over here.  But we're only 6 days into it so I won't get too excited.  

Today is my wonderful Mother in law's birthday. We miss her so much.  She was the best lady, and the best gramma to both of my boys.  Wasn't she pretty?  

Today is also the day that Hunka and I first met in San Diego.  25 years ago.  Who knew time would fly by so fast?   Yep we met on his momma's birthday.  At least we never forget the date right? 

My poor Pfaff had to go to the sewing machine doctor.  I turn her on and she has a seizure for about 20 min. I just couldn't stand to watch her anymore suffer like that.  Yesterday we dropped her and it was a sad day for me. I'll have to wait for two weeks before I get to see her again.  :(    Oh yes I have other machines. Lots of them matter of fact, but none stand up to my Pfaff.  I've probably had her for over 24 years.  Hunka bought her for me at a Home & Garden show in Ca.  That machine is a work horse.  Do you have a favorite machine like that at your house?  

I wanted to show you a couple things I got for Christmas.  One is a quilt and pillow cases that Nancy made me.  

Isn't it cute? I think I'm the one in the middle with the red dress on and she is the one standing next to me with the green skirt on. 

And King Sized pillow cases to match.

Beth made this one for me.  Sooo cute.  Love Civil War fabric.

While I'm showing quilts I thought I'd show these again.  Hunka made this quilt hanger to fit in a hallway when we lived in Ca. We brought it with us and it fit perfectly at the bottom of our stairs going into my sewing rooms.

These are two little mini's I made. Not too hard but fun to make and quilt.  I'm into the mini's now.  I'm running out of room for quilts in this house.  My boys have so many they say, NO MORE!!   All I can hope for is a couple daughter in laws that will want them.  

That's about all I have for now.  Not a lot going on over here.  I'm still taking down Christmas and putting it away.  Bringing out my Valentine decor too.  It's always fun to see it after a year of hiding.  

Thanks for stopping by!!

 

 

HAPPY 2012

Happy New Year everyone.  Here's to a great new year for all of us.  I think mine is off to a great start.  At least I'm happy with it so far.  :)  True it's only day one but still.  I'm optimistic. Which doesn't happen often with me.  My cup is usually half empty.  lolol  

I know Christmas is over but I still have some stuff to show you.  We had Hunka's cousins over for dinner right before Christmas so got out lots of my red dishes.  I loved the way my table looked.  

I loved having a lamp on the table. Made me feel like I was in a fancy restaraunt. Even though I was the chef at this restaurant.  Still felt good alright?

Ok, I'm not so sure why this photo is LARGE!!

One more thing with Christmas.   Just one please!!  Can you tell I love red?  Well, I do.  And now that Valentine's Day is coming I can continue with my RED.  This quilt I made years ago and I love it.  It is a big one let me tell you. Thought I'd never finish it. My bed is a Ca. King if that tells you how big it is. 

 

I wanted to make something using Natalie of Cinderberry Stitches new fabric line.  So this is what I came up with.  I just started messing around with a couple rulers.  I'm happy with it.  Now to quilt it.  And it's red so you know I love it.  

This is going to be one of the Monthly mini's on Daisy Cottage.  Sort a busy looking but not too bad in person.  haaaa Let's just say it's HAPPY ok?  

Another project in progress.  This fabric is also from Natalie's Woodlands line of fabric.  

I hope everyone is having a great January 1st today.  Now if you'll excuse me while I have some of chocolate taht Boo gave me for Christmas.  Yes, it's Godiva too.  Only the best for his momma.  

 

 

Yes, there's more.

I'm back with more decorations. I'll be showing you my crap right up until Valentine's Day I'm afraid.  haaaaa  Because truly I won't have all of it down and packed up until Easter the way I'm going.  But lucky for me some of you volunteered to come over here and help me clean up.  I can't wait till you get here.  We'll make a party of it ok?  I'll send you home with fabric for helping me. Deal?  

Ok here goes more!!!  Buckle up and let's go.  

I bought this pie box/case/????  years ago in California.  I love it and move it all around the house.  It is a great thing for decorating with.  I've had it everywhere in this house I think.  Now it's in the dining room.  I need to come up with stuff to put inside it.  

It's just blank and dusty inside.  Not even a pie in there.  Maybe I should set a pie bird in it?  Not sure why that fruit basket thingy is there.  I probably just threw it in to hide it.  

My latest Annie doll.  I KNOW I KNOW!! I have a serious problem.  I'm in therapy for it.  And, it's NOT working.  I sent Nicole some of the Christmas fabric I had and asked her to make this for me.  Did I already tell you all of this??  Please excuse me if I did.  

These are some of the gifties I made for my friends this year.  I love giving gifts to my friends just to let them know how much I care about them and to surprise them.    For me it's not getting the gifts. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE GIFTS as much as the next person. But honestly I do love giving.  I always have.  I am so lucky to have lots of good friends that are good to me and genuine friends.  Nothing fake about them. They expect nothing from me.  Even if I sent nothing they would be my friend. It's been a rough year for me in the friend dept.   I know I did my best to be friends with those that choose to not friend me. I am a loyal friend and I always will be. I will go to the very end for my friends which I have done for some.  It came back to bite me in the @&& but I did it and I'm glad I did. Sometimes that's not good enough though.  That's all I can do.  Really the petty stuff is just that, petty.  Life is to short to carry grudges and it only makes you miserable inside.  I'd rather be nice to those around me. And if they chose to not like me, well so be it.  Nothing I can do about that.  Sorry to be so sappy but this time of year that's how I am.  Remembering the ones I  care about.  I can hear those that don't like me or care for me mumbling now,  but that's ok.  I'll continue being the way I am.  I like who I am and how I treat people. I am quick to forgive and forget but sometimes you can only take so much abuse from others before you react.   I could go on and on but I'll stop.  But before I stop, I have to thank God that my very good friend Beth is here to enjoy Christmas after what she went through this morning.  I have never been more happy to hear her voice as I was this morning.  If your on my FB you know what I'm talking about.  Like I said before, life is too short.  So enjoy those around you this Chrismtas.    

Hunka told me a couple weeks ago he had a surprise planned for me and I had to dress warm. That is all he would tell me.  Well, it was the best surprise ever.  We have the Daniel Boone home here in Missouri.  It is the most awesome place ever if you love history.  But for Christmas they do this candlelight tour. They put out over 3,000 candles. No lights at all.  You have a guided tour going through all the buildings. A church, a mill,  a general store,  some houses,  and finally you tour Daniel Boone's home and they have him there. Well not HIM but someone who is supposed to be him.   The people in each building are re-enacting back in the day 1820's or so. We were just ghosts watching all of this. They don't interact with us at all. They just go about their business.  It was so awesome I can't even tell you. Only problem is that I couldn't take photos.  It was DARK.  The things in the homes etc, were real items from back in the day and some belonged to the Boone family from way back.  

These photos were taken as you start your tour so there were lights.  

Can you imagine riding around in these when it is snowing, windy and freezing outside? I sure would love to have one now though. 

This is what it looked like in the dark.  Candles everywhere. 

I think this one was in the general store.  

Every house had a real wood burning fireplace roaring inside.  I'm telling you I could have pulled up a chair and stayed.  I love that era.  

In the church where the choir was singing. We all sat in the pews and listened.  It made you wanna go to church I'm telling you.  

These big candle holders were out in front of the houses. I want one! Wish I could have gotten a better picture but we were told NO FLASH.  And you know me, I would die if I flashed and blinded the folk from the 1800's.   

I asked Hunka a few weeks ago if he would like to make cookies with me.  Well can you tell by that face the answer????   Lord help me!!

Do we have a mess going or what? He's over there checking out his recipe.  He went through my cookbooks and picked out what he wanted to bake. 

I'm not sure I like him enjoying using my mixer.  That is MY mixer.  But he loves power tools.  

So I told him that is not a good thing when your dough does not fall out of the pan.  But he's happy so let's not ruin it for him. 

Can I tell you how many times I told him to put the lid on the brown sugar?????   And can we just talk about that apron for a minute?   He is rockin it isn't he? And it's a Moda Home apron. We don't mess around over here.  Only the best when we are baking. 

We haven't killed each other.........yet!!!

Got my mixer back!!

That makes me happy, happy, happy

Can you tell which cookie tray is mine and which is his?  He asked me, why do they all have to be the same size????  Oh I don't know.........

I hoped you enjoyed the photos.  This was heavy in the picture dept.  

Hunka and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  

 

 

 

 

 

Decorating Part Deux

Look at me speaking French.  Impressed aren't you?  :)   

Now with gifties galore.  And I still have wrapping to do.  I'm not diggin the wrappin scene. 

The fancy gifts are Boo's. He and Hillarie wrapped them.  I'm very impressed.  

Speaking of Boo and Hillarie. Here they are.  They were here this weekend.  Isn't she cute?  We liked her so much.  She's even wearing my favorite color.  

My little helper.  

This was before we did our lights.   I love the Christmas quilt.  It's fun to change them each season. 

and after......

We weren't even going to put lights outside but I think I hinted so much Hunka decided to do some.  Next year will be better but I'm happy with them.  The problem is we had all these decorations and lights that we put on our house in Ca. and since we've moved here we haven't planned on the lights for this house. That's going to change next year.  

I decided to bring up a couple of my red suitcases.  Put this tree in my bedroom. Now I have two in there. 

I like pictures without the flash.  

Do you like my little tree mat?  Wendy made it for me.  I love it so much.  She also made me a cute little coin purse.  I'll show you that too.  Talk about a nice surprise.  

Here's the cute little coin purse Wendy made me.  Love it.  Thank you Wendy.

 

Love my old birdcage.  I could not decide what to put inside. Then I found this big box full of red ornaments.  PERFECT.   

This is one of my favorite Christmas quilts.  Just noticed it's hanging upside down.  haaa

This year I decided to hang my Christmas cards from Baker's Twine using red and white polka dotted clothes pins.  Sorry the pic is so blurry.  I tried three times. 

You can sort of see it through here to the right. 

Ok there's part two.  Be back again with three and probably four.  Who wants to come over and help me take all this down in January???  Anyone???? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decorating part 1

Ready for some decorating? I have to just stop and put the rest of my stuff away. I could go on for another month dragging out stuff.  Only to have to put it away in a few weeks.  So I am done. 

We have had these wooden guys for years!  This is the big one and we have a little guy. His brother.  haaa  I really need to buy them some clothes.  They hang around the house all naked day in and day out. They don't really seem to mind though.  

My white and red tree.  Love it!!!  I have a few pics of it.  I just couldn't get the right lighting.  

I love my little chick. Not sure if it's Christmassy but in my house it is.  

This three jar thing I got in St. Charles.  Not sure yet what I'll do with it.  I think flowers will go in it in the Spring.  

I know the date is wrong. That's how long ago I started my decorating.  

See the little glass jar? It's itsy bitsy. And you stick the light bulb from the tree inside them. I have a bunch fo them on the tree.  I bought them last year. This year I couldn't find anymore at the shop.  

You probably can't see the candle and the holder well but you clip these onto the tree. They are a rusty tin candle holder with a clip to attach to the branches.  The candle isn't even 1 1/2 inches tall.  

This wall isn't that bright. Like I said, I had lighting issues.  And other issues but we won't go into those.  haaaa  

This cute red sleigh basket I bought last year too.  It's so old looking.  And the little tree is new this year.  It came with the decorations on it. Of course the red bench hunka makes. 

My country tree in the dining room.  Didn't mean to cover up Annie's face.  Poor thing under there and she can't see a thing.  

Again, with the lighting.  Boo bought me this antique sleigh during his last visit.  I absolutely love love love it.  It is just what I've wanted.  Red and all.  I was going to put it out on the porch but I wanted to see it so I left it inside.  It's awesome.   

Love my houses.  This santa is the perfect size to stand by the house.  

Ok, there's part of the tour.  Much more to show.  I'll try to come back soon. This month is flying by and I am no where near ready for  Christmas.  I still need to go shopping. Usually I'm all over that part but, not this year.  Just can't get going.  I must be ill.  :)  

Thanks for stopping by!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tis The Season to decorate

A few more pictures from my favorite store.

Cute snowman candle melty. 

More great pillows. 

They had the best Santas this year. 

Hunka and I went back to the store this week and almost everything had sold.  They've been busy.  I was hoping to pick up a few things but that didn't happen.  And yes that made Hunka a very happy Hunka.  :)  

Now we're out on the street.  I love the old cobblestone streets they have.  All the shops put things out front on display too.  This weekend we're going there because the carolers will be out at night, carriage rides, etc.  I can't wait. 

Lots of wreaths on windows/doors.

Next, my decorations.  So make sure you come back.  

 

 

 

Chop Chop!!! Christmas is coming!!!!

Where did the last two weeks go?   I always think I'm ready for the holiday's but when they get close I panic.  I realize I am in no way ready at all.  Then I also think I can bust out all of this stuff in no time at all. So what do I do? I stand in my sewing room staring at everything for awhile, then turn around and go back upstairs.  I realize I can't do it. But I still put that pressure on me.  Every single year.  Yes, I know it comes every year at the same time.  Last year I remember even saying that I was starting in January making gifts. Which I think I did, but now I can't remember what I made or where I put what I made.  There is another problem I have.  MEMORY!!  GONE!! 

At least I had a very nice Thanksgiving.  We went over to my little sisters house. Skinny one as I love to call her. And yes I admit, I'm very jealous of that fact.  How does she eat chocolate, pastries and Starbucks every single day and stay that way?  I'm on the same diet and it's not working out for me so well.  And no, that's not food on my lip, I had a huge gigantic fever blister.  lolol  Probably from my healthy diet that I practice. 

 Once November hits, it's all about the eating for me.  NO time to lose weight.  I say gain and gain big!! That's my motto.  Take for instance, this pumpkin pie. Our realtor that sold us out house 2 1/2 years ago, emailed and asked if we'd like to get a free pumpkin pie from a local bakery for Thanksgiving? Well............uhhhhhhh let me think for a split second.  YESSSSSSS!!!!!  And can I have some Cool Whip too?   This was the best pumpkin pie ever.  The crust sooo flaky and the pie, well it just melted in your mouth.   Pure heaven!!!   Did I say these are the best realtors?  If your selling a house in St.Louis let me know.  Bob and Jan would love to help you out.   You too can have a pumpkin pie maybe next year.  And maybe me too if you give them a call.  

Turkey!!  This bird was mm mmm good.  My brother in law makes it every year and he says his secret is:  BUTTER!! Lots of butter.  I say bring it on and let's not waste time shall we?  That had to be the best juiciest white meat ever.  Am I making you hungry? See that's how it all starts for me too.  I talk food, then I have to eat food.  I watch the Food TV channel and I cook, I cook, then I eat.  See where I'm going with this?  

Ok I'll stop talking about eating. How about shopping? That's the second best thing I love to do.  Went back to my favorite place and took some pictures before Thanksgiving. Oh wait!! These are my two handsome, wonderful boys!!  I'm so happy I get to spend the holiday's with them now.  It's sooooo nice.  And guess what? Boo had an extra airline ticket and gave it to me for my trip to LA in January.  Now I'll be for sure seeing Beth, Yvette and my BFF and going to Road to CA.  YIPPEEEE.   5 glorious days!!   Thank you Boo.  

I seriously want that red chair.  If I go down there next week and it's there it might be coming home with me.  I LOVE IT. And that red cabinet.  I spend so much money everytime I go in this place.  

See that red pillow in the chair? Hunka went there and bought it for me as a surprise. I love those hooked pillows.   It's mine now. All mine!!  I have to say when I showed him the pillow and he saw the price tag he said,  "HOW MUCH is that pillow?"    MEN!   They just don't get it do they?   haaaaa  I should have said it's PRICELESS. 

My pillow.  Cute isn't it?  He bought it for my Anniversary gift along with a Nordstroms gift card which is the perfect gift I think.  I think I'll be married another year now.  :)  

Here's a close up of my chair.  And see the white snowman pillow? It's like the red one Hunka bought me.  I love it too.  Hint hint. Maybe while he's there he can load up that chair.  

Wouldn't you love to have this bed?

This little tree came home with me.  

Loved the santa paper garland. 

Hope you enjoyed the tour for now.  I have more I'll post next along with some of my Christmas decorating.  I've started and have trees everywhere.  Thanks for stopping by!!!   And I hope you and your families had a great Thanksgiving. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Halloween/Christmas??? I'm confused

This post is some of Halloween/Fall and some Christmas.  I have lots of pictures to post and so I'm combining holidays here.  

Remember when we covered up the fish pond?Well here is it when we were covering it and then a picture of why we cover it up each year.

Now you see why we put that hair net over the pond?   The fish thank us trust me.  Soon we can take it off because all the leaves will be gone off the trees.  Then we put the heater in the water so it doesn't completely freeze over.  And yes the fish survive all winter and we don't feed them a thing.  Your not supposed to.  

See all those leaves, they end up in our backyard.  And alot in the pond if we don't cover it.  But it's soooo pretty with all the colors.  I love it. 

This was taken from our upstairs deck looking over the back yard.   Leaves everywhere!!!  Soon it will be snow everywhere.

Isn't he cute?  I love my wheelbarrow too.  I think everything in it is dead now. If not it will be soon.  

This is part of the front yard. I know our neighbors wish we'd get out there and pick those up. But if we wait long enough they will have to pick them up because the wind has been blowing like mad.  See how that works.   

I totally forgot to show my goodies from my BFF for Halloween. Market came and went and then I was onto her birthday and totally forgot. I love the spider inside the box. 

This box was jammed full.  And this wasn't the only one she sent me.   Do you see an Annie??  I do!!!  

This is most of it all on the table.  It's so nice to have friends to share holidays with.  Who doesn't love getting goodies in the mail.  I know we all do.

Nancy and I collect the Juicy charms and she bought this one for us.  I LOVE IT.  It might be my favorite one.  We have spent a fortune on this bracelet and charms.  Maybe we need to insure them.  haaaaaa     And the killer is the bracelet is so dang heavy there is no way you can wear them all at once. You'd hurt someone if you flung your arm. 

This cute cat quilt Beth and Nancy made for Yvette and I.  

Nancy gave me this.  It now hangs in my sewing room.  Sooo cute.  

Here's my Halloween after I dismantled it all.  This was just some of it. What a mess.

Next up is Christmas.  Yep you guessed it.  I started decorating really before I left for Houston in Oct. I couldn't help myself because I started decorating for Halloween the first part of Sept.  Ok, maybe August.  What can I say? I love to decorate.  

I love my wooden bread bowl so I piled alot of my Annies in there and they are at he end of my bed.  I'm going to plop a little Christmas tree in there among them and light it. Won't that be cute?  I could easily fill another huge bowl with my Annies.  They make me smile.  

Here's two I purchased recently.   I have a few more now to show.  I know, I can't help myself.  Nicole does such a good job with her Annie's.  Have you seen the tree toppers she's making? She sells out of them as fast as she puts them on the website.  I'll show you mine in the next post.  

This is in a corner of my room. I have to admit it's been there since the end of Oct.  haaaaa    I love it lit at night.  

I'll be back with more Christmas decorating real soon.  

Thanks for stopping by!!

 

 

Market Inspiration

Market is always full of inspiration. That's why we go there right?  That and seeing everyone.  

I didn't take as many pictures as I usually do because believe it or not I was focusing.  And if you know me focus is not a work that fits me at all.  I do everything but focus.  I'm an airhead truth be told.  I wasn't always, I used to be so organized and on top of everything I did. Now..........well let's not talk about it ok??  lolol   

So, here's some of the things Nancy and I did see.  By the way, I think she didn't even take any photos with a camera.  Matter of fact, I know she didn't. With her phone, a few I think.  

These house patterns are to die for.  I want to make them all.  No that won't happen but I can dream can't I?  But if you'd like to make them all I have the patterns on the website.  You know I have to throw in a little Daisy advertisement.  Because I can alright???

The Christmas one.......

Not sure why I didn't get a close up of these. Other than.........airhead!!!  These two are probably my two favorite ones too. What was I thinking????  I know I will make one of these two because I love them!!  And they will be so cute hanging outside my front door on the porch.  

Lynette's booth is always full of inspiration.  And she has the sweetest hubby ever. Well next to Hunka of course.  I love talking to him.  He's always so nice and friendly to all the girls.  I'm sure he loves his job. 

This is the Button Block of the Month I offered from Lynette.  She's getting ready for the next one. I can't wait to see what it is.  I'm taking preorders now if you'd like to do it.  She only offers so many then she closes it. 

I love this little sewing book.  

Cute huh? Why yes,I do have the patterns and the buttons on the website. Thanks for asking.  You were going to ask right?

How cute is this?? It's a brand new pattern and I have it on order.  Love the gnome button and yes I will have that too.  Gotta have the cute button right?

This is the newest Buggy Barn or as my friends Brenda and Sandy call it "Boogy Barn"  quilt from the new book.  Isn't it cute?  And nice big pieces too.  For me the non appliquer big is better.  Well usually BIG is better in any circumstance right?? Did I just say that????   

Loved this!!!!  Might make this.  I said MIGHT!!!  

I said I would show some inspiring things from market. Karen and Anne are inspiring ok? We could have stayed there all day long and talked to them.  I think Nancy and I need to take a trip to Minnesota and spend a little time with Karen and maybe Anne could meet us there too.  Hint hint. 

We were so lucky to get to spend an evening with Natalie and her mum Helen.  They are the sweetest things.  We actually got to spend a couple times with them which we were more than happy to be able to do.  That's Brenda and her sister Sandy, the birthday girl in the photo with them.  

Natalie of Cinderberry Stitches make this. It's one of her new kits.  It's called Sew Deer and you betcha it's on the website. 

Natalie's new bag.  Love the hedgehogs.  

Flat Nat and the suitcase.  Can you believe someone actually stole the suitcase at market? Some people I swear.  Can you not make your own for goodness sake.  

I love these little shrooms.  I wanted to get one before I left market but forgot to ask Natalie.  They are the cutest!!!!!  So happy.

While at market Nancy and I were on the escaltor one day and this girl recognized me and she reads my blog.  I don't know who she was but would love to know. So if YOU are reading this tell me who you are. :)   Mystery girl.  lolol  

Enough for now.  Hubby's hungry and I need to go whip up some food for the man. You know I spoil him like that.  And he's getting used to it.  

Thanks for stopping by.  

 

 

 

 

 

Market Peeps

Well, we made it back from Quilt Market in one piece.  I'm getting too old for this I think. I was so tired when I got back on Tuesday.  I could not keep my eyes open. But I had to get up and be in the lobby for my shuttle by 6:30a.m.  You know how I don't operate very well at that time of morning.  Especially when Nancy and Brenda were still comfy and all snuggly in their beds.  Not fair!!!  You know how you stay awake all night looking at the clock because you think you will fall asleep and miss your plane? Well that's what I do every single time. This time was no different.  

Other than being tired, market was tons of fun as usual.  We got to see so many friends, and hang out catching up with them.  

Brenda is the sweetest thing.  Her and her sister Sandy are always our connecting room partners. We have our annual PJ party in our rooms each night. 

Linda from the Quilter's Coop in Temecula,CA .  It's always good to see Linda and hang out with her in line waiting for Sample Spree. She always gets to be first in line.  I still don't know how that happens everytime. Come on Linda!!!  lolol  

Sandy, me, Brenda and Nancy in our hotel lobby enjoying some beverages. We spent alot of evenings doing this.  

We were lucky enough to go to dinner with Natalie of Cinderberry Stitches and her Mum the first night we were in town.  It was so much fun.Those Aussies know how to enjoy themselves.  Ok so do us Americans.  We even got to celebrate Sandy's birthday. All because she had to have some whipped cream on her ice cream and you only get that IF it's your birthday.  Just sayin.

Helen, Sandy, Brenda, Natalie, Nancy and me.  

The birthday girl and her whipped cream all smiles.

Look who found me sitting on the floor holding up the wall. Rachel from PSIQUILT.   I had to put my body on that floor, it was calling to me. She walked by and spotted me.  It was nice finally getting to meet her.   Good things are happening for her.  She's very talented. 

Do I even need to tell you who this is???  PKM herself.  She is always so happy when we see her.  Always smiling.  Gotta love her. And her fabric, will be in my house anyday now. I'm sooooooo excited.  It's already listed on the website if you need some.  Only 8.75 a yard from me. Yep that's right.  Go get yourself some.  Pam will be happy.

Miss Jo Morton herself with Nancy and I.    Brenda, don't look. lolol   

Nancy's hero's.  Or Idols I should say. They haven't saved her life or anything like that so they would be her Idol.  :)  Not that they wouldn't save her life I'm sure should the moment arise.    She ran up to get in a photo with them.  We love everything the Blackbird  Design girls do don't we?  And they couldn't be nicer.

I took this photo for my good friend Ter'e.  Ter'e does the most beautiful hooked rugs and is a big fan of Minnic & Simpson. This rug was sooooo darn cute.  I didn't mean to blur it honest I didn't. I was so excited I guess I moved.  

I finally got to meet up with Rosie of retrorosie blog.  Nancy,Rosie and I went to dinner at the famous Ninfa's in Houston for some Mexican food.  Thanks for driving an hour to have dinner with us Rosie.  I hope traffic wasn't so bad going home.  

Good friends!!!!   This was our last photo on the last night.  Sandy had left that day to drive back home.  Plus she was pretty sick. Sandy caught a bug while she was there and then when she left Brenda had it.  So far so good. Knock on wood, we haven't caught what they had.  Can't wait for next time girls to be roomies and have our annual PJ party.  

That's the peeps for ya.  Next I'll share some of my other pics with ya. 

 

 

 

 

Ready, Set, GO!!!

My bags are packed, my gifties are packed, and I'm ready to go. Nancy and I are meeting up in Houston this afternoon for five fun filled days!! Our friends are all staying at the same hotel as us again so this should be fun.  Dinner with Natalie of Cinderberry Stitches tonight is alredy booked.  What more could we want?  Ohhh I know, Sample Spree tomorrow night!!!  Yippeee    See you when I get back. I'll have lots of new things. I'll be posting on my DaisyCottage Facebook page from the show.  So make sure you "like" us and check it out.  

See ya soon. 

 

Time march's on and on and on and.........

  How about our St. Louis Cardinals?? They are rockin it.  The last time I remember all of this excitement I was giving birth to my second child.  Boo as you guys know him. It was  in 1982. His dad, wanted me to name him Ozzie after Ozzie Smith and I said without hesitation NO!!!  Now I think Boo might have been happy with that name.  Tell me, does he look like an Ozzie?  This was Boo last year. He just turned 29 on the 9th of this month.   One more year and my baby boy will be 30! YIKES!!!  And I'm only 29.  

Now that I've had my Halloweenie decor out for a couple months I'm ready to roll out the......ok I won't say it.  I sent Nancy a text pic yesterday of a Christmas tree in my bedroom and aksed her,  "is this too soon?"  lolol   She of course said YESSSS.  I left the tree up anyway.  I'm enjoying it.  

I even bought my first Christmas Annie's of the season.  Oh yea Nicole's already whipping them up over on her site.  They go fast you better get over there.  

I went to Mexico, Missouri the other day to visit Homestead Hearth and there is a great antique shop along the way.  They had all of this Christmas stuff out. Not antiques obviously but still,  I managed to bring some home with me. Half of the store is either seconds or leftovers from some store I imagine.  I just love holiday's. Can't wait for the next one, Thanksgiving  to begin.Not to mention that's hunka and my anniversary. Yep we were married the day after Thanksgiving years and years ago. Ok, so it wasn't that long ago.  1989 to be exact.   

This made me think of my BFF.  Why you ask?? Because it's a cat.  She's not a cat but she loves cats. 

Hunka and I were at the grocery store last week taking pics of these.  Haaaa can't you just hear them all laughing??  Sort of scary really? Yvette, are you afraid??

Loved the purple hair.

Sort of jumping around here. But I bought two quilts at local antique malls recently.  This is one of them. 

Here's another.

This is what I made Nancy for Halloween. The photo is not good, hopefully she will get a better one.  It's an old Thimblerries pattern.  I loved it. Tried to make two but just didn't get around to it.  

Before I forget Leisa your the winner of the PKM fat quarters. When my fab comes in I'll get them out to you.  

We have a beautiful hotel in the Wildwood Center close by our house and they have turned the fountain water a shade of red/pink. I can't decide if it's pink for breast cancer awareness or a light red for the Cardinals. So I'm saying it's for both. Either way I think it's cool.  I see it everyday, it's in the center where my local Starbucks is. 

Isn't that hotel pretty? And all the trees in the background changing colors.  I love it here!!  Have I told you that lately?

When I woke up the other morning I noticed the Holly Berry trees blooming. I love the RED berries.  These trees have gotten huge.  We are way up and the trees are taller than my window.  I want to reach out the window and cut some of the branches and bring inside. 

Can you tell how high up we are??  That's the fish down there.  We don't have a two story house.  It's because of the basement I guess that we are up so high.  From the front of our house it looks small.  Anyway, that's why we pay someone to clean our windows. Remember hunka falling off the ladder when we were selling our Ca. house? I don't trust him up there anymore and I'm for sure not going up there.  

Alright then, that was alot of stuff!!  Sorry to jump around but I take so many pics and don't get around to showing them.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh happy day!!

No, nothing big happening over here, it's just a happy day!!  Everyday living here in St. Louis is a happy day for me.  I'm still so happy to be here and wouldn't change a thing.  Everyday, well most days, I wake up happy as can be.  I even surprise hunka because I used to drag myself out of that bed. Not now, I wake up smiling.  

I guess sort of big things are happening really because my website is rockin!!   It is doing better every month.  At first I wasn't sure this is what I wanted to do.  I love my customers and I love fabric stuff so there isn't anything else I'd really rather do.  Having said that,  Nancy and I are so excited it's almost Quilt Market time again.  It's like a happy reunion each time.  Seeing all of our friends and hanging out with them after the show each night.  Last year it was like a big pajama party on our floor with Brenda, her sister Sandy, Kelly Ann and her BFF's.  Some things I remember and some, not so much.  haaaa   Getting to have dinner with Gail Pan was the highlight for all of us I'd say. This year it's Natalie from Cinderberry Stitches we'll be dining with.  Since we enjoy it so much we extended our stay this time by a few days.  You know I'll be blogging and more than anything Facebooking things as they happen.  If your not on my Daisy FB page get on there.   Like last time I'll be doing a big giveaway after market.  If you want to be in the drawing for that make sure you become a "follower"  here on this blog and on Daisy FB so you'll know what's going on.  

Pam Kitty's fabric line should be here soon.  I can't wait to see it in person.  I only saw it on paper at market in Utah.  If you "Follow" my blog and leave a comment I'll enter you in a drawing to get a fat quarter bundle of all the prints I ordered.  Not sure when they will be delivered, could be another few weeks.  

I still have a little bit of my Halloween decorating to show too.    I love my little kitchen window area.  I need a cabinet or shelf to go above that curtain though.  Too much empty space. You know that makes me crazy.  Plus I could do alot of decorating up there.  This pic was taken before we had our windows cleaned too dang it. The window sparkles now.  

That's our neighbors house there. He's not as close as it looks.  Although if he did open that bedroom window I might be able to get a sneaky peaky.  

I love my kitchen now that we had all of that remodeling done.  

My little baking area.  The toaster cover that hunka makes is there too.  I love that.  It looks like a cabinet but it's not.  

It's cute huh?  And that little pumpkin head doll, I love him.  I bought one for me and a friend a couple years ago. I hope she still uses hers and likes him.  I thought he was the cutest thing and just perfect for us. 

Hunka made this for me.  He also made me a red one for Christmas to use this year. 

I went with him to the dreaded Home Depot to pick out my wood and he had two of these fences  made for me in no time.  See the tiny little pumpkin over there on the right? The orange one? That was Boo's idea.  Just wanted to give him his credit.  lolol Hunka also made me some of those black crows you see hanging there from the fence.  I need to get them listed on my website too.  I love them.  

Mr. Hunka man also made the black cabinet.  I think I'll keep him.  :)

Oh yea he made this little carrier too.  

Look how young my boys looked in that photo back there.  They're probably going to kill me when they see it.  But I love it.  And Annie, My BFF just sent me the little one and I bought the big one this year.  I haven't even dug out my older ones. Poor things are still in an airtight box down in the basement. Yes these are the Annie's that my friend Nicole makes.  Alot of you have emailed me asking about them.  Just go to her website and she'd ba happy to help you.  www.raggedyoldannies.com  Just a warning though, they are addicting. 

Love this! My BFF made it for me last year.  It is the happiest thing isn't it?  

Hunka bought this witch for me several years ago at the Country Loft. I sure miss that store.   He was in San Diego on business, walked into the Loft and bought her. I had never seen her and was so surprised.  Talk about a perfect choice.  I still can't believe he bought her.  I'll be in Ca. in January for Road and I'm sure Nancy, Beth and Yvette will take me there.  

This is in the kitchen on my island. Sort of a mess of everything. Never really did do the real decorating. I'll do it for Christmas though.  I guess I burned myself out.  

This is on the table that is behind the previous photo.  Yep, you guessed it, hunka made the stool.  He'll make any of the things you see on here for you too. Some are on the website and some aren't. Just let me or him know.  

Whew!! I think that's it for now.  Remember to FOLLOW ME on this blog and leave a comment about the PKM fabric bundle.  It's for a fat quarter of each print I've ordered.  And she just emailed me and I think it's not coming in until November now.  But you can still enter now.  I'll pick a winner in a few days. 

Happy Decorating to ya!  Ohhhh and GO CARDS!!!!!!   Our St. Louis Cardinals have to win tonight or they are toast!!!! Even she is rooting for them.  WOOF WOOF

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking like Fall around here

I couldn't be a happier person these days. Well I could, if I wont he lottery, I'm just sayin. I'm also sayin that me falling off a 12 story building would be more likely than me winning that lottery.  Oh dear where was I going with this???   Ohhhhh  the weather.  Yes this is my kind of weather.  I'm in heaven..........heaven!!!!!!  I sleep with the windows wide open when the hot weather finally leaves but let me tell you, I had to close that shut last night!  I left on the fan that blows in my face, yes a fan!  I must have my fan. Even though most of the night my head was buried under the covers and I was in the fetal position trying to stay warm.  We were supposed to get to freezing but not sure if that happened.  It did in my bedroom, let me just say that.  And it has nothing to do with Hunka.  :)   

October 1st is the day we have to cover up the koi pond. If we don't, well I'll show you in a week why we cover them up.  It's amazing when you live in a forest how many leaves fall from those trees.  Ok, it's not a forest but it sure looks like it when the trees are in full leaf mode.  So here's what we do.

No, that is not my hair net left over from my Burger Chef job when I was 16.  Haaaa do you remember wearing one of those?? So attractive. I'm pretty sure that's how I got my first boyfriend. HE came in for a burger and saw me wearing that and said, OHMYGOODNESS I must date her.    Of course I didn't have all those leaves hanging from my head that are not in that mess lying there. 

Now hunka and I have to untangle this mess. This is where we find out how much we really love each other. IF no one is thrown in the pond while doing this we are still a couple.  He stresses out every year when it's time for this. I don't find it such a big deal.  But then again, I'm the one who's a pro at putting on a hair net. 

Here we go!!! Are you ready little fishy?   They know what's coming.  They've been hovering around the bottom of the pond lately. Cold and not hungry I'm sure. Where as me??? I'm cold and eating like I'm putting on my winter coat!!!

Looks like we're building our own mini bridge doesn't it?  

Looks like he's already frozen!!!  

We're getting there!  Look how big we stretched that hair net.  This is  a huge pond!! 

Can you see hunka over there across the pond?  He's getting happier.  Look at all the fish huddled in the center together. 

TADA!!!!!  There you have it.  Look how nice that looks and not one sharp tongue was used during the whole procedure.  

I'll show you what it looks like back here in about a month when we have no leaves left on those trees, instead they are all laying on that net. 

Hallelujahhhhhhh.  I think he's praying to God over there or thanking him. Not sure which.  Now that wasn't so bad was it?  

Thank goodness the guy who built this pond left full instructions on how to take care of this. We had no idea and had never had a pond before.  When we bought the house they offered the buyer the choice of filling in the giant hole and getting rid of the pond, or sending someone out to do the yearly cleaning of it. We chose to get it cleaned that one time and keep it. Hunka's been taking care of it ever since. What a nasty job it is in the spring when he cleans out all the "crap" from the year.  You don't even wanna see that take my word for it.  ICKKKKOOOOO!!!  

Ok, so there you have it. How to get a Koi pond ready for Fall.  Soon we'll be shutting off the water falls, putting in the heater and getting it ready for Winter. 

Hope your enjoying the beginning of your Fall!!  Or Spring depending on where you are.  Enjoy and hey, thanks for stopping by!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Fall Ya'll

YAYYYY Fall is here.  You know me I'm all about the weather. I think I could have had a career as a weathergirl.  Nothing makes me happier than some nice cool, crisp weather.  And lord knows I could do better than those tv weather professionals.  I started some decorating weeks ago for Fall.  

First thing I did was drag out some of my Fall quilts. It's always fun to bring them out after they've been on the bottom of the stack all year long.

This is an oldie.

This has been one of my favorite stitcheries that I did. 

Hey it's another kit on the website.  I LOVE THIS!! It turned out great if I do say so myself.  

Love my pillows.  I still have some kits for the one in the back on the website.  The front one I bought and the cat one I made last year. 

This little quilt hanging out of the drawer I have kits for too.  I love making these mini quilts that you can stuff in a tiny drawer.  

My mantle doesn't look like this now. But this is the pillow I have kits for. And my BFF bought me the BOO banner cause she knows I have my very own BOO in real life.  :)

This is my newest house from St. Charles.   I have 5 I think now.  They are addicting. I can't walk in that shop without wanting a new one. This is the first time they've had a seasonal one. I squealed, then pouted until hunka bought it for me.  :)  Yes it worked so I might try that again. This is also the first one that the doors open.  LOVE IT. I've always wanted a dollhouse and never had one so now I do. 

How cute is that side??

And this side.

Okie Dokie.  I'll post more in a day or two.  Time for my homemade chicken gnocchi soup.  I can smell it and It's making me crazy!!!  Gotta go eat.  

 

Shopping in Shipshewanna

OHMY I've been away for awhile.  At least it's now September and we are enjoying some much needed cooler days.  Our a/c is happy to get the  needed  break and so is our checkbook.  I don't know about you but electric bills of $400 are no fun.  I could sure buy a lot of fabric for that.  Our wood is ordered and getting delivered this weekend. I say bring on the COLD weather.  I've been decorating too but before I show that I'll finish my post on Amish country.   

There were some really neat shops to visit. This was one of them.  

And this......

Loved these sunflowers.  I'd love to have a bunch of these in my flower beds. 

Oh if I only would have had room.

Is that not cute??   I know hunka could make me one of these pretty easily. 

He has to make me one of these.  Jeez if I only had extra room this would have come home with me.  How easy to make though.  

Love all the quilt blocks on building.  Inside this one I think is where the quilt shop was?? Not sure on that.  It was an awesome shop.

This quilt is unreal.   Can you imagine making that?  WOW

I took this photo for my friend Brenda.  Miss Pumpkin lady!!  Isn't it cute?

You didn't think I was finished with the buggy's did you? 

I made hunka drive down the street turn around and go back so I could take a picture of this street sign.  

Went inside this one.  Not so much for me in there.  

Not sure what was inside here. Just not enough time to see it all.  But I love all the RED.

This whole area was a neat place. Shops, a restaurant which we were told we should eat at and we did.  Family style food. Delish!!

Inside you can even eat inside a BUGGY!!!  We didn't see that until we were already seated.  When hunka saw it he said to me,   uh ohhhh your gonna be disappointed.  You could have eaten in a buggy!!  WHAT?????    Are you serious?  Then someone else was seated in my buggy.  :(  

This was in the parking lot. Yes that sure is hunka's nose.  Haaaaaaaa  

Hunka asked me, what is that for???  Seriously???  How could he not know?  You would think maybe the HORSEs head would give it away.  

I rolled my window down to take this photo and the horse heard me talking and turned to look at me.  Perfect!!!!!!  I'm sure he wanted to run when he saw me with that camera!  

As we were driving down the road we saw this sign for camping in a log cabin.  I know, camping in a cabin???  But it's bare bones inside I guess.  Aren't they cute little places??

I wish I would have gotten out and stood by this huge basket.  So neat. 

Next post will be some beautiful flora from Indiana.  Just beautiful.  

 

 

 

Shipshewanna here I come!!

This might have been the most exciting trip I've been on and I've been on a lot of trips.  I have always admired the Amish people.  In today's time all of the "things" we have around us and they still chose to live in the simple way they do.  The buggy's the bicycles they use to get around,  hanging the clothes on the line everyday they have wash day, and on and on.  I really do admire them as I sleep until 10a.m. everyday.  

As we were driving into town you see all these clothesline's full of colorful dresses hanging on the line.  Solid colors.  I even saw underwear in the same colors.  That surprised me. Not that they  have to wear white I just thought they would.  I gotta say I was happy to see some color.  I used to love hanging my clothes outside when I first lived in St. Louis years ago and my children were little.  But they I assume do it all the time.  It's sort of nice to have that choice don't ya think?

Can you see the clothes hanging?? They probably saw me and that camera and said, OHLORDTHECRAZYONESINTOWN!!!!    And she's taking pictures of our underwear!!

And this..........I never get tired of seeing this.    When hunka spotted the first one, he said, "don't have a seizure but look to your right".  OMGGGGGG  I was hyperventilating.  I've been waiting for this trip forever!!!!  And there it was!!!  A horse,  a buggy and people riding inside!!    Give me just a minute to compose myself.  I'm reliving it just talking about the excitement.  

Check out this one!!!  Looks like my truck after I've been to Costco.  Only my coolers aren't going to fall onto the road.  Can you even imagine?  What about the winter??  brrrrr   the rain.......  can you see why I admire them so much??  

FYI!!!  You might get tired of buggy's before I'm through.  Me,  I want one for my own!!! 

Our first stop was at Yoder's Department store.  Loved this gazebo that was there.  But do you see what I see in the background??? BUGGY'SSSSS.  My heart was beating on overdrive I swear.  

Yessssss  I know!!!!  BUGGY'SSSSS!!!!  Lots of buggy's.  

I forgot I was there to go shopping in the store.  I kept turning around and around seeing more buggy's.   Usually I'd be all over the flora and fauna but I have other things to see this trip. 

LOOK they're shopping inside too. I better get in there!  I respected them and did not take photo's of the people.  Well not when they were looking at me that is.  I KNOW!! I couldn't help it. 

This was on the outside of the store.  How cute is that?  Look at those little overalls.  T

STOP IT!!!  Stop it now!!!!   Look at all of those bonnets and black hats.  You know I had to try on one of those bonnets.  Well not there, don't be silly!!!  

Here!!!  Well.............what do ya think????    I need a buggy huh?   

My sexy bonnet look.  Hunka kinda liked it.  Just sayin.

Ok, where was I?  Back to Yoder's.

This quilt was hanging in the hallway going into the department store. On the opposite side was the market I guess. I didn't go in there but probably should have just o see what was in there.  I wasn't crazy about this quilt but it is nice. And lord knows I'd never make it.  It's nice don't get me wrong. Just not me.  

I thought this was an adorable display for the rick rack and the 1930's fabs.  Look at all that color.  So happy isn't it? 

LOOK what I found.  I knew there would be a buggy inside somewhere.  It's a wool mat.  How cute huh?    I should have bought the pattern but I know I'd never make it.  Even though I love it. 

I did take some pics of the flora.  It was all very pretty and taken care of. But I would expect nothing less really.

There'sssssss    HUNKAAAA!!!!!!   I love that man!!!  He's so patient with me on these trips.  He never complains about them, he just takes his book along and he's a happy hunka. 

Next we went here.  Nothing much inside.  They do alot of machine quilting I guess.  A few machine's were in there and a little fabric. Before hunka could get his book out to read I was hopping back in the car.  But I did like the block on the top of the building. 

That's part of my day.  More to come.  Lots more!!!  Please excuse any spelling errors.  I'm not proofing this, just hitting the PUBLISH button.  :)

Thanks for stopping by my little blog.  I'm happy you did.  Thanks for your comments too.  

 

 

 

 

Green Lake, Wisconsin 2011

Back from a wonderful vacation. I love hunka's cousins.  They are part of my family and if truth be told they are a big part of my family.  I don't have much to do with my own family other than my little sister and my cousins.    I love these people so much.  We started going to Green Lake, Wisconsin two years ago and now we are going to make it a tradition every year.  Next year Nancy, hunka's cousin will join us. She couldn't make it this year but next year she best be there.  

First Hunka and I went to Shipshewanna, Indiana.  OMYWORD!!!!!!!!!!!!  I love Amish people, and have been intrigued forever.  First I'll show you our Wisconsin trip though.  It is so pretty there and very little humidity. I HATE humidity.  Beth said she's trying to talk her hubby into moving to Missouri. He's worried about the snow. I'd be worried about the HUMIDITY!!!  

This is Julie, and Doug. Brother and sister.  Doug is the one that lost his wonderful wife Linda last year to breast cancer. Bless his heart.  I'm so glad he had a wonderful time on our trip.  He deserved it. Julie moved to Missouri almost the same time we did but she moved from Washington state. 

We picked Julie and Doug up at the airport in Wisconsin and our first stop was at Brandon's Meat in Wisconsin. We bought brats, ground beef, beef sticks, cheese and on and on.  These brats are like no others you've ever tasted. 

There's our house.  We love this place.  We're booking it for next year already.  

This is Julie.  Isn't that view pretty?

The second day there we rented a pontoon boat. That was so much fun.

Ready to set sail.

Captain Hunka!!!  

The three of them went for a swim. No I did NOT!! 

I love Julie. She is hysterical!!!!!   

Here are the guys cooking up those brats.  Hunka and Doug were BFF's forever.  They used to go to Green Lake every summer for ever when they were kids. That's what got us back to the lake.  

Our house from the dock.

The houses on the lake are beautiful.

I have many more photos.  But I'll stop here. Next I'll show you my trip to Shipshewanna. The highlight of my summer I've got to say.

 

 

 

 

Relaxation

If you need me, I'll be here relaxing by the lake.

Looking at this.

While sitting in this.

While they do this.

And hopefully a lot of this.

Be back soon with more pictures.  

 

 

 

Still Visiting.

It's been a long week and it's only Tuesday.  The last part of last week we were trying to figure out what was wrong with my brother in law. Thanks for all the prayers for Nick. I've never felt so sorry for him like I did this past week. He was in some awful pain and we had no idea what it was from.  Turned out to be a big kidney stone that he could not pass. So he had surgery to remove it which in turn caused even more pain for him.  He's doing well now and the whole family plus my Boo are in Florida on a much needed vacation.  

I have to show you these dishes Nancy and I found when she was here.  I of course bought the RED ones.  We have a store here in Missouri called Gordman's.  They were cheap, cheap, cheap.  

We stopped at a fruit/vegetable stand.  Nancy had to get a peach. I guess they don't have them in Ca.  :)

After more shopping we headed home for some sewing.  

I made a few pillow cases.  I love the Sew Cherry fabric by Lori Holt. I made the two with Cherry's for my king sized pillows.  

While we were sewing this giant thing landed on the sliding doors.  It was the biggest moth I have ever seen.  It stayed there all night long. 

Here's some of the things we made while Nancy was visiting. The three little quilts that are alike are for me, Beth and Nancy.  I did the blocks and Nancy did the mitered corners. We made a lot of other tops too but not sure if I got a picture of them.   

Miss Madeline loving her some attention.  She loved hanging out with the girls.  

Another shopping break. This is a cute shop called Three French Hens.  It's real close to my house so we ran down there so I could show Nancy. I love this shop.

Let's go inside. I'd love to have these doors on my house.

Time to go back to sewing again. How about a snack first??  We had to have a snack table. That was a must.   

More of what we were working on.

I made this from Elizabeth of Late Bloomer's pattern.  I still need to add the borders. 

Loved this so I had to make one.  Nancy made one too.  It's a mini.  Really mini. Those were some small triangles.  

We made this,  three of them.  This is a kit on the website.  It's so fast and easy to make.  

She's digging for some fabric so we can make this cute little thing from the new Primitive magazine. 

I think she's finding something good.  Maybe I could fold the fabric then it would be easier?   Oh why do that? She's enjoying the search.  

This is what we made.  Beth your kit is on the way to you.  I still need to add borders to mine. I think Nancy has already added hers and done her stitching. Me, not so much.  But they are cute aren't they?  

The last two days have been so much cooler here thank goodness. I am so sick of the heat.  Does this mean maybe Fall is coming soon??  Please tell me yes.  Humor me.  

Next, I'll show you what I got at the antique shop when we went antiquing.  Got some good things.  

Thanks for stopping by!!

 

 

 

 

 

It's Halloween Time!!

Do you love Halloween as much as I do? I think it might be my favorite time of the year. Probably because it is COOL outside.  I can't wait to see the pumpkins in the store, and all the Halloween stuff in stores. I don't care if it was July when they started putting it out. It makes me happy.  

This is the Halloween room at the Cobblestone Cottage. We spent a little cash in here can I just say?  I even went back the day we dropped Nancy off at the airport to see what was new.  

We bought a few things off this shelf.  

I bought that Halloween banner that was hanging there in the back.  It is so cute. 

We got several of those little pumpkin head hangers that are wrapped around that wooden bowl.  

I need him!!!  

Since I have my very own Boo I think I should have this too.  

Wouldn't this be adorable at a kids party? Fill that mouth full of candy!!  Or on the front porch for trick or treaters?    Ok I might have to get this too. Maybe I should get a job there.

There she is again! I'm pretty sure she's hungry by now.  I know I am!!!  

Love this!! And that lamp.  NEEDTHIS!!

Love the Autumn picture and the pumpkin but that doll has got to go.  I am so not into primitive dolls.  They scare me.  My good friend Ter'e loves them and used to have alot of them.  That's where she and I differ.  Ter'e you know you do!!!!  

Isn't this door funny? It was upstairs in a popcorn shop.   

See, I told you she was hungry!!!  

After grabbing some popcorn to go, we went down the street to the Quilt Shop. Bought what else, some Halloween fabric and a cute pattern for a quilt we're making. 

Then we went next door to this awesome cross stitch shop. I used to do tons of cross stitch but gave it all away years ago. Well, now I have more. I couldn't resist doing it again. There are so many cute patterns. 

I love this place. Right down to the original cobblestone street.

I hope you enjoyed the shopping trip so far. But wait!! There's more.  

 

 

 

 

Part two!!

Ok so pardon my fat swollen face and my big old fat body.  I swear I have to stop eating or stop with the menopause. Not sure which will come first but something's gotta give if I'm going to pose anymore with these two!!!   If they would have told me I would have at least wore pink and maybe, just maybe, I would have blended in more.

First we picked up Linda Pooh, and dropped of Boo Boo.  HEY that rhymes.  Boo was staying at his dad's which is right by my sisters.  So here are the girls posing on Boo's toys.  Boys and their toys!!  Boo had his honking trailer and on that he had an ATV, a golf cart, and in the back of his big old truck he had two motorcycles.  Seriously?? He needs a woman to spend all that money on. Orrrr how about good old mom??   :)  No, I can't complain cause he does spend it on me.  But what about those two babes on the bike??? 

Next we went to St.Charles. My home away from home.  We had lunch at my favorite place, The Magpie, which I forgot to take pictures of.Trust me it was good. Google,  Magpie Baked Potato Cheese soup and give it a whirl. It will knock your socks off.  It's their own recipe and to die for.  Trust me, I won't steer you wrong.  If you think I don't know my food, scroll back up to the top and take a look at me!!!!  

So don't you just want everything in this room?  

Nancy stopping to smell the flowers.  They are almost as big as her head.   And again, what's up with all the pink today?  I did not get that memo I swear.

Next up, the Country House.  Wanna go inside?  Linda doesn't really look thrilled does she?  Maybe she needs some FOOD!!  Look how skinny she is.  That is just wrong!!!  

I seriously want that checkerboard for my dining room table. I might go back tomorrow and get that bad boy. It was so neat and would look great on my dining room table.  It was big too. You can't tell from that photo but it was a nice size.  I want it!!

This is inside the Cobblestone Cottage.  My all time favorite shop in St. Charles.

Look who's over at the register.  She had quite the pile O goodies.   

Does she look happy or what?  

There's the skinny one!!!  She's not much into all the clutter in her house. But she likes to go look.  She was a good sport hanging out with us all day.  Of course I spoiled her and got her some goodies.  But then I love spoiling her.  

Next post is the Halloween section. OHMYGOODNESS!!!!! You'll wanna come back for that. I may start decorating tonight. 

 

 

She's left the building

What a fast 8 days.  Where did they go???  I think we crammed everything we possibly could into those 8 days too.  One thing I know for sure, I am BEAT!!!   Not sure if Nancy is as tired as me, but I need a rest.  Matter of fact, today after we got back from the airport I took a nap. I NEVER take naps.  Must have been fun huh?

I'll start at the beginning ok?  Sorry I didn't blog while she was here but really there was no time.  We started sewing in the morning and didn't stop one night until 3a.m.  Honestly we didn't.  We got so much done.   

So Nancy has her own room in my house.  She really does.  It's the first room right off the front door.  Only problem is it's wide open and doesn't have a door.  I've had these set of three doors in my garage since I sold my shop. I loved them, and bought them years ago.  Good old Hunka (shouldn't say OLD)   got them out, hosed them off and brought them inside for me.  I said, wouldn't that middle door look awesome with a curtain?? He said, yea it would. So I ran downstairs before we left for the airport and whipped up that cute little curtain.  Came back upstairs and he had hung the curtain rod on for me.  On the left side of the green door is another screen. The right side is also a screen.  I just love these doors and now will leave them in the house.  At least she had a little privacy this time.  

See where the front door is?  I told you she was close to it.  

A close up of the middle door.  Isn't that the cutest curtain??  It's from Lori Holt's new line, Sew Cherry. I love that fabric.  Both prints are from that.  I have them on the website in case you too want a curtain like mine.  Cause you know you do.  

This is her room.  It's like a little girls room, you know I had boys!!!  So it's fun to decorate girly.  

There's all of her gifties I got her in the bags on the bed.  I need to take pics of all the stuff she brought me. OHMY!!!!!  

I love putting Annie's under the glass domes.  I've been doing that for years.  It's so cute.  Annie might not like it but I think it's cute.  The roses I bought for Nancy's room. I always buy her flowers for her room and usually her bathroom when she visits.  Today after she left Hunka planted the rose out front on our hill.  

Yes that picture on the wall is crooked.  lolol  I didn't realize it when I snapped.  Nancy bought that for me for my birthday, the last one I had in Ca.  

This cabinet is in her room too, hunka made it years and years ago for our house in Ca. It fit in a perfect spot in our bedroom. It is so big it only fits right there in this house.  It's so tall.  Perfect for my quilts though.  

Boo came in town from Tennessee too, and he went with me to the airport to pick her up.  It was a surprise, she didn't know he was coming.  He ran in to help her with the bags at the baggage claim area.  She was surprised!!  But earlier in the day, he was in the country with his dad and he found this cute little guy.  I said PLEEEEEZE bring it to me.  Can you see how tiny it is? It was the cutest little thing. And yes he's on my kitchen counter.   Sorry.  I did clean it after.

I thought he might like a swim in the bird bath.  I couldn't put him in the Koi pond I thought he might drown.  

Then, yes we let him go.  I hated to. It was sort of sad to me.  But I didn't want to trap him in a box.  That wouldn't be right.  I hope he stays in our area so I can see him again.  I'm loving all this wildlife we have here.  Now I need a baby deer.  

Nancy wanted IMOS pizza because it's not in California, it is a St. Louis pizza. The family that started it live just a couple houses up from us. This is the best pizza. It has a cheese called Provel that is in St. Louis.  You can order it but I don't think it's sold in other states.  It just makes the pizza awesome. And it's a cracker like crust.  So we got her pizza the first night and again last night for her last supper.  OHMY that doesn't sound right does it??  We had our pizza,  our adult beverages and just hung out the first night. 

Lots more to show you but I must go an update my other blogs.  Be back soon with more.  

I miss you Nancy!!!