A SwEet SurPriSe in ThE maiL...

Howdy Ho Folks!!! While I was out beauty barking the yard yesterday, I stopped to get our mail and seen this envelope and knew who it was by the return address and thought..I wonder what she could be sending me...I was thinking a card or an invitation to something...so I quickly opened it up and there was this cute pillow front in there..she had a wonderful note that she she had written...that she had come across this and Immediately thought of me!! From my blog friend Janene From Primitives Lifestyles that sent me this!!! well it made my day and it surely fits me to a T..but honestly the best seat in the house is my lap..just ask my kittehs!!!..

This morning..(just finished it up for the photo shoot..I finished it up and made it into a pillow for our bed..since they do spend a great deal of time here..at least 2 do at any given time..:)

I got the backing fabric from Karen at love you cherishables..we did a swap on our selling blog a long while back and she sent me this as a thank you...it fits purrrffeeccttly in my room..floral and kittys and pink..Thank you so much Janene for making my day and thinking of me...this is wonderful...:)

the big maple shown here taken from our bedroom window..is one of the parts that was beauty barked..the rest was in the front yard..I filled in some spots that didn't get it a month ago..I bought it and laid it out..all 1 yard of it..from 2pm till 5:30pm..then I mowed the lawn and watered the yard as we have had no rain really to speak of...and things were getting crispy around the edges...so everything got a much needed drink and the yard looks fab!

Mike finally started on finishing the stairs up yesterday..been needing to be done for 7 years as we built this garage in 2002...and these are steep stairs and I look over the edge at the rocks and hope and pray I don't fall over the side when I am hauling out my holiday bins or my show bins down the stairs..so he got the bottom put on..and it looooookkkss so gooodd..I love it and feel much safer now..we are going to paint them white like the deck on the back of the house.so hopefully they will be done this weekend..and we can start painting next week... Well That is it for me today..gotta clean and tidy up the house..work on some witches...go outside and enjoy some sun with my babies...I hope your day is a bright and sunny one...Take care...:)

RanDoM PhOtoS....enJoy:)

When I was taking photos of my picnic basket I was taking photos of the babys and the flowers too..so here are a few....the above rose is our Red Velvet rose..

here ar the tomato plants..lots of flowers but no tomatoes..would have thought we would have some by now..they are tucked in between the roses and the hopps plants...they love this side of the house...they get lots of sun..:)

here is my Vodoo Rose..I love the color of this one..that is why I bought it years ago..it gets the tallest out of the other two...and is the heartiest too...

Here is Stanley Manley...helping me water the hopps, roses, and tomatoes..he just plops himself at my feet and stretches..our outdoor babies love being with us and helping us in the yard..always makes me smile..

isn't he precious...he is such a soft squishy kitty...I could just climb in and needle him too...:)

Sunny bunny enjoying a nice spot on the shed deck soaking up some sun...

here is our Mr. Jingles getting a bite to eat..I had just given him some fresh water and food and he poked his cute little head out...he is 6 years old

here is little Pody looking at Mr. Jingles eating..wonder what she is thinking...hmm...lunch? I think not..the kid are fascinated by him and love to look at him...

if you click on the photo above you will see Stanley under the pot there in the shade...

Here is Sunny rolling in the dirt..just carrying on..they love to roll in the dirt like dogs..We sure love our babys...I love my kittys...Mike loves his Tucker...Well today is going to be a busy one..When Mike gets home from the sporting goods store..we are getting a truck load of bark to fill in some spaces and finish the yard up...and then I have to mow the lawn, hopefully get to the windows today..they need to be washed big time..Mike worked on the back stairs yesterday..so we have a hand rail now..still need to finish it up..but it is much safer now...our weather is glorious this week..which is nice for the 4th..not sure what we are doing...they are having the farmers market on saturday..so may go to that and watch the parade..do a little barbeque and then go and watch the fireworks...not sure..playing it all by ear...anyway..have a wonderful week...I am sure I will be back for Whatcha working on Wednesday..:)

RoTary SaLe AnYonE?

Yesterday I took the plunge and decided to go to the Rotary Rummage sale..I have never been before and they advertise this thing and it is the talk of the town..so my friend who is house sitting next door we both decided to go...we got there at 8:45 am..which is early for me for anything..we took the shuttle bus to this place which was held in a middle school and every room just about was filled with different stuff and so was the outside..we get off the bus and I am in total awe of all the stuff that is there and the amount of people..the night before they held a silent auction on some big items, cars, furniture etc..this is the cafeteria above I think..just filled with kids items etc...and people..you couldn't get through here..and we didn't stay either..but I had to get a photo of the crowd..

This was in a tent outside of some really expensive looking type furniture stuff..and look at the crowds..some rooms you had to just come back to as they were filled..alot of the stuff was reasonably priced and none of it goes back home..they donate it whatever is left to the goodwill..towards the end they are just giving it away...we left at 11:00am to catch the shuttle back..and that was a 30 minute wait as the traffic on the road was horrible..we went to the local farmers market..not to impressed..but we got lunch and walked to hubbys place of work and bugged him for a bit..then I we headed home..I started getting a headache that i couldn't shake..(I don't get headaches often at all) but when I do..I can't function..I hadn't slept well the night before either..so I parked it on the couch and took a 2 hour nap..felt so good and the headache was gone..below are a few treasures I did find at the sale..

A big one gallon jug for a $1..has a little paint on it..but will scrape it off and put an old label on it..for halloween or something...

I got these VHS tapes..(we have both players) and these were a buck for each tape..I accidently got 2 of the Johnny Carson sets thinking they were different..so I had 16 total all for the low price of $12..so one set is for me and one for the in-laws..can't wait to relive those Johnny Carson shows..we loved him and he is still our favorite...I have the DVD set of Pride and Predudice..so I may see if my little sister wants it..the avonlea is mine..I love those shows too..

I picked up these too silicone pans for a buck each..going to make tarts or soap out of those....again a $1 each.

and last but not least 2 aluminum molds one for me and one for Robby...they were a $1 each too....so not too bad considering what they had...you could have furnished your home at this place..but it was just too hectic and traffic was horrible...will I be back next year? probably not..would rather go to the thrift stores and shop and miss the crowds.. Tonight we are having the neighbor over for dinner again tonight..He is going to get spoiled on my cooking..but he is single and old enough to be my son..so it is nice to make sure he is getting fed a nice home cooked meal..tonights menu..Spaghetti with Checca sauce..oh this is so yummy and refreshing on a nice day like today..course we eat it all year round..I got it off of foodnetwork...it is by Giada..yummy!! have a wonderful week.. we are supposed to have nice weather..so the 4th should be nice as well...going to the indianola church on the 4th for strawberry shortcake..going to help them pit the strawberrys for it with my good pal Betty...:)

T.G.I.F...

Hello there, Well I thought I would take you through the progression of our yard, flowers and veggie garden from the time we planted it in April..the above and below are taken the first part of April..we still had the rest of the hedges that needed removing and I hadn't barked the back portion yet..

you could actually see the little decorations that i have in the garden...the lettuce was just planted..some from seeds some from plants that we purchased.

another view of Aprils garden..still in my tweaking faze..;)

the back deck and the hanging plants..I can't believe how big the purple one is now..almost to the ground..you will see photos below....this was May...

This is May's garden..getting alot fuller this was probably towards the end of May..look at the lettuce..on the left..the potatoes are on the right..

the ariel view of May's Garden..the hedges are gone and we just recently barked it in..

another pic of May..

This is today June 26th's garden..look at the potatoes..they have al but taken over the garden...they have purple flowers and white ones..the lettuce and arugula are all mixed in and the arugula is going to seed so is the stray broccolli..you can't see the decor I have in the garden any longer...that little metal person in the garden looks as if it is drowing in a sea of veggies..saying Help get me outta here..lol...

now for the progression of the hopps..they were just puny in April so no photos of those..but this is May...

and this is today...Can you believe it..they are over the top of the roof now by about a foot...and still going..harvest is in September sometime..

I took some up close photos of the veggies..here is the Artichoke plant with 3 chokes on it..it has gotten so tall..we are still deciding whether to let them bloom or eat them..I think this year we are going to eat them...yum....

here is the back portion of the garden..tomatoes on the left..all have flowers but no tomatoes yet..

here is our huge zucchini plant and you can see the flower and it has one zucchini on it about 3 inches long...can't wait to harvest those..both this one and the pumpkin are huge..but I see no pumpkins yet..just lots of buds turning to flowers..so hopefully soon...I love pumpkins and would love my own pumpking patch...I just love em and the colors and what they bring..Fall and decorating...:) *sigh*...

side view of my zucchini plante..huge..getting to where you can't walk back there anymore..next to it in front is a pretty pink plant that looks like carnations..the big monarch butterflys love it..I have seen a few and they just make me smile to watch them flutter about...love it!!:)

here is the sunflower plants..growing like weeds too..last week they were to our chests now they are at our heads..they are going be huge again this year..they are also one of my favorite flowers...;)

the clothesline with my laundry up on it as we speak..and look at the flowers..they have gotten so big..mostly the purple one..I love it.I got these at walmart and they have done so well..

here is a view of the back porch patio and house from the shed..I love this view too..still gotta finish the stairs..hoping to start those this weekend...going to get another truck load of bark too...so that will be my job after we unload the back of the truck of firewood that Mike is getting for free..Can't beat free..still need to split it though..but free is free...

I took this photo this morning as I was taking the others...all decorated for the 4th..

another view..;)

and yet another view of the front..

I cut some flowers from the neighbors yard for a photo shoot you will see below and some roses from my garden...I love my roses..the peach one is my vodoo rose..love the orangy peachy color and I have a red velvet one in there and not in there cause they were already done blooming and dying is my lemon rose. it is a lighter red/pink and smells just like lemon...I harvested the lavendar from their plants too..still have to go and harvest the rest...I love the lavendar and it smells so good..will dry it and use it in my crafting and for pillows too...:)

these 2 photos are for you Diane!!! hopefully it is a clear enough photo so you can paint these..Diane works for the viking department at Joanns and she is a faithfull reader and avid painter...:)

Okay these next sets of photos are for a thing we are doing for our WSOAPP site..and if I win I could get $50.00 to spend in one of the shops..I am wondering what the them should be...Should it be: Life is grand or lifes a bowl of cherries..that little quilted pillow in the cherrys bowl says :ain't life grand...so please help me choose the right photo to turn in and the title for it...this is #1

#2

upclose of the bowl and the pillow...

#3

#4
Its a summer picnic we are supposed to be taking photos of...so I put together this vignette..and by no means am I a professional..but it was so much fun taking these...Angela you will notice your little candy cup full of cherries..it fit this red/white theme so well...:) Tomorrow I will show you the photos of the kids as they were out and about helping me today...This is my 380th post..I suppose when I reach 400 I should do a giveaway as it has been awhile...Well take care and thanks for taking the time to read my post today...:)

My KiTchEn SwAp CaMe & OthEr ThIngS...

I did a kitchen swap from Sew Mama Sew back in May and I got a to meet a great gal named Angela,..we are neighbors practically she lives in Oregon..so about 3-4 hours away from me...We got to deck out each others kitchens! I haven't seen photos of her newly decked out kitchen I do hope she loves what she got..and I am waiting with baited breath to see her kitchen...hint hint Angela..I want to see photos..;) I got 2 packages in the mail yesterday..when it rains it pours..Angela had this wrapped up so cutely with RED tissue paper and RED/white gingham ribbon..

here it is just waiting for me to go kid crazy at christmas on it..lol..

Here was her sweet note to me..and yes she has certainly found a friend in me...love her handwriting too...mine looks like scribble anymore..I write as fast as I talk..and it shows..lol...

look at all the sweet yummy things I received from Angela..she hit the nail on the head with the RED..she knew of course that I love, love red!!

I absolutely love this little vintage chocolate jar that has vintage (at least they look that way to me) strawberrys that have been crocheted...I love this jar and the goodies in it..

I love this embroidered strawberry oven pad too...love the outer rim of it...too cute.

I got this adorable red vintage apron..it is hanging with my 2 other vintage aprons in my dining room on a peg rack..

Love this metal sign..It is our logo on our WSOAPP site...only it says autumn in place of harvest...this sign will go up first thing this fall in my kitchen...I love metal signs...and I love fall too..

she gave me this cute little enamelware pan and this cute RED/white checked cup/saucer..not sure what you would call it...but i love it..

and this cute RED/white doilie...okay below you will see out of order How I displayed my wonderful treasures..I couldn't wait to tweak once I opened my package and took photos..:)

you can see the strawberry jar, the oven hot pad, the doily here..I picked more flowers to add to my gerbera daisys...they are in a $5 50's creamer pitchur..love it..

heres a better photo...doesn't it all look so good together..:)

this is the out of order part...I love this casserole dish she sent me as well...I love pyrex..I really do...and this will get used to...love the design on top of the lid..I have never seen one like it..

it has a split in it..for say 2 different veggies you have made..:)

here it is with all my other blue pyrex dishes..its on the left on the bottom there..oh it goes so nicely with my others..

doesn't it look great? also did you notice on the upper left where my cookbooks are..this is an old meat slicer (it has been wired) so it can cut you..I have had this for years..got it at my favorite local haunt that I go to every year..I am doing my july show at her house this year..she had it sitting on her counter with her cook books there and I had to have it..have had it now for about 10 years..very unique way to display your cookbooks..and you notice the cookbook..my farmchicks book..this is a must have..every recipe is simple and easy to make and you get an apron stencil and a country living subcription..I've got to get on that one..cause I love my country living magazine...they also have great tips in there as well..great gift idea for someone you love..:)

here is where I put the enamelware pan...with my other vintage goodies right above my sink..

I put my little red/white cup in my kitchen window and put my gerbera daisys in it..it looks sooooo good here....Thank you again Angela for a wonderful swap..you made my day and pimped my kitchen oh so nicely...:)

Okay my second package arrived and I got my stencils finally..this was along time coming..but I ordered 2 sets of these boxes and only 1 set came..kind of disappointed..so am looking elsewhere for another set of these..I got the stencils as you can see for this set and the other set will have halloween stencils on them. I didn't show those as I forgot...:)

here is the desk set of papermache that I purchased as well for the stencils below and the varnish too..

the little stencils for the boxes inside...

I already had this one painted so I decided to use my stencil to try it out...turned out really neat...:)they have great stencils and the americana ones are on sale right now.. you can't beat their prices..when they are on sale. so were the boxes..I bought mine for 12 bucks. they are still on special too..everything you buy is..it is seems.. Well I am making progress on my witch dolls..it takes alot out of you to rag stuff these babys and it took one "full" sized sheet to stuff 4 dolls...so gotta put that on my list...going shopping today..where else, Joanns..got 5 coupons burning a hole in my pocket..then off to petsmart, another pet store lowes and grocery shopping..so I best get hopping to it...have a wonderful day..our weather is getting prettier by the minute...:)