HaPPy AnNiVerSarY To Me...HaPPY AnNiVerSAry To Me...

Happy New Years Eve! everyone!!! thought I would take you down memory lane..This is a photo taken of us on December 29th 1985..Hence the big 80's hair..and look at that makeup..I was wearing individual false eyelashes...what a huge pain those were... This photo was taken 2 days before we got married..so if you did your math right..today is our 24th anniversary...4pm Utah time to be exact...I worked that day and got off at 3pm..rushed home freshened up my makeup..(like I needed too..)...lol..but I had to get rid of the shiny nose girls...changed clothes..got our best man and matron of honor and her little 2 year old and headed off to the JP's to get married.. Oh I was so nervous as I didn't want to kiss Mike in front of people..my girlfriends little girl was running all over the room..I wouldn't look Mike in the face when he said his vows to me...otherwise I was going to bust out laughing from embarassment..oh those were the days indeed...we called our parents to let them know what was going on as to why I wouldn't be coming home that night..and my mom thought it was an april fools joke..no lie..his mom couldn't be bothered as she was watching T.V..so we headed to my matron of honors house to play games and bring in the new year..Well we did..we left the guys behind to watch their 2 year old and Jill and I put on wigs and had a horn and went driving around blowing it and yelling happy new year..so that is how we spent our wedding night..very unconventional I must say...but we had fun..We did have a church wedding that January 18th 1986 for the immediate family and my girlfriend threw me a shower..we went on our honeymoon for a week all over washington, oregon, california, and lake tahoe and back to utah..we had a great time..would love to retrace that trip again someday... Mike is working today so I am going to sew and then cook us a fabulous dinner of a peach glazed ham, garlic smashed potatoes and a spinach strata..need to figure out something for dessert..Netflix is sending us Julie and Julia,..so we will watch that and then bring in the new year..;) our neighbors can't make it..so it is us and the fur babys..which is fine by me..safe and snug and cozy at home..just the way I like it..:)

Ah I think I just found where I will be looking for a dessert at ...I went to Joanns yesterday to pick up my machine that was on order..and I picked up a few more things..I got this gooseberry cookbook at 50% off..(had a coupon)..I am not one to buy cookbooks.but going through it..they had simple easy dishes..and who doesn't love comfort food...will share recipes from it from time to time..might just be the dessert one..;)

I also picked up some brown felt to make coffee cozys with..and some fabric that I will use some of it to make seam binding with ...can't wait to try out my new machine..the middle fabric with the paws will go on a jacket I make for my mother in law for her birthday with her dog embroidered on it..and that will be the trim around the jacket...

christmas stuff was 70% off so got a set of blocks for me and my little sister..I know where these will go next year, in my new cabinets..:)

they had their halloween trims clearanced and then another 50% off the clearance..couldn't pass that up...

Here is the new machine, it irons the fabric as you slid it through the hole and folds it in the 1/2 inch that I need..there are more acccessories not included that I can get down the road..different sizes for the bias tape..I did get more pipe binding for pillows and some valentines ribbon too..oh and velcro for the cozys..

I also picked up these thread holder carrier thing-a-majigs...they are always falling off onto the floor and what a paint to put them all back in again..so getting more organized..:)

Ah saving the best for last!!!! I did a swap with my good pal Angie of "Love the Prim Look" and I made her a hat and scarf set for her mother in law..and she made me a stove cover...I have wanted one of these for so long...after seeing everyone elses and it was on my doorstep yesterday...what a way to end the old year..I love it..didn't she do a great job..:)..I couldn't wait to decorate it up...well that is it for me..I hope you all out there in blogland have a most wonderful new years tonight and all the best for the new year ahead...lets hope it is better then this year..and remember don't drink and drive...be smart people...I have had a wonderful time in blogging..(I am hooked) and love reading all about you and what you are up too..I have met so many great and giving gals out there in blogland..and hope to make more friends in the New year!!! Take care and have a Great time!!!Oh and See you all next year!!! (I just love using that line)...always gets a giggle from me..:)

Love you all!!!

Gina:)

SnEEk PeEk of My HuMbLe Art OFFeRins...

Here is a sneek peek of my offerings on Humble arts that is coming on New Years Eve....There are some wonderful artists along with me there..so be sure to stop by and see what we have to offer you in the new year...I just made these candle mat/wall art on sunday..I just love these prim little snowmen...and since winter is amongst us what a cute way to cozy up your home..and some have little hearts..great for valentines day..well I am off to go shopping got lots of places to go today..so I hope your wednesday is a great one...See you all tomorrow...:>)

MonDay FuNnies.....

SiMpLiFiEd...

Yesterday I was set on taking down the christmas decor...needed some simplicity in my life and it felt so good...so I put away most everything..and kept out a few winter type items to enjoy through January..I did a lot of tweaking...oh I love to decorate and tweak..just what I needed...Mike made us Turkey soup..and it was so yummy after a long day of work and decorating..lol..so here is the Hutch above.. With a cute little annie Doll from Brenda and my Sheep from Cindy..

I moved this little trio from the floor by the woodstove to my kitchen counter..love it there..

and here are my 2 cabinets all gussied up with everyday decor..I will love changing these out with the season..(if I have enough seasonal stuff to add)...my prim kitty on the bottom from Karin, my kitty on top from Angie and a little cat pillow and wood star with crow from Cindy..I love them...I also have a little winter blessings lamp to turn on..

Do you see the little doll sitting next to the door..she is sitting on a pitch fork that is bent..and a little kitty hanging from the pegs..the pitchfork is doing double duty..it keeps the door open all the way..I have my mixing bowls with 2 of my gingerbread ornaments inside and my little cloth runner that Willow gave me...on an old metal picnic basket that my mom gave me..Kimmy made the snowman on a spoon for me..

Here is the other cabinet..I strung my silicone dipped lights across them both as I love twinkling lights for the ambiance...

I took one of my candle mats that I made and used double stick tape and put it up..I love it..another way to use those mats..:)

a little snowman topper for my candle..from Home interiors..I hand stitched the bittersweet berries years ago and the blocks are also by home interiors..old...they say, welcome friends, easter greatings, be my valentine and christmas? (can't remember)...

Here is the vanity in our entry way..it has all of our babys photos on them..

DH watching Football today and enjoying the "kids" and a nice fire that he built..we are thinking of putting old reclaimed brick up behind the woodstove with a mantel..I can't wait...would certainly bounce the heat off better...and it would just look so good having the stockings hanging on an actual mantel...(yes always decorating)..did it when we first saw this house..where to put the tree..seriously...it used to go in the corner where the white shelf is..the huge sectional couch was where the T.V. is now..

and last but not least..the stairwell..put the old jugs/bottles there and the other basket is on the vanity...oh it feels so good to have a clean house..love it..now I gotta get cracking and start some more dollys..and make my mom and MIL their jackets that I am embroidering..one of the gals at church today taught me how to fold fabric to cut on the bias...oh it is going to be sweet..might not use the machine I got from Joanns..will use the ironing one though..cause it folds it and irons it..I will be picking that machine up this week when I head into town..it just came in...well I hope you all have a wonderful week...are you all planning new years partys and such? we are having the neighbors over for dinner and cards...we all love to play cards..make some tasty finger foods to munch on..so shopping is a must this week too....Have a wonderful rest of your evening..:) we are eating left over ribs, mashed taters and corn..:)

ChriStmAs At Our HouSe...

This is what we woke up to on christmas morning..all frosty out...no snow..but it sure was pretty...

This is how the day ended up..just glorious outside...we opened gifts and then put on our walking shoes and took a beautiful walk..lots of folks out walking too..this is down our muddy dirt road..yeah you could call us rednecks...lol..

this is up the road..just past those garbage cans is our house on the left..

going down towards the water..you can see it through the trees..we live about a block from this view..in the winter when the trees have shed their leaves you can see the puget sound from our house...great beach to go for a walk on...

the little general store with their holiday decor...

the gifts waiting to be opened...all of those were mine minus the box on the bottom..hubby went shopping after work on christmas eve and picked me up a few wonderful gifts...so glad he did..

He got me the little mouse sander with sand paper....I also got a reading light to clamp onto a book as I love to read at night and he is trying to sleep..tried it out last night..love it..also got a really neat photo album that is digital for my key chain...it will be my brag photo album...mostly of my kittys...also got a remote control to use for the new playstation system..no more using the controllers that I am still trying to get the hang of...got some new bed sheets from my sister..

have no idea what I am opening..oh I also got a car window scraper..so no more credit cards to use..isn't hubby thoughtful..it is huge..we also have a tradition we play at our house..we put a little something on the gift that tells what it is ..we then take guesses as to what we think it is by shaking, squeezing the gift wrapped item...sometimes we get them right ...but mostly we are wrong..we love playing that game..keeps em guessing..especially if the gifts are out for a long period of time before christmas..

hubby got this neat skelly motorcycle for christmas..they said they got it in branson missouri. He is taking that to work...

The hubby also got me bon bons..Actually it was the best tasting fudge ever...prailine and cream and mint chocolate..the prailine was gone in an instant..and yes while watching T.V.!!!...lol..you have all heard the expression of eating bon bons and watching t.v. all day thats what women do..NOT...but in this case...yes..and it was soooo good...

Stanley on the entertainment center with no flash..blurry too..:)

pody getting her toy a catnip squirrel..she wanted nothing to do with it..as she wanted to be outside watching the real things eat their christmas feast..so we had to put her out and she watched the crows, bird, and squirrels eat their breakfast...

Tucker trying out his new toy...he is trying to pull off the eyes now..

here he is trying to get back in to the action of christmas...I swear they knew what day it was and they were all hyped up...

Here is Nap-a-pop taking a breather from playing...Angie do you see what he is laying next too...

Sunny playing with the dadman..

Margie fargie playing with her toy..

Millie catching some rays with her toy..

tucker with his dog and a big bone his buddy Jerry gave him on christmas eve...he loves it!!!

finally taking some time to humor mom and dad by actually playing with her toys..;)she is outside as we speak watching the show the squirrels and birds have put on just for her...

Gracie checking the toys out..this is a mouse on a spring like thing and it squeeks...do you think they are spoiled...nnnaaaahhh!!! just loved.;)

Margie playing with the feather toy...We love seeing them when "the Kitten" comes out in them...I tell you all is right with the world in my book...We had a nice quiet relaxing day..at 9pm we took a drive about 4 miles from our home and went and looked at all the christmas lights..I so enjoy seeing them..makes me smile...A show you need to watch.."The House without a Christmas tree"..with Jason Robards..I remember watching this as a kid so last year I found it on amazon on DVD and purchased it..watched it yesterday afternoon...Well it is another beautiful sunny day..the frost has burned off we are packing the wood box up again and I am taking down the christmas decorations...I usually wait till new years..but I just want the clutter out and the house simplified..I do this every year..I get in spring cleaning mode..I am going to paint my bathroom this week I think...getting rid of the turquoise for a khaki color..going to put black and tan curtains in it and paint the vanity..black and distress it..will help the bathroom out tremondously till we can actually put new flooring and tile in the tub...will be sure to take before and after photos...organizing the spare bedroom too..got a huge roll top desk for free and we rearranged and so gotta fill up that desk..and get some crafting done too..be sure to look for me on the "Humble Arts" site on the first..I can't wait to get to know the ladys in this group..it is a tiny group..have a wonderful rest of your weekend..:) will show you photos of the tweaking I did after the decorations are all down...:)