Just Because....

Just a really Blah wet cold day, rain and thunder all day practically. Unloaded some pics off the camera I had forgotten I took last week. This is my bedroom, the old bed came from my Dad's shed after he passed away. He had told me to take it b/f he passed away. The hanging light came from Sandy's mom and dad, he gave it to me after his wife passed away.

This is my Bayshore High School Graduation picture, Bradenton, Florida where I am from. The picture hangs on my bedrom wall. Oh to be that size again!

Miley on my bed.

This is a lamp I had ordered from Colonial Tin some long time ago, think it stayed in a box for almost a year or more b/f I ever even opened it and set it out.

A bunny I had won off ebay a couple months ago. I really like it, it is simple and very well done.

Another pic of my old bed, I love the floor lamp standing beside the bed. It is very old also.

Came home with 20 bolts of fabric last week. Most of them were not full bolts. Some one I knew was selling off a lot of their fabrics so I went to their house and shopped. Got great deals on it.

Spring Sprung

Planted these flowers several years ago, they come back up every year. So pretty, I just love flowers. Wish I had the time and energy to really get some flower beds going.

Garden pics..LOL

My pitiful little porch garden..LOL.. oh well, better than nothing for sure! This is my squash plant, think, I have 3 of them altogether.

Tomatoes and a squash plant on my porch garden. I also planted an area of Sweet Annie out in the backyard a few minutes ago. It is one plant that Curly won't eat so I can plant it where ever I want w/o worrying about him devouring it. I have several more places I am going to plant Sweet Annie.

Planting a Mini Garden

Well it isn't what I wanted but all I can manage right now. Wanted to get a large area tilled up in my front side yard for a big garden but don't have the means to do it at this point so I got 6 of the very large black plastic pots and made a mini garden on my back porch. About the only place I can do it for now that I don't have to worry about Curly getting to it. The sun hits it real good so I have 3 of the smaller breed tomato plants, 2 yellow squash and 1 green bell pepper plant going. Need to get more bell pepper plants for sure. Just finished with them, dug dirt from the back yard and lots of it from under the old chicken pens so they should be very well fertilized! But that is what I hear folks around here say to do so I am giving it a try. Next I am going to clear out a flower bed area and sprinkle sweet annie seeds to grow & try to preserve some myself this year. I always buy the preserved stuff off ebay, they are great but getting way too expensive for what you get for your dollar. Sooo, I 'll give it a try and see if I can preserve it myself, have the instructions for it, if I don't succeed guess it will be back to old ebay and paying out the yang. I don't have any trouble growing it and I love the smell so at least it probably will be worth growing even if I don't succeed at preserving. Plus it will give me a whole new crop of new seeds for next time. Well, would love to have a pic of my porch garden(lol) but my camera batteries are dead and I am slap out of batteries! Until next time.. Blessings to All!

My Son In Law, Michael is headed for Japan with our Navy

Looks like Michael is going to Japan to help out with rescue efforts there. He is in the United States Navy, stationed at Port Hueneme in California

This is 2010 when his unit was in Aghanistan, he has been there twice already. It is a horrible place to be.

My dear Son In Law Michael Garcia. He is married to my precious baby girl, Celena Jem. They live in Oxnard, California. Michael is stationed there at Port Hueneme with the U.S. Navy. He has been to Afghanistan twice and by the Grace of God has made it home safely both times. Now he is headed to Japan to help with rescue efforts after this earth quake yesterday. He and Celena live in Oxnard, California right on the water at the harbor so I fear those tsunami's coming in from the quakes.May God be with all our Military and their families everywhere. My prayers go out to everyone affected by what has happened in Japan, to them and their families.

May God watch over them all.

Spring Lamb Wreath

This is a wreath I just finished, 28" wreath. Looks better in person and a bit more colorful. I used a sheep pattern from Raven's Haven. Hope to sell it at the Calico Spring Show next week. I hung an old cow bell at the top of the wreath.

Storms, Pets, and Being Lazy

Took the dogs out when I noticed the dark clouds rolling in. Supposed to rain so I wanted to let them out b/f it started and just as I was getting them back in the house, oh it started! Rumbles of thunder and heavy rain. Supposed to be severe tonight so guess I will have to hold down the fort here! LOL. I just looked out to see poor Curly starring at the rain through the fence on the barn door, he is so bored when it rains, doesn't like to get wet so he stays in the barn until it passes.

After they came in they all piled on my couch to take naps...all 3 dogs and of course Miley kitty! How useless are they?? Just look at them! Heee. I slept on the couch last night so my blankets are all thrown on the back of it, guess I need to get them folded.

Yes I am in the country as I said b/f so messes like you see here are common, I have cleaned it up a bit where some person whom I let use the shop and things for a while out there made a horrible mess everywhere and left it, drug in all sorts of trash and junk in my shop and yard and just lef it all for me to clean up, I mean it was just Awful!.. so nice of them wasn't it?? This is a small part of the back area that I have fenced in. I have cleaned it up a very great deal but still have more to go as you can see.

More of my chicken pen, this is in the back part of my property also. Junky looking but hey, I like it and it is the best I can do for now! Well, that's all for now.... got so much to do, just feel like curling up on the couch and going to sleep listening to the rain...Yawn!

New Pattern, Finally

This is Lucy Annie and Chicken. I made two of them so far, each with different color dress. She is a chunky 28" doll with painted chicken, aprox 7". Chicken is painted and cinnamon coated. Annie face is hand stitched, stripe painted legs, doll is stained, grunged, all primmed up and ready to go. She is available as a finished doll but extremely limited number can be made with the purina feed sack bottom dress featured in above photo. This fabric has not been available on the market for years now and I have a very limited amount of it. However I can make her dress from any other color. Finished doll is $49.95 ppd in USA.

Lucy Annie and Chicken, my new pattern, finally finished her up today. The e-pattern is available for $6.00, Mailed version is available for $8.50. Finished doll $49.95. Paypal buttons are on side bar at right if you wish to purchase doll or pattern. Thank you!

Just a Quiet Day in the Country!

My sweet dear brother Jimmy! Took this pic Sunday as they were getting ready to head back home. He has such a big heart and just loves animals. These are my three dogs and they all just loved him, even Corky, the border collie mix.. and she normally doesn't take to anyone and is VERY protective of me. But Jimmy won her over in a heartbeat even when they were here at Thanksgiving. I LUV U Jimmy!

The stray rooster that runs loose around out here all the time, has a little group of hens that follow him. He is big and pretty but can be a nuisance.
Look to the right and you can see PinWheel lying there in the grass, PinWheel is the little calico cat that has taken up here that I feed, been here since September I believe. She is precious, so petite, and not afraid of my dogs at all, they seem to get along well.

One of the cows across the street from me, I live on a dirt road and right out in front of my house is dear old Mr. Marvin Williams cow pasture.

The curious calf! So cute, Bella Magew, my neighbors new puppy, was barking at the calf, she didn't know what to think of them yet!

My sister, my brother and his wife all dropped in unexpectedly on me last Friday night,brought me a birthday cake and a few gifts, I was so surprised and so happy to see them. They came up from Bradenton, Florida where I am from. We had a wonderful visit, they stayed until Sunday afternoon. Miss them so much. My brother Jimmy is the sweetest most wonderful person you ever want to meet, his daughter is the one that won medals at the state weight lift. But, they have retrurned home now and it is back to the grind stone! I do have Sandy's visit to look forward to, she and Samantha will be here in a couple weeks for the show. It is so nice having company like this since I have no family or anyone that lives anywhere near me or even in this state. I walked out yesterday to see the calf looking back at me..LOL. Snapped a few pics. I just love old barns and farm scenes so I will share them with you!

Bella Magew

This is my neighbors adorable puppy, soo darn cute!

Doc appt and sewing

Well those two things seem to be mine and Sandy's lives anymore! Isn't getting older great?? LOL! But still beats the other option. Here is a doll I mailed out yesterday to a customer. This doll is from my Geraldine's Hen pattern available on my website. She is a very nice size doll. Got my Doc appt at 2:30, find out about all those tests I had to go to the hospital and have done last week. Also I stepped on a LONG rusty nail Sunday night after church, went looking in the shed for something and was dark....all I ended finding was a long nail through my shoe and in my foot so guess I will have to get a shot today for that. It is starting to hurt. But anyway, guiess this will be my day! Hope all is well with everyone. Blessings!!

Playing with the Camera today..like having a new toy...hee

Curly resting next to my new chicken pen I built.

Part of the new chicken pen, has a hen house that is enclosed. Hey, I am in

the country and you use what you have! LOL. There's about 2 acres or so of woods behind my chicken pen that is my property also and a creek back there some where. Wish I could have it all cleared out and grow a HUGE garden. Would love to have tons of corn and beans, etc.. I have quite a large yard in front and on the side of me so I usually have my garden there, hoping this year will be no exception. Can't wait for this Spring Show to be over next month so I can start working on the garden and some flower beds.

Gathered some big brown eggs this morn, went back this afternoon and found

a small white egg. This old double sink was in the shed so I put it in the hen

house, propped it up on some crates, placed hay in it for nest boxes and they

are laying their eggs in it. Now I don't have to go on an Easter Egg hunt in the barn every day

looking for eggs!

Here is one of my Roosters and a few hens. I have ten hens in this pen area and

one rooster. Have a couple more hens & roosters , Trying to

get some eggs hatched out with the Silkies that I have so they are penned

separately for now.

Curly being nosey as always, right in the middle of what ever is happening!
Sure has turned x-tremely warm the past few days, going to need to get Curly

sheared real soon.

YIPPEEEE! Got a Camera Again!

Celena sent this pic to me this morning of sweet Lysha lying on her bed with her.
Every one of their friends in Cali just Loves Lysha!! And are just sickened at how
abused those horrid people did that poor baby. But she is safe and soo much loved now!But they think she is having nightmares, she carries on in her sleep yelping, whining and whimpering and when she awakens she is really spooked and acts scared like she doesn't remember where she is for a minute or so. Hopefully she will get past all that. But she is very loveable and happy and sooo much loved..and SPOILED!!! She deserves it.

This orange dot is a beautiful Full Moon out last night so I had to take a pic, was just gorgeous

and had that orange glow all around it.

And just for fun, here is a mammy vac cover I finished up and shipped out yesterday.

Sooo nice having a camera again! Actually it is the one I bought for Celena and Michael for Christmas last year! It is soooo much nicer than the one I had and I paid a lot more for this one that I got her.. soo glad I did now cause I ended up with it! Heee! They both have those I-phones and take all their pics with those so she really doesn't use the camera anymore so when I told her mine was broken she offered to send me the one I had bought her.. soo Yipppee! Free camera.. well sort of, guess I already bought it once! LOL! But so glad to be in business again! Thanks Celena and Michael!

So proud of my niece!

This is my beautiful niece Jessica Holt, she is a senior this year at SouthEast High School in Bradenton, Florida. Jessica has been weightlifting at school, went to the regionals and came in first, went to the Sate competitions this past weekend and took 5th place in the entire state of Florida, bringing home a medal and has set school records for weight lifting at Southeast High School! We are so proud of her. I was blessed to have her here for Thanksgiving, she is joining the Navy July 19th and wants to continue with Power lifting when she joins. She is just a baby and we all hate to see her go! She was second runner up in the school beauty pageant as Miss Southeast, she is senior class president and an honor roll student. Above is a pic of her and her coach at the State meet this past weekend. Jessica wants to be a Marine Biologist and hopes to be able to attend college by joining the Navy.

This is Jessica this past Sunday at SeaWorld, they took them for the outing as a reward for doing so well at the weightlifting competitions the day before. We are going to miss her so much when she goes into the Navy! On my facebook link above right hand side, there are several links on there for both the Bradenton Herald and the Sarasota Herald news papers with articles and pics of Jessica at the State meet and also a link to a video live interview that a TV news station did on her. Interviewed along with Jessica was her coach and also her father(my broher Jimmy Holt). Sadly Jessica's mother died in front of her when Jessica was only 8 years old, at that time she went to live permanently with her dad (my brother)and her step mother. They have loved her so much and helped her through it all and are a very close family. Jessica is their only child, a very strong young lady and a real achiever.

No More Pics for a While

Unless a miracle happens I won't be able to post any more pics for a while. My Camera broke the other day and I can't afford to replace it right now. My cell phone takes the most hideous pics soooo, guess I am having to do w/o for the time being. Here is a pic Celena sent me of Lyra and Lysha in the California mountains last week. Hope everyone is having a blessed week! TTL!

Ok, Excuse me while I brag for a change!!

Michael getting ready for a swim during their hike in the mountains!

Three of Celena and Michael's friends during their hike in the mountains

with them a couple days ago.

My SIL Michael (plaid shirt) and his friend Collins and of course Lysha (doggy)
enjoying the beautiful scenic mountains a few days ago during the hike.

My precious and beautiful baby girl Celena Jem (dark shirt) and one of her friends that

went hiking with her and Michael and Collins and their other friends and of course Lyra

and Lysha!

Anyone who knows me knows that I am not one of these people who has to attach at the end of every sentence how much I pay for everything.. wouldn't do me any good! LOL! but today I am going to brag about my baby girl! God has blessed them so much so I have to brag on them!!! I am just so happy for her and her hubby. When Michael returned from Afghanistan this last time he bought Celena a Coach handbag,. paid $650.00 for it.. they range in price according to size, smaller ones are less expensive but Celena loves big bulky handbags and that is what Michael bought her so it was more expensive. He is so good to her and wanted to buy her something he knew she would absolutely love.. and she did!! He has always been a romantic.. always loves to buy her gifts and spoil her. They are living in Oxnard, California, they have a beautiful home right on the beach in a very upscale neighbor hood, over looking the harbor, it is a 3 story home, has a third story balcony, stone fireplace, wood floors, spiral stair case, just an awesome home on the water and yesterday the realtor called to tell them the house was going to be reduced in price to $500,000.00! This is due to the fact the housing market has slowed down so much there with the economy being so bad everywhere. Sooooo My baby is living in beautiful sunny California, on the water with a gorgeous picture perfect view over looking the harbor, living in a half million dollar home and toting around a $650.00 hand bag!!LOL!! I am just so happy for her. I know these are things that are temporary most likely but she has experienced something I never did and she will always have this time in her life to look back on and smile. She and Michael struggled at the begining of their marriage financially but during his last deployment to Afghanistan they had a good financial plan and he saved up most all his paychecks, when he got home he had a very big savings, he lavished Celena in a few very expensive gifts, he enjoyed some things himself, he also bought a beautiful new truck, paid cash so they have no payment on it and they moved into this gorgeous home on the water and furnished it. They have managed their finances well, Celena recently landed a cool job she loves working at a trendy preppy shop where they also serve all these health food drinks,occasionally have a celebrity stop in from time to time. Soo, I say YOU GO GIRL! She and Michael deserve it, they have earned it and with Michael having been deployed to Afghanistan twice he certainly deserves it for sure! They love to go into the mountains hiking which they do very frequently,usually with friends, she sends me all these pics of breath taking scenery, oh it is just beautiful. Have lots and lots of pics she has sent. They always take their doggies along, Lyra and Lysha. Celena is supposed to be sending me a ticket to fly out to visit sometime soon. I really am looking forward to going. I used to live in LA as a child. Here are just a couple pics from a few days ago when Celena, Michael and about 4 of their friends went up in the mountains hiking again. She gets to walk on the beach every day with the dogs and enjoy beautiful hikes in the mountains almost weekly, and enjoy so many other fun and beautiful things that area of California has to offer...I am so happy for her and Michael, I truly am. Don't mean to sound vain or boastful, but I am just so happy for my baby girl and Michael!! They are blessed.

hmmmmmm

Kinda depressing... sort of like that "after Christmas blues" .. yes I am talking about FootBall season being over! Watched the Super Bowl of course, My boys won... yippeee... and now it's like"Gee, what do I do now?" no more Saturday College games, haven't been for a while and No More Sunday afternoon or evening games! Monday Night Football gone.. what in the world did I do b/f football season started?? Guess I am desperate and will have to watch some games I recorded while I was at church in the evening on Sundays...you know, kitty Miley will be upset too.... So I must pull up those games I recorded and watch them! Oh I hate that FootBall is over!!! I watched a few movies today and thsi evening while I caught up on some doll stuffing. Been very windy here tonight, 31 MPH wind gusts and expecting up to 40 MPH gusts through out the evening. Been raining an awful lot, foggy, just yucky weather.

Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah! Did I mention BLAH????

Corky sitting at the puter with me this morn.

Wet cold rainy day here in old Georgia. Dirt road makes sure my vehicle stays muddy lately as we have a lot of rain the past week or so. Rained all day yesterday again, started in afternoon and continued all night. Doesn't look any different out there today either. Brrrr, turned cold too. Got up earlier than usual these days, fed the chickens, let the dogs out and fed my precious Curly, took him a treat after wards. He sure does need to be sheared but will have to wait until the cold air passes. I let the dogs in after their run but some how Corky got left behind. After about 15 minutes I noticed she still didn't come in the living room where I was so I started to look for her..OOOPs. left her outside, she didn't make it in the door. Poor baby was sitting there at the back steps waiting patiently in the wet and cold. Sooo, while Bristol and Zoey are running and bouncing all through the house playing tug of war with a rope toy, Corky is sitting in my lap all snuggled and warm while I am on the computer. Corky is pretty much the Boss Dog around here..LOL. But I think she is so tired of Bristol being so crazy and not abiding by doggy rules she has given up! LOL! Think I am actually feeling a little better today so I hope to get up from here and get busy!

piddling

I was out in my wood shop looking for something to go in the kitchen on the bar and recovered a piece of old table top and some old boards that were made into a frame so I pounded and pounded the frame with a hammer to make it fit the table top for the backing and stuck another piece of wood into it for a shelf and came up with this for a display piece to hold my crocks and a couple of chickens. The gas stove that originally was in here is no longer useable so it is in a shed. I had bought this wall oven and glass top stove that is a counter top style. Never was able to do any casing in for the oven so the ugly side was still exposed but this helps hide that side of it. Oh my arms and shoulder are in merciless pain now from all that hammering and pounding, my RA has been acting up bad enough lately and now I feel like I could just collapse! Well, time to go get the BenGay and heating pad and settle in on the couch for a while in hopes this pain will ease up!

Cat Nap Inn

I just thought it was too cute that Miley picked this spot for a cat nap on top of my old piano with the Cat Nap Inn sign hanging above! I had ordered the sign from the Country House magazine many years ago and still like it just as much as I did when I ordered it. Well it is a beautiful sunny day and much warmer out there than it had been. I am feeling so over whelmed though. There is so much that needs doing, so much I need to be doing, things that need fixing around here that I need help with and I also am determined I am going to have a little spring garden this year and also want to make a beautiful little decorative Prim Garden with flowers and herbs and some things that came from my Dad's old shed that he gave to me... parts off old plows and old buckets, etc. Also have some old rustic birdhouses I want to incorporate into it. I normally don't care for or just don't have time for spring items but this year I am excited about a garden for some reason. Just hope I can pull it off! Need to find easy things to grow.
Blessings everyone!

Christmas decorations put away

Guess Miley has been bored lately. Hides under the rug in the kitchen and
watches me trip over him while I am trying to cook! This rug has about had
it, ready for the trash!

Need to put the sled away but other than that most everything Christmas has been put

away. This is the bar in the kitchen.

More of the kitchen

Still needs some cleaning up.......Stove , kitchen

My bedroom

Part of Living room, Zoey curled up in the recliner

Threw a blanket over the couch since the dogs lay on it so much. Usually have the dark blue

blanket on it that matches but it is in the wash. (More Living room)

More Living room, Love seat with applique pillow Sandy made and gave to me left over

from her Fall shows. I am a big fan of Sarah Sporrer, this is one of her designs.
Miley is napping on the back of the Love Seat. One of my favorite posessions hangs

above the Love seat on the wall...., this big chime clock I got from a local antique store

years ago. It was made in the late 1800's.

Still has the original key to wind it up and all original parts.

An old trunk Celena's dad gave to me years ago that he found at a Flea Market. Think he

paid about three dollars for it. I really like it, still use it for a coffee table.
And sitting on the trunk is one of my Dad's old Bible's that I have, priceless to me!

Dad could wear out a Bible faster than any one, he definitely studied the word.

Looks empty w/o the Christmas stuff all around. Snapped a few shots tonight after cleaning up. Can't get a pic w/o the dogs or cat in it.