Sunday, November 30, 2008

Out Sick

Image from Flicker.
We have had a nasty bug at our house for about a week now. Hubby got sick last Saturday and was sick for 5 days (lost 20 lbs!), then A. was sick on Thanksgiving and I was sick Friday and Saturday. I hope to get some decorating done today. We are so behind. We have scrubbed most of the house and washed lots of things. Hopefully this does not happen again this winter.
We had our first snow fall last night and this morning. Not a lot but it is pretty and cold!

Friday, November 21, 2008

A new friend

We took a short trip to Bella Vista this afternoon to pick up a set of dishes and a Longaberger Basket I found on Craigslist. I'll post a pick soon. They are the cutest white on white dishes and I got place settings for 11 for $10. It was a huge deal!

I was visiting with the lady and we discovered that we were both foster parents and she had just adopted her babies a few days after our adoption was finalized! I brought hubby and A. in to meet them. She was so nice and we had a good time visiting her and the babies. She asked if we could keep in touch. I hope we do. It's nice to make new friends who have similar experiences.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Homemade Christmas idea

My brother sent this to me earlier today and I just had to share it. It really makes you think twice about Homemade and Handmade.
My dear friends, Somewhat embarrassing to admit, Christmas is tight this year. I will be making bedroom slippers for you all as gifts. Please let me know your sizes. You'll most likely agree that it's a splendid idea, and should you wish to do the same, I've included the instructions below.

How to make bedroom slippers :

You need four maxi pads to make a pair.

Two of them get laid out flat, for the foot part.

The other two wrap around the toe area to form the top.

Tape or glue each side of the top pieces to the bottom of the foot part.

Decorate the tops with whatever you desire, silk flowers (this is most aesthetically appealing ), etc.

These slippers are:

* Soft and Hygienic

* Non-slip grip strips on the soles

* Built in deodorant feature keeps feet smelling fresh

* No more bending over to mop up spills

* Disposable and biodegradable

* Environmentally safe

* Three convenient sizes: (1.) Regular, (2.) Light and (3.) Get out the Sand Bags.

I've attached a photo of the first pair I made so that you can see the nifty slippers for yourself.... Awaiting your response. It's crucial that I get the right size for each one of you.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Yippie!

I just sold my first tassel on Etsy! I sold this cutie here. Whew! Now I can order my January Longaberger fliers. We are trying so hard to stay on a budget and I am not suppose to use family money to fund my business.
I hope to add some new items this weekend.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Train Crazy

Just TRAIN Crazy!!!!!






Our little boy is just CRAZY for trains! This is what the living room looked like on Sunday night. Daddy built the track and A. had fun lining every train he owns up. Then he decided the track should be put together a different way.
My family is having a train themed adoption party for A. in a few weeks! He says it is a birthday train party.



The odd Alcove

We have this tiny alcove off the kitchen with a door to the side porch and the door to the basement. I was really tired of the plain wall so this is what we did. I had a window frame I rescued from the trash about 7 years ago. I am surprised that it moved with it because husband was not a big fan. He thinks my rescued projects are a bit weird. I asked him to cut a thin piece of plywood to size and we painted it with chalkboard paint and attached it to the back of the frame. I had distressed the frame several years ago. We attached it to the wall with screws so wit would be sturdy. I moved A's chair to the kitchen (it will keep him from dragging it all over when he wants to help me cook). I need to find a little bucket I have stashed and add the chalk to it. Now A can write while I cook and be a safe distance from the stove!
I'm not sure what to put above the shelf. Any suggestions? I have my booking basket collection on top of the shelf....I love the tiny baskets!!!
We made the "Bless our Home" sign with Uppercase Living decals. I'm not sure if this is the final home but I do like it here.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

The Great Pumpkin

This was the view from my windshield the week before Halloween. I drive by a little general store out in the middle of no where in McDonald Co. several times a month when I am making my visits. I noticed the pumplin when I drove by the other day. It was HUGE! I am posting the article from the local paper by my friend Kay Hively. I travel three counties and I never know what I might see. Makes the day more interesting!

Powell, Mo. -
Many people enjoy carving a pumpkin in October and November as they celebrate Halloween and the end-of-season harvest. And most carvings are of the traditional jack-o-lantern face.This year, a pumpkin carved into a jack-o-lantern graced the front porch of Sims’ Store, located four miles south of Powell in McDonald County. But this pumpkin / jack-o-lantern was a bit unusual, attracting great attention from people who passed by or shopped in the store.This pumpkin, which was grown by David D’Amico, weighed in at 1,041 pounds. Planted on May 1, the pumpkin was harvested on Oct. 3.D’Amico, who lives only a half mile from the general store, always raises pumpkins, but this year he got a really big one.According to Bob Meuhlebach, owner of the general store, D’Amico started out with a regular pumpkin patch, but one pumpkin seemed to be doing much better than the others. That prompted him to clear out all the others and nourish the “cream of the crop” pumpkin. When it reached maturity, D’Amico entered it in a pumpkin contest in Republic and walked away with second prize.When he walked away from the contest, D’Amico brought the pumpkin home but had no good place to show it off. He asked Meuhlebach if he could bring it up to the general store for people to see.“He brought it up in the back of his pickup,” Meuhlebach said, “and it was displayed there for three days. Lots of people came by to see it and take a picture.”After three days, however, D’Amico needed his vehicle.“We got a skid loader and lifted it off the pickup and put it on the porch,” Meuhlebach said.The big pumpkin stayed on the porch for several days getting lots of “lookers.” Much of the attention came from motorcyclists who ride past the general store, located at the junction of Missouri Highway 90 and Route E.Then, a couple of days before Halloween, Meuhlebach’s son, Monty, carved it into a jack-o-lantern.“We turn out the lights at dark,” Meuhlebach said, “and just leave the light in the pumpkin. It’s really noticed that way.”Sims’ Store is a popular stopping spot for people in that part of the county. Besides groceries, the Meuhlebachs also serve barbecue and sandwiches, as well as breakfast and lunch each day (their Wednesday noon special is cornbread and beans).Meuhlebach hopes the pumpkin will last until the weekend. It has been so popular that Meuhlebach hopes his neighbor, David D’Amico, will come up with another one next fall.“If he grows one next year, he’s welcome to display it here,” Meuhlebach said. “So everyone can be watching for it next year.”Any sightseers who get down to the store to see the pumpkin might want to time their visit to the lunch hour. If so, check out the dessert menu and see if, by chance, there is any homemade pumpkin pie.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Tassels, tassels and more tassels

I just listed these yummy tassels on my Etsy store, Stone Cottage Gifts, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6010427 Check them out! They would make great Christmas gifts.Sugar Plum Dreams
O-la-la

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus


Mad Hatters Tea Party




A whimsical Santa
Hurry! Buy them up so I can pay for our Anniversary trip the first week of December. We sooooo need the break!