MY COLONIAL HOME

Had a little get-away, purchases, gifts, updates

2012-02-22T09:15:00.001-06:00

Get-A-Way

Took a couple days and headed up to my brother/sil’s place this week – needed a bit of a get-away. Being in the north woods is always so peaceful and relaxing.

We got up there on a gorgeous 40+ degree day and the next day as well, felt like Spring, but woke up on Friday with snow…no telling what our weather is going to be these days. Not much of a Winter so it makes me wonder what our Spring will be like.

Thursday bright and sunny!

Friday…SNOW!

This is what I saw outside our bedroom window

Frame Building
For Two days we built backdrop frames for our space for the craft show this summer in Lititz, PA.
Gene has a huge pole barn that’s heated so it was a perfect place to work in…we all got into it and it got done in no time.
The frames have chicken wire and the wood will be stained or painted…most likely stained a nice rich Pine color.

The wood on the corner braces will stain the same as the frames so it won’t look like it does now…just different types of wood.
We made 6 - 3’ x 4’ frames in all. and the holes in the sides are for attaching them together at the show so we can use one, two or 3 attached together depending on the setup we do. I plan to attach Tobacco Cloth panels draped to make it look for inviting.

Shopping Day

The next morning we headed out for a ride to Wisconsin Rapids to one of our favorite shops…COUNTRY FRECKLES.
( http://mycolonialhome.blogspot.com/p/country-freckles.html )
And as usual…it was fun! I wanted to purchase some Wool from Jonie. I found so much and didn’t want to stop but as it was in these piles I had $85 worth!!! This will be used on my Traditional Penny Rugs for the show.

But first you have to see Joni’s new baby…sorry I can’t remember her name but she’s an 8 week old purebred Cocker Spaniel. Her coloring is just beautiful and so shiny. There were several shoppers in there and we all had our turn at kissing and cuddling her. When Joni put her back in her bed behind the counter she zonked out immediately.

Love my Wools

Golds…the checked one on top is a lot darker than it’s showing up

The colors in this are deeper than they are showing up

More Cooking Things

While we were gone a package arrived – I had ordered a large sauce pan to go with the cooking set I bought last month.
They never seem to include a LARGE sauce pan – one large enough for potatoes and things like that. A 3qt. is usually the largest and with my new set the 3qt. was large around and shallow. So I went online and found the one I wanted – it’s 4-1/2 qt. and called a ‘Saucier’ pan. Large enough to hold a mountain of potatoes! Oh, and good for popping corn too! I like that the bottom is slanted INWARD…the reason for this is for thick things like sauces, etc…easier to stir and get to it around the bottom edges vs the straight up sides of regular pans.

Special Gifts

The next day another package arrived…this time it was a delightful surprise from a ‘forum friend’. She sent it as a thank you for me getting some of her pictures posted on the forum as she was having some difficulty…I think I came out on the better end of this one.
I received a darling picture of Two children dressed in period clothing looking into a chest that hold an American Flag.
And a beautiful Blackened Tin candle holder. Both had a home immediately on the cabinet in the family room
THANKS SO MUCH MARY LOU.

Waiting!

I’m anxiously awaiting an order from Teresa’s Primitive Treasures…she was offering this on her new site: http://www.primitivehandmadesmercantile.com/ But I missed out on it and e-mailed her to see if she had another one…she had a couple more too be finished and said I could have one. The body is painted fabric stuffed with straw and the fur is raw sheep’s wool…isn’t it a beauty!

Thanks for stopping by and visiting today…enjoy

Goodness I almost forgot…at the very top (below the header) in the tabs…I posted pictures of Paula and Rick’s house.
(Go to the tab or click here: http://mycolonialhome.blogspot.com/p/paulas-house.html )

I also updated my Amish Fiction tab as well (Go to the tab or click here: http://mycolonialhome.blogspot.com/p/amish-fiction.html )
I added more books and an Amish glossary along with a few recipes I found in the books I have read. I apologize for the crappy look of the additions…I copied them and pasted the document into the post….it was going to take forever to type it all out. SOMEDAY I might take the time.
At some point I will be updating the shopping tab too.

Karen

Who doesn’t like to eat out – I feel honored! – Reds and what-ever!

2012-02-12T19:51:00.001-06:00

This has been a busy month so far…I’ve done little in the house but with just the two of us it doesn’t get too bad so a little dusting/vacuuming here and there we’re good to go…and go we have!

Been to Janesville 3 times this month already – visiting my aunt, lunch with friends and a fish fry at a cousins house last night and then a church concert this early evening. Hoping this week keeps me home and warm and cozy!
Nothing planned for Valentine’s dinner, going to be just another day here but that’s okay too.

Thursday we had lunch at a Mexican restaurant I’ve been wanting to try in Janesville and luck had it that Paula chose that place and it did not disappoint me…but I can’t be a real testament to Mexican food as I always and forever get a Chicken Chimichanga – I seem to be stuck in one mode at these restaurants. But I like them so why not!

After we had lunch we went back to their place for dessert – Paula has always had a special way of entertaining and this day was no different. She made a wonderful Chocolate Bread pudding and a Gingerbread – which was made from Martha Washington’s original recipe and goodness it was delicious.
She served them up in little demitasse cups and mini dessert spoons and forks.

This couple lives to restore homes…I’m not sure how many they have restored to date but so far this is my all time favorite…it’s an early 1800’s Cream City Brick – just gorgeous. AND IT’S FOR SALE!
I took photos and will post a TAB at the top later this week when I have time to go through them. But for now here’s the exterior.

See the arched windows…this used to be the Carriage house…but the doors were gone. Rick had windows made for the openings – isn’t it a beauty!

I was also experimenting with ‘Pennies’ for designs and made a pillow and I’m loving it – the bad thing is that I can’t find the fabric now to make more pillows – glad I have one for myself!!! It goes so well with one of my chairs don’t you think? And this is made from pure Wool, not the Wool Felt that I use for my other designs.

Jody over at Treasured Times Rubber Stamps and Scrapbooking http://www.treasuredt.blogspot.com/ is giving away a rubber stamp if you will post her blog on your site…I chose the sheep – it came yesterday and I can’t wait to use it.
She has several to choose from on this page here: http://www.treasuredt.blogspot.com/p/galllery.html
Kind of difficult to see just what it is so I ‘borrowed’ the line art from her site.
THANKS JODY…you were so quick with sending off my stamp!

A HUGE THANK YOU AND AN HONOR INDEED!…
I want to thank ‘A Primitive Place Magazine and Country Journal’ for something wonderful they did for me. One of the writers, Dan Weaver, wrote an article on Penny Rugs and they used some of my designs as examples…how honored I was…THANK YOU AGAIN!

You know I’ve been seeing so many wonderful blogs with all their Valentines and hearts on them and I don’t have any…maybe just one or two but not nearly enough to do a post on them so I caught some of my RED’S throughout the house…many of my accents and accessories are red – so Red goes with Valentine’s Day I thought – and I added some olde tyme Valentines in my header - enjoy!

Something I can’t forget…last night at the Fish Fry there was a dessert to die for! Now I don’t like that phrase…I rarely use it so forgive me for using it here but it just came out.
One of the guests brought MILKY WAY KRISPIES.
Now mind you, I DO NOT LIKE RICE KRISPY TREATS…never have and never will…these are similar but ALL CHOCOLATE…oh my…you gotta try them.
I brought 2 of them home and cut them in half again…they are sweet and rich so small pieces go a long way.

Milky Way Krispie's
8 Reg. size Milky Way Bars
1 Cup Butter (2 sticks)
6 Cups Rice Krispie’s
1 12 oz. bag Chocolate Chips
1/2 Cup Butter (1 stick)
Melt 1 cup Butter and candy bars in pan
Stir in Rice Krispies
Pat into 9x13 pan…make sure it’s patted down solid
Melt Chocolate Chips and 1 stick Butter – stir till melted and blended
Immediately spread over bars…cut into squares

And lastly…a customers Penny Rug all ready to ship. I had to back the runner so that meant I couldn’t leave a frayed edge so it has the blanket stitch all around the edges and it lays much nicer this way too.
The colors are the customers choice…Black/Red/Mustard…I laid it out so many different ways and it just kept looking bright and also not very ‘coordinated’ so I decided to use the black as the base color and work with the other 2 colors for the other pennies…I really love how it turned out.

Before I forget…Lynne from Prim Doodles Blog was having a give away on her blog and I won this banner!
You can find her blog here: http://primdoodles.blogspot.com/

Well that’s it…seems I have a lot to chat about tonight…but I will have to be working on orders this week so no time for posting on the blog – guess that’s why I packed it all in this one…I will get to you though and see what’s up in your world.

Blessings to everyone
Karen

Fun reading blogs – Soup – Penny Rugs

2012-02-04T16:48:00.000-06:00

I haven’t had a lot of computer time this past week and have missed visiting my friends..please know that I do get to you eventually…there are just so many of you that I love.
I do want to thank everyone who visits me and leaves such sweet comments…I only wish we could get BLOG CONVENTION going so we could all meet one day…how fun would that be – but it would have to be in a location with lots of Prim shopping because there isn’t much around me! So who’s up for organizing!!!!

Oh…remember I said about the new ‘gadget’ for getting notice of new blog posts…well I unsubscribed because they come to my e-mail more than a day late notice…some even later than that …not sure why it takes so long to get notice. But it’s a great idea huh?

A HUGE THANK YOU…
Before anything today I need/want to say A HUGE THANK YOU TO DAN OVER AT ‘YESTERDAY ONCE MORE’… http://dan-yesterdayoncemore.blogspot.com/

I WON HIS DRAWING FOR A YEARS SUBSCRIPTION OF ‘A PRIMITIVE PLACE COUNTRY JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE’….how fun is that…THANK YOU SO MUCH DAN AND THANK YOU ‘JEFF’ FOR DRAWING MY NAME…and funny thing is a couple years ago he drew my name for a gift Dan was giving away over at the Country Sampler forum…I will look forward to receiving my subscription…YEAHHHH.

GIFTS FOR ANGIE…
I also have got my special gifts together for Angie…she sent me the quilt tops and extra surprises…I won’t show you what it is…I’ll let her do it and I do think she will like it – I’m pretty sure I got her style correct and chose some things she’ll love. So watch for it this next week Angie!!!

PENNY RUGS…
Been busy working on new designs this week…one of the reasons I’ve been away from the computer.
I think I fell in love with this the minute I started cutting it out. I call it “Ewe Following Me?”
It measures a great 12 inches around and the sheep are pure felted wool…so puffy
You can see it also on the left sidebar and click on it to go to the site.

WHAT’S FOR SUPPER…
So this is Super Bowl Sunday tomorrow…well, needless to say I’m not rooting with all my heart for any particular team being my Packers BLEW IT!!!!
But I did make a big pot of Bean with Ham soup and some Cranberry Walnut Bread…hope I can hold off till Sunday to eat it!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOE…
Actually I probably can hold off eating this until tomorrow evening because this evening we are going to a ‘50’s Diner’ to celebrate our grandson Joe’s 12th birthday…he loves this restaurant so that’s were we’re all meeting.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOE (Feb. 2nd)

MORE PENNY RUGS…
Oh something else I’m working on are Traditional Penny Rugs…still need to put a backing on it but I love the colors in it.

In the process of deciding what color combinations to use

Stitching in progress (need to trim the upper left penny…looks wonky!)

Finished

AMISH READING…

Oh I had so much fun this week finding new Amish reading for my Kindle…I searched for ‘free Amish books on Kindle’ and some came up for free but there was a whole series…8 to be exact called “Amish Knitting Circle”…they were only .99 cents each! I bought them all…they are very short…only takes me less than an hour to read a book but they all flow into each other for one big story – basically each one is a chapter…I love them and quick reading.

See ya…enjoy your Super Bowl Sunday…

KAREN

NEW E-MAIL GADGET – NEW GOODIES

2012-01-24T09:25:00.001-06:00

Finally an easy way to be notified that your favorite bloggers have posted a new post!

That’s right…blogger recently added a new gadget…you can now get an e-mail to notify you.

Maybe some of you know of this by now…I just found it yesterday and I love it…I added it to my sidebar so if you want to know immediately when I make a post sign up…hope you all put one on yours too…makes it so much easier than going into the dashboard.

I got me a nice set of cookware this weekend…couldn’t pass up a 30% Off Coupon from Kohl’s.
My pans were getting horrible inside and out from metal utensils and the dishwasher…I let it be known that these will never see the inside of a dishwasher – ever!

I had a bit of time left over this weekend so I made a couple new items – some Candle Mats…been going to do this forever but it’s a ‘time’ thing…
I wanted something that the design wouldn’t get covered up with what ever was put on the mat and came up with this….I have Candle Huggers to match.
The Pineapple one will be remade…I don’t like the black around the edges of the Pineapple…I’ll make it like the Flower one.

I also made some new Mug Mats…for a wholesale order but have put them on my website as well.

How’s the week going for you all….kind of quiet here. Snowed this weekend…cold and windy but yesterday it was in the 40’s – no telling when and if Winter will come to stay. Spring should be very interesting.

EVENTS WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME

I will be doing the LITITZ, PA craft show this coming August 11th. I will be located on Broad St. (Rt. 501) right at the beginning in front of the Police station. So if you are in the area I hope you stop in and see me.

I’m also doing the Lititz Artisan’s Porch Walk October 12 & 13 so maybe I’ll see you then too!
There will be 6 locations you can find the Artists/6 at each location.

Karen

A THANK YOU to berryhomespunsprimitives!

2012-01-19T09:05:00.001-06:00

I saw on Angie’s blog http://berryhomespunprimitives.blogspot.com/2012/01/quilt-squares.html that she purchased some awesome quilt squares – lots of them - and in this box were two pieced quilt tops and they caught my eye…well, being the sweetheart that Angie is she offered them to me…now I was delighted….I think they will make some wonderful items for my show – not sure what just yet but you can be sure they will be made into lots of wonderful items.

I expected a kind of bulky bubble envelope containing these quilt tops…nope…they came in a large box!
So being I was still in the Christmas spirit of OPENING GIFTS…you can imagine how I tore into that thing…oh ya, goodies packed in between the quilts.
Take a look at her generosity…
(FIRST LET ME SAY ONE THING….I TOLD ANGIE I WOULD ONLY ACCEPT THE QUILT TOPS IF SHE WOULD CONSIDER A SWAP…so Angie, your package will be shipped soon!!!!)

And – in between the Two quilt tops were these adorable waxed fruits that she makes….4 bags of them…Pears and Apples!
And – the most perfect Prim Ditty Bag filled with her own grunged candles…..

I wasn’t going to open the bags…they were packaged so nice but this morning I thought it best to show them up close. Beautiful job Angie!

That’s all I have for today – I just wanted to get this thank you out to Angie and tell you all to go on over to her blog for a visit…she’s always got some great things to share with us. http://berryhomespunprimitives.blogspot.com/

Blessings,
Karen

70 Years – Selling Blogs

2012-01-16T11:32:00.000-06:00

Yes, that’s right…my husband turned 70 on Saturday…HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOUG. I can honestly say he does not look or act 70…he’s still going strong!

BUT FIRST….about my site POPULAR SELLING BLOGS…I apologize for the last several months that it has not been showing up as being updated – I assure you that all new members are added and that I click ‘publish’ – but as most of you know…BLOGGER has lots of glitches so it never updated.
Friday I RE-MADE the entire blog and this time it updated current.
Now, for any member…IF YOU WANT TO UPDATE YOUR PHOTO just send me a new one…OR if there are any who want to be deleted just e-mail me. I thank you all for making it such a great blog of talented artists.
And…if you aren’t a member and want to join just send me an e-mail with the selling blog link and a picture you want with it.

On with the birthday…we/he decided that all he wanted was our family together to celebrate…pulling off a surprise might have been a huge task as we don’t live close to any of our relatives and friends – so getting things done in a different town than we live in would have been next to impossible and having it at our house would have been a give away to the surprise …. AND… now I’m happy we didn’t have one as I caught a raging cold on Friday and never left my bed until 4 in the afternoon on Saturday to get showered and dressed to go to dinner – my head was stuffed…sneezing…coughing…just what everyone wants to hear in a restaurant huh?

Well fortunately the restaurant we chose was not really busy Sat. night – not sure why either because it’s a very popular place, anyway – we had the side room all to ourselves and that was a blessing. Not only for me having a cold and offending customers – but our boys could be themselves…FUNNY DUDES THAT THEY ARE. They had us laughing the entire dinner – sometimes almost too loud. I love my boys – they make me smile…they make me laugh.

Doug enjoyed his evening and that’s all that counted too! Prime Rib was his entre of choice

Sunday I relaxed all morning…very nice morning I might add.
But soon that ended because I needed some groceries bad – so off to the store. Decided it was going to be a DELI MEAL – not much fussing over the stove for me. I also baked a few Chocolate Chip cookies…you know, these are good for a cold! Either someone told me that once or I TOLD MYSELF…(smiling big).
We had Rib Eye Sandwiches, Potato Salad, Cole Slaw and a mix of Tomato and Cucumber.
Thought we were going to eat it while watching the Packers win….NOT IN THE CARDS…goodness they played horrible! Terrible way to end their season.

Kind of a boring post today I know but I have been up to NOTHING..sewing orders but that’s about it.

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LEAVE A COMMENT – I JUST MADE IT SO THAT ‘ANNYMOUS’ COMMENTS ARE ACCEPTED NOW…let’s see what happens this time. I disabled it quite awhile ago because of horrible spam comments. Linda T. I hope this helps you post a comment now!!!!

Enjoy your day!

Karen

Blemishes – I will keep them!

2012-01-01T09:08:00.001-06:00

On a day to day basis I look around my home and see so many things I could change/fix…but I don’t/won’t – why?
Because they are the little things that don’t bother me – I see them everyday I clean – I see them when I walk into the room…I KNOW THEY ARE THERE….but do you? NO…So why fix them – they are unimportant to the overall picture which is my home.
When you step inside you see the BIG PICTURE…not the little things I see everyday so they are probably there to stay until the next family lives here or if I get a bug one day to get out all the things it would take to fix the TINY THINGS…that don’t even matter.

~ Will I ever remember to NOT get the vacuum close to the base of my Armoire? No…every time I push that thing right up to the edge and I know every time what’s going to happen. Would you be likely to see this – I doubt it.

~ And my kitchen cupboard – got hit with something heavy one day – should fix it…probably NOT. For some reason it doesn’t bother me…they are Pine cabinets…Pine will get bumps and bruises…so do I.

~ A chip of wood came out of the edge of my closet door years ago…guess we could piece some in there – do a little surgery on it…I’ve had surgery…all it does is make a scar.

~ When we moved into our home 32 years ago there was a plant hanger in the bathroom…still there…why? I don’t know! It has been a part of my home…

~ Wear marks on my pantry doors where we open and close it everyday…these are signs of use and age…I have many of these on me…will they go away…NO…neither will these wear marks…they ARE the pantry.

~ Paneling is pulling away from wall in family room…it’s not real noticeable to most people…I know it’s there and when I clean it bugs me…but will it get fixed soon…NO…there are a few of these cracks in the walls…even though they bug me at times…I rather like them. They show the age of the room.

it’s not a new house…it is almost as old as me - it has seen many color changes to its look but never changed what it really is – the bones of it are still in tact…and so the same goes for me…I have blemishes - many little things I could change/fix…but I won’t…why?
Because you don’t see them – but I do…but they are unimportant to the overall picture which is ME.

Oh yes, there are two teeth that would be nice if they were straighter…my left leg not so bent at the knee…a scar that goes from mid thigh to mid calf – do you see it…NO. I have troubles and bad thoughts some time…but do you see them…NO.
If I were taller then clothes would look better than they do on me…and my age…goodness if I were younger my crease lines around my eyes wouldn’t show…and my hands – well, you can tell they have been around for many years.
BUT THESE ARE THINGS THAT MAKE ME who I am and I’m okay with me…no one else sees these things generally so what you see is ME…not all my blemishes…I WILL KEEP THEM…because they are me. Fixed…I would not be ME.

I hope you are all thinking about who you are and what you want…just be happy with who you are regardless of all the blemishes – if we didn’t have them we wouldn’t have character – so be happy and just be YOU and I will be ME.

I am going to leave you with one of my most favorite pictures of Lola – so far anyway…she’s always getting into places…and right now this is the cutest.
And she knows she’s cute too!

Enjoy your new year everyone.

Karen

Soups On! ….Happy New Year

2011-12-31T14:42:00.001-06:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Before you read…there are different type styles and sizes on this post…my blogger is not happy today – it’s putting in any style it wants to no matter what I do – sorry!!!!

We’re anxiously waiting for our New Year’s Eve dinner – we never eat this big any other night of the year but Doug has his tradition of Steak and Seafood. It’s the only time we indulge in this much food at one time.
Our menu tonight will be:
T-Bone steak

Crab Legs/Claws

Steamed Mussels

Deep Fried Shrimp

Baked Potato

Steamed Corn

Texas Toast

And if there’s room later on there’s Cheesecake – I bought the mini-squares of 2 different kinds but I think they will stay in the refrigerator until tomorrow (which by the way will be Scalloped Potatoes and Ham). I do have a good supply of antacids in the cupboard!
Okay you say…where do we put it all…well, we split the steak – I take the tenderloin part, he takes the other side. Both our preference for this cut of meat.
I will eat some of the deep fried Shrimp, potato and vegetable and bread. THE REST IS HIS…I don’t care for other seafood than the Shrimp. So I don’t think I will be groaning and moaning tonight!

What a year this has been…many ups and downs.
We have many joys in this past year but there have been a few sad moments as well – we lost 3 family members and 4 friends. This is not a normal year and I pray 2012 brings happier days to all these families.
We have been blessed beyond words with a wonderful family…they are such loving, thoughtful boys and their families are our joy!
And we are also going to be grandparents again for the 6th time….life is good.
Our travels have been almost zero – mainly due to my discs – they have not been cooperating with me the past two years and even more this past year so there are no memories to reflect back on for travels – although we did get to see Doug’s cousins in Arkansas in July for a cousins reunion. I guess I can call that traveling – but you all know what I’m talking about – Pennsylvania is in my blood and it has been over a year! But we will get there sooner or later. And no Simple Goods show this year! Oh well….at least we are here and basically in good health – I really don’t classify my discs as poor health because it sure doesn’t stop me from most things.
I’m glad though that this year is coming to an end because I’m anxious to see what 2012 has in store – I have plans and dreams and we’ll see if they will happen – the list is long. I never make resolutions though because we all know they never work…I do try to be a good person, thinking about what I say and do before I do it – and wishing I could be like that ALL YEAR LONG! It’s the best I can do to try my best.
Things I want to accomplish this year:
1. Re-paper or paint the bedroom walls – and trim
2. Paint bathroom cabinets and new floor
3. Crown Molding in dining room
4. Paint family room
Now as I read this I have to laugh…THESE AREN’T THINGS I WANT TO ACCOMPLISH…they’re things I want Doug to do…goodness, hope he doesn’t see this – I need to spring it all on him slowly.
May you all have a safe and wonderful New Year’s Eve celebration and New Year’s Day…and a wonderful New Year.
Blessings
Karen

(Edited…)
OMGosh I just re-read this post and it sounds like those 'Christmas Card Letters'....Nooooooo!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We survived another one!

2011-12-26T10:24:00.000-06:00

Yep, all is well here at the Martinsen’s after having the family all yesterday afternoon/evening – pooped but doing good.

Everyone came between 1 – 1:30 ready to PARTY! And that we did.
Snacks and drinks while chatting about the kids Christmas gifts they got and ‘GOT’ they did!!!!
For what was going to be a simple Christmas it sure didn’t sound like it from their descriptions…and then the goodies from us – well we thought we kept it pretty ‘simple’ this year as well but when they started opening things, it told another story.

You know…it’s funny when the grandchildren are living at home they take many, many things for granted – well Jesse got his own apt. last month and wanted some things for his place so (among other things) we bought him a Grill/Griddle plus some ‘nice’ spatulas/turners/pizza cutter/knives – one’s that will last.
Well he oohhed and aahhed over these things like it was gold. He said he had some of the cheaper ones and they were horrible…

And Alex…she looooves grandpa’s Onion Dip and requests it whenever they come over – he uses a food chopper to get the onions chopped real fine so he bought her one for Christmas so when she moves into her apt. she can make her very own dip.

Aidan kept us giggling with each gift he opened…and so did one of the grown-ups.
We drew names this year and Two of them got some pretty good stuff.
Heather received a bottle of Jack Daniels (it was on her list!) and the look on her face and Emily’s cracked us all up.

And Doug got a couple bottles too…Aidan was crazy all day and constantly wanted to slide backwards down the Two steps – he did this off and on for most of the day for some reason.

Doug’s sister always gives each of the kids ornaments each year (until they reach age 16)
We took the picture so we can send it to her.

Dinner turned out wonderful…I was a bit scared to do all those crushed peppercorns on the Tenderloin but I must say it made it so delicious.
Out of the 7 lbs of Tenderloin there is probably less than 3/4 lb left.

Darren and Brett forever try something silly in a picture and today was no different – we can always count on those two for some laughs throughout the day…

Our family…

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and will continue to have a wonderful New Year.

Karen

Fantastic neighbors at Christmas time and always

2011-12-24T16:16:00.000-06:00

Here I thought my last post was a few days ago…guess I just proved that I really am a chatty One…

MORE PARTIES
As if our family party a week ago today wasn’t enough work on this ole body not feeling up to par, my husband came home on Thursday from his morning coffee with ‘the guys’ and announced that they were all coming over around 4ish for drinks and appetizers…YIKES…did I fly. I was going to the store anyway that morningfor my own groceries but it turned out to be a big shopping trip. More appetizer fixins and drink fixins. Home I came, whipped up 6 different treats, set things in order and thought WHEW…I can retreat to the bedroom to read when they all get here…NOPE…three of them brought their wives so I was caught! lol But it was a good time all in all.
I actually got to sit and enjoy the brief time they were there – they came at 4 and were all gone by 6:30. But he deserved the party – he’s been such a huge help this past year, bless his heart – he’s done things he never did before and learned a lot.

NEIGHBORS
We have a family across the street from us that have lived there since they got married (his parents lived there prior). So we have known this family for 32 years now.

Well they have 5 daughters...youngest one just graduated from high school so now they have 4 in college and one living and working in Washington DC.
Every Christmas they are all home and they bake Christmas cookies with their dad. Mom cleans up - she doesn't really care for baking all that much – but she does love to cook, but it's a father/daughter thing they have done since they were little.

And every Christmas Eve afternoon they bring over a huge tray of their delicious delights along with a cute little letter pertaining to whatever has gone on in their lives or whatever. This year it was not much luck with baking!

Hope you can read the letter...it's cute

SHOPPING
Besides finishing up the stocking stuffer search today, we went looking for something to use for place setting names.
Normally I make them but I just ran out of steam this year.
We found these at Kohl's - and we had a 30% coupon as well, I printed out names on the computer and walla...name card holders. They’re funny little dudes – they look like Cup Cakes…and as things go they didn’t have enough of the dudes so we got the 2 package ones for Doug and myself - we needed 13 holders and that was ALL they had.

close-ups

CHRISTMAS DINNER
Yesterday we picked up our 7 lb Tenderloin for Christmas dinner – goodness that’s a huge hunk of meat…let’s just hope I don’t ruin it.

Our dinner menu:
*Tenderloin
*Twice Baked Potatoes
*Steamed Green Beans and Asparagus
*Waldorf Salad (something I grew up with for Christmas dinner)
*Mandarin Orange Jello (especially for the little ones)
*French Bread
*Homemade Lemon Meringe Pie
*Chocolate Cake w/Cream Cheese frosting
*French Silk pie

GOOD FOR LAUGHS
And if you want a good laugh then watch this little JibJab card I made for our family….but for some reason the mouth thingy stayed black and I’m not sure why…but look anyway…I’m sure it will give you a giggle too. Gotta turn your sound on though.
http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/0Yr09uSRYUS4dBDL

THANKS SO MUCH
Thank you all my blog friends who sent me Christmas cards this year…how very special you made me feel. Gosh I wish we ALL could meet someday, somewhere as a whole group. Now wouldn’t that be fun????

Merry Christmas everyone.

Karen

Christmas Close-ups…It’s almost here!

2011-12-21T21:08:00.000-06:00

The days are going faster and faster…think I’m about ready for Christmas!
Just have stocking stuffers to buy – our family would think Christmas never happened if they didn’t see their stockings hung and bulging on Christmas day…old as they are, it is the one thing they count on.

And…guess what? Next year we will be adding another one - Darren and MaryAnn are expecting!!!! This will make grandbaby #6.

Here’s last years stockings … do ya think we can get
another one on here … Oh…we will!!!

This year we drew names for Christmas – no one needs anything and the things they do need are way out of reach so we thought this would be fun (except for the 3 little ones…they will still get a full Christmas).

I thought I’d do some close-ups of things in the house that didn’t show up in the previous post – so no more chatter…just a few pictures.

I re-did the kitchen table…it was kind of bare looking -
I added Two different garlands and some Sheep
to bring it all together with the Sheep tree

On the bathroom counter
I separated the stacking boxes and used one for the tree
and the other for a stand
The third and smallest is in the next picture
with a small tree on it

Bathroom cabinet -

On top of Red cabinet -

I didn’t like the kitchen counter box either…so that is redone -

On kitchen counter -

On the middle of the dining room table -

Berry and vine garland, fabric trees and stars in
Tin Dough Riser on side table in dining room -

Christmas Pewter in dining room -

On one of the shelves of the hutch in the den…
Greens and a Red Ware Snowman
plate from Eldreth Pottery Lancaster, PA -

Another Eldreth plate -

Pewter cupboard in dining room…Greens, Pewter
and wooden Gingerbread cookie press -

Tall tree and Santa in family room -

Close-ups of Mercury Glass tree ornaments -

This ornament is clear glass spotted with
Mercury specks on the inside -
I bought it at the hospital gift shop a few weeks back when
I had my procedure done … needed a pick me up!!

And the antique Mercury Glass tree topper
from last months purchases -

So that’s my show and tell for Christmas – I hope you enjoyed the tour.
I have been so inspired by all of you out there who have shown your homes this Christmas season. Thank you everyone…what fun!

I also hope you turn some of your giving to the less fortunate.
It doesn’t have to be with something of monetary value … sometimes just a smile, a hello or a nice gesture can put a smile in someone’s heart that you don’t even know. Wouldn’t that be wonderful.

And above all, please don’t forget the reason we are celebrating in the first place.

Merry Christmas Everyone
Karen

Simple Decorating – Lots of Stockings -

2011-12-16T21:27:00.000-06:00

This week Doug and I took Tuesday and Wednesday and got the rest of our decorating finished.
It was a rough go for me but I would do a little and rest then go back and do more.
And Dan (son) and Jamie came over Wednesday night and we made candy so now I’m set I think.
Jamie also came over last week and put lights on the trees, did the fireplace and the stairway…she’s the best!!!

Tomorrow (Saturday) our family and my brother’s family will be here for our semi-annual family get together. I’m making the ham and potatoes and they’re bringing the rest. Then of course our whole family will be here on Christmas afternoon/evening.

I mentioned a stockings didn’t I?
Well last week I won a give-away at The Stone House Prims http://thestonehouseprims.blogspot.com/
Kendra was giving away the cutest Prim stocking garland and I won!!! it was wrapped so pretty too. I hung it on my fireplace.
She really put a smile on my face….

(Remember you can click on any of the pictures to make them larger)

Thank You Kendra!!!

And…just when I was in the middle of my painful week, another package came from dear sweet Tammy of http://aprimitiveplace.blogspot.com/
It couldn’t have arrived at a better time to pick me up- what a surprise!
I put them on my linen rack until I got the little fireplace up in the screenroom…aren’t they cute???

Thank you Tammy!!!
These girls must know I’m an easy mark for stockings…I have a stocking tree in my screen room so they fit in very nicely.
(This is last years screen room stocking tree but it’s decorated the same this year)

So on with the decorating – simple as it is it’s finished – couldn’t do much more and didn’t want to do much more.
Our back porch…we need some real snow instead of this cotton – it blew in the wind before I could take the picture and doesn’t look very fluffy I see….

Family Room…

My dear little Charley Brown tree…I was a bit concerned when I brought the tree home and it sat here all bare…and I wanted to use my Mercury ornaments on it but only had a few so a trip to the shops here proved futile – we don’t have a large selection of stores. So I ended up filling in with Walmart ornaments and some from Target. I must say I am very pleased. It all fell into place as I started decorating it. It’s a combination of Mercury, Gold and Silver. The people I thought would not like the tree just love it so I think I’m good with it too!

Dining Room…

Den…

Screen Room

So that’s my decorating – I didn’t get the yard pictures taken yet…maybe if we get some snow or if Doug will take them I will put them on later this week. And as I look back on these photos I see I use mostly greens and berries to decorate – never really noticed till I saw the photos.

I also received a wonderful Christmas gift in the mail from my friend in PA (Linda).

She sent a huge box full of goodies…Scentsy’s tart melts, Battery Candle, Reindeer, Chocolates!
One thing was a toilet tank box – now I know it goes on the back of the toilet but for now I'm using it on the bathroom counter.

Our family Christmas on Saturday…

Aidan wearing his uncles boots…

Baby found a basket to crawl into after everything was done…

Now if I missed anything I can’t really think what it is because not much has happened here lately.
I pray I didn’t leave anyone out of being thanked for something… my head is kind of fuzzy now and then.

Have a wonderful Christmas to all my blog friends, follower and all others that come and visit now and then.

Merry Christmas
Karen

CHARLIE BROWN TREES!

2011-11-30T18:54:00.001-06:00

HI EVERYONE,

I'm still here but been very busy with orders from my wonderful customers.

I had planned on getting my decorating done this week but it didn't happen - maybe this coming week if all goes the way I plan.

I did close all Christmas orders on my website so I don't get backlogged as Christmas gets closer and this is why you haven't seen me on your blogs commenting and looking at all your beautiful Christmas decorating and family happenings....I know I'm missing out on so much but rest assured I will visit you soon!

I did need to get out of the house yesterday and while out we went to a little local shop and I bought a 6 ft. Charlie Brown tree and today Doug tried to get it shaped up...but he couldn't understand why he had to 'shape it' - it looks like a tornado hit it so no matter what he did to it he said it didn't look much different - he did good though. Now I just need to adjust the branches where I want them.

I have a 3 ft. and 4 ft. tree like it and they fast became my favorite decoration for the season.
Anyway I wanted a larger one for my Mercury ornaments being the collection is getting bigger.
Hopefully after it's decorated it will look better.
One thing I'm not sure of is whether to put lights on t or not...any ideas on this?

So here's the 6 ft - still needing much work and I'm really not sure just where or which room it will go in - Doug says it is going to be our main tree...he's not bringing the other larger one up as long as we have this one. So I guess I had better work some magic here!
And YES IT LOOKS CRAZY and NO...IT'S NOT SHAPED THE WAY IT WILL LOOK IN THE END!

My 4 ft. tree that held my Mercury ornaments last year...not sure what I will put on it this year.

And my sweet little 3 ft. kitchen tree in the Tin Dough Riser...my original Charlie Brown tree and my favorite.

So this my dear blogging friends is why I'm MIA and will be yet for another week at least.
Blessings,
Karen

Ornament Swap & Other Things

2011-11-17T09:53:00.001-06:00

HAPPY MIDDLE OF NOVEMBER
…the time is going by so fast and I just can’t seem to keep up with it in my head. Thanksgiving will be here in just one week – goodness I’m still wearing Capri’s…but with turtleneck tops to make it look not quite so freaky – I look great in my long coat when I go to the store – I look like I can’t quite step into Fall yet.

This week has been so busy with sewing orders. I work on them continuously so my customers get them in a good timely manner.
Also this last week we got our closet almost finished. Just waiting for the carpet that will come after Thanksgiving. Thank goodness we’ll be able to repair the whole area and it will look like the rest in the room.

And….this was a great week for goodies arriving in the mail.

But first…the closet update. I know it’s not exciting to you but if you lived with the closet I had for 32 years you’d be jumping for joy at having all the extra room.
In my previous post I added pictures of the horrible closet (also shown below)….well after drywall, paint and new shelving and rods we ended up with what I envisioned – I don’t have things on the shelves yet but you can bet they will get filled soon enough.

BEFORE…DURING RECONSTRUCTION…remember I said there was a huge built in dresser, and a heat pipe taking up 2/3 of the closet.

AFTER…looking nice and clean

IT CAN FILL UP FAST CAN’T IT!
It may not be huge like the new home walk-in’s but it’s way more room than we’ve had for years…so I’m a happy girl.

BUSY WITH ORDERS…

Orders have been coming in like crazy since I had my sale – 13 orders in 2 days.
So I thought as long as several were the same I’d do an assembly line and cut them all out at the same time.
This actually takes as much time as the sewing part. And 3 more orders came in yesterday and that leaves me at 6 left to work on so it’s getting there.
I’m cutting off Christmas orders at Thanksgiving otherwise I won’t be able to enjoy the holidays like I want.

Some of them are kits – so they were a snap to finish up.

LOTS OF TREASURES

Earlier this week I received a fantastic box of ornaments from the Ornament Exchange hosted by Marie at Primitives By Olde Lady Morgan http://primitivesbyoldeladymorgan.blogspot.com/
I sent in 6 Ornaments and received 6 wonderful ornaments back.
I want to thank Marie for hosting this fun event and she said she’s probably going to do it again next year and you can bet I will be in on it then. I hope she does!

Marie made this darling Snowman – he’s so puffy and rather large so you could use him as a decoration as well.
And she added a wonderful treat of Hershey Kisses of all flavors – they were opened first you know!!

Tammy at http://aprimitiveplace.blogspot.com/ sent this sweet little stocking filled with greens and candy canes.

Amy from Bumble Bee Lane Cottage sent a beautiful Cinnamon scented Santa head. http://bumblebeelanecottage.blogspot.com/

Rachel from Somewhere In The Middle made this adorable Snowman Head…and he sparkles too!

Carmen from http://primcats.blogspot.com/ made these adorable fabric wrapped Candy Canes.

Trace from Granny Trace Scraps And Squares made Two wool snowmen heads. http://www.grannytracescrapsandsquares.com/

THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS SWAP – I LOVE IT ALL.

SURPRISE PACKAGE!!

Now if this isn’t enough to receive in the mail…I received a surprise box yesterday from Cathy at Tolentreasures http://tolentreasures.blogspot.com/ sent me some fabric that I had loved when I saw it on her blog.
What a wonderfully generous thing to do Cathy…THANK YOU SO MUCH and I just can’t describe how beautiful this Green Wool is.
There’s such a pretty line of gold running through it and I will not CUT IT UP until after Christmas because it’s such a nice sized piece and it will make a perfect table square for the holidays – normally I don’t use Green except in greenery but this is too pretty not to show off.

I added this second picture because I cut off the ornaments that she so generously included in the package.
I heard the large bell just jingling away in the box when I picked it up.
Cathy paints just awesome…look at those sweet wood tags she painted…and the bell too.

THANK YOU CATHY!

HIPPIES…

Our son Dan and wife Jamie went to a costume party Friday night…they chose to dress as hippies of the 70’s.
And being we live in a little rather old town with some strange people in it – they figured if they went to our local thrift shop they would be able to find something…AND THEY DID…though it was no surprise knowing some of the residents here.
Dan found a Nehru shirt but it turned out to be too sloppy on him but he found pants and jacket and they got the wigs from Walmart.
Jamie doesn’t wear glasses and so these really changed her look.

Peace signs on the pants!!!!

So that’s my week…what did you all do?
I probably won’t post again until after Thanksgiving because I need to finish my sewing and then get ready for Thanksgiving.
It’s only going to be Dan and Jamie and us this year…Darren and Brett have other places to be. Hopefully Jesse and Alex will show up too.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESSE
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JESSE OUR GRANDSON. He turned 22 today…HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESS…LOVE YA!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE
TRAVEL SAFE WHEREVER YOU GO

KAREN

Closet Re-Do, Halloween Past, Old Friends

2011-11-04T10:27:00.000-05:00

Hello fellow Bloggers and all others that enjoy reading our blogs!
Well I think I’m finally over my Sinus Infection…man that was a long one – I am especially glad the headaches are gone. That was worse than the infection.

I hope your week was wonderful…mine was okay – nothing to write home about but I’m still here and kicking, so I guess that’s a good thing for me huh?

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I know there are many of you that are on your way today to Ohio for the SIMPLE GOODS SHOW…hope you all have a safe and very eventful time….there should be lots of wonderful treasures just calling your name. Guess my name wasn’t on anything this year as I didn’t get to go…but there’s always another year God willing.

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Oh, I have a wonderful sale on my website right now until the 15th of this month. 5 Christmas Penny Rugs have been reduced 30%…never taken that much of a reduction before so I hope you will take advantage of it! kmprimitives.com

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We are in the process of re-doing our bedroom closet…needed many years ago but like so many things in an old home you just never can keep up.

Our closet started bugging me not only because of the small size but there was a built in dresser taking up 36 inches (width) and as high as the closet…and the wood was old and really smelled old – not good!!!!
So on Monday we started ripping it all apart…goodness you never know what lurks behind old walls. Lots of gremlins waiting for us – made the job a bit harder for my husband. Bad patch jobs on the plaster, holes in the floor (under where the dresser was), and a heat pipe going straight up the middle!!!! So we had someone come in and tear out the pipe – it led to the guest room upstairs…but not anymore (there’s another heat pipe going up there on another wall so it will be just fine).
Just look at all the different colors that closet was painted….green, blue and gray (and I assume the room as well) . UGH!!!!
We will be putting in new shelving and hanging units…nothing fancy but way better than what we had before.

See what I mean about floor boards missing and that horrible patch job on the wall….

More pictures after this weekend when the drywall is replaced and painted and new trim

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Last Saturday we had a Halloween party here with our family and to draw names for Christmas. We had snacks first and enjoyed the evening and then had dinner of Pulled Beef Sandwiches, Mostaccioli, Ham and Cheese Sliders and all the goodies to go with it.
I made a Pumpkin Bean Bag toss and there were a few rounds of it throughout the night…along with some good ole fun.
I found the game idea from PINTEREST and made my own version of it…maybe for Christmas I’ll change it out and make it a Snowman Toss.

Aidan didn’t want to play a real game but he had fun just going up to it and dropping the bags in

The kids got Glow Sticks in there treat bags and had to try them out…Aidan couldn’t get a real spin going but he had fun just the same – he just kept giggling the whole time Joe was spinning his.

For our snack table….Heather made a wonderful Mexican layered dip, MaryAnn made the Mummy Hot Dogs.
I did a bunch of other things that aren’t showing on the table…but among these are String Cheese Fingers in Marinara sauce, Vegi Dip with Carrot fingers (Almonds for fingernails)….these two were from PINTEREST as well.
I made Chocolate Cup cakes with Fluffy frosting and there were candy Eye Balls on them but I didn’t get a picture up close. And a Cream Puff Torte with a Chocolate Spider Web on top…no picture either.

Snack Bags

The bunch of us…Jesse was the only one missing.

Brett and Heather brought this lovely little Fall flower too! After the party I set it in the carved out Pumpkin.

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I received a couple of wonderful little surprises in the mail this past week – both from LINDA’S…one was from my friend in Pennsylvania – we missed seeing each other a couple weeks ago and she had a gift for me and so she mailed it off – and it’s an adorable sheep (with real sheep’s wool for his body).
Thanks so much Linda…you always know how to brighten up a blue day!

And from Linda Parker over at Parkers Paradise Blog http://parkersparadise.blogspot.com/ I received a wonderful surprise package…she is just the sweetest Lady in Blogland…always thinking of others and I was one of the recipients of her generosity…look at these adorable Pillow Tucks she sent – just perfect Linda…THANK YOU SO MUCH. You are a very beautiful Lady inside and out.

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I’m busy grunging some Warm and Natural today…I want to get some Primitive Ornaments made for Old Lady Morgan’s Ornament Exchange and I’m really pushing for time…I wonder what this will turn into!!

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GOODBYE DEAR FRIEND:
Phyllis Durrant 1930-2011

And last….one of our dearest friends passed away this past weekend…we have known Phyllis since 1972 when we built our house in Janesville. It was a brand new subdivision going in and we were the 7th home to build there…right next door to Phyllis and her family. We met during the days we went over there building our home…and have been friends ever since.

Long story short…we all became fast friends…if you saw them you saw us…what more can I say.

So we said goodbye to her on Tuesday…and I bawled like a baby when I greeted her husband – but not for her…she’s at peace finally and smiling and TALKING.
It was all the remembering of the laughs and good times and all those lost years.

I miss her…although the missing started 15 years ago. Phyllis got a horrible disease called Progressive Aphasia.

WHAT IS APHASIA?
Aphasia is an acquired communication disorder that
impairs a person's ability to process language, but does not affect intelligence.
Aphasia impairs the ability to speak and understand others, and most people with aphasia experience difficulty reading and writing.

See why this is a horrible disease…she knew but couldn’t communicate!

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Going to our grandchildren's Church tonight for a Chili Supper…should be delicious!

Thanks for hanging in there with me on this long post…didn’t intend for it to be that way but as you all know I can be chatty!
Blessings,
Karen

Am I a Horder???? Yikes

2011-10-26T18:12:00.001-05:00

Hi all, Yes, I’m still around…been sick for going on 3 weeks now – after 2 Dr. visits, 2 different antibiotics…yuk! Won’t bore you with details but still not better!

I know most of us have seen the TV show Hoarders…well last week I cleaned out my kitchen cabinets to re-organize and to get rid of a few things and honestly didn’t realize how many bows I had…now I collect Salt Glaze but wow..
I put them all out on the table and put them in the cabinets according to size – makes it much easier to find them and get more use out of them. I also took a few to a consignment shop and put 4 of the real large ones on the shelves in the dining room.
Now mind you…I DO USE ALMOST ALL OF MY BOWLS AT DIFFERENT TIMES…and especially the really small ones almost daily so it was hard to determine which ones ‘went’. I even gained a bit more cabinet space!

Last weekend our sons came over to help their dad put the plastic on the screen room (necessary for our hard Winters of snow)...it would blow those screens right in if it wasn't up.

I know they all enjoyed it and it was fun seeing the guys with their dad...lots of fun and some things I won't repeat...guys you know!

Brett brought his tree trimming tools and fixed a place in the tree that had been splitting for years- hopefully it will last a while longer.

Then I got them all together (when they were finished of course….didn’t want to disrupt the flow!)

Dan, Darren, Doug, Brett….thanks guys!

Oh….I asked Brett what Joe was doing because he didn’t come with him like I thought he would…he said he was having a LEGOPALOOZA with 6 of his friends – 7 hours of non-stop LEGO building.
Heather sent me a few photos – I can imagine all the different things they built that day. Joe is the third one from left in back row.

I ordered a wonderful door box from Jen over at Hickory Hills Primitives…it’s solid and the finish on it is a beautiful Mustard color.
I would show you what it looks like on my door but we’re trying to find a way to display it – I can’t get a hanger to work so I’ll have to go looking for one – our door is steel so no nails!
The picture is from Jens site…but our door is red also, so you get the idea – now I need to find a 3m hanger and fill the box with my real Bittersweet that has been waiting for the box to arrive

And in the package Jen added these wonderful Wax Bowl Fillers with an awesome Cinnabun scent
Go on over and check out her site…all their products are made by them
http://hickoryhillprimitives.com/

Now I thought I didn’t have anything to post today…guess I was wrong – I can be chatty even when I don’t feel well….

Do you remember like way back to the beginning of Spring I think it was – maybe before that even…I was getting into rug hooking – well I bought a chair pad kit and finally got the hooking part of it finished last week. I’m slow with it because I’m not good at it but it’s my actual first one – got two others in the process but I don’t like them so maybe will take them apart. I need to back this and put ties on it (maybe) and it will be ready to use. I’m rather proud of it!

And then there’s my two kitties – normally they don’t get this close to each other and I’m not sure why Baby is peeking through the island legs at Lola – I think she’s wondering ‘where’s my food’!

Enjoy the rest of your week and hope you all have a great Halloween … for us we’re having a party here at the house with the kids. Not doing much but it still should be fun.

Booooooooo! Karen……..

Apples and Black Walnuts

2011-10-10T10:07:00.001-05:00

HAPPY FALL EVERYONE…This weekend was one of the most beautiful so far this month…well the whole last two weeks were as well but I so enjoyed the weekend.
We spent lots of our down time in the screen room – not many of those kinds of days left to sit out there. We enjoyed watching the Brewer’s and the Packers do their thing…like they do!!!! Yeah…they both won!
And I made some awesome Baby Back Ribs and these delights below!

I had a need to make something with Apples so I made some Apple Dumplings – they turned out good but not great. I don’t think I had enough sugar inside but it certainly didn’t stop me from eating mine.
They were calling my name even before they got baked

Here’s mine just waiting for the special sweet Vanilla sauce

Doesn’t it look awesome! Yep, it was.

On Thursday I went Black Walnut picking…right out my front door (well, IN THE STREET, across the street).
These came from the road – there are so many you don’t need to search or even go into the grass area and the best part is the cars that hit them have popped the skins on them so that saved me tons of time and stained hands. These are also the culprits that kill all our tomatoes, and most of the flowering plants we plant…there’s a tree in back and one in front…we are doomed.

Now mind you I finally did get stained fingers – I lifted up the bag they were in without thinking. Do you know how long the stain stays…I have a tinge yet this morning.

I put them in a pillowcase (no I will not wash them and use them again on the bed!) and in pans then covered them with very hot water and almost immediately it started to show some color.
I let them soak for a couple days

And no finished photo to show you…I was so busy helping Doug get these bags out of the pans and not get any of it on the driveway (death would have occurred instantly because this was all done against his will).
We put the stain in a large covered bucket and he carried it oh so carefully to the basement where I will have to use it…no stain upstairs in the kitchen sink.

Now…will someone tell me how to use this stain…do I use it like I do my coffee mixture?
And…if I boil it down some to condense it will it still work so I can get a darker color?
I thank you in advance.

Goodness I just have to share this. I purchased a Kindle edition of the new book by Amy Clipston called ‘Naomi’s Gift ‘ (another wonderful Amish Fiction – part of Kauffman’s Amish Bakery series) and not too far into it I found an error…double words so that left part of the sentence off…but I kept reading…a few pages later, more double words…this repeated itself through the entire book. 36 KNOWN DOUBLE WORD ERRORS/PARTS OF SENTENCES LEFT OFF in the book (that I noticed anyway).

I reported this to Amazon (along with a detailed description of EACH ERROR AND PAGE it was on (at their request) and they immediately refunded the price (but also removed the book from my kindle - Boy, they sure could have let me have the inferior edition for heavens sake)!
And I e-mailed Amy as well…she replied back with a huge thank you.

THIS IS A SERIES WORTH BUYING AND READING.

Kauffman Amish Bakery Series
Book One: A Gift of Grace
Book Two: A Promise of Hope
Book Three: A Place of Peace
Book Four: A Life of Joy (available Jan. 24, 2012)
Book Five: Naomi’s Gift

So how many of you are on PINTEREST? I love that site. I have found so many wonderful ideas and recipes – it’s like having your own online journal of all things you like…so if you want to follow me and join yourself let me know…I’ll send you an invite. You can find it on the right sidebar at the top.

Now that’s not much from here but it’s all I got for ya!

P.S. I want to say thank you to WENDY for becoming my 800th follower today! Wow…thanks Wendy.

Karen~

Brunch – Bored – Building an Ark!

2011-09-30T12:23:00.001-05:00

Yesterday we had our Son/MaryAnn and Aidan over for brunch for MaryAnn’s birthday.

Besides the Egg Bake we had sausage links, Sour Dough toast and fruit
It went from this…

To this…

To this….

End result…

Aidan was preoccupied with hit little cup of Nutter Butter cookies – so nothing mattered at the moment…don’t know where his mind was but he sure was quiet.

After brunch he kept busy with his new Crayola coloring book and Magic Markers

Darren bought MaryAnn her Tony Romo Jersey

So on to the bored part…we had been so busy pretty much the entire month and now nothing…nothing to look forward to until the 20th of October when we go to PA for the Wholesale Show – it can’t come soon enough – I’m getting PA withdrawal. It will be one year since we made the trip and that’s just not a good thing!
Not even anything happening around here…no shows, no parties, no dinners – but I do have orders I’m working on and that’s good. Plus I really should get my mind in gear with some new ideas for next August for the Lititz show and the Artisan’s Porch Walk shows. Time does go by faster than ever it seems and it will be here before I know it.

And….today I’m transferring all my files onto Flash Drives. I have a few but they are small in storage space so today I bought one with a large enough file to hold ALL of my photos and website and other things can go on the other drives.
I’m getting way too many photos on the computer. Plus at the moment NOTHING is BACKED UP so it had better not crash while I’m in the process or I will have lost EVERYTHING important. And YES, I do back up on the Flash Drives…but last night I cleaned them all off to start over and that’s when I discovered not a single one was large enough…so please say a silent prayer for me today.

And for the Ark…well it has been raining here since last Sunday….every single day and night…off and on, off and on…just pouring when it does come on so it makes you not to even want to leave the house. Very gloomy. I need some kind of pick me up and quick!
If I was a drinker (for pleasure that is) I’d have my husband light the fireplace and sit back, read and ~~gulp~~ sip on a Mimosa!
How’s that for bad behavior - and on a weekday at that!

Where does the time go – this month just started and it will be October when we wake up tomorrow…It feels like Sept. just started. I know the older one gets the time flies by, but this is ridiculous – is it just me? Or do you feel time is just going by way too fast ?

I had thought maybe it’s because we plan so far ahead for things, or maybe we are wishing our lives away wishing for the next ‘fun’ thing to happen.
I wish I could just sit back and not think about tomorrow and then maybe it wouldn’t get here quite so fast. What’s the answer.

So my blogging buddies (Thank You) and all others that come visit me from time to time (I thank you too)…I hope I didn’t run on too long.
Guess for not having much to say today I did go on and on didn’t I ?

Have a great weekend and wishing you all a beautiful October!

Blessings,

Karen

A Bit more Fall & Some New Goodies

2011-09-23T13:08:00.000-05:00

Well this week I have been busy with ‘business’ things so not much has been happening in my little world , no more gallivanting around the countryside like the last two weeks– but I did manage to buy some White pumpkins and get them out on the porches and I put out a few Halloween things but not much. My decorating is finished!

This is in the screen room

Today Doug’s cousins are coming over for a little get together – a few can’t make it so it’s going to be a small group but we’ll still enjoy the day and then we’re having a Soup/Sandwich Supper.

There are so many wonderful shows coming up this Fall – only wish I lived in several places at one time to attend them all. I think besides the Oaks, PA Wholesale show late October and then the Simple Goods Show the first weekend of November that’s all we’re going to be doing. Except for the trip to Arkansas and little jaunts up north we haven’t gone anywhere since January and I’m getting antsy legs!

If you look in the side bar to the left I added two new items for Fall – my Candy Corn Hugger and Mug Mats.

A couple weeks ago I ordered some Weavers Cloth fabric from a dear blogger who was selling it. I think now to date I bought all she has (the other order arrived today). It’s coming at a good time too because I’m preparing for next Summer’s Littiz Craft Show. Need to get stitching some goodies.

Oh, last weekend we went up north to the Wisconsin Dells for their last hurrah for the Summer – I found a couple things at the Flea Market and some great hand made mittens at the craft show.

Another Pewter top Syrup Pitcher and a much needed Pastry Blender – it has a metal handle so it should fit nicely in my hand.

And the warm mittens made from old sweaters

Nothing else is going on here so I’ll close for now – just wanted to check in.

Karen

Home - Rich – Warm – Aromatic - Cozy

2011-09-13T20:10:00.001-05:00

These are a few of my favorite words that describe FALL.

I don’t like pushing the year along but Spring and Summer even with their awaking of life with new baby animals, buds on trees/bushes and the bright flowers that make us smile…I still like the warm, rich warm colors of Fall.

it’s a secure feeling and I’m sure you all get that feeling too – like a cocoon to hold us in for the long haul of Winter – such rich soothing colors and aromas.

This past weekend I packed away all the bright pastel fru-fru colors of Spring and Summer and brought out my favorites.
It may look like a lot of decor because of the amount of pictures here, but seriously it’s just placed here and there…if you aren’t looking you may not even notice I put Fall out in some areas of the house…but I don’t want clutter.

I first want to tell you about our fantastic camping get-away with (almost) life long friends, Paula and Rick Anderson. I met Paula just after starting 10th grade (15 years old???) and we first met in Home Economics class – she was this adorable naturally curly headed cutie…and you just wanted to be friends with her and we have been ever since. I spent many of over nights at her house and I think I fell in love with her parents too – I guess because my parents were freshly divorced it felt good and warm to be in a whole family situation…but anyway – we have been friends since 1959!

They have a beautiful motor home and spend the summers in Woodfuff, WI as hosts of one of the State Campgrounds.
We have been invited up there many times but this is the first it has worked into our schedule.

We just arrived….

We had a fantastic dinner of Blue Gill and Crappies and campfire potatoes!

Friends camping at a different park joined us for dinner and a great evening

The next evening Rick took us for a boat ride to check for Eagles…we saw two.

The next day, Paula took me into Minocqua to a fantastic shop I’ve heard so much about and always wanted to go to but a 5 hour drive is just too far for a shopping day. THE 13TH COLONY.

I must say I was not disappointed – it lived up to everyone’s description.
I’ll post a photo of it here but then you will have to click on the tab at the top to see the wonderful shop.
I asked to take pictures and was graciously given permission – even so, I felt guilty snapping away.

I did buy a few goodies there.
Three different bunches of drieds to hang on my beams, and a bunch of Sunflowers for my daughter in-law, and some really neat gourds that look like pumpkins – called GOURDKINS. Never heard of them but I liked them.
And I got a string of Pumpkin rinds and a wax pumpkin.

A customer of mine wanted my Pumpkin Basket Penny Rug in black and I love how it turned out.
Some of my best designs are from customer suggestions…Thanks Linda! Hope you like it!!!

So on with the Fall decor!
Photos may look like I put out a lot but seriously it’s only here and there. I have about as many totes of Fall as I do Christmas so I packed a lot of it away and probably will take it to Goodwill.

I have to show you these pumpkins side by side…left one is as it was and the right one I rubbed with Brown paste shoe polish to make it a bit more Prim and it turned out nicely.

Another one only half done

Both are done and are in my large trencher on my family room coffee table.

On fireplace mantle

Looking from family room into screen room – I put a berry wreath around each of the mirrored sconces

On coffee table in screen room

In screen room

Table in kitchen at entry

On top of pantry

Noodle board in kitchen

Above the cabinets, the only space we left open – the rest have soffits

Grain box on dining room table

On hutch in den

Our room – not fond of Sunflowers but ran out of flowers

Today I went out and bought some real Pumpkins and large potted Mums for the porch benches – still need more outside so no pictures yet.

Saturday we had our family/cousins golf outing. Now this has been going on beginning with Doug’s mother and her sisters. They are all gone now and it is being carried on with the next generation. We didn’t go to the first ones – had little ones and couldn’t afford to go for a weekend and you had to be 18 years old to join – no kids!
We have been going for approx. 30 years now – and for me the last 3 years. I had no interest in golf but it is growing on me and they are a great fun bunch to be with so even if you don’t golf you can still go.
This year there weren’t as many as normal – but there were 36 of us. Afterwards one of the cousins owns a golf driving range/pro shop and restaurant so that’s where we ended up for dinner and presentation of prizes.

Our team came in 2nd…they play ‘best ball’ so there was no help from me!!!

But I did score a towel by default because someone didn’t claim it….

Dan and Jamie came this year too – I was glad they could – Jamie golfed and Dan had to work and came in time for dinner

We had a great grilled pork chop, cheesy potatoes and corn

It looks like I save up all my posts and pictures and put them all in one but really I don’t…You all know by now I’m just a chatty one, and have lots of pictures.
I know this one is long but I have one more thing to show you….one of my customers bought one of my patterns for this Mitten Penny Rug and she sent me a picture of her version of it…isn’t it adorable. I love how she changed it up with colors she had and I love the Prim stitching here and there.
Thanks Lecia…you did a great job.

Here’s the original design

Well folks that’s about it for me…thanks for sticking with me and I will be around to visit you – Google has not been my friend this past week.
It loads very slow and when I open your blogs it just sits there…can’t even comment….and I had to do this post 3 different times…my pictures are pixilating on me…what’s up with that!

Karen

Flea Market Finds…Friends…Fun

2011-08-31T08:34:00.001-05:00

Sunday we headed to our favorite Flea Market and are always on the lookout for Pewter…I normally can find one piece at least.

Well this time there was a table full – 18 pieces actually but I only bought 4…now that might have been a mistake because all 18 pieces WERE ONLY $10.00 total.

I took 4 – I just didn’t need the rest (well, I didn’t need these either, but it was a have to have kind of thing) and thought I’d only have to find someone to buy them…so I left them. Sorry afterwards!!! But the girls said they have more packed away and that their mother collected it and they’d find it and send me pictures…I’m waiting anxiously.

So here’s my little 4 piece stash – A domed Butter Dish, Creamer, 2 Wine Goblets all for a dollar each.
And the gorgeous Crock for only $8.00

I love the dark coloring on the crock and will put some Fall things in it and that will make the colors pop even more. Later in the season I’ll change it out and use it for kitchen utensils.

And the butter dish up close

And the goblets on the Pewter table

And some nice Pineapple napkins for .25 cents!

I don’t think I mentioned that the week before we went to another flea market and I found this antique crock bowl with wire bail handle – never seen one in this good of a condition and I paid just $5.00 for it

Using it for our fresh Tomatoes right now

So last week Thursday we met our friends from Arizona for breakfast – we meet them every year while they’re back in Wisconsin visiting their children and on their way home – this year it was at the Cracker Barrel.
Emily and Joe are with us on Thursdays in the Summer so this is the 2nd year they went with us.

Joe had quite a plate full of Apple French Toast and Bacon – Emily had Oatmeal and a muffin and Apples.

Guess he was pretty hungry because there was only one slice left plus a few apples!

Then it was photo shoot time…Mare never gets together that she doesn’t take pictures. She wanted pictures of the kids with us to see the growth – and there was a huge spurt from last year to this.
Here’s last August

And this August

And Mare and Me.

4 of us

Group

Didn’t realize I had this many pictures for this post – but sometimes words just get lost…so I guess that’s okay.

Mare had a special order for me on my Pansy/Watering Can design…she wanted Burgundy thrown in and also in an oblong so this is what I ended up doing.

I really like how the Burgundy made the other colors pop – it’s on the small Penny as well.

Almost forgot – I am doing the LITITZ CRAFT SHOW next August…I’m very excited but skeptical at the same time…this is a big show and I got rid of all my ‘show’ things – no displays left – NOTHING…so now I have to plan. And buy a pop up canopy. I saw one at Sam’s Club…PERFECT with screen sides and an front awning – great for winds or rain but I think they are for a limited time – all the other ones I have seen are just the awning tent and you buy the extras separate. Not sure what to do there. If only I could rent one!
So that has my brain reeling – figuring out what to make and how much of it to make.

I’m in the process of making dried Green Bean/dried Cranberry garlands – because you know I don’t have enough to do!!!! I bought 2 lbs at the flea market last week and now it doesn’t look like enough to make several….and the farm stands around here well, they aren’t cheap. These were so I was spoiled!
I’m also going to experiment with maybe dried Green Bean/Sweet Potato garlands too. See which I like the best. If they turn out I may sell them at the show.

Fall is in the air – I’m so happy! I’m a cool weather person and Tuesday (right after Labor Day) we are heading up north to camp with some friends. They maintain the camp ground all summer and then stay one for a couple weeks past Labor Day so we should have a good time with pretty much the camp ground to ourselves. They have a large motor home but they don’t hook up to electricity so the mornings and evenings will be a tad cool but hopefully we’ll take enough warm clothing and by 10 or 11 the sun has warmed up the air considerably.

Be happy and safe whatever it is you are doing this week…for me it’s sewing! Thanks to all my wonderful followers and website followers I have had a huge sale on my Fall Mr. Jack and the Triple Pumpkin Penny Rugs…looking at all of them sitting here it looks like my pumpkin patch is becoming overgrown!

ENJOY,
Karen

Hello dear friends…

2011-08-20T21:57:00.000-05:00

I think Fall is finally looking to come around soon!
The morning and evening air is wonderful with 50+ temps
so nice for sleep and then getting the day started.
Hope you are having great weather too – it was certainly
a hot and stormy Spring and Summer that’s for sure.

I’ve been trying to stitch orders and design
some new Fall designs but it’s slow going.

I did make a Whimsical Mr. Jack Penny Mat
And to my surprise they are selling fast…I put them on my
site on Friday and I can’t keep up!!!
You can click on the sidebar picture to the left
and it will take you to the page.

And then there’s one of my favorites…
Roly Poly Snowman…again you can
find this on my website

Better look of design

Last week I saw the most incredible Dragon Fly – never seen one like this before have you…I’ve seen them with plain or solid wings but never ones like this.

I took the first one and the wings didn’t show up enough so Doug held up a piece of paper on the inside of the screen – anyone seen one like this???
- view from his underside-

Front

I meant to say a huge Thank You back in July to a good friend from PA,
Linda and I met a few years back…long story but we have
been friends since even though we only see each other probably
once a year – well she had sent me some beautiful gifts for
Christmas and for my birthday in July…

This is a darling casserole dish and when I first met her
she brought along a beautiful set of chafing dishes.
All of these are the Temp-Tations line from QVC.

I love the cheerful Sunflower design

At Christmas she sent these darling snack sets – which I use often.

We used them on Christmas morning with our
‘traditional’ Cinnamon Rolls and milk

I have been remiss in posting these pictures so I just want to again say
Thank You Linda…you are the best.

Last week I ordered some raw wool from a ‘forum’ friend, Pam from http://www.shadetreeprimitives.blogspot.com/ and http://www.picturetrail.com/shadetreeprimitives – it’s just beautiful,
the nicest color a mixture of dark Brown and Black.

I would like to wash it and then try ‘felting’ it into a sheep design,
not sure if I know how but it’s worth a try otherwise
I’ll display it in a bowl to just be pretty!

So that is my post for this week – seems when
not much is happening it’s difficult to find things to post about.

Goodness I almost forgot – today we went
to my husbands ‘All Class Reunion’.

It was held at a historic restaurant
Lake House Inn
This place dates back to 1835

This is behind the Inn – part of the house
the owners live in

Doug came from a small school/town so a few years back
some of the older classes got this going – this is our first year
to attend and I just had to giggle when we got there,
I do think we were just a few of the ‘youngest ones there’.
The gentleman sitting next to me graduated in the class
of 1944 – I WAS BORN IN 1944!!!!

So that tells you the ages of the guests – the earliest graduates
started in 1934 on up to my husbands class of 1960 but
there were only 6 of us for that class….but a very enjoyable
time regardless – in a small class they all seemed to
know or know of each other to some point.

Enjoy,
Karen

Itsy Bitsy Spider – Changes - Hiding

2011-08-12T12:55:00.001-05:00

I tried to find a title for my post this week but I have so many odds and ends to post about that nothing would come to mind – so I thought of naming it for the first picture I’m posting – not one of my favorite topics – in fact I’m deathly afraid of these creatures.

For the life of me I don’t know why I allowed these to get this big – guilt about destroying it maybe ? Nope – just a HUSBAND who refused to destroy the web. And me who wouldn’t go near it to get rid of it. So it grew and grew and grew. Until this morning when I finally won out…no more spider webs and now I can clean off the porch! See the little creature crawling up to the left corner there….ICK!!!!

CLICK PICTURE TO ENLARGE…THERE ARE TWO WEBS HERE!

On to better things….

I designed a new Pumpkin Penny Rug yesterday – I left a free space at the top so a lamp, basket, candle or whatever can sit and not cover up the design…and the size is perfect – 13-1/2 x 14-1/2 inches.
If interested, click on photo to be taken to my website page.

Last week we stopped in a shop that was a temporary one – she had it open for Maxwell Street Days and we were on our way to get groceries so decided to stop in. Very glad because I found this wonderful 1800’s Glass and Pewter Syrup Pitcher – and the lid is hinged. I really didn’t know there were syrup pitchers but after doing research on them I found there are quite a few styles out there. I paid just $12.00 for this one and saw that some were selling for $50 - $150. Mine probably isn’t rare enough to in that category but it’s still lovely to me.

We have a Farmer’s Market downtown on Thursday afternoon/evening and the produce there is wonderful. There’s one who sells the best Sweet Corn…nice light yellow-white kernels, sweet, juicy and they snap when you bite into them. We have had corn the last 3 Thursday nights – I think I’m about done in with that menu now – time to move on but when you find something that’s really good it’s hard to give it up knowing you won’t get it again until the next growing season.

And as tradition since our boys were wee ones (grown and gone now) – we always set a picnic table of plastic ware when we ate Sweet Corn. I guess it came from them being small, corn being messy and a bit greasy with the butter so the tradition continues with just the two of us.
We have just grilled hamburger patties and normally sliced tomatoes – but last night I forgot to slice them up! And all on plastic…not very pretty but it is easy to clean up.

We did get some super wonderful Pinwheel pastries at market too – these are Cheesecake Raspberry.
So it’s just a very simple supper when we have corn.

A blog friend, Margie, from Hungry Hook Primitives had a wool sale last week and I lucked out on getting two bundles of very nice dark Primitive colors and a bunch of cut strips of wool for my rug hooking. I’m anxious for her next sale…hope my fingers are fast enough on the keyboard to lay claim to more before it’s all gone. http://hungryhookprimitives.blogspot.com/

So now that we have had some wonderful cool weather it has put me in the mood to go through my craft/office room upstairs – when working with fabrics you find many, many dust bunnies hiding in places you can’t see…so it was a day to pull everything out of the room, clean and also clean the carpet.

The closet got an overhaul as well. I put a stainless steel shelf unit in there and put all my supplies I don’t use often and kept the other shelves in the room for all the things I use daily – and it freed up space as well so now my chair fits in the corner better too on days I want to sit up there and sew.
It’s not the fanciest of work spaces but it is fine for what I need.

All my Wool Felt I work with for my Penny Rugs

And now I also have a place for my Rug Hooking Wool and patterns that before were in plastic bins on the floor under the tables. I like being able to see my Wool so I know what to choose from

Are you bored yet???

Last Sunday or son/dil took us out on the judging boat for the Yacht Club – both are judges and they have to set up the course before hand – it was a horribly hot day but there was a nice strong wind – which actually was great for sailing but horrible for trying to find the wind direction to set up the course. But it did get done and they only got one race in (normally 2) because it started to get stormy looking and then thunder and it’s the judges call to cancel if they feel it’s too bad…so it was cancelled. But a fun time for the first race.

The sailboats are so graceful looking out there but it’s such hard work!
Well, it’s not hard work for me…just sit and back and relax!!!!

This is one of the homes on an island on the lake – it’s one of my favorite things. Isn’t she a beauty!

Dan and Jamie getting ready to start the race

Lined up and ready

On their way!

Hope you enjoyed your sail!!!

And now one last thing…you know the game ‘Where’s Waldo’?
Well, where’s ‘Baby’?
Honest to goodness I head something I couldn’t make out the sound one day last week when I was sewing…kept hearing this kind of scratching noise, not very loud and so I got up and started checking on things and this is what I found – she was laying on a shelf behind the Geraniums. isn’t she a hoot?

Thanks for visiting me today.
Blessings to all

Karen

HAVING COMPUTER ISSUES!!!

2011-08-05T09:59:00.001-05:00

Wow, this has been a crazy week with my computer...not sure if it's a virus, the internet provider or Google.
I've done everything I can think of to get it to work better but no success....even my virus protection won't update.

It loads slow...hangs up...won't open pages and then all of a sudden it works fast and furious! And it's all MAKING ME FURIOUS!!!

Soooo that being said I have been frustrated trying to get on my internet home page let alone get on my blog to my visit my wonderful friends in blogland so if you don't see me it's because I don't have 10 minutes to wait for a page to load.
I'm taking my computer over to the dr. today - so there's another $70 out the window.

I hope everyone who is expecting me to comment or answer questions will bear with me for a few days. When business is good you just don't like to have computer issues and they think you are ignoring them!

Gotta go! See you all when this thing is working right.
Do I dare use my husbands laptop....hmmmmm - just might give him a virus!

See ya
Karen

Two New Tabs - George is on the wall!

2011-07-25T13:42:00.004-05:00

Good afternoon on this AGAIN hot and humid day.

I turned off the air this morning but it only stayed off for a couple hours...the air coming in the windows was horrible so back on it went. I was hoping for a reprieve today but guess not.

So I'm doing the best thing on a hot day...posting,

reading blogs and sewing on an order.

I POSTED THREE NEW TABS at the top of my blog.

COUNTRY FRECKLES...a fantastic Prim/Colonial shop in Wisconsin

~ Click the photo to be taken to the page ~

RT. 66 ANTIQUES...wonderful Prim Antiques in Missouri

~ Click the photo to be taken to the page ~

AMANA COLONIES
~ Click on picture to be taken to the page ~

ENJOY!

I finally got my GEORGE picture up on a wall - not where it was

intended to go but will do for now - I actually like it here now

But in time it will go over the fireplace

Oh I have to say a huge THANK YOU to MAURINE from Stitchen House of Prims: http://stitchinsprims.blogspot.com/

She sent me a wonderful thank you package for some books I sent her...naturally I got the best of the bargain!

I now have one of her wonderful hand made bonnets - it's a wonderful rich Brown and those two Herb bags are awesome sizes - the Herbs are cross-stitched on.

And last for today my Penny Runner I'm partially finished with.

When we traveled last week it gave me something to do in the car.

I just have to back it now and it's good to go.

And a huge thank you for those who participated in my sale

It was more than a success...there are only a few items left.

I'll keep them up in the tab for a bit more but then will close it.

Maybe later I will have more things to sell when I unpack boxes.

Guess that's all I have for now

Karen

http://mycolonialhome.blogspot.com/p/amana-colonies-pictures.html

Packing Snacks for Trips or Get-Away

2011-07-23T11:37:00.001-05:00

Tammy over at http://countrygirlathome.blogspot.com/ has posted a fun post. SNACKS FOR THE ROAD…she is asking “what do you take” and so I’m posting what gets packed in my ‘goodie bag’. Go over and read her post – it’s fun!

We used to have a Suburban so just about everything we I could think of went on trips with us but now it’s the Mini Van so we I have scaled back some although what I pack there is a lot that comes back home with us…it’s something about having the ‘familiar’ with you – maybe it’s a ‘comfort’ thing.

These are what I can’t do without on the road

And my husband always needs his

And for good measure I take

And this to put on the crackers…now I know some of you will go ICKKKKKK but I like it in small amounts – it can get kind of sickening eating too much

So what is it you take on your road trips/vacation get a-ways???? Let us know!

Thanks Tammy for starting this fun topic

Karen

Pictures, Pitcher (as in a small Creamer) and a Picture

2011-07-18T15:57:00.001-05:00

Wow, what a mouthful huh?

Well last week Thursday we headed to hot humid Arkansas – why you ask did we head South in the midst of this Summer Heat Wave?
Well my husband and his cousins had their annual COUSIN’S REUNION…mainly it’s for the adult cousins but this time the daughter of the one hosting it was home from California and the other cousin’s daughter and family came along too because they rarely get to see each other so it was the perfect time to have them join in.

Martinsen cousins
In order of age…oldest to youngest - Doug, Jim (our host), Alan, RuthAnn, LeAnn, Phyllis
(missing: Kenlyn, Karen, Jeanne)

Me and LeeAnn helping in the kitchen

This sun room Jim built on recently (by himself) – he actually finished it on Monday and had the tile floor put in the day before the reunion weekend (on Thursday)…he was sweating (and not from the heat) in fear it wouldn’t get finished in time and it looks off into the woods.

He lives in Bella Vista, Arkansas which leads directly into Bentonville, Arkansas, Walmart headquarters among other companies.
Jim’s community is just gorgeous.
Bella Vista offers lots of wooded common ground, 7 Golf courses, 7 man made lakes, 4 club houses, RV park, a marina, 3 swimming Pools, 2 Putt Putt golf courses, 3 playgrounds, Tennis courts, 2 workout facilities, miles of walking trails, a dog park, and a ball park...ALL FOR THE USE OF POA (Property Owner Association – which are all of $24 per month!) for those living in Bella Vista. We were very impressed. Jims house is at the end of a cul-de-sac and completely surrounded by woods – well the entire community is woods.

After lunch on Saturday we took a site seeing tour with Jim (3 vehicles in all) and our first stop was the Cooper Chapel (we couldn’t stay long because there was a wedding to be held there)

The entire group

After that Jim took us to the Crystal Bridge Trail
Now this was supposed to be a block and a half walk along the trail (Now for any of you have been in a Tropical Rain Forrest at the peak of heat, you will know how warm and humid it can get…that’s what it felt there).

Three of us were feeling the heat something awful and it was on the way into the walk. Well what was to be a block and a half turned out to be a MILE AND A HALF - ONE WAY…..in 100 degree heat – in the woods!!!! And no one thought to bring water along because it was to be JUST A BLOCK AND A HALF….I don’t think Jim is ever going to be able to live this one down – his sister said she’s going to use it against for a long time to come. Jokingly that is….she’s a journalist for a newspaper and write a column like Erma Bombeck did.

But I will say the walk was beautiful – even though every part of me was wet and dripping from my hair as well. But on the way back there was a rest room and Doug brought out some paper towels and part way back there is a spring fed stream and he wet them for the three of us to wipe our faces and arms with and it actually helped…by this time my heart was pounding in my ears and I started to hear humming so I knew I reached my limit so I was thankful for that good cold stream.
At the beginning of the trail there are gardens to enjoy.

The wonderfully COLD spring fed stream!

And the goal was to see the Crystal Bridge Art Center – the photo here is from their website and not the real thing – not sure how they got this to look real because it’s still under construction.

This is what WE saw

Then we went to the Ernest Lawrence Plaza so the little ones could play in the dancing waters (along with their grandma LeeAnn)

They also dragged grammie LeeAnn in with them – don’t think they needed to pull very hard though…100 degree temps basically drew one in.

Then we stopped in the Original Walmart store

I know this post is picture heavy so I’ll just show a couple more.
Doug and I arrived on Friday early and that evening those that were there early went out to dinner at the Shrimpman’s Yacht Club – I tried to get a good Sunset picture but I guess I waited too long.
This was the view from our table.

On our drive home I saw this sweet Ice Cream stand somewhere in IL

And in Phillipsburg, MO we stopped at Historic Route 66 Antique Mall.
I have not seen an Antique mall filled with sooo many Primitives – not ever like this.
I will post on them later this week and also I want to post about Country Freckles – I still need to do that so I have lots to post about.
http://www.picturetrail.com/rt66antiquemall

I found this wonderful black and white print of George Washington there. It’s 22 x 26 so it’s a generous size and the frame is also very old. My hope is to put it over the fireplace one day WHEN we get the wood replaced up there.
And I found this great creamer with attached lid! Not sure why the color is different on the lower part of the creamer but that didn’t bother me. It’s 6 inches tall and the maker is Brewster Pewter.

And to end this looong post, we received two pictures from Dan our son – over the 4th they were in IL to some friends house and he likes to shoot – in a good way.
Dan and Jamie were able to shoot a few and here they are shooting a Barret 50cal., and I guess there’s quite a kick to it from the look on Jamie’s face.

Our other son Darren/MaryAnn have hand guns and go to the shooting range and Dan and Jamie are hoping to buy some as well and join them on weekends.

So that’s it for me for this post. I know it’s long but I had a few photos to share.

Take care and blessings,
Karen

Beautiful Pond and My Kids Have Names!

2011-07-11T10:07:00.000-05:00

Last Wednesday we took a couple days off and went up to my brother/sil’s place. I have shown you photos of their place before - it’s so peaceful up there in the woods.
Well he has a run off pond (from the air con and heat) next to the house that he has been working on (playing with) since they built the house and I do think he has it almost perfect now.
Some of the liner is showing because the water level is a bit low but it’s still beautiful just the same.
But here’s a few photos of my brother’s pond.

I posted this Cupola last Fall just after he found it and wasn’t sure what he was going to do with it…..

Well this is where it ended up…

BEFORE:

AFTER:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

FROM OUR WINDOW:

Hope you enjoyed!

We also went into Wisconsin Rapids and did some Prim shopping – found the shop I’ve wanted to go to since she opened…COUNTRY FRECKLES…oh yes – a treasure!
My next post will showcase her place so be watching.
But I did find a few treasures that day.
A Pewter Creamer/Sugar set

more Pewter pieces – not matching

Some Wool to start my ‘real’ looking Penny Rug…and a hooked rug project

Finally after 4 years of just being ‘waifs’ they are named and I have to thank each and every one of you for joining in on this wonderful ‘game’.

I loved them all and if I put them all out in front of me I just could not pick…so thank goodness for the RANDOM PICKER GENERATOR.

“Random numbers generated Jul 11 2011 at 8:12:3 by www.psychicscience.org
Free educational resources for parapsychology, psychical research & mind magic.
Min: 1
Max: 41
Result:
20”

And so the lucky winner is: http://primlish.blogspot.com/
Robyn~Primlish said…
Oh, Marie did such a great job! I really love them!
My choice for names are Oliver and Olivia. What cuties!
Tuesday, July 05, 2011 7:42:00 PM

Congratulations Robyn…I’m so happy for you and my ‘kids’. They now have some wonderful names that suit them quite well.

Your gifts will be coming along just as soon as I get your mailing information.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED…it was fun for me reading all those wonderful names….wish they could have many sets of names because you all would be winners.

Thanks for visiting – it’s a rainy/stormy morning here so doing my blog was a bright spot.

Blessings,
Karen

My little ones have returned

2011-07-05T15:41:00.001-05:00

My wayward children or 'waifs' as I call them...arrived home safe and sound today.

They went on a journey all on their own a couple weeks ago...I wasn’t sure about letting them go alone but they said ‘trust us’ - we know where we’re going and the lady is so nice and sweet and she will take good care of us and besides, we need her.

Plus she has many, many other children just like us who need her too...and we also know that some of them are becoming popular really fast just because they live with her. I heard they had their pictures taken a few weeks ago for ‘PRIMS’ Magazine and we may see them in the October issue. Imagine that....and they also hang out at a place called ‘Lemon Poppy Seeds’.

My ‘waifs’ have changed considerably - I didn’t recognize them at all - what I thought were two girls or possibly 2 boys turned out to be a boy and a girl...how could a mom not have known...but she knew!

She must have fed them well too because they looked plumper - quite full. And possibly out in the sun for some time getting some good Vitamin C but at some point I think they may have gotten out of her sight and fallen into some of her morning coffee or maybe snuck into her craft room and played with her Walnut Stain...they have been known to be quite naughty at times.

I must say this lady sure does know how to dress her children because they came back home with some new duds on... and I was so thankful because when they left they had ‘naked bodies’ – but being they were all ‘wrapped up’ on their journey no one would see them.

So, my boy and girl have returned happy and dressed to the nines! Oh guess what...they even grew some hair....what does she feed them.

They had been in my craft room ‘just hanging out’ for 4 years! Not very pretty are they?

And this is what came home today

And now for the fun….I can’t go around anymore calling them my ‘waifs’ – they need an identity!

Soooooo…please feel free to comment here and leave your ideas for names.

On July 10th (my birthday) I will put the names in a bowl and pick…the winner will receive a ‘mystery gift’.
But remember if you don’t leave a way for me to reach you I will have to choose another set of names.

Thank you so much Marie (OLD LADY MORGAN) for taking on my dolls...you have a talent and a kindness beyond words.
Please visit her blog: http://primitivesbyoldeladymorgan.blogspot.com/
She is just the best.

Prim blessings,
Karen

A Little Bit About Nothing

2011-07-03T18:07:00.000-05:00

That’s right…this post is pretty much about nothing in particular.

I’ve run out of ‘fun’ happenings and haven’t been shopping so that leaves me with just ‘stuff’ to talk about.

Although I did stop at a garage sale on Friday and found some stretched and flat canvas boards for very little money – I took all she had plus some wonderful 7x7 bubble mailers – perfect for my Candle Huggers and other small items to ship. I got 20 for $4.00 and if I was into scrapbooking I could have bought her out – she had so many papers and supplies.

Thursday we went to a lunch for one of my former co-workers who is moving to Austin, Texas to be by her daughter and family.
I’ve known Sue since 1980 when I started work at the Hi-Liter as a graphic designer and Sue was a salesperson. We spent many fun Friday nights at Happy Hour, gatherings at other co-workers homes, holiday parties, work parties. We all became like sisters working together for 25 years. We still all get together at least every 6 weeks or so for lunch. Sue will be missed by all of us.
Her luncheon was hosted by another co-worker at her community room where she lives (actually Sue lives there as well). Some friends were missing because of prior commitments.

Notice my sheep header????
Doug’s cousin raises sheep and I asked him if he would kindly take some pictures of them for me for my website and blog – he sent me several and I love each one more than the next.

I’m going to try and make a business logo and business cards out of one – but I can’t decide which will work the best.

Guess that’s it for this week…hope to have something of interest next week or possibly the week after that when we return from Arkansas. Hoping to find some nice antique shops/thrift shops along the way but that just might be wishful thinking…Doug isn’t one for stopping once we get on our way. We’ll see!

Have a safe and fun 4th!

Karen

Time to slow down? Don’t think so!

2011-06-27T14:14:00.001-05:00

So this afternoon I’m doing my Summer Newsletter for my website and I sent out e-mails to all of my contacts. I had done up the Newsletter and turned it into a PDF file for an attachment…yep, you guessed it. I forgot to attach it and everyone got a blank e-mail.
So I repeated! See what I mean by needing to slow down. I’m getting ahead of myself.

Anyway on with the busy…between Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Birthday’s, 2 Graduation’s and 2 Graduation Parties, 2 funerals and then the procedure which has kept me rather quiet…all of this was in a bit over a months time!

I’m ready for a break…we’re going to Arkansas the middle of July for a Cousin’s Reunion so that’s going to be my first break…not sure that Arkansas would be my first choice for a getaway but I’ll take what I can get at this point.

I think I’m trying to do too much at once…maybe it’s because I’m feeling better – not good, but much better since the procedure last week and that gives me some ‘faux energy’…I think I can do more than I can!
Not sure when the full effect will kick in all the way but the Dr. said 4-8 weeks…well, I don’t have that kind of time to sit still. Anyone who knows me knows this is killing me.
My backside looks like a pincushion – and very black and blue. I was really under the anesthesia because I don’t remember a thing except asking them to give it to me nice and strong and the next thing I was back in my room and then I slept the rest of the day. I was numb from that point on down to my toes for two days. This weekend I finally started getting the full feeling back in those areas. Please let’s hope this thing works!

Our Granddaughter’s Graduation party was Saturday – had a good time and there were lots of family and friends on all sides.
I took lots of pictures but to you they would just be ‘people milling around’ so I won’t bore you with them.

Alexandra by her cake and photo table

Alex’s Stepmother Jamie made her cake – she wanted a Marble cake with Strawberry filling and so Jamie being the ‘best Stepmother in the world’ made her very first one! She did a wonderful job didn’t she?

I’m not for Tattoo’s but Alex decided she was going to get a hip Tattoo with her 18th birthday money in honor of her baby sister who was a still birth late in the pregnancy – I think it turned out quite nice.

Naturally we don’t have a family gathering that I don’t get a photo of Aidan.
One of the guests brought her 4 week old puppies to show everyone.

And as Angie his cousin was leaving he got a ride with her.
Alex’s dad Dan and Alex in back

DON’T FORGET TO LOOK ON THE LEFT
SIDEBAR FOR SOME ITEMS I HAVE ON SALE ON MY SITE.

I have also added some new size
President Canvas Prints to the Primitives category
I had many requests for smaller sizes to tuck back in a shelf
I’m also offering them in a Sepia tone as well
5x5 Stretched Canvas and 5x7 Stretched Canvas

If you want to be on my Newsletter list just e-mail me

I think I’m getting crazy the longer I’m in this business - I’m considering signing up for a very large Craft Show in Lititz, PA for next August. It’s a bit late for this year to make new designs and different products but if I’m accepted I’ll have the better part of a year to prepare. So I had better get my creative ideas flowing.

I’m getting my ‘lost blog list’ back on my sidebar. I forgot how to do it the easy way so it has been a one by one process…again, I need to slow down and these things won’t happen!
Thanks to everyone who contacted me and if you aren’t on and want to be…please e-mail me.

Oh and I forgot…at the top of my blog where the tabs are…I put my Amish Fiction book list – I’ve already had people e-mail me asking about information on some of the books. So if you like to read Amish Fiction go check it out.

We’ve eaten so much ‘party food’ the past month I’m ready for a steak so that’s what is on the menu for this evening…time to go get it ready.

Karen

Lost my blog list!

2011-06-26T07:40:00.000-05:00

That's what I get for fooling around and trying to 'clean up' - didn't work did it? Arghhhh!!!!!

I promise I will get you back on my sidebar as soon as I can...I did this once before and forgot who was on there and how to do it...need to get help with that.

In the meantime...I will have to go on my list on my dashboard to visit you.

Karen

Pewter, Birthday, Father’s Day

2011-06-22T13:57:00.001-05:00

Maybe not in that order -
On Saturday night our oldest Darren and his family took us out to dinner for Father’s Day – isn’t it nice when the spouse gets to enjoy the benefits of the occasion?
Took a couple photos before we left

Darren and Aidan batted a few wiffel balls around first…and got a tad silly.

Sunday morning on Father’s Day Doug and I went to a flea market south of us and I found another piece of Pewter – it’s a beat up ole Tankard but I love the wear on these old pieces. For what ever reason the dents got in it I’m not sure – but it shows someone used it and well. And it only cost me $2.00 so the dents really didn’t matter at that point.

Monday late afternoon we went back over to Darren’s place for Aidan’s 3rd Birthday – I can’t believe how old that little guy is getting and I’m thinking he may be good at Golf

3 Generations

They served us a delicious dinner of Ham, Scalloped Potatoes and fresh Green Beans.

Time for Cake!

Now some gifts!
There were many, many relatives there so he received lots of gifts – I’ll spare you the pictures and show a couple.

Mommy and Daddy bought him a picnic table

Also…I want to mention that I have started selling KITS on my website. I have 6 designs available at the moment. You can find them here:
http://www.kmprimitives.com/catalog.php?category=48

Thanks for sticking with me through this picture intense post.

Karen

BUSY and more BUSY

2011-06-15T08:50:00.001-05:00

Oh Yes, I know the heading is not proper grammar!
What started out as a slow Spring/Summer is fast becoming busy.

Last week was very busy with Alexandra’s graduation on Friday night, then on Sunday we had Jessica’s (Nieces daughter) graduation party to go to (about 1-/12 hours drive away) so that was a very full day.
They live on a farm and so there was lots of space for everything…even horse riding.

Mark, her dad, had built onto the end of his workshop a huge addition this past Fall and even put in heated floors…this is the space he’ll work on his big machinery – but so far it has been used for their huge Easter dinner and now Jess’s graduation party.

All the kids played Volleyball for most of the day

Jesse our oldest grandson (21) and Aidan our youngest (3 next Monday) were the only two grandchildren that could make it there. Jesse is in the gray and white stripe.
My step-mom in the white jacket (right).

And naturally we had to get some pictures of Aidan around the farm

Darren, MaryAnn and Aidan taking a walk to find some cows

Way up on the big tractor. See him in there!

Tire is taller than Aidan

So that was our weekend…

Then the week I got busy with orders and then yesterday we decided to take advantage of a perfect day (temps in the mid 70’s and breezy).
It was perfect Golf weather (for me that is…).
So we headed on down to the place we had our Golf Clinic and also our favorite place to golf. Prairie Woods. It’s a bit of a drive for us but well worth it just for the scenery alone.
The weather couldn’t have been more perfect…and the breeze made it even more so…actually quite windy at times.

Story with this place is…when our boys were very little, along with my brother’s family, we would go out there when it was just a farm and woods…mainly HICKORY NUT TREES…we would spend many Saturday or Sunday’s out in the woods picking Hickory Nuts…the kids loved the adventure and we’d take a picnic lunch along too and made a full day of it letting the kids wander in the woods finding treasures. The owners being friends of my brother made it possible for us to go there so it was always available to us.
So this place has some wonderful memories. Most of the woods are cleared now for the golf course but it’s just a pretty place to be.

So on with my day…just pictures of the golf course.

BYE-BYE! Oh yes, quite windy…see the fluffed hair!

Today is swim class at the fitness center, then Lola kitty has an apt. this afternoon…she’s so darned sick again!
Then busy with orders the rest of the week…then Father’s Day Sunday, Aidan’s birthday on Monday and Tuesday I have my procedure on my back…guess I had better get some books loaded on my Kindle because I’m going to be resting for about a week after that.

Thank you again everyone who follows me – and for all your fun comments. You are the reason.

Have a good one!

Karen

Patterns - Graduation

2011-06-11T10:11:00.001-05:00

Thursday we sat and assembled 180 patterns for a customer in Wisconsin. She wanted them for a Quilt Expo in September – I was blessed with such a huge order. And earlier in the week I sent out a large order to a customer in Ohio…I think my patterns are finally taking off – as well as on the Pattern Cupboard.

I assembled them and glued the photo on, while Doug stuffed them in the plastic bags.

This is only 1/4 of the pile we sent. I finally had to tie them in bundles of 10 because they were so slippery they kept going in every direction – had to go find a larger box by the time they were all finished.

I guess because I'm a proud Grandma I'm posting this.
Our Alexandra graduated last night - very simply I'll just say it was a great event for all of us.

We went to her Mother and Step-dad's early in the day for pictures. Alex had to be at the school by 6PM so they thought an early afternoon get together would be better.

Alex greeting Grandpa Doug

Dan, her dad, Jamie (Step-mother) and Alex

Being silly!

Confusion!

Time to go....

Graduation...

CONGRATULATIONS ALEX – WE LOVE YOU TONS AND ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!

Thanks for reading
Karen

Rainy Monday – Cleaning!

2011-06-06T09:17:00.001-05:00

Gosh, we just can’t catch a break here in good ole Wisconsin. You get one or two days that are absolutely gorgeous and then ‘crap’.
It’s so gloomy and raining but supposed to clear up but that doesn’t make for a good start to a Monday morning. One wants to wake up bright eyed and raring to go…not today so far.

Saturday was a day of running around getting groceries and odds and ends errands.
Yesterday we cleared out the screen room and cleaned it from top to bottom.
The weather hasn’t been such that we could do that up until now.

We moved the furniture out into the driveway and I scrubbed and hosed it and cleaned all the cushions while he did the inside.
But after he was finished I noticed the Porcelain tile on the floor was very streaky so I took a wet cloth and ran over a spot and it looked like nothing was done.

This was mainly due to the fact that there was so much Pollen in that room from early Spring and it was in every nook and cranny and then the humidity didn’t help any with it plastering itself to the floor…well, it wasn’t all that bad as I’m making it sound but it did streak so I got down on my hands and knees and did a double rinse from section to section.

I’m hurting today needless to say. It didn’t do my discs/hips any good but when things need to be done you just do it.

We also picked up our flowers that were being held for us at the greenhouse. We picked out the flowers several weeks ago and they planted them in our pots and gave them a good start in the controlled climate. We had 4 of them planted and they did a good job as usual.

Well I finally heard from the Pain Clinic and I get the RF Procedure on the 21st – I’m so looking forward to it and hopefully I will be somewhat pain free at least for a longer period of time than what the shots did for me.

I have had so much trouble with pages loading using Internet Explorer and last week my tech told me to use Google Chrome and so I am – amazing what a difference it made.
Everything loads with a click instantly..no more waiting for it to ‘think’ so if you are having IE sluggishness then switch to Google Chrome for your browser – you will see a huge difference.

Enjoy your day and week!

Karen