Day Dreaming

My kids have a screwy school week, 2 days off and 2 half days. So my blogging is going to be sporadic if at all. They tend to take over our computer.

So I'll leave you with one of my favorite daydreams.

My garden last summer when I had it all purdy for our 4th of July party,

before the weeds got the best of me,

and we had perfect weather.

Happy MLK Day!

We have the day off so the children and I are just hanging out, we bought groceries and now trying to keep warm. It feels like Siberia around here. The chickens are somewhat warm with their new red heat lamp. Where is this global warming they keep promising?

I kid, well half kid.

Lucky for me I have a manly man who keeps our firewood supply up.

It was a beautiful cherry tree we were hoping would survive a carpenter ant invasion but didn't.

I finished the rug. It's 4 feet across.

I did make a green chick bag for me. I filled it right away and got major

notice at 2 parties we went to over the weekend.

I made a tissue pack from the apple and pear fabric I got a JoAnn's.

I already made one lunch bag out of this fabric and have enough left for a few more.

I have dinner in the crock pot so I should go stoke the fire then sew something. I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Latest Bag

I made this chick bag last evening.

I used some of the black fabric I bought the other day. There's a pink button for the eye.
I love the vibrant colors with the black chick.

When I get a minute or 40 I'll load it on etsy. I figured for about every 5 bags I make for my shows, I'll put one in my shop. Also I'm not sure how a bag with a chicken on it will sell at a teacher conference.

I put 4 pockets inside. This is the cell phone pocket.

The chick is even a pocket.

I think I need to make one for me, maybe in green.

Tag you're it!

I've been tagged, my first one ever. By KB at apatchworkworld.blogspot.com/
Kind of exciting to be picked, like kickball selection. I have plenty of weird/random things about me to share.

1. My favorite thing ever is Fishing. I love to fish, I don't mind ripping the worm, using pliers to get a swallowed hook out or the sunburn that always gets you no matter how much sunblock you apply. I even keep a small rod and tackle box in my truck at all times because you never know when a good fishing spot may pop up. (lesson learned) I single handily stocked most of the fish in our pond (bass, and bluegill) from a deserted pond near my dads home.

2. In spite of being pretty athletic in my youth, I played soccer, softball, volleyball, and even lettered in track, I never got the presidential fitness award. I just could never pass the standing broad jump. I exceeded all other events, but could never pass that one. I tried so hard, year after year and thought it was unfair that one event could exclude you from the prize.

3.I have never had a manicure, or pedicure. I just figured why pay for what I could do myself. Also the thought of a stranger touching me that way gives me the creeps. A massage would send me over the edge.

4. My favorite book of all time is the Tightwad Gazette. I have read that book so many times it's practically memorized. I give Amy Dacyczyn sole credit for me being able to say home and raise my babies on one modest income. Frugality gives you so much power on how you choose to spend your money and live your life.

5. I don't kill spiders. I get a cup and paper, trap them and set them free.

6. I have strange bathroom dreams. They always have the same theme where I need to use the bathroom, but it's too dirty, people are watching or you have to go in some bizarre location like a hole in the floor. These dreams are common on my dads side of the family, my aunts take immense pleasure to know that our family heritage is carrying on. I have never talked to another person out of the fam who has these (please oh please leave a comment if you do). My hubbie thinks we are all weird.

7. I think I'm hysterical. I crack myself up all the time. It doesn't matter if anyone else laughs or not, I'm just out to entertain myself.


Now I need to tag others which is difficult since most of the blogs I read have already done this. There are a few bloggers I would like to know more about them, so here goes.

thelittleredhen.typepad.com/

chicago sarah from

chicagocrafts.blogspot.com/

farmgirl_dk from

critterfarmgirl.blogspot.com/

farmer julie

farmerjulie.blogspot.com/

Just list 7 weird/random things about yourself on your blog then pass it on.

What's black & white & red all over?

Our pup, my new fabric and this wall.

I found this great fabric pack at JoAnns today. Thirteen fat quarters, one half yard, and 3+ yards of the swirly stuff. I have been wanting black and white geometric shapes type fabric for some time now. I also got to use a 50% coupon with it. Yay!

For the record, we don't beat our dog. Doesn't he look pathetic?

I guess making him stay, draping fabric on him then expecting him to pose sweetly for the camera isn't his thing. Maybe the glowing eyes is what happens right before he springs for the jugular.

I do have an awesome dog. (I do realize I'm bragging) We have had great dogs over the years but he by far is the smartest, quickest to learn and just what our family needs in a dog.

We got him from an actual sheep farm, both his parents are working dogs.

Trying get chickens who don't want to go into their coop when you want them to can be the most frustrating thing. Not when you have a dog like T-Bone ( his face looks like a t-bone steak ) He sweeps behind them, and herds them in. He doesn't get impatient and start flailing his arms like a crazy woman. He just keeps at it one by one till the jobs done.

He is also a great guard dog. He's not big, around 50lbs, our last dog was 140. But one day while my daughter and i were out at the bus stop, this dirt bag looking character was walking buy, and T went over to check him out right at the edge of our property. This idiot lunges at our dog, I guess to try to intimidate him, jerk, T-Bone lunges at him, teeth barring, every hair on his back straight up (my daughter says "T looks like a dinosaur!) and scares the bajeebus out of the guy. So I tell the guy "that's not a smart thing to do" and told our pup what a good boy he was.

He loves to dive into the pond and swim. He'll pleasure swim for at least a half hour before getting out. He gives us "T-Bone taxi rides" if you grab his tail while he swims past and you float along behind.

He's a very well mannered pup while inside.

He does roll in the occasional stinky stuff, nobody's perfect, but since he's white you can usually see it before you smell it.

I can't brag enough about our pup. If you need a great working farm dog, that's family friendly, I'd recommend a border collie every time.

gloomies

Another crappy gloomy day. I'm tired and I have to clean. Hubbie invited people I've never met over for cards tonight and I feel the need to have a clean and somewhat organized home. I wanted to sew today so it's making me extra grouchy.
So while I'm grouchy I thought I'd share things that have been bothering me.

First of all that Hiker in Georgia. Now why cant a woman go out on a hike with her dog and not be safe. They say that Man has no predators, well us women sure do. She was 24 and had a martial arts background. It's just so sad.


It also bothers me when celebrities ask for people to donate to a cause they believe in. Not that I don't feel their causes aren't worthy, it's just when someone has several homes scattered over the globe, drive cars worth more than the average home, eat at restaurants that I couldn't even afford the basket of bread, it makes me so mad. I know I am blessed with good health and have a nice life, but I want to help my kids with college and want to eventually own my home free and clear. I donate items we no longer need, help with $ when I can and I donate an art piece every year to the "Circle of Art" to raise money for the local food gatherers to feed people in need. I just don't want someone with more money than they will ever need asking for donations from the average Joe. Ask your rich friends!

Also when I go to thrift shops and see dozens of homemade baby blankets just hanging there I get so bummed on how much time and love went into that blanket and someone just got rid of it like it was nothing. I know I'm sentimental that way. Some people put more value into something some poor sweatshop worker from a third world country made because it has a pottery barn label than what their own grandma knitted with her own two hands, made specifically for their baby.

One more thing that bothers me is those Coke commercials they play over the holidays that have the penguins and polar bears partying and sharing cokes. Polar Bears are in the north, Penguins in the south, it's just wrong. Have the polar bears share a coke with a baby seal or some thing more realistic.

Ok. that last one cracked me up and I'm feeling somewhat better. Thanks for listening and have a great weekend.

Sun glorious Sun

In Michigan you don't take sunny days for granted. We have had a stretch of gloomies. Warm but gloomy. Today a bit colder, 40's ( for us it's actually warmer than normal) but there is SUN!

Todays project. In the background you can see our filled to the brim with rain and melted snow pond. Also the blue sunny sky.

I figured between now and my March show, I may not have an opportunity to paint my new tissue pack rack so I figured today was the day. I have no stock or receive any financial gain for my endorsement, but Krylon metal spray paint is the best I have ever used. It claims to dry in 12 minutes or less and its true. I have used other metal paint and even after sitting overnight it was still sticky. I went to 3 different hardware stores in 3 different towns just to get it. IT IS THAT GOOD! I am an impatient project girl (ADD perhaps?) and cant wait for hours between primer and painting.

And I'm not sure if I am boring you yet with my "new" den. I just can't stop spending time in here. The room even makes our old metal giant desk look good . I'm waiting for more furniture in here before I hang artwork. I need a large bookcase. I have books scattered all over the house and want one spot for them as well as a place for my kids art pieces. I looked at Ikea on line and none of the shelving units appealed to me. I don't want particle board and the real wood one was too pricey and not quite right. I talked to my dad today and I may be running to the lumberyard soon with a DIY project in mind. He is an incredible builder and it gives me an excuse just to hang with him. I love my dad.

Well it's almost time to get the kids from the bus and believe it or not I am in jeans and wearing a bra! I actually had to change from PJ's (don't want to ruin my best outfit) to my grungy old painting jeans so I'm all set.