The Needle in a Haystack

Feb 14, 2012

We had an awesome Valentines Day... busy , but great.

Along with planting 100 onion sets, gracoery shopping, delivering a computer, laundry, general sweeping, and animal care....

  our Valentines present to each other...was this

.. an outdoor pizza oven.   Our goal was to not spend more then 20.00 on the whole project and after a scavenge hunt around the property  we came in right at the 20.00.

We had originally found the plans at Garden Fork TV. This guy has so many great ideas and this one was at the top of our list.

we used the top to an old stand that was behind the shed

 We built an insulated well house with our pump enclosed so the old well enclosure worked wonders as a stand.... it was a two man job..

...and now a picture of where I crawled to retrieve the bricks left over from the old pony barn that was on the property when we moved here.. I braved spiders, dirt, and  a gaggle of slugs...not to mention there was some sort of unidentified scat under there... racoon? skunk? velocoraptor?

 Anyhow.. we then began layering brick

We did not have an old bedframe and could not find one at the local dump or resale store so we ended up at Tractor Supply and bought some angle iron...

some of our bricks had holes in them so we had to turn them sides ways on top to hold in the heat..

and there you have it...! We are christening it tomorrow with a pizzapaloza... I can't wait!

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 1Corinthians 13:4

Have a fine day......all day long

 

 

Feb 6, 2012

...

The person who loves their dream of community will destroy community, but the person who loves those around them will create community."  Bonhoffer

 This  quote stuck with me today as we visited a friend in the hospital and then attended a funeral for the husband of another friend.  When Chris accepted the call to pastor the tiny congregation at the Market, we knew it couls never be about us.... the only agenda we were given ...1) preach the gospel... 2) love the people... and I must say we do both. They are our family, and we cry and laugh with them... good times and bad... beacause that is what family does.

  And speaking of family, one of my cousins  was just diagnosed with breast cancer... , being far away is tough because  we all feel like we want to do SOMETHING... but its comforting to know we can pray... and that is the best SOMETHING!

  Despite how tired I was I headed out to sewing group... and I was sure glad I did... such a lively, fun bunch of ladies... and I was able to finish up Cadence's Valentines dress... bad picture.......... but you get the idea!

I think she will be the hit of her preschool party!

For nothing will be impossible with God. Luke 1:37

 

... absolutely!... and have a fine day... all day long!

Jan. 17, 2012

I think I have the most adorable neices and nephews.... all of them..... and today one of those adorable ( or should I say handsome) ones is having a birthday..

  He is such a sweetie....

 

.. Chris and I spent the morning running errands .. one of which was paying the county taxes, which upsets Chris every year when we do it.... Our taxes took a hundred dollar a year jump... so despite trying for the rest of the outing that a steak wrap from our favorite resturant would be just the thing to help him calm down, he drove home mumbling something about beans and rice  and the economy... didn't help that our cable bill notice came and is going up 4% and the electric rates went  5%...AND we had gone by the grocery store and everything in the whole store is more expensive.... We got home and he spent some time burning things in the back yard and then came in and finished the sink in the spare bathroom.. nothing like the state of things to get him a bit geared up...

,,,,, I spent the afternoon doing a bit of sewing...

  I made a few hearts for our themed tree at the shoppe...I used this free pattern @ All ABOUT YOU

I also mastered the  my first embroidery piece on my sewing machine.... I am in love!  It was a simple heart, but really so easy to do and I plan on spending a big part of tomorrow experimenting with letters and words.  It really was fun!

I finished reading Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree    by Susan Albert Wittig.  I have been reading the China Bayless books for years and am so happy that now I have another one of Susan's series to keep me busy .

  I have managed to stay on task with both my bike and my Bible reading.   They say 21 days to make a habit !

  Tomorrow I will be having the give away for Crystal's Book " Money Saving Mom" be on the look out!

I am off to stitch awhile..

Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.

 Proverbs 10:4 (NIV)

Have a fine day.......all day long!

 

Jan 6&7, 2012

So it really did seem like a good idea to give our old lab, Raven, a beanie baby to keep her company while we were at work now that she is an only dog....

           bad idea

..what you can not see in this picture are the 200billion gazillion small plastic pellets that now cover every inch of our living room rug.... they are like Christmas tree tinsel.....or Easter grass....we'll pretty much be cleaning them up for the next 10 years

  We worked the last two days at the shop.  despite that I was able to do a bit of stitching...a couple smalls. The first is almost done despite the short amount of time I had to work on it.

... this is from Sprite stitch

AND today was simply two little snowmen to go on the tree at the shoppe... We decided to do a season tree all year...

.. And keeping up with Pammy Sue's CAL

I was able to finally get to the next color in my ripple.  I have plans for this ripple I do believe a upcoming birthday in the next couple of months... 

Horrible picture... but its late and I am cleaning up plastic pellets..

So, I was able to finish up Mourning Gloria

This is a China Bayless book and I loved it as much as the others I have read...

In my read through the Bible in a year I am up to Genesis 20 and Matthew 6:18

  .One of the great things about our shoppe is the wonderful deputies that do off duty on Sat. afternoons.  They are all friends of our LEO son and we appreciate getting to know each of them better. Craig and I were having a discussion about this verse today... and I thought I would share ( he preaches at his church from time to timeand I know he is a blessing to them, he was to me!)

He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,

– 2 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV)

Very fitting for police officers I think.. and for all of us!

Hope and pray you all ahve a fine day.................all day Long!

December...Already?

 So Chris and I were eating dinner last night and we both sort of had this ah-ha moment like.." It's Thursday, where did this week go?" ..and then we took a couple more bites and we looked at each other and it was  ... Goodness Gracious!  It's Dec.   So we haveno idea how this week flew by so quickly... I know we planted all of our trees finally, apple and fig, did some pre Christmas cleaning, worked a bit of the spare bathroom  and I kicked elf mode into over drive.  Fortunately I started early , made less things this year, and spent some great time bartering and trading with fellow vendors at the market.   Today we decorated the shop and put up a 4 ft tree there.  I took a handful or ornaments over but the tree is completely full .  It was sort of like Stone Soup.  Several vendors gave us handmade ornaments for the tree and it really does look so lovely and full.

 If you have littles... or even semi littles I highly recommend this book. YOu can get the book for free from the internet but I love the illustrations in a couple of versions  from Amazon or Walmart ( I am not an affiliate).  One of the fun things I did with my children was to make stone soup. They would search for the perfect tock which we would wash and scrub and that was the base of our soup. Each child added a differnt ingredient and we usually made bread to go with it.  a great way to keep little ones busy on a winter day .

  Chris finally got his birthday/ Christmas present this week.  a firearm he has wanted for YEARS.  This way he will be able to go to the range and not have to borrow one of Josh's . I personally am not the greatest at firearms of any kind.  I learned to shoot because we live in the middle of no where and it is something I might need to know.  But the range time and target shooting is definitely the guy thing. I am more then happy to stay home and pull out my hooks/ yarn/ DMC  and material.

BUT!!!

Since one of our goals for 2012 is to learn new skills... My Christmas present will be here hopefully Monday.

I have been wanting this little number for a few years too. Not only does it sew but it does embroidery too. Cyber Monday 1/2 off was all it took for me to empty out my sewing machine envelope ( yes, we use the envelope system) and add a bit to it to get the machine.  I am so excited! I even signed up to take a class in Jan. at the local community college so I can learn abit more about it. I am VERY anxious to get started on it!

   Today at the market two folks came up to me and shared somethings that touched me ... both enabled me to be honored to pray for them. Another shared a testimony of God's protection always  for his people... I was humbled by each conversation.

...nuf said................have a fine day....all day long!

Keeping it real

I have a confession... I can be a bit impulsive... which is sort of strange since I tend to be a great list person and love it when things flow according to that list.... but sometimes... sometimes my mind goes into elaborate scenario mode and.. well.. I usually regret it afterwards....

   such is the case of this

  Its the bottom part of my hoosier cabinet.... and yes there is another part.... but I am not even going there yet...

  we were at the market a few months back when one of the antique booths was going out of business... they announced a hoosier cabinet for 125.00... Well, this is the reason I don't do auctions much... I ran over to the booth and a couple ladies were talking about going to the cash booth and someone said they would be back the next day... and I sort of got excited and slapped the 125.00 in her hand and licked it all over to claim it as mine ( OK, I didn't really lick it) .. I walked away content I had a hoosier cabinet... finally...

  Well, it looked great decorated with antique knicknacks.... but when we loaded up and got it home... umm... I definitely got the short end of the deal..

  the table didn't slide... veener ( shudder) was peeling , the flour bin didn't work , the roll cabinet was gone, the back was warped.....

   So, I am attempting to make the best of a bad situation... my heart really isn't in it though... the bottom part will be finished over the next couple of weeks and I will use it as a baking table.... the top part that is now living in my spare room holding bits of yarn is still on a probation period.... it may or may not be tossed on the burn pile.....

  Usually Chris and I make these decisions together.... he is very good about saying lets think about it.. but this time  since he knew I REALLY wanted a Hoosier he told me to use my judgement...

~sigh~

 

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:48

   and have a fine day...all day long!

A Washington State Post

 Is it hot where you are?  whew, its a bit toasty here in the Carolinas.  I made 3 different types of salads early this morning and called it a day in the kitchen.. I doubt anyone will want much anyway as hot as it is...

  Anyhow, My week was totally made when I reacieved the sweetest package from a dear young friend in Washington State.  She is very creative and talented and knows I love all things artsy. I totally encourage her to expand on her talents. she is an excellent photographer and sent me a beautiful photo she had taken ..

 pardon my camera glare on the photo I am NOT a picture taker... but I do love this photo and she wona couple of awards with it

   She attended a workshop on cloth dolls recently on a camping trip and was so happy she thought of me to send one of her creations along... I am in love with it and when she is not posing for pictures in my den she sits on my bed.

While not the same pattern I did google and found this  NO SEW RAGDOLL pattern that looks like lots of fun and a great scrap user... I love simple toys... especially those made with love...

 Thanks bunches Miss Kristy for my presents... and  Congrats on your Graduation!! We are proud of you!

  AND

 Because its a total Washington post.. I finished up a book from Washington for My Book Across the States project... yes, I know I have been working on this since 2007... but I don't believe I set any limits on myself.. and it is just a totally fun thing to do as much as I love to read...

so... my book for Washington was.............

16 Lighhouse Road by Debbie Macomber.  I liked it.  The book gave a bit of flavor of Washington State... no deep plots, lots of interesting characters.  A very good lite read.  I will probably look for more of this authors books, as a matter of fact there is one I am already on the prowl for if we can work in a library trip this week. Things are a tad busy through next week..

So back to my Washington friend... as I was reading over her note again it reminded me of this Bible verse

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. 

... Friends are very good things... no matter how old or young.... tell your friends you care for them.... and have a fine day... all day long!

 

 

Potporri of Nifty Stuff

My thoughts are just all over the place today.....

  Joplin Mo ( we have traveled through there a few times). the flooding of the south, the fact that Japan still has folks whose only spot is a blanket on the floor of a school.... I offer prayers ..and money seems like such an easy way out...In my blogg travels this morning I ran across a couple "them that's doing"

The Duggars.  I appreciate folks who put their time, talents and posessions to work....

Money Saving Mom has a link where all of us couponers can send a bit of the stockpile we have to help out tornado victims... Chris and I are boxing up things tonight.  Drink mix to add to water, toothpaste, razors, shampoo... thanks to coupons we have extra to share....

    Another sad note ( well sad from a human point of view) a dear pastor of ours went to be witht he Lord.... He was with us through many things and his calming love of people will be carried with us until its our time to leave this earth...

   AND, a much happier note as I keep checking emails waiting to make the aquaintance of my new neice.. and while looking at little girl things on the net Uncle Chris and I decided that all little girls need one of these... goodness... I want one of these!

..and it use to be one of these:

AND you can find the instruction at this new to me blog

Fresh Cut Flours

I'm still swooning...

 Tonight is Tuesday... which means girls night... Taking a class at the gym tonight with my friend Kristy.  Chris is wiring a ceiling fan in the den so I am very glad I will not be there... They always look wonderful but the process makes me a bit nervous.

  So we'll have grilled chicken salads... too hot and humid to do much else.  We add another hen, Miss Gertie. to the flock so we are getting more eggs since Miss Hen went broodie..

  There are so many salad dressing coupons out there lately... you can get them as low as .42 after coupons at Walmart and not only do we use as dressing but marinade also...

Chicken Kabobs

cut up chciken breast

pineapple cut in chucks

Green peppers in chucnks

Marinate chicken in Italian dressing, a bit of soy sauce, a dash of cayenne, and a tablespoon of brown sugar....

Place on skewers with pienapple and green pepper and grill until done.. serve over lettuce.. or rice... or eat them straight of the bob!

  Off to finish up some paper work from  a shop I did this morning... and then the gym...

A psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1

..and have a fine day...all day long!

A Great Day In Durham....

 It was such a great day today that we packed a lunch and headed out to see the crochet garffiti bull in Durham when I read about it on Leslie's blog

The exhibit was to run through March 30th... but I am guessing because of the rain I missed it..

..I did find evidence that there HAD been crochet there..

  Even with out the crochet.. we had a great time....

  I am not sure I have laughed that hard in awhile.....

So, after the bull we headed up the street to the Scrap Exchange  This place is an artist dream come true.. tons of just stuff.. waiting to be turned into more stuff..

A few of my favorites from the "Green" room

 a lamp from scrap wood and blue prints..

 and this one from cd cases and old cds

spool chair

 recycled plastic mat....

.. A quick trip to Whole Foods for some tahini and our favorite sesame snacks and we headed north again to have dinner with dear friends....

   Just a wonderful day....

" In the begining God created".. Genesis 1:1..

Have a fine day....all day long!

Little Magnetic Boards

I have been meaning to blog about these for a bit .... I saw these ADORABLE little magnet boards

@ Greenbean's Crafterole along with ten million and 6 other craft projects to put on my to do list... and I drug the dearest husband all over the the place looking for the little flashing thingies that were not aluminum...and I ended up ordering them from amazon cause... at this point I HAD to have them.... and then my Mom in Love has this new craftish sort of sitting room I had never tried out so I sort of drug her to Joann's for some scrappy ribbony time....

and long story short... we both love these magnet boards.... MIL opted to put two of the flashings together on cardboard to cover and I have alread sent one of my favorite Ohio State fans one for his birthday with another dear nephew boxed up and ready to go...

  I don't have a single picture of mine but MIL allowed me to swipe pictures of the ones she made for my ohter neice and nephew...these are addictive.... be warned that everyone I know and their distant relatives will probably get one from me.....

..There is a great Youtube video  HERE that uses a cookie sheet... same concept...

With out further ado...:

 

 

This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live   Deuteronomy 30:19

Have a fine day...........all day long!