A little Decor

I'm not a big Halloween decorator.  I startle easy, so maybe that is way I don't like scary things.  I know I'm a big baby but I don't like to get spooked.  So you will never see me going through a haunted house.  Okay, I did go through the haunted house at Disneyland with a lot of encouragement.  So with that said my decor is pretty simple.

I put a few things outside and on timers so I don't have to go out at dark and turn them off.  I love my tree this time of the year

My front porch just gets cluttered up with a few pumpkins and a friendly scarecrow.  Nothing spooky at my house.

A couple of bears sit on a chess in the corner and they are also very friendly!  There pumpkin bellies are as close to a jack o lantern as I get.

I tend to do more fall decor.  I use my soup tureen on a pedestal until I need it for a serving piece.

I made a small purchase this year to add some down home warmth.  I purchased one of those little electric fireplaces.  It is currently in the house but it can be easily transported to my RV trailer.  It will add a little charm for camping.

It is a little small on the wall so I am thinking I need to make a little fake hearth for it. As if I don't have enough projects.

 My camera doesn't show the fake flame but it provides me with that warm cozy feeling when it is on. I do not need the extra heat but it reminds me of being a kid siting in front of the fireplace at home. Oops!, another jack o lantern but it is a gourd.

I decided it needed a little mantel and I just so happen to be going to a junk sale. So of course I came home with this shelf for my mantel.

I like the old chippy gold and red paint.  Plus let's hope the horseshoes bring me luck!

So I guess I am ready for trick or treaters even though I don't get many.   I only purchase a very small amount of candy and I hope I give it all away.  Or you know who will eat it!

Enjoy June

SEVEN THE MAGIC NUMBER

I think it is!!  Well that is if you have seven grand kids!  This past weekend I had all seven grand kids stay overnight!  Now you must remember I have a small house.  My little house is just the right size for me.  But let's add seven little bodies ages 11 down to 5.  But first I have to go back a few years, okay more then a few when I kids were young. 

I tried to teach my kids as they were growing up manners, respect, organization,  soft inside voices, no running in the house and the list goes on.  So what happens when you turn a Grammie??  Things you would never let your kids do is all fun and games with grand kids.  Now I do insist on safety but with that who care if the house is tidy while they are here.  As long as they are having fun goes at Grammie's.  Kind of like the what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas is more like what happens at Grammies stays at Grammies!

Just to prove my point! Yes, my picture ability is bad but you will get the idea!

They are playing either the X Factor or The Voice.   We had judges and we had performers. 

Do you think they could get anymore pillows piled up?  I guess they figured it was a better view!

Of course Grammie's heels are a must for performing!!

It was a great weekend with lots of laughter, and lots of cooking for they do like to eat!!  I might have sent them home with a few homemade cookies in their tummies.

Wait who is that?

Yes, Henrietta and Petronella had to check out what all the commotion was in the house.  They were not sure if it was safe anywhere.  The weather cleared and the grand kids were running around outside during the day.   Yep, burn some of that energy off!

All and all what a great weekend for this GRAMMIE!!!!!!

Enjoy June

SAYING NO IS HARD!

How does one person learn the art of saying no.  I think it must be an art form or some other twist that I can't seem to learn.  Inside me I say no all the time, but it's like when someone asked for help, the first thing that pops out of my mouth is sure!!!  That is what happen about a month ago.  A sister of a dear friend of mine has a daughter getting married.  Her other daughter is one of the bridesmaids.  Needless to say the bridesmaid dress needed altering and hemming.  And do you know what bridal shops charge for that? Yikes!!!  So it was me to the rescue or altering, ugh!  I gave up making wedding dress and bridesmaid dress many years ago for it stressed me out.   Now mind you this bridesmaid is tiny!!  And I had to  hem this dress with out her having purchased shoe.  A big no, no in my book.

Many layers to this dress and did I stress???  YES!!

It's done but I was sweating it.  I cut off seven inches on this skirt.  Yes 7 inches!!  Then I start to panic. What if I missed marked and it is way to short.  I can't add it back on!  I am here to report it was perfect length and fit.  Please, please remind me to say NO. So it was delivered at the bridal shower yesterday.

So with panicking and sweating some how I had forgot to go shopping for a gift.  I had a couple of plastic storage containers the bride had wanted but they looked so empty.  So with a little help from pre-made kitchen towels a little fabric and my knitting stash.  A gift was made.

I dug out a couple of knitted dish rags from my stash.  Now I best get busy to replenish before Xmas.

Made a couple of pot holders from sunflower fabric.  The bride's colors are royal blue with sunflowers.

Added a trim of fabric to pre made kitchen towels.

 And these gifts were ready to add to the storage containers.  At least they didn't looks so empty.

Now it is time to focus on Christmas sewing.  Yes, a friend reminded me I only have 10 weeks to get all my planned sewing finished.  Did I forget to mention I am currently sewing a mermaid costume.

Here's to a great week ahead, go out and have some fun!

Enjoy June

HOME SWEET HOME

After spending several weekends on the road it is so good that I am home for a spell.  Don't get me wrong I loved every camping trip, watching grand kids, potlucks, farm and nursery visits.  But there is something to be said about Home Sweet Home.

I made a quick trip out to check on my chickens and garden after arriving home last evening.  I really didn't plan very well.  I usually take a bucket or basket out with me.  I guess I was too lazy and this is what happens.

I had to use my t shirt as the basket.  Oh yes, I was already in sweats for I wanted to be comfy since it was a 3 hr trip home from my son's place.

This is what was all tucked into my shirt that I was using as a basket.   The tomato plants are still producing but frost is coming soon.

I still have tomatoes on the vine but I am covering them every night.  I'm thinking since the temp was 38 degrees this morning that it is getting close to my last picking.

We have had such a wonderful Fall this year that I still am picking green beans.  I plant them so they can grow up my windmill and this year they have outdone themselves.

It is time to harvest the pumpkins and put them out front for decor.  Do you notice the chicken wire?  Well my girls would eat everything in my garden if I didn't protect it.  So all my raised garden boxes and garden area have to be fenced off.  My chickens are cute but not when they eat my produce!

My corn is ready to pick.  This picture was taken 2 weeks ago so the tassels have all turn brown now.  I got it in late this year and didn't know if I would get any ears or not.  I've already eaten two and they are YUMMY!

It won't be too many mornings now and I won't be able to have fresh raspberries on my cereal.  I know the frost is just around the corner.  But as long as they last I will be enjoying!

So for this week, this is what you will find me doing.   Canning more tomatoes, freezing green beans, canning pumpkin  and apple pie filling.

Ahhh, Home Sweet Home!!

Enjoy June

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

This may have been my last camping trip for 2012.  I headed out for Eastern Oregon to join up with my Sister and BIL at Hunt Camp.  I'm not a hunter but I so love the outdoors.  I'd probably shoot my foot off if I had a loaded gun.   It was a 6 1/2 hour trip following the Columbia River Gorge for about 4 hrs of it.  Then is was headed south into the middle of the State.   I spent the majority of my time relaxing or hiking.   This part of the state is called high desert.  Yes, we were  over 7,000 ft in elevation. So I'm sharing a few pics of my trip.

Do you see that fire lookout station up there on that knoll?  Maybe a closer view will help!

That was my destination for my hike.  Needless to say with the higher elevation and thinner  air, I had to pace myself.  It was about a 5 mile hike.  The weather was gorgeous so it made for a great hike.

This was one of the views from up on top.  I didn't really take many pictures for I was so in awe of the sights.

My sister, niece, nephew and I also hiked up another rig that had a lot of meaning to our family.  My brother who passed away from AL'S ashes were spread there.  This trip we took our Mother's ashes to be spread also.

 Our brother spent many of years looking out from this ridge for that elusive deer.

This rock formation is up on top.  It makes you wonder if nature did this or was it man, who must of spent days forming this.  It is a  lot larger than this picture shows.

This is the valley looking down from the ride.  Those trees look really small in this picture but let me clue you that are large.  It's funny how I can't capture the true vastness of this land.

My sister and I up on top.  It was a fun weekend, relaxing, no makeup, sharing time together. Just for the record I am standing on the high side.  Can you tell we have a height difference.

We couldn't have a campfire at all because of the high fire danger.  This area has had two forest fires in the last ten years.  But who needs them when you have sunsets like this every evening.

Every evening I would sit outside as the sun would go down and just marvel at how beautiful the sky was.

I think it is time I stay home on weekends and get something done in my yard.  It is Fall you know!!

Enjoy June