Tolentreasures

As Saturdays go, this was supposed to be a non-stress one. Supposed to be would be the key there. Up at 5:30, I was sitting on the front porch, hot cup of coffee, paper and pen by my side, crocheting a couple of more little blocks for Warm-up America and making my to do list for the day...that was the high point, if only it could have stayed that way and then the list, a mere 16 somewhat simple items and until 1:00 to finish them...they are numbered by importance. Sweep and skim the hot tub and clean the head pads....NO problem, head pads are in the kitchen sink soaking and I proceed to the hot tub to sweep out all the dirt, partially put there by Tyler when he dumped a whole bag of hot tub toys from last summer into it dirt and all. There was just too much dirt...it needed emptied and refilled, a once or twice a year task but I could not remember how we did this one, the last one had to be siphoned and I am not sure where the hose is....a couple of more things off the list and hub...

My girls loved I Spy books when they were little, well to be honest...I loved them also. Luckily I still have them and we have a whole new generation loving I Spy . When the boys arrive they run for those books, they have their order that they want to look through them and they have their favorite pages. Logan doesn't quite have his colors down so I have to be careful what I tell him to look for, but Tyler can find the littlest stuff and make me search for it. I have years of experience with those books, but Papa is so easy to stump, they are all new to him. When I was making the patriotic ATC'c, I thought I would try making some bigger paper decorated pieces. Fun and easy! Donations!!!!! More yarn, tons of knitting needles and crochet hooks! My friend Becky's mom cleaned out her sewing stuff and sent these to me. I was so surprised to get the package! These are going in the donation closet for the mission trip in January. Good thing I found a place to donate t...

I started this post merely to show the "redo" on the chandelier that is hanging on my deck, but now have to share the Casnabberfort and Carpenter stories. When we were building our addition and I was living out a brief fantasy career of architect and landscape designer, one morning partway through deck construction, I came up with the idea to add this little "tip-out" thing on the deck. Let me tell you, the carpenter was not a happy camper that day, but given that we had no zoning, no permits, and no inspections in this little redneck world that we live in, we were free to change and build anything that we wanted. After much drawing and figuring and a little arm crossing and stamping of the feet, both by the carpenter and I, we came up with this little area that the carpenter promptly dubbed the Casnabberfort. Aptly named, it is too small to be a gazebo, and the name has stuck. You might ask how he came up with that name? Nothing surprises me about this man. ...

I must say that I was a bit nervous taking Molly to Hazen for the first time. She has never really seemed like the flea market type and I didn't want to force the whole cultural thing on her, but that being said, Hazen is only 5 times a year and this being the third one and I missed the second one, well let's just say I took my chances! Now I am not thinking that she "loved" it or that she would go back alone, but if the Fourth of July would happen to fall on a Saturday again in well, let's just say 2017 or something and if one of us is not in a wheeelchair or a coma by then, I just think that she might go back! This is her lovely little stack of goodies, she did well and really I think that she kept right up with my spending habits. The funniest point was when I found one of my favorite spots, you know the ones where the people just have all these boxes of junk everywhere, nothing is priced and you just dig. It is very dirty, but when you can find a treasur...

Last night we decided, John and I that we like this stay at home Fourth of July tradition that we have created. He worked yesterday for part of the day, I did not, today we traditionally ride our bikes to eat breakfast with friends. Given several factors, including the 50 degree temperature and the fact that the big flea market falls on this weekend this year, I will be driving my car to breakfast and then heading to the flea market. The guys will ride the bikes or golf or something guy like for the day and I will be taking my "non flea market" friend to dig for treasures. Who knows, maybe I will get her hooked on them. This "new" obsession of paper stuff is not a good thing. I have this mess all over my painting counter...and floor and I just can't leave them alone. This is such a left turn from my normal crafting. Normally if I make something it has to be utilitarian, marketable, a gift, or something to adorn my house. These are none of those and wh...

First of all, these are squares that I have been making for Warm-Up America. They have to be 7 by 9 square of whatever pattern that you want to make, knit or crochet. They are so quick and use up those little wee scraps of yarn that you have. Check out your local JoAnns or Michaels for a place to drop them off. They take them and make afghan blankets and donate them to homeless shelters, women's shelters and so on. A worthy project that uses what you have laying around and it is a great place to try new stitches and patterns. I have an entire free day today. A friend and I are making a trip to JoAnns this morning but other than that I have the entire day open. It is like looking at a blank canvas and trying to decide what you are going to paint on it. I have ideas but don't want to waste one minute of it! My canvas today is going to look like a collage, I think, a little bit of everything. I plan to catch up on all of your wonderful blogs that I have missed this we...