Thursday, March 31, 2011

Little Sprouts!

2 weeks ago, hubby, Missy Pete and I planted our tomato seeds, and 2 kinds of cucumber seeds. This week we had sprouts popping up all over. Thought I would snap a pic now that most of them are up. We are going to have tomatoes coming out our ears. One whole flat is tomatoes. The other one is part tomatoes and the 2 kinds of cucumbers. I can't wait to make homemade spagetti sauce. We made some last year but only got 4 quarts. It was soooo good! We'll be making salsa and canning stew tomatoes too.

Tomorrow is the first day of my open house! Yay!! I was up at the shop and stuck my open sign out while I was there. I had 3 couples come in and sold a few things. Not a bad day for just being open on a whim. They have called off the sleet/snow for tomorrow so hopefully we'll get a good turnout. I'll be able to stick all the yard stakes out, if the ground cooperates. Saturday is supposed to be somewhat warm and Sunday rain. Guess we'll take what we can get.

Have a good one!!

Didn't turn out quite as nicely as I hoped, but can't wait for fresh veggies!

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Love Me Love My Dust....And My Cat Hair

A good friend of mine said that to me once. And I've taken it as my own philosophy. I am far from a wonderful housekeeper. You women who have immaculant homes, I'm afraid you would be apauled by my home. I guess you could say I'm too busy having fun doing much more fun and exciting things in life.

I've been wanting to move my desk for some time now. It use to be in our little bedroom/office. Well when little one came along, it was forced downstairs into our dining area. I never really liked it there. Considering it's usually messy and piled high with my paperwork and invoices. Well today, I finally moved it. I decided to move it into an unused corner of our porch. Not sure I really like it here either, but it's out of direct eyeshot. Until I have my own office, I suppose it will continue to be moved.

I moved my cupboard that has been moved ohhh so many times into my dining area. I may actually be able to decorate it now :) It's last place of residence was on the porch, holding Missy Pete's books. Well I rounded up some of my bigger Longaberger baskets and filled them with her toys and books. She has her own end of the porch and she usually does quite well keeping her toys in her area. She has OCD, unlike her mother, hehe!!

Since all this moving has stirred up the dust, and my allergies; I got out the vaccum and have been doing some deep cleaning. Anyone that knows me, is probably wondering if I'm feeling okay?? I guess this is my spring cleaning. Maybe I should hire a cleaning woman before I list my house!! I'm sure hubby would roll his eyes at that comment, I'm sure he'd have a comment of his own, hehe!!

I'm in the process of getting rid of things I know longer love. I just haven't found things to replace them yet. Well not the things that I want. I was very disappointed with the auction today, we made an appearance and left :( Until we move, I'm not going to get too carried away. I don't want everyone looking at my things, and not my house. I really want it to sell, even though in this economy I can only hope and pray!!

I better start sorting my mounds of paperwork and get it filed before bed time.

Friday, March 25, 2011

And Then It Dawned On Me

Yesterday my friend Troy came up to the shop to do some shopping. As ususal, he has a pile waiting for when he brings his wife up, haha. Debi is gonna kill me! We were flipping through Judy Condon's Simply Gardens book. We were both drooling over the same things.

My hubby has offered to drag our grinding wheel that is still on the stand out into the yard. As I was sitting in front of the tv while baby boo was having a bath last nite, I realized, we have a grinding wheel at my mom's. It was my grandfather's. Well I should say my gpa had it, I'm sure he bought it at an auction. Guess I am like him in that way. If only back in the day, I would have known all this stuff would be so cool now. I could have had him stocking up for me, hehe!! So I called my dad and he said it was still there. Yay!! Now I'll have a piece of my gpa in my garden (little sniff) I miss him very much!! The 12th would have been his 96th bday!!

Anyways, I'm excited to get it up here. Maybe I'll have dad stick it in mom's car. I'm sure she'll love that!!

Have a great Friday!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Rain Rain Go Away

I woke up this morning to the sound of pouring rain. I think there was some hail in there too. I've never heard it rain so hard!! They're talking rain all day :(

Thought I would share some of my work at the shop with you!


 I love red geraniums!

 Did you see this picnic basket in Country Sampler last year?
 IBC Root Beer

This basket is HUGE!! Looks great with the twig lights, just need to adjust the cord, haha


Well another day of doing the "wander" Wandering around the store looking for an empty spot to stick the things I have left to put out. Hope the sun is shining on you today, cuz it sure isn't here!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Sure Didn't Feel Like Spring Break!

This week the guy that works for my hubby, took his fam to FL. I thought maybe we would get to go somewhere or do something, but I guess I was wrong! I am going stir crazzzzzzzzy!!!

Most of the week it was beautiful out! The snow is almost completely gone! Yesterday hubby helped me use the leaf blower to get rid of all the leaves that had bedded down in my flower beds for the winter. I couldn't believe how many were still frozen to the ground. They are a good insulator! I even saw my lillies making an appearance. My Columbine is also starting to green. Makes me want to jump up and down and run to the nurseries. But Mother Nature has another thought. It poured rain all last night, which is fine because it didn't get below freezing and it washed away all the yucky brown. Unfortunately, this week it isn't going to get above 40 and they're talking sleet/snow mix. Really?!?!

All week hubby's cell has been ringing too. Everyone wants a garage. I'm not talking your normal garage, I'm talking 80k-90k kinda garage. That's a house!! I'm more then happy that hubby has steady work, but I want our project house done so I can get our home on the market. Things are selling around here, but they're cheaper then our price range :( I'd also like my shop finished, atleast by fall. I want to do some landscaping at the shop too. I can do most of it, just need hubby on the tractor and skidloader for a few things. Ohh and him and Ty to pour concrete for my covered porch. Ohhh the projects, but no time!

This whole week, my head has been swirling. I almost cringe everytime hubby's phone rings. Where is the happy medium? Is there one? haha

Off to ponder and dream some more. I hope Spring is greeting you with a warm hug. I sure wish it was going to last here!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Hop Into Spring Open House

Well I got my post cards sent out today! That was my main goal today. My spring open house is just over 2 wks away and I'm starting to feel a bit of a crunch. I still have boxes and unpriced things laying all over the floors at the shop. And my floor still needs cleaned!!! All the salt from the winter has left a nasty white haze on my dark wood floors. I figured why clean it, until the very end?!

I have a few things to finish up on my bunnies and they can move up to the shop, to find a new home. I hit the jackpot this weekend, while back home. My 4th grade teacher and a good friend of my mom's, is moving to TX. Their home is much smaller, so she thought of me. I got a harvest table and 4 chairs for 20. I'm going to paint the chairs black and then put them out at the shop. I also go a very old wood desk, that I was just telling Mark I wanted one like it for my sewing table, she only wanted 10 for that. She also gave me a cast iron bundt pan and a rabbit cake pan that her grandfather had made, very cool!! I got several crocks, a huge brown bowl, a masher, a darning thing (not sure of the name), lots of old wooden boxes, and an old barnwood stool. I'll post pics once I get the car unloaded. Haven't had the energy to do that yet. I thought getting my tonsils out would eliminate getting sick. Ohhh was I wrong!! I have a very dry, raspy throat, runny nose and plugged ears. Oh and Sunday nite I was visited by the flu fairy, I HATE throwing up!!!

If you are in the area The Rusty Nickel's Hop Into Spring Open House is April 1-3 and 8-10 Friday and Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 12-5.

Have a great day!! It's supposed to be in the 50's all week, I'm excited!

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

They're Breeding Like Rabbits

I had to! Sorry, but it was the perfect fit for a title. I have several bunny projects going, now if I could get them finished up. I woke up to 4 inches of snow this morning and it's not supposed to quit until tonight :(   Enough already!!!

We are heading to my hometown tomorrow afternoon so there won't be any sewing or crafting going on for several days. Hopefully I can find some treasures while we are out and about. I was browsing blog land, where do you people find such great pieces?! I must not be looking in the right places. Maybe that's okay, because right now, my house is not big enough. As I've said many times before, we have long outgrown this house. Between all my "junk" and my daughter's toys....there's no room left for us, haha!

Well I think today I will stay home from the shop and just get some sewing and painting done. My yellow kitten has just curled up next to me, purring away. She smells like bacon, lmao, hubby made bacon for breakfast. Since today is the last day Missy Pete will be going to the babysitter for a while, I best get all things that get done faster without her around, done! Also very excited about having chicken fettucini for supper, yums!

Have a wonderful day, even if you are getting pounded with torrential rains or this white crap!



My little one was being a goof last night and these are a few of my current projects

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

My Decorating Juices Are Flowing

Yesterday and today I have been on a roll at the shop! I do admit, I'll find myself standing, looking around with my hands on my hips pondering. Do you ever get decorators block?! I'll be on a roll, then wham, I'm done! Yesterday I got soooo much done, to the point where I almost didn't want to go this morning, because I was feeling burnt out. And sadly, I ached all over. After being a bum for 2 wks after my tonsilectomy, I guess I threw myself right back into the game!

Thought I would share some pics of my progress. If you see anything, let me know. I can probably ship it to you. I am lucky enough to have a good friend send 2 suburban loads of things to help fill the shop. I'll admit, I am not a huge pastel, spring colors person, so she helped me out...A LOT!! Lots of the things are very country, but you have to remember, here are the tundra, I'm slowly breaking them into primitives.


I still have bunnies on my sewing table needing some added touches, then I'll get them mixed in. Still have many boxes to unpack and 2 orders left to come in. The 1st will be here before I know it!

Friday, March 4, 2011

New Greens When All I See Is Dirty White

It's warm out today! But it's windy, so it kind of counteracts the whole process :( I'm trying to get some bunnies finished up and I'm not doing so bad. My mom is on her way up for the weekend, hoping we can get some crafting done while she's here. Also hoping to get the shop cleaned up and getting some more setting up for the spring open house. The brown guy came bearing gifts today too. He brought my shipment of new lamps and lanterns, cloches and candle holders. Also he brought all my spring greens and a few florals. Also stocked up on some, on sale items for winter/christmas.
Another good note is we got our other rental rented, yay!! Things are looking up at our house




Thursday, March 3, 2011

Chocolate Bunnies

Glad to announce that my chocolate bunnies are almost done. I have 2 left that didn't get in the mix last night. I'll have made a dozen, which seems like enough to me. I also started painting and baking my carrots over lunch. I've also started on Ralph the bunny by OHB.

I know we all have them, but somedays I can honestly feel like I've accomplished something, and today is one of those days! I have fabric and pieces spread out all over the bed. I've had to move my sewing machine up into my room. With a king size bed, it doesn't leave room for much else. My hubby has to squeeze past my 6 ft table that is taking up his side of the bed. Only one of my closest doors open because the table is up against it. I NEED A NEW HOUSE!!!!!!! I'm trying to be patient. But we've been talking about baby #2 and I told him I'm not waiting much longer to start trying but I also want a new house!! He just looks at me.

I know, I know, it's not as if we don't have another million other things going. Last night we started talking about getting the apartment above my shop done. We had such a response on renting out our 5 bedroom that he's considering by more houses for rentals...awwwww. It won't stop! I should be thankful we can do these things, but I hate the headaches that being landlords bring. We've only in our 1st month, but we've had so many prior issues with stupid people renting or trying to rent that I don't want anymore.

Off to work on Ralph!

Have a great day!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Happy With My Progress

A few days ago I blogged about being upset with all the undone projects I have. I've determined I have so many undone things, because many of them are things I don't like and don't feel proud of. Things are still very country around here and I'm just starting to break in prims. I'm hoping others will follow. Otherwise, I guess I will have a shop full of prims.

I started making some chocolate bunnies and carrots by Becky at Tennessee Ridge Primitives. They're so cute and not taking too much since I'm still medicated, haha. I'm thinking I'll whip up 12 chocolate bunnies and 24 carrots. They'll mix in nicely in the bowls and old buckets I have at the shop. My spring open house starts a month from today, uh oh, panic. No, I'm going to just take it as it comes. I've learned that there's no reason to freak. It's going to go how it goes and ususally no matter how you prepare, it doesn't go the way you plan. Maybe I should teach a class about that to all shop owners.

Off to work on some more carrots!