Did a little Christmas decorating today

That's right-just a little.  And I won't be doing much more.  I basically just transferred the antique Christmas bulbs that my aunt gave me from bowls I had sitting around-onto what was already sitting on my little cabinet and added a little string of star lights.   Oh yeah-and I put out the red and green doily that Melissa sent me.

Also-I took down the airbed we had sitting on our floor.  Hubby wasn't using it anyhow.  He just sleeps on the recliner or couch-so it's gone till after Christmas.  I also cleaned some of  those forgotten corners.  You know-the ones with dead bugs and dust bunnies.  I also put out the wreath that my friend, Dawnie, gave us last year and the poinsettia doily that my mom made.  (I forgot to put it in the attic last year-so that was easy!)

So, I'm all for not stressing myself out.  My child isn't living here anymore, so decorating will be minimal this year.  I'll  probably be getting Hoper's stocking from the attic and maybe a few of our favorite ornaments for the pencil tree (yes-the fake pencil tree will be our Christmas tree again this year), and I'll be wrapping some gifts and placing them under the tree too-so that will help make it look festive.  

So yeah-it's beginning to look a little like Christmas 'round here.

I hope it's beginning to look a little (or a lot) like Christmas 'round your place too!

Over the weekend

I ripped and I tore...

(Faith, hope and love sign is an early birthday gift from my girl!)

I wrapped and I rolled! And I made a bunch o' ragballs.  :)

I made pumpkin pie filling.  No crust-too lazy!

I thrifted.  This is a little first aid kit box-it says so inside.

These are like-new beautifully printed sheets!  Thank you kindly, Goodwill.

 

While I was on the floor taking photos, I turned around and took a pic of our little attic space.  I don't really know why, I just did.

Have a good Monday!



My first crocheted rag rug

I'm tickled-I made my first crocheted rag rug!

Some things I love about my rag rug:

::It cost me next to nothing because I used some of my thrifted sheets.  (The very center is part of a thrifted shower curtain.  The rest-sheets.

::It was quite easy.  My arm, hand, and thumb are a little sore-but just a little.

::It was quick. I just started my rug last evening at 6:30.

::It's pretty, in my opinion.  Love those colors!

::It was fun to make.  I loved picking which sheets to use.

Mandy made a rag rug and Eren made a little rag rug tutorial.  Their rugs were just so pretty I had to try one for myself!

It's in my bedroom right now-hiding old, faded carpet. 

 I have a feeling I'll be making more in the near future.

Have a great Saturday afternoon everybody!

Happy Thanksgiving

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Even if you don't celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope you have a wonderful and thankful day!

Little prezzies and a big doggie

I'm giving out some little prezzies to the 'girls' tomorrow at Thanksgiving dinner.

I'm giving out dishcloths (pick an orange dishcloth and you are guaranteed to never lose it) and...

 

and little notepads I ordered from Artscow of my little Rocco!



Speaking of my little Rocco-he's not so little anymore. (Of course I've told you that before!)  I'd say he's pushing 120.

And poor Teddy has seen better days.



I *heart* 'my little Rocco'!

Little paper garland



I ordered the PDF for this little mini calendar with vintage sheet prints from Sparkle Power's Etsy shop last fall.  I printed a few for gifts and I kept one for myself.



I know it's not the end of the year yet-BUT I cut up the calendar.   I cut off the vintage sheet print part, folded a little tab, and glued the pieces of cardstock to embroidery floss to create a little paper garland.  I don't have a calendar anymore, but now I have a cute little garland!

I love me some repurposing!

Book making for Christmas-done!

I'm done with my book making for Christmas. 

I can't wait to wrap these.  I LOVE to wrap flat packages.  I love to tie my packages up with thrifted ribbon, string, and ric ric!

Oh, this is gonna be fun!

*Ducking*
You realize Christmas is right around the corner, don't you???

Happy birthday, Kimmie!

Happy birthday to my youngest sister, Kimmie!  (In the middle, obviously.)

Here are some memories about Kimmie from last year's birthday post:

:: When I was a teenager and Kimmie was just a little girl-she would, ahem, cut the cheese in front of my boyfriend (not Larry). Talk about wanting to die! ME not her.

:: Then at her birthday party one year (she was still little, mind you) Larry (my hubby now) got her a little toy tractor and a card with money in it. When she opened the card, she looked at the money and said sarcastically, "Oh wow, free (three) dollars." Oh Kimmie!

::At our nephew's birthday party (only about a year and a half ago, mind you) she says to me, "Do you have a bra on?" Ah yeah, Kimmie, I do wear bras in public. And you can bet I ordered new bras the next day. And now every time I see her, I say, "Hey Kim, I have a bra on." And she says, "I'm sorry." Bahahahahahahahaha!!!

***Some more memories***
 
::When Kimmie was a baby and would be bawling in her little baby seat-my middle sister (Jodie) or  I would take her pacifier (which was a bottle nipple with the back covered in tape) and run it under water and then stick it in her mouth and that would satisfy her for a few seconds and then we'd do it again and again.  (Probably till Mom came and took over.)  (PS-I'm nearly nine years older than Kimmie.)
 
::Remember this Jodie???  One of us would growl and scare her and then Kimmie would run into the other's arms.  We did that over and over too!  I wish I had the energy I did then!
 
::Kim was scared to death of TV commercials for mud masks.  As soon as one would come on the TV-someone ran and turned the channel.  (That was before remotes.  Goodness, I'm old!)
 
Hope you have a wonderful birthday, Kim.  I love you!

Holly hacks!

I bought all this wool at Goodwill for less than a buck.  (It's in the washer as I type.)

It's just waiting to be hacked into something wonderful.  I'm not sure what that something will be yet.  Perhaps another wool quilt?

Happy Friday!

New corner of my bedroom

Welp-I had before photos of this corner (picture a not so attractive gun cabinet, hunting accessories strewn about, and tractor pulling trophies, at least 30 of them).  Yes-I had before photos-but I accidentally deleted them from my camera.  Oh well-I didn't want to remember what it looked like anyhow!

So believe me when I tell you-this corner looks better now. 

I took a notion on Monday-to get that eyesore of a gun cabinet out of my bedroom.   (My husband has slept downstairs for nearly 2 years now.  First because of our ailing, old doggie and then because of our pup and also because he can't stand my snoring-HA!)  We also have an unused bedroom now, since Hoper moved out...which means the gun cabinet and other junk could go in there and the white bookshelf could go in here (my bedroom).

I completed the ol' switcheroo while hubby was at work.  It involved blood, sweat, but no tears!  Not even when the hubster got home!  He wasn't mad, he just thinks I'm crazy.

Please note from the above photo-

::I bought the ladder at a yardsale years ago for four dollars.  I painted it that pinkish color.  It was out on the balcony, but since I have room now, I brought it in.  It comes in handy for changing lightbulbs and getting into our little attic space.

::I've been crocheting a few washcloths.  See the basket of prettily colored cotton yarn up there on my shelf!

::I fixed up another cheesebox this morning.  The one on top.  I've got them stacked four high now-yeehawwww!!!!

::See that table up there in the corner?  I salvaged that from my husband's truck bed a while ago.  He was on the way to the dump.  (He's the crazy one!)  Anyway-I'm thinking another stack of old quilts and afghans would look cute on there.  I'll have to hunt for some at Goodwill!

::I don't think the white bookcase looks quite right-but for now it will do, until something better comes along.

::It's been very dark and rainy here for the last three days, so I added the 'cross process' effect to my photos-so it looks like I'm making my photos dark on purpose!

Have a wonderful day.  :)

A different camera

A friend of mine asked me to play with her new camera (Olympus SP-600UZ). I obliged.

 

I seem to take photos of the same thing over and over.  Sorry!

I don't think these pics are too bad for not even looking at the manual.  The focus seems off in some-but I'll just call that the 'dreamy' look.  :)

More thrifting goodness

Ahhhhhhh, Goodwill-you are so good to me!

The cutie on the top is the Pyrex I got for a buck.  Love the color!  (The rest I already had and just stacked up there for visual interest.  :) )

I just love to find these old embroideries.  This table runner was just 50 cents!  Okay-I'll take it.

Just look at the handmade goodness!

Have you found any thrifting goodness lately?  Hope so!

Another good breakfast

 

An apple muffin topped with peanut butter.

Made just like banana muffins except use about 5 grated apples instead of bananas and add a healthy teaspoon of cinnamon.  The recipe I like for banana muffins is on my left side bar.

Have a delicious day!

Corners

Today I dusted the stuff on this cabinet and changed out the doilies (except one).  The ones on the ends are some that I won from Melissa.  The one with the birdie-my friend Dawnie gave me and the pink one is from Goodwill.  Have I ever mentioned that I love doilies???  I do!

I don't think I've ever told about my awesome barnwood corner cabinet.  

I bought this at a shop over in Amish country quite a few years ago now-though I don't think it's Amish made.  It's authentic barn wood, though.  Do you want to know how I know?  It stinks.  Like a barn.  Especially in the summer.  I don't care, I love it anyhow.  My favorite part is the upcycled window!

It's not very big-it holds a few VCR tapes of yesteryear.

No-that's not a Christmas tree.  (It just looks that way.)

I love this corner of my home!

Last week's Goodwill finds

Here's what I've bought this past week at Goodwill-

::An old metal 'utility' box.  I don't know why I  like things like this-but I do!

::A book.  I already have a paperback copy of this book, which I ordered from Amazon after I read on a blog that someone loved it.  I never did finish the darn thing yet.  Anyhow-I couldn't resist a hardback copy for a buck!

::A little 'finder's keepers' bank.  You know-for keeping change that comes from the washer and dryer-I thought it was so cute!

I hope if you thrift-you've found some good stuff too.  :)

From lamp...to crock

This is an unused lamp. (as in almost two years in the basement.)

(no-not here.)

(how about here?)

This is a used crock. (with a hole in it, none the less.)  Any questions?