Time to relax!

Wow...been a long time since I posted! The last time I was making some progress on my Christmas Goose items. I ended up making over 250 items and did quite well in the end. We pick up our checks in a couple weeks so will know exact amount then. Needless to say, I am SOOOOO glad its over! It is really hard on the body but not so bad when you look back! We have to be there early on Fri morning...decorate and then set out our items...then rush home and "try" to look good (lol) and festive...back down for the show that began at 5:00 p.m. until 9. Then back by 8:30 for the show to begin at 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Then its tear down, itimize our items left over and clean up...then we are done!! Thats a rundown on the show. I stress so much before hand that when its over I really don't want to sew but need to so badly! I did manage to get a few items of my leftovers on ebay and my WSOAPP shop.

It is hard to get pics of all I made...I had them scattered so many places in the house. It took about 6 containers (lg) to load it all up...but did it and now just have to deal with the leftovers...sell or save for next year! I have an order for a santa but otherwise need to just get busy on my santas for ebay!

Today I had a dentist appt in Roseville which was more lengthy than the usual cleaning as I had full mouth x-rays. Afterwards I ventured over to the Antique Trove...my favorite thing to do after I go to the dentist. Vendors were setting out Christmas stuff....so much there! Of course, much of it is pricy but did find some little things for santa bags. It is just fun to go down the isles..which I think there must be around 8 long ones and many booths. Made a quick trip to the mall then headed home...which took forever! Traffic was awful...so much construction. Tomorrow a storm is supposed to come in so will be nice to just take the day to do some cleaning, maybe cut out a santa and listen to my christmas music! Yes...I have been this week since they Sirius/XM are now playing it on a couple of their channels. I know its early but sometimes I would just rather listen to that vs the stuff on the other stations and tv..some is so depressing!!

Next week is Thanksgiving already..hard to believe!! I am cooking dinner this year so have to head to town on Sat to pick up the ingredients, ham, etc. We are tentatively planning a weekend trip to Grass Valley/Nevada City for my husband's birthday and just to shop!! Our daughter Rhonda and family will go too...so should be fun!!

Guess thats about all for now. Hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Making progress..slowly!

It has been awhile since I last checked in....so thought I had better update!! I have been frantically working on my Christmas Goose stuff!! Time is flying and I only have about 5 more weeks till the show. It is a two day sale so need lots of stuff. I have about 125 items made and like to have 200 or more. It is my fault too...since I have all year and put it off till it is July..then Aug..Sept and now October and crunch time!! I don't know why, but it seems I do this every year...so needless to say I will be buried in my sewing room for the next 5 weeks..and sewing non stop!! For those who have seen my sewing room....I could easily get buried in here...well out of sight!! LOL!! It is my favorite place in the whole house though since I have all the necessities other than a coffee pot in here!!

I did manage to get a couple dolls on ebay the last couple weeks. I have one on now, which I have named Endora. She is made from my favorite pattern maker...Veena's Mercantile. I just love her patterns and they are so easy!!

This past week I had a wonderful package in the mail! My daughter Deb, sent me her digital camera since she got a new one. I LOVE this little camera...so small and easy to use. I do think it takes better pictures too for ebay...thanks Deb! I will send you a check this coming week!!!

Last Wednesday Rhonda and Brian left for a week trip to Indiana....so I had the two girls for a week. They are easy to have around. Lexi is doing cheerleading this year so did have some running to do for that but it all went well. On Monday Lexi left for a week at camp so just had Ashlyn Monday thru Wed. Rhonda and Brian returned home last night so had the day to bury myself in my room! Tomorrow will be the same..then need to get some shopping done on Sat.

Last Saturday I had to go to Lexi's game and it was 103 degrees!!! It has cooled down so much this week...finally feels like fall. I hope now the heat is a thing of the past!!

Hopefully I can update in a few days and show more of the things I am working on. I also hope to get another thing or two on ebay!! Till next time!

Almost Monday!

How quickly these weeks seem to be going by! I have a huge sale in November and the weeks are just flying by with time running out! I didn't really apply myself until about a month ago so now I pay the price...sewing all the time! Oh well...thats how my life is. Put things off then work my butt off getting caught up!

Saturday we went to watch Alexis do her cheerleading....can't believe how she has changed! I never thought I would see the day she would get in front of people, let alone cheerleading!! She is so pretty too and the tallest in her group. We are so proud of her!

I had to laugh at her sister, Ashlyn. I asked her if she would want to do cheerleading someday and she said...maybe, but probably not! I wanted to be an artist but I think I just want to help animals! She loves them and someday should go into that field. Of course she is a great artist too!

It was such a nice day compared to the game I went to a couple weeks earlier. It was 106 degrees in Redding and the poor cheerleaders just about croaked from the heat. Brian brought the umbrella so we stayed fairly comfortable...but just plain nasty!

After we came home from church....we heard a knock on the door. Rhonda was there and asked me to come out to her car. She bought me this beautiful mum!! It is so pretty, and in a few days it will be georgous!!! That was so sweet and thoughtful of her! While I was taking pics I thought I would take one of my impatiens in the front yard. They aren't as pretty as other years but have filled in so quite colorful.

Last week I received a wonderful box full of goodies! Our WSOAPP group did a swap and my partner sent me this wonderful array of items. I LOVE the little santa...buttons which I love, candies,...love everything!

They say tomorrow is a chance of rain!! I really doubt it will but will be enjoying the day of cooler weather!! Hoping to get alot of sewing done!!

Busy Weekend!!

Gosh...where has the time gone! I can hardly believe it has been so long since I last wrote. This past week was the best of all...news that our son-in-law, Brian, has a clean bill of health from his cancer! For those who have followed the blogs which have mentioned him, he has gone through some very rigirous treatment since the first of the year. Last week he went to his dr in San Francisco and they said all was clear! We are all so thankful and can only praise God for this wonderful news.

Yesterday after going to church and seeing a play in Sacramento at the B St Theatre, the family got together at the local mexican restaurant to have a small celebration of the Great news!

Today was our granddaughter, Ashlyn's, birthday. We went to the local pizza place for their great buffet. Of course, I ate waaaay toooo much!!! Guess Weight Watchers will have to wait this week. I am sure I gained a few # between mexican and pizza!!! Anyway...after the pizza we went to Rhonda & Brians for ice cream cake and then played Apples to Apples..then a game of Pinocle. Was a fun day and the girls love playing games!

I did manage to get this little witch in my WSOAPP shop but most of my time is taken up sewing for the big sale in the fall...the Christmas Goose. I try to get a couple hundred items made and think I have only about 100 made so far...so as you can see have lots to do!

Will try to do an update on things around here. Brian goes in for a recheck (scan) every few months. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. They certainly were answered!!

Indiana Trip!!

We left for Indiana two weeks ago tomorrow. We have had a great time! This is a picture take off the deck of Jo and Chris's beautiful home.

This is a picture of the table which belonged to my grandparents. It is probably 60 plus years old. JoAnn and Chris refinished it, and is amazing how nice it looks. Chris built this gazebo for it. He will eventually put a roof of some kind over it...but certainly a nice setting for it. It is so nice to see it taken care of...and my grandparents would be so pleased to see it so well loved!

This is a picture taken of our long time friends, George and Pat Doering at Buckheads restaurant. They were in Nashville so Jo and Chris said they were more than welcome to come up and visit us all in Indiana....which they did! We had a great time at Hubers Winery and then on to Buckheads for dinner. This beautiful restaurant overlooks the Ohio River (seen in the background) We had a great time with them. Will and I before dinner.

Tomorrow morning we will head home. Originally we were going to fly home....but we bought new CRV so will be driving. It had 19 miles on it when we bought it. Guess we will know how much we like it soon!

Girl Trip!

Just finished up a great "girl" trip with my three girls. We had a 3 bedroom two bath house. We did have a few issues with a few things when we arrived but it ended up working out great. Due to some miscommunication, the cleaning from the previous renters had not been done....but with 4 of us working together we had it cleaned up in no time and opened our first bottles of wine!! Jo got on the phone right away and was told we will get a return on our cleaning deposit since we had to do the work...so all was good with that little glich. I forgot to mention though....we got lost on the way so went a "few" miles out of our way. Poor Deb was quite stressed by the time we got there...plus she isn't used to our 100+ weather so that wasn't good. Sorry you had to do all the driving Deb....do you forgive us???

We did manage to get a picure of the four of us before we took off shopping! We found some neat shops but some were closed...figures!! Another thing that was hard on Deb....we stopped at a Harley Davidson store. Jo found what she wanted for her hubby...then as we were leaving the store Deb gets a call from her son Shane, who is in boot camp in the Air Force. Now he can't call back and she can't call him...and she hits the end button on her phone and missed his call. I felt so bad for her...but she managed to get over it as best she could and we went on with our shopping and had a nice day.

We were pretty packed on the way up...with a box between us in the back seat and the back stuffed.....but for some reason we had less room returning home! I think Deb and Jo are contemplating how they will get everything in! Of course...Rhonda found a beautiful mirror which had to about 5' long..which had to go between us in the back seat! We made it though, just part of shopping...right!! Needless to say...Deb says if we do another trip she is NOT going to be the driver! Guess I can't blame her!

On the way home we stopped at the Outlets in Folsom and bought some more things! We ate at a sandwich shop then arrived home that evening. The next day we all celebrated Lexi's birthday early by going to pizza then to Rhonda & Brians for cake. The next morning Deb took off for "cool" Oregon and Jo headed to Sacramento for her class reunion, then flew home on Sunday. We crammed alot in the days we had together...and had a great time together. We didn't discuss our next trip...if there is one???? What do you say girls??

Update...finally!!!

The last time I posted our son-in-law, Brian, was going through another round of cancer treatment. He has since completed another round and now gets a rest for 6 weeks or so before he is tested again. This one was hard on him so he needs the time to recover. Prayers are always very much appreciated.

After 30 some years with the same garage door....we finally purchased a new one. It is soooo nice...and quiet. It probably doesn't seem like a big deal but to me it is! Since the old one has had the spring break on several occasions, and who knows where that could fly!!! I just didn't feel safe with it any longer.

Hubby just got a new (used) toy! He has been wanting a newer pickup to haul around his antique tractor(s)! He came upon this one which is 10 years old but only has 38,000 miles on it and is just like new inside. I have had to drive it a couple times and not bad! The only thing I don't care for is the long bed plus the extended cab. But...it is what he wanted and does look much better than the old 1964 pickup we have had in the driveway for YEARS!! Now...he has to get rid of that one. We have had it so long it is like part of the family....but there are only two of us and we own 5 vehicles!!! So....now to find someone who wants an old truck!!

My two daughters are coming this weekend and my house is a fright!!! I will be spending tomorrow doing all the stuff I let go...and as it is it will be just the surface. Oh well...its just my girls...they will understand....right??? LOL I did manage to update my shop with a couple halloween dolls. It seems early for fall/halloween but I see alot out there so guess that is what people are listing. The girls and I have a house rented for a couple of days for a "girls getaway"!! I think with all that has gone on in our family....it will be a great time to just get our minds off things. I also dug out TONS of old pictures last night and hopefully we have a chance to go through some of them. I want to give some to the kids so they can enjoy them. As it is....they just sit in a box in the corner of my closet. So...if all goes well...maybe we can have some fun going through them. Should have some good pictures of our getaway...and hopefully won't be so long before I post next time!!!

Another round!

Gosh...time is just flying by! Last week I had the granddaughters here with me during the day while Brian had another round of cancer treatments in San Francisco. This was a really hard one for him..some nasty reactions. The good part is....they are working!! He will have a couple weeks home then back again. The good thing is...he gets to go to Rhonda's class reunion but the bad thing is....he has treatment on his birthday. I can't imagine going through all he has gone through, but he has never complained and has such a positive outlook. He is an inspiration to all of us!

The girls kept busy last week working on puzzles. They put two 500 piece ones together and a 300 piece one. Lexi finished reading Twilight and of course they got in their computer time! They are both growing up so fast....and fun to have around (until they fight..LOL!!)

Of course I have to share a picture of the three little kittens!! They too are growing up so fast and now starting to make me not happy! They love to chase each other...climb, etc and find my flowers quite appealing to play in!! Now I know why I never wanted kittens..but they are cute! Not sure what I will do with them soon but don't want more kittens down the road!! Still no takers!! I do have a very good plan though but not sure if it will work! Deb is coming down in July and I KNOW she LOVES cats so maybe she will feel sorry for them and me...and take one or two home with her...just a thought Deb!! For some reason the love to sleep together in this pot...thought it was cute of them.

Well...tomorrow I plan to seriously get back to my sewing. I have things started for the Christmas Goose..along with a naked doll which I am contemplating making it into an Uncle Sam. If not...maybe he will be a santa for the Goose...not sure. At any rate time is wasting and I need to get busy as the summer will be over before I know it.

This week our grandson Shane turns 20 and then in another week leaves for boot camp in the Air Force. I know it will be a hard week for our daughter Deb (Dollgivers Attic)..but also know she is very proud of him....as we all are!! If you follow her blog you will find some pictures of the party she had for him yesterday.

Has it really been that long!!!!

OMG...I can't believe it has been so long since I posted! Deb has been telling me to update....but never realized it was my birthday when I last put something on! Can I blame it on age???!!!

We just got back from a wonderful visit with to Oregon to see our daughter, Deb and family. Our grandson, Shane, will be leaving for the Air Force in a few weeks so wanted to see him before he goes off to bootcamp. Seems it wasn't that long ago when he was climbing into my kitchen drawers, putting rocks in the lawn mower, the kitten in with the rabbit, cookies in the fish bowl...and more! Now look at him..grown up and so handsome!!

This was taken at Silver Falls. We had a nice day, climbing up to the falls and just enjoying the nice weather. No rain and just right temps! Laresa and Seth came along too which was nice.

On Memorial Day Deb and Steve took us for a nice drive to the ocean and Shore Acres, which is a beautiful park where they were married. Once again the weather was so nice and clear. I do love the rain but it was nice to go for a drive with no rain or clouds.

Deb and I did some antique shopping on Tuesday. We had to take hubby along but he behaved pretty well...so we put up with him for a few shops....then took him home and ventured on to a few more shops. We didn't find anything major but had a nice time. Deb did find some nice old blankets for her wonderful santas.

We left on Wednesday for California. It is a long trip, but broke it up with a trip to Costco before going over the border...no taxes!!

We found our kittens had really grown and changed in the few days we were gone! They went from being in the corner with mommy cat to running all over. They are cute but tell me.....what am I going to do with them!!??? Not sure I can find homes for all three...although I think we may keep the siamese..not sure yet. I think it all depends on how much trouble they get into!!!

Deb gave me a wonderful planter for a hanging plant. Yesterday I found this beautiful hanging plant and love how it looks!! Now the hard part....keeping it looking this way with the heat...and the bugs from eating the flowers!!

Where does the time go!!

It is hard to believe I was posting about my birthday...and somehow it is after Mother's Day so figure I had better post a few things here! By the way, I had a wonderful Mother's Day. Started off going to church. Afterwards we, along with daughter and familly, went to our favorite restaurant..Original Petes!! I had their wonderful veggie sandwich...to die for! In the afternoon we went to our daughter and son-in-laws for dessert and several games of pinochle. The granddaughters play too so we played call for a partner...fun!! Of course, I received gifts!! The kids all went together and gave me a basket full of goodies, lotions, candles, body sprays, etc. A gift card for a manicure and a gift card for a plant. Hubby gave me money and dinner out...so can't complain!!! Oh...and can't forget the orchid corsage he bought me for church.

The girls also made Rhonda and I this huge drawing...Happy Mother's Day! So sweet!

Yesterday I had the girls after school so they took pictures of the busy hummingbirds!! We have one feeder in front and three in back, which I have to fill up approximately every other day! We had around a dozen flying around yesterday when this was taken. I buy sugar by the 25lbs!!

We also took some pictures of the kittens, which are growing so quickly! I am still trying to get my kids to take one!! If they only lived closer!!! I know I could get Deb to take one since she has such a soft heart for cats!! Of course, I am sure Linda would take one or two if she lived closer!

I also took some pictures of my clematis while it is so pretty....and the peony bush. Typically we get a high wind about this time of year and it manages to do a number on my clematis. Often the same happens with my peony, but so far so good this year! I still have half flats of impatiens, dianthus and begonias to plant so need to get out there before it gets too late. These seem to be the only plants those pesky slugs don't eat!!

I did manage to get this little pincushion finished up yesterday so put him in my shoppe. Now to get on with my Christmas for the Goose! Hard to get into the mood but have to do it now before my year is gone before I realize it!

Fun Day on field trip!!

Last night my granddaughter, Ashlyn, called me and asked if I could go on a field trip with her along with her dad. I couldn't turn her down...so this morning I drug myself out of bed and prepared for a possibly rainy...cool day at the Buttes. As it turned out, it was a gorgous day and no rain! It rained yesterday and has been on the cool, wet side so everything was nice and green...and no dust! The place they went is on a ranch owned by one of the local farmers...a wonderful place for kids....along with an old town, ponds, hiking, etc!! A perfect place for kids to go for a fun day!

As you can see....Ashlyn was having a ball fishing!

This is a little cemetary which some thought wasn't real, but I think it was. It was behind a wrought iron fence and had old and new headstones...perfect little peaceful setting

This is inside the little church, complete with the pews. Also, a general store and a little old school house.

Below is the outside of the little school house, then a picture of the inside along with a couple young girls playing the parts in their long dresses, etc. I was very impressed with them as they were only fourth graders and did a great job!

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One of the favorite parts of the day was the pond....and fishing. We went in groups, or stations which rotated every 35 minutes. Brian, Ashlyn's dad, was one if the leaders who helped with putting on the worms and taking the fish off the hooks, since the fish were thrown back into the lake after they were caught. The fish were plentiful so each child had a chance to get their share.

It ended up in being a great day! Of course I didn't get any sewing done so.....guess I am going to have to come up with something for my shoppe! But, some of the unplanned things turn out to be the best memories!