Search This Blog

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Decisions... Desicions...

What to do today between loads of laundry...
Start this quilt kit sent to me by a gal on You Tube or....

make a "Jelly Roll Race" quilt with this box of 2 1/2" strips? Or maybe BOTH! The jelly roll race is supposed to take less than an hour and you have a top. Perhaps I'll pull my old Dressmaker out to play.

WELL.... neither happened...
I did ALL the laundry...
Changed the linens on our bed....
Cooked a good sized meal...
made No-Bake cookies..
and made one Halloween card...
THATS IT! My joints started aching really bad after breakfast. I think it's the cooler wet weather. Going to have to start dressing in layers.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

A New Blog!

I've started a new blog this morning that will contain recipes only. These are recipes we have used for YEARS and LOVE! I have added the link to it on my side bar under MISC LINKS. But here is the link as well... http://recipefavoritesfromlife4us.blogspot.com/

I will be adding more recipes in time.

I have started copying some recipes over from here to save some time... enjoy! There is a search box at the top of both of my blogs that you can type in keywords and find things easily.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Time to Slow Down!

I'm so glad the weekend has arrived and there will be a couple mornings in a row where we can just take our time getting our day started. And there will only be "deadlines" of our CHOOSING... not required. Scott is napping and Greg is in his room playing games and surfing the web. And I'm sitting out here with the fan blowing on me to get cooled off. I thought perhaps it had cooled down enough to turn the A/C off and open the house up but I started getting that old familiar sticky feeling of hot humid air so have turned the A/C back on and the fan blowing to move it around. The windows of course are now closed... after all we don't want that "bought air" getting away.

My hours were cut back this week so the next pay check is going to be down right sad but we will manage. Next week they have me back up to my 5 1/2 hour shifts. Soon we will be shifting to the Seasonal scheduling and I will be working Sunday through Thursday instead on Monday through Friday. It's the only way we can handle the 2 truck delivers each week. The only thing lacking for Christmas are the trees and the boxed ornaments... I can't believe it. We have a bunch of Halloween a little for Thanksgiving and then WHAM! CHRISTMAS!

Last night Scott was in desperate need of a "mental health" break so we took a nice walk along the river. Of course I grabbed the camera and was well rewarded. So many lovely blooms, fungi and the Geese. Always a TREAT!

After our walk we stopped in at Zestos for a couple Chocolate Sundays with nuts and a couple iced teas. YUMMY! After that we drove out past the Amazon warehouse and I caught some AMAZing sunset photos as well as an accidental shot of our tea cups in the cup holder...

 Here's to a FABULOUS weekend for US ALL!







Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Fall Frame Swap

I recently joined a "Fall frame Swap" and just completed my frame for my partner. I hope that she will like it...
I received the one she made for me yesterday so I want to get her's mailed out today. Here is the one she made for me...
I love it!

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Upon our book shelves

"SOME" of Scott's Reference Materials and Wood Working books

Quilting books from one shelf in my hobby room.
Gardening books.
"SOME" of my cookbooks
Greg's Cookbooks

 WE LOVE BOOKS!





Goodies I sent

I checked with the USPS and they show that my goodie package has been delivered to BLD so I thought I would share a photo of the items I sent to her.
I hope you like it all; I had fun creating it.

For anyone that is new to following me here on my blog I just want to let you know that occasionally I will put a months worth of comments into a hat and pull out a name and send out a hand-made goodie package. It's just my way of thanking those that read and comment and hang in there with me through all our ups and downs here at Life for Us.

I am feeling a good bit better this morning and will be going in to work... hoping that I'm able to just work my scheduled hours and will get to come home at 9:30. FINGERS CROSSED! I have some things here at home that I've got to get accomplished. Finishing up that frame project for one. Last night I got some "feathers" put on the little owl using a small flower punch and layering up different colors of paper. I just need to add eyes, a beak and draw his claws.I will be trimming the flowers back to meet the edge of the wood cut out to re-define his shape as well. Then I can add him, the fence and the tag to the frame along with a bunch of small leaves. I'm also thinking about creating a tree trunk to run up one side. FUN FUN!

Well I better get this day started... have a GREAT ONE everybody!

Monday, September 24, 2012

3:33 AM

Yes I am still home as I got a text saying to be in at 5 instead of 3 as the "Big Guy" isn't coming in until later in the day... THANKFULLY!!!! I'm wishing I could just stay home a couple more days but my hours are short this week and we need the money.... so off I will go.


Yesterday I worked on a project for a little while and will work on it some more today. It's to be an "Altered Fall Frame" for a swap I joined on a site called 2 Shabby Sisters Studio. This is my first project using Crackle Medium.I'm planning to paper piece/Modge Podge the little owl. I'm also planning to add some Fall leaves and perhaps some vintage laces to the frame. I'm supposed to have it in the mail tomorrow so lets hope the Modge Podge dries quickly! I'll post another photo before I mail it off.

I guess I better get around for work... but I don't want to.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Sorta Back Among the Living

Yesterday was BAD! I spent a lot of time in bed or the recliner. And I ached all over but this morning things are a bit better and hopefully will continue to improve. I have to be to work at 3 AM tomorrow morning... or should that be tonight? I don't know it's just a crazy hour to be at work but the VP is coming to our store for our FALL tour and we have to look PERFECT! I'm only scheduled 4 1/2 hours each day this week so that means I will be home before 8 AM tomorrow. Gonna make for a tight paycheck loosing 10 hours but we will manage.

One of the GORGEOUS butterflies - there were two feeding on the Lantana.
Yesterday I did go out in the yard for a few minutes between naps and took a couple photos I want to share.

The butterflies and a few hummingbirds LOVE this bush next to the lamp post.

With the rain we have been getting this Summer my blackberries have really taken off and are so healthy. I'm hoping that next Summer I will get a nice crop from them.
My blackberries - I need to get some sort of frame up for them to climb.
Scott and I had talked about attending some events this week-end but with us both not feeling so hot we've stuck close to home for the most part. Last evening we went to Aldi's for some German beer and some German style egg noodles that they had on special. We bought a few other basics but did not fill a buggy like we usually do since I had all ready shopped at Bi-Lo.

This morning we are taking things slow and it's looking like the rest of the day will be that way with just some quiet home body activities in order. I hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend!

Friday, September 21, 2012

Control Center

This is where I write my blog posts. I took the time to clean it up today and thought I'd share a photo. I'm not feeling well at all... lots of congestion, body aches, sore throat and a fountain for a nose. I will probably spend a lot of time in bed this weekend. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Shared with me by a friend.... AWESOME!

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Lunch at Cafe Strudel


Scott standing in front of Cafe Strudel.
I had an absolutely FABULOUS lunch today at Cafe Strudel. Their new location is wonderful! I will definitely return for lunch soon. Scott and I may try out their new Dinner menu as well. They can now serve beer and wine and they have an area for outdoor dining in the back. Parking is at the back of the building.

I had Scott drive back by there this afternoon so that I could get some photo's of the outside... perhaps next time I will photograph my beverage and food before I devour it.

I'll get better pictures next time! Of course the Classic car out front is what caught Scott's eye and of course we have photo's of it...


"Shotgun" front entry(ies) - metal roof
Across from their parking area there is an adorable old house just abandoned but still charming and unique and OF COURSE I had to take some photos of it...
LOVE this vent detail!



This porch detail is not something you see anymore but so charming. The porch post were one solid hunk of wood that had been turned.



Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Introducing "Ma"

Just wanted everyone to know that "Ma" was actually my Grandma but she will always be "Ma" to me. She raised me from birth and always considered me "her girl".

"US" in the beginning...

With her beloved Amarillas

1981 - shortly before she became ill

Her patched upon patch jeans - the black blob in the background was my horse - Smoky.

Ma behind the wheel of the only  vehicle she ever drove with my 2 sisters and 2 brothers in the wagon.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Dear Ma

Dear Ma;

I was thinking about you today and wishing I could just pick up the phone and call you. I miss you so much every day and there are always things I'd like to ask you.

I miss afternoon tea with one of your famous rolled molasses cookies with Dream Whip on top.

I miss watching you water your plants in the greenhouse and how happy you were when the Camilla and Amarillas would bloom. Or when those sour little oranges would come on and you'd pick some and bake an "Orange Meringue Pie".

I miss hearing you talk to the hens and threaten the rooster.

I miss tagging along with you over the hill to the church and Grange Hall when you'd go over to mow the lawns. Or we'd drive down to the "lower place" to the old barn foundation to pick raspberries. Your little riding law mower with matching cart took us all over that hill.

I miss walking "out back" to the sap house and into the woods behind to gather sap or pick black caps depending on the time of the year.

I miss pulling down the pole beans and putting them in the old carriage shed to dry.

I miss talking with you about what I learned in school and will never forget how curious you were about reproduction even after having 9 children of your own. You were so fascinated to know exactly how your body had worked to produce those children... even in your 70's.

I miss helping you hang clothes on that long line that we propped up with cut trees with "Y" at  the top to hold the clothes off the grass.

I miss oh so much of our time together and hope that you enjoyed your time with me as much as I did with you.

Love Rebecca (You never called me Becky)

Trying to be quiet as a mouse...

When I came in from work I saw Scott's car in the drive and knew he would be in the bed. He coughed nearly all night and was feeling really bad this morning. I'm really getting worried that he is getting worse and not better and am trying very hard to be quiet as a mouse so that he can get some rest in the hopes that it will help. I'm pretty tired myself and would really like to catch a nap... perhaps I will in a little while in one of the recliners so as not to disturb him.

It's so hard to be quiet when you have so much that needs to be done around the house - laundry for one thing as I don't have any clean work clothes for the rest of this week.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Long Day

I spent several hours mowing our entire yard and the front yard  of the house next door. I would have also done the back yard of the empty house but it's so tall and thick it would have taken another 2 to 3 hours to get it all done. I just got tired of waiting for the Real-estate Company to have someone come mow the place and we are seeing more snakes lately in our yard. More snakes to me only means one thing... there ARE vermin present. I'll take a snake over rast and mice any day.

The anti-biotic the Doctor gave Scott this time has a lot of side effects that are making him feel really bad for 2 to 3 hours after he takes it. So he was pretty quiet for most of the day and only did "water boy" duty while I mowed and mowed. After I had come in and got a shower he went out and worked in the garden while I napped for 45 minutes. He did come out and take a few pictures of the butterflies I pointed out that were feeding on the Lantana.




And of course his all time favorite thing to do is watch me work...


Signs of Fall - Pictorial

Lantana by the Lamp-post

Hawthorne Cherry - birds delight

Another Hawthorne Cherry - yes we have two for the birds

Japanese Maple

Tomatoes... Finished ready to be pulled and added to the compost.

"EVIL" Chestnut hulls have started to fall.

French Mulberry - another bird buffet

Another year nearly gone...

 Hello to all those that have followed this blog for some time. I have not posted in quite awhile so thought I would pop over and write some...