Wrapping up the small stuff...

A few last minute gifts are completed now thanks to Scott getting in a new ink cartridge for the printer and a bit of time at my sewing machine. I made up 5 tags to attach to the Santa sacks that I made a couple weeks ago that the children can have and use in the future as ornaments for their trees. I really love how they turned out and hopefully their parents will hold onto them for the kids.

Phoenix

Austin

Maddy

Abby

Dougie

Santa sacks with tags attached - filled with goodies

A pencil bag for a special young lady.

Items that were in Scott's "goodie bag" from work

A quick and easy Christmas card that I mailed out to someone.

Stuffed Poblano Peppers ready for the oven

And here is how I made them....
Stuffed Poblano peppers

Creativity

We stayed in Greenville this past weekend as it was supposed to be really nasty weather and we had a few things to do up here. Scott wanted to work on his vintage tube tester so I cleared all my crafty bits from the little table here at the cottage and gave way for him to use it all day Saturday, He made some good progress but really needs to remember to bring some solder back up from the other house before he can go further on the repairs to  the insides of the unit.

The lighting here is not very conducive to detail work so I have employed several lamps to use over this little table and Scott was glad I had as he really needed them all on on that overcast Saturday.

While he worked on his tube tester I made some Vegetable Beef Soup and it turned out so yummy. I had made enough so we had two meals from it over the weekend and Scott had  the last bowl for part of his lunch on Monday(yesterday). I also made a large salad up for him to eat as well... soup and salad Monday.

On Sunday I got the table back and made up a bunch of cards to mail to friends and family... at least those that I have their addresses for up here. I left my old address book at the house in Cayce so I don't have everyone's address here. I filled the ones I had ready out with a greeting and hello from us and mailed them out yesterday after I made matching envelopes. These are a few that I made... I forgot to take more photos as I was anxious to get them in the mail.

I had made 9 cards all together but these are the only ones I got pictures of. I need to make some more this evening but today really needs to be spent sewing up some gifts for my son's gal and a small canvas tote type bag for Scott's air tools that can hang on the compressor so he can always find them. That will be my first project as I have been promising to do that for some time now.

Well the bed is all ready made but I still have dishes and  the kitchen to clean up before I can get started on the sewing projects. Have a wonderful day!

One week til Christmas

 I still have a few projects to make as well as a BUNCH of Christmas cards to make and send out. They will get to their destinations eventually... may be a day or two late but I am going to try to get a bunch mailed. They will be quick and easy cards that are nice and flat for mailing.

This week I had my hands full with kitty issues. I took Callie on Thursday to be spayed and to get her shots and she had to be kept indoors a couple nights and a day to keep her safe. Callie was NOT a happy camper about it at all but she survived and actually enjoyed a bit of extra loving from me and she even let Scott pet her. Then on Friday I took Tippy - who we found is definitely a boy in to be neutered and his shots. So last night I kept all 3 cats indoors as Howie was having none of it that the other two were getting all the attention. Howie ended up sleeping right up against me all night to keep  the other two away but they still laid against my legs a good part of the night. I was part of a real cat pile.

On Friday Callie discovered she could hide out under  the kitchen sink here at the Cottage. And she happily hung out under there while her BIG brother was a complete suck up.

Howie was most definitely a green eyed monster the past couple of days. He did not like it that HIS Mom was giving those  other two extra loving ... not one bit.

I can't imagine why he is so spoiled.

I have some special projects in the works that have come to a complete stand still because one of  the ink cartridges we bought failed. I just need to be able to print some photos off and add them to the tags I am making that will be ornaments for the kids to have when they are grown. Scott called the company he ordered the ink from and they mailed a replacement cartridge out it should be here by Monday or Tuesday. I will post a picture of the tag/ornaments once they are completed.

Yesterday we got 150 gallons of fuel oil delivered since some real cold weather is hitting us at the moment and we only had about 7 inches left in the tank. The 150 gallons cost us $352.53 and I am hoping it will at least get us to March before we have to buy anymore. We got the last of the storm windows replaced last weekend and have put plastic over the windows that hold the air conditioners. Scott is going to get the chimney blocked off this weekend so we will quit loosing heat up that. We are getting this little house more cozy all the time.

Our little Christmas display - no big tree this year.

Four of the Six santa sacks that I made for the younger kids. I only needed 5 but figured having the 6th on hand would be good in case I needed to wrap something oddly shaped. The tag/ornaments will be attached to each sack and  they will know which one is theirs by their picture.

I also whipped up a couple stockings for Scott and I. I have already started to fill his; he probably won't remember to fill mine but that is ok because they are more for decoration than to be something mandatory to fill.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday Season with their friends and families no matter what beliefs they hold. 

GLAD TIDINGS TO ONE AND ALL!

Scott and Becky

Second Week of December

This second week of December has been mostly rain but we needed it so I am thankful it rained for several days. BUT I am also thankful that it has now cleared away and  the sun has returned and we have mostly blue skies. It is however quite chilly and  the furnace is running and running. We will need to order some fuel oil SOON. I am hoping Scott will check it this weekend to see how much we have left.

Yesterday I took Howie in to be neutered... he was not happy with me at all. Next week (the 15th and 16th) the girls will be going in for their shots and to be spayed. I will be so glad to have all this behind us so we don't have more kittens. Their Mother dropped them and left and we have only seen her once since then so we aren't sure what has happened to her. Hopefully she won't bring another litter here. I really wanted to get her spayed too but she was uncatchable.

Howie after returning home and getting a bit to eat.

After Howie got something to eat and drink he insisted on being outdoors on the porch; he took a nice nap out there in one of the chairs. I bought them a litter box and some cheap clay litter so they wouldn't have to go in the wet dirt and leaf debris. When it got dark and the temp started dropping off I brought him in and held him for awhile and he enjoyed the extra attention and started to get back to his old self. Tippy even came in for awhile to enjoy the heat and to help keep an eye on Howie. She is definitely his little shadow. They even started playing a little together in the living room before they wanted out for the night. The three of them all slept together in a "cat pile" in one of the lounge chairs on the porch. Howie wanted no part of being stuck inside last night. Catching  the girls and getting them into a carrier is going to be a real trick to be sure. Hopefully they won't hate me forever.

Howie and Tippy playing

My Handsome Boy "Howie"

Prince Tippy

December Begins

THANKFULLY a few days back it started to rain.... RAIN GLORIOUS RAIN! It rained for several days and it cleaned the air of all the smoke from the forest fires in North and South Carolina. Which was wonderful but then we hear that there are more fires in Tennessee. Then tornadoes again here that killed 5 people. Between Arson and Mother Nature we have taken quite a beating here in the South. And then this morning it is 37*F... brrrrr. CHILLY! But we are alive and healthy for the most part and I am Thankful for that.

Yesterday I vacuumed the cottage to get all the fake snow up. It had gotten EVERYWHERE. One of the bulbs had flipped out of my hands with a full funnel of fake snow and it went all over the floor and then the residue from cleaning that up got walked all over the place. I tried sweeping it up but it just wouldn't work thus the vacuum had to be pulled out. And I also did 3 loads of laundry as I had been putting that off since I was crafting. I still have two more loads to do but not enough hanging space to hang it to dry. Hopefully we will get the little section on the porch fixed up and ready for the dryer before Spring. But if we don't I will manage.

Yesterday and the day before I worked on packaging goodies for the Santa Sacks I am creating for the 5 youngest above baby age nieces and nephews. I have bought Art supplies for them all to use at my Mom's house since most of them are there most of the time. I will be making the Santa Sacks out of red felt today. I am trying hard to use supplies I all ready have to decrease what I will have to move again once we get the house in Cayce sold and a new home bought up here.

It is supposed to rain off and on all weekend but we are still planning to go down and work on the house some and do some indoor projects... like finishing out the laundry room. I will touch up  the paint in the bathroom I painted a few weeks back as I still have not done that.  Perhaps we will get some things shifted around as well. Who knows... I guess whatever strikes our fancy.

Time to get this day started! Have a wonderful Friday!

Catching Up for November

AMELIA

 Our oldest dog, Amelia has gotten to where she can't get up into the shed anymore so we decided that it was time to build her a Grand new dog house all her own. I looked up "how to build a doghouse?" on Pinterest and I found this house. It took us two weekends at the house in Cayce to get it completely built. Now it just needs to be painted. We also bought her a nice big pillow bed to lay on. At first she just kept trying to pull the bed out of the house but she has taken it on as her new house. She gets so happy when we work on it for her.

I made this card for a swap I signed up for in a group on Facebook. The group is called KoalaTCrafts and we do a lot of fun swaps and there is a weekly challenge that you can join in on for fun.

 Last Tuesday Scott went to the Doctor as he wasn't feeling well at all and it turned out he had a sinus infection and Vertigo. I had to drive him to the Doctor that day and to work and back the next day. But on Tuesday after he was through at the Doctor we drove up to Pumpkintown, SC and had lunch at  the Pumpkintown  Mountain Opry. We had two wonderful sandwiches and will definitely go back again in the future. The whole place was so neat with hand carving all over the inside and so many handmade jams, jellies, honey and canned vegetables. They also serve handcrafted ice creams that I would love to try one day.

Scott standing along side their GIANT pumpkin that sits out front. We think it was made with foam insulation; quite unique and interesting.

Macaroni and Cheese that I made as my contribution to the Thanksgiving Dinner at Scott's Moms' house. Everything on the table was DELICIOUS!

A recipe that I tried... a Chicken and Broccoli/Cauliflower Alfredo with no noodles or real alfredo sauce. It was all right but I'm not sure I will make it again.

One time when we were in Cayce we went to check on the lower end of the Riverwalk but it is still closed from the flooding we had last year. So much damage; the boardwalks were all washed away and I guess it's just going to cost way too much to repair. So sad. It's one thing we miss dearly.

Scott and his toys. He was looking for a specific tube which he found as he was sorting and organizing his "stash" of tubes.

One day Scott and I stopped and took pictures at this old mill site here in the Upstate of South Carolina. It is located just off Saluda Dam Road toward Easley, SC. It's really something to see and it's sad that the buildings are falling down.

 I have created some adorable snowmen out of some plastic ornaments that I bought at the Dollar Tree. I just love how they turned out and these will be some gifts.

I think they are some gorgeous decor pieces.

This is the one that I am keeping for us. I have decided that I need to start keeping some of the things that I make.

LIFE

 Here it is November 20, 2016 all ready. We here in the US have had our Election and much to my chagrin Donald Trump is to be our next President. My only hope is the Democrats and clear thinking Republicans will keep him in check over the next 4 years and that in 4 years the Democrats will pull a proper candidate out of their hats.

Now onto some better news from our multiple home bases. A few weeks back I tried a recipe that was on the back of the frozen shrimp package for Shrimp Diablo. I made it minus the Diablo (aka jalapenos); I used just regular bell peppers instead as I am trying to cut back on the hot/spicey foods and caffeine to ward off some of the Hot Flashes that I am plagued with these days. It was delicious so the following week I made it again. It was super easy and oh so yummy!

Scott has been doing some work on the cottage for Adele as the Insurance company was not happy that it was open under the porch. He had installed the lattice work you see below and on the last open section he has installed a pair of doors so we still have access to under the porch. If I can remember to do it I will take another picture to share in a future post.

The Fall colors are hanging around longer this year but aren't quite as vibrant as in years past as it has been nearly 3 1/2 months since we last had rain. And now there are forest fires to worry about in both North and South Carolina. The smoke has filled the air all over both states for several weeks now. Scott had a horrible time with his breathing the week of the Election because the smoke was so thick. We desperately need some rain!

I just loved the contrast on this leaf so I laid it on a section of concrete to take it's picture. I thought it would be fun to play around in GIMP editing it.

 The trees around the cottage have been so pretty and we have enjoyed watching the colors bloom and fade. Yesterday we had some pretty high winds so I am sure when we get back up to the cottage later today most of the leaves will be on the ground.

 We will need to clear the gutters on the cottage as they are full of leaves. That is going to be tricky on the back side of the cottage as it is quite aways up... CRINGE! I always worry about Scott getting up that high or even me getting up that high on a ladder.

 The Geranium my parents gave us is still trying to bloom in the hanging basket. I am thinking I will hang it in the basement soon for winter and see if I can keep it going to pull out again in  the Spring.

I've done a bit of Thrift shopping this month and once Scott and I went together as well. We love Thrift shopping. You just never know what you will find.

I love the leaf dishes and am looking forward to decorating our new home each Season once again since I am once again a fulltime Homemaker. I plan to have a tub for each Season and will have certain tables and such that will change with each new season.  I am so hoping we can get a new home before another year passes.

The old Vinyl Record album holders make GREAT paper stoarge racks in my Hobby Space and I found some awesome rubber stamping and card making magazines for 4 for $1. I loved  the black and white chevron skirt and it was less than $5. The coats were both under $10.    

Scott found a pair of sneakers - BRAND new at the Goodill in Clemson, SC for a very resonable price and I found a few crating tressures... all for under $5.

Madeline - "Maddy"

 One day I went over to my Moms to take her the childrens coats that I found at Thrift stores and to visit a bit and this little Princess Witch was there sweeping the floor. She had put her older sisters skirt on and I tied the ties over her shoulders to hold it up for her. She was so funny.

Kilz applied and ready for paint.

 The week of the Election I stayed down in Cayce to work on the Master Bathroom. I scrubbed  the walls and ceiling down with Clorox Clean-Up and once it was dry I painted  the whole thing with Kilz2 to block any stains and to cover the old brownish paint color. I did not worry too much around the window as we will be replacing the window and I will paint it's trim and the wall around it once that is complete. Once the Kilz had dried over night I painted the ceiling with  Ceiling White  and the walls with the Elephant grey we had left over from the shed phiasco.

I love how the Elepahnt grey looks with the green and white. Now I can hardly wait to get a replacement window in there and it's trim painted a crisp white. 

I am also thinking a new medicine cabinet and light fixture would be nice too.

Piper was not happy with the Election results either and possed with her expressions of disppleasure... see she even stuck her tung out. She has really grown into one beautiful cat.

I hope everyone has a fabulous Thanksgiving and enjoys time with their families. Take care!

Becky and Scott