Whew! It is Hot!

I know I've been away for a while but a lot has been happening outdoors! Last year we had a new patio poured and really couldn't enjoy it because we baked in the sun. An umbrella just didn't do the job. Here is what it looked like before.

Hubby decided to build a detached patio cover.  I was quite skeptical since he has never built anything in his life!  I am quite pleased and so proud of him.  Here is what it looks like now.

Of course, I am slowly adding my decorations.  It is too hot to go out and take pics right now, but here are a few I took the other day. 

 This is my fairy garden.  It needs some sprucing up.

Have a wonderful day and try to stay cool!

I'M BACK! (Pic Heavy)

I have been gone for quite a while. My Father passed away on July 26, 2012 and I have been busy helping my Mother take care of things.  I also decided that now would be the time to do the renovations we have been putting off.  It also helped to keep my mind off of things. 

I finally have a new kitchen! I tore off all the wallpaper (whew, what a job) and painted.  We had granite counter tops put in and I absolutely love them! Couldn't afford new cabinets, so I just scrubbed them down and used Orange Glo on them to make them look newer.  Since my faucet is polished bronze, I spray painted all the hardware with Rustoleum Polished Bronze to make them match.

Hubby wouldn't let me remove the bulhead/soffit so I have been collecting old utensils and such to decorate it with.  This yellow isn't as bright as it looks. It was sunny the day I took the picture.

 

I also bought some punched tin shades to go on my chandelier that I got for FREE! I just had to spray paint the brass so they married nicely.

 Finally hung all my wooden bowls.

Rearranged the hutch that my MIL gave to me (I just had to paint it and change the hardware)

Made this Pinterest-inspired towel holder

and I finally have a kitchen that I'm pretty much happy with! Of course, as you all know, there is always room for change!

Have a great day everyone! Soon I'll post the changes to the Family Room!

WHERE HAVE I BEEN?

It has been so long since I have posted. I had my deck torn out and a new patio poured but it has been too hot to enjoy it. In between the heatwaveS I have been doing landscaping around the patio and trying to fill in the big ruts that were left by the machinery. I hope to post pictures soon. 

 My father's cancer has returned and Hospice has come into the home.  His prognosis on June 27 was 1-2 months.  My heart is so heavy right now that I cannot describe it.  Please keep my family in your prayers.

My New Tissue Box

I know it has been FOREVER since I have posted.  I have been cleaning things out and organizing like a mad woman! I am job security for the garbage men! LOL It does feel good to let go of things.  I am also dieting so I don't come on here a lot because of all the wonderful foods you gals show.  Makes my mouth water!  Now I am into the second month so it is starting to be easier to resist.  My house is feeling lighter and my body is feeling lighter (a little). 

Anyhoo......I finally decided that I needed to make something after resisting for a whole month! I wanted a unique tissue box cover for my family room which has cabins, game boards, etc., .....you know....lodgy like.  I had all these advertising rulers and my new rockwell saw (christmas present) and here is what I came up with.

Not bad (if I do say so myself)!  I love it.  Now maybe I'll be inspired to make some bigger ones! TTFN Have a wonderful day!

LOOK WHAT MY SECRET SISTER SENT ME!

OMG! You gotta see what I got from my Secret Sister, Rhonda from http://theoldestonehouse.blogspot.com/ sent to me. This has been so much fun this year. Thank you, Rhonda, for all the wonderful things you have sent to me.

Look at these cute little wooden bowl ornaments. Perfect for my little tree!

These little primitive candy bowl fillers will fill the wooden bowl that she gave me in the very first package.

This is my favorite! This penny "rug" will fill a cute garage store oval frame I bought a few years ago.

See....it almost fits perfectly. I'll adjust it later. Love it!!!!!:)

 

 

And these primitive Christmas socks! Gotta put some Christmas touches in my bathroom on my washboard!

Hope everyone has a wonderful and blessed day! Hugs!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I Hope that each and everyone of you has a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving!

LOOK WHAT MY SECRET SISTER SENT ME!

I have had these a few days but I just couldn't get on the computer to show you all.  Look what my Secret Sister sent to me.

This adorable little prim doll AND this cute little cupboard pillow! Thanks Secret Sister!

I just had to share this cute little thing my grandson does.  Whenever I get a Yankee Candle scented book in the mail he gets so excited.  He runs to the family room, throws in on the floor and scratches and sniffs away. How funny is this:

Have a great day everyone!

Crafts, A Makeover and Update

First, let's start with the Crafts.  My mom loves the look of canned goods in her pantry as well as I do but didn't want to go to the trouble of canning.  I made her some of the peas that I showed in an earlier post and then I made these "pickled carrots". 

I really am pleased with how they turned out.  Guess I have to go get more clay to make myself some! LOL
Then I had all this paper someone gave me and an upcoming halloween party that I am in charge of decorating for so I made these to hang from the ceiling.  Martha Stewart.com has the templates and directions. So cute!

 

 

For the makeover......remember the shutter that my son gave me for Mother's Day? Well, I wanted to change it out for fall. I am so happy with how it turned out.  I have a whole lot of shutters that my neighbor gave me so I will be making lots more for the different holidays and seasons.  Take a look:                                     

Now for the update.  I know it has been so long since I have been posting.  My Dad had a big lump on his shin that they thought was a cyst.  A surgeon went in and cut it out.  It turned out to be a sarcoma.  The first surgeon left this big hole in his leg.  His family doctor referred him to University of Michigan Cancer Center.  They immediately went in to cut more out.  Three surgeries later which also included a skin graft and we thought he was on the mend.  Then a big bump appeared on the area that the graft was taken from (his thigh). That was removed.  That was cancerous also.  I have spent a lot of time in Ann Arbor with him and haven't had any  time at all to craft and decorate.  Please keep him in your prayers.

LOOK WHAT MY SECRET SISTER SENT ME!

I am so excited to show you the things that my Secret Sister sent me! She is awesome!

The little bowl filler pumpkins are made from cinnamon dough and they smell so good.  The fabric pumpkins are just adorable and the picture does not do them justice.  The little mug mat came at just the right time. I needed one to protect my table because I'm messy (LOL)!  My absolute favorite item is the pillow tuck. It looks absolutely wonderful in my black cabinet.  It really stands out.  Thank you Secret Sister.

My Secret Sister Did it Again!

Look at the wonderful items my Secret Sister sent me for the Fun in the Sun theme. 

This quilted table runner has the sand, blue sky and umbrellas! She made it herself. So colorful!

She also sent me this cute flip flop hand towel.  Absolutely adorable.  Thanks, again, Secret Sister! You are awesome!

GIVEAWAY AT SALMON FALLS PRIMS

Isn't he adorable? You can enter the drawing here: http://salmonfallsprims.blogspot.com/2011/08/santa-claus-may-be-coming-to-your.html?showComment=1312550611026#c2326205936942076296

LOOK WHAT MY SECRET SISTER SENT ME!

Got my package from my secret sister and it will look so cool on my porch.  Since my outdoor decorating is Red, White and Blue it will fit in just perfectly.

 

The dishtowels will probably be runners.  Look at the cute little firecrackers! Have to put them up high so no one tries to light them! (Tee Hee!)

 

 I think the pinwheels will look cool in a blue mason jar!

This star "penny" rug will look great on my white table on my porch!

Thank you, Secret Sister, for another wonderful package! You're the best!

LOOK WHAT MY SECRET SISTER SENT ME!

OOOOOOH! What a great Secret Sister.  The package couldn't have come at a better time. I was having a bad day and the mailman brought me this!

 This CUTE casserole tote (Awesome gift) would have been more than enough! The Shoo-fly screen is a great addition, too!

 Look at these bowl fillers to replace the ones she sent to me in the spring. Watermelon, strawberries and lemon slices.  Too cute!

These are sugar cookies that look like watermelon slices.  Hubby said since I was on a diet HE ATE THEM! Oh well; he took away the temptation since sugar cookies are my favorite! Thank you, Secret Sister, whoever you are.  You are so generous! You brightened up a bad day.  Everything has been going wrong. Garage door broke and to be fixed in a few days.  Sump pump went kerplop and big problems with water damage in the basement.  I was ready to cry.........and then I received this wonderful package to put a smile back on my face!

My Mother's Day Gift

My son bought me this wonderful shutter gift at my favorite shop.

The shop owner told me later that he looked at everything in the shop and couldn't make up his mind. He told her that I could make just about everything in there (LOL)! He is one of my biggest fans when it comes to my crafting.  Love ya Chris!

LOOK WHAT MY SECRET SISTER SENT ME!

I was so excited when I received this on Friday! I must have looked through the magazine about a million times.  I already did some of the projects (which I will show in a separate post). Oh Thank You! Thank You Secret Sister!

These little bowl fillers that she made are just darling. I put them in the wooden bowl she sent me on my stove.

And look at this stitchery she sent. Soooo darn cute.

Thanks goes out to Char for hosting the Secret Sister Swap. It is so much fun. I have a wonderful Secret Sister!

Newest Penny Rug

Just thought I would share a picture of the penny rug I just finished.  My neighbor picked up this book of penny rugs and I just fell in love with this.  I had to start one right away. It doesn't look like it in the picture, but this thing is huge.  It is about 20" in diameter.  It will look so cute with my cake plate (holding a pie, though) on it for the summer.

Have a wonderful day!

LOOK WHAT MY SECRET SISTER SENT ME!

Thank you, whoever you are, for the wonderful package that you sent me.  It was loaded with goodies. Look what she sent me. This cute little handmade card.  I forgot to take a picture of the inside.  It has a cute little pop up with a flower pot and flowers. Cute! Cute! Cute!

This wonderful penny rug which will match my decor perfectly! Two Candles, a pantry cake with Sweet Annie (I absolutely love the smell of Sweet Annie), Lindor Chocolates, and Chocolate covered Oreos.

My family wanted to dive into the edible things but I told them they had to wait until I took a picture of everything.  As soon as I was finished it was like they had never eaten sweets before! LOL  Actually, I haven't had many in the house lately because I am trying to lose weight. 

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Secret Sister. Hugs!

Another Great Giveaway!

Tammy at http://aprimitiveplace.blogspot.com/2011/03/im-having-another-giveaway.html is having a wonderful giveaway! You get to pick something from her website or Etsy shop. Drawing is set for April 16, 2011.

Another Great Giveaway!

Anne at http://seasonsofthepast.blogspot.com/ is hosting a wonderful giveaway.  Drawing is set for March 17th.  You don't need to enter, though, 'CAUSE I'M GOING TO WIN! LOL (Fingers Crossed).