Wow It's Been Awhile!

I got the Christmas goodies finished up over this past weekend. The kids and I were going to start delivering some of the goodies, but the weather is not so fabulous today. Lucky us got some freezing rain in today. Made the roads pretty nasty and lots of accidents. It's starting to melt off now, but I think we'll just stay hunkered down.

The kiddos are going to their dad's house tomorrow morning and staying the night. Then they will come home bright and early Christmas morning. Their dad already gave them their gifts. he bought them all bicycles for Christmas. They are just over the moon. It's bad when he gives them thier gifts so early caus ethen they come home and want me to give in and give them their presents early too. But it's not working. Hehehehe Matthew swears his present is broken because of the way it rattles when he shakes it.

I'm also using this lazy, cold day to plan my business moves for this next year. I did better this past year than I did the first year. Hoping that I can take on at least 6 more houses. Cross your fingers for me. Well I guess I better get back to my advertising plan.

I Got Tagged...

I got tagged by Alee. Now I have to tell you six things about myself and then go off and tag six other blogs. I think I'll try to tell ya'll some corny off the wall stuff about me that like only those who know me the best know.

1. When I was about 5 years old, I wanted to grow up to be Smurfette. My mom and cousin seriously thought about painting me blue one day while I was napping. Oh if they had I would have just been over the moon. Well until the paint washed off anyway.

2. On my right foot, I have what I call two pinky toes. I stubbed my toe next to the lil bitty one when I was really young and cracked it and it just didn't grow back right. I always hated wearing sandals because of it. Well till this past year. Now I don't care if folks don't like my ugly toe. ;)

3. My honey man and I share some strange habits. We both sneeze loud enough to blow the roof off the house, smile at the tv, wear socks to bed, our left ankles crack the loudest, if asked to pick a number between 1 and 10 we pick 3 more than any other number, hmmm I feel like I'm forgetting something. (I'm very forgetful. He pretends to be, but really he just doesn't listen. lol)

4. I used to hate the song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer". My maiden name was Rudolph and the kids loved to sing it year round to aggravate me. I finally decided not to let it get to me anymore and they stopped.

5. My youngest daughter's name (Hallie), I got from watching an old John Wayne movie. Can't even remember what the name of the movie was now. But the leading lady's character's name was Hallie and I just fell in love with the name. But I never really cared for John Wayne movies much. Before that movie I was all set to name Hallie, Chloe.

6. I've learned how to do so many new crafts and things over the last few months from hangin out with my farmgirl sisters on MaryJanes Farmgirl Connection. The girls always leave me feeling inspired and courageous enough to branch out and try something different, to try things I thought I'd never do. The next thing I want to learn one day is... how to play the fiddle.

This was fun! Now I'm off to see who I can tag.

Trip to the Dentist and a Play Day

The kiddos had their 6 month checkup with the dentist this morning. For once everyone came out without cavities. Usually I have at least one that has to go back and have a tooth filled. Of course the hygienist said their teeth brushing habits are very lacking to put it nicely.

Once we got back into town, we stopped at the library. The kids checked a couple of books and then I got some too. I was reading a thread on MaryJanes Farmgirl Connection this morning about heirloom seeds. Then on my Myspace I happened across a post from a friend talking about Obama possibly appointing this head honcho from Monsanto to the USDA and the effects that could have on out nation's food supply. So the books I found are about composting, old time gardening wisdom and Burpee vegetables. Then I got a couple of other books to help me plan my wedding-- 1000 Best Wedding Bargains and Tantalizing Textures. OK the second book is really about ideas and techniques for scrapbook pages. I figure I can incorporate some of those ideas into my handmade wedding invitations. And yes I found some really cool ideas!!

It's back to work tomorrow. I really need to go see my friend, Christina. She had a little baby boy last week and I still have not got to go see them. Hopefully tomorrow afternoon.

A Wee Bit Hectic Today

Kiddies got out early from school today. Parent-Teacher conferences. Yay! They didn't do terrible. Well two out to three didn't. Cat's going to do better though.

Work has been staying pretty busy. That just amazes me right now because of the economy.

My best friend from high school went in for a scheduled C-section this morning. She gave birth to a healthy bouncing baby boy, Jacob. 8 pounds 6 ounces and 20 inches long I believe. I hope I get to go see them this weekend!!

And then Hallie had her second girl scout meeting this evening. She is a daisy. She's not so sure if she likes it much. She is such a backwards bashful lil girl. I hope she will get past that soon.

New Squid Lens

Finally a new squid lens to promote my homemade goodies. It is not completely finsihed but it has enough to publish to the web. Stop by and check it out. Be sure to sign my guestbook and tell me what you think.

http://www.squidoo.com/buyinghomemade

Flat Tire

Dropped the kiddos off at school and went straight to work. And just what do you think I saw when I got out of my van at work? Yep a flat tire! And to make it worse it is raining today and is supposed to all day long. But I'm not a sissy girl. Well not a big sissy anyway. I took it off and mom ran me to the garage. I'm very thankful the guy was able to fix my tire or it would have been about $100 for a new one. OUCH!! So the damage was only $15. Went back to work put the tire back on and came home and got a nice warm shower and dry clothes. mmmmmm Much better now.

Purses

I finally decided to take a crack at making purses. I didn't put a whole lot of effort into the first one. I just wanted to see if I could get the general idea of how it should go together. No pattern, just cut and sew. I've never done that before. The first one is mine made in fall colors. The second one turned out much better. I made this one for mom out of chicken material. I took extra time and did it right. I've had loads of compliments on both of them. Makes me wish more and more that I could just spend my days doing what I love and make enough money to pay my bills. Someday....

A New Wreath

I found the flowers on clearance at Jo-Ann's Saturday and put this wreath together. It was raffled off at a benefit Saturday evening. I haven't heard who won it yet.

Sugarland

Isn't my guy the sweetest?! He got us tickets to go see Sugarland at Roberts Stadium in Evansville this past Friday night. Kelly Pickler and Ashton Shepherd were also there. It was a great show. I wish I had pics but didn't have my batteries charged.

The BIG One

Hallie and I found this guy outside this past week. This has got to be the biggest catepillar I have ever seen in my life!

Too bad he was all curled up.

Another Saturday

The kids and I started the morning off by going to see Kashada play in his last football game for the season. The Cowboys (Kashada's team) tied the Vikings, 1-1, in the Championship game. Then there was the trophy ceremony after the game. All the kiddos got a trophey to take home.

Matthew's Yearly Heart Checkup Today

We go through this every year and have since Matthew was born, the yearly checkup with the cardiologist. The doc has told us from the beginning, "We don't want to see a change."

I guess I really should start by telling you just what it is that is wrong with his heart. When Matthew was born, the doctor found the murmur in his heart. He had an echo cardiogram done and then we met with the doc. In the valve in your heart, you are supposed to have three leaflets that open and close separately. Two of Matthew's leaflets are fused together. This causes his lil ticker to work twice as hard to pump the same amount of blood. That in turn causes the wall of his heart to thicken.

So Matthew has the tight valve, and the valve has a leak. Last year doc found a small hole in his heart.

On to what we learned today. The valve and leak have not changed much. They stayed close to the same as last year. The heart wall has stayed pretty close to the same. But.... The wall to his Aorta has thickened a lot. Last year it was measure at about 22 mm thick. This year it measured between 30 and 35mm thick. Dr. Kumbar told us that surgical intervention would not be necessary until it reaches 45 to 50 mm thick. The weird angle the blood pushes out of the heart and with the amount of pressure it has hitting the wall of the Aorta is what has caused the vessel wall to thicken. Doc said it's actually pretty common in patients like Matt.

He starts medication in the morning. Aetenol. I think that's how you spell it. He's not happy about it at all. And now instead of coming back in a year, he goes back in 6 months. Please when you read this, say a little prayer for Matthew.

A Couple More Creations

Taa Daa another jar light. This one is for mom. I feel like I should put something around the top of the jar like I did with the last two, but I have no idea what to use. Since mom gave me all these old buttons, it seemed only right to fill her jar with buttons.

Who has seen the Ladyslipper Issue of Mary Jane's Farm? I just found it today at Tractor Supply! I scimmed through it while I was waiting for the kiddos to get out of school. And isn't so coinky dinky that Mary Jane has a part in the new issue about "Rebooting"? Or you can call it recycling your old boots.

For the last couple of years I have been on a mission to find an old pair of boots to "reboot" or recycle into an arrangement. I found a pair at a yardsale several months ago for a dollar. I thought would fit my oldest daughter, but they didn't. I was about to send them to goodwill when it hit me. "No! Don't do that! These are the boots you wanted to re-do." So check them out.

Hallie's horsey blanket will be done soon. This is the first quilt I've ever made. I'm just amazed it's all in one piece. I really wanted to quilt it but I'm afraid I don't have the patience. I'm thinking I'll just tie it instead. And I still need to put the binding around it. The colors really don't match, but I think she'll like it.

Home Done Pillows

These are the pillows that I picked up at the yardsale for next to nothin awhile back. Well actually the one with yellow flower, the horseshoe and the strawberry plant ones are the ones from the sale. The black one I made. I found the pattern/directions in Mary Jane's Stitching Room book. I didn't do the yo-yo's as directed. Mine are bigger than they're supposed to be. But it was fun to make. I just wish I had the patience to make the smaller yo-yo's. It would have had a more dramatic effect on the pillow.

3 down. 4 more to go...

I think I have four more projects to go. There's probably a couple I'm forgetting.

The snowman is finished and I got two more jar lights fixed up.

Our OCtober Birthday Gals

Yesterday evening my sister and I had a birthday party for our daughters, Hallie and Aislinn, at our local pizza joint. Aisi's birthday is the 7th and Hallie's is the 23rd. They are super close and in the same class at school. So Carrie thought it would be nice to have them a birthday party and invite their friends from school. All the kids had a great time.

More Pictures from Yesterday

Isaac and Hallie

Yeehaw! He got it! But then he almost always gets it.

Promises of a Crazy Weekend.....

Well it's off to a very good start anyway. The kids and I went to Wally World this morning to get a few groceries and treat bag fillers. Hallie and I made up the treat bags after getting back home. The treat bags are for Hallie and Aislinn's birthday party tomorrow.

Jeremy and Isaac came down early this afternoon and just left a lil bit ago. the kids spent a good part of the day out running and playing. They are gonna love me in the morning. We have to get up at the crack of dawn so everyone can get a shower before going to church. My mom is going to become a member of her church and wants all of us to come be a part of it.

Anyways before Jeremy and Isaac got here, the kids and I were out in the yard and I was getting some new pics of all of them. I never buy the school pictures. They cost about $40 a kids for a package. I decided to see if I could take some pics and send them off at Wal-Mart and made into picture packages. I didn't get many of Matthew, because Andrew was here and the boys were working on their bicycles.

I also got some good shots of Jeremy throwing a rope. I haven't uploaded that set of pics to my computer yet though. So hopefully I will get those put on sometime tomorrow. Oh and he also taught me how to roll a rope. Ok quit laughin at me! It look easier than it is! I think I finally got it this time. We'll see. Jeremy can always tell when I've had a hold of Cat's rope. He gets it out of the closet and goes to get ready to throw it and it's in a big knot. *sigh*


Then after supper my nieces and nephew came to hang out for awhile. It was a little wild but not bad.

Now tomorrow it's get up early, get everyone in the shower, bake the cake, make something for the dinner at church, get to church on time, have about an hour or two's break, pack everyone back up in the van and go to the girls' birthday party.

I am so gonna be ready for Monday! A day off!!

Thriftin and Craftin

I got my quilt blocks finished up last night for the block a month group I'm in on the Mary Jane's Farmgirl Connection. They are not perfect by any means. I'm still really new to sewing and so really, really new to quilting.

There was this huge yard sale this past weekend. It was a crafter's dream sale. All kinds of things. Oh I'll have to remember to post picks of the pillows I bought at that sale later. Anyways the lady didn't sell everything so she brought it over to the apartments where I work, where my mom lives. My mom filled an shopping cart full of stuff for me. I am getting some really cool ideas. Too bad I have to go to work in a little bit or I would get started on them.

I finally got one jar light put together! I don't how many more of these I plan to make. They're a little more difficult than I realized. I didn't get to use the mason jars. The mouth was too small to fit the candle light through. What I found was a prim looking cookie jar.

This guy is almost finished. I just have to find the fur to go around his hat and bottom of his sweater. I'm thinking some jingle bells and of course he needs his wreath and he will be all set. I'll post more pics of him when he's all done.

Time to Lose

I have been really disgusted with myself for some time now because of my weight. I have been overweight for several years. I've been doing some research the last couple of days.

I have found out that my "ideal weight" is somewhere between 117 and 141 pounds. I was guessing it would be around 150. I don't want to get "skeleton" skinny, but I want to lose the extra baggage and get toned up ~ get healthy. So I'm shooting for the 140 mark as a very long term goal.

I have decided I need to start with small goals. Right now I weigh 264. Aaarrrggg. I've never admitted that to anyone but my very best friends. I wouldn't even let my guy help me shop for a belt this weekend. I shooed him off to another part of the store. So anyways I'm thinking I want to set my first weight goal for "around" 230 pounds in the next 6-7 weeks.

Crazy enough, the hardest part I'm having is not with the getting active part. It's the eating right. I need help! A lifetime of being a super picky eater, has ruined me. And it's carried over to my kids. So everyone who reads this, who has any insights, tricks, recipes, exercises, stories of losing weight loss; please please share them with me. The simpler the better.

Lana's Wreath

Lana asked me to re-do her autumn wreath. I used most of what was already in her wreath and then added about another $10 in flowers to it.
I just love working with flowers. I get so lost in what I'm doing I don't think about anything else at all. I get so totally absorbed in the flowers, in the colors, I lose track of time. This wreath probably took me about an hour and a half to put together but only felt like 15 minutes.

Turned the BiG 3-0

The 8th was my birthday. My family and friends had a surprise birthday party for me on Sunday. I knew something was fishy way before. My mom was telling secrets with my fiance and my best friend. Sunday morning, my oldest daughter starts cleaning the house without being asked, told and then threatened within an inch of her life. OK I can see picking up some toys and color papers, but she was doing the dishes and helping sack up the trash.
My mom got me a pretty picture, some shower gel and lotion and a smurfette watch. When I was a lil girl I used to dream that I would turn into Smurfette. My mom and cousin actually thought about painting me blue one day while I was taking a nap. Imagine my disappointment if they had and the paint washed off.
My sister gave me a black cherry candle set (mmmm), a chocolate melter (double mmmm) and a wedding album.
My dad gave me money and Sharon gave me a gift card. Caitie made me a necklace. Matt and Hallie didn't fight- well didn't fight much. Abby gave this cute lil sign for my flower garden. It says, "A Friend is God's way of showing he doesn't want us to walk alone." And then my honey bunny got me the PBR cowboy hunk calendar and a really pretty heart shaped silver belt buckle.
You can imagine the ruckus the calendar caused. Every one of us gals was like, "Let me see! Quit hoggin!" Then mom tried to smuggle it out with her when she was leaving. But now I need to find a belt for my buckle. Matt and I went shopping the other day after his doctor appointment but I came in empty handed.
I wish I had pictures. I'll have to get a hold of my sister and get her to send me some.

And the Winner Is......

susie-kountryfarmgal!! Congratulations! Send me your mailing address and I will get the autumn arrangement out to you asap.

October 17, 2009

We have a date set!! We still need to make sure it falls on our weekend with the kiddos. Next Monday which is also my birthday, Jeremy and I will be engaged for a year.
I'm still just in shock!! I didn't start the conversation. He brought it up earlier on the phone. Jeremy called the date and then told me, "There I picked the day, the rest is up to you." I really never expected him to have to tag along and pick out flowers (even though I joked about it). It's just so WOW to know he wants to get married to know he's happy!!
So much to do even for a little bitty wedding. Why is that?

My 1st Giveaway!!!

I am so excited!! Fall is just around the corner, the kids are back to school. This is one of my favorite times of the year. So to kick off the approaching season, I'm doing my first blog giveaway in a fall theme. I'll be giving away this floral arrangement I made up in awesome fall colors.

To sign up just leave a comment under this post on my blog. I will put your name in the bowl on top of my fridge and on September 8th I will have my youngest, Hallie, draw the winner's name.

Good Luck to everyone who signs up!!!

Boots

I broke down last weekend and bought another pair of boots. After the first pair of boots I bought back earlier this year I said I would never need to buy another pair again. Well I mainly said that cause the 1st pair of boots cost about $170. I've worn those boots about 3 maybe 4 times. The new boots are lace ups. I LOVE, LOVE ,LOVE these boots!!! I wear them way more than the other ones.


Let me just show you-----

This is the pair of Ariat that I bought back in February this year. They're really pretty. They just need cleaned upa little bit. The thing is they don't fit tight enough around my ankels. My ankels are weak and I get them twisted easily.

These are my new ones----


They are Double H. They fit good all around my feet. The only thing is all the lacing. But I'm getting faster with that.

There's another lil glitch. My fiance and I are planning on "someday" having a country style wedding. That was another reason why I bought the Ariat boots. I thought those would be prettier with my skirt. Well I was yappin at my friend on the phone the other night and she seems to think my new ones will work just fine for the wedding. Then last night I took a chance and said something to Jeremy about it. He doesn't always like to talk wedding stuff. Men *sigh* ... Anyways he thinks my new ones will work just fine too. I don't know.

Just Breathe! It's the Weekend!!

Yay!!! Time to relax! The weekend is here at last. The past week was the kids' first week of no daycare. It was a mad dash at times but I managed to get them to school and home from school on time everyday. Aren't you so proud of me?

This morning was our yard sale. It was supposed to be from 8 till 1. We made it till about 11:30. The kids and I figured that in 3 and a half hours we had only made $8 and a small bag of tomatoes so it was time to wrap it up. And not to mention the 8 bucks we made wasn't even ours. It was for stuff we sold that belonged to my sis and her girls and my mom. So the only thing me and the kiddos made was a bag of tomatoes. And that was only cause the neighbor guy had been working in his garden and brought them over. He said he had so many of them anyway and they would just go bad if he didn't give them away. That was nice of him. I like a home grown tomato every now and then.

Now there's a huge pile of yard sale stuff in my living room. Figure out what everyone wants me to do with their stuff. Either they will come and get it or something.

Matt, Caitie and Hallie got to experience roller skating for the first time this evening. I was hoping Jeremy would bring Isaac down too, but Isaac stayed home to play with his cousins. OK it's been about 9 years since Jeremy had been on skates, 15 years since I have been on skates, the kids never. Cat's 11, Matt is 9 and Hallie is 6. It didn't take Jeremy long to get back in the swing of things. Me oh I have turned into such a big chicken. I wasn't too bad till I crashed and landed on Hallie. Hallie was pokin along in front of me. I went to go around her and some kid whipped past us. She went down, I couldn't stop and landed on top of her. After that I tried to do one more lap with her. But I was done. We finally hung it up about 10:30 and came back home.

Aching Hips

Last Friday was the last day of daycare for the kids and I feel like I have been at a dead run all week. Used to my daycare provider would take the kids to school and pick them up, now it's me. Don't misunderstand me, I'm not complaining. Just trying to get adjusted to the change.
Monday wasn't bad at all. But then Mondays are my free days.
Tuesday began my stretch. I started with my spot clean. Had about an hour lunch break to grab a really quick bite and pick up supplies at Wal-Mart. Then off to clean for my new client. They have a pretty carpet, but it's really thick and super hard to push a sweeper over.
Wednesday kicked off with a super cruddy apartment to clean. Scrub, scrub, scrub and it still doesn't all come up. BLUCK!! I thought I would have a somewhat leisurley lunch. I would have if I hadn't had to stand in line for most of it. Grabbed my sandwhich ate it in about 5 bites and ran out the door. Cleaned for animal lovin couple. It's the vacuuming rugs that hurts me here.
Today was wet work day at the apartments. Mop all the floors, scrub all the bathrooms.. .yadda, yadda, yadda.... Afterwards I went to get groceries and on my way I remembered the bad spot I saw in my tire yesterday so the groceries went by the wayside till I guess maybe, hopefully tomorrow and got the front two tires replaced. So that meant and hour and a half of walking Wal-Mart to pass the time.
Now here I am, 1:24 am, dull aching in my hips. I know it's a nerve pinched in my back. It's not just one hip that hurts it's both. What I wouldn't give for a really awesome massage therapist right now. And I'm soooo dreading work tomorrow. Four hours of pushing the sweeper at the apartments. The sweeper is what is tearing out my back.
WAAAA, waaaa, waaaaa. Sorry to whine for all of you. Maybe I won't be such a blubbering fool tomorrow.

KY State Fair

Here's one of the better shots of Brad Paisely!!

-This is Julianne Hough

This past Saturday, Jeremy and I went to the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville. This was my first time at any state fair. We left his house about 11 am and got into Louisville around noon. We really went to see the Brad Paisely concert, but we also wanted to walk around and see the exhibits.

I tried shopping in what Jeremy called the "flea market" booths. But it was so crowded you couldn't really get to the tables. And I wouldn't call them flea market booths. I think of them more as small retail booths.

But really I had a better time checking out the animals, especially the mules and jackasses. They were HUGE!!

I feel bad cause I didn't take any pictures of all the fair attractions, just took pics at the concert. I was last minute gathering my stuff for the trip and didn't pack enough batteries. *sigh*

This is Chuck Wicks Forgive my poor photography. My concert pics never turn out the best.

Here's Brad and Jewel

And there was a special guest, Alison Krauss!!

Stayin Busy

Boy have I been stayin busy here lately! I got my ornaments for the swap finished up and sent off this morning. I have been sewing gobs of yo-yos up. I'm starting to see circles in my sleep. I have at least two pairs of Hallie's pants to fix up. One pair has a small whole in whoo-hah area to stitch up and then I have to lop the legs off another pair and hem them. Poor lil short baby girl. Not to mention I have been workin my tookas off this past week.

Today was the kids' first day of no daycare. I have decided to pull them out. I think it will be better for us. I may have to rearrange my schedule or really bust hiney to get done in time to pick them up, but it can be done.

Jeremy's grandma passed away the other day. The funeral was this morning. I missed it cause I had to work. I put a lil something together and dropped it off at the funeral home yesterday mornin though.

When I finished it, I stood back and thought doesn't that just look like a hat that would belong to a lil ole lady named Lily. I also had to call my mom. "Ok come over here and tell me what you think." That's the call mom always gets when I make and arrangement or wreath for someone that I've never made one for before. Mom will always tell me if something isn't quite right about my flowers. She knows I'm extremely picky and the flowers won't leave my hands until I'm sure they're ready

I forgot to take pics of my ornies for the swap. But I took one of the straw hat I did up.

Another Trip to My Aunt's House

So my aunt is moving and has managed to collect oodles of stuff over the last several years. She doesn't have room for everything so...

Mom decided she wasn't done draggin stuff home. So she sent me back down yesterday to pick up a 40 gallon fish aquarium and stand, huge set of shelves and there was just enough room left in my van for the gate leg table.

At first I wasn't sure if my aunt wanted to part with it. Still not sure she really wanted to, but she has another one she says will work for what she wants to do with it.

I have no idea how old it is. She told me there should be a stamp on the bottom. She never looked for it. I tried yesterday but the lady she got it from put some kind of black stuff all over the table and I can't find it.

Now I'm wondering do I leave the black stuff or try to refinish?

The Wild Child is Finished!!

Now I'm having second thoughts about giving this doll to Daushi for Christmas. I think she's kinda cute in a wild and spooky kind of way, but is Daush really gonna like her. I made her according to what she said she wanted. A black doll with hot pink hair. Tell me what you think yay or no way....

Poor Lil Naked Baby

I started working on Daushi's Christmas present this evening. She told me the other day she wanted me to make her a rag doll. She wanted her to be black with hot pink hair. I have the doll body and her face done so far. I would start on clothes, but I'm not that great with the sewing machine and I really don't want to mess them up. Here are some pics for now. I hope to get started on her hair and clothes tomorrow night. And I found this really cute apron pattern online. It looks simple enough even for me. Cross your fingers. I just love when I get a creative streak going!!!