Just wanted to share with you a pic of a wall in my new kitchen. I said I wasnt keeping any of my old stuff, but I just could not part with this collection. Part of it is family heirlooms, and the others are collected. The white shelf is actually part of a door facing that was in my husband's house as a child. The home is well over 100 years old. The family tore down a wall that had a door in it to make a room bigger. I salvaged this piece. I think it turned out pretty good.

I have such a new respect for all you gardners out there. Yesterday, my gardening cousin directed me in the landscaping of my lawn. Now, I don't garden mind you. I don't. My mother had the unique ability to jab a stick into the ground and have something beautiful develop. Me? I have the ability to take something beautiful, and have it develop into stick in record time. I did keep an open mind though, and let her choose. For once in my life I did not argue. Well, not much. Every time she chose a plant or a tree I would remark that I hoped I did not kill it, and then she would say cheerfully, "Oh this one is easy to grow." I figure those are either gonna be famous last words, or the start to a miracle within myself. Only time will tell. We dug and dug. sweated, and then dug some more. I ended up looking like I did when I was 5 and making mud pies with those old pot pie tins. Today, everything on my body is sore. But! My yard looks pretty good. Hopefully it will stay that way.

Dear Lord, it's such a hectic day
With little time to stop and pray
For life's been anything but calm
Since You called on me to be a mom
Running errands, matching socks
Building dreams with building blocks
Cooking, cleaning, and finding shoes
And other stuff that children lose
Fitting lids on bottled bugs
Wiping tears and giving hugs
A stack of last weeks mail to read
So where's the quiet time I need?
Yet when I steal a minute, Lord
Just at the sink or ironing board
To ask the blessings of Your grace
I see then, in my small one's face
That you have blessed me
All the while
And I stop to kiss
That precious smile

Here are some pics of my grandson playing in the rain. I apologize for the quality of these pictures. They were taken with my cell phone. Sometimes when those Kodak moments happen, you just have to use what you have. I knew if I went in to look for my digital camera, it might be over with by the time I got back outside.

Here he discovered he could catch it in his mouth.



totally drenched after deciding to take a "shower" in it.



Sometimes the best things in life are as simple as playing in the rain.

Things that I found on the net this morning that made me smile....

I absolutely adore anthropomorphic veggies. Especially on vintage style towels and potholders. I would love to find a table cloth with veggie people on it some day.



My favorite flower...



What a gorgeous needle book!




Click here for the needle book pattern.

This last pic may offend some people, but hey, I think it is cute. It reminds me to always try to find the good in things. Go out today and find something that makes you smile. It makes ya feel good. Enjoy the little things in life.

Mother's day of course makes me think of my mom. Sadly, she has been gone for 22 years now. She was taken from us when I was young. If I could see my mother again, this is what I would tell her.

I LOVE YOU

I am sorry I didn't help you more. I did not realize how hard you worked. I know now what holding a full time job and taking care of a house and 3 kids is like.

I wish I had spent more time with you. I wish I had taken the time to really know you, and for you to know me.

I wish I had learned more of your talents. I should have asked you to teach me about gardening.

That time you asked me to mop the floor when you had gotten home from the hospital? I should have done it. That football game was not that important. I am sorry for that.

I am sorry for every smart comment that ever came out of my mouth. I am sorry for any time I raised my voice to you.

If I ever made you cry like my kids have made me cry, I am deeply sorry for that too.

And mom, I hope there were times in your short life that you were proud of me, I hope I made you smile, and I hope you were happy being my mother. I have learned lots from you. Your grandchildren are wonderful. Despite all the ups and downs, I think I have done a pretty good job with them. You would love them immensely, and they would love you. I tell them about you often. Your memory lives in my heart, and there it will safely stay. Always. I miss you.

This post is for my friend Heather who is an aspiring crafter. You remember, she is the gal who gave me the light bulb snowman for Christmas. I am so proud of her budding talents and her ambition.

Here is a crafting site I go to for inspiration and little pick me ups. It truly amazes me what people come up with. Heather....I fully expect to see one of your creations on here some day. :-) Just click on projects button at the top, and you are on your way.

We are finally in our new home. I hope I never, ever have to move again. We still have lots to do. Mainly, sort thru a garage crammed full of 12 years of stuff I don't have any idea what to do with. I will be having a yard sale this weekend, and am hoping that on Sunday, I can begin to get my craft room into existence again. I miss it!

We do our final walk thru on the house tomorrow afternoon. If all goes well, the closing is Wednesday morning. Then the madness of moving begins. I am not looking forward to it at all. Been in this place almost 12 years. That is a lot of accumulated stuff let me tell ya. However, the good part is I will be having a doozy of a yard sale next month!

Angie of lovetheprimlook has tagged me! I am to share six non-important things/habits/quirks about myself. Hmm....this one will require some thought. Let's see...

1. I have to sleep with covers on, no matter how hot it is.

2. I drink iced tea with no sugar ALL day long, no matter what season it is. I don't care if it is 5 below outside, it's iced tea for me.

3. My favorite number is the number 3. I don't know why. It just is.

4. I am a salt fanatic. Yes, I do realize that my salt addiction will catch up with me one day.

5. I am terrified of driving. I will drive local if I have to, but anywhere else, forget it.

6. I have terribly ugly hands!!

Here is my contribution to Babycakes Speaks challenge to find the worst recipe in print that you can find. I cannot imagine what this must smell like while cooking, and I don't even want to THINK about the taste of it. GROSS!!! Ok, ready or not, here it comes.....

LIVER LOAF
1 lb. beef liver
1/4 cup water
1/2 lb. ground lean, fresh pork
1 cup soft bread crumbs
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup Heinz Tomato Ketchup
1 tablespoon Heinz Vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Heat oven to 350° F (moderate). Simmer liver 5 minutes in just enough water to cover; drain; chop. Combine with remaining ingredients. Press into greased loaf pan (8 1/2" x 4 1/2" x 2 1/2") or 6 custard cups. Bake 1 hour for loaf; 30 minutes for custard cups. Let stand for a few minutes; loosen from pan with spatula or knife; unmold. Garnish with parsley. Makes 6 servings.
No nutritional information given. That's probably a good thing.

This recipe was actually printed in 1957. It can be found in the 57 Prize-Winning Recipes booklet. It rounds up all the "classics" from the $25,000 "Cook With Ketchup" contest.

Now that I have solved your dilema on what to cook for dinner.....

Sometimes I get the whim to do other crafting besides sewing. There are many other things that should be priority to me right now when it comes to spending my time. However, I ignored them, and spent my time making these instead.

This one will be for my front door.





And this one for my back door.





I am satisfied mostly with the front door wreath, but the back door one, well I don't know. Guess it needs to grow on me. I think I should have done it differently, but too late now.

Oh my! I am going to be sooo late for work! Spent too much time here. Warning: If you are on a time schedule, do not go to myluckychicken. You will get lost. Promise.

We will be closing on our new house in about a week. Try as I might, I cannot seem to get motivated or excited enough to get my packing done. I mean, a week?!?!?! Talk about procrastination. I think I am halted by all the massive amounts of stuff I have aquired in the last 12 years. I mean seriously, who really NEEDS 4 complete sets of silverware or 24 white stoneware salad bowls?? Not to mention 8 rubbermaid totes of fabric. Large totes. Really large totes. Garage sale here it comes. Not my fabric though. No, that stays with me. I have found some interesting things while doing what minimal packing I have done. I have comprised a list.

1. The cat toy that I bought for my cat when she was a kitten. It was hidden in the darkest corner of the hall closet. It was the cutest little fabric ball that crinkled when she batted it around. Now it looks like a big fat dust moozie that even my moozie mop refused to touch. Did I mention that my cat is 3 years old?

2. The Christmas tablecloth I could not find this past holiday. Yep. There it was. All folded nicely, wrapped in tissue paper, neatly tucked away in the drawer of my china cabinet. Hey, in my defense, it was on the bottom, and it was covered with tissue paper.

3. Five sets, (count them....5!) one a duplicate, of those cute little cheeseball knife/ server thingamajiggys. The question that comes to mind is WHY? I had no idea I had more than one set. Each set is a set of 4. That makes 20 little knife thingamajiggys. If I had that many cheese balls or that many people in my house at once, I am either being raided or dead.

4. The birth certificate to my son's cabbage patch doll. It was in among some photos that are filed away in one of those fabulously cute photo storage boxes. Yep. He was really inventive with his name too. Robert Allen. He gave his doll his middle name. Funny......he is now 24 years old. And he did the same thing with my grandson. Gave him his middle name. And yes, I still have Robert Allen. Kaleb Allen will have him in his possession in about a year.

5. My 17 year old son's Do Do. That is pronounced with a long 0 sound. Not as in poo poo. My son would have a fit. Do Do is, or was, a bright neon green dinosaur that let out the most tortured noise when squeezed. Sounds like a cat with bad gas being squeezed around the middle. Do Do was my son's constant companion. Do Do was my peace at night. When I heard him let out that awful wail, I knew my little boy had rolled over in his sleep, I could rest assured my son was moving and still alive.

6. A package of Barbie doll shoes I bought and put back for my neice when she got older. She is older now. Not a bit intersted in Barbies either I imagine.

7. 3 packages of straight pins. I dont know. Don't ask.

8. A slightly rusty cast iron skillet that I had good intentions of fixing one day. I would. But I am not sure how.

9. More fabric.

10. Clipped and scribbled recipes. TONS of them. Years worth. Was gonna organize those in a notebook one day. I dont think that day will ever come.

I am sure as I progress, there will be lots of other things I can add to this list. Will it ever end??? At this point, I don't think so.

Alzheimers is a subject very important to me. I see it every day in my job. This story just breaks my heart. Please read this, keep this family in your prayers, and please, if you have seen these two, call the number on the site.

http://missingfryes.blogspot.com/

My pumpkin colored bird on a spring is headed to Butler, PA. Thank you Tracee!


My vintage style pinkeep will be making it's new home in Festus, MO. Thank you!

Well, hubby and I put an offer in on a house this afternoon. Our first ever. Still can't believe we did it. We should know by Wednesday if the seller has accepted or not. Trying not to get too excited here, but I cannot help but think of all the decorating I will get to do!! Believe it or not, I will not be going with the primitive look this time. I have been into primitive decorating when it wasnt so cool and definitely not popular. Way back when I was a newly married, 25 years ago. I got lots of puzzled looks and odd comments that is for sure. My dad used to say, "Don't show that to Terri Jean. She will hang it on the wall." LOL!!!! He was right. I will be passing my primitive torch to my sister in law. She has come to love primitives recently, so I will help her out by donating my collections. Not sure what style or colors I will be going with, but I do have some thoughts.

I will of course still continue to make my prim dolls. That is a love I will never grow out of. Of that I am positive!

Angie of Love the Prim Look has tagged me! I am to name 6 non-important things (habits or quirks) about myself. Oh my am I in trouble. I have a lot of quirks I think. Here goes.

1. I have a phobia of driving.

2. I can't stand for the food on my plate to touch.

3. I dislike my cellphone very much. I just dont like being that accessible. I would rather not carry one, but my hubby insists.

4. I love dill pickles and onions together.

5. I have occasional dreams that come true.

6. Cannot step on the cracks of a sidewalk without cringing and thinking of that childhood rhyme, "step on a crack, break your mother's back"


I tag...

Lisa of Craftyeladycreations

Kelly of Mystical Entities

Flora of Bonehead Studios

Pea of Pea Pickers Primitives

Visit this site for a very enjoyable trip down memory lane. I had to laugh when I saw the Frito Bandito eraser. I can remember my neighbor and friend throwing hers up into the ceiling in our first grade class. It got caught in the light and proceeded to stink up the whole room. We didnt say a word, but Mrs. Vincenzi kept commenting about the smell!! Wow....that was waaaaay down memory lane.