Look what I found.

These are growing out of a crack on my patio! I can't believe it's November and I have Snap Dragons blooming! What a nice little reminder that beauty is all around us even in places we'd never expect. I hope everyone has a beautiful Thanksgiving.

Furry Friends Friday

My name is Raja and I came to live with my family in August of 2008. I am a white tri color rough collie. As you can see the collar in this picture even though a small one is still too big for me but my mom has it as a keep sake since I've outgrown it. I guess fridays will be about me and sometimes our bunny Harvey. I can't wait to share more of me with you!!

Nothing Much

Well the school year has started and we have adjusted pretty good, although I can't wait for the time change this weekend! Claire and I both have a bad cold but we're getting better, and I hope she'll be better by Halloween. I've been working on a crazy quilt pillow and will be starting a couple of brooches for gifts....(if they turn out) my sister gave me a pattern booklet by Judith Baker Montano on how to make them so we'll see. I hope everyone has a great week!

Puzzle Piece

I think I've got it! This is my first try at a puzzle piece, I really want to be in the exchange for these. I just have to find out what everyone is backing these with. It is such a wonderful idea!
I've been a little busy these last couple of weeks with Claire starting school and getting back into the schedule....especially for me, I am so not a early morning person ...yawn...I'm getting there but it'll probably take me a few more weeks to feel as they say Bright and Chipper! ( so not me,wheres the coffee?) Well I'm off to the book store to pick up a book..Everyone have a great week!

Learning along the way

I've always been a kind of in a hurry type of person but, with the help of Claire, I'm learning to slow down and take note of whats around me. Instead of being so concerned with whats ahead lets look at whats in front of us..Is that something shiny on the ground? pick it up and take a look , we'll get to the place up ahead but lets enjoy where we're at. Yes I'm learning to walk a little slower...and with the help of Claire I'll stop and pick up more things to look at and admire.

My finished chicken!

I finished my chicken! Each time I do one I learn something new, whether its a new stitch ,or how to dye lace. Everyone is so helpful! Thank you all.

I wish I had a better camera this one doesn't take very good pictures. Have a Great Day everyone!

Crazy Quilting and Lace

I think I am truly addicted to crazy quilting! This is a project I'm working on for my sister . I couldn't get any lace that was dark enough so I dyed it following the directions out of a book. I love how it turned out! I just love the colors in this so I'll have to make myself a pillow or something out of the left over fabric! See I don't even finish one project and my mind is going onto the next!! ( My sisters and friends say I talk the same way...) Have a great day ..week...month

Butterfly in our garden

I was so thrilled to see this butterfly in our garden! Isn't it beautiful! We have a book on butterflies so I've been trying to identify them when I see them. I think this one is an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. Oh how I wish I had more time in my garden.
Have a wonderful day everyone!

We did it!

Yesterday Raja and I went for the Canine Good Citizen Test and she passed!!!! I was so excited!!! This week we are going to check out the Rally class and see if it's something we'd like to do.

Camping

We just got back from the most relaxing and enjoyable camping trip! I wasn't sure how it would go or if Claire would like it . She not only liked it she LOVED it! Once she ate breakfast she was off and running , daddy and her took morning hikes which left me to peace,quiet, coffee, and nature for about an half hour every morning. The weather was great and the night stars were awesome... we even saw the Milky Way... I haven't seen that in years! Hearing owls at night ( and Raccoons getting into my sisters box of cereal , she heard them and saved her cereal!) and all kinds of birds in the morning. Nature trails that we saw deer, toads, frogs, plants,and a snake to Claire's delight!! It was great and I did remember my camera so I will have lots of pictures to scrapbook. I feel refreshed and recharged. Have a great summer everyone!

Raja Graduated!

Tonight Raja graduated from obedience class, she did wonderful and I was very proud of her. I really enjoy working with her. I'm going to sit in on a Rally-O class, and an Agility class and see which one I think we could enjoy together. When she is older and a little more settled I think I'd like to use her as a therapy dog. I wish I had some pictures of tonight but once again forgot camera ( so did my sister....runs in the family!) I didn't take my purse ( no where to put it). I'll take some new ones of her and post them soon. Has anyone done Rally or Agility with their dogs and if so what was it like and how hard to learn? Everyone have a great weekend!

Claire getting ready for dance class!

Claire was soo excited to go to dance class and just loved her new leotard and tights and Silky Shoes!!!

She's come a long way, she didn't start walking until she was 3 and now she's dancing!

You just keep on dancing Sweet Pea!

Busy Week

It's sure been a busy week once again! I'm hoping things will slow down a little! Claire started dance class and I have some pictures!!!!Yes I didn't forget the camera this time. (Thank you Pearl I put it in my purse!) Now I just have to take the time to put them on my blog!! Raja had obedience class on Wednesday and did great!! I was so happy! I hope to get her Canine Good Citizen this summer. I'll try and get those pictures on tonight! Everyone have a GRAND day:)

How to add on a new thread?

Can any of the tatters tell me how to add a new thread? I was working on the double sided edge and ran out after the the ring I did. Thank you for any suggestions.( Oh I'm using a single shuttle!)

My first attempts at tatting

I've been trying to learn to tat! I love it!!! As you can see my picot's aren't equal in size, so I've more work to do. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to keep them a uniform size? If anyone has any suggestions at all I would be thrilled, I've always admired tatting and can't believe I was able to do this much. I'm hoping I'll be able to add it eventually to my crazy quilting stuff!

My Crazy Quilt Pillow

I finished my pillow, I'm pretty pleased with it as it's one of my first attempts at crazy quilting ,ribbon embroidery,and embroidery in general. I already have material to start a purse, I just have to find a pattern I like.

The lost art of letter writing

Remember the movies where the lady opens the chest and there neatly wrapped in ribbon is a stack of letters? Well When my son went to boot camp and sent letters home I kept them all and wrapped them in ribbon and put a tag saying they were from Matthew and the year .

I loved putting confetti in letters and cards ( much to my niece's dismay),and kept unique stamps. I loved going to the Ben Franklin's and picking out stationary and matching envelopes and stickers! At times we would use pantie hose cardboard that the hose were wrapped around,and draw & color on the front and write the letter on the back and make our own post cards!

There was something about going to the mail box and hoping for the much anticipated letters from friends or pen pals (my pen pal was from Sweden). I like emailing but still miss the letter in the mail box, the thrill when you see your name hand written,the excitement of sitting down,opening it and reading ( again,and again). The sheer joy it brings to your day.

Whew.... What a week!! and it's only Tuesday! Sorry about the lack of pictures, I just can't seem to remember my camera these days and I am truly upset with myself tonight as I went to my nephews (3) school play tonight and I couldn't believe I left without my camera! I think I need to start pinning notes to my coat! Remember those days? Did your Mom's ever do that to you?

Meet Claire

This is Claire! Our lovable little girl who has Down Syndrome. She smiles more than not and has the best melt your heart hugs! She loves going on bike rides with us but this year we've ran into a problem..she is to big for her seat anymore ( knees hit my seat ), I like having her behind me so I can talk to her and show her things while we're riding.We thought about one of the tow behind things but they seem so far back from you. Any suggestions?

Weekend Treasures

These are some of the treasures I found this weekend! My niece didn't want the little heart stool anymore so I took it home and painted it. I found the gloves in my mothers cedar chest, the doilie is from an estate sale, and the heart from one of my favorite shops!

The beginnings of my Crazy Quilt pillow.

This is the start of my crazy quilt pillow. You cant really see the

embroidery ( that's probably a good thing since I need a lot more practice.) I really enjoy this,, I'm learning new stitches and I even did a couple of things with silk ribbon!, not to mention looking for the little things to add to it like buttons etc.!So much fun.

Raja and I walked this evening around the school, tomorrow is obedience again and I'm trying to get her ready for her Canine Good Citizen testing. It's been another pretty hectic week so far and it's only Tuesday! Laurie once again pulled through and helped me get my Crazy Quilt pillow started ( yes I figured out what I wanted to do with my fabrics!) I really enjoy looking for all the little laces and things to add to it. I'm going to have to brush up on my embroidery, some stitches just aren't looking like they should, actually they weren't looking like anything I've ever seen!! So I decided to stop for the night and do some blogging. I hope everyone has a good day tomorrow, and enjoy Spring!!!!

This is Raja my 10 month old collie. Wednesday night she graduated from basic obedience and will now move on to intermediate. I really want to try her at agility, or rally. She's a pretty good girl still has her puppy moments but quite the character at times. Her and Claire are best buds which is amazing in itself as Claire was so afraid of dogs until we got Raja. Sometimes I feel like I have two children the way they tease and pester each other at times.

Well we are still in the process of moving my mom. It finally is starting to look like were getting somewhere. I am planning a kind of surpise mothers day tea for her at her new place to help her feel more at home, so I need to get busy and get some invitations made and figure out the snacks!

What a week!! Between doctors, dentist, helping pack up my mothers house, and the general running around, yesterday topped it off......I dropped everything I touched!!!!!! My coffee ( twice) silverware, and my sugar bowl, which I finally gave up on and just left on the placemat,leading to my husbands question of " whats with the sugar bowl?" I told him it won, and I was waiting until later to stand it upright again and it would surely save us on sugar! Has anyone ever had a day of dropping everything they touch? or is it just me? Well have a great drop free day!

Vintage Handkerchiefs

My sister just returned from her trip to Iowa and brought me back some vintage handkerchiefs, I thought they were very pretty and couldn't wait to show them.
I like to use them as doilies,they are so pretty. I especially like the handmade and embroidered ones. I often wonder what the woman was like that carried it.
I think they are so feminine and even bought some ( new ) and now carry one in my purse and even gave one to Claire for her little purse.
If anyone has other ideas of how to use them please let me know.