Busy, busy, busy!

 Can't believe I've been gone so long.  Have been really busy crafting and getting ready for a craft show this coming weekend and the next.  I've taken a few pictures of things, but just haven't been in the mood to sit still long enough to post.  Thought I'd better let you know I'm still alive!!!

Have had my yearly check up with the doctor, and I'm doing great.  All blood work came out great.  Guess it was to my benefit to have lost a few pounds.  A few did creep back on, but I can still zip up my jacket, so I'm not too worried yet!   That sure is a terrible way to keep track of weight gain.  My scale is kaput - not working, so need to get a new one. 

Anyway here are some pictures:

Here are "boot cuffs" made out of faux fur.  Makes your boots look like you have muk-luks.  You can wear them with these Ugg style boots or any boots, even dressy boots.  Can be worn as leg warmers even with shoes!  Very messy to make.  When you cut into that fur material, there is stuff floating all over in the air! 

 

Then I've also been making more "endless scarves", long faux fur scarves and also painting and redoing some furniture pieces.

This is a planter.  Painted it with Annie Sloan Chalk paint and hand waxed it.  There are two of them.  One is not completely finished yet. 

 

 

My favorite of the endless scarves I've made.  This is grey knit with lace.  Have 20 plus other endless scarves that I've made out of various silks.  They are pretty too.

Here is the cream faux fur scarf, and there are black ones too!

 

I've been thinking I need to open an Etsy account and try to sell through there.  Have any of you had good luck with that?

Also have children's pillows and pillow cases.  They are cute too.  All packed up for Sat., so not digging them out to take another pic right now.  Will take some pics of the set up at the craft show for you. 

Glad I took a little break to write.  Should have done so sooner.  I need to get back into the swing of things and do some reading of blogs too.  Haven't even been good at that lately.  Altho, I have been following the news of the storm out east, praying for help for all in need.   Hope this finds all of you well and getting ready for winter to set in. 

JoLynn

 

 

Chalk Painting!

What you say?   Making chalk boards?   No  - - - - - -    Painting with a new paint by Annie Sloan from the UK.  It's called Chalk Paint and Leah and I went to Fargo for an evening class yesterday.  We each painted a picture frame, and learned about the paint.  It is water based and so easy to work with.  You can use this paint on anything without preparing the wood (no sanding of existing finish, etc.)  It can be used on metal, wood furniture, floors, walls, etc.  The paint is distributed in the US down in New Orleans in the French Quarter. 

All we needed to take to the class was a frame to paint.  I did the one on the left.  The base color is Primer Red, and it dries so quickly, that we had our frames done in less than 1 1/2 hours.  The second color is Duck Egg Blue.  After the second coat dried, we then sanded it lightly.  Leah's base color I believe is called Cocoa, and the top coat of paint is a white, but I can't remember the exact name.  After it's sanded, you use a wax paste, rubbed all over.  Left to dry overnight, and then polished with a soft cloth.  So easy.

   Katie and Leah, with Leah's finished frame.

Our great instructor Katie was so fun to talk to.  Leah and I were the only two in the class last night.  There was suppose to be more, but they didn't show; so that made it easier to really visit with Katie.   She and her hubby moved here from Georgia a few months ago.  She is anxiously waiting to experience a Fargo winter. I would say Katie is probably about Jessica's age, and in visiting with her, we also found out she is a Doula.  I did not know what that was, so we learned about her becoming a doula, what they do, etc. and she will be flying home to Georgia to be with her best friend when her 3rd baby is born in November.  

Here at the Eco Chic Boutique, there are many eco-friendly items for sale besides the paint and painting supplies.  There are baby cloths and accessories; eco-friendly cleaning supplies;  furniture already painted and upholstered; and jewelry; old luggage, some  already fancied up and some  ready for  you to do yourself. There are eco-friendly things for your pets too.   Leah and I are also going over to Fargo on Saturday to Eco Chic's sponsored Junk Market on Sept 22nd.  It is from 10 am to 4 pm.  Should be another fun day!

I've already started some other projects with the paint I purchased.  I'll show you as I get further along with that project!    

I hope you're all enjoying this cooler fall weather we've been having.  I know I am, except I'm tired of this very windy dry weather we're having.  Our fall colors won't be so pretty, as it is so dry here.  I'm enjoying the cooler evenings and being able to wear a sweat shirt once in awhile!  The only thing I dislike about autumn, is that winter is now right around the corner!

Straw bales!

It's that time of the year again!  Love late summer and going into fall when we get the combining done, and bale straw; when evenings cool off a little and days are still warm.   Preparing for another year with oats in the bin to be used this next season to mix with the peas and minerals, grinding up for hog feed each week.  We still had some oats in the bin, and the corn bin will be almost empty by the time the corn is ready.  Wish we'd get a little more rain.  Our yield on the corn is hurting now, with the cobs just not filling up well because of the heat and no rain.  Maybe we'll get some rain this weekend.

Last evening granddaughter Amanda and fiancee TJ, son-in-law Steven were here to bale hay.  Amanda and TJ are getting married in August 2013 and will be having an outdoor wedding.  She wants straw bales for everyone to sit on.  So they did the work.  Hubby Steve drove tractor.   After the straw was baled, Steve and Leah took it to their place to keep in the barn for the wedding.   Spose we could have waited until next year to bale it, but the wedding is in early August, so that brings it pretty close to their date, and they don't need to have that to worry about doing, so close to the wedding date.

 These pictures brings back memories of all us, our three girls, out there helping bale hay and straw to feed their horses and straw for bedding for them.  It was always fun, and of course as our girls got older and the boys were hanging around, there was extra help.  No one ever complained - it was expected that they helped and with everyone working together, and a big meal afterwards we all had a good time.  Ended up dusty and dirty, but a good bath cleaned you up just fine.  Always sat around and visited afterwards, just as we did last night.  We ended the evening with yummy pork burgers and fresh corn on the cob!  TJ had a bottomless pit - counted 3 pork burgers and several corn on the cob!!!  Oh to be young and to be able to eat as much as you want!   Love cooking when food is enjoyed!

Just starting out!

They each took turns - filled two hay racks, and then the rest of the straw will be make into the big round bales.

Of course, you can't bale straw without the twine breaking a few times!!!!   Look at the bird in the sky in this picture.  There were hundreds of black bird or crows in our row of trees and they scared them out.   Next picture shows "some" of them.  They've been getting fat on the oats that were on the ground and before combining.

Makes for a weird picture.  With all the different flying patterns!

Odda waits patiently for me and always by my side when I'm outside.  We've let her in the house many days this summer because of the heat.  She had hot spots, and I had to cut her hair around those spots, so they'd heal up.  Now the hair is coming back, and we've been keeping her cool, and she was on some meds also so she would leave the sores alone.  They itched so bad, that she was constantly biting and chewing at them.  I felt so bad for her - but now she is doing good.

Here's our pup Putzer!  He is now about 6 months old.  Still pesters Odda all the time, that's why I can't seem to get a good picture of them together just sitting.  That doesn't seem to happen.  Putz is always wanting to play. 

Thanks for stopping by, and hope you're having a good week. 
JoLynn

Hungry babies!

Daily I've been checking one of the bird houses that wrens have made a home in and have some (don't know how many) babies.  They are now getting bigger, and also stick their heads out when food is coming.  It is hard to tell if  Momma is in there with them.   I've been busy trying to get my weeding caught up and have enjoyed watching them.  They are noisey little things!

Have a great day!  It's a beautiful warm day here today. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Jo

More pictures of Renee - Trip to Minnesota and on the way home, stop at Auntie Steph and Cullen's.  Renee got to help on her little farm, and ride horses!

Her own little hay ride with Spotty.  Steph and Cullen enjoyed having company for a few days. 

I'm sure I can hear her say, "I can do it!" 

Renee and Steph on a trail ride.  Look at the "new" cowboy boots Renee got from her Auntie and Uncle!

Isn't that just the cutest! 

While at Steph's, they went two days on trail rides.  Bet Jess and Floyd were pretty sore after two days of riding!  Now that is all that Renee talks about - every horse she sees now, is named "Skoal", or "Fatboy"! 

Here she is at our house with Jessica's old horse "Jack"  now 25 years old.  Looks as spry as ever!  He now is other Amanda's (other granddaughter) horse and when Jessica is home, he comes to stay here for a few days. 

Lots of green pasture for Jack, and see the two beef cows in the background.  Now also have two new calves.  I haven't been close to them yet.

See how Jack's ears are listening to her, she is pulling the reins a little and saying "back" "back".  telling him to back up.  Wish Jack could live another 20 years to teach this little girl all the basics of riding.  He is such a good horse.  We'll see, maybe he can live another 6-8 years. That will surely be a very tough time when he goes to horse heaven.  He has been such a great part of the girls lives.

Got to talk to Renee this morning on the phone.  At least she said a few words to me.  Most of the time she doesn't like to talk.  But today she said she loved me "more", when I told her I loved her!
Sure do miss them - a whole bunch!  Wish they lived closer.

A busy week here.  Hubby, Steve has been working every day at the county fair at the pork producers booth.  They sell pork burgers, taco in a bag and hot dogs, pop, and chips.  They have been there every day, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat and now Sunday.  He is one very tired guy.  The pork producers use the money they make to put back into 4-H'ers pockets.  At the livestock auction, they buy the premium for kids pig projects.  That way, the kids get a reward for their year's project and have money for next years project.  They support 3 county fairs with the proceeds from their pork booth.
Hard work, but something he enjoys doing.  Gets to visit with a lot of folks.

Have a great Sunday everyone.

We got some badly needed rain early Monday evening.  After 100 degree weather during the day, we had a storm come in, loosing power for just over a 1/2 hour; hard rain and wind.  The sunset sky after the storm was very pretty.  Then I checked my garden, and had to set up the chairs that the wind blew off the deck.  Spose tomorrow will also be hot and muggy.  Is that the kind of weather you have been experiencing also?

Checking out the garden earlier today.  Still have birds in the houses.  I'm not sure what kind of bird this is.

The daiseys were standing up pretty good before the storm.

Almost flat.  The ones standing have something in from of them! Oh well, that's what weather does.  No worse than the dogs stomping in through the garden.

I noticed the pretty sunset when I put the dogs in the kennel for the night.  Then walked out west past everything, to the open field to get some more pictures.

Don't think I've seen such a pretty sunset in awhile. 

Good night Sun!

Today was Renee's Birthday. She is 3 years old!   We did celebrate when they were here too, but they celebrated this evening with other grandparents in Louisiana tonight.  Mommy and Daddy got her a little Mustang Barbie car - a two seater so a friend can ride along!  She's going to love this little car.  Sure am missing her.

Off to bed I go - another late night.  Had charlie horses last night  that woke me up.  They hurt so darn bad.  Made sure I drank a lot of water today, and took two  potassium pills instead of one today.  So lets see how tonight goes.  I think if I ever have an attack of some sort and scream out in the night, Steve would sleep through that too.  I'm sure I moaned last night because it hurts so bad, and I can't get them rubbed out.  Had them in my thigh on one leg, and the calf on the other at the same time!  I try pushing my heel, etc. but that just didn't work.  Almost makes me not want to think of going to bed.   Plus I have about 10 canker sores on my tongue that hurt like H...   Had to go to the dentist today to get regular check up and teeth cleaned, etc.  The doc noticed, as well as the hygeniest and said they had something to give me.  But as I was leaving, everybody, including myself, forgot about getting it.  I'm on the down hill of the canker sores, so will just keep doing what I have been.  Salt water rinses, glyoxide rinses and another tube of goop for canker sores that I've been using that make them hurt like H... for awhile after I put it on.  Oh, then the dentist found a cavity (been having trouble w/hot and cold on the left upper back side.  But couldn't pin point to what tooth was the problem.  The xray today did tho, and the dentist wants me to go to an Orthodontist to have it pulled, as there is no tooth on the bottom , and she says it's useless.  So will have to check into that too.  yuk.  Hate going to the dentist!
Well Good night everyone - have a good Tuesday!

Jess, Floyd and Renee made it home safe and sound about 6 pm today (Sunday).  She said it is very hot there too!  I'm sure getting home and being able to sleep in their own bed will feel great tonight.  I'm about ready to go to bed here too.  Have a lot of picture to share with you, so here a few more.

 My header picture is of one of the kites we flew one windy afternoon here on the farm.  Jess and Renee were flying this one, and the one I tried to keep in the air was sure a dud!  It'd stay up a little while and then take a dive!  Can't believe how bad I was at flying it - don't usually have that kind of trouble!  Consequently I don't have a picture of that kite!

Fish and Turtle Kite!

I watched Renee one afternoon while everyone else was gone, and she helped me in the garden. We picked some flowers and these were the last of the peonies. 4 nice big fluffy pink ones. I didn't have as many peonies this year. Must have been due to the dry fall and no snow this past winter.  I'm glad they lasted a long time in the vase. Rene also picked some daiseys that were just starting to flower. Here are pictures of their demise.

After picking some daisies, she tried to pick/snap off a marigold.  That just ended up with her pulling up the "whole" plant.  So after replanting the marigold she was content to quit with just the daisies.

She put them in her own little container.  Didn't want to leave them alone, so I let her continue!

Some of her flowers didn't have very long stems, and she just pulled the flowers off the stem!

So then she starts suffing her hand into the little vase, pushing the flowers into the water.  She was having fun.

TaDa!  All nicely stuffed into the glass!!!   Then she wanted to start in on the peonies, but I wouldn't let her.  I wanted to enjoy them a little longer!  So we kept her flowers on the table the rest of the day so she could show everyone what she picked!

Later that evening, granddaughter Amanda and TJ came by.  We had been waiting for them, as other family members were already here, and we were sitting out by the garage wondering why they were so late.  But they came and had special news for us all.  TJ had just proposed to Amanda and she sure wasn't expecting it.  He'd told her he had wanted to stop at the lake and jump in for a short while to cool off.  They were at the dock and Amanda was sitting on the dock w/feet in the water, and he kept asking her to stand up, and she wouldn't.  So finally he just asked her, and as she was telling us the story, she said she jumped up and told him to re-ask her so he could get down on his knee!  It was a cute story, and they are so happy.  Her ring is beautiful.  That evening she just couldn't stop smiling, and even had a tummy ache.  Think her nerves were catching up!

Proud and happy Mom and Dad.  TJ had talked to them previously, but they hadn't known when he was going to ask Amanda.  Now the fun begins of planning a wedding.    

We ended that evening by playing a few games of bean bag pitching.  I think Amanda and Jessica came out the winners.

   

Hope all my Canadian friends enjoyed "their" day today, and we will have a busy week and also celebrate on Wednesday the 4th!

Have a great week everyone!