It's a Bird Feeder!

Remember my last post??? It's been so long, and I have been busy! Those china pieces I showed you created two super cute bird feeders! I actually saw this posted in a craft magazine years and years ago and recently saw them appear in blogland! It jogged my memory about wanting to make one for about TWENTY years! So, not wanting to waste another twenty years without one, I got right on it!

I made two of these adorable bird feeders, spurred on by the fact we have a bird nest on our covered back porch with little baby birds and more birds live in the bush behind the bird feeder!


This was a free $$$ project for me except for the copper caps I purchased for the copper tubing. I had everything else. Most people use a tea cup saucer for the bird seed, but I like the bowls to keep the seed in better. You fill up the cup with water for the birds. Perfect except.................................it's been a week and I have not seen one bird getting seed from them! I am giving them another week and then I am buying a fake bird and setting it on the edge. Just for my own satisfaction!

I have also been busy making the pennant banners for our western/cowboy themed party during 4th of July.

I have them all sewn, I just have to add the ties at the end.

Be back soon!

Behind Again................Naturally!

This time of year is always busy, busy, busy! I am trying to catch up at work with everything put off from tax season, actually clean my house a little, put off during tax season (that's not working right now) but I thought I would show you what has been going on.

I wanted to show you my birthday gift


an apple green enameled cast iron pot made by Lodge! I can't tell you how much I love this pot! Jessie thinks I decide what we are having for dinner by what I can cook in this pot! LOL!

My birthday was in March, and Hubby had bought me a pot, but it didn't have the enamel on the inside. So I returned it and after tax season, he set about finding a replacement. He did Great!

For Mother's day hubby bought me a new camera, for my ebay business. This camera intimidates me!


I have a lot to learn about this camera, but it sure does help me get better pictures! (none of the pictures used in this post was shot with my new camera)

The kids chipped in and bought me a great gift also!

(notice the cute wrapping paper!)

Dooney and Bourke Aqua patten leather purse. Just perfect for the person that carries everything BUT the kitchen sink!

This is the makings of my new project that I will hopefully be able to post pictures of this weekend! Any guesses????



Be back soon!

I Think It's Time! Trying to get back in the Groove!

I am trying to get back in the groove of posting, but it is hard when I haven't done anything crafty or done any sewing. I have been working on my shrug, slowly but surely, very slowly! (see previous post)

Tax season is over so I should be doing some of those things soon! I guess I will have to do another recap of things that have happened since my last posting........

February 2, 2011 was a special day for us!

Hubby and I celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary,

and Jessie got her braces off! Yeah!

and just to let you know how weird I am, I became obsessed with this house.

I passed this house occasionally on my way to my second job. Yep, I had to go by to see when they actually took down the Christmas wreath and lights. At first I thought it was great that they didn't have them ripped down by the first of January, but then January turned into February and the lights shown like a beacon guiding my way to work! (This picture was taken in the middle of February.)

I told you I was behind! I will also tell you it is really hard to get a picture of a house while driving down the road! Kids don't try this! It is dangerous! Do as I say, not as I have done. I learned my lesson! Pull over and look like the stalker you are!

Anyhow, I quit my second job at the end of March and they were still glowing, even with daylight savings time. I finally went past the house last week and guess what, they were down. I was beginning to think this was Gretchen Wilson's home (Redneck Woman)!:)

Be back soon!

Crocheting..............Dusting of the Needles

Renee over at GoosieGirl's posted a crochet project that looked super simple and super cute! A super simple shrug! I haven't crocheted in a long time, and I do not know many stitches, but this project had the two stitches I knew.

So I tested my long retired skills with left over witch hair.


Then I tested again with some turquoise yarn that was hanging around the house.


I was then ready to begin MY shrug. This is the start of it that I began on Super Bowl Sunday.


A week later.........


And today......

Funny how you can see all your mistakes in the photo's but not when I am sitting there crocheting. I am just enjoying the process.....mistakes and all!

I just hope I finish before Spring get here!

Be back soon!

Makes You Wonder...........

Last week I sold a beautiful Ralph Lauren sweater on ebay.


It was too bad this 99 cent sweater was a small! So it went on ebay. This is where I had to send the sweater after it was purchased.


Uh mm REALLY? The only women I see working at a place like this, look like this..........(we have a tattoo parlor on the first floor of our office building, that is how I am privy to this info)

I am dying to know the story here. I keep wondering .........

Did a man that works there buy it for his girlfriend, the whole Opposites Attract theory?

Did a woman buy it for something to wear to the PTA meetings, or dinner with Mom and Dad, who don't know about her tattoos, or possibly for a court date?

Was it a gag gift for a fellow worker?

Doesn't it make YOU wonder????? What do you think??

Be back soon! (as soon as a person who works at an accounting firm at this time of year can be!)

Recap Part 3

While out thrifting the 99 cent day at Goodwill, you see a lot of cute things. If I was a size 2 or a petite, I could be a well dressed person!! But I am not.

One day, I saw the cutest paisley pleated skirt in every Tennesseans favorite color - Orange! I was ecstatic to see that it was new with tags and it was MY size!! Woo Hoo! I really felt like I won the lottery! Super cute, new with tags and MY size! I snatched it up quick!! What do you think?

I did manage to find the perfect orange sweater to go with it. Unfortunately, it wasn't on the 99 cent rack. I had to pay $2.98 for the cashmere sweater.

I love this outfit! It is so comfortable and cute!

Be back soon!

Recap Part 2

Jessie made some angel tree toppers out of those badminton birdies. Aren't they adorable?



I told Julie about Martha Stewart's tissue paper pom poms. Thinking she may want them for wedding decor. She tested them out in red and green Christmas tissue paper.

They turned out great and they were simple to make! I think they are a keeper for wedding decor! Just not in red and green.

Jessie and our granddaughter Katie made the BEST chocolate chip cookies ever!!

and they used my recipe..........how does that work??? Mine never tasted that good. Reminds me of when I was growing up. My sister Tami's chocolate chip cookies always tasted better than mine. Must be the technique. I just don't have the magic touch for chocolate chip cookies!

Be back soon!

Recap Part 1

Recapping things that happened while I was gone (from the blog). Jessie finally learned to french braid hair.

She actually managed to do her own hair here. It took watching U Tube over and over again, but she finally managed to do it! Yeah Jessie! I can't even do that!

Since she was successful with that, she learned to do the fishtail(?) U Tube to the rescue again! (What did we ever do without U Tube?)

Here is my hair, with Jessie's talent, sporting the Fishtail! Pretty cute! I did add a ribbon to cover up that big black hair band at the base of my head.

Be back soon!

Guess Who Has Their Learner's Permit?

Well, the baby of the family has her permit. She had to take the Old "Paper" test (the computers were down) and she received a perfect score! I even like her picture on the id, of course she doesn't.


This is scary! I really hate this part of being a parent! I am too nervous for the actual teaching part. I did the HARD part of taking her to get her permit and being interrogated by the DMV. (Trying to prove you are you are a legal citizen of the U.S. requires a lot of documentation.) Dad is going to have to handle the teaching part!

I was talking to son #1 this weekend and he told me as a kid he didn't understand why I was nervous, but now at the ripe old age of 28 he understood completely!

Congratulations Jessie! Be a safe and courteous driver! I know you will do good! Love you!

Be back soon!

Thrifting Intuition?

At the end of July I was thrifting and saw a gray metal cart with wheels. Price $6.99. It rolled really nice and smooth. But I didn't need a cart! I walked away to look at the books. Something drew me back, I kept thinking I had to have it! I picked it up and paid for it, all the time thinking Hubby will not be happy with this purchase! Where are you going to put it? What are you going to do with it?

I didn't even bother getting it out of the car when I got home on Friday. I just didn't want to hear all the questions.

Late Saturday afternoon I was taking Son #2 and his girlfriend Julie to a BeerFest in Nashville. (Hubby was on pick up duty) Julie gets in the car and looks at the cart. She ever so sweetly asked if I saw another one at a thrift store if I would buy it for her. She really needed one for her classroom to put her computer on.

Sunday we spray painted the cart a pretty blue color and off it went to Julie's classroom!




Thrifting Intuition is great! I need to just learn to accept that "Pull" even though I don't understand it!

Don't you love that sign above the white board?

Good News! Son #2 is now an employed teacher! He is teaching Science to 7th and 8th graders!

Be back soon! (with a Pottery Barn Knock Off!)

Tip of the Day

buy a large burner ring (or two) for the stove to cover your pie crusts. Much cheaper $$$$$ than a purchased pie crust ring, and a lot better than burnt crust!

Pecan pie - a favorite around here! If only there was more pie left from the weekend!

Be back soon! (Hopefully with something crafty or sewing related!)

How to Tell You are a VOLS Fan

When doing laundry you have a separate pile for Orange clothing!

This photo was from Son #2 doing his laundry. I thought it was hilarious!

Be back soon!

My first Tiffany & Company Purchase........

.........from a thrift store! Brand new with the tag still attached. This is a little bedside crystal pitcher that has a cup that fits in the top of the pitcher to use as a lid. I think it would be perfect for using in a guest room!


Do you see that aqua tag on it??? That is what drew me to the item. So what did I pay for this treasure????

What a deal considering I have seen these for years (just not Tiffany & Co.) and loved them!

I also found some nice silver trays at half off - $4.00 each.


You see that smaller one in the corner of the picture??? The one with the twisted edge?? Sorry - forgot to bring my camera with me to work to do this post. (On my lunch hour of course!)

Well I turned it over to clean it up and guess what??

Another Pottery Barn find! Somehow I am always attracted to this brand!

I need to get my silver polish out!

Be back soon!

Preparing for Mom & Sister's Weekend

I will be hosting Mom & Sister's Weekend this year. It is from October 7th thru October 11th. I was working on the menu for the long weekend. I was going to have "Soup Night" - Beer Cheese and Broccoli Cheese soup (can you tell I LOVE cheese?) I decided to test a recipe for bread bowls that I have had for years!

It's supposed to be so simple to take frozen bread dough and create the bowls. Well they didn't turn out exactly round and they were way too small! I guess I will have to try again! Darn! I will be forced to eat the samples again! Maybe I need to make the soup too!

Be back soon!

A Free Chair

My friend Janice brought me a chair that was "abandoned" in the hallway of her new offices. At least no one came hunting it down for the five minutes it sat there. Just kidding, she let it sit there for DAYS!



I loved it from the minute I saw it! I immediately thought I would paint it white and the back part that has scratched up leather I would replace with some neutral linen I had, maybe even add a little padding, and use brass upholstery tacks around the edge! Then I was gong to make a cute ruffled chair cushion with the same linen. It would definitely look fantastic in my sewing room! You can imagine it right?? It would look great! It did have a little flaw though....

the seat had a crack in it. No problem though. I would add a metal brace underneath to keep it from splitting anymore!

Here is where Hubby enters the picture! He unloads the chair from my car and say's it would be sacrilegious to paint the chair, this is an antique and should be restored to it's former glory, and I cannot put a brace underneath it, it needs to be totally reglued, blah blah blah...... So here it sits in my dining room, while we are at a standoff!

I created another of my stands this weekend, but this one didn't come out as I wanted. It was a metal candlestick glued to a cheese dome. For some reason it orange kept coming through the paint on the candlestick part.


I had started with spray paint, and then I used kilz (still there) and then I used bush on paint. Nothing will get rid of this orange color! I'm not quite sure what I could try next!!!

Random question? Why are pinwheel steaks not available in the spring, winter or fall? I really have to go out of my way to find these in the summer.

I marinate them in worstershire sauce and grill them! Ummmm a family favorite! I sure would enjoy them at other times of the year. I can never buy enough to stock in the freezer either. They only have a couple of packages at a time!

Be back soon!

My Hydranges

I am so proud of these! I think this is the 3rd hydrangea bush I have planted. The other two died! I finally found the perfect place to plant it! Each year I get more and more blooms!

Be back soon!

Amazing How Drugs Can Help You.......

I finally caved and got some medicine for my sinus infection.



These extra strong antibiotics at least let me enjoy Jessie's Graduation on Saturday from middle school and let me feel human again!

I took a four day holiday weekend and tried to rest and do as little as possible. Son #2's girlfriend Julie did a lot of work for me this past weekend. She de-cluttered and cleaned my dining room!!! And if that wasn't enough, She cleaned and organized my spice rack, my bake center and my open pantry! I feel so much better just looking at the clean organized work she did! Thank you Julie! I love you!! She is coming back in July to help me organize and clean my sewing room! I am soooo lucky!

While I was feeling bad and laying around, I started this book...........really good!

While cleaning the open pantry, Julie found this book, it was published in 1987.


It had several recipes flagged to try. So today after dinner, I decided to try the Monterey Jack Crisps. You just take Monterey Jack cheese, like this, slice and


cut into squares, sprinkle with chili powder or cheyenne pepper (I used chili powder)
and bake at 400 degrees for about 6 minutes. (You almost think they look like they are burning) Drain on paper towels.

They are nice and crispy! I think these would be great with a salad. Jessie said the first taste was okay, but by the third bite she liked them even better! My taste buds still are not back to normal, but I think they are pretty good, but greasy.

Hopefully I will be back to my normal self by Thursday!

Be back soon!

Busy As A Bee This Time Of Year!

You would think since Tax Season was over I would be on easy street, pumping out exciting new creations! Uhhhh No! I have been so busy catching up on things that were put off till after April 15th and all the end of the school year events, Son #1 getting married and............the list goes on!

In the midst of all this I have been suffering with a sinus infection and feel awful! But life goes on and so must I!

Here is a picture of a "Shower in a Box" my family gave for Faith. It was a week later due to the floods in Tennessee and some of Jessie's events being pushed back. (actually it was done 30 minutes before they were married in the U.S.)

This is the cute "Invitation" my daughter Amber sent out.



Aren't they adorable! Amber did a great job on the invitations!

It was my sister Lisa's idea that we do this. We had given her a Shower in a box when she got married! She loved it! (her's was actually mailed to her)

Here is Son #1 and Faith getting married in Chattanooga.


It took about 3 minutes! Actually it went so fast, it was hard to get a picture! No time for crying or anything! The big ceremony will be taking place this Saturday in the Dominican Republic. They were worried about a foreign marriage and the legalities, so they decided to get married at home in the back yard by their pool. They are leaving tomorrow and Saturday they will have the official marriage. Exactly one year to-the-date from when he asked her to marry him!

Jessie will be graduating from 8th grade on Saturday. on to High School! Jessie had her awards banquet on Thursday. I was too sick, so Hubby took her. When she came home, I was shocked! Jessie had received a $1,000.00 scholarship award! Wow! I am so proud of her!

See I told you I was busy!

(if this post doesn't make sense, I am blaming it on being sick!)

Be back soon!