Creating a blog header….

It was so cool that all the work I did making my own blog header people liked. I had a couple request on how I did it so I’m going to explain it to you.

Since taking pictures of my computer for step by step instructions wouldn’t work to good, I’ll just tell you step by step in words and since you know me, my words are easy one it shouldn’t be hard to understand.

First thing I do is open Picture it (use whatever program you can that lets you either open up pictures from your computer, download ones from a site you like and change them or add to them). I used a picture that came with my program, the one with trees and such.

This is the one I choose. After I opened it up I used the add texted and put in the Engine 3 and The life of Riley. I played around with the way I wanted it to sit. I liked the slanted look and wanted to put more then just Engine 3 on it so added The life of Riley because of our last name.

Then I just minimized this program and opened a new folder on my desk top and went and played in my pictures to see what I wanted to add to my header. I wanted a little bit of this and that so people can see just what I’m taking about the life of Riley. The I just added the photos I wanted. With my program the pictures I choose open up huge but I just kept working with them and finally got the sizes I felt  best.

When I was happy with all that I did, I saved it to my desktop. Be sure to name it so you can find it when you get that far. I used blogheader, as my name.

Now to the importing and setting up.

Go to your blog. Sign in. Depending on if your blog opens to your blog page or to your posting page you need to click on either the customize from your blog or lay out on your posting page. In the header area is an edit word, click on that. It will bring up your current header, click on remove image and there will be a browse button, click on that and you know you saved your picture to the desktop so go there and find your picture. Click on that. On the placement part (under the picture you just put on there) click on instead of title and description. Also be sure to click on fit to size button, that way if won’t be huge on your page.

That’s it, all done. It’s so cool to have designed something yourself.

Is this clear enough to understand? I sure do hope so.

Now I want to learn to how to add my own background. It’ll come and when it does if you want me to I can teach you that too.

Please tell me if this works for you, if not I’ll try and help you figure it out.

Thanks for reading.

 

Award…

Kayla from http://theeclecticelement.blogspot.com/ was so kind and gave me this award. It was such a treat to find her in my mail box this morning telling me about this. So now it’s my turn to hand it down. Thank you Kayla!!

The rules are like this….

- put the lemonade logo on your blog
- nominate at least 10 blogs with great attitude or gratitude.

- link the nominees within your post.
- let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
- share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

So who, pray tell, am I going to pass this on to? Let's see...

1. Kim at http://ubercrafter.blogspot.com/

2. Melissa at http://melissasheartandhome.blogspot.com/

3. Anitra at http://ifmamaaint.blogspot.com/

4. Annie at http://astonesthrowfrominsanity.blogspot.com/

5. Joanie at http://joaniesworld.blogspot.com/

6. Tiffany at http://songbirdtiff.blogspot.com/

7. Michelle at http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/

8. Paula at http://scrapfxnz.blogspot.com/

9. Lori at http://bedifferentactnormal.blogspot.com/

10. Karin at http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/

You know what, it’s not easy doing this. There are so many great blogs and people that it’s hard to pick 10 but here’s my choices for this wonderful award. These great ladies have given me inspiration, support, ideas, laughter and so much more. Thank you everyone.

Now it’s onto more cool blogs and ideas. I have a few letters to write and a phone call or two to make so better get going.

Take care you all and have a great Sunday. God Bless!!!

 

Comments…..

Oh guys, you just don’t know how happy it’s made me to have some comments. I love getting my mail in the morning and have the comments sent there. It puts a smile on my face and just makes the day so much brighter.

This week I will put together a tute on how to make a personal header for your blog. I’ll start working on that this evening and if lucky maybe even get it done by Monday.

It’s already 30* out there this morning, yeah….. we won’t freeze our butts off selling Christmas trees. I’m going to have Mike bring his CD player for Christmas music and also the scouts cookbooks. You just might never know, someone may want a new cookbook for Christmas.

I’m off in a short. Take care and oh the sunshine, get out there if you can and just soak it up because they are talking it’ll be leaving again shortly and up here it seems we’ve had so many more days with clouds then sunshine. Since I’m solar powered it’ll be nice to recharge my batteries so I’ll be out there.

God Bless my friends, have the most wonderful day!!

While out blog looking tonight….

I came across this site  http://www.beading-arts.com/2009/11/bead-jewelry-blogging-round-up_27.html  and it reminded me of the www.wordle.net website and my tote that I had made. It is so cool seeing things in other places. I just had to show you my tote again. I haven’t sold it yet but haven’t tried really hard yet. Maybe this coming craft show someone will like it.

It is so quiet here tonight. For the first time in a very long time I’m the only one up, everyone else is in bed. I don’t have to be up at 4:30 tomorrow morning, I even get to sleep in, so instead of going to bed I’m on my computer playing and just finished watching the cutest movie on Hallmark.

But it is that time, good night my friends, sleep well. God Bless you all!

Did you know….

That it’s not terrible hard to make your own header for you blog? I finally got up the courage to try it myself and I’m happy with the results. Now I need to learn how to make the background, that I think will be more of a challenge. Anyway, if you want to learn how I can tell you if you e-mail me and ask. I suppose I could do a tute if anyone is interested. Ask and you shall receive.

My daddy just came for a visit so gotta go see what’s up. Have a great evening.

Kids Christmas Card exchange…

The girls finished up the cards for their exchange. They did a great job and the boys helped for a little bit but their attention spans are like gnats so the girls finished them up. They are now ready to head out to all over the US, Australia and the United Kingdom. I hope that they get a few back.

 

The Christmas gift exchange I did with a few others hasn’t panned out yet. I know I sent off my gift and it was received yesterday and I do hope Cindi liked it. But you know, it’s not about the getting any ways, it was fun just being part of things and knowing someone is getting something from us, well that’s what counts the most. We help up our end of the bargain.

It was a great day here today. With no school I had my house full of DC kids plus Mike took the day off from work and Scott came over so it was just plan fun watching and playing with them all. This is the life I love, having all these kids. At times I wish I had more kids but it is very nice at the end of the day to have a quiet house.

Tomorrow Mike works the Boy Scout Christmas tree lot. They are selling trees and wreaths again this year. I’m hoping for a sell out year, which we usually do or get pretty close too. For Mike Boy Scouting is coming to a close, not that he’s leaving the troop but now he’s just about 18 and is already an Eagle Scout it’s a bit more of a challenge keeping him busy. Our troop has formed a Venture Crew with is for scouts 14-21 and ours is doing pretty good. Last year we did the BWCA trip, next year will be a White Water Rafting trip plus we have outdoor things though out the year. Paintballing, golfing, camping …. and bowling, swimming and game/movie nights. Boy Scouting is a rewarding experience that I think all boys need, even a short time in scouts teaches them a lot.

Well I’m done for the night. I hope you all have a splendid weekend, I’m planning on it. Now take care and God Bless!!!!

Link to my guest post….

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!

http://www.middayescapades.com/2009/11/handmade-holiday-gift-chalk-boards.html 

If you get a chance check out my guest post at midday escapades. I think it turned out pretty good and so far two people commented on it and like it also.

We just finished up a great dinner that Jim prepared. We had ham, potatoes, corn, dinner rolls and later on a berry pie (most of it from my garden). I am so full. Jim is napping already and Mike and I are just putzing on your computers. This morning I made some jewelry for my up coming show.  We had a power outage this morning, for about 3 hours. I kept wondering about people that had their dinners already in the ovens. I hope it didn’t bother them to much. We went out and got the generator going just in case the power didn’t come back for a few more hours. Since we have wood/ hot water heat we need to keep the pump going to circulate the water so we have 3 generators for that just in case. I like being able to be self sufficient if we need to be.

Anyways, it’s time to go and see what else is happening in this big world of ours. Take care my friends and we have so many things to be thankful for so remember to thank your great Lord for all he has bestowed on us. I know I am.

God Bless you all my friends.

Done folding paper….

I’m done, I don’t care to fold any more paper right now. I would not make a good scrap booker or card marker, I’m just not into paper that much but I do have to say these turned out really nice plus they are hardy. I sprayed them with two coats of sealer so Justin can put them out on the kids tree. I do have a couple of hints when following the instructions I posted yesterday. When folding the stripes,,,,,fold two at one time, it’s faster and a bit easier (I think) to get the lumps all the same size. Now mine are far from all the same size but i did have little hands helping me too but it did make it faster and easier. The rubber bands and a book made not having to hold them nicer too. I used buttons from my button stash so all in all this craft costed maybe a buck. Just replacement cost on the glue and two sheets of .25 paper that I used 1/4 of. 

Today school gets out early so we are going to work on our Christmas card swap. I got the names and addresses of the families we are exchanging with and we have the United Kingdom, Australia and the US. When we did the letter swap the kids just had a blast looking on the world map and seeing where they were coming from so we’ll do that again with lines and dots showing where the cards are heading. A good way to learn just how far it is and where it’s located.

Tomorrow I will be a guest blogger at middayescapes. I’ll be sharing the link when Lynn sends it to me. I am so excited and honored to be on someone else's blog. Please check it out and also check out her blog. She makes me think, smile and laugh.

Okay time for breakfast for my little ones. Justin asked for eggs and sausages so that’s what we’ll have. It is so nice always having fresh eggs.

Have a great day my friends. God Bless!!!

Promised pictures and craft challenge #2….

Mike’s guitar recital went pretty good. For most of them this was the first time for them to be playing guitar. The teacher showed how they had learned most of their cords and more plus each group played a short song. I was the proud mama, just like the other parents that came. I didn’t get to great of pictures though but do have a group one I’ll share with you. My mama and daddy came with too along with my DC kids. It was fun watching the kids watch Mike, it took them a few minutes to pick him out but once they did, their eyes didn’t leave Mike to much.

 

Now I can introduce to you, mama chicken and her babies Chix and Chuck. They are a shy bunch and didn’t want to look at the camera but here they are none the less. Chix and Chuck are 4 weeks old and will be living in the shed all winter since they’re to little to go outside for the winter. I think the mama’s a bit lonesome so when I feed the other chickens and feed the wood stove I leave the door open so they can all have a good visit.

And last but not least, Craft Challenge #2…..

I found these ornaments at http://soscrapbookingkits.blogspot.com/?expref=next-blog  so thought I’d give it a try. After reading it a couple of times and practicing I didn’t do to bad. I did change a couple of things, like using clothes pins to hold the paper together to dry, using a rubber band to hold the circle tight and after gluing on the button I left the binder on and put a book on top and let it all sit instead of me holding on to it. I’m not a good waiter so I usually figure out an easier way to do something (or at least I try too). Today I’m going to look for Christmas paper, I have to go to Ben Franklin’s and return a paper punch so will see what they have there. I only need a couple of sheets. This is a cheap craft, not to time consuming and Justin loved helping cut the paper, finding the button and tomorrow, after I seal them, he can hang them on the kid tree. So here’s the picture….

Now I’m off this morning so am taking mama shopping. I need to stop at JCP and get my ring fixed. Remember the ring mama bought me? Well the pearl fell out now for the second time, thank goodness for that life time warranty, I wish it had prongs on it or something. They told me to wear it all the time so I do but I hate now not having it for the holidays. I would of love to show it off to my in-laws on Thanksgiving. Oh well can’t change that part.

Everyone take care, have a splendid day and as always, God bless you all!!!

You have got to listen to this….

I got this from my dear friend Mary and when you have the time you’ve got to go listen to this. It’s Amazing Grace sang as you’ve ever heard it before. Take this link and go……

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF1xkcrvTwU

Have a tissue ready, you just might need it.

God Bless my friends.

Craft Challenge #1……

Well here is the first ornament of the Christmas Craft Challenge.  Remember this….  http://scrapfxnz.blogspot.com/2009/11/christmas-craft-challenge.html  So here is my first ornament that the kids helped with. We went leaf picking last Friday and then pressed them in a magazine under my lab top for a day and then Saturday I Mod Podged them and put glitter on both sides. They rested yesterday and then today I sealed them, Justin help me cut ribbon and then put them on our little kid tree on the porch. Here’s what they look like.

 

Today is Mike’s guitar recital at school. He’s not scared or worried just not happy about it. I’ll take a couple of pictures and share with you tomorrow.

Now it’s onward and upward to laundry and vacuum and then the kids and I are going to go out and look for pine cones, more leaves and feathers. We need some big feathers for our headband we’ll make for Thanksgiving. My daddy has geese, I have guineas , ducks and chickens so I’m sure we’ll have plenty of feather to choose from. I have also got to take a picture of mama chicken, her baby and her “chuck”. She hatched a chicken egg that was hers and a duck egg we snuck under her so that why she has chick and chuck. I’ll try and do that today to share with you tomorrow too.

So have a great day today, take care and enjoy all the wonderful blessings our great Lord has given us. God Bless my friends.

Oh goodness, I forgot to tell you….

That Brenda loved the napkins and holders. She is excited to use them for her first Thanksgiving in her new home. While I was there I had her pick out a grad picture of Mike she wanted (you know what, not one person has picked the same one yet, it’s so cool seeing what others see in each picture and what they like about it) and also Mike had given her a little book of pictures he made up for her. She’s a lot like me, loves pictures.

Anyways, I had to tell her what she thought. Now it’s time to fix some eggs and sausages for breakfast. Take care my friends.

Christmas Craft Challenge

Good morning. Here’s a cool idea for any one interested (and you don’t have to have a blog either cause you can tell me about it and I can post for you if you want me too), starting December 1st and running though Christmas I have committed to making 5 new holiday crafts. They don’t have to be big, great or anything, just something for the tree, something for the holiday table, some other decoration or even a goodie or a treat. If you go to …… http://scrapfxnz.blogspot.com/2009/11/christmas-craft-challenge.html  you can read all about it. The bloggers name is Paula and she asked the blogging world if they wanted to participate in this. Well I’m interested and I bet some of you might be too. Her idea was to make a new item every day or every couple of days, well as you know there’s no way I could do that so I poised the question if I could do one a week or every 5 days or so and she said it was just perfect, not a problem. I have a few ideas already and I’m also going to have Justin and Hannah help me make a thing or two and when the big kids are off from school I bet we can make something new too. I bet in the end I’ll have more then the 5 but it’s easier to start small and work up then promise something I might not be able to get done.

So anyways, check this out and if you’re interested either click on Paula’s link and leave a comment or tell me and I’ll pass the message on. This will be a fun thing to do and just think of the other ideas you just might find from someone else.

I hope you all have a splendid day today. I have an extra little one who is just a doll and loves coming here when she can. YEAH!!! A great day. Take care and God Bless!!!

Will she like them?

I finished up the napkins for Brenda’s birthday. The holders I got from a seller on Etsy (that was after I tried to win them first, remember the post? ). I don’t want to make another napkin for a while, they are a bit tedious. But I think they turned out okay. It’ll be perfect, I think, for her first Thanksgiving in their new house. So here’s what they look like…..

I have enough fabric left over to make a runner for my table (I love the color on my table, like here with the napkins). I think a bit of gold accent would be nice but not sure what yet. Just ideas.

Of course I haven’t gotten to the totes yet. I had a great idea that didn’t pan out though, I thought rag rugs would make great totes. Only problem with that, my sewing machine refused to sew though it. I broke 3 needles before giving up. So it’s back to my original idea.

So take care my friends, have a blessed day today. It’s suppose to rain here but we’ll see. God Bless!!!

Fun stuff is done…

I got to do the fun stuff first. I made two more of the Christmas ornaments and the necklace/bracelet set. Here’s how they turned out. Now it’s unto the zipper in the jacket and other things. But first, had to share these. I do need to make a light box because they are so much prettier in person then in pictures. But you get the idea, I hope. :o)

   

The kids and I played outside for a bit and then had a picnic but was just a bit chilly for that but they sure didn’t mind. Now they are napping so my turn to do a few things. Anyways, just sharing.

I sure do hope you are out enjoying the sunshine. It’s 46* so far today, a heat wave compared to what it’s been and going to be. My daddy is still trying to get his deer this year but it just isn’t happening. Seems that’s been happening a lot up here. We’ll see by Sunday what the big count is, wonder if it’s normal or down some.

Take care, have a great day and God Bless you all.

Leaf pendant

I wanted to share this with you because I was looking in junk magazines (you know the kind that comes at Christmas but you can’t afford) and wanted it, really wanted it especially since a leaf. Here’s what I came up with for 1/100 of the price and also the picture and price of the one that is a bit nicer but not in my price range.

 

 

 

So what do you think?

Okay it’s onward and upwards to a bracelet/necklace set for one of my parents, a zipper to be replaced in a parents daddy jacket, a plastic bag holder (like the one I made for my mama) for one of my parents mama, napkins to go with the napkin rings I ordered for Brenda, totes for the kids and ………….well you get the idea, lots to do so little time to do it in but I’ll get there, hopefully sooner then later.

Take care my friends, have a blessed day.

Found it….

Remember when I said I knew I had saw the how to on making the magazine bags? Well I found out where it was. Go to …..  http://artmind-etcetera.blogspot.com/2009/11/how-to-make-recycled-bags.html  It’s here. I never wanted to take credit for someone else’s idea or work so thank you Mitsy for sharing. I did change her idea just a little bit by adding duct tape to the handle area to make them more durable. Also instead of a page from a magazine, use the cover if it’s pretty, it’s hardier too.

Okay, done for today. Just wanted to be sure I give credit where credit is due.

My hubby….

I don’t ever say a whole bunch about Jim but I wanted to share something with or your hubby if he wants to take a peek. We bought this on an e-bay auction and you’ve got to see what Jim turned it into.

Here’s the before……

Now the after…..

It is a Haban mower. It was suppose to mount under the garden tractor and now it’s a 3-point hook up. It works wonderfully. His next project was this….

He does such great work.

Now to share Mike’s accomplishment…

Remember the Civics' project for school? Well here’s how it all turned out…

 

The Food Shelf was so happy to get Mike’s donation. Mike got to learn quite a bit about the food shelf and how things work and here’s a kicker for everyone, they serve 200 families a month. That’s a lot of families, that is a lot of food so…..if you can, donate to your local food shelf. They need it and they do such great things for people/families in need.

Now something for me….

I have been asked to put together a guest post appearance at www.middayescapades.com  It won’t be for a couple of weeks or so but Lynn has asked me to do a “how to” on the chalk board frames I made. So this week I’ll be working on this. It tickles me pink to think something I did just might be something someone else is interested in.

I hope that you all had wonderful weekends. Mine was too short but they almost always are. Tomorrow I have an extra set of little ones to take care of, they’ve never been here before so I’m expecting they’ll be a bit frightened but they are the same ages or close to as my other little ones so it’ll be good after awhile. Busy though but something I love.

Take care my friends, Have a blessed week.

The more we express our gratitude to God for our blessings, 
        the more he will bring to our mind other blessings. The more
       we are aware of to be grateful for, the happier we become.
               - Ezra Taft Benson

 

My days off….

I could tell you I got everything done on my list but well that’s not true at all. I could tell you I finished up all outside projects but again, that’s not true. I can tell you I spent 9 hours shopping with my mama yesterday and spent way to much money but did save a ton too. Mama and I went to Kohl’s. They had their 70-90% stuff out plus I had a 30% discount thing from the mail so we went nuts. I know I can’t afford it but hey, that’s what they make payments for and to surprise mama with everything that she had picked out, well it was more then worth it. I even spent money on me, now that’s not something that happens unless it comes from garage sales, thrift shops or friends. Mama and daddy are going to a concert in Minneapolis on the 21st and now can go feeling like she looks as pretty as she is. I even can go out to Thanksgiving dinner with my in-laws and not feel quite like a farm girl, though really after being married for 30 years if they don’t like what I look like, then don’t look.

So far on my list of things I wanted to get done I made my mama her plastic bag holder, see….

 I got the kids frames and chalkboards finished up, see….

I made this cool bag from a magazine cover for Kim to hold the glass from the frames I’m giving her. I can not for the life of remember where I found the idea, so if it’s yours I’m sorry please tell me so I can give you credit. I did however change it a little bit, I used duck tape behind the handles so they won’t tear as easily, see….

And so far this morning I did get my rugs cleaned and invited my daddy over for broiled steak and homemade apple/blueberry/cranberry sauce. But ….. the sauce was frozen solid so I thought, hummm…I can slowly nuke this and it’ll thaw for lunch time…. see what happens when you nuke frozen sauce…

 

It exploded in the microwave and I hurried over  there to see what was what and you know that the stuff in the jar can get a good 2” above the jar before spilling all over? At least it’s not attached to the top of the microwave like the eggs I made for the boys the other day. That is another did you know…..Did you know that if you hurry to nuke an egg it explodes worse then the sauce and sticks everywhere? It does, it’s happen many times but once in awhile it really makes a mess.

Well I’m off, after dinner with daddy I’m going to start to make three different totes for my DC kids Christmas goodies and I want to start working on hot pads for my DC parents too. Figure I’ll add them to the gift baskets the kids make for their parents with candies/cookies we make for them.

So take care, have a blessed rest of today and a terrific weekend. It’s back to work for me tomorrow but off Sunday and back to a normal work schedule on Monday. I have really enjoyed my three days off or at least partly off since I still have after school daycare.

God Bless you all!!!

I’m off today….

With no kids until 4:30. A different kind of day in the middle of the week. In fact, for the next three days it’s like that. A mini vacation before the holidays. It’s back to the normal hours and times after this week. The plans I have, the work I have to do, the ideas and what am I doing?.. sitting here playing on my computer. Oh well, I have to do this too otherwise what fun is a day off.

I have a couple things to share with you today. Since I am going to do some sewing today I was out and about checking things out and came upon this site…  http://whipup.net/2008/11/18/colossal-list-of-tutorials-boxes-containers-baskets-buckets/comment-page-1/#comment-679925 You gotta go there and check things out. There is a spot on her site that has a colossal list of tutorials for boxes, pouches, bags…any type of containers you can make with fabric. I am sure Kim brought me here, either from before or somehow. Kim makes the coolest bags, boxes and all. Me, not so good but I’m learning. Anyway, have a minute?.. check it out.

Now for what I’ve been doing. No sewing yet but I did get the black boards done. I think I’ll still do some painting on the frames. Not positive yet but maybe.  See….

The picture isn’t the greatest but you can’t use flash because of the flash but you can get the idea. On the piggy chalk board I put a magnet strip on the back and put it on my front door so we can leave notes for remembering on it.

Now today I’m going to make my mama a bag holder, one for my sister too. Then a ironing pad for me. I need to start making the totes for the kids’ Christmas goodies. There’s also the feet warmer, hot pads and I really want a table runner but not sure what out of yet.

So that’s that. I also need to shampoo the hallway and bathroom rugs on my days off and I’m betting since I’m doing them I’ll do the living room too. Tomorrow is my mama day. We are going shopping for groceries and I need chicken feed. Just a normal shopping but I love going with my mama. I need to get my cleaning job done this week too and make a couple lunches for my husbands store. All little ways for me to make up some much needed cash in order to stay here with my little ones. Summertime I always have enough little ones to make ends meet, wintertime is a bit harder but I figure it out. A bit of this and that helps along the way.

So take care, have the most blessed day today. Thanks for taking the time to read what’s happening here.

You know what????

I read in so many blogs about comments. Everyone enjoys hearing from people and most blogs have a counter or analytics or something that helps them just see how many come and read their blogs and so few people leave comments. I know at times it’s hard to leave a comment because you have to click on something a couple of times because it says can’t leave a comment but if you just keep trying it happens. I so love it when someone leaves me a comment. I try and do the same when I visit someone blog. I love getting my mail in the morning and finding an e-mail that says someone left a comment.

Well it’s a beautiful day outside so shortly the kids and I are heading over to see great grandma and grandpa. I finally got my tin cut for the chalkboard/magnet boards for the kids and last night got the first coat on them. When I get ‘em done I’ll share with you. I also painted an old cutting board I don’t use. I don’t like using wood for a cutting board (to many horror stories) so it’s now going to be a piggy chalkboard. Mike has a cash box he made a long time ago and uses it for a saving box and usually writes the total in marker on the top but now will have a chalkboard type top to use. The paint is so cool to use, I still want to do a spot in a cupboard too.

Okay so now it’s time for the 4th breakfast of the day. Let’s see, there’s Anton and Jon’s at 6:40, Mike and mine at 7:00, Jim’s at 7:15, Hannah and Justin’s at 8:30. You should see my kitchen when all of that is over with. Between the eggs, toast, cereal and fruit plus juice cups, milk glasses….oh well I bet you get the drift.

SMILE, it’s a sunny day today and already 30* and suppose to make it to 60*. Yippy. Take care my friends and God Bless you all.

Back to status quo….

After a fretful weekend, and really just fretful in my brain because my heart knew it would be taken care of…..things are back to the way they’ve been. Sometime people just need to vent and get some support and see where other people are coming from and then the right decisions can be made. I have said all along that my heart and soul know that this is where the Lord wants me to be but sometimes my brain asks how. I appreciate all the prayers and support I get from you all. Keep praying that this daycare family finds some peace and can be happy with what life is dealing right now. As for me and mine, we will praise the Lord and keep plugging away.

I hope you all have a terrific week and remember all the blessing the Lord has bestowed on us. Love you and God Bless!

Prayer request….

One of my families is in need of prayers. Their life is uncertain as I write this and they need the Lord guidance and support. It also effects my daycare and family so please pray for us that the Lord helps me to stay in the path that he wants me to be on. This daycare of mine is really his and always has been and though I sometimes get a bit panicky when things get worrisome I know that the Lord will take care of it. I know in my heart things will be okay but my mind sometimes needs to know too. Please help me and my daycare family with your prayers. Thank you and God Bless.

Hunters weekend craft show…

I have noticed this year at the craft shows I’ve been part of that people are spending more time looking and learning then buying, this past craft show was no exception. I saw more camera phones out taking pictures of people products then cash being exchanged for merchandise. It doesn’t really bother me any because I think we’ve all done that, or at least mentally remembered a project we’ve seen and tried to remanufacture. With our economy the way it is right now people are looking for great gift ideas that they can make themselves without spending to much money. As for my jewelry and all I didn’t do terrible but not as good as some years. I met old customers that returned to buy another piece or two for themselves or for gifts, I made some new friends and acquaintances and really enjoyed my day. I am getting better at greeting my customers and understanding what they want. Brenda is the greeter and the one that can sell snow to snowmen but I’m learning. Brenda wasn’t able to do any shows this fall/early winter because of her foot so I had to learn.

I sold the red necklace I made, the one I showed you earlier. Also the bracelet earring set and the cloisonné bracelet. Oh many others too but these I shared with you.

I hope that you all had a great weekend. I hope you got your deer if you were hunting, I hope you got to get out and enjoy the sunshine and recharge your personal batteries. It’s onward and upwards to the up-coming week, have a wonderful week. Take care and God Bless.

Mike’s Civics service project….

I wanted to share what Mike’s been up to lately. In Mike’s Civic class his final project for this trimester is to do a community service project. It couldn’t of been one of the hundreds he’s already done it had to be something new/different. So he started out with a simply road side pick up project. He was going to just clean up our 4 miles of road, take a few pictures, do his pps and call it close enough. Of course if you know Mike at all, nothing stays simple. He took his road side pick up to a much higher rank. While cleaning up the road we picked up at least 2 huge bags of aluminum cans and while he’s out there working I got to see the wheels turning. He decided to recycle all of the cans plus what we had here and then got to thinking even more and asked some of our neighbors if they’d like to give them to him and his idea…..to take the recycled can money and donate it to the Food Shelf. Hummm…..sounded good to me. So we took the cans in and only made $11.34…not really enough for a good Food Shelf donation so to the next part. He asked the neighbors that didn’t donate cans or didn’t have any if they’d be willing to match the can money and 6 neighbors took him up on that so in the end he made $85.00. That bought 6 huge brown paper bags of groceries. Tonight we met the Food Shelf guy and Mike donated his groceries. The guy was so impressed with Mike he asked us to contact the newspaper and tell them what he did and to put their picture in it. That’s tomorrows job. So something that was just a small school report now helped out a few families plus he didn’t go to Wal-mart to get the groceries, he kept the business in town so that helped out other families also.

I am one very proud mama and I am hoping that his grade is as great as I think it should be. Here are some picture of the pick-up to the delivery.

 

So there you have it.

I hope that all is well with you all. Take care, sleep tight and God Bless you!!

God and dog video….

http://www.wendyfrancisco.com/    You have got to go and watch this video. It is so wonderful, so perfect.

After you do watch it you’ll see why I sent you there. Take care!!

Which is your favorite?

Out of these few pictures which is your favorite for Mike’s graduation picture? I have asked a couple of people and have some special order ones but I’d like to pick just one for Christmas cards. But…..I’m having problems deciding. For me I think for Mike’s picture I’m going to make a collage of them and I’m not sure if cut my own mat or just put them up in a bunch but I’ll figure that out but first comes the cards. So please help me decide….I’ll show you the one that Mike likes best but he says “mama, you choose”, hummm….I can’t. So here they are and thank you, I really appreciate your help. Since there are 17 of them I didn’t put them all up here, just click on the view album and you can see them and their number.

View Full Album

Now today I’m off this morning so after a quick shower I need to work on my bead display for the up-coming craft show on Saturday. I think I need to make a couple necklace, earring sets and a couple Christmas sets otherwise I’m pretty close. Yesterday I did get a few items made and I really have to show you the beautiful red necklace I made. It turned out like I thought it should. In fact yesterday’s jewelry making afternoon turned out just fine except for one that I’m not thrilled about but maybe someone will love it. If not, during the heart of winter I’ll take it apart and restring it differently. That’s what we do with all the jewelry that doesn’t sell, just redesign it for another year. My partner is still not able to help this year so it’s been a long hard craft season but with the help of my parents, daddy helps me set up and mama helps at the shows, it’s been manageable and of course Mike comes after work on Saturday and helps me take down and load up everything.  Here’s the picture of the red necklace, think someone will like it? Sure do hope so. I also added the moss agate necklace and the bracelets I did.

 

 

Time to get to work. Take care and have a blessed day today. Remember, the Lord has given us so many wonderful things to be thankful for. This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. AMEN!!!

Another great give away….

Oh you gotta check this out. For someone that’s just had a blog for a year it’s a wonderful blog. Melissa thank you for the chance at your give away. Now go here and see what’s what…. http://www.melissasheartandhome.blogspot.com/

Here’s what her give away has to offer… take a peek

This was such a great weekend. Jim took me out for a real breakfast today, a sit down someone else waited on us breakfast. For those of you who know Jim, that’s not his thing but today was a nice change. I found some great ideas for Christmas gifts. We got home and finished up a few outside things. Scott spend the weekend with us too. We took him to our Venture Crew Halloween getting together and we all had a blast. I love weekends like this.

Take care my friends, have a great weekend. God Bless!!