Silly Grand-kiddos

Yesterday my daughter and I had to make a mad dash into Spokane,,, we decided it was easiest for us to treat the kiddos to a play time at McDonalds.....and they had a blast...it was nearly impossible to get them out of there! lol!

 Jada,,, shows no fear!

 She was making a silly face,,, but it is hard to see from the glare....

Can you tell by the expression on Leilei's face she is not happy? ...
 "What to do mean, it's time to go!?"...
Aidy-phoo... the girls soon to be little brother, is to little to join in on the play area but he was content to help me eat my lunch...well the sweet-&-sour sauce anyways... lol!

Care Package

Care Package from my childhood BFF in Germany... Irmgard  & Wilfried

 Filled with some of my favorite goodies....

 I always look forward to receiving my 'Care Package' of Lebkuchen... it makes me feel like I am in Germany with my dearest life long childhood friend as well as my family.

Irmgard sent me a 'sample' plate for the newest dinnerware design by' Rosenthal'.... called, "Grace"...
There are 4 designs in the series... (note the top, bottom, left & right sample designs...)
My favorite, naturally,,, is the "Garden" (pictured at bottom of the plate)...
Well by this time tomorrow I will have over-dosed on Lebkuchen, chocolate and gummi baren... and oh so worth it!

Our plan is to get back to Germany in 2014...in the mean time I am trying to convince Irmgard and Wilfried that they need to come out in 2013....cuz it's their turn to come here since I was in Germany in 2011.  Well, off to start nibbling on my sweets and thinking how much I miss being in Meimsheim and Heilbronn with family and friends.

Snow Days...

How we work off all the extra calories at Christmas time...

 oops! I went right and my saucer went left!  can we say... 'face plant'? lol!

Meri, connecting with her inner child....  Go Meri!

Thank you Andrea....

I have such a talented neighbor... Andrea

How cute are these!?!... my talented neighbor, Andrea created these sweet 'wool-felt' goodies...from re-purposed wool garments...  the small 'tag' has a pocket to tuck in a piece of candy, mini candy cane or folded money   :>)

Vintage Hankie

One of the sweet little gifts that I received this year, from a most talented Glamping Gal~pal... is this sweet repurposed hankie.... I LUV it!

I recently found this koolieo ceramic Christmas Tree with 'lite-brite' type pegs!   I think these are so kool! I have another one, that is a tree with a kids choir in front of the tree. And of course I am on the prowl for more!

Merry Christmas 2012

From our heart and home... to yours....
Blessings and have a Very Merry Christmas.......... 

Tea Party

I had a wonderful Glamping  Gal~pal friend stop over today for afternoon Tea.... much needed  I might add....  as we chatted about camping, crafting and warmer places we've both live (we are both formally from Ventura County),,, we watched the snow ever so gently drift from the sky... but by the time we were finished enjoying crust-less egg salad sandwiches, yummy spice cookies and a couple of Liquor filled chocolate cups...the snow was starting to come down with a vengeance!  Ok, Tea Party over.... Time to head home.  As I write this.. the snow is really coming down and I can barely see the home across the road.... snow plows should be out soon...

I forgot how much I love hosting noon time teas and all the fun of picking out the right tea service, tongs, silver and of course the perfect tea to go with our nibbles. 
Today's tea was "Dragon Eye Oolong"... by (R)evolution... (http://www.revolutiontea.com)
It's a full leaf Oolong tea with notes of peach.... absolutely wonderful.... it truly cleanses the palate... a great tea to have with savory foods and sweets....

I really should have more "Tea Parties"....but first it has to stop snowing so my friends can get here...!

This is my Tea Cabinet at the end of the Hall down stairs...with just some of my tea accouterments... In the storage room I have a box full of tea cups, saucers and vintage 'Lunceonette sets...plus 2 shelves of tea service accessories like sugar and creamers, serving trays etc... 
Come on Winter... hurry up and get over... I need to have more Tea Parties!

Bev's Handi-work

OMG! Look what came in the Post today!!!!!
Oh Bev...you have out done yourself... I love this sweet lap quilt and the colors!  My camera/photography skills do not do it justice... the colors are actually much more lovely then what  is shown here.
It's suppose to be for my sewing room,,, but I am thinking it would look better hanging on my wall by my computer, in the office... because every time I look at it,,, I smile!
Thank you so very much Bev.....

Isn't this sweet..... Thread spools... I have seen this quilt pattern, and have been toying with the idea of making it....along with a 1000 other quilt patterns....but am sew so happy Bev made it, now I can enjoy it with out having made a mess in my sewing room! lol!
Thank you Dear Friend.... and... I'll see you around the 'Glamp fire' in June!

Victoria Magazine...

I wanted to share with you about my love for Victoria Magazine...which started back in the 1980's...
It embodies a side of me that loves all things refined, genteel, roses, tea and scones.

 2008 issue.. notice the lovely tea cup and hankie...

 Uber sweets in this issue....

 July 1996 issue......

 This is the lovely article they did about about Tasha Tudor...... filled with her graphics....

Victoria magazine is the perfect magazine to curl up on the sofa, roaring fire,,, cup of tea and scone or a couple of yummy cookies and of course a kitty or two...to gather up your thoughts and catch your breath..... The photos are soooo beyond words.... and the best thing is,,, I am such a fan, I have saved all my past issues since the  '80's...that I can pull them out and go back in time.
Victoria informs the reader of all the lovely places to visit in America as well as in England/Europe that embody the Victorian life style that fit's into today's world.....   SO if you get a chance, take a moment, snuggle with a copy, a cup and a kitty and enjoy.

Paying it Forward...

While at the local D.O.L., over in Airway Heights,,, we were getting our vintage trailer registered,,, we kiddingly invited Lisa, who works at the D.O.L.,,,, to come join us get the trailer out of the weeds and tow it home,, she laughed and told us that she and her husband run a local Horse/Animal Rescue here in Spokane County.... Gary jumped in and asked if they needed any hay, and Lisa said emphatically,,, YES!... turns out they had an agreement with a local hay source to purchase hay... unfortunately the farmer forgot and had sold the hay... so Lisa was in search of another source... Talk about perfect timing....
Well today Lisa & her "gang" came over, loaded up 2/3's of the hay and went on their very Merry way.

 Girl Power!

 Hay ride anybody? lol!

 Lisa and her gang.....
Check them out on Face Book....
Mountain Ridge Animal Rescue... they rescue horses, goats, pigs etc....
What a blessing to meet up with them.

Thank you Kristi

I have made some wonderful friends from a farm girl web site... one of them is Kristi, a talented crafty lady who surprised me with this delightful package....
Santa's Elves could not have done better! 

 she made this cute label.... now why didn't I think of this!?! 

 the box was full of goodies sweetly wrapped and waiting for me to tear into them!

  Kristi remembered my favorite color combination, purple and green...so she created, knitted a pair of pot holders and a wash cloth.... sa-weet! she also found this incredible 'vintage mixer' rubber stamp! I also found a 'Cow girl' stitchery pattern, note book and yummy chocolate coated sunflower seeds in the box !How cool is that? I love all my goodies... Thank you so very much Kristina....
HoHoHo and Merry Christmas to you all.
( check out her crafty blog at:   http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com )

Jingle Bells!

I stitched this up many years ago, and every year I put it out....
It always makes me smile!

Hope it brings a smile to your face.....HoHoHo!

Thank you Elizabeth...

My lovely  former co-worker and dear friend, sent me the sweetest package... filled with fab-u-los Bentley teas, a sweet tea towel and Tea Book.... as she knows, I love my teas...
Ok, Elizabeth, time for you to come visit again so we can enjoy tea and gabbing.
Miss ya my dear friend.

Victoria Magazine...

I had submitted a mini musing of mine to Victoria Magazine and ,,,oh Wowzers! it's in print, page 10 of the Jan/Feb issue of Victoria magazine...

I have been an avid fan of the magazine since the late 1980's, when I first started reading it.
I have one of those 'under bed' long plastic storage bins filled with old issues of Victoria as well as several stacks in another storage bin... I can't imagine parting with any of  my copies...
Victoria ceased publication for about 2 years but went back into publication much to mine and other readers joy.
Now to make a nice pot of tea and enjoy reading my magazine...

Post Office Day

Went into town to pick up my mail from the Post Office....
OMG! What a treasure trove of fun and smiles!

 Gifts galore! Books and more!

I love mail day.

Thrifting and Repurposing

I know some people think I spend my life in Thrift stores..... I wish! lol!  No, actually it's a Hobby, a Quest...to find that one thing... what ever it may be.....
As a military Brat, growing up on Military Bases except when we lived with my mother's family in Germany... we were limited on possessions and at times, money... so I learned to sew if I wanted clothing and gladly accepted 'hand me downs'....
As I grew up,,, (teen years) I hated hand me downs....and never wanted to step inside a Thrift store ever again!
Then my daughter, who was about 12-ish, had a sweet friend.  The friend's mother became a lovely friend and she shared with me her secrete to being up-scaled dressed....Thrift Shops and Consignment shops! OMG! This lovely woman is not for want of money...but she knew how to get the most out of her money....then not to long after I discovered the same secrete of another friend of mine...she always wore designer suits and accessories... Yep, all Thrift store finds... Both ladies know where all the really good thrifts where back in SO. CAL....  So I became a student of theirs and honed my 'Thrifting' skills!  I learned from the best!  :>)
Having moved up to Farm country....I have learned where the best Thrift stores are and what days of the week to visit them for the best deals. I would like to think I am a Graduate with Honors og the University of Thrift Shopping... lol!
That is why I like to share with friends, that just because I shop at a Thrift Store, does not mean I am destitute... I like to think it is a mater of better using my money and because I love to re-purpose things. I can buy the most gaudy dress for 99cents, cut off all the cute buttons (which buy the way...button cost a bloody fortune) and use the fabric for something else... Well you get the idea...
Why spend good hard earned money on new when I can salvage and not add to the trash dump pile...
I need a Bumper sticker that says" Caution, I Brake for Thrift  Shops"... lol! 
 

More HoHoHo's

Oh it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...Falalalala!
Went Thrifting and found some, 'must haves'....

 I love this crochet 'Granny Square' tree skirt... 99cents!

 Then I found this little light up ceramic tree... I love these! $1.99

and last but not least....this lite up wine bottle.... I had seen these at gift shops and craft fairs...all around the $20 range...so color me pink, when I found this for $2.99 !!!!
Oh, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

HoHoHo!

HoHoHo!

Well fiddle sticks... both this blog and my other blog seem to be at an impass with Google/Picaso... as I can't post pictures unless I start paying  per blog each month... so until I figure whether to keep 2 separate blogs or combine them into one... I will be  playing on face book... lol!

Happy Thanksgiving Day....

From our kitchen to yours........

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Winter Garden

So for those of you who know me,,, know that I love experimenting, even with seeds,,,, more times than not, my experiments are not to successful for one reason or another,,, but every now and then,,, "Even a blind squirrel finds a nut"... and I get lucky too!

 As you can see,,, I got an Avocado seedling and Gala Apple seedling stared this summer.... (yes that is a Pineapple Sage plant in the photo).... and No, Avocados do not grow up here.... must have something to do with that cold white stuff! lol!

 I brought in some of my beloved plants, mini roses, pineapple sage and geraniums because they won't survive the winters up here. I really should build a Greenhouse..... oh Gary, I have another  "Honey-do DIY" project for you! lol!

Back in So. California I have grown 4 Avocado trees from avocado seeds. They matured and produced avocados (after 8 plus years). So I am not sure what I will do with this one when it gets double in size... hmmm, might have to take a 'road trip' back home and plant it in my mothers yard....

I have never started an apple tree from seed, so this is a first for me....  I probably will keep it potted and then come summer maybe re-plant it out side in our mini orchard  or I could keep it potted for another year and then plant it... I don't want to plant it to early (young)...just to let it become a snack for our roaming deer that walk across our property.
 Oh and pardon the mess in the background, as you know, we are in the midst of floor renovation, so I am still suffering from LHWS (lazy house wife syndrome)....  oh and yes, that's Peekaboo kitty....she always has to be in the middle of what ever I am doing.  Dolly~girl is napping somewhere because I can hear her snoring.....

Snow Day....

Awhile back, I purchased (via an on-line auction site) a Toro Snow Blower for Gary... Why you ask??? Well... my Theory is... like the proverbial Umbrella... if you carry one, it won't rain... so if we have a snow blower... maybe it won't snow (as much)... lol!
Well Gary got to test it out the other day....

So much for my Theory.... but on the plus side, it only took him 5minutes to clear the driveway and he didn't even break a sweat!   "Snow"... you don't scar us! Bring it On!   (just kidding!)....

40 Years and Counting....

Today we took a (much needed) break from our DIY project... for a wonderful lunch at P.F.Changs and to celebrate our 40th year of wedded Bliss and  Blisters... lol!
I am so in love with my High School Sweetheart and BFF.....
Happy 40th to my Gary .....

You'll forever be my Roy,,, and I, your Dale as we ride along the dusty trails.... (ILY)
Happy 40th  to the most wonderful man I know.....

Laying the Flooring....

They say, if you want to test the strength of a marriage, work together on a DIY project....
Does Flooring count??? lol! (p.s. we celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary day after tomorrow...if we survive this DIY project! lol!)

 Gary getting everything set up..... so far...so good!

 First board in... then it went down hill from there! ... we are learning a lot about the nuance of flooring... like making sure there is/are no 'bits' in the grooves that will throw your floor outta kilter!

 Poor Gary, needed a break,,, to re-think, think think and over think.... but....

 Once we got "in the groove".. it started going down pretty fast... maybe we will be done by mid-night! lol! I can hardly wait to have new flooring in our living room, hall and home office.

UPDATE:  We finished the flooring! Wahoo!

Yep, the last board!  We now have flooring in the Living room, Hallway, and Office! So glad it's finished... now onto the next big project...but not until after Christmas! HoHoHo!

Lazy Housewife Syndrom...

Oh dear,,, am I suffering from a case of "LHWS" ????
or could it be that.... we are getting ready to install flooring this weekend?

 Yepadoodle! I can hardly wait to have my new flooring in......

 as you can see, by my coffee mug, reading glasses and stack of craft books on the coffee table... I have been enjoying these past few LHWS days...

 So if you don't hear or see me (us) for the next few days,,, don't worry, it means we are either laying the floor or making  multiple trips back into town to pick up that 'something' we forgot to initially buy! lol!

 Oh and yes, not only have I not vacuumed for nearly a week, but I have not dusted either, so don't look to close! lol!

The only one who is really enjoying this mess...right now is our Peekaboo kitty...she loves all the fun things to play on and in and under.....
Ok, wish us luck and do feel free to come over and lend a helping hand !lol!

It's Heeerrreee!

yep, it's here... our 1st official snow fall for the year....
I know the birds were not to pleased,,, but I made sure they got extra seed this morning... it would be like me having that extra cup of coffee with a dash of Baileys, to get me through the day! lolol!

 The funny thing is,,, while the birds were flittering and feasting, Peekaboo kitty, sat atop her 'perch' and watched them... I can just imagine what was going through her little kitty brain... "yummm, tastes like chicken"...lol!

 On the plus side,,, the blanket of snow does make everything look clean and pretty...hiding the weeds, mole mounds and dirt.... and of course less work for me....until May....

Poor Gary, had to bring the trash cans in this morning... it's one thing to drag them up the (almost) 300ft driveway,,, it's a whole different thing when you have to do it in the Winter!

But, Gary did get to play with his new (used) Toro Snow Blower... it barely took him any time this morning to clear off the paved part of the driveway at the house... he has to use the tractor for the rest of the driveway which is gravel. Hey,,, better He than Me! lol!
Ho Ho Ho,,, let it snow!