Christmas After....2008

Ok, so in spite of all the snow that we got this month we still had a wonderful time....
Good food, wonderful family and lots of laughter filled our home. Even our pets had fun!
A few days before Christmas, my daughter, Meri, and I made a made dash into town (Spokane) and I took a few pictures while she drove. All in all, even though it was a wee bit of a 'white knuckle' drive the snow looked charming, everything was blanketed in glistening snow.
Our 4-legged fur babies had fun too! "Fillster", one of Meri's kittys, was so excited about Christmas that he could not control himself wanting to help open packages....'course, some of the packages had cat mint, ya don't suppose that was what was exciting him do ya!?!
Peek-a-boo has a new "secrete hiding spot", well maybe not so secrete, but I wont tell her!
With these long cold Winter nights I thought a practical gift for Meri & her hubby would be "Union Suits"...hmmm, I don't think they shared my "practicality" but we all got a good giggle out of it....
My talented daughter knitted the blue & brown purse for me...I love it and it has the most sparkly Bee broach attached. Speaking of hand made gifts, (my favorite thing to receive), I received a "Bev Original" sweet apron & matching pie tote....I have already put both to good use. Hugz to Bev. If you want to see more of her creative hand work check out her blog listed in my favorite places to visit under Bee Haven Maven, it's so worth the peek.
Ok, those of you who know me know I LOVE silly socks.....the sillier the better! So unlike a normal woman of my age, (29 and fibbing!) I wore a pair of socks with my shiny red peep-toed shoes...hey it's a girl thing ya know!
I could not resist being a bit silly with poor Dolly-girl, I don't think she appreciated my silliness but oh well....
From our home to yours, may you have a Safe and Happy New Year.

Therapy Much Needed!

1941 Singer

1946 Singer

Late 1930's Western Electric

My Bernina Embroidery Machine

Ok, so I truly need "Sewing Machine Therapy"...found two more vintage machines....
I am at 13 assorted vintage machines, 2 modern (last 3 years), 1 embroidery machine & 1 mini serger.
Here I thought I was over the top collecting vintage mixers, but as I take stock of my sewing machines,,,I think my addictions go much further...did I mention I also collect vintage Irons?
I only have 24. From the old cast irons, to kerosene to 1950's travel ones. I love them all.
I'll have to dust them off and post a picture one of these days....

(Don't) Let It Snow!!!!

Spokane traffic thanks to massive snow...

Our front yard.....is somewhere under the snow....

Our back deck, notice the snow...hahaha!

Let it Snow, let it Snow, let it Snow....

Well Gary & I had to make a run into Spokane (yesterday) and of course it was the beginning of what turns out to be a record breaking snow fall for December 17th in Spokane history, 17" inches.... and we got to experience it first hand! Oh Joy!!!!

When we finally made it home, white knuckles and all, Gary had to pull the snowplow out to clear our 200ft driveway. We were having company for dinner and wanted to make sure they could make it onto our property as well as out later that evening.

Poor Gary was up at 4:30 this morning and out on the plow again at 5am clearing the driveway so he could make it into work. It took our Son-in-Law 1 1/2 hours to drive into work which normally takes about 20 minutes. Nearly half of Spokane is closed down. Schools, Government buildings, businesses both small and large. They are even saying if you do not have a four-wheel drive vehicle or chains, then stay off the roads. Even the Transit systems (city buses) have been crippled, many of the buses were getting stuck in snow and large big rigs are spinning out in town. Not a good few days here in Spokane.

Even the Airport is open, but no flights in or out.

North Idaho is getting hit equally as hard....if any of you Southern States could send us some warm weather, sunshine what ever, we sure could use some! lol!

As for me & the furbabies, we think today is a perfect baking, sewing day, maybe even just a good snuggle by the fire with a good book day. Hopefully the weather will calm down by early next week. So keep your fingers, legs & eyes crossed for us!

More Apron Fun...

Well I made a few more fun aprons for a swap through "The Apronista Forum".

As you can see, 3 of my "girls" had to check out the fun Christmas one!

Well it's official,,, it's COLD outside! yep, as I sit here typing, the temperature is 17 degrees and it is suppose to get down to 1-2 degrees by tomorrow...and, the weather forecast says we will be in the 'negatives' in the next few days! Yikers! that's COLD! And I moved away from So.Cal., why???

Friday, Andrea (my neighbor ) and I took a trip into Spokane, 10:30 am and all was well, brisk and sunny then with in 4 hours it was dark and snowing like crazy. We ended up with about 3" of snow in 3 hours....again, I left California why??? lol!

I did get to see a Bald Eagle sitting in a tree, that was soooo cool, I tried to get a picture but the eagle was too far away for my little camera to capture. Bummer.

I have also noticed more coyotes out and about and the deer are still hanging around.

Other than that, life on the (lavender) farm is wonderful as we decorate for Christmas. Hopefully my lavender will survive this Winter weather. Guess we'll find out come Spring.

Oh, as you can see, I snuck in a picture of our "Dolly Girl" and of Gary & Cissy Girl napping...Cissy found Garys shoulder to be a perfect nap spot. Too cute!

Betty Crocker would be so proud....

Oh My Stars!!!! Betty Crocker would be soooo very proud of me if she could see my collection of "Suzie Homemaker Mixers"!!!!!

I must admit, I do have a wee bit of an addiction for vintage mixers, irons, hats, aprons, Lucite grape clusters, sewing machines...well nearly anything 1950's - 60's.....

I have 15 mixers on display and #16 is a 1960's Sunbeam mixer that is my daily user. All but one of the machines still work like champs. Even the 2 that are 1928 machines run but because of their age I don't run them. I love the fact that they are all "Made in the USA" and all metal as opposed to the imported plastic ones that manufactures sell us. Lets face it, back then things were built to last for awhile unlike today's "Planned Obsolesce".

I also have, yes,,, another New-Old sewing machine...this one is unlike my others, as it has an after market hand crank..I am guessing that it was bought for a farm wife who didn't have access to electricity readlly so the hand crank was added. Can you imagian cranking with your right hand and only your left hand available to manuver the fabric? And what if you are 'left' handed???

This machine is made by Western Electric-'Ma Bell'...they made a few washers & sewing machines in the mid 1920's but their primary target was telephones....They are also no longer around. I think they died out in the mid 1980's if memory serves me correct.

Anyways, got to get back to dusting off this machine & trying to find a place to put it! Oh My! I am running out of nooks -n-cranys to put all my collectibles!