February Swap Card

Today and tomorrow are busy days trying to get ready for my Happy Stampers Club! I got The Cupboard Trilogy Challenge Design Team project finished and uploaded--whew! Then I got my February Swap Card finished and ready to deliver tomorrow! Why do I always wait till the last minute to get these things done? I know a full month in advance that they are coming up but do I get them finished early??? Nooooo! So, not it's onto the club projects and I am almost finished with the first one so will complete another one tonight and the last one in the morning. Wait till you see them, they are sooo cute! But for today I am going to show you the Swap Card and hope the recipient doesn't check my blog until she after receives it tomorrow! 

The theme for this month was Easter or Spring. I chose Spring. The ribbon actually looks better in real life--don't know why the tails are wonky:(

Close up of stamped image

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! products:

• Pink Pirouette and Very Vanilla card stock
• Easter Blossoms stamp set (retired)
• Early Espresso and Pretty in Pink Classic Stampin' Pads
• Big Shot with Delicate Designs Embossing Folder and Large Scallop Edgelit
• Other: Pretty in Pink grosgrain ribbon; Basic Pearls; 5/8" Flower Trim (from Spring Catalog)

Inside of card

I hope Cynthia enjoys her card! Now it's time to get ready for the March Happy Stampers Card Swap!

Have a nice evening. 

Kat

Happy Homemaker Monday

Good morning! It is time for Happy Homemaker Monday initiated each week by the very talented and very busy Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. What a beautiful new button for Happy Homemaker Monday, Sandra! Sandra takes the photos and makes the Happy Homemaker Monday buttons we get to use. She does a great job! So what fascinating things to I have to share with you on this fine Monday? Let me see...

The Weather...It's very windy and mostly cloudy. The temperature is 46 degrees (F). It looks like the sun wants to shine if those clouds would just blow away. With the wind, it feels really cold:( 

Right now I am...Sitting in front of the fire with a glass of ice water to drink and all the dogs lying at my feet.

Thinking...About all the things that didn't get done while I was sick last week:(

On my reading pile:

• Spiritual: Bible and Desire of Ages
• Fun: Sunset Bridge by Emilie Richards. Funny story...last week I had started what I thought was the second book in the Happiness Key series by Emilie Richards which was Sunset Bridge. I read three chapters before I decided I was missing something and went in search of the REAL second book, Fortunate Harbor. So having finished Fortunate Harbor yesterday, I am ready to start Sunset Bridge today:)
• Read alouds (we do a lot of that at our house): Jubal Sackett by Louis L'Amour and The Santa Cruise by Mary Higgins Clark

On my tv...Not much at the moment as I am trying to finish the Happiness Key series. It took me months to finish book #1 but I am really enjoying the series now so want to finish it while I still have momentum:)

Favorite Blog post this week...

Spender to Saver: Part Four by Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily. All of the parts were good but this one was my favorite!

Something fun to share...I am wanting to replace a lot of my metal knitting needles and crochet hooks with bamboo and found eknittingneedles.com. They have the best prices of anywhere I have seen. So, if you're in the market for some knitting needles or crochet hooks, check them out.

On the menu this week...

• Monday--Pinto Beans and Corn Bread
• Tuesday--Tacos (didn't have them last week)
• Wednesday--Town Day so will most likely eat out
• Thursday--Baked Potatoes and Butternut Squash (didn't have this last week either)
• Friday--Soup but not sure what kind
• Saturday--Potluck at Church
• Sunday--

On my to do list:

• Get ready for Stamping Club which is Wednesday evening
• Complete and upload The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges DT project for March (due NOW)
• Complete and send February's swap card
• Sweep kitchen floor (covered in dog hair)
• Laundry
• Clean guest apartment

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating...

I didn't do anything while I was sick but am looking forward to picking up the doily I started while on vacation. Also hope to get a couple of sewing projects finished while hubby is gone tomorrow.

Homemaking Tips...Since I don't have anything new today I will update you on one I posted a few weeks ago. I have been using equal parts of baking soda and coconut oil to wash my face twice a week. It's like a scrub only sooo inexpensive and it is working great! On the days I don't use the "scrub" I use just coconut oil and my face is super soft. Why buy expensive facial cleansers when something as simple, natural, and inexpensive as baking soda and coconut oil works?!!!

Looking around the house...The kitchen floor needs to be swept and the dining room table (or drop spot) needs to be decluttered. Dogs all over the living room floor in front of the fire, sleeping. Dishes are done; counters are cleaned off:)

From the camera...

I didn't get a chance to share my Valentine flowers and balloon with you before so will do it now. My hubby is not a man for "days" as he calls them but gets me flowers and gifts frequently. This year we were at the Oregon Coast for Valentine's Day so he bought me flowers for our room and a nice balloon to go with them. 

On my prayer list...

• My sister who is extreme pain
• A friend who needs a job
• A friend who just asked that I pray for her always:)
• A friend who is still itching after being off the offending foods for three weeks.

Bible verse; Devotional...

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:20

Well, that's it for me! I hope you enjoyed the Happy Homemaker Monday. I am planning to have a couple of projects to show you tomorrow so be sure to check back.

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

I made it for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat!!! After missing for the last two weeks I feel pretty accomplished to just be putting words to page on this fine Sunday night! Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily initiates the Sunday Night Chit-Chat each week and I love to play along when I can:) First up is my picture...

The dog ate my chair:(

Sooo, let's get started!

I am...

Reading...Fortunate Harbor by Emilie Richards (book 2 of the Happiness Key series). 

Watching...My plans are to finish reading my book tonight so no TV. We did however watch the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie we taped from a few weeks ago called "The Makeover" this afternoon.

Listening to...Our English Bulldog, Rocky, snoring at my feet (the very same dog who chewed up my chair while I was sleeping).

Cooking/Baking...I baked two loaves of bread today. This was the first bread I have baked in at least two weeks!

Happy I accomplished this week...I got over the flu and managed to clean the house a little. I kept the laundry up all week even though I was sick!

Looking forward to next week...My stamping club that I postponed because I was sick will be this Wednesday! I love getting together with these ladies!

Thankful for today...I know I say this a lot but I am thankful to be well again. Since the beginning of September, being healthy has not been easy. I do think it's getting better though. This last bout with the flu was just another reminder that my immune system is not where it needs to be.

BONUS QUESTION: What item is currently at the *TOP* of my wish list? The top item would have to be an Infrared Sauna because of the health benefits.

Well, that's it for tonight! See you tomorrow for Happy Homemaker Monday!

Kat

A Little Gift for Myself

It's not like I don't have a lot of crochet patterns and pattern books already but I frequent Sandra's blog, Diary of a Stay at Home Mom, and see all the fun things she crochets so decided to splurge and buy myself some fun new pattern booklets.

I ordered these from Annie's Crafts (used to be Annie's Attic) before I left for vacation last week. I picked them up at the post office yesterday! 

Sandra showed some Bavarian Crochet she was doing on her blog and I was intrigued by it. I looked all over the internet for patterns and found several but in the end decided to get a book from Annie's. I have always liked Annie's patterns because they are easy to read and the directions are straight forward--no mumbo jumbo! The other two books were impulse purchases but I think I am going to enjoy them. 

Isn't this one cute! I am planning to make some dishcloths and potholders for Christmas gifts. Yes, indeed, I'm thinking ahead! I may even make some up for a giveaway! Would you be interested?

This one is for potholders! I really like the looks of it!

And, last but not least, I purchased the above as a digital download on my iPad because I wanted to take it with me on my trip to the coast. I am currently crocheting the doily on the cover. I am on the row of cute pink flowers and have half of them done. I wasn't able to work on it this week because of my flu bug but am getting ready to start crocheting again!

I think these pattern booklets should keep me busy for quite awhile and I look forward to showing off what I make. Stay tuned:)

Have a great day and I will be back on Sunday evening for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat. For real this time:)

Kat

Happy Mail

This is pretty much what the package looked like when I opened it.
However, I had already rifled through it before I took the picture.

I went to the post office today to get my mail for the first time in a week and what should I find?!!! Some Happy Mail from Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily! Remember my other Happy Mail post when I told about being in Carla's Secret Sister Swap but I didn't get anything? Well, Carla and Cindy teamed up to make the Secret Sister Swap super special:) I got TWO packages instead of just one!!! If you didn't see what Cindy sent be sure to check out my other Happy Mail post! Between the two of them I feel like one lucky lady!!! 

My second handmade zippered bag made by Carla herself. This picture doesn't do the fabric justice. I love browns and this fabric has a little shimmer to it. Oh so pretty! And guess what was inside...

Looks like I should have picked a better background for my picture:(

A chocolate mint candy bar!!! Oh how I do like chocolate mint!!! When I was pregnant with my son (over 40 years ago) I craved chocolate peppermint sodas. 

A great assortment of buttons, lace and bling to use for cardmaking

And, Carla knows I like to make cards so look at all the lace, bling and other goodies I get to play with! These should be great for the Easter and Mother's Day cards I need to make.

Softlips tinted lip balm

A little something to make my lips kissable for my sweet hubby:)

Very pretty card ala Carla

Plus she made me this adorable card!

Thank you, Carla! You're the best! I love everything you sent:) 

I have "met" some of the nicest people via blogging and look forward to developing better friendships with these very special ladies.

I'm on a roll so I will be back a little later today with another post! Guess I'm trying to make up for not blogging much last week! 

Kat

Thankful Thursday

"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has." - Epictetus

It's time for Thankful Thursday! Last week I was at the Oregon Coast for which I was VERY thankful but didn't want to sit in the Business Center at the resort to blog. I love to sit in my favorite chair or on my bed, feet up, with a cuppa whatever beside me and blog at my leisure. Sitting upright at a desktop computer just doesn't get my creative juices flowing! I was sooo thankful that my hubby's brother and sister-in-law invited us along for the coast trip because it gave us time to enjoy them and each other!

So this week what am I thankful for...

#1...I am feeling better after a bout of the flu. Still don't have a lot of energy but I see the light at the end of the tunnel; just hope a train isn't coming! So glad I didn't get down like my hubby but even he is on the mend. This one really knocked him for a loop!

#2...I think I got the issues fixed with my blog not recognizing some of the photos in iPhoto! That one was REALLY cramping my style!!! Finally I just shut the computer down and when I booted it back up, tada, problem fixed! I hate computer problems because I am at a loss as to how to fix them.

#3...My Bible and other spiritual books to read to give me direction and hope. This is a privilege I take for granted but need to be more thankful for.

#4...I am thankful for wind today--free power! It is cloudy so if it weren't for the wind we would have had to turn on the diesel generator to do laundry, run the dishwasher and vacuum. Our wind generator humming away is music to my ears:)

#5...Hubby is paying bills today and I am thankful that he does it and not me. I am also thankful to have the money to pay the bills! I was concerned when I quit working nearly three years ago that we would be able to live on one income but it has worked out just fine. I thank the Lord and my frugal husband for that:)

Well, that's it for my Thankful Thursday this week!

What are you most thankful for this week?

Kat

Treasure Hunt

When I was a little girl my mom and grandma made doilies and lots of them! They made simple doilies and very fancy doilies. They made table runners and table cloths. All of them were made out of cotton thread! When I turned 20 I asked my mom for the big green Tupperware bowl! Do you remember that super big, super awesome bowl? Of course my mom got it for me but she said she couldn't give it to me empty so she filled it with her hand crocheted doilies! Wow! What a treasure. I still have the bowl AND the doilies:)

Recently I decided I wanted to start collecting some of those old crochet booklets like the ones my mom and grandma used. My mom hasn't crocheted in many years so I asked her if I could have some of hers. She wasn't ready to part with them yet so on to Plan B. 

While we were at the coast last week I went into Rag & Bone Thrift Shop because of the great reviews I read on the internet. I am used to a little classier thrift shops than this one so my shopping experience wasn't as much fun as it could have been. Usually I love to look through every nook and cranny for "treasures" but while there might have been more "treasures", it was very crowded and dirty; dusty. While I was there I found the vintage crochet booklets above and was more than thrilled. And check out the prices! The green tags were 1/2 price so I got all three for $3.50:) The start of my new collection!

Check out this beautiful bread basket doily! My mom and grandma used to make some of these ruffly doilies and then starch and iron them till they stood up so pretty. I am planning to make this little beauty but not sure I will put bread on it!

What do you think of this one? I like the pinwheel and that edge is unique. The pinwheel with the irish roses in the lower right corner is really pretty too. I think my mom made some of those.

Pineapple doilies are my favorite so will have to make this one for sure! Check out the adorable coaster in the upper right of the picture above.

These are my favorite. Not just one row of pineapples but TWO! I am anxious to get started on these but will have to finish the one I'm working on first. I am the Queen of Unfinished Projects so don't want to add another to the pile.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my new thrift store find! 

Have you found any bargains recently? 

Where did you find it?

Kat

Happy Homemaker Monday

Well, I missed the Sunday Night Chit-Chat AGAIN! I'll see if I can make it happen next Sunday! I have a little bit of energy to do the Happy Homemaker Monday and then it will be off to take a nap for me! Gotta get over this nasty flu!

Happy Homemaker Monday button courtesy of Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

It's time for Happy Homemaker Monday hosted each week by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. So, let's get started...

Weather...It is currently 45 degrees with cloudy skies! I think we may see 50 degrees today before it's all over and the sun does peek through every now and then just to let us know it's there:)

Right now I am...Sick and wishing I was back in bed. 

Thinking...of all the things that need to be done after being gone last week but I don't have the energy to do them. Maybe tomorrow...

On my reading pile...

• Spiritual: Bible and Desire of Ages
• Magazines: Vegetarian Times, Paper Crafts and Crochet World
• Books: Sunset Bridge by Emilie Richards (2nd book in the Happiness Key series)
• Read alouds: Jubal Sacket by Louis L'Amour (4th book in the Sackett series) and The Santa Cruise by Mary Higgins Clark

On the TV...The season finale of Downton Abbey was on last night:( Not sure how long we have to wait for the next season. However Masterpiece Classics has a new series starting in March. Might be a possibility. In the meantime, I have lots of Hallmark movies left to watch on SpiritClips.

Favorite blog post of the week (mine or other)...

What is love? by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Something fun to share...

Creative Beginnings is the yarn/craft store I visited in Seaside, Oregon. Check out their selection!

On the menu for this week...

Since I am not feeling well, I'm really not sure but this is what I'm thinking...

Monday--Soup and sandwiches

Tuesday--Tacos with Quinoa Taco Burger

Wednesday--Baked Potatoes and Butternut Squash

Thursday--

Friday--Potato Corn Chowder

Saturday--

Sunday--

On my "to do" list...I am not even going to think about my "to do" list until I get over this flu!

What I am knitting, crocheting, sewing or crafting...

I started working on a doily while on vacation. I didn't get very far but will start working on it again when my headache goes away.

Homemaking tips...I don't have one for today.

Looking around the house...Dust everywhere! No dusting or sweeping has been done for a week and with three dogs, that isn't pretty!

From the camera...I can't get my pictures from iPhoto into my blog. Don't know what the problem is:(

On my prayer list...My hubby who still has the nasty flu and me that I don't get any worse than I am; Carla to be able to find a home for her chameleon; 

Bible verse; Devotional... 

"I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember they wonders of old.

"I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of they doings.

"Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?

"Thou are the God that doest wonders: thou has declared they strength among the people" Psalm 77:11-14

Well, that's it for me today. I am off to take a nap:) Have a wonderful day!

Kat

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses

So, where have I been and what have I been doing? I obviously haven't been blogging!

Well, it all started last Tuesday when we left for a three-day holiday at the coast. We stayed in a very nice Worldmark timeshare courtesy of family. It was wonderful to spend three days with them in this beautiful location. The only drawback (in my mind anyway) was to either have to pay to have internet in the room or to use the Business Center. Hubby decided to use the Business Center every morning to respond to his business emails but I thought it cumbersome to try to blog from one of their computers. So, unplugged I was for three days. I don't have email on my phone so just had to trust that if it was important, I would get a call. I have some pictures to share but can't seem to get them from iPhoto to blog post...hmmm!

My SIL came down with a nasty bug on Thursday:( By the time we got home Friday evening, Hubby had it! Saturday he had a temperature of 102.4 (F) with a bad cough! Today is the third day for me with headache, scratchy throat, cough and low-grade fever. Needless to say I haven't felt like trying to put words together.

So, that's what I have been up to in my absence. 

I hope you are having a good day where you are! Me, I will most likely take a few naps today trying to get over this bug.

Kat

Carla's Having Another Giveaway

Where are your keys right now?!!!

Okay, let's be honest? Fortunately, now, I have a clip on the inside of my purse for my keys and yes, they are there right now. But before I got this purse I lost my keys on a regular basis! One time I lost my keys for two months; had to use hubby's keys whenever I wanted to go somewhere:( I finally found them at the bottom of one of my very large purses! Well, Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily just might be able to help you with this universal problem! After all, who hasn't lost their keys at least once?!!! 

Carla is giving away the Key Fob (pictured above) to one lucky winner! You have three chances to win...check out her blog post at My 1/2 Dozen Daily to find out how to enter!

The best part of this particular blog post of Carla's is NOT the giveaway! What?!! I can hear you say! No, the best part of this blog post is that Carla has a tutorial on how to make your very own Key Fob! I can see myself making several of these! 

Sooo, hurry on over to My 1/2 Dozen Daily to enter the drawing for this super cute Key Fob! Carla will be doing the drawing on Friday, February 15!

Have a great day!

Kat

Happy Mail

Oh my, do I ever love Happy Mail! And this came to me all the way from Cindy at Just North of Wiarton and South of the Checkerboard in Ontario Canada! I am beginning to think they have the very nicest people in Ontario!!!

Last fall, Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily, had a Secret Sister Swap! I was very excited to be a part of it and purchased lots of goodies to send off to my Secret Sister! Well, long story short, I didn't get a package from the Secret Sister who was supposed to send to me:( Honestly I was okay with that because "it's more blessed to give than receive" but Carla decided that she would send me something herself (it's on its way) but told me that someone else wanted to send me something as well. That someone was Cindy. Her note was sooo sweet telling me that she was my "substitute secret sister":) So, what did she send???

Check out this adorable cross stitched towel! Oh how cute!

How about this magnet for the refrigerator with a picture of three of her four Aussies?

You ought to see the yummy recipes in this book! And she slipped a recipe for Caramel Corn inside--can't wait to try it!

I think this is the first recipe I will try! Ginger and Lemon go sooo well together!

These Macaroons will have to be the second one to try! 

I was in such a hurry to get this list pad on my refrigerator that I forgot to 
take a picture with its cover on! 
Even my son commented on what a great list pad it is because
it has the "To Do" and "To Buy" perforated in the middle
do you can tear off one side or the other!

Last but certainly not least, this Paderno Garlic Press!
Check out the right side of the photo...the cleaner
stores right in the handle! What a beautiful shade
of blue:)

All I can say is a HUGE thank you to Cindy for her thoughtfulness and these well chosen gifts:) 

Have a great day! Not sure about blogging while I am on vacation but will try to get a few in anyway! 

Kat

Happy Homemaker Monday

It's Monday! What does that mean?!!! Happy Homemaker Monday, of course:) I was really lazy over the weekend and didn't even do the Sunday Night Chit-Chat last night:( Happy Homemaker Monday is hosted each week by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. I love reading Sandra's blog because it reminds me of my life when my children were growing up...homeschooling, reading the Bible and Bible stories to the children before bed, cooking from scratch, reading cookbooks, crocheting and sewing...sometimes I miss those days; get a little teary thinking about them. But now I am on the Gramma side of things and have waayyy less energy to accomplish a day's duties so I guess the Bible is right, "To every thing there is a season..." Ecclesiastes 3:1 

Happy Homemaker button courtesy of Sandra @ Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

So, let's get started with our Happy Homemaker Monday!

The Weather...45 degrees (F) today with blue skies and bright sunshine:) 

Right now I am...Sitting in my chair, sipping Yerba Mate tea, blogging, listening to my hubby talk to his brother and sister-in-law about our coast trip tomorrow:)

Thinking...About about our fun trip to the coast this week.

On my reading pile...I am on the second book in the Happiness Key series, Fortunate Harbor by Emilie Richards. The first book in the series finally got my interest about chapter 18. The fact that I hung in that long is amazing but I am looking forward to this next book in the series.

On my TV...Downton Abbey was wonderful last night but was not expecting two hours! Guess that was a bonus! Next Sunday is the season finale! How long are we going to have to wait till Season Four?!!!

Favorite Blog post this week (mine or other)...
A Really Big Morning by Cindy at Just North of Wiarton and South of the Checkerboard! I really related to this post.

Something fun to share...I'm coming up with a blank for today!

On the menu for this week...

Monday--Spaghetti, salad, garlic french bread
Tuesday--Sweet Tomatoes Restaurant in Clackamas, OR on our way to the coast:)
Wednesday--Restaurant in Lincoln City, OR
Thursday--Valentine's Day dinner at a restaurant in Seaside, OR
Friday--most likely Sweet Tomatoes on our way home
Saturday
Sunday

On my "to do" list...

• Pack for our trip to the Oregon Coast
• Visit a yarn/craft store in Seaside
• Shop at the Outlet Mall in Lincoln City
• Peruse at least one used bookstore
• Peruse at least one Thrift store
• Take pictures while at the coast to share with YOU!

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting, or crafting...

I purchased this book from Annie's Attic as a digital download (on my iPad) to take with me to the coast. Crochet thread projects are easy to transport:) Looking forward to making some pretty doilies! Pineapples are my favorite!

Homemaking Tips: Since I am packing and getting ready for our trip, I will share an old packing tip. Fold your clothes and then roll them to get more in your suitcase. I pack a wool sock to put my curling iron or hair straightener in just in case it's hot when I'm packing to come home.

Looking around the house...The dogs are sprawled out across the living room floor, in front of the wood stove, with their toys (as usual). Things look pretty good around here today:)

From the camera...

A box of Happy Mail! I will share more in a post later today!

On my Prayer List...
Friends with health issues; friends trying to sell their business to be able to spend more time with their children; friend preparing for move this summer to Japan (military family); 

Bible verse; Devotional...

To everything there is a season,

And a time for every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die;

A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; 

A time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to week, and a time to laugh;

A time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose;

A time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew;

A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; 

A time of war, and a time of peace."

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (KJV)

Have a wonderful day! I will be back a little later with my Happy Mail post:)

Kat

Feeling Sentimental

Another fun card; this time CASed from Corinne Somerville at Stamping with Roxy. The stamp set, Feeling Sentimental, is free with a $50 order during Sale-a-bration--whoo hoo! It wasn't my favorite one at first but as so often happens, after I saw what other demonstrators were doing with it, it became a "must have"! I love the very vintage look of this card. I can't believe I actually sponged two cards in a row!!!

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! products:

• Card stock: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso and Very Vanilla
• Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad for sponging; Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad for stamping
• Other: Soft Suede 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon; Mini Glue Dots; 1 1/4" Square Punch (for the ends of the banner)

I have a couple more cards I am wanting to try today so will try to share those with you in the next couple days.

Have a great day!

Kat