WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING...

Or what "haven't" I been doing?? It's been a crazy last couple of months. With my daughter's wedding fast approaching, it has been a whirlwind of activity around the house. Renee's Bridal Shower was held this past Saturday and it was beautiful...good turnout, good food, and no bridezilla or momzilla moments (well...at least not at the shower!) My daughter-in-law Sara worked her behind off making body butters and body scrubs to be given as shower favors. They were such a huge hit, I think she should go into business! I have a few pictures to share....my new BFF is IKEA...Sara and I went shopping there to pick up a few odds and ends for decorations and found a wonderful, wonderful treasure trove of really inexpensive items for the centerpieces and also some decor for her wedding reception. Renee with her "Bride To Be" sign...

Beautiful cake from her mother-in-law to be..it was really really good!

My DIL, Sara....lot's of body butter in those jars!

The centerpieces at each table.

And of course....what would a bridal shower be without cute little grand daughters to share the moment?

CHARLOTTE'S SAMPLER AND BEDROOM RE-DO

This is the final installment of my grandchildren's birth samplers...well, at least for now..until there is another grandbaby or two! This one is for Charlotte..she is going to be 2 on the 7th of April. Her party is not until the 15th so I am hoping to have it finished. I have two samplers still to frame (ok..I'm a little behind)but hopefully, they will all be done soon. I chose some of the design from a Blackbird Design pattern, but the lettering is pretty standard...and easy. I am using Gentle Arts floss and 30 count cream linen. Below are pics from the bedroom that used to be the grandkids' playroom. I had some extra furniture after we got our new bedroom set. The desk is my husband's and the dresser was made in 1887..it has the owner's name written in pencil on the back...it was December of 1887 to be exact. Solid, solid walnut...it weighs a ton. I don't think I could ever part with it..I do need to change the drawer pulls, however. The grey game board on the wall to the left of the chest, was made by my father-in-law in the 1940's to play "Aggravation" with his family.

This is a quilt that my Aunt Irene from Alabama made years and years ago from flour sack material. My mom found it after my aunt had passed away last summer. I love the way it looks on the reproduction settle bench in the entry of the bedroom.

A picture of my new bedroom set...not very prim...I know, I know....but in my older years....I just wanted something simple, easy to keep up. Don't mind my wrinkled comforter..it's new...but I didn't feel like pressing it..so there you have it..my kids are still asking if we are getting used to the queen size bed...I certainly am...my husband...not so much!

ONE MORE TIME....TRYING TO POST...

I tried to post last Sunday..but for some reason blogger would NOT let me post...the pictures showed up, but not my text...UGH! After several attempts, I gave up..hopefully this one will work. My DH and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary on March 25th. This is a picture of us back in the day (my hippie wedding dress and my hubby with his pack of Marlboro's in his shirt pocket...good grief! And the second picture is us now...we're way in the back, with our five children and their spouses and fiances. They treated us to a wonderful dinner at an Italian restaurant and then gave us a gift certificate toward a new bedroom set. We were still sleeping on a full size bed and I guess they thought it was time for us to "upgrade" to a queen. Plus..we desperately needed a bedroom set...we have never had a new one...just bits and pieces from here and there!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOYS!!

I can't believe it....but three of my four sons are inching closer and closer to the big "40"! Nate's 37th birthday is today (he's the one on the left in the red shirt) and Shane's 38th birthday is tomorrow on the 19th (he's the one in the middle). My oldest son, Dave (no picture yet) will be 40 later this year...where has the time gone?? I wish I could go back in time, for just a little bit....to give them all lots and lots of hugs and kisses....when they were small enough to tuck under my arms or hold them in my lap. Such sweet years...that pass way too quick! I'm guessing that's why God gives us grandchildren..so we get to do it all over again..and appreciate that time even more!

MARCH...ALREADY?

Geez...I can't believe I haven't posted in so long...I guess that means there is really nothing new going on. I haven't been able to much hooking or stitching..not enough time or energy lately. But...I love being able to see what everyone else has done or is in the process of doing....so I live vicariously throughout blogland! Anyway....we have been very busy with wedding stuff...with a wedding in June and the next one in September...seems that "Pinterest" is my new BFF. So many cool ideas...and seriously...you can just about find anything your heart desires on that website. I have been rearranging stuff...I am torn between trying to be more traditional in decorating but I still love my primitives..so I guess I am "eclectic" in my tastes. We just recently painted the kitchen..so I changed the decor somewhat...well..I bought a few accessories and a new picture. Just posting a few pics today...

That's my mantle...always challenging for me...the blue wall is the NEXT to be painted..like I said...eclectic!

My blue cupboard with my grandmother's Blue Willow Ware. I heard a young couple at an antique shop last summer say "I hate those blue dishes...they make absolutely NO sense to me and you see them everywhere!"..I kind of laughed to myself! Yep...you can see them scattered throughout my house!

My dry sink is still in the middle of the kitchen...my husband will not let me move it...he loves it there...everyweeked it's a big discussion.

My little table for two that I painted black last summer and my new picture on the kitchen wall...pretty plain...not very prim..but easy to keep up!

Last but not least....I recently came across these little tarts from Walmart by Better Homes and Gardens..they are only two dollars per pack and smell absolutely wonderful!! I put them in my electric tart warmer and your whole house smells wonderful! This is a favorite scent of mine...so clean and fresh!

JANUARY MUSINGS

I hope everyone is having a wonderful and productive January..it sure is passing us fast! We had a beautiful blanket of snow a couple of days ago..and then yesterday all it did was rain. Really weird weather for January. I miss the snow.. I am planning to go to Sauder in a couple of weeks for their two-day hook-in. I am meeting friends, Lauren and Melissa. I wasn't going to go at first, because I haven't hooked in months...but I am hoping it will get my hooking mojo back! After all...I have a room full of wool just waiting to be hooked. Lots of planning going on for the two upcoming weddings. My son and his fiance are planning an outdoor wedding on September 8th of this year....just praying that the weather will be nice..makes me nervous! But they already have things planned and ordered. They have asked all 9 grandkids to be in it also...hmmm...should be interesting and fun! My daughter's bridal shower is planned for May 19..so I have been busy looking for bargains and ideas for centerpieces and door prizes..that in itself has been busy work..but fun! I hope everyone has a beautiful and creative day...

ANOTHER WEDDING IN THE MAKING

Well...another wedding this summer...my youngest son, Jeff, proposed to his girlfriend of five years..Crystal this past weekend. We are all so excited! My daughter Renee, will be getting married on June 30th, 2012 and Jeff will probably be in August or September 2012. It's going to be a crazy busy summer!

I love Christmas...but I am so happy it's over. We were so busy over the weekend having half the kids over on Christmas eve and then the other half on Sunday. I tried making stuffed cabbage on Saturday and it turned out just awful!! I don't know what I did wrong..I have made it before..but I almost broke a tooth biting into it. So we ended up eating chicken and fish sticks!! I did make some smoked sausage and sauerkraut...that tasted pretty good. I'm ready to take all the decorations down and get back to normal whatever that is. I don't think anything will be "normal" until all the "I do's" are said! I haven't done any stitching or rug hooking in about 3 weeks...I miss it...but the tendonitis in both arms are gone..at least for now.