What crazy things warm weather does!

This is Sarge our, 4 year old Shepherd/Dobie. He isn't adjusting well to the winter weather up here in the North yet. Now, that we are having warmer weather and the ice is melting around his dog house, it is making some good old fashioned mud. Sarge will have none of it though.He tippy toed over the mud to get to the table. He climbed up on this table and stayed there almost all day. I need to go out and put straw down so that he will get his backside of my table...LOL! Spring does crazy things, I guess. ;)

At the Zoo and Lighthouse

On the beach looking out at the "Yucky Water" (the Ocean)
CR loves wading in the surf. Unless of course, a big waves come up from behind and soaks him.


The LIGHTHOUSE
At the Zoo
CR took the gator picture. I hate reptiles/amphibians. I don't care how cute his smile is!! 
This is how Levi and Tori spend almost the whole trip thru the zoo. It was all we could do keep them from climbing out and running after the animals..lol

My sweet Mother In Law sent us this Christmas stockings a few

My sweet Mother In Law sent us this Christmas stockings a few years back and they have become our special stockings that go up every year. My husband and I got ours the year we were married and when we were expecting our daughter, she sent us hers. This is my son's second Christmas, and she has promised to send one for him too. (She has carpal tunnel so was unable to make it for him last year--I didn't want to make it as I think it will be especially special when we tell him that is it from his Mommou. :P)

I think are just adorable!

My daughter refuses to call them Christmas stockings and insists that they be called Christmas socks. When I'm not looking she'll take hers down and next thing I know shes wearing hers on her foot. I am hoping that since we explained what those are for that she will quit doing that. .....Hopefully! :) hehe

Starting All Over Again

I start blogs with the best of intentions. I promise myself that I will faithfully enter each day. It's with great resolve I sit down to the computer to type and then I think, " Ooh, I wonder what new crochet patterns my favorite site has." Then, I get lost in the patterns. I am thinking of Christmas gifts, decorations, and lately here shawl patterns of all kinds.

So, as I am typing now, I hope ..with my fingers crossed...that I will faithffully keep up with this blog. :O)

Isn't she adorable! One of my farmgirl sister sent me this

Isn't she adorable! One of my farmgirl sister sent me this link to this design and I thought she was too cute not to put in my kitchen somewhere. I embroidered her on my toaster. After 6 years of being VERY well used, it definitly needed a facelift. :O) Look! She is even has her apron on to do her chores...must be she's a "Farmgirl Mouse!"

Levi's Stocking

We got a Christmas package from my dear Mom in Law. In it was Levi's stocking...Yay!!! Isn't it just adorable. I love baby blue! :) Now everyone has a special stocking all their own. ;) and how extra special that they all came from Mom. :O)

My Giveaway Prizes

Over at Nancy Jo's blog, she had a giveaway for some beautiful items. I couldn't resist but to enter and how wonderful it was to find out that I won!! YAY!!

These are the pretties that came in my package yesterday.:) The strawberry apron will be just perfect for the kitchen in the new house as it is all going to be decorated in strawberries and roses. I love the lacey green trim! There was a Hershey's chocolate cookbook that my hubby snitched as soon as he came home. The recipes look yummy! yummy! yummy! There was a lovely gingham napkin, a tin Gingerbread man cookie cutter, a beautiful doily, and 2 old fashioned wooden clothespins. (I have already put the cookie cutter and the pins to good use so they weren't able to be in our photo shoot today ;) )

I couldn't resist getting a close-up of the doily. It is just too elegant to not see the beautiful details up close!

Along with all of this was the most gorgeous handmade card!

I feel like Christmas came early with all these goodies in my mailbox! :) THANK YOU NANCY JO!!! :O)

Don't forget to visit Nancy Jo's blog. It is one of my favorite places! :)

www.Nancy-Jo.blogspot.com

I have been working on this shawl for a little while as

I have been working on this shawl for a little while as a Christmas gift. I finally finished and wrapped up neatly with a bow. I just love the pattern and can hardly wait until I can myself one. They are so snuggly warm.

I was thinking about selling them to help out with finances a little this year.

Dolly #2 for Sale

She is dressed in her bonnet ready to play in the sunshine or snuggle in with a good book. Her dress and body are made of 100% cotton and loving stuffed with the softest of filling. Her favorite things are going barefoot through the garden, picking green beans, chasing butterflies, and giving hugs! She is waiting for you! :)



She is $16.00**. This includes her traveling costs. (This includes confirmation that she arrived safely. Insurance will be extra.)


**As with all dolly travels, International shipping can be done, but will not be included in the cost of the doll. The cost for the doll will be less the U.S. shipping costs. International shipping will be calculated according to location being sent to. :)

Another Wonderful Treasure

I can't get this to turn rightside up, but these beads area gift from Dawn. Hubby and I sat sorting through and picking out our favorites from each and every one. I shall have fun learning how to make my own jewelry. She also sent the most hilarious card.:)

Deck the Halls...and Trees...and Counters...

My dear sweet hubby went thrifting (yay!! farmgirls are rubbing off on me..hehe) with me today and found this beautiful Holly Hobby plate. It's dated Christmas 1973. This was little bit before me, but I remember Holly Hobby very well! I used to have her bedsheets when I was little. Hubby got it and didn't show it to me until we were in the car. Isn't that just the sweetest?!!

Here is our little Christmas tree all lit up for the first time this season. It has all of our special ornaments. Lots of Baby's 1sts, a Couple's 1st, and a few little Curious George's, John Deere tractors, and Hubby's 1st Christmas with his Mom ornament. There are a few others that are important to us for little reasons. They all have a special place on our tree and in our memories. :)

The Christmas holiday has officially begun!! YAY!! --Our tree is up!!

More Treasures

This came from Autumn. So pretty!The two pictures below are of a needlebook that Autumn made me a while back. I use it all the time and it reminds me of her. She said it was made out of repurposed wool skirt. So cute!

Hannah Michele

Her name is Hannah Michele.

The Best Picnic Day

We had a gorgeous day full of lots of beautiful sunshine. We just couldn't resist taking the kids out on the swings and having a picnic. It was a wonderful times and the kids loved it!! That's always the best part! :D Tori on the "big girl swing"

Levi learning to swing with Daddy.

Yummy! Peanut Butter and Jelly with Oreos and Milk..the best picnic foods! :)

Christmas Cleaning

With Christmas only 5 days away, I am spending this week cleaning and organizing as much as I can. It is quite interesting with the children trying to help, but we are wading through. ;) Levi's new interest is helping "clean" the potty. He floats wonderful things in there: toothbrushes, Christmas cards, Barbies, and others. They never knew that they would have such a fateful end with a burial at sea.
My daughter is old enough now to realize that cleaning is not something that she should want to do. :) We clean around her mostly. She does have some chores she is supposed to do, like putting her toys away, helping to watch her brother, and making her bed. I usually wait until the end of the week or in this case, Wednesday to make her really pitch in.
I have to pick my battles..lol....so cleaning around her is just easier momentarily, until I can focus my full attention on making sure that she is doing what she is supposed to.
We are almost done. I have lots of laundry to put away. It's all folded, but I just can't get motivated to delve into it.Dishes and laundry seem to be my cryptonite. I'd rather clean that potty a handful of times than have to wash the dishes just once....lol. I come by it naturally though, my Mom and sister loathe dishes almost as much as I do! ;)
Off to clean....hugs!

Sewing Day

Whenever I bring out the sewing machine, which is a lot lately, the kids are fascinated. I think it's because it is the only thing that has enough buttons that they don't realize they are sharing because they are all playing with a different knob or dial or switch. :D Levi could hardly wait for me to get up so he could take over my spot. Maybe when he's a little taller...lol