Long time ... no post

No pictures today ... sorry ... I know eye candy is important ... maybe the MOST important thing in a blog. No pics still ... soon though -- promise.

We've been busy, busy, BUSY cleaning out the gardens, laying 22(!!!!) bags of mini pine bark chips, I've lost count of how many bags of soil, fertilizer, etc. And I'm happy to report that we're DONE with it all!!! Every last bit has been turned over, weeds ripped out, and seeds and plants put in. The gardens should be spectacular this year. We've planted three different kinds of tomatoes, five different kinds of peppers, green beans, cukes, zucchini and patty pan squash (first year on the patty pan -- we'll see how it goes), peas, radishes (we're on our second planting already!!!), carrots, pie punkins, bunching onions, Walla Walla onions, and red sweet onions. We also put in a mixed variety of gourds along the old fence -- AWAY from the veggie garden this year. Hubby was ticked when my gourds got away from me last year and swallowed our tomatoes, cages and all. So this year the gourds are planted far, far away. The herbs this year are basil, oregano, orange mint, lemon balm, lemon thyme, chives, hyssop, rue, and nasturtiums. We've planted flowers galore -- marigolds all over in the veggie garden, and lots of baskets and pots. Pictures soon -- I promise ...

On the homefront, hubby will be having his fifth hip surgery on June 11. We're hopeful that this surgery will finally fix his hip that was replaced last July. It's been a real roller coaster ride getting to a diagnosis, but we're hopeful that we have indeed arrived and can get off this crazy, wild ride once and for all. I'd appreciate it if you could find the time to say a little prayer for my husband, Rick. He has endured so much more than I would have thought was even humanly possible. He so deserves to finally be pain free and to have his life given back to him.

And our youngest son, Quinn, is taking his ASVAB test for the Air Force today. He wants to enlist full time and this old mom's heart is breaking ... I understand his reasons for wanting to do this and I certainly would encourage him to be all that he can be. I just wish ... well, I wish about a million different things. But what will be, will be. And there's just not much I can do about it.

And that's about it for my "dump" today ... next time there'll be pictures ... promise.

Vacationing in Lancaster, PA ...

We're on the road! My friend, Terri and I ... we're in Lancaster, PA visiting, shopping, EATING, shopping ... ummmmmm, shopping ...

We left last Saturday morning, early ... 12 hours, lots and LOTS of laughs, and a few Starbucks later, we arrived in Lancaster. We're staying at a gorgeous hotel that our friend, Grace, manages and let me tell you, it's GORGEOUS. And for some reason ... too many pictures maybe???? ... I can't get the pictures to load in this posting. I'll post the pics though because I want you to see the Amish farm that we wake up to every morning ... the rooms are gorgeous, the view is gorgeous, the breakfast is FANTASTIC (can you believe it, I am eating YOGURT!!!!! Homemade by local Amish and it is absolutely incredible! And I don't eat yogurt! I'm so afraid to go home and never liking a store-bought yogurt. The stuff here at the hotel is oh so YUMMY!!! I'll miss it when we go home.)

Terri and I have had the most wonderful time visiting here ... our friend, Grace ... Grace is one of the sweetest people on the face of this earth -- TRULY! There isn't anything she hasn't thought of in the way of bringing peace, ease, and total comfort for Terri and I. Saying she is the hostess with the MOSTEST is such an understatement!! Grace, if you're reading this, you know what's in my heart and I can never, EVER thank you enough, girlfriend.

Terri and I rolled into town late Saturday night and after ooh'g and aah'g about our hotel suite, we hit the hay probably around midnight. Sunday morning found us getting up early and rolling up to Adamstown for extravaganza!!! We met up with Linda S. (my kindred spirit -- I love ya!!), visited a few antique shops, and Grace discovered that her favorite prim dealer has taken a break from selling. Poor Grace ... she was really heartbroken. She was able to spot a couple of this gal's pieces in another booth and they were veryyyyyyyyyyy nice. I could see why Grace was disappointed to find her gone. We all wandered down to Shupp's Grove to the outdoor antique market ... Lordy, was it HOT! Weird, hot, sunny weather! All of us got a bit of a sunburn ... but we also all found treasures! You'll see mine once I get home and get unpacked. It was a great day in the Grove and of course, I took NO pictures! I was so mad at myself when I realized what I had done. We had a late lunch at an Italian restaurant and I had my first Philly cheesesteak sandwich. YUM!!!!!!!!! We visited a couple of shops with some of the BEST early textiles! Wayyyyyyyyyyyyy outta my price range, but so FUN to look at and fondle a bit.

On Monday morning, Linda took us to an Amish farm ... it was beautiful there ... everything so neat and well-kept ...

We had a blast rooting through Mr. Esh's barns!!! Lots of treasures came home with each of us. A one-of-a-kind adventure with special friends ... special memories to be treasured forever ... hey, I don't go rooting through junk with just ANYBODY!!!!

I know I missed tons of treasures ... there was just too much to see ...

Terri found a treasure ... we each got one ... they're sunflowers ... see 'em??? I KNOW my hubby is gonna SUPER love this yard art! NOT!!!!! lol And believe me, he doesn't call it art ... I do ... but he doesn't ...

Look at that Grace go!!!!! She's on a mission!!!!

Linda had to leave us shortly after leaving the farm and Grace, Terri, and I continued our shopping in Intercourse, PA. We visited a great prim shop owned by a friend of Grace and Linda's, Julie. Great shop ... great owner!!!! You'll see pictures from a class that Grace arranged for us to take there soon. Grace treated Terri and I to lunch at a quaint little place where I had the most delicious chicken salad with orange marmalade and delicious homemade bread ... I don't think I've ever really EATEN orange marmalade ... always assumed I wouldn't like it I guess ... couldn't have been more wrong ... this stuff was INCREDIBLY delicious!!!! We wandered through a few shops ... I picked up apple butter for my work mates ... jellies for my son who loves the little variety boxes of home canned Amish jams and jellies ... he'll be thrilled when he sees what I've brought him. We went to a quilt shop, a wool/yarn shop with the yummiest hand dyed wool fabric and yarns, and a small antique mall. We finished out the evening at Grace's house making prim fly screens. Fun project and Grace's house is LOVELY!!! Perfect! Her vignettes are such fun to discover throughout her house. Her kitty, Casey, is a sweety ... and her hubby Jim ain't half bad either ... lol. The ride back to the hotel late at night on unfamiliar, windy backroads was, well ... let's just say it was interesting ...

Tuesday morning our friend, Kim, joined us ... she's the tiny one in the middle ... Terri's on the left ... and Grace is on the right ... guess it was about time I intro'd them, huh???? We wandered up to Hummelstown to the Olde Factory where we each found a few new treasures that we just HAD to have ...

and then wandered into the scrapbooking shop next door. I LOVE THIS SHOP!!!! Oy vey, there is just too darned much to look at!!!! It puts my entire brain into overdrive ... I'm completely overwhelmed here. Kim and I were able to find a few new papers for our next banner swap (SUMMER in vintage reds, yellows, and blues -- think Grandma's apron ... fun, fun). We talked to the owner about teaching a class when we're here next spring for the Prim & Rustic Gathering ... she showed us a few memory book projects that were so imaginative and creative!!!! I know the Gathering galz would love this project!!!! And the prices she quoted seemed veryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy reasonable too.

We finished our day with a trip to Primitives by Kathy and an Amish dinner buffet where I ate ENTIRELY TOO MUCH!!!! It was all so darned GOOD! I couldn't stop!!!

Our evening entertainment was a class at the prim shop Family Creations. Grace arranged for a class where we made painted and distressed paper mache boxes with grubby labels and a fabric pin cushion on top. Loved the class ... love the finished project!

Here we all are taking our class ... starting front left we have Teryn, Linda, Terri, Kim in the center back, Grace, and Susan Byrd, and then what should have been Teryn's sweet daughter, Nikki that I cut off on my right ... I'm an AWFUL photographer and am eternally grateful that I do not have to attempt making a living at taking pictures ... I STINK at it!!!

Here we all are with our finished projects (see Nikki in the back row, third from the left? Cutie patootie, huh???? A truly sweet, sweet spirit that kid. I really enjoyed sitting between her and her mom, Teryn. They have a special relationship that is really refreshing.) This was my first time meeting Susan Byrd. She's beautiful ... inside and out ... and soooooo very talented ...

So here we are on Wednesday (was that REALLY only YESTERDAY?????) ... this picture is for you, Linda T.!!!!! Yum, yum, YUMMY candles at the Cinnamon Stick ... we all took many, many whiffs for you, girl!!!!!

The Cinnamon Stick shop!!!! The owner, Judy and my girls. FANTASTIC prim shop! And Judy is just tooooooooooooo sweet!!!! Loved our time there!!!

Off we go to the shop next door ... Homespun. Yet another incredible shop! Stocked to the hilt with yummy hand dyed wools and reproduction fabrics and set in an old general store with all the shelves and built-ins still there. Be still my wooly prim lovin' heart!!!!!

A wonderful display of antique sewies ... back wall loaded with wools ... by this point I'm thinking I might just die and go straight to wooly heaven ...

The owner, Kay, is a doll. I chatted with her about teaching a needlefelting class for the Gathering next year ... she was very excited about it ... I will definitely be in touch with her in the coming weeks.

We ended our shopping day with a trip to Burkholder's Fabrics ... we enjoyed browsing through all the fabrics and selecting a fat quarter for a swap we're going to do.

We ended the day with a delicious spaghetti dinner at Grace's house (I told you she was the hostess with the MOSTEST!!!!) and a fun-filled night crafting together. I'll post pictures of our projects when I get home and unpack ... Terri's poor car is pretty filled at this point ... I think we could almost open a prim shop in there! ha ha

Today's our last day and we shopped until we dropped today ... ATI, Keystone, Flower and Craft ... supplies, supplies, SUPPLIES!!!! And a special trip to Carson's in the Cornfields ... a really unique shop filled with architectural pieces and parts ... anything and everything ... it's all available here. We really enjoyed getting new junk ideas ... creative and whimsical ... a fun afternoon that ended with a nice lunch at a quaint little restaurant I have no idea where ...

It will be sad to leave in the morning ... this area and the people in it have really stolen my heart ...

We leave in the morning and drive 9 hours west to see our friend, Jackie. I haven't seen her since last June and I can't WAIT to give her a hug and maybe pull a stitch or two with her ...

He's home ... safe and sound ...

My Josh is home!!! He's the tallest one in the back ... all graduated from Air Force security forces training ... gotta love that blue beret!!! He spent the past couple of weeks guarding the gates at his base here in Illinois. And now he's taking a two week break to relax, unwind, adapt back to civilian life, and take a short trip to Canada to visit friends before going back to work at the cable company full-time. He reports to his base the first weekend of every month for drill and for two weeks in the summer for training. A group from his base will be leaving shortly to serve six months in Saudi Arabia. I'm relieved that he's not leaving already ... I know he will eventually ... although I can't bring myself to think of it ... not yet ...

There's just something so special ...

about gathering with girlfriends!!! I was lucky enough to spend a day last weekend in the company of a great bunch of gals ...

A wonderful get-together with friends old and new ... Em, Rhonda, Terri, Neenee, Donna, Cat, and Ro -- love you all!!

a little something to eat and drink ...

good "sisterly" talk, hugs, and laughs ...

We don't do it near enough!!!!

A beautiful morning and some new goodies ...

Look what we woke up to this morning!!! Yesterday afternoon we had rain (lots of it!!!) ... then ice (lots of it!!!) ... then snow (several inches) ... YIKES!!!

This is the view through my kitchen window this morning ...

In the background you can see the street ... no plows until almost noon today ...

It's been so nasty this weekend ... and we're trapped inside ... hubby doin' his thing ... me doin' mine ...

My first coaster book!!! I love how it turned out ... I've been wanting to try this technique for awhile now and today was the day ... click to enlarge the pictures ...

These Things Have I Learned ...

Life is not measured ... a friend is an angel minus the wings ...

there are angels among us ... the world outside your window ...

a friend is a gift you give yourself ... take time ...

take your wings and fly ... life is full of surprises ...

back cover ...

This coaster book measures 4" square and is held together with a snap ring in the upper left corner ... $24.95 shipping included ... email me if interested ...

Wooly eggs ... love the dusty colors ... rubbed with spices ... featherstitchin' ... eggs come with a bit of prim sweet grass and "vintage" tag ... $22.95 postage paid ... email me if interested ...

Sweet 6" square journal that I've altered the cover of ... 100 pages of lined paper ... sorry, the journal has found a new home ...

Freebie Cabinet Card ...

I just love this little guy, don't you? I found him in an antique shop recently and I knew the minute I laid eyes on him that he NEEDED to come home with me. I think he has the sweetest face ... and that hat cracks me up. Feel free to use him in your art ... click his picture to enlarge and print him out. I've scanned him at a high resolution so he should print nice for you. At least I hope he does ... I'm new to this scanning stuff. I'd love to see what you do with him ... email me pictures of your art so I can put it here for everyone to see ...

Enjoy!

Spring Banner Swap ...

Just received my last two banners for a fun, fun, FUN spring banner swap that I participated in with five of my friends from an internet group I belong to ... I can't wait to get them tied together and put up ... this has been such a fun swap! Our only instructions were to make them 6" x 9" and to think vintage ... we each took a letter and made six ... five to send and one to keep ...

Kim was "S" ... Darlene was "P" ...

Neenee was "R" ... I was "I" ...

Tracey/Jeannie was "N" ... and Joanne was "G"

I hope that we do all of the seasons!!!