Monday, October 31, 2011

epitaphs

Funny epitaphs perfect for today...

Here lies my wife
Here let her lie
Now she has peace
And so do I


Here lies the body of Kermit Smoot
He almost learned to parachute

And these are real epitaphs on old gravestones...

Here lies Ann Mann,
Who lived an old maid
But died an old Mann.

Here lies
Johnny Yeast
Pardon me
For not rising

On the 22nd of June
-Jonathan Fiddle-
Went out of Tune

Here lies Owen Moore
Gone away
O'win more
Than he could pay


Here lies the body
of Jonathan Blake
Stepped on the gas
Instead of the brake


I took these photographs on our trip to Florida in May.
The haunted mansion in Disney World is one of my favorite exhibits.

Happy Halloween!
b



Friday, October 28, 2011

on my bookshelf

I highly recommend these two books by Jeannette Walls


The "Glass Castle" is unbelievable.
No one could make up the life these kids had growing up.
It's remarkable they turned out to be normal adults...
a tribute to the fact that being poor is no crime.
Pick up these books at your local library or bookstore...
or borrow mine to read with your
favorite tea in your favorite mug.
Wish I could share my son-in-laws tea recipe here,
it includes a bit of the ol' red eye.
Good for what ails you right?


Throw in a slice of banana bread hot out of the oven...


to enjoy a happy weekend!
b

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Thinking about snow...

Have you been thinking about snow like I have?
The weatherman has been reporting about it in the higher elevations.

Aren't these mittens fun?
They're recycled from grandpa's old cardigan.
I got all three of the colors from one sweater, nice huh?
They will be super warm with 100% felted wool and fleece liner.

Secret: I was looking for Christmas music yesterday,
 want to be ready you know.
b

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

up with the rooster

If I had a rooster I could safely say...
"I get up with the rooster."



But I don't (have a rooster), sad face here.

However, I do love my newest rooster.
When I was to tight to splurge on it
 my daughter and Mr. b insisted I have it
 and they bought it for me.
It took several shopping trips
 before I found just the right fall flowers to put in it...
do you realize how expensive silk stems are?!
I found these at a North Dakota Alco at $1.49!
I splurged on two...

I like to think I pick my splurges wisely.
b

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

bling


I love frosting!
Wouldn't cake be so much better with frosting on the bottom
 and just a little cake on the top?
Just a thought...b

Monday, October 24, 2011

Thing 1 and Thing 2

Yes, thank you, we had a fabulous weekend...

The nightgowns I made for the granddaughters were way to big,
but they will look good on them as teenagers, ha.

We watched them take a swimming lesson Saturday morning.
I don't know why the lessons, these girls were born fish.

Then it was on to the bounce house...
Aren't those big inflatables for kids the greatest?

Saturday night we went to a church trunk and treat...
what a nice little event that was.

Trunks of vehicles decorated in religious themes with treats for the kids.

Sunday we went on a scavenger and treasure hunt.
(Not in our pajamas by the way.)

After we scoured the block for leaves, rocks, sticks, pine cones, flowers and feathers...
we hunted for treasurers in the yard that daddy hid.
I tell you, tiny Disney figurines can keep kids occupied a very long time!


Our South Dakota weather is holding out and we are still enjoying beautiful fall days...
b


Friday, October 21, 2011

horses

We're going to visit the gran's for the weekend...


We just plan on doing a lot of horsing around!


b



Thursday, October 20, 2011

seeing orange

Things you see on the side of the road...


I usually have my head buried in a book or a knitting project...


But I'm glad I was paying attention
when we went by this "Rooster Wagon"


I want one of these sitting in my yard! b


Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Tinkerbell x 2 =

Sew...what have you been doing today?
Maybe tinkering around with a project or two?


I decided last night that I was going to get this sewing project off of the table.


Sew, today I finished these flannel nightgowns
for the granddaughters.
b



Tuesday, October 18, 2011

on the vine

It was a bit frosty this morning
and I'm afraid our furnace is on to stay for awhile.
I suppose this will be the last dishpan
of tomatoes and peppers I'll get to bring in from the garden to enjoy.

Aren't they pretty?
I planted a couple of tomato plants late in June
 and they are just now turning red, darn.


Still on the vine...maybe a warm quilt for a couple of nights?

I brought in my fern this morning, so pretty...

Our cats were eyeballing it like it was a new toy...
I hung it high.
It's a beauty now but won't last with the furnace running nonstop.
b




Monday, October 17, 2011

No pheasants?

It was a beautiful fall weekend here for South Dakota's pheasant opener.
It seemed strange to not be standing out in a field at noon Saturday.
I miss that day of fresh country air...
sack lunches in the field and a pot luck at the end of the day...
and most of all spending the day with family.

But Pearl was glad to have us stay at home...


Pearl loves it when I spend the day in my sewing room...
show them what we made Pearl.


I veered away from the western theme to make this
"Support Our Troops" bag.

This is the inside of the bag with pockets all around...
I used corduroy on the bottom of bag, inside and out.


I completed this bag Saturday and Sunday it was back to the
western theme I seem to like best with this pattern.

Did I say I sold my first bag?
Or rather daughter knit and pearl sold it for me.

So, while we did not get our pheasant limit...
 we did have a very productive weekend.
Mr. b put the finishing touches on our roof, yay!
It may be safe to say this is his last roofing project.
b



Friday, October 14, 2011

meow

My new cover will be keeping my sewing machine
warm and cozy this winter...
and dust free.


While the guys were hanging gutters,
 daughter knit and pearl and I dug into her fabric stash
 and came up with a couple of very cute covers for our sewing machines.

This one is hers...

It was a very productive gab session
and we learned that shoe laces work fine for piping.
b



Thursday, October 13, 2011

pumpkin fields

We're back from a long weekend in the North Country.
It was an enjoyable drive - 420 miles one way.
The farmers along the way were busy harvesting crops.
We saw lots of tractors and combines...
and fields and fields of corn, beans and sunflowers...
 and pumpkins!


I made Mr. b turn the car around when I saw this field of pumpkins
with a sign saying,
"You pick. Free will offering."


So, I came home with two fat pumpkins
from the state of North Dakota.
b


Thursday, October 6, 2011

grandpa's cardigan

Do you see a pile of old wool sweaters here?
Like the ones your grandpa wore?


Well...
 soon they will be felted, cut up
 and sewn into warm woolen mittens.
Maybe grandpa will even get a pair!
b

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Sweet Apple Treat

Do you have extra apples?

apple bundt cake...
so good,
so pretty.   b


Tuesday, October 4, 2011

sweet stuff

New on the shelf...



A silly scarecrow looking so sweet in her jumper.
I love surprises...
b



Monday, October 3, 2011

up on the rooftop

How about a little pop quiz today?

What are these 3 men doing on our roof?


a. hunting for space debris to make big money
b. preparing for a safe landing spot for Santa
c. working on their tans
d. looking for better cell reception
e. other

If you guessed e. other you are correct and get an A+

We had a busy and productive weekend at our house
 as this 3-man roofing crew worked liked slaves putting new shingles on.


It's a hard job and it certainly didn't pay very well!
Thanks guys.
b