The Country Cellar

Kindle freebies!

2011-12-26T22:16:00.001-05:00

There are tons of great freebies to download. Here is one of the first ones I did. I love the classics.

I am blessed. ~Angela

Merry Christmas everyone!

2011-12-26T00:37:00.002-05:00

I barely did it I am certain, but I must have made the nice list. Cause this was waiting for me under the Christmas tree.

Tonight I have been snooping around Amazon, seeing what there is out there. AND man, there is so much!

We were blessed as a family this year. Daddy and Mom are still with us. I am so thankful for that. Every year, more so. They are both in their seventies now and not in the best health. They are so precious.

Pray you got to spend time with those you love and hold dear.

I am blessed. ~Angela

PS: Here is a peak at our newest family members. Sophie and Elijah

Hooky fun and sweet friends

2011-12-04T02:47:00.001-05:00

Two things I love!

Here is a bit of my hooky love. I made this lil' Bethany Bear on the fly. Writing up the pattern as I went.Thinking I will make more of her. She is made from wool and is very lightly stuffed. Her dress is closed at the bottom. Her hanger is ricketyrack. Right now she is hanging on our everyday tree, but will go on the Christmas tree one of these days. There is no mouth, that is just the stitch holes. Doesn't look so obvious in person. Bethany is 7-inches tall.

Look at this sweet box of goodies my retreat girlies gave me. Amgela's Advent Box. Sorry the tag photo is not very clear. It is all adorable. There is a sewn bag with a tag for each day. I had to wait about 2 weeks before I could bust into this baby!!! Oh the agony. Thankfully I had other distractions, Thanksgiving here and chemo, to keep me occupied. I will share along the way some of the sweet things I received. Miss Laura's daddy built the box. It is an awesome gift in itself! These ladies are simply amazing and I am blessed to call them my friends. Their thoughtfulness and encouragement is just boundless. Thank you my lovelies! You know who you are!!! I love you.

Today is my sweet sister Penny's birthday. I hope you can hop over and give her a birthday greeting.

I am blessed! ~Angela

Is this the coolest or what?

2011-11-24T23:35:00.000-05:00

The Kindle Fire from Amazon.

I am blessed

2011-11-23T02:50:00.004-05:00

I am a blessed girl. Family, friends, home and health (Even bad health is good health when you think of the alternative! Our daddy says any day you wake up above the green is a good day.) There is just so much to be thankful for. God is good to me in ways I cannot imagine, in ways I do not even see. I know I keep my guardian angels quite busy on a slow day!

The image below is a coloring page you can click on and print for the munchkins at your house on Thanksgiving Day. Something to keep them busy with while you are finishing getting the table ready.

It has been very blowsy and blustery here. Not many leaves left for the neighbors to sweep and rake. I do believe they have all landed at our back stoop. Toby is loving it. He loves fallen and blowing leaves. A good frolic is good for a puppy he thinks.

Our retreat last week was so good. My friends are amazing women with talents for friendship and for sewing/crafting. Much laughter and monkey business. :o) Thankful we will be meeting again in May. This will be our 10 year anniversary retreat. Plans are in the works to make it extra special.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

I am blessed! ~Angela

Staying busy!

2011-11-16T01:37:00.005-05:00

We have been so busy. Farmer's Market is over for the season. BUT we did 2 shows the following 2 Saturday's. Both were wonderful shows. And now we are heading to our annual autumn retreat with our online quilting friends, Backporch Friends, tomorrow. Just one more sleep. Love my girlies!! Our May retreat will be our 10th year!!! We are planning some special things for that one don't ya know!!! Would love to have all of the past attendees who could, come back. I have also started a booth in an antique mall with my sister Debbie. It is a really nice mall, lots of primitives and a good overall variety of wares. Still in the getting it stocked phase.

Here is a photo our Market Master Laura, posted on Facebook. I look frumpy and dumpy, but it shows a corner of the booth and Penny's yarn. She has more than this, but has it at the cooperative right now.

And of course our hats. We nearly sold out. Seriously! It was crazy. I am going to be hooking it like mad to get some inventory to the places I have promised them. Penny too. We have already been planning what new things to make for the market next year. Gotta have something new each year to excite everyone.

Hope everyone is doing well. I am sending out special prayers and hugs to our dear friend Sandra who recently lost her precious husband Dave.

I am blessed. ~Angela

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

I am thinking, I best be getting ready...

2011-10-28T20:08:00.000-04:00

Being responsible

2011-10-24T22:44:00.001-04:00

“She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard.”
~Proverbs 31:16

Being a good steward of what God gives us. Being responsible. Thinking to our families future. Living intentionally.

Got it Done

2011-10-13T04:13:00.000-04:00

This batch of apple butter was 14 pints. I was very pleased with it. However, the next batch, I will make not quite as sweet. Although Mr. Mark LOVES it sweet. He ate a pint the first morning! Out of the jar! hahaha I also canned 4 pints of tomato juice. Thought there would be more, but that is what I got. Pleased with even that much. I am planning on making apple jelly next. Working my way down the list. Jars are on sale now with it being end of season. Now is the time to get them. Speaking of jelly. Have you heard that peanut butter is going sky high this winter? All the devastation in the southern states this year. We are going to try to stock up this week. Mr. Mark takes a lot of pb/j sandwiches in his lunchbox. Either for a snack or breakfast or lunch.

This is a more girly monkey love hat.

Just two more of my hats. Screaming pink (and dark chocolate brown) huh?

Mark, Shayla and Toby at Mark's birthday party. Doesn't Shayla look festive. Our mom got the little girl's these flower leis to play with. Shayla LOVED hers! Said they made her feel fancy. It was so sweet. Except she took me to stop doing the hula dance. It was creepy!! That was hilarious. Me doing it and her saying that! Love that girl.

This week seems to be going fast. Hope everyone is getting to do something they love. Feed your passion my friends. Life is too short to not do something you enjoy!

I am blessed. ~Angela

Puttin' Up For Winter

2011-10-10T12:49:00.001-04:00

On ~~today's~~ this week's agenda...canning tomato sauce and making apple butter. Both I haven't made in a long time and both we ~~love~~ need. I will let you know how it goes.

Penny and I had a good day Saturday at Farmer's Market. We sold 27 hats plus a couple other things. Not bad for 3 hours, plus set up and tear down time.It is funny how each week it seems one size is the one that everyone wants. And then the next week it is a different size. Here is a pic of some of Penny's yarn. This was taken at a recent show we vendored at.

The mats, I felted from wool. Great hot pads or table toppers.

My lupus is flaring up some right now. Just an all over hurting you cannot get away from. Thinking of trying a new medicine the doctor had suggested. But hate all the side effects that can come with it. The disease is bad enough! Still praying about it and taking what my regular meds.

Pray Monday is the start of a blessed week for everyone.

I am blessed. ~Angela

Just a thought

2011-10-07T03:45:00.000-04:00

It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us...Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each other must start. - Mother Teresa

Autumn Busyness

2011-10-06T22:36:00.001-04:00

I snitched this photograph from our market master Laura, of Orange County Homegrown. It was taken at a vendor's booth at farmer's market. We are in the last month of market now. BUT our busyness is not over. Penny and I have shows the first two Saturdays of November. THEN we get to play with our buddies at our November Quilt Retreat the next week. We are also joining an artisan shoppe. The French Lick Artisan is located in the next county. It is a very rural community with a historic history that goes back to the 1800's. The community has done amazing things in developing a gorgeous travel destination. Five star hotels, PGA golf course, historic train rides and much more. Just a great area and we are happy to be a part of this shoppe. That is next week's project. Thankful my hands have kept working. I have been a crocheting constantly it seems. It's a good thing.

I am blessed! ~Angela

Orange Vinegar Cleaner

2011-09-28T14:14:00.000-04:00

This is what I have been using in my house for a couple of months now. I really like it. And so easy to do.

I removed the peel from 2 oranges. Placed them in a jar (This is a recycled fruit jar.) Fill the jar approximately one inch from the top wtih vinegar. Now for this white vinegar is better than apple cider vinegar. Every day or so, give the jar a shake. I keep mine in my pantry in the dark. After one week, you will begin to smell the orange overpowering the vinegar. I waited two weeks.

Strain the orange mixture. Put the orange peel back into the jar, you can reuse it for the next several batches. When the peel gets all gooey, replace it. Fill a spray bottle two thirds of the way with the vinegar. (As you can tell, I reused a bottle I had saved for a very long time. This is the best sprayer I have ever had.) Add water to approximately one inch from the top. Shake well. Clean away. Now don't be thinking you will not smell the vinegar. BUT it is not so overpowering. AND the orange oil released from the peel has great cleaning properties on grease. The smell dissipates very quickly. I am using this in both my bathroom and kitchen. Do not use this on mirrors or windows. There is streaking from the orange oil. But it shines the rest very nicely. I have so much trouble with my lungs and have been trying to get away from all the chemical cleaners I can. And how loud can you say CHEAP?

I am blessed. ~Angela

September Photos

2011-09-27T16:34:00.003-04:00

September is all about birthdays for us. My girl is now 24. Heather, how did this happen? Our Baby Shayla (niece) is now 8. And not quite a baby anymore. Cannot believe how fast the years have gone.

They shared a party this year. We never do themes, but this year I did an Alice in Wonderland tea party. Heather loves her some AiW!! I had the dining table set up with roses and cupcakes, cookies, cake, and other goodies. We had turkey and ham sandwiches on party buns with a bit more "real" food. The small photo is a treasure to me. It is of my girls when Heather was 16 and Shayla was 3 months. We had so much fun that day. Did you notice the googly eyes on the roses? hahaha You have to have googly eyes on your flowers for anything with Alice you know. It was a good day.

Then daddy had his birthday next. He and Jaidy were playing around. Daddy was getting ready to blow out his candles. He had a willing helper. A good pic of both their happy faces.

Jaidyn loves my wormies. Glad she is not too girly to get her hands dirty. She would carry one or two around and then trade them for others. Lots of worming loving and then hand washing.

This Little Miss LOVES my poor Timmy cat. They have a love/hate relationship. By looking at the pics, can you guess who does what? :o))) That is a very tight ~~death grip~~ hug she is giving him.

I am blessed. ~Angela

God bless America

2011-09-11T18:53:00.000-04:00

Tomato Quiche

2011-08-10T13:35:00.003-04:00

I know. I am turning this into a recipe blog. But hey, we all gotta eat! This is a nice way to use summer's bounty.

Tomato Quiche

1 unbaked pie shell

2-3 good sized tomatoes sliced (If they are very seedy, remove that part. It will make the bottom of the quiche too wet.)

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 medium onion sliced into rings

1 cup shredded cheese

4 beaten eggs

1 tablespoon of milk or cream

salt and pepper to taste

Place the tomatoes into the pie shell, overlapping as needed. Sprinkle the Italian seasoning. Arrange the onion slices evenly. Sprinkle the shredded cheese. Mix the beaten eggs and the milk together and pour over the cheese. (I add the salt and pepper to the egg mixture and then pour.) Bake in a preheated 350 oven for 45 minutes or until the center is set. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes. This will allow the eggs to finish cooking. Enjoy! Makes great leftovers. I actually prefer it cold. You could also add very thinly slices zucchini.

I am blessed. ~Angela

Come see us at the market!

2011-07-29T19:43:00.000-04:00

Penny and I set up each Saturday (with Mark's assistance) at the semi-local farmer's market. It is the best! It is in Orleans, Indiana. I am totally serious people, this is the best market. And well worth your drive if you live in southern Indiana. Tons of homegrown produce. Many of it organically tended with loving care. Yummy bake goods. Amish made baskets. Unique handcrafts. All in one place. The past few weeks, there have been over 70 vendors in attendance. And closer to 80 I think. As the season goes along, the numbers will increase also. It is a tiny little town with a sweet courtyard that we are allowed to use. Many nice shade trees and a playground for the kiddies. AND the music! The music happens in the Jammer's Tent. The local folks bring their instruments and voices and have a great time. All ages. Any acoustic instrument welcome. From guitars, mandolins, dulcimers, banjos, washboards, autoharps...you name it! The talent is amazing. Love the bluegrass and hymns that these blessed people bring to our ears. We are fortunate in that our tent is beside their area. The market is every Saturday from 8-noon. Come October, the hours change will be 9-noon.

Here is our Miss Jaidyn. Isn't she a doll? She went to a tutu party and had her photo taken. Aunt Angie loves this baby girl. Who is growing up toooo quickly!

I am blessed. ~Angela

Easypeasy Lemon Cake

2011-07-18T12:58:00.000-04:00

Lemonade Cake

Bake your favorite white or yellow cake. If you LOVE lemons, bake a lemon flavored cake. Allow to cool for 15 minutes. Prick the top with a fork. While your cake is baking, mix a 6 oz. container of frozen lemonade with 1/2 cup granulated sugar. Stir often. Pour the glaze over the cooled cake. I used a basting brush to help spread the glaze evenly. That is it! A simple refreshing dessert. You could also add Cool Whip topping or make your own whipped cream topping. I am going to try it with orange juice next. The glaze could also be used with pound cake or angel food cake.

I have checked the weather forecast this morning. Not looking too good. They said at least 40 states will have temps OVER 90 degrees in the coming week. Many will have a heat index over 110, including us here in Indiana. We got a big ole rain storm yesterday. While the gardens loved it, definitely more humid now. Wherever you are, hope you are able to find a cool spot to nest down with your creating.

Off for treatment #2 here in a bit. :o) In everything give thanks, right? So I am thankful for a car with air, a nice facility and staff to get my meds, air in my home, clean sheets on my bed and my precious family and friends.

I am blessed. ~Angela

Soughdough Bread Recipe

2011-07-16T19:31:00.002-04:00

Here is the basic bread recipe I use.

2 c. soughdough starter

2 T. oil

4 t. sugar

1 t. salt

3 c. all purpose flour

I only actually mix in 2 cups of flour. The third cup I knead into the dough. If you have a wetter dough, add it in the bowl. Knead bread approximately 5 minutes. Shape into a ball and place into a greased bowl. Turn the dough over in the bowl to make sure the top is oiled also. Cover with a towel and allow to rise. When you poke your finger into the dough and the hole does not fill back in, the dough has risen. Turn out onto the counter and knead 5 more minutes. Shape into loaf. Allow to rise again. Place into oven to bake at 350 degrees. Do not preheat the oven, but rather place the bread into a cold oven. Standard baking time is 30- 35 minutes. Bread is done when the top is golden and the bread makes a thumping noise when tapped. Watch the bottom to make sure it does not get dark, this is my problem area. This recipe has been a good sandwich bread, little crumb when sliced.

I am blessed. ~Angela

Here I am

2011-07-11T11:24:00.008-04:00

I haven't felt, well, very bloggy this past month. The pleurisy is gone but I still have a touch of pneumonia. Have been trying to keep the house up and do my crochet work for Farmer's Market. And the weeds from my flower gardens. They are really pretty easy to maintain. Just the stray ones here and there. We use a heavy compost/mulch each year to feed them and it really does the trick. This year they are gorgeous! Every year we are moving and changing things. Mark enjoys them thankfully. I would never have any of this if he didn't. The front is a mass planting. And as they self sow and increase, we divide and move them around. This is a pic of the front corner along the drive. You will notice we do not have a door mat. 1.) The wind blows it away each and every time and 2.) No one uses this door. We use the side door.

From left to right...cat mint, chives, pink yarrow and yellow cone flowers. The yarrow and cone flowers are new to this spot, so haven't filled in yet. Past the bunny is our blue Siberian iris's. Gorgeous purpley blue when they bloom. It got hot so quickly this year, they didn't have very long to perform. They are like a hedge to cover the house foundation.

The two lovelies above are from Sarahbeth. My new sourdough starter. Alas, Charlotte Rose didn't make it. We tried, but it just wasn't meant to be. The rainy damp weather we had, was not a good time to make sourdough starter or sponge. She just didn't take. BUT Sarahbeth is doing very well. This is my second batch from her. Those are full size dinner plates. A nice texture with very little crumb. Delish

My mom has loaned me her camera. She hadn't used it for some time, so I have pics! It is just a borrow until I can buy one. Unforeseen expenses...Mark's truck repairs, lawn mower died and I need two front tires on Ladybug has sucked up our Market money. But there is still a lot of season left! :o) Man oh man, last Saturday was killer hot. I am thinking this Saturday will be even hotter! We have a canopy Praise The Lord! And are in a lovely spot. No complaints.

Here is an easy recipe for Italian Chicken. Cut your chicken breast into strips. Boil until tender. Drain well. Place Italian salad dressing into a bowl. It doesn't take alot. Add your chicken while hot. Coat the chicken well and let it set for 10 minutes. YUMMMM You can heat it up in the microwave or in a skillet (no need to oil it) or eat it as is. It will still be warm. We ate pieces of the sourdough bread with it and used the dressing as a dipping sauce.

Well, today I start chemo again. I thought I had better play catch up with you all today before I left. Not looking forward to it. But am thankful for the skills of man and the grace of God. The next 8 weeks or so will be over soon I keep telling myself.

Hope everyone is finding a cool spot and doing something they love.

I am blessed. ~Angela

Got the tshirt!

2011-06-19T08:15:00.003-04:00

We came. We walked. We got the tshirt. :o)

I was so very proud of mom for making the walk. She suffers from several illnesses, not the least being degenerative bone disease in her spine and shoulders. This is a horribly painful disease and makes walking and sitting very difficult. This photo is after our survivor lap. Daddy could out walk all of us. He walks his farm's hills and hollows every day. A quarter mile around a flat track was nothing for him. :o) Heather walked the caregiver lap with me. And even Miss Jaidyn walked a whole lap. Debbie and Penny were both there to support us. A big thank you to all that supported us in The Relay for Life. Cancer is a wicked thing and the cure needs to be found NOW.

Happy Father's Day Daddy! You are the best daddy to your girls. We love you! Yesterday we had our family celebration. A farmhand supper of chicken/dumplings, green beans/potatoes, buttered carrots, deviled eggs, cottage cheese and tomatoes. Pineapple cake for dessert. Simple fare is so good.

I am blessed. ~Angela

It is time!

2011-06-13T08:07:00.000-04:00

Our Relay for Life is this Friday! You can go HERE to read my story. You will also find the donate buttons there. (hint hint HINT) I will walking the Survivors Lap with Mom and Daddy. That one lap around the track will be hard to accomplish. But we will get'r done. I have pleurisy again in both my lungs. A huge thank you to all that have supported me financially in this. I completely realize that monies are tight. No worries or pressures for anyone. Just offering you the opportunity.

I am blessed. ~Angela

Simple Dessert Recipe

2011-06-12T01:58:00.000-04:00

1-large box of Jello of your flavor choice (I used sugar free cherry)

3 cups boiling water

1-tub of thawed Cool Whip topping ( again, I used sugar free)

Stir together the gelatin and boiling water for at least 2 minutes. Blend in the topping. Place into a pretty clear dish for the "aaaaaaaaahhh effect". Chill until set. The mixture will separate as it chills. The bottom layer will look like regular gelatin, the second layer will be a softer milkier color, the top layer will look more like the topping. It was very refreshing and so simple. I will be making it for our Fourth of July family event. The recipe came off the side of the box by the way :o) Sorry no pic of the finished yumminess, still no camera.

I am blessed. ~Angela

Set up at a lovely quilt show

2011-06-09T23:22:00.008-04:00

I received an opportunity to set up a table space at a quilt show near Evansville, IN. The show was sponsored by Quilts N Bloom. The guest speaker was the designer of Kansas Troubles fabric (sold by Moda). There was a few other vendors and a humunnnngous display of toy and salesman sample sewing machine. To. Die. For. There were prob 150-200 of them. We crammed our table and even used the skirt tail of the quilt covering the table to create a bit more display space. This is Penny's hand dyed wool yarn. So yummy.Debbie took these pics with her phone. Technology! Amazing stuff :o) The table booth was a bit rumpled up in the photos, but that was a good thing. It meant folks had been lookylooing about. Pristine means, no touching/no buying. We like messy.

Ridiculously full table. Pincushions of several different mediums, wool covered tape measures, felted small bags and wool Teddies were the gist of it. I couple of painted goodies also.

Don't know what the smirky smile is about, but here I am with 2 hours sleep. After getting up at 5am and driving 2 hours. :o) But all good and worth it. Got to see some sweet friends (my shout out to Phyllis and Dawn), spend time with my sister Debbie who was a doll to come along and made a bit of money. Always a nice thing. Penny and Mark did the Farmer's Market for us, so we were spread out thin that day. Made us all think of the old craft show days. Our next show will be a wool show (rug hooking being the primary focus but lots of great primitive and craft vendors also) in September. I will have a 10' x 10' space there.

Just thought I would show you a bit of my day last Saturday.

I am blessed. ~Angela

The Reason for the World by Matthew West

2011-06-08T19:39:00.001-04:00

Just a thought

2011-06-02T01:55:00.000-04:00

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."

~Teddy Roosevelt

I am working on contentment in my life. I thought this quote applied to that idea well.

I am blessed. ~Angela

All gave some. Some gave all.

2011-05-30T16:21:00.001-04:00

" I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

Genesis 12:2-3.

I am so blessed. ~Angela

It's not easy being green...

2011-05-28T01:28:00.004-04:00

At least that is what Kermit always says. But it isn't hard either. Honestly, for me, it is just remembering! I have been trying to think more about things. That is where that phrase to me, living intentionally, really comes into play. There are so many big things we can do. But then there are all the little things that add up to the big things too. Not grabbing a paper napkin for a spill. Not using a foam plate when I feel too lazy to wash a dish. Turning off lights in empty rooms. Planning all my errands in one day instead of two. Using both sides of a piece of paper. Adding layers instead of turning up the gas heat. (And I guess this works in the reverse in the heat of summer??? Maybe then we should just drink more water and sweat it out. hahaha) Saving those pop cans. Reusing plastic bags or taking our own cloth bags to the store. Just a bunch of little stuff. That takes an extra step or just remembering. I am trying. Of course if you can get your entire family on board, it will be even better. And easier. You do not need a cleaning product for each room of the house. Honestly. A spray bottle with 1/2 water and 1/2 vinegar will clean your kitchen, bath and windows/mirrors. Baking soda works in place of bleach. Just takes a bit of elbow grease to go with it on stubborn stains. Vinegar in the rinse cycle is the best fabric softener. I use it in an old Downy ball. There is no stinky smell when you get the clothes out of the washer as you normally associate with vinegar. Not everything has to go into the dryer. Your towels feel great line dryed. A great skin softener also in the exfoliating. Shocking fact I know! A clothes line or a drying rack are easypeasy to use. It has just got to become a habit. In the winter hanging your wet clothes (blouses, tshirts, nities...) on the shower rod help with the dry air that makes our noses all stoppyupped. A bowl of water on the floor register helps with this also. No machine needed for everyday use. Composting your yard and food scraps. It is okay to take the extra steps to the side yard. We can all use the exercise. (Totally talking to ME here!) And here is another shocker, please do not stone me, a dishwasher is not a necessity. I am not a huge Goodwill store person. I prefer to give my clothes and other "cleaned out items" to church ran thrift stores and The Salvation Army. Places that help local people in need at a reasonable price or even free. Our local Goodwill is as expensive as a new retail shop now. JMHO

I know this is all stuff some of you are probably already doing. This is only the tip of the proverbial being-thrifty-saving-the-world-one-plastic-bottle-at-a-time iceberg. I wrote this mostly as a reminder to me to keep doing it. It is worth it. I am worth it. My family is worth it. Saving money is worth it. Saving energy is worth it. Just being AWARE is worth it. I so wish I had taught my daughter more of these ideals when she was at home. I am trying to encourage her now as a young married woman. She listens. And the only time she has really shook her head at me is over my wormie farm....I don't think she will getting wormies anytime soon. :o)

I am blessed. ~Angela

We are blessed

2011-05-26T14:50:00.000-04:00

This is a photo that was taken (not by me) last night in our county. The tornado was about 2-3 miles from my sister Debbie. Houses and farms were hit, thankfully no lives were taken. What a bad way for Bedford, Indiana to make CNN. I am thankful for all my out-of-town and out-of-state friends who called, texted or wrote me checking on us all. Love my friends.

I am blessed. ~Angela

So sad

2011-05-21T23:33:00.000-04:00

and just plain sick to my stomach. I left my camera in the hotel room Friday morning. I went Friday evening to download pics and it was not in my purse. This camera was gifted to me 5 years ago with a HUGE memory stick. It held hundreds of my precious memorys. I have called the hotel, begging them to say they had it. I have offered a reward, even for just the memory stick, no questions asked (although I really want that particular camera back). Miserable. I realize I was careless. BUT I also know it was left in that room. No funds to replace it. I had just taken some memory making photos and had not been able to print or download them. Oh I am crying as I type this. Sorry folks, just me "keeping it real". Carelessness stinks.

I am blessed (reminding myself here). ~Angela

I'll be back soon

2011-05-19T19:32:00.000-04:00

I have been making memories with my family and friends. Our Farmer's Market is also starting back up this Saturday. So much happening! Will play catch up soon.

I am so blessed. ~Angela

The start of my homestead :o)

2011-04-29T20:46:00.004-04:00

But first you have to see this cutie patootie. Precious baby, Cooper Stone. Isn't that the coolest name? His mommy Ashley, has a lovely family in the mountains of Utah. I just had to share a baby hat with her. I do not get to make many boy items. Was hard not to add a flower! She shares more pics of him on her blog.

Now onto my "homestead". A worm farm for composting and my veggies and flowers. :o)

I used a large plastic tote with a lid. Made a few holes around the top of the base for air holes using a nail and hammer. Mark has hid the drill or something. He wasn't here to ask about it. I created a mixture of shredded paper (thank you Penny), grass clippings, garden dirt and compost. All this was moistened well. I will check it tomorrow to see if it is damp enough. I was cautious about over watering it today. Boiled egg shells were added also. AND some of Penny's yummy bunny poo. That stuff is pure nectar for plants. I bought red wiggler worms. You are not supposed to use earth worms or night crawlers. For whatever reason. Then I popped the wormies into their new home and said "go forth and populate". :o) Supposedly the egg shells and the bunny poo make the wormies frisky and they reproduce more and faster. ~~Interesting~~ TMI huh? The more wormies, the more compost. So this is my first adventure into having a "homestead". Will keep you posted...on if I kill them or if I conquer being a Worm Farmer! yeeehaaaaaaw

I am blessed. ~Angela

Birdies and a new family member

2011-04-27T22:58:00.000-04:00

This sweet lil pincushion I stitched with #8 red variegated pearl cotton, on mottled blue woolfelt.

Meet Charlotte Rose. Our newest family member :o) I always feel like when I make a batch of any kind of starter, I have taken on a dependent! All the feedings and ~~changing~~stirring. She is a lovely batch of sourdough starter. I have had a craving for breads. I do love me some carbs you know. I had a batch going for several months, 2 years ago. BUT let it "pass away". I was on bunches of antibiotics at the time and got the worst of worst yeast infections in LOTS of places besides THAT place. Not a good combo. Took me two forevers to get all straightened up. Kinda did me in for a bit on sourdough. Well, I have taken my last infusion hopefully for a very long time 2 weeks ago, so we should be good to go.

After I come home from our annual quilting retreat, I plan on making a batch of Amish Friendship Bread starter also. Like I said, we do love our carbs! Speaking of retreats....woooohooooo it is coming soon, May 11th-15th. Cannot wait to see my friends! Such a great group of ladies from all over the US. We have a splendid time. Lots of sewing, laughing and catching up.

I am blessed. ~Angela

My favorite two little girls

2011-04-24T17:13:00.002-04:00

My sweet nieces, Jaidyn (3) and Shayla (7).

Shayla lovin' on Timmy. Check out her crazy bangs! She gave herself a trim job on the school bus. Said they were in her eyes. Silly kid.

This is what an indoor eggie hunt looks like. More rain! And again today also :o( Blechityblechblech! We hid, if you can call it that, their goodies through the living room, the hall and the computer room. They had fun. But outdoors is so much nicer!

We were watching The Wizard of Oz before and after. Good backrgound music for romping through my dinky little house!

I thought it was funny that the digital photo frame was on a pic of Toby, right beside a photo of him, when I snapped this. I didn't notice til I was downloading the pics.

Hope your day was good.

I am blessed. ~Angela

A bit of decorating around my house

2011-04-22T22:51:00.001-04:00

The candy basket is ready for the family tomorrow. Peggy gave me the chickie years ago (it is a pincushion) and Lizzie sent me the precious card. Both girls made these goodies. So talented!

My girls are guarding the eggies. Shhhhh don't tell them they are wooden. The chick figurine is a giftie from Penny. It represent her, me and Debbie.

One of my punchneedle designs. I love this old crocheted pansy doily. The crockery bowl holds ceramic cookie stamps.

Toby wishes you a Blessed Easter!

We will be having our family party tomorrow. It is a combo for Easter AND Debbie Jo's birthday which was Monday. The menu is awesome if I do say so! Turkey breast, cheesie potatoes, rolls, cottage cheese, carrots, green bean casserole, deviled eggs, baked beans and broccoli. Apple salad and pumpkin pies with whipped topping for desert. I am really looking forward to our family time.

I am so blessed.~Angela

Jesus Appearing To Doubting Thomas in John 20:24-29.

(24) Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. (25) So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” (26) Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”(27) Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”(28) Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”(29) Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Shows and sheepies

2011-04-20T18:30:00.001-04:00

Are these the cutest things ever? A vendor at the fiber show had 2 bottle fed lambies with her. They were adorable in their matching nappies (diapers). Cry babies too. If they were not in the mood to be fawned over and petted, they let you know very loudly. But gosh, you just had to touch them!!!

I am still trying to recover from the long weekend. It was a WET and cold show. Very wet. Very cold. And packing up was a muddy treat! Did I mention wet and cold? If we decide to do this next year, we will be better prepared. A second set of warmer clothes including leggings, winter jacket and fingerless gloves. We were indoor, but the building was unheated and the doors were left open to make it look more inviting.

The storms have continued this week. I have spent my nighttime sleeping hours manning the outdoor sump pump to keep my playhouse and our backyard from floating away. The playhouse (which is my studio) did get some water along the outer wall, but nothing major or near the problems I have had in the past. Thankfully our electric stayed on. That was my prayers answered. Cause if it had gone off, everything would have been bad. Very bad. Penny's girls had a tree come down on their run. :o(( The sun is shining now and you can hear chainsaws all over town working on the wind damage. I have not heard of any injuries or deaths, so we are a blessed community.

I will post some pics of our booth next time. Everyone stay safe.

I am so blessed.~Angela

Thursday crazies

2011-04-14T16:12:00.000-04:00

Here is a pic of my room. Everything is stacked and ready to be packed into our vehicle. Penny and I will be vendoring this weekend at the Fiber Event at Greencastle, Indiana. It is the largest fiber show in the state. Debbie is riding shotgun. So it will be a great sister weekend.

Here are four of my lil' mousie pincushions. I wanted to get more made, but glad for these being done! They turned out cute. A tad fiddly, but fun. The mousie is wool, the tomato is lightly stained cotton polkydots. I know some of you love you some red polkydots. The tails are black wire.

And since I haven't posted pics of my boys lately. Here is Timmy sleeping (but mommy disturbed him) with his puppy. So cute. He loves it.

And this is our good boy. Toby is such the best doggie. Except when we eat pizza. He goes nuts! He recognizes the word even. Whimpers and acts out a sight, even barks! And Toby does NOT bark. Ever. Unless he reallllllllly has to go make a potty and we need to go quickquick (as Jaidy says). So yes, we have decided his freakishly long legs comes from a long lost relative who was an Italian greyhound. :o)

No pic for this, but praise the Lord the roofing is over. Our house and detached garage both had to be replaced due to hail and wind damage. They are cleaning up outside even as I type. So yayaya for that. And a thank God for Farm Bureau Insurance. They came through for us!

Hope everyone has a great weekend. I hope to take some good photos to share with you next week from the show. ~Angela

Relay For Life

2011-04-12T03:19:00.004-04:00

Cancer is a very real thing in our family. My mom, daddy and myself are all survivors. Daddy and I are still dealing with it. In June, our local Relay For Life event will occur. This is the first time I have participated and sought donations. Shame on me. But this year, I am getting it in gear! I honestly do not know how much I will be able to walk, however, I can do my part with YOUR help. I have joined a great team. These people are dedicated!! To the max. And I can be there for support and encouragement.

You can go HERE to make a donation in my name. I have set a goal of $250. Any amount helps. No matter how small. It all adds up. Thank you so much for considering this. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask me. If your own community is hosting a similar event, I encourage you to "get it in gear" also. :o) It is going to take all of us to beat this thing.
EDIT: I was asked about accepting PayPal. You can go here to make a donation through PayPal.

Have a sweet day. ~Angela

So busy here

2011-04-08T19:51:00.000-04:00

Busy time. Working towards our 2 day show next weekend. Today Penny and Heather came over. We did this last Friday also. Heather helps Penny wind her yarn and today helped me also. She shaved some of my felted bags. It really helped us both. Penny and I were both working also. I took time to work on a lil Easter craft for Heather and made extras so I could send gifties out to a few of my "peeps". So..no pics to ruin the surprises.

This was the first week in forever I only had to go to the doctor once. I had a phone consultt, but that was in my jammies so totally did not count. I need more weeks like this.

We are getting a new roof on our house and garage as the hail and wind have about ruined us. Getting the insurance all settled and the funds in our hot little hands was a bit of an ordeal. But that part is done. Hoping the weather will hold for the contractors to come next Tuesday. And no major horrible storms to blows through in the meanwhile!

Tomorrow we are having a family party to celebrate our parents 58th anniversary and my daddy getting a good doctor's report this week. Yes, his surgery was for cancer, but the doctor said he got it all! Now just will need very frequent checks, but no treatments!! So praising the Lord. So grateful! Thank you to all those who said they would pray.

Have a great weekend everyone! ~Angela

And the winner is...

2011-04-03T15:04:00.002-04:00

Briarose #8. I used the generator at Random to pick the winner. Claire, I have your address already, so will be getting your pincushion out to you in the coming week. Thank you everyone that played along. Enjoy Claire!

We are having a bit of a wind storm here today. But gorgeous poofy clouds and blue skies. I had Toby put some rocks in his pockets before we went for his walk. I just threw my birdy nest treats out. I save my snippets of wool and cotton, no acrylics, in a baggie. When it gets full, I take Toby for a walk and I toss the yarn willynilly in the alleys on bushes. Today all I did was let it go and it was gone!! I love the idea of a birdy making a colorful nest from my scraps. Last year I saw a couple nests with bits hanging from them. Too high up to take a good pic of though. But they were there. Made me smile :o)

Wanna win a prize?

2011-03-31T03:01:00.000-04:00

No hoops to jump through. No games to play. Just comment on this post and your name will go into the drawiing for one of my wool stuffed, hexie pincushions. Just a lil' somethingsomething to usher April in. So far, January, February and March haven't won any prizes in our family. We are placing all our eggies in April's basket! :o) But then again, she won't have to work too hard to be better than the first 3 months.Anyways...sorry to digress. I will draw a name sometime Sunday.

We are getting set to be in the throes of work on our house. How IS it everything falls apart at once? New roofs on house and garage, concrete porch removed and then replaced, driveway sealed, front door replaced (Crazy people before us put the inner door and the storm door on opposite each other. I about fall out each and every time I go outside cause we also need a stepdown added. Course these are also the people who hung drywall backwards with the cardboard part showing. AND then hung wallpaper. Without sizing it. Can you say about never got the wallpaper off??) All needful things. Not being all froo-froo and spending what we do not have. We had hail and wind damage to our roofs which insurance is taking care of and the bit left over is hopefully going to cover the other projects. I don't know WHAT me and poor Toby are going to do with all the pounding going on with the roof. Timmy will be fine. I don't think anything bothers him too much. Except Jaidy! hahaha She is growing out of her tail pulling stage through. Poor Timmy, she just loves him to death! But the brain tumor momma and the nervous nellie pooch, well we are in for it I fear. I have honestly been thinking of going to the vet and seeing what they can give the both of us! Course I will sayyyyyy it is for Toby....hopefully he loves his mommy enough to share...

Something besides crochet...honestly...

2011-03-23T15:47:00.002-04:00

I had more pics to add, but they kept turning sideways. Do not know what is up with that. Annoying though. Oh well, this will give you an idea of what I have been doing.

These lil' pincushion tuffets took a bit of time, but I am pleased with how they came out. Hand pieced hexies on a wool base. Each one has been stuffed with wool roving. Do you see the rabbit buttons? Me likey. The heart buttons are wooden. The crochet looking ones are my All. Time. Favorite. Button. Ever. Ever. A friend sent me several from her WalMart in a trade for one of these cushies and a different one. Thank you again Phyliss if you are reading this!!

The birdhouses are 6" tall.

The egg is 4 1/2" long. I needle felted over a styrofoam shape. Yes. I cheated. :o)/

Jelly jars filled with old buttons. Pincushion with yoyo flower and wool leaves on top.

I needle felted pincushions inside the small wooden boxes. They are about 3" long I think. Painted a needle and thread on the front.

Wooden spools with sheepies. A gourd with a sheepie It has a checkboard around the back.

Now back to our regularly scheduled program...

Baby sweetness

2011-03-23T02:10:00.000-04:00

Is this tooooo sweet or WHAT? I mean seriously, look at this precious, innocent face. She is one of my customer's grandsugar, in one of my hats. I have complete grandsugar envy by the way...

Things have been pretty hectic around here with family health issues, various appointments and your basic Life issues. Penny and I are working towards 2 fiber shows in April also. Being sick for 8 weeks with pneumonia did not fit into my plan. But then, no one asked me. So trying to play catch up on my crafting. I need to take some new pics. Yes people, I have been doing something besides crocheting. :o) Finished up some tiny painted pieces and working on pincushions.

Loving my spring flowers that are blooming. Stupid squirrels ate more of my bulbs this winter. Only one set of tulips came back, out of 3! Will be replanting in the fall. Thankfully they didn't take my purple hyacinths though. I would have been very sad. Stupid squirrels!

Hope your flowers are blooming and the birdies are waking you up with their chirpy songs of spring. The best alarm clock ever!

For dollys and preemie babies

2011-03-19T14:59:00.002-04:00

I am requesting your prayers for our Daddy please

2011-03-14T01:12:00.000-04:00

I love my parents. And they love us three girls so much. And their grandgirls.

This is one of my favorites. Daddy and my daughter Heather a couple years ago.

Thank you for those prayers.

I know a cover girl. Seriously!

2011-03-01T22:05:00.000-05:00

Go tell Reeze how sweet this is! Way to go girl!!!

Dove Brothers - I can Pray

2011-02-22T21:51:00.001-05:00

Our season

2011-02-20T17:15:00.003-05:00

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. ~Ecclesiastes 3:1

And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.
~Ezekiel 34:26

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. ~Galatians 6:9

Somebunny loves you

2011-02-18T02:42:00.000-05:00

Penny is at it again. Meet Sebastain. He is an adorable Lilac French Angora. Just a few months old. And too precious! I would love to have an English Angora, like her Sunny bunny, but am afraid I wouldn't be able to take care of it. Some days I cannot take of Toby, Timmy and me. Let alone another dependent. But they are just so doggone stinkin' cute! So yes, I have bunny envy. We are doing two fiber shows in April. And oh my! There will be so many bunnies who will be calling my name.... Mark would be giddy. He had rabbits as a kid, raised them for 4-H. He is pushing for one. Will I give in to peer pressure at 48? Yikes!

Speaking of precious. I am getting in to making the teddy bear hats. Someone asked about the patterns for my hats. They are all my own design.

Loving the warmer temps still. Especially the part of not hearing my furnace run!! Our gas bills have not been good. Not good at all. I know we are not alone. Everyone else is saying the same thing. I walked around outside today looking for green shoots of spring flowers. Nothing yet. But soon, soon. :o) God is good like that. Be blessed everyone.

A Facebook page for my Etsy shoppe

2011-02-12T17:05:00.004-05:00

This is something new I have started. A fan page on Facebook for The Country Cellar Etsy shoppe. I am not doing it to sound "too big for my britches". But honestly I am trying to promote my Etsy shoppe and help sell my goodies. If you get a chance to stop by and become a fan, I would appreciate it. I need 25 fans to get a good start with FB. This is their rules. Am hoping it will give me more exposure as I fill the "shelves" of my shoppe. :o)

Oh my lands (that is for you Michelle). The sunshine was gorgeous today. I mean seriously, thank you Jesus! We have needed these warmer temps too. Our gas meter needs a rest don't you know! And I imagine your heating source does too. Even if it is you having to toss another log on the fire. The furnace has hardlly ran at all today. I baked an orange cake and then left the door on the oven open afterward to keep the warmth in the kitchen and it was almost too warm. Usually I would be crawling into the oven to absorb all the heat I could into my cold body. You would think I was depressed and had just read a crazy Danielle Steele novel! hahahaha Not today though. Oh and that cake. So simple. It is just a box yellow cake mix. I substituted melted butter for the oil and added a bit of applesauce, the zest of a orange and the juice too. Am going to make cream cheese frosting for it. I was just in the mood for something refreshing.

Hope your weekend is sweet!

Baby bear hat

2011-02-11T17:25:00.002-05:00

I thought this one was fun. Made from soft cotton yarn. More pics on Etsy. I am working on uploading more hats to the shoppe. It is time consuming!

We have had blessed sunshine the past two days! I am so very thankful. Today I have felt much better too. The doctor's office called me yesterday and said I am still testing positive for viral pneumonia, the 4th week. The only things I have accomplished has been keeping the bare basics of housework done (hubby always runs the sweeper) and my crocheting. But I guess that is enough. My current food favorites are soups, nutty bread toast with Nutella and fruit juice popsicles. Hope the sun is shining on you today! Be blessed.

Comfort food and hooky time

2011-02-08T19:22:00.002-05:00

Chicken and brown rice soup with carrots and celery. I made this for Penny and I and chili for Mark. It is just a soup time for us. Easy to swallow and warm in the tummy.

Of course, I have been having some hooky time. Must have my hooky time. The photo above, is the unfelted bag. I used Patons Wool and a 5.5 (I) hook to create this felted granny square bag. I was so surprised how much it shrank. You honestly just do not ever know how felted projects will turn out. Part of the fun of it. The unfelted base was 18-inches square. It felted out to 10 1/2-inches! I had thought I would need to make a lining for it, but nope. It is dense enough to be nice without one. The pattern is just the most basic of granny square. I added 4 rounds of single crochet around the top before I did the handle. I always attached my handles before felting. I like the seamless look of it and knowing they will not come unattached, no matter the weight inside the bag. Will take it to the wool shows we will be vendoring at in April. Did you happen to notice the buttons on the sidebar? Penny and I will be at Greencastle and Charlestown both in April. And Farmer's Market will be starting mid-May.

I had this great red button in my stash already which was a plus.

These are the cuties on my counter. All three were gifted to me. :o) And then there is Dollface Laura's sweet Valentine. Just a cheery spot when you come in the back door (which is my front door...you know they say back door friends are best). Can you see the cookbook peeking out of the basket? That was gifted to me by a co-worker of Mark's who knew I loved me some raggedies a couple years ago. I love cookbooks. Shame I don't actually cook....

Me and mine

2011-02-06T23:39:00.003-05:00

We are family! Us girls and our mommy. It was her birthday and she wanted a new pic taken with her daughters. Love my family.

January recap

2011-02-01T15:02:00.003-05:00

This month has kinda sorta stunk. Like a skunk. Even cute ones stink. Just sayin.

I have had pleurisy, pneumonia, strep throat and kidney infection all currently and in the past 15 days. And Penny is sick. Both my kids are sick. Deb's lil grandsugar Jaidy has been sick and Mark has been not been feeling too great. Our house is the one with the big quarantine sign on the roof and door.

And then I got this in the mail yesterday from that dollface Miss Laura. Aaaaah if only you could see and touch it. Perfection. The tiniest of stitches. The softest wool. Love that girl.

“Good friends are like stars.... You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.”

2011-01-02T14:03:00.001-05:00

Seventeen pictured and five more on the table. All sold as special orders. Love my cousin Kimmie Ann. She works at a hospital and has been packing a small suitcase around with my hats everywhere she goes. These are all 100% cotton except the cream one in the front, it is wool. I thank God I can work with my hands. Crocheting is something I can do without ~~rattling~~ moving my head about and I can just sit still and do it for hours. And I do. Sometimes I crochet 6-9 hours straight!

Miss Jaidy with one of her Aunt Angie hats. She is such a doll baby.

~Angela

My Wool Crazy Block

2010-12-31T22:10:00.003-05:00

My spring retreat group is doing a round robin of wool crazy quilt blocks. Completely of wool makes for a great block. (It is just laying on the fabric for the photo op.) This can be made into pincushions or mats. Here is the book that started the whole wool crazy mania. It is a really good book with alot of details.

We are working in groups of 4 and the final reveal will be at the May retreat. Cannot wait to see it when the other 3 ladies are have worked their magic! My starter applique is the spool of button posies. So I guess you would say I have a primitive theme. Hopefully we will do this 3 times this year, I want a winter and spring one also! You can go see Penny, Conni, Michelle, Laura, Peggy, Vickie and Robin to see their blocks as they get them posted. I am in the group with Michelle, Conni and Laura.
I am one of those crazy people who goes outside and bangs on pots and pans at midnight on New Year's Eve as the ball drops. Rethinking it this year. It is storming with rain and thunder!!! Guess I will save the banging to do in the ears of all those I call to wish a Happy New Year! Well I always do that anyways. It honestly is a wonder anyone answers their phone. I think they must forget from year to year! hahaha Don't be looking at your caller id in a minute.. I am calling YOU next! :))
Happy New Year~Angela

Working away

2010-12-07T19:58:00.003-05:00

These are on my Etsy. Have started working towards Farmer's Market and our spring shows.

I had a good report at the eye surgeon yesterday. He was pleased with things and that makes ME pleased.

Hope everyone is staying warm and snotty nose free. Unfortunately, that last one has hit my family.

~Angela

Favorites and not so fav

2010-12-01T15:10:00.002-05:00

A treasure from my bestie Michelle in Canada. Stitched and punchneedle.

Pic of Shayla, that Heather took when she was a wee one. Nativity that was my parent's. I loved it so much as a child, that Mom gave it to me several years ago. The first thing that comes out for the Christmas season. And the last thing to be put away.

First snow of the season this morning.

Our VERY VERY sad Christmas tree. I awoke at 3:30am to find it laid across the room. Damage included the top is broken off and the stand was trashed. We will try to rig it tonight when Mark comes home. The last year for this poor tree. And it was sooooo pretty.

The kitty that wrecked our tree. Bad Timmy! Don't be giving me that "Who me? It was Toby." face. I know better. Sigh....kids? What are you to do? But Santa is definitely taking notes. I am just saying!!

2010-11-29T21:31:00.002-05:00

My giftie

2010-11-16T17:48:00.000-05:00

From sweet Michelle at retreat. I love it! (And borrowed the pic from her blog.) All Civil War repro fabrics. Very yummy! WE love it!

Just what I needed

2010-11-16T00:24:00.001-05:00

These ladies were so awesome. Made the retreat just a good, relaxing time. No drama. Just a lot of sewing, crafting, eating and visiting. See that lil' munchkin in the front row? She was the life of our party! The smartest 5 year old I have ever seen. I know many of the ladies really needed this time of refreshing. Plain and simple, I needed a change of scenery. I will share a few more pics soon. Trying to play catch up on my rest a bit more.

Hope everyone is warm and well.

~Angela

Better times are a'comin'

2010-11-09T22:23:00.005-05:00

And they start tomorrow! Cause I am seeing all these friends this week! And having a bit of a virtual retreat with Michelle in Canada too. Fun times.

The long awaited November Quilt Retreat is here! Finally. Old friends and new ones too. Cannot wait to have a fun time. I need it! (And I know everyone else does too!) The past several weeks haven't been great healthwise. I hate lupus. But not gonna dwell on it tonight. Praying my body will play pretty and I can just enjoy my coming week. I plan on building my nest and parking it there. :o) Even taking my sewing machine. Which has not seen the light of day since MAY! Yes you read it here. So we will see what happens. Of course I am taking a huge stash of yarn.
The photo is the name tags I painted for everyone. Giving you a peek cause hopefully the girls are all getting rested for the drive to Indiana tomorrow and not cruisin' the net. The name tags are pretty simple, but they are what they are. Finished!!!! hahaha Which is HUGE! But then they are huge too, 4 1/2-inch long packing tags. I hadn't painted in even longer than I had sewn! Sheesh. Thank God I can crochet I am just telling ya.

Have a sweet week everyone!

Got cats?

2010-10-21T20:26:00.000-04:00

We sure do!!!!

Please spay or neuter your pets!!!!

I just sat outside in my enclosed backyard (privacy fence) and counted 6 cats. SIX! And none of them mine! Crazy!! And two of them are with child!!! Eeek.

Sorry, but I just had to vent a sec.

Catching up

2010-10-19T16:24:00.001-04:00

Photos of some of my Farmer's Market wares. Wool felted bags and cozies. Wool pins. Only 2 Saturday's left of market. I am going to miss it greatly. The people are wonderful and the sales have been great.

Then I had to share the newest pics of Miss Jaidyn. My great-niece will be 3 in December. Such a joy to our family.

Here is an update on my health for all those sweet ladies who have asked. I have just finished up 3 weeks of treatments, will be off 5 and then back on for 4. Another MRI and then we will see what is what. The surgery is on hold for the present. My September MRI showed the tumor had shrunk from treatments this summer down to what it was in December. Which was a God thing! If it will stay this size, the dr feels it is better to maintain it with periodic treatments rather than do surgery. With my other health issues, it would be safer and easier on my overall health. I am having problems with my blood so have been having transfusions to help that. Right now I am trying to rest a lot. That is a huge thing.

The cooler, no humidity weather is making me happy. Feeling more crafty than I have in months. Have been doing some needle felting. AND Penny and I have signed up to vendor at two wool fiber shows in spring 2011. Yaya us. Gotta keep making our little girl plans. I will be hostessing a quilt retreat next month. Very excited about that. I rest a lot at these and it is such good energy there. Love being with my friends.

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the autumn.

~Angela

What in the world am I doing

2010-09-30T15:05:00.000-04:00

Never thought this would be what I was crocheting. Oh well. Cuppycake anyone? :o)

Simple Cookies

2010-09-14T12:32:00.002-04:00

1 dry white or yellow cake mix
1 stick of melted butter
2 eggs
chocolate chips or other bits of yummy (I used a mix of peanut butter and choc in the ones shown.)

Mix together the melted butter and eggs. Add the dry cake mix. Stir in the chips. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 10 minutes (oven temps will vary). I used parchment paper. You do not want the cookies to brown. Remove from the baking sheet immediately to cool. This recipe made 3 dozen cookies using my small 1-inch cookie scoop. They do spread while baking. I placed 12 on a baking sheet with ample space.

Health update: I have an extensive MRI from the waist up tomorrow. See the neurosurgeon next Monday.

Wait

2010-09-12T16:41:00.001-04:00

"Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
Isaiah 40:31

The Time Keeper

2010-09-12T01:58:00.001-04:00

This the greatest organizer. The Time Keeper is a datebook with space for notes, pockets, tear off grocery lists, calendar and much more. I know it will help me in the coming year. I have already written dates in it for 2011. Encourage you to check out their site. The price is very reasonable, especially if you compare it to similar items at book stores. I was blessed to have this one gifted to me.

God is able

2010-09-09T18:24:00.003-04:00

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

Hand painted yarn

2010-08-15T20:34:00.005-04:00

Here is a pair of small wool soakers I made from Penny's hand painted yarn. I love how it worked up. She will be listing her hand dyed and painted yarns on Etsy soon. This skein made me think of a froggy playing in a pond.

More pics here at my Etsy shop.

Health update, because some of your sweet ladies have asked. The new meds I have been taking once a week, stink. That crazy pill knocks me on my hiney and I do not even know my name for about 3 days/daze. The good news is I do not have to take it this week. Having a blood transfusion with platelets on Wednesday, so off the nasty medicine for a week. Sad when I am looking forward to this procedure which makes my head pound like a jackhammer. BUT at least I still know who I am. Trade offs work for me. I am easy like that. :o)

Do you swag?

2010-08-11T19:32:00.001-04:00

Swag Bucks is rocking my world! I am serious!!! It is a search engine that gives you points. You then redeem your points for "stuff". I am redeeming mine for Amazon gift cards. For every 450 points, I get a $5 gift card. It is all electronic. And with the super saver deal on Amazon, spend $25 (on Amazon items) and get free shipping, it has alllllllllll been free! Just for downloading a search engine and using it to look up stuff. Easypeasy! It is the same search engine as Google. This isn't a gimmick or a scam. But the best thing going!!! If you want to try it out, I have a box at the end of my blog, you just type in what you wanna look for and there you go. You got it.

Again, you gotta try this!!! I mean seriously, who doesn't like FREE~!?!

My mini dresses

2010-08-09T16:55:00.000-04:00

These lil' darlings are 4-inches tall and from crochet thread. I need to make several more for my tree.

Thank YOU everyone for buying the dress dishcloths and baby hats on Etsy. If you missed out on the red/white dresses, I have more added in now. And a retro green and pink set.

Hope you are staying coooooooooool!

Through The Fire-amazing song

2010-08-08T10:24:00.001-04:00

Working up dishcloths

2010-08-06T09:58:00.001-04:00

in cheery red and white. (These are a bit larger than my previous ones and a different flower.) I love these lil' dresses.

I have added a couple sets to my Etsy shop. Still working on goodies for Farmer's Market as I can. Have started a new medicine that has knocked me on my hiney. It is like chemo without the "bathroom issues". Lovely....On the up side, my family is all coming over tomorrow evening for a visit. That always makes me happy. :o) Hope your weekend is sweet too.

God is in control

2010-08-03T14:40:00.000-04:00

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” -Jeremiah 29:11-13

A lil bit of Saturday Market love

2010-07-31T20:43:00.001-04:00

Sweet Baby Viola! Isn't she just a doll baby in her Angie hat. As I was making it, I knew it would be a pressie for her. Her momma loves pink and brown. Such the sunniest of babies.

We had a really nice day. It was sooooo cool. Loved the low humidity and sweet breeze. :o)

Just laying around, taking things easy.

2010-07-28T22:37:00.003-04:00

Yep. That is how we roll at my house. Total slackards.

Here is the "skinny" on my doctor's appointment and what is going on with my brain tumor surgery. The doctor said my lungs were not in a good place for this magnitude of surgery. (I still have the pleurisy.) I would have to stay on a vent after the surgery, which would NOT be a good thing. So, I go have another MRI, more in depth, in September and see him the next week. We will go from there. BUT I have told them I have a quilt retreat I am hosting in early November. A girl has priorities you know. I honestly thought this would be over and I would be on the healing process side of things now. I am trying to be good and rest more and stress less. The last is not happening too well. Life you know has a way of rearing it's ugly head. The doctor also dropped some news on me I did not know. He thought probably someone else had told me. I have arterial nerve damage to one of the 3 main brain nerves. Said it was old damage. And then there is the pill I am now taking once a week to try to reduce the swelling of brain capillaries. Forty dollars, yes $40 for one pill after insurance. Whatever.

So stop on by and we will take a break with Timmy and Toby and bask in the sunshine and talk about future plans and what we are wanting to create. And maybe I will share my chocolate stash with you. :o)

Crocheting and Chickens and Surgery...oh MY!

2010-07-19T16:47:00.003-04:00

More baby hats. Lots more. They have been selling well for me at Farmer's Market. I have several listed now in my Etsy store also.

Miss Jaidy loves the chickies! She wanted to catch them all and gives them lots of pets. Her expressions were so cute. And then Penny is THE chicken whisper.

And now the not so fun part of the post. I see the neurosurgeon on Wednesday in Indy. It is a pre-surgery consult, so should know the date of my surgery that day. This has been a long time coming. I have had this brain tumor or more than one, for about 10 years. Technology is now allowing the removal. I just want it. Over. With. Now to get my lungs to play pretty with everything and we should be a go. I still have pleurisy (and one cracked rib) and they want that to be healed before surgery. I would appreciate your prayers in all this. As always, God is why I am still fighting a good fight and not pushing up daisies.

Hope you are in a cool shady place today. Enjoying life and your loved ones.

ps: And a big thank you shout out to those who donated to my starting a Project Linus chapter! I will have this done before surgery.

Asking for your help

2010-07-10T00:59:00.004-04:00

I am wanting to start a local chapter of Project Linus. There is not one in our area and there is a great need for snuggly blankies for children and teens. Project Linus only accepts new chapter applications once a year, in August. And there is a application fee of $100. I have spoken to them about this. There is no "scholarships" or other assistance available. The monies go towards a variety of expenses and so on. I am asking for donations towards this amount if it touches your heart to do so. This is a wonderful opportunity for blankets to go into the hands of children in need. I thought with the backing of the Project Linus name, it would make more impact in my community when it comes to donating the blankets. Hope this makes sense to you. I have had this on my heart to do for sometime. I have saved up a portion of the funds needed, but with my health expenses, well honestly, I just can not come up with it all. If you feel led to donate anything towards this, I can accept PayPal.

How to lanolize wool soakers

2010-07-07T20:07:00.003-04:00

Crocheting for babies has always been a great love of mine. Now I am crocheting lanolized wool soakers. These are diaper covers that help keep the baby dry by wicking the moisture away from the cloth diaper. You can use these with disposable also. The wool has a natural antibacterial property that neutralizes the urine. Cannot do too much for good ole poo though. :o) There are several styles to use: diaper covers (without legs), shorties (with just a bit of a leg), longies (full leg coverage) and sleep sacks. The sleep sack is perfect for newborn and small babies that do not move a lot. Makes for an easy sleeepytime diaper change with the open end.

Here are pics of a couple of my wool soakers listed on Etsy.

I sell my soakers, lanolized and ready to wear. This is what keeps them waterproof. Here is simple tutorial on how I do mine.

I use liquid lanolin, a small jar and a teaspoon. This is my soaker sleep sack. I mix 1/2 teaspoon of the liquid lanolin to hot water in the jar. (The hot water helps melt the lanolin. This is the only time you will use anything hot). This is per soaker. If I was doing 2 soakers, I would add 1 teaspoon. Then shake like crazy. Then shake some more. You want the lanolin to evenly disperse and be a creamy milk color.

Fill the sink with tepid water. Not cold, but definitely not warm. You do not want your soaker to felt or full in water that is too warm. Add your jar of mixed lanolin. Use your hand to mix it throughout the water evenly.

Place your soaker into the water. Gently push the soaker under water until it stay. Let soak 5 minutes and turn over. Let soak another 5 minutes. Turn the soaker inside out and let soak 5-10 more minutes.

Gently fold the soaker into fourths and squeeze the excess water out. Place the soaker onto a dry large bath towel. Roll the towel and gently squeeze.

Remove the soaker from the towel and place somewhere safe to drip dry. You do NOT machine dry your wool soakers. It will compress the fibers and shrink them up. Drying time depends on many factors: weight and twist of yarn and humidity are the top ones that come to mind. Right now with the hot and humid Indiana weather we are having, I am thinking it might take 3 days. Eeek!
I hope this helps those who had questions about relanolizing their soakers. We need more babies in our family! I am so ready to be a grammy!!!! :o)

Goings on

2010-07-05T01:06:00.000-04:00

The farmer's market that Penny and I vendor at, had a wedding. It was so sweet. The young people had met at the market last year while their parents were vendoring. Love blossomed. And they had their wedding on the town lawn, after market on Saturday. All the market vendors and customers were cordially invited.

A sign someone made and set up.

The musicians.

The happy couple walking under an arch of garden implements for the processional. :o) The guests were instructed to bring a canning jar for flower bouquets to hold and their garden implements for the arch.

This lil sweetie is wearing one of my cotton crocheted hat. Her parents are vendors and she is the highlight of my day on Saturdays. Love my baby holding time.

Another lil dolly has one of my children's hats. Look at that natural curly red hair. She is pure sunshine. Love watching her and listening to her talk. Someone asked her this past Saturday where she got that pretty red hair. Her reply? Jesus. :o))))) Her mom said she hadn't ever said that before. Being only 4, you never know what she will say.

I have reopened my Etsy store. Have been working on wool soakers for cloth diaper babies. Although, they are also great for disposables. Wool allows the body to stay at an even temperature, so helps with diaper rashes. I am lanolizing them, so they will be absorbent yet will not easily leak. Making baby and children items gives me great pleasure.

Hope you had a love Independence Day.

Sunday's thought

2010-06-27T19:26:00.000-04:00

Life goes on.

Whether things are good. Or bad. The sun is going to come up. And the sun is going to set. Until the Lord comes. So we may was well find a way to deal with life's issues in a healthy, nondestructive manner. Being creative, being a blessing to others, caring for our earth...making a joyful noise whether we feel like it or not. The spirit of the Lord will rise up within us and we will begin to feel it. But we have to make the effort. Which in itself can be an effort. But we have to live life. Not just exist. But live.

And on ANOTHER happy note, after about getting whopped today by some yayhoo

2010-06-23T20:58:00.000-04:00

When life gives you lemons...

2010-06-23T13:44:00.000-04:00

I am just saying....

14 years ago my world changed forever

2010-06-12T22:49:00.002-04:00

And in a very good way. I became a mommy.
To our Heather. Who was 8.

We have come a long way baby! Love you.
This is one of my favorite photos. Her and my parents, Poppy and Granny.

Choices

2010-06-09T17:38:00.000-04:00

Last week my primary care doc informed me in a "very strong" manner, I was stubborn. And he said some other stuff about not paying attention to him or my body, overdoing things and basically yelled at me. My reply was to tell him to stop yelling at me cause he was about to make me cry. Then yesterday I received a telephone call from the neuro-ophthalmologist. They thanked me for my patience at an appointment I had on Monday. Used the words gracious, patient and considerate. I choose these words. Maybe both doctor's spoke the truth about the specific situation. But I am going with the positive and pshhhhhing the negative. Just saying. :o)

UGH!

2010-06-02T01:52:00.001-04:00

This is me.

Pleurisy and 2 cracked ribs. They say it is from the lupus. I do not have TIME for this nonsense! Just sayin'. The last couple of weeks we have been the bug. Hopefully soon, we will get to be the windshield. :o)

They say things happen in three's, what about four's?

2010-05-30T00:56:00.003-04:00

Or five's? Our hot water heater and dryer both went out. Then our washer caught on fire. I had a blood transfusion. Then Mark totaled out his truck. All in under a week. Yep living the good life here. Hopefully the same talented son-in-law (we only have one by the way) who installed the new hot water heater will be able to get the truck runnable again. Hopefully.... They think there is hope. But really, we always have hope, right??

On a happy note. Penny and I (and Mark) are doing a local farmer's market. And having a good time people watching and selling a bit of our wares. Our life is a fundraiser you know. LOL Here is a pic of our lil space today. Folks are set up on either side of the sidewalk. Some on the lawn and some on the street edge. Either way is fine with us. It is just 4 hours long. Actually the table is fuller than it looks. I have felted wool bags, infant hats and dishcloths stacked up. The red suitcase is full of zippered small bags and pouches. Penny has beaded earrings on the right corner (on a spinner rack) also and a basket full of hand painted wool yarn. The wooden bowls are holding paper pieced pincushion.

On the health front...I am seeing a neuro-ophthalmologist, June 7th. They will be determining if my brain tumor is putting pressure on my optic nerve and other factors. All this is preparation for the removal of the tumor. It is a pretty big deal. BUT I am grateful that technology has caught up with me and it is now possible. The crazy thing has grown rapidly in the past months and it very necessary for it to be removed. So...let the games begin. I am not letting it scare me off new projects. Am in the planning stages of starting a Project Linus chapter in our area. Have a quilting retreat planned for November. Holiday plans. Yep I am making my lil' girl plans and that is just THAT! I do request your prayers in the coming months. I just want this behind me. :o)

Hope you are having a lovely long weekend. Take time to rest and just give yourself permission to take care of YOU! When you are at your best, you can give other's your best. Think of it that way if you feel guilty for taking time for yourself.

Be blessed my friends.

A great read

2010-05-21T00:54:00.001-04:00

Another great novel by Sandra Dallas. I read it through twice. Just wanted to make sure I didn't miss anything. That is the marker of a good book for me.

Prayers for my sister Debbie's family please. They buried BOTH of her in-laws today. They were elderly and passed away 8 days apart. Very very hard on the family. Single funerals are hard, double funerals are horrible.
Still trying to get caught up on my rest from retreat. Had the family over for a funeral dinner today. Which was a blessing to do. Tomorrow I rest. Saturday, Penny and I are planning on vendoring at the farmer's market with our wares. This is IF it isn't raining. Who is over the rain?? Glad it hasn't been snow! :o) But come August, we will be cryin' around wanting it. :o)
Be blessed.

I love my friends and sisters!

2010-05-17T13:40:00.001-04:00

Front Row- Vickie, Lori, Patti, Peggy, Me, Connie and Nancy

Back Row- Christie, Conni, Deb, Robin, Laura, Penny (my real sissy) and Michelle

This is the group shot from our annual online quilt group's retreat. Us in front were sitting on a soaked wooden bench! :o) We were missing some who couldn't come. (Prayers for my sister Debbie's family. She has lost both of her in-laws in 8 days. Very hard.) These ladies are so great! And so fun. And so talented. And so bad! :o))) Much laughing and eye rolling occurs at our retreats. But all in good fun. No drama. Just relaxing and a respite from some of our real life. There was quilting, crocheting, beading, knitting and crafting all accomplished. No cars were totaled by storms either. How boring!!!!!!!!! hahahaha

I will be hosting a first time retreat in November. Looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones! By then, I will be needing another get-a-way for sure!

More photos to come.

Our mom

2010-05-09T23:53:00.000-04:00

I love our mom. Debbie, Penny and I are blessed. And I can only get by with these photos because she will never see my blog. :o)

Come see Penny and I

2010-05-03T02:02:00.006-04:00

Hoosier Hills Fiberarts Festival

Friday, June 4, 12pm-8pm

Saturday, June 5, 9am-5pm

Johnson County Fairgrounds

250 Fairground Street

Franklin, Indiana 46131

Fried Mushrooms

2010-04-18T03:29:00.001-04:00

Our daddy loves us, me and Penny. (Loves Deb too, be she doesn't like mushrooms LOL) And so does mom, cause she shared daddy's find with us. And she loves her mushrooms!! A definite gift of love.

I got tickled cause Penny told me a couple times to take a pic for my blog. These have been dipped in a egg/milk mixture and then dredged through flour. Fried in half oleo and half vegetable oil. Salt and pepper added to each side. You cook them slow to make sure they are nice and soft in the middle. And the breading makes them seem like you are getting more. :o) Then we fixed scrambled eggs with onions and bell peppers in the flavored "grease". Biscuits to munch with it all and we were two, very happy campers!

Here chicky chicky...

2010-04-17T20:04:00.000-04:00

Waddle on over to Penny's to see the rest of the new additions to her Barnyard Petting Zoo. These little girls (hopefully) are really soft and adorable. And my sissy is very happy. And that is all that matters....

Penny's new baby

2010-04-13T16:50:00.000-04:00

Meet Sunny Bunny!

Look at this face. Those ears! And those blue eyes!

Penny was wiped from her long day. But she is one happy momma! You can read Sunny's particulars over at Penny's.

Comfort foods

2010-04-12T03:37:00.001-04:00

Tapioca

Chocolate pudding

Mashed potatoes

Chicken pot pie

Chicken noodle soup

Grilled cheese

Graham crackers and milk

Rice with sugar and milk

Oatmeal

Biscuits and white gravy

These are also my favorite chemo foods. Bland and nourishing. What are your favorite comfort foods? I know they are different in all parts of the world.

Hope you have a great Monday.

Just what the dr ordered

2010-04-10T00:51:00.000-04:00

I have a cold and sore throat. These babies are saving the day and only 13 carbs. I am having to watch my blood sugar right now. Blech. (Can you BELIEVE I am drinking DIET Mt Dew people???? It quite shocking to most. LOL Including me.) You find them in the canned fruit aisle. Pop them in the freezer and they are a sherbet consistency, not hard and crunchy. So yummy and soothing on my throat. I love kid flavors like grape and orange. My favorite in Gatorade also.

I cannot wait to share with you what Penny has went and done!!!!! But I told her I would wait til she posted. She best be hurrying up. It is crazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzy!

This is something neat.

2010-04-07T02:07:00.002-04:00

Is this the cutest watch or what? I was just looking through a magazine online and saw the ad for it. Had to check it out. Vegetable dyed organic cotton strap and corn resin face. This is a "green" red watch. Kinda cool. I hadn't heard of corn resin, am familiar with pecan and sawdust resin. This is supposed to be even more durable and lighter in weight. The whole thing just appealed to me, so I thought I would share.

Wanted to thank everyone for the sweet comments on the last post and the private emails. I have a big doctor's appointment tomorrow. And appreciate the encouragement and prayers going into it.

Hope everyone is having a great week.

I just wanted to share this

2010-04-05T03:36:00.000-04:00

I have been sitting outside tonight in the wooden porch swing. Holding my pooh pillow and just swinging. At 3am. Listening to the birds sing. The very birds that God is taking care of. He will take of me too. And my headaches. And my medical bills. And my family. And my friends. He will take care of us all.

Our homegrown Easter bunnies

2010-04-04T00:01:00.000-04:00

These two make my heart sing. Precious nieces.

Happy Easter to you all. Jesus is the realllll reason for the season.