Pay It Forward

I love doing this. I joined up at Polka Dots & Rick Rack. And am now offering you the opportunity to play along. Here is how it goes...the first 3 people to comment that they wish to join will be gifted a handmade goody from me within the next 12 months. (I always do it much much earlier to make sure I do not forget!). You in turn, post on your blog and do the same for the first 3 that join. And the lovin's just keep on going. I ask that you have an active blog. Makes it easier to get your 3 PIF friends. Be sure to post when you receive your pressie. Cause we are nosey like that. :o)

Sweet baby from the market trying on one of my hats. I couldn't remember if I had posted this or not. Worth posting again. Such a precious lil one!

We are supposed to be getting rain and cooler temps in the next couple of days. Praying it happens! Indiana certainly needs it. Penny and I missed the last 2 farmer's market Saturdays because of the temps being over 105 degrees. Crazy! She has to work this Saturday, so our Daddy is going with me. Should be fun!

I am blessed. ~Angela

Farmer's Market time

It is time for our local farmer's market. Penny and I love participating in this wonderful community event. Here is just a glimpse of our booth today.

 My daughter Heather helped us today. Appreciated her!!

 Penny's hand painted and dyed wool yarn. Yummy stuff! More vibrant in real time. The sun was hitting that corner when I was taking pics and fuzzed up the shot. The booth beside us is the host tent. You can see their free coffee and water table. A great service to shoppers and vendors alike.

I am blessed. ~Angela

Staying busy!

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)

Autumn Busyness

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

Come see us at the market!

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

Here I am

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

Comfort food and hooky time

 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....

Working away

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

Catching up

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

A lil bit of Saturday Market love

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)

Goings on

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.

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

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.