And the winner is...

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?

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...

And the winner is...........

Thank you everyone for the sweet birthday wishes. It was a lovely day. The winner in my little drawing is Claire from Canada. This is your doily Claire. It measures 13-inches across. Hope you like it. Please send me your addy. From one Cellar to another...thank you! :o)

My Birthday Give-A-Way

I didn't forget my promise of a give-a-way. I just saved it for my birthday week. Yep! Celebrating 47 next Wednesday on the 13th. So....everyone who comments on this post will be entered into the drawing. Seems I spend much of my time crocheting. Requires little thinking and slight movement. Works for me these days/daze. So...the winner will receive a special doily from me. It will be in red and white to celebrate St. Valentine's Day. And you can also use it for Christmas. Here are a few pics of my recent endeavors. Mindless work. I actually had a stack of 14 in various sizes, colors and patterns. Gave several away and now have several new ones not pictured.

 

My lighting was really bad that day. Your winning doily will be a medium red and white.The ones in the second picture are ecru and dark red on the left and the medium red on the right. If you prefer to grunge it a bit, you can darken it with your favorite antiquing method (tea, coffee, RIT dye).

We have gotten snow today. And more in the forecast for tomorrow. It is pretty but a bit of a trickymicky to tool around in. I had to drive out in it, but the highway was in good shape. I go back to the surgeon on Monday to get his (hopefully) final decision on what is going with me. When I went this past Monday, he found several more enlarged lymph nodes and a couple of places in my breasts. Surprise! And I was not a happy camper that day. So...this week has been about tests and more bloodwork. It is amazing what they do now with technology. Not like in years past where everything had to be poked with a needle to find out what was what. Now they give you some dye and take a lookyloo with "magic eyes". And girls, GO GET THOSE MAMOGRAMS DONE! Just cannot stress that enough. Get your girls squeezed and checked out yearly if you are over 30.Many insurance company's will pay 100% also.  It isn't fun. But the alternative sure isn't either! I just had one 6 months ago and it was clear. So see what I mean, things just happen.

Hope your home is warm and you are all snuggled in for the night.

~Angela

I won, so YOU win

I won a give-a-way at Tatting Tales last month. An original watercolor and 2 skeins of her hand dyed #20 thread. Both quite yummy! Thank you so much.

In the spirit of winning, I will be hosting a give-a-way this month. Details to come. Don't worry, it will be easy, no hoops or loop-de-loos to go through :o) Who has time for that?

I found a recipe in my late night blog surfer, and forgot where of course. After eating only bland food for what seems like FOREVER, I am wanting a bit of flavor to cross my palette. This seems harmless and easy enough. Brown ground beef with diced onion. Drain well. Add taco seasoning and one can of undrained diced tomatoes. Cook for 5 minutes or until liquid is gone. Soften a large block of cream cheese. Spread into bottom of a pie plate. Evenly spread meat mixture over cream cheese. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top. Microwave or heat in oven until cheese is slightly melted. Serve with tortilla chips. I am thinking all the cheese will help my tummy with any kick of the meat. You could also add a layer of refried beans and black olives. Yummy. But I am not pushing my luck this time.

With all my resting I have been doing a lot of crocheting. Charity gifts. Several small bags and coasters have been felted. Hankies trimmed. Scarfs made. Hat for Baby Jaidy. Working on a doll blankie to go with Shayla's Christmas doll, Baby Alive. Man she has all the bells and whistles. Mark has insisted she is the one. I prefer the soft, cuddly dolls. But since Uncle Mark is dropping the big bucks, happy Shayla! LOL I need to get to my playhouse to do some quilting, maybe later in the week.

Are you watching The Biggest Looser? Penny and I have gotten hooked. I have never watched it from start to finish. Only give Survivor that much tv loving. hahaha But I have really gotten involved in TBL. Allen was from our area, 2 counties over. I was sad he didn't make it to the final 4. I am for Danny out of the 4 that are left. He has such a good heart. You can just see it.

Thank you for all the sweet emails of encouragement I have received. They have meant a lot to me.

PS: As Penny and I was watching TBL I was telling her about my post. And then it hit me. Hey I am making this medium calorie recipe tomorrow night/watching TBL. And I didn't even CATCH it when I wrote it. Not until I watched these people on their journey. Sigh....The cream cheese is not low fat. The meat is ground chuck. The cheese is a mozzarella blend. Myself, I will use saltines cause the chips are too salty (blood pressure). Hmmm....No matter that it has been several months since I have had anything with zing and flavor to it. I just WANT it. And that is what is wrong with America me. Just want it all no matter if it isn't the best for us.

A free pattern, a new love and a reminder

Don't forget about THIS post! The drawing with be the 31st!

Did you see my new freebie pattern for the snowman tape measure? It is HERE.

NUTELLA! Oh my goodness! Is there anything better? I cannot imagine so! I skip the middle man (bread) and eat it straight from the jar. yuuummmmm

Resting a bit today and then housework. I have a short list. Do you work by a list? I do sometimes. Makes me feel I have accomplished something if I see it marked off on paper. Plus help remind me what to do in case I get distracted.

I am finishing up a couple projects for my craft show this Saturday. And then the pricing and packing up for that. Hope to be done tomorrow night and just have the tweeking left. We will see. Best laid plans you know.....

A pressie and a prize

My dear, sweet and loving daughter gave me this. I know she loves me and is thinking of her poor ole mom. But it totally cracked me up still. What do you think she is telling me??? Now if they only made an all-over body version they sold cheap and by the 50 gallon barrel! :o)

And I won a blog drawing at sweet Peggy's house! Woot for me!! Thank you Peggy.

I am loving the cooler temps here in southern Indiana!

It is finished and all uploaded!

I know you all are tired of hearing about this....but wooooooot for me. :o)

And here is a lil something for you for putting up with my whining.

Post about "The Country Cellar" on your blog. You can even use the mini banner pic below. Then leave a comment letting me know, on my blog through August 31st. I will have a special drawing just from these comments on September 1st. The winner will receive a $25 gift certificate (and I will pay the shipping costs.)

Now back to our regularly scheduled program. Did I tell you I am doing a local craft show late August? Gotta get out to my playhouse now and make some new goodies to share. I have enjoyed in a twisted sister kinda way, doing the html and remaking my site. But I have also missed sewing and painting. Right now I have 5 dolls who are basically dressed but without hair, faces or other embellishments. First on the to-do list. And I have to get a blog background. Not loving this white. Got THAT done. Right after I get a very good rest! :o)

Getting closer...

I have been working on my website continusouly it seems one way or the other the past week. I have even been dreaming about it. LOL Sad huh? The Grand Reopening Party is scheduled for this coming Wednesday. I am calling it a party instead of an open house cause there are gifts involved. LOL AND there will be something special for all you bloggers. Hope you get a chance to stop by. If for no other reason than to grab the new free patterns :o)

Summer has finally found Indiana. I liked it better when we were missing!! I am just saying.

My lovely gifties!

My dear friend Imi No-Blog, from the Netherlands, sent me this amazing knitted shawl. I was speechless thinking of the hours it took to create it. She said it was a soft merino wool/mohair blend. I cannot wait til cool weather to wear it to church and for special. Thank you soooo much Imi No-Blog. (I am teasing at her to start a blog!) Imi is my own personal sock maker too! :o) We do this in trade. My shawl is being displayed on ANOTHER gift. Miss Lily was gifted to me by Miss Linda. She is very old, Miss Lily NOT Miss Linda. I have her in the corner right beside my computer desk. And am thoroughly enjoying her. I received her and then the loverrrly shawl. What a perfect combo.

And then I was blessed to win this sweet give-a-way from Michelle in NZ. The lil' sachet is filled with buttons and baubles to use in my crafting. The bookmark is made from selvages. How clever it is. Her embroidery is gorgeous. Thank you Michelle. I told her I would host a give-a-way in the near future. I always do if I win one.

A bit of a praise report. My sweet sister Penny had hand surgery recently. Yesterday she got her stitches out and was told she was ahead on her recovery. So yayaya for that. She has not been able to do handwork for several months and it has been KILLING her! So soon Penny, soon!

And the winner is.....

TattingChic! Please send your mailing address to raggedyangela@yahoo.com and I will get your toile apron right out to you! Thank you everyone else for playing along.

Sweet Baby Timmy. Don't you wish they could stay this stink'in tiny forever? He is really lovey and wants to snuggle all the time. Not a single potty mess has been made either. So yaya for THAT! He is a crybaby though. Misses the big brood he came from. But he also talks when he plays. So maybe he is just a chatterbox. LOL

200th Post Give-A-Way!

I am making this very simple. No hoops to jump through or thinking involved! LOL Just leave a comment on THIS post to be entered into the drawing. The only requirement is you have an email addy attached to your comment, either a live blog link or you type your address into the comment section. Easypeasy. And the prize you ask??? I made an apron in lovely black and ecru toile with red and ecru toile accent. A ricketyrack bow with black button is sewn onto the pocket. This can be removed if you are not a ricketyrack kinda girl. Just snip it off. But why would you??? :o) I will draw the name on Wednesday. This is just my little way of thanking you for your encouragement and friendship.

Hope all you USA gals, have a safe and fun Independence Day weekend.

~*~God Bless America~*~

Tomatoe...tomato

You say puppy bed, we say kitty bed. LOL Course Timmy does have 2 puppies in bed with him. But still. They are not sleeping, they are his personal guard dogs. :o) Isn't that the cutest? I know, only if you are a kitty person. LOL He is adjusting really well. I give him and Toby vistation several times a day. Toby is determined to lick his ears plum off his head. I hold Timmy the entire time. And just let them sniff a bit and then Toby will lay down beside us. He cannot stand the kitty to cry. I have a pet gate across the hallway. This gives Toby hald the house and Lydia the other. So Timmy is on Lydia's side. When the kitty cries, Toby is at the gate barking or whimpering to tell me to do something for that baby. (The top picture is the most acurate in color. I took the second one with the flash off. That dog IS that red and shiny.)

The weather is soooo much better. The wind has blown that awful humidity away. It had gotten so bad. Our daddy is a farmer and has been working out not stop like farmers must. I have hated it for him. He is too old for this kind of weather! But you make hay while the sun shines as the saying goes. And for farmers, that is literally what they do!

This is post 299! Woot! So a give-a-way is next!! Stay tuned for the details. Christie is having one over at her house. I love the reason why. Everyone stay cool!

Backyard pics

Love my flower beds. They are a constant work in progress. This lil chippy painted goose was just gifted to me. I have wanted one for a long time. I am thinking on not repainting her. Just leaving her all worn out like me. LOL The white flowers beside her we have always called Goosie Lucy. The real name is Gooseneck something or other. :o) Like our name better.

This is post 295. Getting closer to that 300th post and give-a-way!

Purdy flowers

My sweet friend Laura in MN had these delivered last week. They smelt sooo good. Very sweet with roses and the mini carnations and all the special little flowers tucked around. All nestled into a keepable china tea cup. Thank you again honey! I kept them right by my bed on the dresser the whole time. The doll in the pic is an old Boyd Bear doll. She has an embroidery hoop, a small bunny and bear with embroidery floss tangled up on them. Mark bought me a few of this line of dolls several years ago. I love her glasses.

And thank you all for the sweet comments and emails. That each meant alot to me!

I am feeling better. Still being a bum and sleeping alot. I just got through telling Penny, enough already! And she reminded me it hadn't even been 2 weeks yet. Having a devil of a time keeping Toby boy from jumping up onto my tummy. He is used to me picking him up, big ole doggie that he is and that is what he does to let me know he "wants me". A quick pounce and then the puppy dog eye thing. Mark told me to take a pillow and use some fabric to tie it around my waist. I may just have to!

I am behind in my blog reading. So I am off to live my crafting/sewing through you all! :o)) My next post will be 294. That means a Give-A-Way at 300!!! I love doing them.

Movin' On

Well my 2 winners have been notified, replied and their packages ready to be mailed out. They were happy and so was I. I appreciate folks appreciating, you know what I mean. I have had a couple of drawings where the winners never replied back, even after a couple emails. Once a lady said, no thanks I don't know why I signed up, I don't like the prize. No way you say. Yes WAY!! But actually that was better than me sending it and her tossing it. But still, manners go a long way! LOLOL

Anyways...you haven't seen Mr. Toby for awhile. He is soooo big now. Freakish long legs too. Freakish! And he is loving him some bonies. He has several laying about, better to chew on them than the poor sad recliners he has chomped on already. But please does this pic say "spoiled rotten" or what? LOL He threw his ears back right when I snapped. He got startled. Serious business chewing on bonies you know.

And I am still crocheting away. My hands are letting me, so I am staying with it. The lupus is in my feeties right now. Which is a trade off. I have enjoyed making these gloves. If they do not sell on Etsy, I will haul them to a show next fall or give them to my Miss Thing aka Miss Heather. Who is going to become a Mrs. come April 11th. Did I tell you that already?

It is pretty nippy chippy here. Temps were in the low single digits last night. Expecting lower for tonight and tomorrow. Of course I have to get out tomorrow for a long awaited doctor appointment. The liver guy. This is supposed to be a meet and greet and hopefully get some things rolling along. I need a blood transfusion and some tests ran. Just want to feel better! And if there is something to be done, well let's get it done. :o)

Hope you are warm where you are.

And the Winners Are...

Thank you to all the 136 who signed up for my Whirl Into Winter Giveaway! I drew 2 names for my Wool Journal and Fob Kits. I drew today as it is my birthday. :o)

The first name I drew is Nana Barb's Musings. Barb is a new blogger from Washington, so this is fun for her! Stop by and give her some blogger love.

The second name is Terri from Bits and Pieces in Michigan! Terri is laying down those cigerettes. Go over and encourage her, she can do it!

Girls, I have posted on your blog as soon as I get your snail mail addy, I will mail out to you.

Thank you everyone for playing along with us. Hope the coming year you are blessed with health and peace.

Last Day for Drawing

I will be drawing 2 names from all the comments on the January 1st post tomorrow. :o) Feeling lucky??? LOL

More Felted Soap

I had a few questions about the process and thought I might post more here. You must use a tight stitch and 100% wool. The tight stitch ensures good shrinkage and the pure wool is a must. Acrylic yarn will not shrink just get fuzzy and stay big. I didn't use the microwave. I just used the microwavable bacon cooker thingy. I first ran very hot tap water over the crocheted bar, the worked it in my hands, then ran it back and forth over the ridges on the pan. Like a washboard. This creates the agitation of the fibers. Oh and a follow up on my convo with Mr. Mark...hey I like this soap, will you make me one? LOLOL He had washed his hands with it and loved the way it got all sudsy. He wants his own for the shower. My reply...we will see. LOL I knew he would want one. Boys!!

Don't forget to comment on the January 1st post to be entered into the Whirl Into Winter Giveaway. And today's post was my 250th one!

Fingerless Gloves

I just listed these on Etsy. Both are 100% wool and very soft. I have written up the pattern to sell in a pdf too. Have it being double checked for me right now. Heather loves wearing mitts as does Penny. I am going to make myself a pair of the cranberry ones next.

EDITED---I have the pdf pattern listed on Etsy now. Instant gratification in these downloadable patterns!

Don't forget to sign up on the January 1st post to enter the Whirl Into Winter drawing. We seem to be having a good turn out for it! :o) Gotta love free stuf. LOL

Everyone stay warm and dry!