~ Nicole's bloggin' madness ~

Christmas in Feb??!

2009-02-13T22:04:00.004-06:00

I know... I know.... A little late, perhaps?

BUT! This works all year round! Simply use different scrapbooking paper! Or even family photos would be super cool!!!

Just start with your average primitive barn star... One that has a horrid finish will make re-doing it even more satisfying! :o) lol!

To measure the paper, simply place over star and crease with your fingernail to know where to cut.

Cut the paper.... It should look like this....

Do one for each star. Another option is to use 10 different papers as opposed to 5. Just use a different paper for each angle on the star instead. More difficult... But way cool!!

Now is where you'll break out the modge podge. My newest best friend!

I. LOVE. THIS. STUFF!!!!

Spread modge podge on each point and smooth paper over it. Be sure do work out all the air bubbles... They will leave bumps all over the thing!

After it has dried, coat the entire thing with some more modge podge. I did 2 coats of the stuff. It'll protect it. You can either use the matte which is a duller finish. Or high gloss which is obviously.... ummm... shiny! :o)

I'm kicking myself that I didn't take a picture of the finished project... but it turned out SUPER cool!!! I added a ribbon and bow to hang it with and TAA-DAA!!!

Way cool star that has a LOT more character! Whoohoo!

L-O-V-E

2009-02-13T19:56:00.006-06:00

Wondering what to do with ALL THOSE leftover candy canes??!

How 'bout this?

Here's how.....

Preheat oven to 250 degrees...

Unwrap all your leftover candy canes....

Put them on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper....

Cook for 5-10 minutes.... (Watch'em REALLY close! It doesn't take long for them to get too warm... Don't ask me how I know! lol!!)

Immediately start forming them after you pull them out. They'll be warm, but not too hot to handle! If they start getting too stiff, just throw them in the oven for a sec again and you'll be able to bend and mold them! I made lots of L's, O's, V's & E's for Valentine's day.

For that part of it, I spray painted all sides of a 6 in. 2x4... Modge Podged a piece of scrapbooking paper on the front... Super glued the L-O-V-E on.... Sprayed clear sealer over the entire front... (To seal the candy canes. If you don't the candy will get soft, sticky, and squishie by next year! Icky! Thanks mom for letting me in on that secret!! What would I do without you??!) And finished it off with tying ribbon around it with a big red bow on top! Love them!! And what a nifty way to use up leftover Christmas candy canes! Be creative! Make other words... Names.... You could even "fuse" 2 of them together to make a heart! Let me know what you come up with!!! :o)

cough cough

2009-02-12T16:18:00.001-06:00

Okay.... I have a confession....

I've kinda sorta abandoned you all....

And gone on to greener pastures....

Now they're not really greener, I guess.... It's missing YOU!!!!

I've started a blog for our storefront, so that's where my few free minutes have been going!!! To make it up to ya'll here's the link!!! http://www.mastershandcandles.blogspot.com/ Does that make up for my non-posting-habits??! Now you have 2 blogs of mine to read.... Which.... Might mean that you'll have to endure twice the abandonment!!! Yikes! :o)

No really.... I'll try to do better on this front! :o)

P.S. I've got a brand new blog layout for y'all..... Does that make you feel better too? I know if does for me!!! :o) lol!

NEWSFLASH -- New store

2008-12-03T14:48:00.003-06:00

Hey ya'll!!!

Things are coming together... We're SCRAMBLING!!!

And...

***DRUMROLL***

We have our open house this weekend! If you're in the area, be sure to stop by!!!

CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE

Master's Hand Candle Co. & Gift Shop

(Just south of Tekemah on HWY 75-- Old Nordstrom Bldg)

Saturday, Dec. 6th

2-6 pm

Door Prizes... Refreshments... Live Music... and Amazing Sales!!!

We'll have Face Painting and Balloons from 2-4!

Come see first hand how things are looking around here!!! I'll be posting pictures of everything after it's all over!

* Hobby Lobby NEWSFLASH *

2008-11-22T18:09:00.002-06:00

Yesterday afternoon Hooby Lobby went 90% off on all fall/Thanksgiving stuff!!!!

Don't walk... RUN! :o)

Want a tour??

2008-10-28T18:35:00.002-06:00

Alrighty! I'm in Branson MO this week.... but thought I'd post this quick!

So... if you find yourself in the unfortunate position of being bored to death... And if ya have 12 minutes to kill... And you want to spend it checking out our new building.... Here's a "tour" Gracie recorded the day we closed on the building! :o)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaIwzrabpq8

September 9th...

2008-10-28T08:30:00.004-06:00

Okay... I looked... **gasp** September 9th was the last time I posted. That's almost 2 months ago.

TWO MONTHS!

May I beg your forgiveness? Plead, perhaps?

In my defence, a LOT has happened since September 9th!!!

Namely... WE BOUGHT A BUILDING!!!!

A GI-NORMOUS building!!! In fact... At home, we had our candle stuff in several rooms. The combine sq. footage of those rooms was approx. 800ish. Want to know how big our new building is??! OVER 10,000 SQ. FEET!!!! Lots and lots of room to grow!!! No more carrying 60 lbs. boxes of wax dooooown the stairs.... And no more carrying the finished candles uppppp the stairs! We're all on one level and can roll pallets of stuff around... Back around to the back door and load the truck right there... It's fantastic!

We'll have a storefront where we can sell our candles, my JUNK, ect... (It is in the process of bring completely gutted and redone! LOTS of fun but I'm supposed to have it done by the weekend before Thanksgiving! Besides pouring thousands of candles! TONS of fun... but... YIKES!!!)

A WHOLE room just for my workshop and beloved tools! Yeah baby!

WE'RE EXCITED AND LOVING IT!!!!!

More details to follow! :o)

P.S. Sorry Rachel.... I know I said I'd post last week, but my computer charger diiiied!

Just got it fixed! YAY!

Want to see our babies??!

2008-09-09T10:37:00.002-06:00

Our spring babies sure have grown, haven't they??

Brandy's 'lil one!

Gypsy's Baby!

And my favorite... Maggie's colt.

All boys!! Go figure!

I'm back!

2008-09-02T20:08:00.007-06:00

After a brief reprieve... (And not one that I wanted... the camera just wouldn't upload the pictures for me! And who wants to read a blogpost of mine without pictures??!)

Want to see a bit of what Caleb did for the fair??

Remember these bottles?

Well... Caleb made a "bottle bug!"

Isn't he cute??! Oh what you can do with a bottle... a little copper wire... and a few beads!

And... Do you want to see what he made for the "Recycling" class??!

The thing that got wow's everywhere it went??!

The thing that the judge said was the most creative thing she had ever seen entered in the class??!

The thing that won RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION??! (Yay Caleb!! 2nd year in a row, baby!)

Prepare to be amazed here people!

So what do you do with...

A spindle....

A cast from an unfortunate event this spring...

A very thick medical book, drill, gorilla glue...

And a sock and some stuffing?

Why, with a little imagination and work...

Make a LAMP of course!!!! :o)

Way to go Caleb!!

What exactly do I do, anyway??

2008-08-07T10:54:00.004-06:00

Okay... someone asked what exactly it is I do at the fairs on weekends? Well... here goes... A look into my summers!

Our family owns and runs a "family entertainment buisness" called Sonshine & Company. We do...

SHAVED ICE

CAPPUCCINO FREEZES

FRUIT SMOOTHIES

WILD ISLAND SLUSHIE DRINKS

BLOOMIN' CARAMEL APPLES

MINI MELTS (Kinda lke Dippin' Dots only better! :o) lol!)

COTTON CANDY

And we also have a moonwalk bounce house... train rides... baseball radar throw... face painting... occationally balloon animals... ummm... I think that's it. I loose track! ;o)

So there's a reader's digest version of what we do!

What else have I been up to this summer?

2008-08-06T08:24:00.005-06:00

Well... as you may haave guessed... Fairs pretty much summed up my summer. However last week, Grace, Alatheia, and I all went down to my Grandma's to teach a Bible club.

It. Was. A. Blast.

We had WAY too much fun!

We went from 7 kids to 14 kids. The water balloon fight the last day really upped attendence. ;o) lol! Sadly, **cough cough** I had a wedding shower afterwards, so I couldn't get wet. Aww! lol!

Aaand... we had a blast on our "off time" too!

The mighty headhunter!

The bearded women!

Yeah! We had a blast!

Oh, what I'll do for my brother and a few bottles!!

2008-08-05T11:07:00.004-06:00

Okay... So Caleb and I have spent the last 2 days getting ready for his 4-H fair. He's been brainstorming and coming up with brilliant ideas! Well... a few of his projects involve bottles. Oh yeah... bottles. I love bottles!! :o) (I know, I know... call me weird!)

Anyway... He found this spot down by the creek last fall where someone dumped a bunch of bottles. So we got the brilliant idea to got get some. I didn't account on 2 things.

Mosquitoes and nettles.

OUCH!!! By the time I got down the creek bank and was looking for them, I didn't want to go back. So... I thought I'd just keep going. That was a mistake! As much as I love bottles... It wasn't worth it!!! lol! By the time I got back, I was itchy all over and had over 50 bug bites!

But that all said and done... Caleb and I found 48 bottles. Some are cooler than others... But oh the memories we'll have of them!

And yes... We got them all cleaned up... They look so much better now! :o)

I'll post pictures of what we did with them later! :o)

TOP 10 REASONS WHY I DIDN’T POST DURING THE MONTH OF JULY:

2008-08-04T21:07:00.001-06:00

I know... I know... Excuses, excuses!! But here's mine!!

Remember… In July there are 31 days. Out of those 31 days:

1. We had events booked every single weekend.
2. Actually… We had only 11 days in which didn’t have any events scheduled.
3. Each one of those 11 days at home was spent preparing for the next events.
4. We had 16 separate events ranging from 2 hours to 6 days long.
5. Which makes an average of 4 events per weekend.
6. We had 3 county fairs. (They’re harder as they generally last 5-6 days each)
7. I got to wear the Sonshine & Co. red t-shirt and denim 20 times this month.
8. We had events ranging from Kansas to Nebraska to Iowa to South Dakota.
9. I’ve been stretched WAY out of my comfort zone! Nearly every weekend I took a trailer by myself to talk to the big person in charge at the event, find out where to set up, get everything ready to go, and work it all weekend with some great helpers. Not my usual cup of tea!
10. So therefore… To summarize… I’ve been too busy!

Don’t feel unimportant though! There are other things that got pushed to the wayside this month along with my blogging. Vital things like cleaning the house, pulling weeds in all the flower beds and gardens. (I actually just got done with weeding some of the flower beds. Some of the weeds were as tall as I am. Amazing how fast they can grow!) taking care of my poor herb garden, (Haven’t spent much quality time with “Herb” lately) Cooking any “real” meals, riding horses. (Haven’t done that all summer come to think of it! Want to come out to my house, anyone??!)

But on the upside… I now have a new perspective on what “busy” really means!!! :o) lol

Hopefully I can start blogging a little more now that July is over! July was the INSANE month… August is just BUSY! :o)

I'm a faaaaailure!!!

2008-05-16T07:36:00.003-06:00

Okay... okay... I know I haven't blogged in forever... and I'm well aware of the fact that I always say that.... But if you don't know about it already, let me tell you about bloglines. Go to www.bloglines.com and you can make a free account. It let's you type in all your favorite blogs and will let you know when they update them! Cool, huh? (And now I can be a sporadic blogger without a guilty concience! Nice!!)

Now that we have that covered... Here's a very quick overview on what my life has entailed lately!

My cousin, Zachery graduated last week and I got to do his cake! Yay! :o)

It was a 2 layered white cake with raspberry filling in between! Yum!! And in spite of neither layer coming out very well, it turned out not looking too bad!

Last weekend was the Omaha Ren Faire... Always way too much fun. We did our consessions and stuff... Florentine Snow (Shaved Ice)... Ye Olde Cinnamon Glazed Nuts... Faerie Floss (Cotton Candy)... King's Court Slushies (Wild Island Drinks)... Fruit Smoothies... Cappuccino Freezes... and more! Alatheia had an outfit to die for! It was SO cool!!

The mad Scotsmen we there again this year! I love those guys... They are absolutely hysterical!!

We had a baby!!! The most adorable little fellow you ever did see! Doesn't have a name yet, any ideas, y'all?

Aaaanndd.... Mom and Caleb got turkeys... Goodness, they're ugly little things! I'm not even joking!! But Caleb's enjoying them, so we'll see how they survive! :o)

There's been more going on around here, so I'll just have to blog here more shortly! Like redoing the dining room floor... and re-painting the walls... and giving the ceiling fan a mak-over... and well... I'll be back! Honest! :o)

Casting Cares...

2008-04-09T08:33:00.000-06:00

For some reason I've had this song from NCHEA stuck in my head all day.

It's one I learned at 12 or so and it was a definate favorite. I always sang it to myself whenever life seemed tough! How sweet to know that no matter what happens to me, HE knows... and HE cares!

I cast all my cares upon you.

I lay all of my burdens down at your feet.

And anytime

I don't know

What to do,

I will cast all my cares upon you.

"Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." --1 Peter 5:77

Wondering where I've been?!

2008-04-08T20:06:00.006-06:00

Hey y'all!

Have you been wondering if I dropped off the face of the earth?! Well ALMOST!!! It's NCHEA time! (Nebraska Home Educator's Association)

As most of you know, I have been homeschooled since 1st grade. Growing up, mom and dad always went to the NCHEA conference where they had a curriculum fair, speakers, ect... They always either had to leave us kids with Grandma and Grandpa or only one of them would go.

Well... The past 4 years now, we've done a "Kid's Conference" that runs concurrently with their conference and it's a TOTAL blast! I am one of 8 core staff that spends from about Sept-April planning and organizing this amazingly fun weekend! We had over 250 kids this year!!! It's been absolutely AMAZING to see it GROW!

This year's theme was "The Legacy," in which 5 orphan children travel throughout Europe to find the inheritance that their parent's left them during WW II.

We had 4 countries represented... Germany, Holland, Italy, and FRANCE! I was, of course, the one in french attire. :o)

Boy, was it fun! (Besides the fact that I've developed a hatred for heels!!!)

Been watching everyone else's blogs for pictures and here's what a few of them posted!

Here's a slideshow that my brilliant cousin, Ruth put together!

My AMAZING photographer of a cousin, Bethany has the storyline of the drama in pictures as well as some other fun pictures of the whole time! How many pictures did you take, Bethany?? 941?!

A good friend from church, Anna B. (AKA "Louise") posted a few pictures too!

UPDATE: Another family from church, the Grady's also posted some fun pics!

UPDATE: Another friend that I've know from CYIA forever, Kristin T. has lots of pics too!

UPDATE: And ANOTHER friend from church, our own AMAZING Alatheia: Props and Costuming Coordinator, has more pictures!

UPDATE: The Ulmer's also posted pictures! We've know them for years and years!!

I'll add other's names once they post any pictures too! (It's a popular theme this week, it seems!)

Of broken legs and Easter...

2008-03-24T21:01:00.003-06:00

Been wondering where I've been?

Well... We've been busy!! Besides getting ready for the Petersen Easter get-together on Saturday... It started with Caleb...

Just in case you're wondering...

Roller shoes...

and...

Skateboard ramps...

DON'T MIX!!!!!

And now starting on a few of the finishing touches...

2008-03-07T11:46:00.004-06:00

And yesterday I also put everything back on the mantle. It's very cute now! Want to see it?

In the center there is my mirror that I got on a garage sale a few years ago for only $2! I was very happy!! It's already distressed and everything.

I got this sign at Goodwill about a month ago. I thought the color would work in the livingroom and got it just in case it fit in anywhere. And it did!!

I bought the star after Christmas... 90% off, baby!! The empty picture frames were from an auction... Got those free! :o)

These are for the curtains... I saw them on clearence at Menards. They used to be 25-something... I got them 1$ for each pair! Whoohoo!

They were a very light oak color, but I spray painted them with cream. After it was dry, I decided that the cream was too stark, so I rubbed stain on it. What I wasn't expecting was for it to distress the areas when I rubbed the stain in harder. They turned out SUPER COOL!

Don'cha just love when that happens?! :o)

Another new experience!

2008-03-07T10:59:00.005-06:00

All right... I was going to post what else I've been working on, but it wouldn't let me post any more last night! Silly thing!!

I've tiled the hearth in front of the fireplace as well as a new hearth pad in the corner for our new wood stove. It's been another new thing I've never done before... But tiling is really a LOT of fun!!! :o)

This is the hearth pad for the wood stove...

I was just laying them out to get an idea of how I wanted the tile to go.

My new wet saw for cutting tile... You know how I feel about saws, and this is no exception! I love this thing! It's totally cool!!!

This was the fireplace hearth... Those red things were so nice! they kept them spaced so well!!!

Finished laying the hearth pad tile...

Then a few days later came the grout... That was interesting!

And messy...

I'll post pics of the finished product soon!!!

The floors are done!!!

2008-03-06T10:16:00.003-06:00

Hey!!!
I am still alive!! My camera cord was lost and I couldn't find it ANYWHERE! Have you ever noticed how things just seem to loose themselves when you're remodeling?!

Anyway... Now that I found it, there's an awful lot to catch up on! I am SO excited with how things are turning out!!

I finally got the wood floor installed...

And stained...

And finished!!!

It turned out BEAUTIFULLY! I am totally sold on wood floors now! Love 'em!

I've been tagged!

2008-02-26T08:58:00.002-06:00

Okay y’all!
I was tagged by Margo a while back to share seven interesting things about myself… And I must not be too interesting, because it took me a while to think up seven!! Whatever te case... Here we go! :o)

* I was eating pizza with the stuffed crust method before it was even invented! As long as I can remember, I’ve always eaten the crust first, then the rest.

* At age 3, I fell out of our apartment window… Three stories high. And I didn’t break a single bone! I told all the nurses that “Jesus caught me.”

*I’ve been deer hunting since I was 8… I would get up at the crack of dawn to go out with Dad until I got my own license at 12. Now we still go out at the crack of dawn! It’s our yearly thing we do… Just him and I!

*As a little girl, I wanted to be a rancher with my cousin, Kristin when we grew up. We decided one day that we’d probably have to each get married… That way it would be 2 less guys we’d have to hire! :o) lol

* I have chewed my nails as long as I can remember… Trust me… It’s a horrid habit! I tried everything for YEARS to break myself of it, and nothing ever worked. But just recently, I stopped biting my nails one at a time. I have never ever heard of anything like it, but it worked! I now have 10 nice nails! Fancy that!!

* “And I’ve never been to Boston in the fall!” –In my best Larry the Cucumber voice -- I’ve been to 3 out of 4 corners of the United States… Washington state, California, and Florida. Someday I need to make it out east yet! :o)

*Growing up, mom and dad always read to us every night. My favorites were the Dr. Seuss ones! “Horton Hatches an Egg…” “Cat and the Hat…” “The Lorax…” “Green Eggs and Ham…” “Yertle the Turtle…” “The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins…” “McElligot’s Pool…” However, ONLY dad read anything Dr. Seuss. Mom absolutely refused to read anything that involved Sneetches, Grinches, Zaxes and Zooks.

So there you go! Now you know a little more about me! :o)

I’m supposed to tag 7 more people, so I am going to tag:

Bethany

The Wissmann Family

Josiah

Kate

Olive Plants

Ulmer Family

Of floors and cake...

2008-02-11T10:22:00.000-06:00

Wondering what I've been up lately? Well... Near as Dad and I could figure out, I've been some weird cross between a "Becky Homecky" and a "Bob the Builder!" :o)

The floor is really coming along!! I'm about half done now!!

Was hoping to finish installing it today and have it all stained and varnished be Wednesday, however I caught a seriously nasty bug from Caleb and Mom and I'm out for a while... Bummer!!!

Isn't it looking nice?! I'm SO excited!!! I'm really sold on wood floors now!

And.... the Becky Homecky part! I made lots and lots of cake!!

This was the one for my Aunt and Uncle's 25th Anniversary party...

This one was for my Aunt Sheryl's 50th Birthday party!

This one was my favorite! It was super fun!

It looks kinda little girl-y, but that's what mom wanted for it! :o)

Anyhoo... That's what I've been up to!

Only in Nebraska...

2008-02-07T09:31:00.000-06:00

Only in Nebraska can you go from...

Almost 50 degrees and just enough mist to create the most vivid double rainbow I have EVER seen...

To sub-zero and a winter wonderland!

All in only a week!

Gotta love NEBRASKA!!!

It's do-o-o-o-o-one!!!!!

2008-02-05T09:29:00.000-06:00

Look!!! It's all done!!!!

I still need to do the crown molding around the sides... but... IT'S DONE!!!!

Mom asked me what I would do differently... And I came up with 2 things.

I wouldn't paint them first... Maybe 1 coat of primer... but that's it!

And number 2... I would have bought 10 ft boards instead of 16 ft. The guy at Menards underestimated how many we needed, so we had to go back to get some. So we got 10 ft boards instead of 16 ft and the were a lot easier to work with. I think the longer they are, the more they tend to warp and bend.

So between being really straight shorter boards and unpainted as well, the last couple rows were a breeze!!! I wasn't sure if I should be glad that it was going so well... Or just plain upset that I didn't do it that way from the start!! :o)

I was going to go cream on it, but it was just too warm of a color and it seemed to make the ceiling look shorter. So we opted for flat white. I kind of liked the satin better, but mom thought it was to shiny with as many windows as we had. I really like how it turned out!!

As much as I love painting... I'm going to appreciate seeing this go back on the shelf downstairs!!! :o)

I love my saws!

2008-02-04T10:04:00.000-06:00

Okay... As I've been working on the livingroom... I've noticed how many saws I have. And really... I LOVE them all! Well.. most of them! :o)

Here's my miter saw... Between that and my radial arm saw, the ceiling was a breeze when it came to cutting the planks! I love my miter saw! Got it on ebay, brand spankin' new! Most girls get things like sewing machines on ebay? Me? I go for the saws, baby! :o)

Now... this circular saw has been around for a long time! About as long as I can remember, actually! So technically... I guess it isn't MY saw... but it's been a faithful 'ol thing! Our dogs always had a thing for chewing off the chord. I'm not sure why... Think it tasted like chicken, maybe? :o) Whatever the case, dad kept fixing the chord over and over till it was like 2 inches long! I kid you not!! Well.. it went several years before they touched it again. Last fall though, someone left it within reach of some hungry or just plain bored dogs and... You guessed it! They ate it again! So, it is now eqipped with a new chord and still works as good as ever!

My jigsaw... nothing impressive... don't even use it that much.. but... It's nice to have around! Just haven't used it enough to get attached to it or anything yet! :o) lol

Okay... So I really don't have any feelings for this one... I despise it, actually! Because whenever I have to use it, it means sore shoulders! But... I suppose it's a good thing to have around for those occations when none of the other saws will suffice!

I also have my radial arm saw which I absolutely adore!! I actually bought it from a thrift store of all places! It's been great! Can do almost anything! It does the job of both a miter saw and a table saw! I went to look and see how much they were at a Menards once... But when we asked where they were, the guy looked at us and said, "We don't sell those anymore... Too many people were cutting their arms off!" lol!

And mom... if you're reading this now... ummmm.... *cough cough* Don't worry! I'm very very cautious! :o) I mean... All saws are dangerous if you don't use them right. Even my hand saw!! Or the steak knife!! :o)

Anyhoo... better get to work... the floor is next! Yay!

The ceiling!!!

2008-02-01T19:56:00.000-06:00

Okay ya'll...

Are you ready for this?!

Remember this pile??

Well.... Someone's been hard at work with me here!

And slooooowly.... It's taking shape!

Despite a few bad boards... and minor setbacks... it's really looking great! It gives so much character to the room! I'll be posting pics when it's done! Really done!! YAY!!!

A finished fireplace!

2008-02-01T19:48:00.000-06:00

Okay.... Remember the fireplace?

Love it! It turned out so pretty!!!

And remember the molding on the mantle I added and was going to distress?

I LOVE IT!!! The picture just doesn't show it very well... It's just SO cool!

And she said... Let there be light!

2008-01-30T20:14:00.000-06:00

Okay... so you know how some livingrooms are? The kind that have no lights in the ceiling? I'm not sure if they expect everyone who lives there to be blind and therefore not mind the darkness that comes every evening.... or to keep so many lamps plugged in around the room, it takes fully 5 minutes to go around and turn them all on!

Don't get me wrong! I love lamps! There's nothing much better than curling up on the couch with a book, reading in the peace and quiet, with only the soft glow of a lamp! *sigh*

But if I need light... I want LIGHT!!! :o)

Whatever the case... I figured as long as we were redoing the ceiling... Otherwise known as punching holes, cutting and otherwise mangling the previous double-thick drywall substances... We might as well add some light, baby!

I know you can't tell it now... But soon 2 beautiful light fixtures will be mounted in the middle of the room where they will live forever after, shedding their glorious light, and brightening our hearts because we will no longer be stumbling around in the hazy darkness that has graced this particular livingroom for many years!

Stay tuned to see pictures of those lovely finished light fixtures!

The transformation of a fireplace...

2008-01-22T20:15:00.000-06:00

Okay... want to see just a bit of progress??

Okay... So I didn't get a good before shot of the fireplace but I did happen to have this, so it'll have to do. You can kind of see it there... I just didn't like it though. It was too dark and didn't really "go" in there. So... here's the transformation of a fireplace! :o)

First, the gold... *sigh* Can't someone help me out here? What on earth is it called?!?! lol! Still can't remember. *sigh*

You know what I mean, anyway! It's black now and it looks so much better! I love how it looks!

Next, the entire brick and mantle were primed. I was intending to paint 2 coats of cream on the brick. However, after getting this far, I think I'm going to leave it.

The mortar all stayed white, but the brick behind shows through just a bit and I LOVE it!!!

And now the mantle is red... I still need one more coat on it, then I'm going to distress it. Should be REALLY neat! I added molding around the top to throw some more detail into the mix. So the distressing will really bring that out! Love it!

Anyway... It's really coming along and looking just how I want things to look! Yay!

It's SO fun seeing one's visions and plans coming into reality!

Whew! It's comin'!

2008-01-21T21:41:00.000-06:00

Well.... Yesterday we got the planks for the ceiling and the wood flooring. Now the livingroom is full! :o)

We opted for wood flooring. It just seemed to be the best choice for us. Stay tuned for the escapades of Nicole installing wood flooring for the first time in her life! :o) Wow! I'm doing a lot of things for the first time in here, aren't I?!

Aaaaand... the planks are getting primed and the 1st coat of cream on them. They'll get the final
coat after they're installed. Oh joy!

Anyway... long story short... It's coming along!!!!!!!

I'm in love!!!

2008-01-19T08:54:00.000-06:00

Yes... Yes... You heard me! I'm in love! L-O-V-E!

This new paint in the livingroom is beautiful! Absolutely and completely perfect!

I had a hard time getting pictures as we hadn't had a lot of natural light lately... But... It's kind of a light sage green. Very pretty!

We'll have cream woodwork, so I think it'll really pop in there! That gold fireplace thingy.. what do you call it?! Temporary mind block... Ummmm.... Okay.... Now I'm just sounding silly! But... yeah. That gold fireplace thingy is being painted black as we speak! Yay! I have something against shiny gold "house bling." I prefer the rust, puter, ect... patina. (Aren't you impressed that I not only knew that word... But I also knew what it meant? And even used it in the right context? Nice, huh?)

Look! Look! It's my human stud-finder! I mean... My cousin!

Kristin-my-cousin-who-goes-to-college-far-away-in-MO-but-is-home-on-Christmas-break came to stay a few days with me, and I of course, talked her into helping me out with the livingroom for a bit.

I'm planning on putting in tongue and groove planks like Kim did at One Woman's Cottage Life. I loved how it turned out, so decided to give it a go too! :o)

But what is Kristin doing up there? Well... It seems our studfinder wasn't doing a very reliable job at figuring out where the studs were. So we had to intervene. In other words, we had to cut through the ceiling from one end of the room to the other. Whew! I'm wiring in 2 lights anyway, so it all worked out. But out shoulders were SORE! :o)

Anyhoo... I know it seems I'm running about 4 days behind in blogging! Ahhhh! Before... I didn't blog because I had nothing to blog about. Now I don't blog because I'm to busy to blog! There's no winning about it, is there? lol!

Well... Whatever the case... I'll try to be more faithful in my bloggin'! :o)

I'm ali-i-i-i-ive!

2008-01-11T21:49:00.000-06:00

Hello Ya'll!!

Yes! I am still alive!

I know you haven't heard from me since last year... But it is only January, so that's okay! ;o) lol

The reason I haven't blogged? Well... I just haven't done any blog-worthy "stuff" lately! But finally, I am! Are you ready for the news? The really, really, really exciting news?

**DRUMROLL PLEASE**

See all this stuff?? It's going to be used very shortly! How exciting!

These are the chosen colors! Sage green walls... Cream woodwork... and red accents!

I've been planning this room ever so long! Now the wallpaper boarder is coming off! Caleb's such a good helper!

The almost 60-year old carpet is torn up... Yes, I did say almost 60-year old carpet. And let me tell you... it was horrifically disgusting! Wait... that would be an understatement! Revolting? Repulsive? Sickening? Filthy? Nauseating? You know... I don't think there's even a word for it in the English language as we know it! Let's just stick with, "it was GROSS!!!"

You know how carpets have like... shag? This one didn't. It was just the mat. I mean, it got so bad... That when our vacume cleaner gave up the ghost last year, we've taken to sweeping it! And get this... It actually worked!

Halelujah!

I love progress!!!

The cracks... are all puttied... Just a bit of sanding and we're good to go!

The ceiling is ready to be redone...

Have you guessed which room I'm working on now?!

Yay!!! The livingroom!!! Oh joy!

I am going to resume work on Monday... So come back soon for updates!

YAY!!!

Another Tasty Tradition!

2007-12-19T13:53:00.000-06:00

All right... I know, I know...

Why is it that most of our traditions center around food?

Well here's another one!

This is one of my very earliest memories!

We simply take an orange...

Squeeze it around in our hands for a while to get it nice and juicy inside...

Break both ends off a peppermint candy cane...

Stick one end into the now, very juicy orange...

There are very tiny holes in the candy cane, so it's kind of a straw.

It's very yummy... and brings back many fond memories!

It's definately one of those traditions I will do every winter someday with my own family!! :o)

So... Now that you've heard a few of ours...

What are some fun memories and traditions you have?

Another Post...

2007-12-18T20:47:00.000-06:00

Hello!
I know, I know... 2 posts in one day! Aren't you impressed?

I just wanted to let you know that my cousin, Bethany, had a beautiful and encouraging post today... You'll have to go check it out!!! :o)

Christmas Cookies!!!

2007-12-18T18:45:00.000-06:00

Yes.... Christmas Cookies...

Those words mean two things to me!

It is the name of my new favorite Christmas Song sung by George Strait... (Absolutely adorable! Makes me smile!)

AND it is also what we spent a few days ago doing!

After a whole day of decorating... I was positively sick!!! lol

Cookie dough... Frosting... Fudge batter.... and more...

I had about as much self-control as mom in a nut factory!!

Decorating Christmas sugar cookies is always a Christmas "must" around here... But this year we did something new! My Aunt Sheryl, and cousins Jessica and Jerrica all came over that evening and we had a "cookie bake." They brought several different batches of cookies and we made lots of cookies. It was LOTS of fun!

Want to join us next year?!

'Tis the Season!

2007-12-13T20:33:00.000-06:00

'Tis the season! And I love it! I know I keep saying it, but we have so very many fun traditions that we do every Christmas. Last night... we put up the tree.

We found this particular tree... And... Get this... I drove dad's truck to get it! Not any truck, but a MANUAL transmission! For your information, I have made it a habit never to drive anything with a clutch. I once learned on a Dodge Shadow. *sigh* However, I had a few too many bad experiences that usually involved spinning out or killing it. But... Out of necessity, I ended up driving dad's truck. And it wasn't too bad, either!!! I know... I know, Ragnar.... Go ahead in interject here the, "I told you, you could do it!" :o)

Another tradition we have is drinking root beer in "Frosty Mugs" on the night we decorate the tree. "Frosty Mugs" are glass mugs we've left in the freezer. Then when you put liquid... Root Beer in this case... it's will turn cold and slushie. Yum! They're the best!

Don't worry.... We have LOTS of fun traditions we do every year... Memories to make...

I'll be sharing more with you soon! :o)

A Start on Christmas Decorating...

2007-12-08T20:58:00.000-06:00

Well.... We've started Christmas decorating around here! I absolutely love decorating for Christmas! Here's a glimpse into a few of the nooks and crannies we've beautified so far! :o)

Remember this old doctor's bag I got for 1.00 at an auction? Well here it is again! Filled with pine cones... Vintage ornaments... And other Christmas odds and ends. It's one of my favorites!

This is the curio cabinet in the dining room. It's so pretty with pine boughs, poinsettias, Christmas garland, and of COURSE twinkle lights!!! :o)

When I bought all that Christmas junk a few months ago at the rainy auction... There was an entire box full vintage ornaments. I am having so much fun with them! I'm arranging them here and there in crystal bowls and other fun containers I've accumulated. Which is a lot! :o)

The fireplace mantle is now complete and Christmas-y!

Merry Christmas Ya'll!!!

Let it snow... Let it snow... Let it snow!!!

2007-12-08T20:51:00.000-06:00

"Oh the weather outside is frightful...

But the fire is so delightful!

Since we've no place to go....

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!"

SIGH

2007-12-07T20:12:00.000-06:00

Hello Ya'll!
Yes... I am still alive!! I'm dreadfully sorry for abandoning you the last couple months! Let me explain, and perhaps you will understand why! :o)

Our family makes candles.... A lot of candles! We are Master's Hand Candle Co... you can visit us at: http://www.mastershandcandles.com/

This is our busy time of the year and... Since October 1st I have poured over 13,000 candles! Pwhew!!! I love what we do... But I'm glad to be done with the busy candle season!!! Now I can do things like.... Ummm.... actually clean my room... Do laundry... Fix something for supper other than frozen pizza or ramen noodles... (Not to complain! I happen to love both! :o) lol) and even get out out of the house more than once a week to go to church! Yay!

And best of all, now I can decorate for Christmas! I simply cannot wait!!! Whoohoo! I'll be posting pictures of my happenings, I promise!

So until then.... Stay warm!!! :o)

The first Snow!

2007-11-21T21:37:00.000-06:00

I love it!!! That first fresh snow!
As the sun peaked through my window this morning, I finally decided to get up. My bed was so cozy and warm... I did, however have a long, busy day ahead. I turned to look out my window and was greeted with this beautiful sight of our first snow. There was just enough to barely cover the still green grass, and leaving a dusting on everything else. I love snow! Especially when I don't have to go out into it!!! :o) lol I mean, that occational snowball fight or sledding spree is a blast, but I absolutely love being snowed in!

So.... To ya'll out there....

Have a white Happy Thanksgiving!!!

No... I'm not decorating for Christmas yet... but...

2007-11-05T08:37:00.000-06:00

I’ve been seeing so many cute Christmas decorating ideas from my blogging buddies and here’s just three that I finally found the “stuff” to do!

I picked all this up that that auction a few weeks ago. I got all the leftover Christmas stuff for 3.00. This is so cute... It's a candy dish, filled with colorful Christmas light bulbs.

There was a huge box of vintage-ish ornaments… Christmas light bulbs… and lots of other junk. Really junk! It was so bad, I sorted through it by the dumpster! But these took me a grand total of 5 minutes to throw together… If that! :o)

(I also got the glassware in a pile of leftovers for 1.00. Total cost of each project was maybe 1.00 at the most! I love them!

Happy Birthday Mom....

2007-11-02T13:59:00.000-06:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!

I LOVE YOU!!!

Craving....

2007-11-01T13:48:00.000-06:00

Do you ever get an intense craving for something? Something sweet… Something with apples… And cinnamon… And crumb topping… I did just a few days ago, so out came my favorite “Apple Crisp” recipe. It is without a doubt one of the easiest things to make EVER! It only took me 15 minutes or so. And I’ve been making this since I was very young...
I love it! So… I’m sharing with you all! :o)

~ Apple Crisp ~
3 c. Sliced Apples 2 Tbsp. Flour
1 c. Sugar Pinch of salt

Crumb together:
¾ c. Rolled Oats ¼ tsp. Soda
¾ c. Flour ¼ tsp. Baking Soda
¾ c. Brown Sugar 1/3 c. Melted Butter or Oleo

Press over the apples. Bake at 350 until golden brown, or apples are done.

You can also use pretty much anything instead of apples. Peaches happen to be my absolute favorite! Topped with a bit of ice cream.... YUM!!!

An encouraging quote for all you single girls out there!

2007-10-25T19:47:00.000-06:00

~*~ Don't worry... One day your prince will come, mine just took a wrong turn, got lost, and is too stubborn to ask for directions. ~*~

LOL

My new favorite quote! :o)

Last Saturday's finds!

2007-10-21T21:21:00.000-06:00

All right... Here it is as promised... Pictures!

Yeasterday was the first time we saw the sun! Unfortunately it was short-lived. *sigh* Today was cloudy, cold, and windy. BUT... I did get pictures yesterday just before dark!

I bought 3 tables for 1.00 each... I'm so happy! :o)

There's this one.... One with a white enamel top (you can see a bit of it on the left hand side) ... And another smaller side table that has wonderful spindle legs as well. I'm very happy with them! (I have to be at 1.00 a piece!)

I know.. I know... You're thinking, "ANOTHER TRUNK?!" I'm thinking the same thing too! But it was only 1.00! It would have been absolutely wrong to let it go for that! So.... Just what to do with another one!

This was very cool! One of my highest bids with a whole $6 spent on this single purchase. It's and antique scale... Bet I can re-sell it for more than that. I think it's pretty nifty! :o)

Our porch is absolutely packed with junk right now... Poor mom. But there's so many ideas that I'm just bursting with now!! There's this old Conoco can I got for $1. Not my style, but I can re-sell it for more than that. I also bought 3 of those slow/stop signs... I've got ideas! Muaahaahaa!

I got a TON of enamelware. These pitchers were the most expensive at $2 for one and $6 for the other. I've never seen one for under $25, So I was tickled at these two! (The old guys just weren't interested! lol) I love that blue/white pan too.... Pretty EXCITING!

Anyhoo.... Just thought you might like to see just a few of my great-super-exciting-new-purchases!

It's been a busy week!!!

2007-10-18T14:11:00.001-06:00

I know... I know.... It's been FOREVER since I've blogged! This week has been CRAZY busy! Our candle season is in full swing leaving little to no time for my trashy behavior! ;o)

I've been wanting to post pictures of all the wonderful junk I got on an auction last Saturday, but I haven't been able to even take pictures. "Why?" you ask... Well, it has not been very good weather lately. I have not seen the sun since last Friday. *sigh* But as soon as it pokes it's sunny face through the clouds, pictures will be sure to come!

So... despite not having any pictures... I will share with you the adventure I embarked upon last Saturday.

I awoke to the dreary, drip-drop sound on my window early Saturday morning. I was thrilled! Rainy auctions are great! Nobody comes! Yay! Makes for exciting buys, it does!
This particular auction was located a mere 2-3 miles from our house. Oh joy! We made our way there and to my great satisfaction, the only people there were all guys. Old guys. (With the exception of one particular fellow who was somewhere around my age... He had the most serious case of plummer's pants I have ever seen in my entire life! No offence to the plummers out there who might be reading this! ;o) lol)
It had the makings of definately being my kind of auction! ;o) My only grief being the fact that those old guys are a bit difficult when fighting over tools. But reguardless of that fact... I got absolutely adorable tables for a mere 1.00... Beautiful enamelware for next-to-nothing... It was great! I even bought a drill press. Which in itself brought about a conversation that still has me laughing! It went something like this:

I was over in a corner looking through a huge pile of some Christmas junk I had just gotten when behind me I heard a group of guys talking.

Guy 1: Hey... I need this drill press moved so I can get my truck in here. Anyone know who bought it?

Guy 2: Yeah... Ummmm.... I think a girl bought it.

Guys 1, 3, and 4: No way.... Come on.... Who really bought it.

Guy 2: No! I'm serious! It was some girl! She had her son with her. (Note: *Ahem!* That would be my little brother, Caleb)

It was SO funny! I guess I'm just not quite the "normal" gal, am I?!? lol You should have seen the looks on Guy 1, 3 and 4's faces when I turned around, smiled at them and sweetly said, "Oh! That's mine... Would you like it moved?" Priceless!!! :o)

I'll be sure to post pictures as soon as it clears up outside!

Of Copper Wire and Pitchers....

2007-10-12T16:51:00.000-06:00

A while back I had posted about my pitcher that I had jazzed up the handle..... Well..... I had gotten the copper wire at Mangelsen's in Omaha. However it was over 5.00 for just a bit of wire. So I got to thinking.... (Uh-oh! Me thinking! That's dangerous!!) And I figured there just HAD to be a cheaper way to get wire!

Well, fast forward to now..... And.... TA-DAA!!!! I found it!

MENARDS.... My hero!

I bought about 4 ft of copper wire for 2.50! I know it looks too thick... but....

It is actually 7 strands of copper wire! So it's 4 ft. long... Multiplied by 7! All for $2.50!!

YAY! Just thought I'd let you all know the cheaper route to go should you make your own fun pitchers! I already got 3 more (Besides mom's that she wants me to do) to use as gifts... Just waiting to be jazzed up! :o)

Meanings of roses....

2007-10-10T19:35:00.000-06:00

I am working on getting the roses up on my new website.... So I decided to research the meanings of the different colors of roses. I decided it might come in handy later! ;o)

Thought you all might enjoy what I've found!

Roses themselves express love and admiration. However each color has a traditional, special meaning that can express your true feelings for someone, whether it be friendship or romance. Here is a list of the various colors and the symbolic message they each convey.

A red rose says, “I love you.” It’s romance, passion, respect, and adoration all wrapped up in one single rose.

A light pink rose says, “I admire you.” It’s elegance, style, beauty, and charm!

A dark pink rose says, “thank you.” It is appreciation and gratitude.

A white rose says, “You are pure.” It’s innocence, respect, remembrance and hope.

A yellow rose says “You are a dear friend!” It evokes strong feelings of pure joy happiness, and friendship.

A yellow rose with red tips says, “You are more than a friend.” It symbolizes the transformation from a friendship to a budding romance.

An orange or peach rose says, “You are exciting.” It’s blazing energy, desire, passion, and a fervent romance.

A red and white rose says, “I will be here for you forever.” It’s unity, harmony, honesty, and trust.

A Burgundy rose says, “ You are beautiful!” It’s unconscious beauty.

A lavender rose says, “I fell in love with you at first sight.” It’s enchantment, attraction, and delight.

A blue rose says, “ You are mysterious.” It’s intrigue, fascination and attraction.

There you go!! Now you know!

Someone sent me roses!!!

2007-10-10T08:36:00.000-06:00

Some guy from New Mexico sent me roses! 800 roses to be exact! I don't know... Seems like a bit of overkill to me, but... Who am I to complain? Just call him overly amorous!

Okay... Okay... To be perfectly honest... I don't even know the guy. In fact... I had to pay him to send them. So it's not the sweet, loving, romantic act I made it out to be... But that doesn't make me any less excited!!! :o)

I ordered 800 wooden roses... They are beautiful! I am so excited about them! They are handcrafted out of birch wood. They look SO real! I love them! We add scent to them and they smell BEAUTIFULLY! They make incredible car fresheners! ;o)

I'm hoping to do a craft show with my "junk" and our candles this fall, so I'll bring them along too. And even if I don't sell any, I'm having so much fun giving them away!!! It's a cheap way to make a smile!!

Waiting...

2007-10-08T22:36:00.000-06:00

I was really searching tonight… and so I opened my Bible and my eyes lit upon Psalm 40. My heart almost stopped beating when I saw verse 1. It said,

“I waited patiently for the LORD and He inclined unto me and heard my cry.”

Then it went on in verses 2-4.

“He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock and established my goings. And He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God. Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed is the man that maketh the LORD His trust…”

And the chapter goes on. It’s so encouraging! And my desire for my own life!!!
NOTE TO MYSELF: Go back and read Psalms 40 when discouraged!

As I read verse 1, the thought crossed my mind… What does it mean to “wait on the LORD?” I looked at the sidebar in my Bible and saw that it said, “Waiting for God. Ps. 130:6.” So off I went to see what it said.

“My soul waiteth for the LORD more than they that watch for the morning; I say, more than they that watch for the morning.”

I then noticed that I had already underlined the previous verse, which meant it had spoken to me before. It said,

“I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait. And in His word do I hope.”

How good my God is to give me what I need to hear when I need to hear it!

Happy Birthday, Dad!!

2007-10-05T16:43:00.000-06:00

Dad... I know a few days late in posting this.... But......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

I love you Dad!

My favorite season....

2007-10-01T13:15:00.000-06:00

I know I already wrote an "Ode to Fall," but...

I think I decided which season is my favorite!

I mean, I love them all... but I never could decide between Spring or Fall. I've decided my favorite is Fall! (Of course I'll probably change my mind when Spring rolls around after a long cold winter! :o) lol) But I love the crisp mornings... The warm-but-not-hot days.... The vivid colors of the maple leaves... The long walks... I love it!

My Treasures!

2007-09-22T20:12:00.000-06:00

Well.... I went through all the "junk" today and certainly found some treasures!!!

This is the bigger stuff... I'm excited about the sythe. I got it for $6 (You can imagine the comments I got on that one! ;o) It seems I was "The cutest Grim Reaper they'd ever seen!" lol) And a lady beside me said there was one down the street in the antique shop for $45!

I got the antique stool for $3. I'm going to ask my great-uncle Jake if he could make a new seat for it since this one is broken in half... (He does beautiful woodworking) And I'm going to see if Dad can take the rest of it to work and sandblast it. (Dad, If you read this before I get to ask you... Just pretend like you don't know! ;o) Love you!!! lol)

Ive already primed the green box. It has the cutest handle... I fell in love with it. And it was chock full of exciting junk too! And only $1 at that! Yay for auctions!

And I got all of these glass insulators in a box for $5... Not bad! They were so pretty out in the sunlight!!!

I was so tickled about this crate! That's where I found my best treasures!!! And only $1!!! It doesn't need a thing done to it! No paint jobs... Fixes.... It's darling just the way it is! Awww!!!

These were a few of the itsy bitsy treasures. I grabbed the irons (That's not what you call them, but I can't seem to remember what it is! ;o) lol) for $7. That was my biggest purchase. There was another guy who seemed set on them too. They're REALLY heavy, though!

Then there's the glass knob and 2 skeleton keys that I posted last night.

And a TINY leather pouch with a "5 cent trading coin," a Boys Town pendant, and an old army dogtag for Leonard Lyle Davis. Pretty cool!

AND.... These really old goggles. They look like the type that they used for driving in cars or really old airplanes. Anyone know anything about them? They're leather.... With straps that tie in the back... And the little plastic lens. They're in awfully good condition, whatever they are! ;o)

Anyhoo.... Those are my most exciting purchases, anyway! I hope there'll be an auction again soon!!! :o)

Spur-of-the-moment-FUN!!!

2007-09-21T20:07:00.000-06:00

Well... Mom and I had one of those spur-of-the-moment evenings! (I love those!)

We were at home.... Just got done working on candles all day... Saw in paper that there was a little auction across the river a mere 15 minutes away... And decided to go! It looked small, and junky. But that's the kind I like! We got there and sure enough... Junk! Yay!

Boxes of nails, screws and other junk going for .25 each! Another Yay!

Here's just two things I found amongst one of my .25 boxes! HAPPY DAY!

When I said it was junk, I meant it! We loaded the car so full we could barely fit ourselves in and came home. We parked out by the dumpster to unload! ;o) lol I sorted stuff for 5 minutes before it got too dark to see. I'll resume in the morning! Can't wait to see what other treasures I might find! YAY!

I'll let you know what I find!

Autumn...

2007-09-20T09:08:00.000-06:00

It seems as if summer suddenly switched to the crisp mornings and cooler nights that autumn inevitably brings. I love this time of year when we roast marshmallows over a bonfire… The leaves start to turn brilliant colors… The farmers work in their fields to get the year’s harvest in… The squirrels dash madly around… The geese call out overhead as they head south promising to be back just as soon as the ice begins to melt in the spring. Doesn’t it just make you want to go make a hot cup of apple cider!

I love Fall!

Just a few more projects...

2007-09-18T18:52:00.000-06:00

Here's a few projects I worked on this week...

The shelf and the stool, I painted black and then distressed them.

I also made another lamp out of books. They're all calculus, algebra, geometry, ect... books. They'd be a fun one for a teacher! :o)

I got this lamp at a garage sale a few weeks ago. There was just something about it.... The doiley lampshade... the adorable picher base.... I might switch a different shade with the base and use this one somewhere else... but I'll see.

After all... I've spent $2 in worse places, right?! :o) lol

Caleb's Bedroom....

2007-09-18T12:04:00.000-06:00

Since I was on the kick of posting past pictures....
And since Caleb and I cleaned his room yesterday....
And since it's my favorite room.....

I thought I'd show you around! :o)
This is my little brother, Caleb's "Roy Rogers Cowboy Room."

I did the "dragging thing" in his room as well. The walls actually look a lot like mine... Only mine's a bit lighter.

I painted the woodwork a brilliant red and I LOVE it. It just pops in that room! The twisted barbwire above all the windows is another favorite.

It was a vibrant K-State purple with pink woodwork when we moved in, so this was a welcome change for Caleb! ;o)

This was my first woodworking project... A window seat was a perfect addition! We store all our blankets in it. It works great!

This is my absolute favorite thing in the room. I just got an old, weathered barnboard and twisted barbwire around it and hung it on the wall above his door. It looks like it's just suspended there. It's really cool! I just can't seem to get a picture to give it justice.

Anyhoo.... Just thought you might like to see! ;o)

The finished piece of cake....

2007-09-16T22:05:00.000-06:00

Whew! It's done!

This was at about 11:00 p.m. Frosting the last of the actual wedding cake.

Annnd.... This was on Saturday morning! ;o) lol

Putting the finishing touches on the extra sheet cake whilst in my curlers. :o)

We added the darling little leaves at the reception hall. We figured it was safer that way. I was sure something was going to happen to the cakes en route. I think that was the slowest I've ever driven since I first got my learner's permit!

I just took this so you could see mom's hair... Isn't it adorable?! I was so happy with how it turned out!

And I'm putting out the vitals... Napkins... Eating utensils... Nuts... Mints....

Teamwork!!!

Like the flowers on top? Tee-hee! We got there and asked for the flowers that they were supposed to have for the top and..... They forgot about making them!!! :o) lol So we stole all the extra boutonnieres and corsages and arranged them on top. They didn't look half bad! ;o) lol

Ed, and my cousin, Melissa.

Right before Melissa and Ed went up to cut the cake, she came up behind me and whispered in my ear, "I know I already asked you to MAKE the cake, but would you mind cutting and serving it too?" lol

So yeah! I was the cake server with a smile! ;o)

This is my Uncle Todd... He's a riot! ;o)

He talked me into dancing with him... And.... We danced the jitter-bug, baby! It was a ton of fun! And tiring! ;o) SWING BABY!

And sweet Caleb even requested a song for me and asked me to dance with him.... Awwww....

But *pwhew!* The cake was lots of fun.... But I'm glad it's over! :o)

A piece of cake....

2007-09-14T12:35:00.000-06:00

Well.... Today's been a piece of cake! :o)

Really! It has! :o)

We're busy making my cousin's wedding cake for this weekend. We've baked 6 cakes... With 4 more to go...

A few days ago, we did all the little flowers.... Over 1500 of them to be exact! :o)

And.... Now we feel like we have carpal tunnel! :o)

I'll be sure to post pictures of when it's done!

Here's to hoping it turns out! lol

Thanks!

2007-09-12T18:06:00.000-06:00

I just have to say THANKS for all the comments!!!

Margo, my favorite blogger-friend mentioned me on her blog and I've never had so many visitors! :o)

Thanks Margo.... And welcome to any new visitors!

Just give me a glass of lemonade!

2007-09-11T14:49:00.000-06:00

Here's something I did last night whilst watching a movie.

By the way... I think I must warn you... I think there's something wrong with me. I can't just sit down and watch a movie like normal people. I always have to be doing something. Jewelry... Sanding picture frames that I painted... And my next "movie-project" is putting the glass panes back in a cute window that I just got done painting! I guess that's not that strange though... Ladies used to knit and embroidery to keep busy. That makes me feel better!

Anyway! Back to my project!

This was just an ordinary, plain glass pitcher. I took copper wire and some of my beads and randomly wrapped it around and around the handle. The curlies are my favorites. Here and there, I'd twist the wire and get a cute little curly thing. It's adorable! A perfect "lemonade pitcher!" And while I was on a role, I made six matching napkin rings too. I'm really excited how they turned out!!!

I already had all the beads... I just had to get the pitcher and the wire... And it didn't take long at all! :o)

Just had to share!

Projects... Projects...

2007-09-11T07:01:00.000-06:00

Hey Ya'll!

Here are some pics that I've worked on lately! I'm really kind of into red accents right now. I love them! They just "pop" in a room. In fact, my dream kitchen right now is taupe walls and deep red cupboards. *sigh* But not "orangey" red... more towards the Burgundy red... Like the red I'm using now.

Anyway... back to my projects!

I got this trunk at a garage sale... I know, I know... ANOTHER trunk?!?! I think my obsession with glass bottles has turned towards trunks. I just got 3 on an auction this spring for 1.00 each. Another one on an auction for free. And now this one. But it was only 5.00!!! "And hey... I've spent 5.00 in worse places, right?!?" :o) (That's my pat answer to myself whenever I see some more junk that I don't need! :o) lol) It really was quite the steal! I'm very happy with it!

Empty distressed picture frames are "in" right now and I must admit, I love them! Just randomly arrange them on a shelf or mantle. Have an arrangement in my head for the livingroom... I'll be sure to post pictures when I do it!!! :o)

Random letters are "in" right now too and they're growing on me as well! I got these at a thrift store for 1.00 each. So I brought them home and hit them with a coat of spray paint and then distressed the edges. I love how they turned out!

I got this lovely box at a thrift store as well for 2.00. Let me re-phrase that... I got this now-lovely box at a thrift store! :o)

It was black, ugly, and chipped. But I don't know... There was something charming about it. I loved it's little glass knob. And all it's pretty details. So I got it figuring, "hey... I've spent 2.00 in worse places, right?!?" :o) lol (Told you it was a good answer!)

But I hit it with 2 coats of my new favorite red spray paint... Sanded the details to bring them out... and TA-DAA! I LOVE it!!!

So that's just aa bit of what I worked on this week!

More coming soon! :o)

My bucket lamp...

2007-09-05T07:50:00.001-06:00

Due to popular request.... Here's some close-ups of my totally cool bucket lamp!

Dad made it for my birthday a couple years ago and I LOVE it! (Thanks Dad!) I ended up making one later for Caleb too.

I have it hung above the side of my bed, so I can read at night and then easily shut it off without getting up to go across the room and shut it off. (I know, I know... sounds lazy... But I prefer to look at it as "resourceful!" lol)

So there you go! My bucket lamp! Let me know if you ever make one! I'd love to see it!!! :o)

My Bedroom....

2007-08-30T21:01:00.000-06:00

Hey there!

Everyone else is in bed and I'm just sitting here working on my laptop... Listening to sweet old love songs just for the fun of it.

I was looking through old projects that I had done and thought I might start posting them! ;o)

Last winter was my bedroom project. I had been in the bedroom downstairs, complete with a fireplace. It is a HUGE room. But, as time went on, it became less and less my room. Half of it was the office and everyone who came to do candles walked back and forth through that room. So we moved the candle storage down to my old bedroom and I moved up to where the candles had been.

Happily, I decided it needed a makeover first!! YAY!

Here's a BEFORE picture... Excuse my very unmade bed! ;o)

It wouldn't have been so bad except for the very nasty green woodwork. And besides... I was just looking for an excuse to redecorate something!!! :o) lol

I painted it a darker brown first. It was a terrible color! :o) lol Doesn't look quite so bad in the picture, though! Thankfully I knew I'd be painting over it!

I did the "dragging" thing and I LOVE how it turned out! The woodwork is white now.

Painted it dark brown... Let it dry... Painted it Taupe in 2-3 ft. wide sections and ran a long wallpaper brush through it... (hence the term "dragging!") Word to the wise.... Work fast!

It looks like fabric or something now... I love how it turned out!

And here's some of the stuff in my room...

The window frame is my favorite... So much so, that I still haven't decided where I want to hang it. The greenery things are just there so the dog doesn't eat them. They're for a friend just as soon as I can get them to her. The scrabble things are just something I've been playing with...

Isn't the crackling cool?!!? I love it!

This is what's above my bed. I didn't take a picture of my bed... because... well... ummm... My bed isn't made again and I wouldn't want you thinking that I didn't ever make my bed, now would I?!

So there's a VERY brief tour into a few select areas of my bedroom... Maybe, if you're lucky, I'll show you more after I clean! ;o)

Batter up!

2007-08-29T18:45:00.000-06:00

Last Saturday night, I was able to go to an old-time baseball game that Micah and Dad were playing in. It was a blast! :o) And quite the experience! lol

The rules are very different! ;o)

For instance... You can run either way to first base or to third base... And so help you if you run into a team mate as you both round 2nd base!!!

No one wears gloves...

The women can catch the ball with their aprons...

It was LOTS of fun to watch!!

Most of the time, the women would bat with a huge rolling pin... It was pretty cute!

Scott, Micah and Dad.

Don't they look serious?

They kinda got "into" the whole not-smiling-like-in-old-photographs-thing! ;o)

Dad and Micah didn't get to play softball this year like last year, and I really missed cheering them on. So it was kind of fun to whoop and holler with Janie and Lydia for one game!

Reserve Grand Champion!

2007-08-28T10:27:00.000-06:00

I just realized that I hadn't posted this yet! :o)

I'm so proud of him!!

A couple weeks ago, my little brother, Caleb, took his "book lamp" that I helped him make for 4-H.

And he got reserve grand champion!

WAY TO GO!!! :o)

Mount Rushmore...

2007-08-21T22:29:00.000-06:00

Well... I just got back from taking Jenny back to school in SD. (I miss you, Jenny! *sniff sniff*)

On our way there, we stopped by Mount Rushmore. It wasn't too far out of the way... I hadn't seen it since I was very young... And Micah had never seen it at all. So, it was off to Mount Rushmore we went.

It wasn't something you'd want to spend all day looking at... But it was very neat to stop by! :o) I'd like to go back and check out some of the shops in the town we went through before getting there. They looked awfully cool. *Sigh* Maybe someday! Jenny had to get to school... And besides, I'm pretty sure Mich would've started a revolt. He's not into that sort of thing! Someday, I'd like to go on a trip, where I could stop at any cutesy shop or antique store that I wanted. Maybe I should marry an antique geek. Or a garbage man! That would be cool!

Anyway... Back to the topic! :o) lol Sorry about the bunny trail there! Another thing I'd like to do if I ever go back would be to walk the trails. I saw them, but again... We were in too much of a hurry. I guess they're really pretty. (I'm just reading about them now!) Lots of wildflowers!
But I've decided... There are 3 types of people in this world. The "fast walkers," the "slow walkers," and the "no walkers." The "no walkers" are the couch potatoes in this world. The ones that would rather die than burn calories in the form of walking. Then there's the "fast walkers." My 'tousins would be in that category. It's embarrassing walking with them... In fact, when I walk with them, I don't walk... I jog. :o) Then there's me! The "slow walkers." We like to take our time and mosey along. We might not get as far or back home as fast, but hey! That's okay! :o) I'm still developing my theory on whether your walking "type" is hereditary or learned. I think there is evidence to support both beliefs. I do believe that mine is learned, however. I'd normally think that I would be a "fast walker." Long legs... Get-it-done personality... But, I think the fact that painfully, my hip pops incessantly for each stride when I walk fast leaves an adverse effect, therefore forcing me into the "slow walking" category. What do you think? Is your "walking type" decided by hereditary genes or is it a learned trait?

Anyway... Sorry about another bunny trail there.... This was the man that sculpted the faces of Mount Rushmore. Or he was the brains behind it anyway. All I know is... He was a very bald man! :o) lol

So... That was our short time at Mount Rushmore. I know that lately, my blog has been overrun by posts of my latest trip, however... I promise... I'll be posting some of my projects before long! Just as soon as I get some time to work on them! :o)

So until then... Hope your days are bright!

Cabella's...

2007-08-21T07:26:00.000-06:00

On our way back, we stopped by Cabella's in Kansas City.

I think it's bigger than our's in Omaha. We just tootled around for a while... Browsed a bit... Didn't buy anything... Went to the shooting gallery.... I whooped everyone in shooting, not once... But twice. High score both times! (260 and 270) Yeah... it was fun! :o)

Isn't this bed adorable?! I wish I could've gotten better pictures, but it was kind of crowded! I LOVE this! It's like a regular log bed, but it's got the canopy too! I want one for my-place-of-my-own-somwday-when-I-grow-up, however, I'm not going to pay almost 2000.00 for it! So I'll just put my hint in here for my future husband... (Hopefully he'll read my archives, right?!) Will you make me one?!?!

It was fun, just spending the weekend together!

To KC and back...

2007-08-19T06:55:00.000-06:00

I haven’t posted in a while, because… I’ve been having too much fun!!!
We are on our way back, and I’m beat… dead tired… exhausted… bushed… fatigued… done in… weary… drained… wiped out… You get the picture!
Here’s a glimpse into our time at WORLD’S OF FUN in Kansas City!

This was the Boomerang. The Boomerang! A roller coaster! Did you hear me? I rode roller coasters! Can you believe it?!
Yes, I outdid myself and rode the Mamba first. A word to the wise: If you’re going to try riding roller coasters, don’t start with the Mamba. It was the biggest, baddest, fastest roller coaster at the park. It goes over 200 feet high and 75 miles per hour! But as I stood in line, I saw scads of little kids. I thought to myself, “If they can do it, surely I can! Right?!” *AHEM* I was so proud of myself though… I didn’t get sick or pass out. However… I think I opened my eyes only once the whole time.

The thing about roller coasters is it I do a lot better if I scream! The only problem is if I can’t get my scream started before we start dropping… It’s not coming out! I can only sit in petrified silence!

Little to say… I didn’t get my scream out on the Mamba. But I survived. After stumbling off the Mamba with Micah, Janie and Dad, we decided to hit the Timberwolf (Another rollercoaster) before we met back up with Mom, Jenny and Caleb. That one wasn’t even remotely as scary. But boy, was it bumpy! It was an old-fashioned wooden one. But I rode that one at least 7 or 8 times over the course of the day. (That was Caleb’s favorite) And by the end, I could even get my hands in the air!!! (Aren’t you proud of me?!)

The last rollercoaster I went on, was the BOOMERANG. It was crazy! It pulls you up, and SHOOTS you through a series of loops, twists, and turns up to the top on the other side. Then it drops you down to do it all again, only backwards!! Whew! It’s about 1 minute of TERROR! :o) lol
"Boomerang is a 12-story-tall, steel roller coaster that rockets riders -- forwards and backwards -- through a disorienting trip of corkscrew turns and upside-down loops. A thrilling roller coaster that catapults riders forwards, backwards and within the course of one minute, flips riders upside down six times.
Rider Experience: After boarding a Boomerang train, riders are pulled backwards to the top of a nearly vertical 12-story tower and then released to plummet at nearly 50 miles per hour down a steep hill. They turn and go through two corkscrew turns and a vertical loop, flipping upside down three times. Riders then head up another nearly vertical 12-story tower where the whole trip begins again... in reverse."
-Exerpt from World's of Fun Website

If you haven’t guessed yet, I’m NOT a wild-ride kind of person! I’m more the “Bumper Cars” type! ;o) lol

The Octopus! *Ahhhhh* Memories, memories...

This was my favorite ride as a very small girl. That is... Until one fateful day. When we went to the fair, sometimes mom and dad would let us choose one ride to go on. We would always choose the Octopus! Dad would sit in the middle and Micah and I would sit on either side of him. Once, Micah decided to do something else. I still wanted to do the Octopus, so dad and I got in by ourselves. Now, the key to the Octopus, is ballance. Two or three people, whose weight is evenly distributed, will not spin all that much. However, get a 8 year old girl and her dad in one of those things... And you've got quite the ride. I actually got so sick, they had to stop the ride before it was over to get me off. Dad said I turned 27 shades of green. I had never been on an Octopus since. But Caleb talked me into it. He actually handled it better than I did! :o) lol Note: Don't go eat dinner right before going on this ride.

The old fashioned cars are adorable! :o) I got to drive! YAY! We had some "mechanical problems." I'd be steering one way, and we'd be going the other way!!! I think I made dad and Jenny nervous! lol But it was lots of fun! :o)

Ahhh..... What memories!

Weekend Seminar...

2007-08-14T13:30:00.000-06:00

Hey!

It's another post!

Here's what I kept busy doing this last weekend! :o) Emily Weddle (Emily Sue Weddle, that is!) asked me to come down to Lindsborg, KS for a seminar. I taught the balloon class and the clowning class. It was SO fun! THANKS for asking me to come, Em! **Sniff Sniff** Brings back so many special memories.

After the seminar, we went to the Weddle's Uncle's grocery store and had a kid's party for all the children that had come to the area 5-Day Clubs a few weeks prior. I did balloons...

There was also gospel handpainting... I brought our cotton candy... Tim did games and watermelon seed spitting contests... Samantha did the "Secret of the Watermelon" Story...

And also, as part of the clowning class... We divided the class into 2 teams and had them each nominate someone to become a "clown." (Thanks Tim!!! Great idea!!!) They each had to pick a name, character, outfit, and just a bit of makeup. This fellow, (I can't even remember his name) was a total natural! He was GREAT! The things he came up with, were HYSTERIAL!!! lol Anyway, he and the other guy who were "clowns" for the class, also came that evening and clowned around. It was great!!! :o)

All the smiles... What fun!!!

5-Day Clubs...

2007-08-13T20:16:00.000-06:00

Hey ya'll!

I'm back!

I've been down at Grandma's house in Falls City teaching 5-Day clubs. (A 5-Day Club is a Bible club held one hour a day for five days in a row)

We had 2 clubs going all week. It was a blast! Grace Waldo and of course Jenny and I all taught.

I found something out though... Grace is a terrible prankster! :o) She hid my car... Jumped out of the closet and REALLY scared Jenny... And the list goes on. Of course I had to repay her antics with a few of my own! Filling her pillow case with ice cubes... Waking her up by dumping a cup of water on her.... Yeah! It was fun! :o) lol

It really was such a blessing to teach all these kids, some of whom had never heard the gospel, about my Lord Jesus.

It was also very exciting seeing some of the kids that just keep coming over the years.

I've been doing this 8 or so years... And the kids that were just tiny when I started are all grown up. *sniff sniff* Makes me feel old!!! :o) lol

Ahhhh.... Yes.... More memories!

Goin' to the zoo, zoo, zoo.....

2007-08-01T11:36:00.000-06:00

"Oh I'm goin' to the zoo, zoo, zoo,

How about you, you, you?

You can come too, too, too,

Goin' to the zoo, zoo, zoo."

A trip to one of the best zoo's in the U.S.A!!!

Henry Doorly Zoo...

We're so blessed to have it so close! We got a season pass yesterday, so if anyone wants to go with me sometime... LET'S GO!

Persons involved with yesterday's rendezvous include Mom, Caleb, Jenny, Bailey, Aunt Sharon, my cousin Kristin, (who is leaving for college in the boonies of Missouri soon) and ME! We had a good 'ol time!!!

They have a lot of new stuff too! The gorilla complex has been completely re-done. Whey have an orangutan building that was pretty cool. They have a new butterfly house coming soon too! :o)

The aquarium is SO cool! I LOVE the aquarium! Actually, a word to the wise... If you're planning on popping the question any time soon... The part where you walk through the tunnel would be SUCH a cool place! "You're the only fish in the sea for me." Awwww.... Let me know how it works out for you! :o) lol

Anyhoo... Just thought I'd let you know what I've been up to! :o)

Jenny's Photo Shoot...

2007-07-29T21:23:00.000-06:00

I thought I'd post these just for kicks...

Jenny and I decided to have fun one day... We had to decide between cow tipping or a photo shoot. We opted for the latter.

I'm sure the cows appreciated that.

Primitive Signs...

2007-07-29T17:35:00.000-06:00

Here’s my latest project!

I love these primitive signs, but I never seem to give them as gifts because of the time it takes to make them and I’m usually in a rush and need something quicker! :o) (It’s the story of my life! Last minute! Although I once heard it said, “If you wait till the last minute, it only takes a minute to do!” lol) So… I just went ahead and made a bunch to have on hand. I love how they turned out!!!
Here’s what some of them look like now:

Anyhoo, I must go… But I’ll keep you posted on the life of yours truly!

Fencing... It's a workout!!!

2007-07-28T21:10:00.000-06:00

Whew! I'm tired!!!

I just got in from putting in horse fence today. Whew! **With a great big sigh**

Dad and Micah had some friends come and to help! THANKS YA'LL!!! Not only was it great to get done... It was fun to do it with some company! :o)

And contrary to popular opinion, started by someone... **Cough-Ragnar-Cough** I can cook something that didn't come out of a freezer first! :o) lol Both dinner AND supper turned out well despite none of it being processed and frozen! Fried chicken for dinner and grilled steak and chicken for supper... I'm still stuffed!

It was digging holes every 7 ft... Putting 8 ft. posts in the holes... Filling the holes back up with dirt... Packing the dirt in the holes... Stringing cable... All day! I'm tired and downright beat! But it's nice to get done! No more chasing horses in at 1:30 in the morning!!!

We're not finished yet... But we got the part done that the horses were contantly getting out of. So that's nice!!! It'll be so very wonderful when it's all finished. It already looks so great!

Just thought I'd give ya'll an update on why I was so tired tonight!!! :o)

My first lamp!

2007-07-27T14:31:00.000-06:00

Hey!

Remember way back when I got that old mauve lamp and I told you I'd report back later when I finished my project? Well... I forgot to report back. Until now!!!

Here's my first lamp project!!! I absolutely love how it turned out! I think I might put a bigger lampshade on it though... I'm not sure I like it. We'll see though.

Anyhoo... Just thought you might like to see pictures!

Candles coming out of our ears!!!

2007-07-25T21:24:00.000-06:00

Well… Today I started pouring for fall/winter candle fundraisers. For those of you who didn’t know… That’s my winter life. Our family makes candles! Visit our website at: http://www.mastershandcandles.com/!

Anyway… My friend Jenny (who’s staying here for 5 weeks till school starts) and I spent the last 2 days organizing the candle room. All of the Spring fundraisers scents were along the outside of the room and the Winter scents were on racks in the middle. And all they all needed to be switched. That was a HUGE task that I’m thrilled is over. In all, we organized over 10,000 candles! :o) Yup, I’m glad it’s over!

Thus far today, I poured 2 batches of Victorian Rose candles. Phew! They’re strong! Let’s just say I’m more of a “bakery-type” person than florals!! I’m hoping to get a head start on candles this year, so I don’t have to pour so hard when the time comes! Seriously! It can get grueling! All-nighters aren’t too unusual right before a big delivery. So hopefully we’ll avoid all those this year, eh? :o)
I didn’t get to work on any T2T projects today, but I did get to organize the basement a bit in preparation of some new projects! Will keep you posted! :o)

Anyhoo… Just thought I’d send out a quick update and try to make-up for all the time I didn’t post earlier! :o)

Sill alive and running!!!

2007-07-19T10:41:00.000-06:00

Hey!
I just wanted you to know that yes, I am in fact still alive! My computer hasn’t been allowing me to post… Besides that, life has just been too busy to blog!
Remember how I said that during my summer life, we work on the weekends? Strike that… We work at fairs on the weekend and we work the rest of the week getting ready for the fairs! :o) lol

But I got to thinking… You haven’t seen how “Herb” is doing lately, have you?
I went on a date with him last night. (In other words, he got weeded! If you didn’t know… my herb garden’s name is Herbert. “Herb” for short. I know, I know… I’m kinda weird like that! lol)

This is what got planted this year.

Sadly, my chamomile died out. *sniff sniff* We planted the cabbage too close to it and I think it choked it out while I was at CYIA.

But everything else is doing great!
I just realized that I forgot to tell you! Earlier this spring, I got chocolate mint and orange mint!!! They are SO fun! They seem to be growing with full force! I can’t wait till they get full enough that I can harvest them for tea! I’ve been grabbing a few leaves here and there, but not really harvesting it yet per se. Except for my good ‘ol Dutch mint that’s been around forever… I’ve already harvested a bunch of that for this winter.

Anyhoo… Just thought I’d post quick to let you know I’m still alive! :o)

Kaydee...

2007-06-27T11:25:00.000-06:00

I don't think I've ever introduced Kaydee to you on my blog!

"Kaydee is a bright reverse-brindle Boxer with a great personality. She is the outdoor type who likes pina-coladas and long walks on the beach..."

Tee-hee Just kidding!

Here's a bit about her though:

She's a Boxer.

She is about 1 year 8 months old.

She's very mature for her age... She's not hyper like a lot of Boxers.

Her color is very rare. She's a reverse brindle.

Mom affectionately (And sometimes not-so-affectionately) calls her "The Beast." She randomly destroys stuff whenever I leave her home alone. She doesn't like being left home! She even learned how to open the pantry door. She's getting better though... Not so much stuff is getting destroyed!

She snores at night... A lot!

Yesterday evening I met with a friend, Abi, at a park in Onawa for supper. (Thanks Abi! I had a great time!) As I was leaving home, Kaydee gave me that look that said, "Please take me along!" Either that, or it was the look that said, "If you don't take me along, I'll destroy everything I can and you'll be sorry!" It's so hard to tell the difference between the two! :o) lol

Anyway... I decided to take her along, since we were meeting at the park. She loved it! And like Abi said, there was a certain safety in having her along! I always feel very safe with Kaydee because she looks mean... But she's not at all.

Last summer I brought her along with me when I took my brother, Caleb and my 2 cousins to swimming lessons. She was just 8 months old, but even then, she could tell when to be protective. As all the moms and kids walked by, she wiggled all over, anxious to meet them. But when some scary lookin' boys went by on skateboards, the hair stood up on her back and she growled as they went by. Yup, I love my dog!

Anyhoo.. Just thought you might like to meet Kaydee since I haven't had time to work on any projects lately to post about.

CYIA Pictures...

2007-06-26T20:48:00.000-06:00

Okay... So finally... The long awaited pictures of CYIA! There are lots lore on the CEF website...

Some of the crazy staff girls!

Katie, Me, Jenny, and Anna

"Making Songtime Meaningful" class that I taught with Katie!

I love working with brilliant people... They make me look brilliant too!!

Clik and I

She was one of the dorm moms and I was her right-hand helper!

I was the big bad one who announced LIGHTS OUT!

Katie, Marylen, and I teaching the puppet segment. It was lots of fun!

Good 'ol Labor of Love... (AKA Chores)

Sneaking celery from the kitchen before dinner! Muahaahaahaa!

About halfway through, we had a "Western Night!" It was a blast! As part of it, we played the gameshow...

"WHEEL OF TORTURE"

**Said in my best announcer voice**

The idea of the game was that each contestant would come from the back room, one at a time. When we said GO, they had to lift each box and say what was underneath. The 5th box had a shocking surprise in it!

Nolan!

When each person would lift it up, he'd pop up and yell at them! It was hysterical! They screamed... Jumped... Screeched... Yeah, you get the picture.

Anyway... I was the... Ummm... Lovely assistant during the gameshow! :o)

Nathaniel, the rodeo clown. Yeehaw!

My dear friend Jenny and I!

I miss you and love you, Jenny!

So... I had a simply wonderful time at CYIA this year! Can't wait for next year!

~Nicole

I'm in the NEWS!

2007-06-19T21:44:00.000-06:00

Hey!

Look who was in the news!

It's CYIA time again!

2007-06-11T13:10:00.000-06:00

I know... I know....
It's seems as if I've dropped off the face of the earth.

My deepest apologies!

I've been in Central City, Nebraska for Christian Youth In Action (CYIA) Since last Monday. I've come here the last 8 years now. As a student the first 5 years and as staff since then. I really do look forward to it every year even though it's awfully intense and we don't really get much sleep!!!

In fact, this pretty accurately describes the plea of most of us by about the 3rd or 4th day!!!

Mountain Dew is my shepherd;

I shall not doze.

It maketh me to wake in hot and stuffy classrooms:

It leadeth me beyond the sleeping masses.

It restoreth my buzz:

It leadeth me in the paths of consciousness for its name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of addiction,

I will fear no evil.

For thou art with me;

thy caffeine and thy sugar they comfort me.

Thou preparest a sugar high before me in the presence of mine teachers:

Thou anointest my day with pep; my bottle runneth over.

Surely attentiveness and concentration shall follow me all the days of CYIA:

And I will dwell in the land of Mountain Dew forever.

So there you have it! :o)
I'll update more about it later!

Salvage Style...

2007-05-31T14:21:00.000-06:00

A fellow blogger, Margo, recommended a book, Salvage Style ~ 45 Home and Garden Projects Using Reclaimed Architectural Details on her blog and I just got it today! You're right, Margo! It's great! I've only gotten to skim it as life is CRAZY right now, but here's an excerpt that starts to explain why we crazy T2T people do what we do! :o)

The Thrill of the Hunt

“While wading through a salvage warehouse one day, I overheard the store manager ask a customer if she needed any help. “No thanks,” she replied. “I’m just looking for something that’s looking for me. And if you asked this salvage seeker why she spends hours at a time rummaging through old details, getting her clothes dirty, and coughing up 100-year-old- dust, she might reply that she enjoys the beauty of fine craftsmanship. Or, she might say that the antiquity of the piece draws her in. She might even say she enjoys the satisfaction of knowing she is reclaiming pieces of the past her predecessors so carelessly threw away. But if you’ve ever spent an afternoon with an avid salvage seeker, you know that gleam in her eye signifies the excitement of possibilities- the thrill of finding something unique and extraordinary and wonderful- That serendipitous moment when those hours of get-your-hands-dirty adventure pays off with a perfect fit: a decorative iron bracket that cries out, “We’re meant for each other!” You can ask her what she’s going to do with an decorative iron bracket, but she might not even understand the question. It doesn’t matter. And even if she doesn’t find anything that day, she still has splinters in her hands to show for her efforts.

Then there’s the guy who wants to build a table. He’ll scour every inch of the warehouse picking up pieces and putting other pieces back, until he has a conglomeration of what a novice might call junk. But with just his vision and a couple of nails, that guy will have a one-of-a-kind table.”
-An excerpt from Salvage Style ~ 45 Home and Garden Projects Using Reclaimed Architectural Details by Joe Rhatigan and Dana Irwin

I love doing what I do! :o)

I met my "Knight in Shining Armor!!!"

2007-05-29T09:13:00.000-06:00

Okay... Okay...

So not exactly MY knight... But I did meet one this weekend!!! :o) lol

I've never yet posted about my other life. The 5-months-out-of-the-year "weekend life!" While most people work during the week and have the weekend off... I work the weekends, and well... Am supposed to have the weekdays off. (That never seems to happen!!! lol) We have a family entertainment business. http://www.sonshineandcompany.com/

Normally I wouldn't post about my usually boring weekend, but this last weekend was anything but boring!!!

We were at the Renaissance Faire in Omaha. I kept busy making Shaved Ice, Bavarian Glazed Nuts, Cotton Candy and avoiding the flirtatious pirate that kissed as many girls as he could. Scary!

The storyteller was really fun to listen to... She had a knack of pulling the audience into her stories!

As far as the Faire in general... I think the whole Renaissance time period has been romanticized. You only see the glory and charm in something like this. None of the poverty and hardship. Even those dressed as peasants and gypsies had no idea of what it really must've been like. And... Um... Let's just put it this way. It was definitely called "the time of immodesty" for a reason!! Wow.

Caleb offered nuts to people as they passed by. He was too cute with the feather in his hat! :o)

We all had to dress in Renaissance era while working there. It was kind of fun, although stopping to get gas afterwards before heading home was interesting!!! I wasn't quite "normal!" (Although... Am I ever?!) I got a lot of 2nd looks!

Mr. Larsen, Alathia, Me and my cousin, Kristin

I opted for the Gypsy look since it runs in my blood. :o) (My great-great grandma was a gypsy! lol) If you really want to look authentic though... For starters you need to be about 50 pounds overweight!

Alathia, trying her hand at face painting. This was her first one!! She's naturally very talented, I think!!

Overall... it was a very interesting weekend! :o)

Hope you all had an interesting weekend too!!!

~Nicole

Garage Sale Finds...

2007-05-23T16:04:00.000-06:00

Well... We went garage sale-ing last Saturday! Which means I'm only 4 days behind with my posting! :o) lol

It was FUN! I got some good stuff too!

An old lamp for $5. I probably wouldn't have spent that much if it weren't for the really pretty lampshade. It was just an ordinary mauve ceramic lamp that even had cracks around the base. Which was okay, because all I wanted was the lamp hardware!! It made breaking the lamp in the dumpster easier!!! :o) lol (BTW, the lamp hardware is already being used in a project! Stay tuned for pictures when it's finished!!!)

A BEAUTIFUL comforter set. I'm talking gorgeous!!! Mom's guessing that it was well over $200 new. I got it for $20! This lady had it in her spare bedroom and was thinking that no one had even slept in it. They were moving and it had to go. It looks brand new! I forgot to take pictures before I stored it. It's gold, with a few Burgundy rosebuds here and there. It has the bedspread, a dust ruffle, and shams. The only room it matches is Mom's room, but she didn't want it because she... "Already has a comforter." So I packed it away for "someday, when I have a house of my own." Did I mention it was GORGEOUS?!? :o)

And... I got this:

The lady I got it from said that it was an antique adding machine. But I did just 5 minutes of research before I fell asleep a night or two ago and I think it's technically a "calculating machine." And definitely antique! I got it for $10.

And, can you believe it... It still works!!! :o) I'm wanting to check and see on resale value, because it's got to be more than $10, but I honestly don't know!!! :o) Even if it isn't, I've spent $10 in worse places, right?! :o) lol I really think it's pretty neat though!

The sad part though... It looks like it used to have a plate on the front which probably had names, numbers, or something on it, but it's gone now. I wish it was still there because, #1 it would make researching a lot easier... and #2 it probably isn't worth as much.

Oh well... I like it! :o)

Funny story here too... Last week I was at Target grabbing some groceries for mom, when I browsed through the clearance section. I found some adorable white baseball caps. One said "bride" and 4 more said "bridesmaid." I grabbed them thinking if I ever got married or was a bridesmaid again, that would be awfully cute to go out for ice cream or something beforehand wearing those. So I got them! I brought them home and when I showed them to mom, she looked at me in kind of a strange way... Then the questions started coming. "Why? Do you think you're going to get married anytime soon?!?" "Do you know something I don't know?!?" "What's going on?!" LOL I just about died laughing! She was serious!!! LOL

Okay, so that was early last week. Later that same week, (Saturday) when we went garage sale-ing, we came to one that had a sign at the end of the lane. It plainly said that there were only girls baby clothes there. I asked, "Should we move on?" "Move on?" She said. "Of course not! We're here... Let's check it out!" "But mom, there's only baby clothes! We don't need any baby clothes!" But nevertheless, we checked it out anyway. Pretty soon I hear, "Oh! Look at these little shoes!! Aren't they adorable?! Oh! This dress is TOO darling!" Finally, over $20 later, she finally pays for her big bag BRIMMING with little girl's clothes and shoes. I shake my head, wondering what on earth she's doing. As we walk to the car, I ask her, "So what are you going to do with all that stuff? Do you know someone that's going to have a baby?" Get this... She said, "Nope, they're for my first grand baby!" Honestly... It took me FOREVER to stop laughing! When I could finally talk, I started asking HER questions! "Why? Do you think I'm going to get married anytime soon?!?" "Do you know something I don't know?!?" "What's going on?!" LOL

Yup... It was good for a laugh! Now, I guess the race is on! Who has the first granddaughter... Micah or Me! :o) Of course... Considering the fact that he has a "significant other" and I don't, does give me a disadvantage... BUT... Maybe he'll have all boys!!! Muahaahaahaa! I might have a shot yet!!! :o) LOL Then... What about Caleb?! Who knows! Maybe he'll beat us both!!! :o) LOL

Anyhoo... Better get a move on... But... Try to hit a few garage sales for me this weekend! :o)

"He which began a good work..."

2007-05-17T20:38:00.000-06:00

As I look at some of my projects, I see myself all too many times...

This poor cupboard isn't even started yet... We brought it upstairs when we moved, and in all honesty, it looks downright dreadful.

BUT... That's because I'm not done with it yet.

First it needs the peeling paint scratched off, first with the putty knife, then with sand paper. Lots of sand paper. That's most painful part.
Next comes the primer. It looks better... A little cleaner. It certainly shows evidence of work being done on it. I don't quit on it. I keep going.

I get out more brushes and paint. Layer after layer goes on. I take my time with each stroke I take. I want it to look perfect when I'm done. I want it to be beautiful. I want it to be able to be used for my purpose when I'm done with it.
Days pass. I still work on it. Coat after coat of sealer goes on. More time passes. It dries. I move it into place. Liners get put on each shelf.

I put glasses, mugs, mom's beautiful crystal bowls, and casserole dishes neatly inside the freshly painted masterpiece. I step back and smile. Now... Now it can be used for my purpose.

I saw the gem underneath all the dirt and chipping paint. It just needed some unrelenting work. Isn't that so like me?

God sees me. He sees what I am. He sees what I could be. He begins to work.

"Being confident of this very thing. That He which began a good work in me will finish it to completion." Phil. 1:6

He works, relentlessly. Stripping away my pride, layer by layer. After He's done that, He begins to change me. To make me clean. But it takes time. Sometimes it's hard. Sometimes I think I can't go on. BUT... He's not finished yet. Still, He works to make me into the woman that He wants me to be. So that I can be used for His purpose and glory.

“LORD, Help me to trust in you, and do good. Help me to delight myself also in you that you may give me the desires of my heart. I commit my way unto you. I trust in you and I believe that you will bring it to pass. Help me to rest in you and wait patiently. Help me not to fret. You say that those that wait on you will inherit the earth. You also say that the steps of the righteous are ordered by you. Help me to delight in my way and may you uphold me. I will wait on you and keep your way, for you are my strength in my times of trouble. You will help me and deliver me. You will save me, if only I trust in you. Help me to trust in you Abba Father.”

Paraphrased from Psalm 37:3-5, 7, 9, 23-24, 34, 39-40

ANOTHER BABY!

2007-05-16T07:56:00.000-06:00

We had ANOTHER baby this morning!!!

Brandy's a mommy!

It's a boy this time and he is SO cute!

And LOTS spunkier too! :o)

Now with Brandy, we've always done "Indian Tribe names."

We've had: Apache, Cherokee and Little Sioux.

Any ideas? We had thought about Winnebago, "Whinny" for short. Any other ideas?

Just one more mare that'll foal here soon! I'll let you know when that one arrives!!

WE HAD A BABY!!!!

2007-05-15T09:32:00.000-06:00

Maggie's a mommy!

Don't you just love her little polka dots all over her backside?! :o)

Sleepy baby!

The 'lil one was born sometime between 8:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m.

Isn't she sweet?! She seems to be pretty calm and not too feisty yet, which is kind of nice! ;o) lol We're excited with how pretty she is!

Now we're deciding on names! Can you think of any good ones? We always name Maggie's babies "flower names." We've had Sweet William (Willy), Dandelion (Dandy), Baby's Breath (Baby), and... there's one more... I can't seem to remember what her name was. Hmmm....

Let's hear your vote!
What should we name her?!

Remember my lamps??

2007-05-14T16:54:00.000-06:00

Hey ya'll!

Remember the really cool lamps minus the lampshades that I got a couple weeks ago? Check out what I did!

Gave this one to mom for Mother's Day (Along with a really cool tall lamp that I got at my favorite Thrift Store. It still had the tag on it! It was a VERY expensive lamp!!! Got it for 30-something!!! Yeah!) I LOVE how it turned out! I'm having mom get another lampshade like it at Wal-Mart today so that I can do the other one! (The lampshades that I'm using are the beige faux suade ones) It's just an ordinary lampshade that I added the beaded trim to. (I had the trim beads on hand that I had grabbed out of the bargin bin in the fabric section a year or so ago.) It was REALLY easy! I'm making the other one for myself. I'm excited!!!

YAY!

A Tribute to our Couch:

2007-05-12T16:46:00.000-06:00

A Tribute to our Couch:
It’s a sad day here at the Wissmann home. Our faithful couch is gone forever. It stood the test of time. Looking back… It seems like only yesterday it arrived at our house out on the dairy farm, proudly perched and tied down to the back of the old pickup. In reality, it was over 12 years ago. We were delighted! Mom and Dad had gone to the Leavenworth KS garage sales for the day. We’ve been through a lot together. I have many fond memories linked to that couch. Ones that I will cherish forever. It will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Now seriously… lol :o) We got a new couch!!! Yay! Okay, so it’s not brand new, but it’s new to us! It’s really nice! It’s bigger than the last one, isn’t so lumpy, and you don’t sink halfway to the floor when you sit down in it! ;o) lol

We like it!

Boy, it's nice out!!

2007-05-09T20:30:00.000-06:00

Isn't this weather beautiful?!

Last time I posted a bit about the “outdoors-gardening-fingers-in-the-dirt” stuff that I’ve been doing. Here’s a bit more of a glimpse of what we’ve been working on.

I wanted to be more involved with the planting/watering/weeding this year. I’m not sure why, but last year I was busier or something. I didn’t do a lot with it and I missed it. It’s a fun thing that mom and I can do together.We bought about 4 flats of flowers... Petunias, Geraniums, Vinca Vines, Impatients, spiky grass things, and more. We still need to get a bunch of Wave Petunias.

I got the hanging baskets planted, but I have the rest of the flowers to plant in pots, planters, and in our flower beds.

We also got a flat of veggies. Tomatoes, Peppers, Lettuce, Broccoli, Kohlrabi, Cabbage etc… We planted those in our raised beds northeast of the house.

Unfortunately, our pony, Buddy got out yesterday and we found out that he likes lettuce and broccoli. He ate 3 out of 4 lettuce plants and 3 out of 12 broccoli. Sad day.

We planted a bunch of seeds too. We had planted peas earlier, but that long hard cold killed most of them off. *Sniff Sniff* I love fresh peas!!!

My crazy cousin, Rachel, (Yes you!) likes to pick tomatoes straight from the garden and eat them… But that’s just plain weird! Peas on the other hand… Now peas… Fresh, right off the vine is the only way to eat them! ;o)

Last of all… That brings us to my beloved herb bed.

It too suffered last year from my neglect. *sniff sniff* Hopefully it’ll take off this year with more faithful watering and weeding! What do I have in my herb bed? I have Dutch Mint, Chives (My favorite!), Lemon Balm, and I just planted 4 parsley plants and another Lavender. The key word there is, another. The reason I say that is because this is my 4th lavender plant. My first was lovely. It lasted 2 whole years. Then, we moved to our current house up here in northeast Nebraska and I opted to leave it there. Then it died. I think it missed me! :o) lol My 2nd one I planted by our front door off to the right. Sadly, the dogs “did that one in,” and it succumbed. My 3rd one, I planted in my beloved herb bed and there it flourished all summer. Just before winter arrived, the dogs must’ve decided that it had been around to long and that they needed to do their beastly duty and get rid of it. Either that of they were after a “critter!” Whatever the case, when I found it, it was turned upside down several feet from its previous residence on the cold, hard ground. I replanted it and gave it a bit of water, but this spring when everything else was turning green. It stayed in it’s brown, vegetative state. (Or would that be herbative?) So, again this Spring, I got another Lavender plant and got it safely planted where the last one lived last summer. I think Caleb’s pony is trying to do his part to kill this one though too, because I went out there yesterday and it had a neat little hoof print right in the middle of it! ;o) *Sigh* We’ll see…

But that’s what my beloved herbs are doing. So if you ever call and ask what I’m doing, and I say that “I’m on a date with Herb,” you know what I’m doing! Weeding!My wish list for herbs: Chocolate Mint, Berries and Cream Mint, Apple Mint, Pretty-much-any-kind-of-mint, (I love making tea!) Chamomile, more Lavender, and any other herbs that I don’t have yet! :o)

Have fun this week, ya'll and enjoy the weather!

~Nicole

'Tis the Season!

2007-05-04T14:00:00.000-06:00

Wow! What fun!
I love auction season, you know?!?

Auctions and Garages Sales... The best sources of fun on this planet!

A coule Saturdays ago, Caleb went with Dad down to a friend’s house to roof. That left mom and I at home… Without a little man… (Don’t get me wrong, I love Caleb! He just tires of auctions after the 1st hour.) And an auction going on a mere 15 minutes from home. What does that mean? A LOT OF FUN!!!
I got lots of fun stuff that I really didn’t need but I got anyway! Hey! It was only a dollar, right?! LOL

I got:
* A ton of older and vintage magazines - Going to try to resell on Ebay. (I ended up getting them free!)

* 3 chests… (2 for $1.00 each, 1 for .50) I've already got 2 of them full of things I don't use very often but want to have close on hand, and sitting beside my bed. They're my new side table! I love them! Can't decided where to put the 3rd. No more room in my bedroom. Having my own home someday will be such fun!!! :o)

* 2 stools… (1 for $2.00, 1 for .50) (This is the $2.00 one. They usually go for over $10 at the other auctions I've seen them at. I always wanted one 'cause they're just so cute, but never wanted to spend $10 or more for it! ;o) lol)

* 2 glass lamps – I’m hoping to find some really pretty old-fashioned lampshades! ($1.00 each)

* And 1 black antique doctor’s bag ($1.00) (It's in my room now... I want to fill it with pinecones, christmas lights, and pretty ribbon come next Christmas! I think it'll be ADORABLE!)

Also got a bunch of old books. Hard-back. Various titles. What does that mean? A NEW PROJECT! I saw the COOLEST things that this guy did with old books. Check it out! Now… Problem: I have lots of old books… But how does he do it?!?!?!? If you have any thoughts before I start tearing into these new books of mine, let me know!!! LOL
I got a lot of stuff for mom too. Every time she left and came back, I had bought her something else! It was all good though. She had asked me to keep an eye on that stuff. I won some… Lost some… That’s the fun of an auction. The atmosphere… Reading people… Deciding how much you’ll pay for something… Bidding higher than what you decided on previously… Getting outbid anyway… Got to love it!

Anyhoo… Better go…
Here’s to auctions… and junk… and all other fun!

~Nicole

No... I'm not "lost forever!"

2007-05-04T13:39:00.000-06:00

Well... Ahem...

Just in case you were wondering...
Yes, I got back from Florida! ;o) lol

Life has been CRAZY since then! What's been happening?!

Well... Let's see...
I had NCHEA Kid's Conference... That was SO FUN!!! Can't wait to start planning for next year!

Candles have wound down. We'll start those back up again in September. *Whew!* One less thing on my list!

Fairs have started up. In fact, we'll be doing fairs 5 out of 7 days this week!

We got our whole house re-wired! HALELUJAH! Gone with all the fuses! In with breaker boxes! No more switching blown fuses for me, baby! (Excuse my excitement, but last time I changed a fuse, I had smoke and sparks everywhere!!! SCARY! Someone told me that no one ever died from getting "just scared." I beg to differ! I was very close to being the first 20 year-old woman to have a heart attack!)

And it's very much gardening weather! We got our very small garden planted... All the flowers weeded... My own beautiful herb garden weeded and some additions planted... The hanging baskets done and hung on the front porch... And yet 4 more flats of flowers to plant. YAY! I love this time of year!

I'm not sure what else has kept me busy lately, but I've been busy doing it!!! :o) lol

That being said, I'll try to post a bit more than every two months now! Granted, I won't be working on a lot of projects this summer, but I'll try to keep you posted by keepin' posted! :o)

~Nicole

An Old-Fashioned Tent Meeting!

2007-03-05T14:14:00.000-06:00

How neat it was to go to the old-fashioned tent revival meetings!

And what a huge tent! The Wissmann's sang there on Monday night, and Wednesday night.

Singing... Challenging and encouraging messages... People... That's what a tent meeting is!

Sunshine and Florida! They just go together! Such beautiful weather!

Me and my incredible-photographer-cousin, Bethany! :o) Gotta love the delay, photos! And look at me!!! I'm so sunburned after a day at the beach! :o) lol

2nd Sunburn!

2007-03-05T13:48:00.000-06:00

What fun we had with the Stoll's last week. (Has it really been that long since I've blogged?) So much has happened since then! Namely... My phone. **sniff sniff**

You ask... What happened to my beloved phone?

It took a swim in the Gulf of Mexico. Seawater is supposed to be the worst thing that a phone can drop into. Uncle Loren's revived after a week when it dropped into a glass of lemonade... but alas, I think mine's not going to come out of it! I miss my phone! *sniff*

BUT... That being said... I had way too much fun that day picking up seashells and sand dollars... Wading in the clearest water you've ever seen... Boating... Sunburning my sunburn... Yeah, it was a blast!

Walkin' down the beach just before we decided to go "knee-deep!" :o)

The water was so very clear that whenever I'd be knee-deep, I'd look ahead and it would look like it was only a mere 4 inches deep! It was SO clear! Beautiful!

Such a vivid color of blue!

We found at least 70 sand dollars. Which was pretty funny because the day before when we went to the beach, we looked all morning and found 3! As we walked the water though, it was a constant, "I found one! I found one! I found one!"

Sea shells weren't in short supply by any means! There were LOTS of those to be found too!

And look at what Josiah caught while the boys went fishing for whiting! A STINGRAY! Wow!

It's so very nice having a professional photographer along on this trip! :o)

Bethany is the most incredible photographer you'll ever meet! Love you Bethany!!!

I'll be posting some more pics here too... But here's a start! :o)

I'm STILL warm!!! :o)

2007-02-27T20:47:00.000-06:00

Hello from a still-sunny Florida!!! :o)

I've been having a blast! We've been picking oranges... Watched THE movie, "Facing the Giants..." And even went to the beach today where I got FRIED!!! I'm so red!!! :o) Check out the pictures to see ME doing what I've been doing!!!

There's nothing like Florida oranges picked right from the tree! They are so very juicy... YUM!

This was at the beach... Pre- Sunburn!! :o)

BRRR! It sure is cold when you first get in!

We even found a few sand dollars... not a lot though. The waves were really big, so it was hard to see the bottom most of the time. It made for some fun wading/swimming though!

What fun!

Like I said... It's a blast down here!

So... I'm thinkin' I'll go rest my poor, bright red self for the night! ;o)

Good Night!

I'm staying WARM!

2007-02-26T10:02:00.000-06:00

Hey there!
Guess where I am?!?!

FLORIDA!!! :o)

It's beautiful here! Very warm in comparison to the very cold Nebraska that I left on just Thursday! In fact, I got word that our own church in Omaha was cancelled due to snow and ice! Brrr....

That's Me... And Mom!

My flight was scary... Not that anything happened... I just like flying with someone else! Then I don't need to worry about gates, times and missing flights! I just follow! :o) But I did manage to make all my flights! (Although the connection in Memphis was close! Yikes!

And that's me... And Caleb!!!

Life in Florida since then has been a blast though! I'll post later on what all I've done!

In the meantime... Stay warm!!! :o)

Another one done!

2007-02-17T20:32:00.000-06:00

Hey!
Did ya'll want to see the "3-drawer-adorable-piece-of-furniture-that-we-got-from-my-new-favorite-salvage-yard?" It's done too! Sadly, it doesn't quite fit where we wanted it to. *Sigh* On the other hand, that might not be too bad as I have first dibbs on it if mom doesn't want it! :o) (Although for some strange reason, Caleb keeps trying to weasel her out of it! What would he want with it?!) The problem is... I don't know where
I'd put it until I moved out. *Sigh* Oh, for a place of my own!!! Anyway... Here it is!

I added the bead board on the sides... They had a hole or two... I think it was part of a desk and electrical something-or-another ran through it... But I'm not sure. Whatever the case... It's adorable now!

I crackled the drawers... they came out really nice. I love crackle painting! My favorite technique! (I get the crackle stuff from Menard's just in case you're wondering! It's in the paint section.)

Not a bad buy for 12.50, eh???

So yeah! Lovin' my camera!

Will post more pics. again soon!!!

Long Awaited Pictures...

2007-02-15T14:39:00.000-06:00

GUESS WHAT?!?
Thanks to a terrific friend... Our camera is back! :o) YAY!!!
So here's just a few "long-promised" pictures! I'll post more as I get time!

This is that corner before I ripped it apart! :o)

See? This whole wall looked kind of scrunched... (Besides all the clutter that seemed to gather on the table!)

Taa-daa! Isn't she cute?!

It's not done yet... Still have to put in the counter, shelf, and the light up top. But it is very nearly done!

See how much less cluttered it is now?

(Okay... okay... Besides my tools scattered all over!!!)

Isn't it exciting?!?!? I LOVE IT!!!

Meet my family!

2007-02-08T21:03:00.000-06:00

Okay here...

Going through pictures... Would you like to meet my family?

Here goes!

This is Dad... I'll not post his age... But he's the oldest... :o) lol

In a lot of ways, he and I are a lot alike!

We are early birds by nature... We like to keep on a task until it's finished... And we aren't terribly flexible when plans change! ;o)

This is Mom... I'll not post her age either... But she's the 2nd oldest... :o)
We are complete opposites! :o) So we make a great team!

"We complete each other!" ***In my best Sid-From-ICE-AGE- voice***

She's a lot of fun to be around... She keeps everyone on their toes...

And she's "Chronically Late..." 15 minutes everywhere we go each time!!!

This is Micah... We're 14 months apart in age. He's 19 years old now.

We too, are opposites! (He & Mom are a lot alike... And Dad & I are a lot alike...)

He's another fun one! He loves making us all laugh... (Even if he's not funny! :o) lol) And he always has us guessing!

This is Caleb... He's our "prayer baby!" I prayed for him every day for over 5 years before he came along! He's 9 years old.

I'm not sure who's personality he tends towards... He's kind of in the middle, perhaps tending a bit more towards Mom.

He's a very strong leader (Even as a 9 year old)... He has a dream of owning his own farm and doing it all by horse ("horse-drawn" plow, ect...) someday... And he has an unbounded amount of energy!!! :o)

So now you've met them! My family!

So how's my To-Do list coming??? Let's take a look! (I'll bold the stuff that I have done!)

*Sand the edges of the chair

*Put sealer on the table, windows, chair, and drawers

*Finish putting up wainscoting

*Prime wainscoting

*Paint another coat of navy on wainscoting trim

*Paint 1-2 coats of white on wainscoting

*Paint Burgundy on wainscoting and wipe off. (So the Burgundy will only stay in the grooves) Note: We changed our minds... We're doing navy

*Put trim above wainscoting

*Put trim in corner cabinet

*Install light above corner cabinet

*Hang doors on all cabinets that I took off to paint

So yeah!!! I'm getting closer!!!

YAY!

~ Nicole's bloggin' madness ~

Christmas in Feb??!

L-O-V-E

*cough cough*

***NEWSFLASH*** -- New store

*** Hobby Lobby NEWSFLASH ***

Want a tour??

September 9th...

Want to see our babies??!

I'm back!

What exactly do I do, anyway??

What else have I been up to this summer?

Oh, what I'll do for my brother and a few bottles!!

TOP 10 REASONS WHY I DIDN’T POST DURING THE MONTH OF JULY:

I'm a faaaaailure!!!

Casting Cares...

Wondering where I've been?!

Of broken legs and Easter...

And now starting on a few of the finishing touches...

Another new experience!

The floors are done!!!

I've been tagged!

Of floors and cake...

Only in Nebraska...

It's do-o-o-o-o-one!!!!!

I love my saws!

The ceiling!!!

A finished fireplace!

And she said... Let there be light!

The transformation of a fireplace...

Whew! It's comin'!

I'm in love!!!

I'm ali-i-i-i-ive!

Another Tasty Tradition!

Another Post...

Christmas Cookies!!!

'Tis the Season!

A Start on Christmas Decorating...

Let it snow... Let it snow... Let it snow!!!

**SIGH**

The first Snow!

No... I'm not decorating for Christmas yet... but...

Happy Birthday Mom....

Craving....

An encouraging quote for all you single girls out there!

Last Saturday's finds!

It's been a busy week!!!

Of Copper Wire and Pitchers....

Meanings of roses....

Someone sent me roses!!!

Waiting...

Happy Birthday, Dad!!

My favorite season....

My Treasures!

Spur-of-the-moment-FUN!!!

Autumn...

Just a few more projects...

Caleb's Bedroom....

The finished piece of cake....

A piece of cake....

Thanks!

Just give me a glass of lemonade!

Projects... Projects...

My bucket lamp...

My Bedroom....

Batter up!

Reserve Grand Champion!

Mount Rushmore...

Cabella's...

To KC and back...

Weekend Seminar...

5-Day Clubs...

Goin' to the zoo, zoo, zoo.....

Jenny's Photo Shoot...

Primitive Signs...

Fencing... It's a workout!!!

My first lamp!

Candles coming out of our ears!!!

Sill alive and running!!!

Kaydee...

cough cough

NEWSFLASH -- New store

* Hobby Lobby NEWSFLASH *

SIGH