This Says it All!!!

Shhhhaakky Town!

I was abruptly awakened at 11:30 pm by a barking Boston Terrier and a shaking bed. By the time I quieted the dog down and peeled my eyes open the shaking was over. "Oh, an earthquake, how nice" and I went back to sleep. 10 hours later ... I'm cleaning house, doing laundry and my constant shadow is my little dog Betsy. If I sit down she gets on my lap, every where I go she's right next to me. I keep asking her what does she want, why can't she settle down and take a nap like she always does? I'm sitting at my desk paying bills and she's looking at me with those big brown eyes.  Minutes later the ground begins to shake, it gets harder things are falling and Betsy is barking ... at a distance ... she's upstairs by now checking on Joe. As soon as it stops she's on the stairs surveying her territory. Hummm, that's why she had been bugging me, she new something was about to happen and she wanted me to know. The damage was huge ...

A basket has fallen, plates tumbled, how will I ever clean this mess up?? Yes, this was serious damage.

 

 My husband came down to turn on the news to see where it was centered. The epicenter was Yorba Linda, the next town over and the quake measured 4.5. OMG, by listening to the news you would have thought we had just experienced the BIG one. People were calling in to the news station with all kinds of ridiculous drama about what they experienced and how they felt. Oh for goodness sake it was a trembler ... If you can't take the heat get out of the kitchen!!

Is it a Bird, is it a Plane ... NO it's a mouse!

My saga with mice continues. I am still catching these little gifts from God in the house ... but fewer then before. Now I am finding them outside in droves! I just don't understand why there are so blasted many of them. 

A few days ago I was hand watering the flowers out front since my "dog" house guest ripped out my entire electrical sprinkler system. While watering I saw a tiny baby mouse run into the geraniums. I bent down and moved the branches and several of these "gifts from God" scattered. Great, now they are only steps away from the front door, they are so tiny they can probably come in right under the door since the weather stripping has been gone since the house was painted 3 years ago. Oh joy.

Yesterday morning I was gazing out the kitchen window wondering where my Finches have gone. Their feeder is full and swaying in the wind, usually I have 20 or more clinging on for dear life! As I stare I notice the ivy rustling around below the feeder. Oh! That's where the birds are, in the ivy eating the thistle off the ground. Nope, no birds. As I go out and take a closer look ... it's mice, yep lots of little baby mice dangling on ivy leaves eating the thistle that falls from the feeder. Great, no birds, now I'm feeding birdmice. 

Now today I'm fixing my husbands dinner and again I'm gazing out the window. (I seem to do that a lot don't I?) I see something strange on the dangling feeder socks. OMG, you have got to be kidding me ....

Yes my friends, this is a birdmouse!

They climb the rose bush and jump onto the feeder socks. I do have to admit it's a cute little guy. As I got closer he took off running straight down the sock and fell to the ground. So, tomorrow the finch feeder comes down. I have got to get these guys under control!

 

 In closing I need to report that when I returned to the house I went into the kitchen and found what else? Yep, a baby mouse stuck to the trap. Gotta love um, they just don't give up.

Sewing 102

Sometimes it's good to be around a new quilter/sewer. Their enthusiasm is infectious. I have a couple of friends who are beginning to sew and yesterday they were both here working on projects. Pam had signed up for a beginning quilters class only to realize she had forgotten the fundamentals of her sewing machine! I invited her over to review the basics and to get comfortable sewing on her machine before attending her first class. Success was achieved! She finished 3 pillow cases giving her two sets for Christmas gifts! As her teacher I gave her homework to do (isn't that what all teachers do??) She is to cut out and complete another pillowcase on her own. Will she do it?? Absolutely! She's a good student.

Since I had one I might as well have two so I gave Tanya, my other newbie a jingle and offered a sewing day. She jumped at the chance and arrived ready to go. After creating a table runner out of "convenience" cloth for her mom she was on a roll! I gave her a small charm pack with instructions, she was able to get them laid out and strips sewn together before we ended for the day. All in all the ladies were very successful! Tanya's next step will be to learn directional pressing and pinning, oh what fun! Once they have their projects completed I will post some pictures to share.

Watching the two of them reminded me how far I have come in the four years I have been quilting ... or maybe it's been 5 ... I don't even know anymore. It's rough getting old!

Color Options are Awesome!

Just in from the Longaberger Co. is the awesome Beverage Tub and Stand for a mere $99.00. Such an amazing offer and just in time for football, trick or treater's and the soon to be here holidays!

Be sure to check out the extended color options for the basket ... Bold Red, Bold Green, Gold, Blue as well as our standard warm brown, rich brown and black. Ohhh, black would make such a great Calderon, don't you agree??

Don't miss the chance to order, this is a one day only opportunity! August 8th - mark your calendar or let me know now and let me do the remembering! Email your order to baskets4anita@aol.com!

 

No more babies anymore ....

My first born will be celebrating her 34 birthday tomorrow. Since she will be out of town with friends we had her birthday last night. She picked her meal and dessert .... Salad with fresh berries, chicken and feta cheese, fresh artichokes and garlic bread. She is watching her calorie count so this was what she requested. It's interesting to think back on the meals she has requested over the years. The one the pops into my head was macaroni and cheese, apple sauce, strawberry jello and Baskin-Robbins ice cream cake for dessert!  Oh how I miss those days of silly meals and gifts of toys, makeup, and awful music. 

The presents are wrapped and ready for the birthday girl. The gifts this year are silly as well. She picked out a Hello Kitty suit case .... see it sitting in the back. Did I say she is 34????

Miss Betsy Ross had to be included in the opening ceremonies. She loves the ribbons and was really wanting one of her new mustaches. However, Tiffany was unwilling to share!

Here is one of the items from the baseball gifts ... a rubber ducky that looks like a baseball

Betsy has her ribbon, all is well in her world!

And Baseball Mickey Mouse ears. When she's not at the Angels baseball stadium you can find her at Disneyland, what a life!

Dessert ... a Skinny Cow drum stick with one candle. She is really sticking to that diet!! Happy birthday baby girl ..

 

PS - There is an Angles baseball game on the TV  behind her ... such a surprise ....

Sewing Room Update

I have been a very busy girl. While my step son was here for the summer I had him busy, busy, busy. One chore was to build another bookcase for my sewing room for what else??? Fabric storage!! I also purchased a shelf and a mirror from Lois's estate sale and with Joey's help I got the hung as well.

My new mirror! I just love it ... the spindles are so unique. You can't see them but there are several hooks on the frame, not quite sure what I am going to hang on them yet ...

I have moved Ms Betsy Ross the wall where I sew! I love her quirky look and it gives me joy to see her while I sew. Below her is my new shelf. It has a great brass bar below which I feel confident will hold something lovely very soon!

Ta da, my new bookcase. These are the "pretty" shelves! On the lower 3 are fabrics, books and project boxes ... not so pretty but very necessary!!

 

I hope you enjoyed my little tour, have a great day!