MOTHERS DAY

I hope all you mothers and daughters had a very nice Mothers Day today!

(Primrose 'Bellarina Pink Ice' and Bluets)

I planted a fairy garden, went grocery shopping, bought myself an outdoor umbrella and some potting soil.

My most-awesome neighbor gave me a cute little Boyd's Bears treasure box and I gave her some wildflowers from my yard.

THIS AND THAT

Warm Sunday greetings to you all!

Last weekend I saw this out by the barn:

It's a woodchuck (groundhog). Not too happy about it - thought winter was over!

But, then, yesterday I saw these:

Snowdrops. Finally!!

This past week I also received two packages in the mail. The first was from my brother in Tennessee. His wife works at a Payless Shoe outlet or factory. Every year they send up some shoes, usually sneakers or Skechers. This was a fun assortment:

A new pair of Minnetonka moccasins, a pair of Sporto wellies, and a very colorful pair of sneakers! I think that will keep me for the year!

The second package has a story to it. Do any of you (older) folks remember the western from the late 60's called The High Chaparral? This was my all-time favorite t.v. show! Last year I stumbled across reruns on the INSP channel - what a thrill! So I took to Google to see if any cast members were still alive and what they were up to.

I discovered a website and a facebook page. At the time, they had just finished having a High Chaparral Reunion in Tucson, AZ which included a few hundred fans, a couple of cast members and writers. It sounded like they had a wonderful time and were planning another one for March '14.

I decided right then and there that I was going to attend, come "he_ _ or high water". I started saving and came up with enough for the registration fee. During this past year I have made some fantastic H.C. friends on facebook and couldn't wait to meet some of them in person.

Well, during the year I lost my babysitting job (remember Jade?) and our finances were tight anyway. I kept hoping and praying but it wasn't to be. I knew I couldn't get my registration fee back, which was okay, but then the Reunion Coordinator said it would be used as a "sponsor donation". No problem. The reunion was last weekend and I so enjoyed seeing everyone's pics and hearing their stories. Ultimately, I was thrilled when a package arrived which had some Sponsor Gifts in it:

A tote bag from INSP channel, a sponsors badge, my favorite - the coffee mug!, a sample of Arbuckles' coffee which is made in Tucson, an H.C. pen, coaster, pin badge advertising Rudy Ramos' one-man show about Geronimo, and a pack of Hubba Bubba gum - which Don Collier portrayed the Hubba Bubba gunslinger (or gumchewer) in the commercials.

Even though I couldn't attend, I was still able to enjoy the experience with everyone's videos and pics!

TEACHERS GIFTS/CRAFTS

I'm sitting here at the computer with my feet up on the desk, listening to Christmas music while waiting for the Patriots/Ravens game to come on in 45 minutes! Here's what I did for Becky's three special ed. teachers ( head of spec. ed, school psychologist, and job coach):

Every year I make them something. This year I made these little ornaments ~

I also gave them these ~

These cookie tins (full of cookies) are only 4 inches square! I got them at Big Lots. I made the calendars; a Yankee candle; and each gets a nail file with a charm that was only 25 cents a piece at a local Ocean State Job Lot store.

The also will get a mini loaf of triple berry "bread" and an Oreo cookie lollipop covered in mint-flavored white chocolate! I appreciate these ladies and all they do for the special ed. kids!

VALENTINE REDNESDAY

Happy Valentine Rednesday! How many of you were affected by Blizzard Nemo? It dropped 24 inches/61cm of snow on my town here in Massachusetts. Some places got 30+ inches, flooding and power outages! We were blessed with safety and power. The hurricane-force winds blew drifts up to 5 feet/1.5meters in some parts of the yard! (Didn't help while shoveling to the bird feeder.) But the wind did keep the snow off the feeders so the birds were able to eat throughout and after. Here's a shot of the snowbirds (juncos) before I shoveled.

Now, for some Valentines . . .

You know something good is about to happen when you receive a lime-green package in the mail!

It's from Denise of Bloomin' (formerly Beagle Run Cottage) blog. I couldn't wait to tear it open! Take a look at the fantabulous banner she made. Of course, it deserved a place of honor in the kitchen!

She also sent along this great patriotic apron! I can smell the burgers on the grill already! Come on, Summer! Thanks so much for thinking of me, Denise!

Next is a Valentine that I made, but didn't finish. I thrifted the heart-shaped metal wreath (6"/15cm) and glued on the lace and tulle. I hung it on this hook right above my craft desk and there it sits! I kinda like it as-is!

This Valentine I made for my 90-year-old gardening buddy, Ethel. She's such a sweetie! I'll make some heart-shaped sugar cookies to take over with this. I used a gift-card box and glued the doors on, then decorated the inside with a 3-D girl.

Now, I'll be on my way and I wish you all a very pleasant Valentine's Day!

REDNESDAY - KITCHEN REDS

Welcome to Rednesday! I'm showing a few kitchen reds today. This first photo is the wall above the stove. I took down these two red & white daffodil shelves,


and put up this scalloped shelf and tray. I think the red-capped salt & peppers look much better lined up this way. The whole arrangement is so nice to view from across the room.


I broke down and bought this adorable utensil tray at the antique store in town. It's been there for at least six months, and I was afraid if I waited any longer it would be gone.


I decided to redecorate the little shelf beside the fridge, too, with red, of course!


Last, and best, is this oh-so-pretty bunting that arrived in the mail this week. This special blog friend, whom I call my doppelganger (in the good sense), made it and sent it to me. I swear we were twins separated at birth, because we like, pretty much, all the identically same vintage stuff! She is Carol of Old Glory Cottage! I love it soooo much - and it matches my kitchen curtains nicely, too!

REDNESDAY

Make sure your reds are "posted" today!

A few Valentines to show you today. I decorated this fabric-covered box last year and, I loved it so much, that it's been hanging in my pantry/craft room all year! I dusted it off and brought it out to the kitchen for this holiday season.

Here's a close-up of the inside ~

My vintage celluloid fan, that I still know nothing about!

And a pretty little February angel with beautiful feather wings!

Now, yesterday, I received this package in the mail~


And inside that package was this package~


And, inside this package, was a beautiful vintage tablecloth!

A wonderful gift from an awesome blog friend - Holly of Cutie Pie Cottage! Isn't this pattern pretty? I love it! Thanks so much, Holly! I'm sure Smokey will love sleeping on this one, too, lol!

REDNESDAY - A BANNER YEAR!

Happy New Year and Happy Rednesday, my friends! We made it through the Christmas holiday, didn't we? And, now, we're back to reality. Good for some, bad for others! As usual, I will sorely miss all my Christmas decorations - I don't even have my tree down yet! But, in about a month, I'll have forgotten all about Christmas.

I got a nice surprise in the mailbox a few days ago - this wonderful bunch of wood cherries from Deb at Linens, Lace, and Lattes! These were in a box of Christmas stuff she won at an auction, and was so nice to have thought of me! They have ornament hooks on them, but I might just keep them in a bunch; that is, if I'm not tempted to eat them, lol! Thanks a "bunch", Deb!

This was a "banner year" for me. I made lots of banners for Christmas gifts, as this was another lean year for us. This one is my favorite. It's for my mailman, who happens to be the nicest girl you could ever get for mail delivery! She has the prettiest name - Raylene! I found images from vintage cards and Google that have mailboxes or letter-writing. I'm posting pics of the images, below, in case you would like to make a mail banner of your own!

There are seven images. I posted them in the small size, but just right-click to get the larger size for saving. This first image is a Post-A-Note postcard that was from an auction I went to. They must have thought these cards were no good, because they used them to write lot numbers on for bidding. I wish I had gone around to the winners, asking them for their cards!

This image is from Two Crazy Crafters!