Manuel Labor for Labor Day Weekend

A three day weekend for most, would mean stretching every second into a jam packed fun filled three days and saying goodbye to summer right before welcoming in fall. I mean, that is what you do right? ahem....not around here.

This year for us, that meant three days off work and three days to actually work at packing and sorting and purging this house. You guys, fair warning....I have not blogged in a while, but will be doing so again most likely. This is a good place to write my feelings on this journey and maybe one day, I might want to read about this again, after the pain I am feeling from moving heavy things subsides a little. sigh.

Day one began at 6:00 am yesterday, yes bright and early. The plan was to get our shed cleaned out totally. If you could only imagine what that actually meant. Boxes upon boxes upon boxes and then lets just throw in a few more boxes for good measure. I felt I had to go through every thing.....every last thing.

Yes, this is my house and my junk! 

The morning started off rather well. I had one side of the driveway for keep things, the other side was for sell things and I sat every thing else I was not sure about on the trailer. Progress was being made. Then, mid-morning, Steve and I reached the holiday decor boxes. The first three I pulled out was the Halloween boxes. Now, mind you, I have not decorated for Halloween at my house since my youngest went off to college in 2005....TEN YEARS for crying out loud.

I opened the boxes and truly saw years and years and years of beloved things I used to decorate with when the kids were small. I have a HUGE and I mean HUGE collection of Halloween Chicken Mcnuggets that we sat out every year. They were a must to keep, at least I was not willing to part with those things. But for the most part, I kept a small pumpkin with a cat that lights up and a couple of other things just for sentimental reasons and the rest, I tossed in the sell side of the yard.

As I was battling with myself on what to keep and what not to keep, I did actually make the comment to my husband that I felt sorta guilty. When he asked why? I said, because Alisha, (my daughter) will be upset if she finds out I got rid of all this stuff. Steve said she won't remember this stuff and besides, we don't want to store it. Well, I thought to myself, you might be right about us not wanting to store this stuff, but I can guarantee you, she will remember and thus the reason for my guilt. As we opened the next boxes, Steve pulled out a cardboard pumpkin that had long orange plastic strings that hang down from the base of the pumpkin. The pumpkin was designed to hang from the ceiling. I used to have two of these, but one must have gotten damaged along the way. This said pumpkin could not have cost me over a dollar back twenty-five years ago, and we always hung it in the same place, by our kitchen table. Memories cast aside, the pumpkin was tossed in the sell pile as well, and we moved on past the Halloween decor and onto the next pile of boxes. Progress. It. Felt. Good.

The pumpkin man, which was saved!

About an hour later, guess who calls? Right...Alisha. Apparently, she asked her dad what we were doing. Well, and truthful as dads should be, he told her what we were doing. First words out of her mouth were we had better not be getting rid of all of her memories. I heard Steve say, we aren't, just junk.  I am willing to bet she asked what junk because I heard Steve say Halloween and Christmas. Then I heard nothing on Steve's end of the conversation.

After a few minutes, Steve walked up and said, "you are not going to believe this." I seriously thought, oh, I bet I will. He shook his head and kept saying, I don't believe this, I really don't.......He then proceeds to tell me that Alisha asked if we found the Halloween pumpkin with the orange strings. The same cheap, barely costing a dollar piece of cardboard and plastic that hung from the ceiling of our house for three weeks out of the year, every year. I did not ask him what he actually told her, but he handed me the phone and said I better call her while he walked over to the tossed..... ahem....... memories and fished out the pumpkin from the box. To make a long story short, most all the tossed Halloween was boxed up and repacked to be moved to the new house. Yep, it sure was and it all sits on the keep side of the driveway.

When we got to the Christmas boxes, I saved myself a lot of time and told him to put them all on the keep side. He looked at me and said, "What.....are you kidding?" I asked him if he wanted to make the phone call to his daughter or not. He silently,  put the boxes on the keep side and we kept right on going with what we had to do.

By days end, we could hardly move, but all the keep boxes were lined up on the driveway, and there was not that much really at all in that pile of stuff. All the sell stuff was put back into the empty, clean shed which filled up rather quickly, so we purged so much stuff. I was so surprised by how easily I let go of so much of the stuff that was in there to begin with. I will admit, I ran into some things that proved to be more of a struggle at making a decision, but in the end, about 80 percent of the time, those things went into the sell side of the yard.

Day two is today. We have to get all those keep boxes into storage and we have some stuff to sort and toss that has been stored at his dads garage. I would really like to try and get two more rooms inside the house sorted as well. Lots to do....and we are dog tired. I am feeling so much lighter, but I am weighed down by the sore muscles and bones. It is a J-O-B and believe me, I feel every bit of it today.

When I found myself with a inner battle on deciding if I should keep something or not, I tried to take myself into that new house and visualize how I  would use it or where I would use it or if I would use it. If I could not answer any of those three things, it was tossed.

This move will prove to be the best thing that has every happened to us. I can feel that in my bones and all the stuff we have tossed and are walking away from will certainly lighten the loads in our hearts and minds. We are both so excited!

Day two...here I come!

Dora and a Trip to the 24 Hour Vet Clinic

If I was to say Dora was a handful, that would be an understatement. Totally. This past week, she has really gotten herself in a lot of trouble. The first of the week she somehow managed to get out of the yard and I had to RUN almost a block away after I discovered her missing to get her. I say run as I panicked and was so afraid she'd run into the street and get hit by a car or someone would pick her up off the street and keep her....yea, no treats that day!

The end of the week, which included the weekend, did not get much better in regards to her antics. Sunday, she had a grand time digging in the dirt and hunting geckos, lizards, grasshoppers or anything else she could get stirred up and moving. It was after she came in and had a nap in her favorite chair, I knew we had a problem. She woke up and her eyes were swollen shut, and she was pawing at them. 

Oh, and did I mention, it was Sunday night, so that means the only vet open is the 24 hour emergency vet who has outlandish prices for weekend care. No matter, we went.....me, I was a total mess.....Dora, was not too sure herself......

Here she is sitting in my lap listening at the talking outside the door. The doctor came in and said they were going to do an eye flush, and put a stain in her eyes to make sure she had not scratched her eyes.

This is her, before they took her back to do the procedure....you can see a little bit of her eye that was not looking too good. Luckily, they found no scratches, and flushed all the DIRT out of her eyes and gave me some drops to keep in her eyes for the next ten days....then presented me with a bill which was crazy expensive. Oh, well...it's just money...and really, what else was there to do???

Apparently, I am not the only one worn out not only from the weekend, but this ordeal as well.....Dora let me put her eye drops in and she is sleeping away in her favorite chair with her favorite blankets. From the looks of this picture, she looks so innocent and helpless. Please.....that is the farthermost thing from the truth.  I love this dog to pieces....just wish she did not cause so much grey hairs on my head!! One thing is for sure, it is never a dull moment around here!

Have a great Monday, thankfully, I am able to go to work today so I can rest!!

All The Colors Of The Rainbow

I can do some of the most dumbest things you have ever seen. The problem is, I have no idea how I continue to do the same dumb things over and over again. But. I. Do.

Last Sunday I needed to take something back that I could not use that I had purchased at a store, then wanted to stop at Joann's Fabrics to pick up some quilting batting as I had a baby quilt I wanted to get started with the quilting later in the afternoon. As usual, I was in a hurry. I had successfully returned what I needed to return, but that was the end of my errands.

 The above picture is the drivers doors of my car. Nothing looks amiss here at all. Now, the photo below, shows the drivers door open.

Do you happen to notice where the door handle is and the top of the door?? See how it sticks out farther than the door? Well, when you are in a hurry and trying to get things done so you can accomplish what you need to do.....dumb things happen.

That part of the door at the top, that sticks out over the door handle met my head. Yes, I opened the door and slammed my own self in the head. A goose egg popped up, I saw stars and knew my errand running was over. I debated on how I was even going to drive home.

Well, now my eye is every color of the rainbow. In all my 51 years, I have never had a black eye. Ever. And to think, I did this to myself, and rather successfully. It has been a week and it is still the same. Sorta gives me an idea of permanent eye makeup, only thing lacking is the other eye and I'd be set.

Oh, and did I mention, I have hit myself in the head before, just like this, just not as hard to cause all this damage. Some days, I think I should stay in a padded room. I am my own worse enemy!

Lesson here....car doors are weapons of personal destruction!

No Flowers For My Man!

Last week, I walked into the room at my work where we were going to have a meeting. One of my coworkers blurted out (in front of everyone there) and asked me the most ridiculous question I have been asked in a long time. He asked me rather loudly, "Suzanne, are you buying your husband flowers for Valentines day?"

My reply....without putting any thought into the answer and how I said it was.....

"That would be a NO........he would not think too much of a gift like that....."  

Do you think ANYONE in that room commented in any way....no.....the room was as quiet as a tomb and most of the men were looking at their shoes.  I wondered what the heck I had just walked into at that very moment...must have been an argument of some sort and I happened to walk in and the answer was thrown my way as if I was going to confirm this ridiculous idea one way or the other...I have a feeling it must not have been the outcome someone was looking for.... shrugs shoulders here. Don't ask me a  question if you don't want the truth. Truth.

No one asked me what KIND of gift my husband might appreciate. Not A Single Person. Nope, just a room of  mind blowing silence.  Oh, well, my manly man would much rather have something a lot more practical....like beer, beef jersey and chocolate....and not in that order.

I saw something similar at one of our grocery stores in town this week. They had taken beer and placed it with some snacks in a bucket. Cute idea, six pack of beer, beer nuts, jerky, and a bow and for the bargain of a price too, $35.00 and $45.00......woah....are you kidding! I mean, he might be worth it, but my thrifty self could not pay it.

What to do??? Well, I made my own. Purchased the beer at the grocery store along with some snacks, Pretzels shaped as hearts, beef jerky, chocolate bar, little box of chocolates. The filling and stickers and decorations came from Dollar Tree. .I tied a large red ribbon around the whole thing, printed out my little message and put it all together. I will add a card to it right before he gets home.  Simple. Easy.....and when I say easy...folks, I did not even get the glue gun out. Tape. shhhh.....I said tape!

How perfect for this gift.....Heartzels!!! Love!!!

I also made one more, this one has a BIG can of beer and lots more chocolate and snacks. Gathered it all up and found a camo red little bucket to put it all in. The person this one is for happens to love chocolate and beer....and maybe not in that order. 

Just a few minutes, a few stickers and do-dads and a little creative juices....here is my real Man's Valentine Gift.... Total cost for both of these baskets....around $14.00. Not bad and ANYONE can do something like this. Just personalize it for your loved one. Genius? No. Easy? Yes. And trust me, it will be appreciated.

The Price Of Making A Quilt

Cowgirl Cross Quilt - Finished December 2011

All photos click able to enlarge

Back last summer, someone sent me a email asking me how much is cost to make a quilt.....they were just asking out of curiosity. That email has played over and over in my mind more times than not in 2011 and I am sorry to say, I never answered that email personally. It came at a time when I was really hurt by the actions of others over giving quilts as gifts. Mainly because a homemade gift to them, was not a gift at all but a cop out in regards to buying something for someone. Talk about ignorant fools, a quilt is not a cheap hobby or gift. So, before I knew it 2011 had gotten away from me and that email never got answered.

So, I was going through some files on the computer, and noticed that several quilts I finished in 2011 did not make it here on the blog for whatever reason. I wanted to make sure they were included on the blog for finished in 2011, so as I ramble on about the cost of a quilt, I will show the photos here and call it a day. Please know, that these are not necessarily the quilts sent to unappreciated folks, just the ones that I could not find on the blog. There were several finished in 2011.

First, the price of cotton, quality quilting cotton, I might add has steadily climbed in 2011. Those who are quilters know this, but those that are not have no idea. Some fabrics I paid over $10.50 a yard in many of these quilts I am showing here. I am not sure the yardage needed per quilt. Not only that, I have a little problem, and do not make small quilts. So, the price alone for fabric is rather steep. Backing the quilt top is another matter entirely. For a queen or king quilt it takes about 8 yards or more of fabric, depending how you construct the back. I think you can see it is not cheap. At. All. Most of the backs I made last year for quilts were pieced, so I could try and cut down on the cost of backing fabrics, but even at that, it is not inexpensive.

Wedding gift. Finished Summer 2011

Aside from the fabrics and thread used to make a quilt, time is another factor. One does not sit down and make a quilt in a day or two. Most cases it does not even happen in a week or two but several weeks. From the planning, purchasing fabrics, cutting, piecing and putting it together it takes a lot of time. Lots. Of. Time. Far more time than it would take to walk into a store and purchase something off of a registry and go home and wrap it. However, sometimes, that may not be the best option.

Back of wedding gift quilt

Once the quilt top is finished, it has to be quilted. Now, along with the quilting you also need to buy batting for the inside of the quilt. On the average for the size quilts I make, the batting runs about $35.00. At this point, some  quilters have the option of quilting the quilt themselves, or sending it to the long arm quilter to do the quilting. Since I make large quilts, I have been sending them out to have them quilting. The quilt below not only was a large quilt in which I used expensive fabrics, but the quilting alone cost me $175.00. I could not believe it cost me so much, and after the expense of over $165.00 for the fabrics, that made this one expensive gift. Once the quilt has been quilted, it has to be bound. I don't consider the cost extra for binding as it was purchased with the fabrics ahead of time, but I can say, it is a lot of time involved in getting that binding on. And believe it or not, this is on the low end of what quilting can cost a quilter if they don't have the expensive equipment to do it themselves. Long-arm quilting machines cost more than the price of a new car. Trust me. That is true in every sense of the word.

House warming gift summer 2011

For me, it really is about giving a gift that might mean something to someone. The time involved, not to mention the hours spent on creating something beautiful and then to just give it away is often not an easy thing to do. Especially when it is not regarded as a real gift in the first place. It has caused me to rethink who and what I gift to anyone in the future. I want my works of art ( if I can be so bold as to say that ) to be received and treasured. It is a piece of me. Something tangible to serve as a reminder of the love I had for that person as I made it with them in mind. Something to outlast my days here on earth and to serve as a memory and treasured.

Back of house warming gift quilt

This summer I bit the bullet and tried something on my own. I tried machine quilting on my own with the smallest quilt I have ever made. I was able to maneuver this one through my machine and finished it start to finish on my own. I felt like I had accomplished so much.

 Hugs and Well Wishes Quilt - finished summer 2011

This child's quilt and small doll quilt was made and sent to a little girl in Dubai undergoing treatment for Leukemia. At four years old, that is a scary thing to face and I wanted her to have something bright and cheery to take with her to the hospital.

Back of Well Wishes quilt

 I was most proud of this little quilt as it was the first quilt I had actually quilted myself and it was bittersweet sending it off to such a far away land. I know the child's parents appreciated this gift and that is what matters most to me. If you have a moment, say a prayer for her continued healing in 2012.

Doll quilt to match well wishes quilt - with duckie

Below is the last finish for 2011. It was a Christmas gift for a friend of my son's. They were over the moon with this quilt. It was a special one to me as well, as my son gave me an idea of what he wanted and that was it. No pattern. Just out of my head onto fabric came the design. My year finished off on a high note as the appreciation for this gift overshadowed any under-appreciation on others throughout the year. For me, that is what it is all about.

Cowgirl Cross Quilt Finished December 2011

So....in closing, I found that in talking to other quilters, I am not the only one that experiences these types of hurt feelings. One lady said she will never make another thing for any one in her family. I thought how sad is that??? But I can certainly see why she would say that. I don't know if it is a sign of the times or the fact that some can not put a price on this type of gift therefore it is not something of value in their eyes. It boggles my mind.

And to the person who emailed me that question that I have neglected to answer after all this time. Let me say, I am sorry. I guess honestly there are lots of variables in the actual price of each quilt, but they are certainly not something these days that are inexpensive to make.

I'd like you to know, when I sketched out a plan for quilts I want to make in 2012. I have added a special quilt that will be coming to you. The fabrics have all been purchased, I just need to find a pattern I like to go with the special fabrics I have purchased to use in a quilt just for you and your sweet husband! I know without a doubt you will love what I purchased....as you see....we have the same loves on many levels, no matter how short or tall! 

Choose Joy Quilt - gifted to Sara's mother finished October 2011

Nothing like starting off the new year with a rant.....which really was not supposed to be a rant, but I guess that is where it led! It's OK. for me, I got it off my chest and feel rather good about it!! Funny, how in the three years I have been quilting, I have only kept one finished quilt for myself. I have mad many, but only kept one! I might make myself a couple this year!!  Now, on to quilting in 2012 and for gifting them to special people who know the value of a gift from the heart.

Where Am I? I seem to be lost......

I have asked that very thing...over and over....Where has the person I call myself gone??? A few short years ago, I could work circles around anyone I knew. I'd start early in the morning and not stop until way in the night. Now....half way through the day, I am out of steam. Worn out.

I am finding that I am not familiar with this person I call myself these days. Likewise, I really don't care much for them. I don't like not getting everything done that I feel I should be accomplishing day to day. Why does it seem so hard to focus on any one task for very long? Why is that so hard when several years ago it was not. I feel like Maxine.....where has my Stuff gone?????

I am worn out tonight....and I should not be. I am tired, and discouraged as I guess it is a sign of getting older. Or a sign I need to get myself in gear and get in better shape. It is hard to admit that might be the very problem. What a cycle...needs more energy...has no energy to start.....wow.....I have decided old age is not so fun....or the very feeling that you are getting old......think I will call it a night....Oh.....and it is only 8:00pm.

In considering Maxine's advice....stop whining.....tomorrow is another day......maybe if I don't look too hard, my old self might show back up....with all the stuff that seems to have gone missing as well!! Ahem...... I will at least be optimistic!

Five Minute Friday : Unexpected

Today I'm linking up to Lisa-Jo aka the gypsy mama, who chooses a topic every Friday and writes for five minutes. 

Only five minutes

And the rule is that whatever you write about in that five minutes is what you posts. No editing your thoughts. Today, her topic choice is "Unexpected....."

Ready. Set. Go......

A drive down a city street at dusk.
Familiar.
Mundane.
Nothing out of the ordinary.
But then the unexpected.
A pack of wild dogs.
Seven of them almost cross in the street in front of us.
Six large dogs and one small.
A pure white long-haired dachshund.
A Beauty.
Unexpected.
My heart breaks and I insist we turn around.
We stop and park.
I spring from the car and call.
Whistle.
Offer treats.
Only the largest of the pack hesitates for an instant and looks my way.
A fleeting instant and they are on the move again.
We follow.
We stop again at the next parking lot and the scenario plays out again.
I whistle.
I call.
I silently beg for that pup to stop, and turn my way.
Turn towards a life he/she could only imagine.
It is just a step away.
But nothing.
The pack turns and vanishes behind a fence and out of sight.
Taking that beautiful pure white dachshund with them.
Heartbroken.
The white dog stays on my mind and heart, unexpectedly.
Morning comes and I wait.. wait for my husband to go to work.
I am back on that city street this time at daybreak.
I look and search.
Familiar.
Mundane.
Nothing out of the ordinary.
No pure white long-haired dachshund.
Not so unexpected.

STOP.

Consumer Alert - Pricing at Walmart

Most folks that know me personally have heard me say I don't prefer shopping at Walmart at all. I do however for the sake of convenience stop in about 3 times a month for something quick I might need but usually it is only for one or two things. I don't do my regular grocery shopping there at all ~ ever. 


AND THIS IS WHY

Last month not once but THREE times when I ran into the store for bell peppers and onions when I mysteriously ran out at home, found this at the checkout. If you do the grocery shopping, you know the cost of GREEN bell peppers, and you know the cost of the pretty ORANGE, RED, and YELLOW ones too. The green ones are considerably less always.

Is it a new way to get a few more cents out of the unsuspecting consumer?? I don't know, but you can bet I won't forget them on my next grocery shopping outing at my local grocery store.

When all your pennies count....it pays to pay attention especially during the hurry and rushed season upon us....and shame on Walmart I say! I'd have acknowledged it being a mistake once...but three times in one month is a little eye raising for me! Just thought you'd want to know.

** I did call it to the managers attention the very first time it happened and he said he would take care of it....after the third time in the same month....I guess he forgot.

I Like Big Quilts And I Can Not Lie......

Oh, yes....I do. If there was any doubt, let me remind you that my very first quilt was turned from a full size into a king size just like that. After all, bigger is always better in my book.  I always seem to make large quilts. I have never made a twin size unless it was on purpose and that has only happened once. Lap quilts are not even in my thought process and I have only made two wall hangings and I gave them both away as gifts.

With that being said, I have to admit when I sewed the body of my latest quilt from the crumb along together, I thought....."What happened?"

All the blocks were trimmed to 6 inches. There are eight rows up and down, and seven across. Honestly, I have had this on my design wall all along, and for some reason, the thought never occurred to me that this was going to be small...em.....really small compared to what I am used to working with. This is the photo of all the blocks sewn together.....still up on the design wall. I had to check myself because I was sure something was off due to its size. But I finally just decided to just go with it, it was OK that it was not a gigantic quilt....smaller would be fine.....and it really is not small compared to some I have seen.

Here it is with the inner border added. The Green fabric was my starting constant fabric or focal fabric as Jo suggested. I spent the largest part of the day making an additional crumb border to sew on the outside of this green one. I kid you not. All day.......

My thought was to add the crumb border, then another green border, then the larger 6 inch outer border to finish it up. I don't know what I was thinking. After all of that additional sewing, I decided this quilt did not need that crumb border added nor did it need the additional green border. It will be fine as it is.

I need to work on finishing the outer border and getting it all put together. I may wait until next week, because Jo is so good at giving little tips and tricks for making it all come together.  This is a bright one to say the least. But I think I am really liking it and once the large crumb border is added, I think it will be really a neat quilt. I have even learned to embrace working with a smaller than usual pile of fabrics. I may just be finished with the larger than life quilts for a while......maybe!

You may notice the little block in the lower right hand corner. That is a crumb puppy block. It took me so long to get it the way I thought it needed to be that I am too ashamed to tell you long it took. Just know, I will tell you about it once the quilt is finished.

Quilts tell a story and they speak to the artist who is bringing it to life. Especially true for me with this one. Only, I had no idea what was in store  when I signed up for this crumb along or where it would find a home once it is finished. The scraps, the blocks, the story all came together for a quilt with a purpose. This is one like none other I am sure I will ever make. Thank you Jo for the opportunity and the challenge. There was a bigger purpose planned all from the beginning.

If you'd like to see some of the other participants, be sure to stop by Jo's Blog,  Jo's Country Junction and take a look around. Look back on the crumb post and think about trying this process out yourself. It is amazing how different each and every quilt is going to look, all using the same technique. Have a great weekend....happy sewing!

Vintage Thingie Thursday: Vintage Ads 1956

Welcome everyone to Vintage Thingies Thursday. If you have a love for vintage things, well....you have come to the right place. We have a "dog-gone" good time each and every week!!!
If you are new to this party, please take the time to read and follow the instructions for participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday, click HERE. I try and keep things fairly simple, so  please make sure you follow the instructions. Please only ONE link per week.  

Lastly, if you link in, your post needs to include:

1. the LINK back to my blog and or the button for Vintage Thingie Thursday. I have been visiting lately and when I click on a link, there is no mention of Vintage Thingie Thursday or my blog. 

2. make sure your post has something to do with something vintage. All advertisements will be deleted. If you'd like to advertise on my blog, email me, we can work that out. No more free advertising by linking in.  Shame on those who do this, nothing is free in life.

Starting this month, if you fail to either have the button on your blog, or in your blog post and/or have not linked back to my blog in your post. I will delete your link. 

It is not fair to those who follow the rules to allow others not to do so. I am not being ugly, but rules are rules.....in all aspects of life. So if you find your link removed, check your post, you need to see why that happened. Hopefully, I won't have to do that. 

This week, I have some ads that are dated back to 1956. I love vintage ads and enjoy looking at them. Sometimes, I just shake my head at the advertising tactics, but none the less they are entertaining.

This one is for a Singer sewing machine. You should see what I look like when I am sewing. I wonder back then, if ladies really dressed up to sew in their sewing rooms??? I can hardly believe that they did, but if they dressed just to sew...they are better than I am that is for sure.

This ad for Breck hairspray brings back lots of memories for me. My grandma always seemed to have Breck or Hairnet hairspray in her bathroom. I remember this can well.

Slimness and Pepsi.....boy that sure is a concept now isn't it????? Wonder why it is not working for me???

Love this ad for the General Electric washer and dryer. Love the color and all the promises they make to the housewife who purchasing these appliances. I had to do just that here recently. My old washer died and well, it cost as much nearly as a new one to fix it, so we opted to buy a new one. I tend to get attached to my appliances and don't really care for new ones at all. This was no different this time.....

I thought I HAD to have this front loader.....could not live without it!! Well, about now, I wish I had the OLD one back.....I can not get used to the new one. Let me tell you a few things I have learned.....1. once you put the laundry soap in the machine, don't open the door.....unless you want to be cleaning up soap all in the front of the machine and floor. 2. You just don't add a stray sock or pair of your husband's underwear you find after you start the load......unless you want water on the floor. 3. and don't think you are going to wash a QUICK load.....it takes way longer than I thought to wash a load of laundry in this machine......

I guess I have some getting used to this one before I deem it wonderful and enjoy it. It takes me a while...got to get used to the new and improved first!!!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!! Happy Vintage Thingie Thursday~

Not your ordinary eggs in the egg plate

I like to push myself to the limits sometimes. I have heard all my life you can not make divinity in the humid weather or a rainy day. Well, I decided to push the envelope this morning.......not your normal eggs to say the least.

Served and presented in a vintage carnival glass egg plate. Simply Beautiful in my opinion.

Candy.....Divinity Candy as a matter of face, and...this just goes to show you, that it can be done....it is rainy, humid and yucky here today...this sure makes things look a bit brighter.

Happy Easter Everyone......I added this amazing video by Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill. Take a moment to remember the meaning of Easter....you will be inspired.