Saturday, December 26, 2009

December Fun

During the month of December we had some fun stuff going on.
At my work we played this game called Skinny Santa. If you click on the picture you can see Santa better but he is pretty much just like Gumby but a Santa. My supervisor and boss would hide him everyday and who ever found him got a five dollar gift card and then on the 2nd to last day the gift card was ten dollars and the last day it was twenty dollars. This was so much fun. If you are a boss or supervisor and you want something fun to boost morale or let the stressful mind rest this is the game to play. Of course it doesn't have to be a Santa, it could be a rubber mouse or baseball hat.
I am not trying to brag but I will say that I won 2 five dollar gift card and the twenty dollar gift card. I found him 3 other times but they cut me off after the 2 cards so I quietly helped others find him.
Well, yes you are reading the sign below correctly. Someone STOLE our reindeer. One Sunday I had to go out in the rain to take them out of the "not so nice to your children's eyes" position that they were in and then Wednesday when I got home they were gone. We made the sign and ran out of room to write more. But I guess we got the point out. Here is a picture of the reindeer in the back of Keith's truck all lite up last year.

Last summer, the state of Georgia was in a huge drought. It was really bad, in the city of Atlanta they could only take a shower ever other day. Our Governor Sonny Purdue declared a national day of prayer for rain and God has blessed us this year that's for sure. Here is pasture that is about 3 acres that we pass everyday going into town. These poor cows have hardly no place to stand or lay. This pasture has looked like this about 5 times since August. We have truly been blessed and are out of a drought.


Our rainfall as of last week is 30 inches above the highest it has ever been since they have been keeping record.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Have a Very Merry Christmas

I hope that you all will have a great Christmas and get to spend some time with family. We are so lucky to be able to have this holiday to bring everyone together but please keep in mind while we celebrate Christmas, this holiday would not be a holiday without Christ. So, remember the reason for the season.

Merry Christmas!!!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

I Learned Something about Seams

I never knew this and sure wish I had. I would have saved days, probably a week surfing the web and youtube trying to find out how to fix my problem.
Here is the problem: I took two pieces of fabric and faced them right sides together sewed all the way around them except for enough room to turn it right side out. Then I trimed the corners and turned it right side out. I needed it to be flat so I ironed it. But I keep having this no where near perfect flat seam/edge. Yes, you are seeing money fabric. These are gifts for my co-workers.So I emailed Amy and she helped a little but then last night again searching the web for hours, I found this article and read this "The Point Presser side is designed so seam allowances that will eventually be encased and pressed together – like those on collars, cuffs, pockets, waistbands, facings and more – can first be pressed open and flat so there’s no need to struggle aligning the edges when turned." Ta Da that means I am suppose to press open the seams before turning it right side out. Then when I try to iron it flat it will be flat. It worked like a charm. The only down side was that it was 8:45pm at night and I am trying to get in bed by 9:00pm so I well be nice and rested at 4:45am when the alarm goes off.
So Dad if you are reading this a Point Presser is on my gift list for 2010.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

A Late Thanksgiving Post

What were you thankful for on that special day? I was and still am thankful for my sweet and funny husband seen here acting a fool while getting sun block put on at the beach.
I am also very thankful for my house. My uncle lost his whole house to a fire a few months back.

I found this really neat website where you can do a inventory of everything in your home. That way if something bad does happen (cross your fingers it doesn't happen) then your insurance company will have everything they need, all neat and in order. The site is Know Your Stuff and it's FREE so check it out.

Also on Thanksgiving day we moved all the furniture out of our bedroom and I shampooed the carpets. Have you ever heard that if you put ice cubes in the indentations the furniture made that when the ice melts the carpet will pop back up? Well if you did hear that I will just save you time staring at the ice waiting on it to do its magic and tell you it doesn't work.

Here is my Aunt Margaret and Dad on Thanksgiving day at my Mom's.

And here is everyone.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

On SALE Now

Large Maple Turned Bowl

On Sale from $40.00 to $30.00!

This bowl is hand turned on a lathe out of Maple.
It measures 9 1/2 inches wide, 1 3/4 inches tall and 1 1/4 inches deep.
It is great for holding a wallet, watch, business cards, candy, napkins, earrings, change, rings and screws and nuts while putting together those Christmas or Hanukkah gifts.
You will receive your bowl in a flour sack bag made to fit which can double as a gift bag.

Find out more at my store.


Large Red Oak Turned Bowl

On Sale from $45.00 to $35.00!

This bowl is hand turned on a lathe out of Red Oak.
It measures 10 3/4 inches wide, 1 1/2 inches tall and 1 1/4 inches deep.
It is great for holding a wallet, watch, business cards, candy, napkins, earrings, change, rings and screws and nuts while putting together those Christmas or Hanukkah gifts.
You will receive your bowl in a flour sack bag made to fit which can double as a gift bag.
Find out more at my store.

Small White Oak Turned Bowl

On Sale from $30.00 to $20.00

This bowl is hand turned on a lathe out of White Oak.
It measures 5 1/2 inches wide, 1 1/4 inches tall and 1 inch deep.
It is great for holding earrings, change, rings and screws and nuts while putting together those Christmas or Hanukkah gifts.
You will receive your bowl in a flour sack bag made to fit which can double as a gift bag.
White Oak is a pre-eminent hardwood of eastern North America

Find out more at my store.

Custom Twin Quilt

On Sale from $155.00 to $125.00 and it can be ready in time for Christmas with payment received by December 5th.

Your twin quilt will measure 61 1/2" x 90".
You can choose as many colors as you like and it will be made using your color pallet. Just go to www.valspar.com, a paint company's website and pick out your colors. In the "Note to Seller" section list the color name and number. I will look for the best quality of fabric in the colors provided.
It will have Soft & Bright batting and will be machine quilted.

Find out more at my store.

3 Produce Bags

On Sale from $3.50 to $2.50


This is a 3 piece set of reusable produce bags.
The approximate sizes are: 1 – 13” x 13” Extra Large bag perfect for heads of lettuce, romaine, potatoes, tons of squash or eggplant.2 – 6” x” 13” Medium bags good for carrots, green onions, bananas, cucumbers and celery.
You can tie the ribbon on the sides in a knot to keep your items secure or just fold the top over put them in your shopping cart or basket and you will be good to go.

You can find out more at my shop.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Fall 2009 Vege Table Garden

For the fall I planted very late I am thinking. My cabbage and lettuce is still very small and most people have harvested them by now. But this is my first fall garden and Georgia's weather is like a roller coaster ride. But my cover crop makes everything really green so I can fool people that it is doing great. I mentioned planting onions and cover crop here. It is going really good. Right now not all of the onions have come up but some is better than none. Click on the picture for a better view of the onion sprouting.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

My Spoiled Cat

People always say "When are you going to have kids?" but my sweet kitty cat is my child we nap together, cry together and lay around and do nothing together.
Everyday after work I normally come in and crawl under the covers and read a book for 15 to 20 minutes or take a nap to unwind and get my second wind. Aubie always hops on the bed and nudges at the top of the blankets. I hold them up, she crawls under and I let them down. She sleeps the whole time I am in bed and yesterday she stayed their 2 hours after I crawled out. This was taken yesterday.
This was a couple months back. At night I have one pillow that I lay flat and I prop a second one up on the flat pillow. When I crawl into bed she gets up on her pillow for a night of sleeping with her mommy.
Playing in the shower.
This was about 2 years ago. I came home from running errands and found her in between the pillows on my bed.

Terri's Baby Quilt

A little bit about Terri. She and I met when I stated at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia. She is of a age that could be my mother. She is very very religious and trust the Lord 100 percent. Another thing that I love about Terri is that she is very crafty like me. She crochets a little, sews a little and likes making jeans into skirts. She was not blessed with the love of her life to settle down with and start a family and always dreamed of being a Mommy. Terri was approached about adopting an acquaintances unborn baby. This was something that she had hoped, prayed, dreamed and again prayed about and it was coming true. So I felt that a quilt for her and her new baby boy was the right thing for her. And also since I was so so new to quilting that I had that quilting fever. It is not perfect by no means but to Terri and the look on her face and the tears that wailed up in her eyes that means everything.


Terri and Nathanael are doing great. Sacrifices have been made but he is very healthy and a blessed baby. I haven't got a chance to see him but am hoping to do that soon.
P.S. I can't believe that for my company if you are adopting you can take maternity leave but it is unpaid. No FMLA, STD or LTD just PTO.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday's Sewing

Stephanie from Make It...a Wonderful Life has a great tutorial on this Simple Circle Quilt. In her tutorial she uses a cd/dvd and rotary cutter for the circles but I used the Olfa circle cutter tool. I also changed my design and size of the quilt up. I plan to finish it this weekend actually this week I hope.

And here is my November block for Victoria for the quilting bee I am apart of Bee Balm.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Callaway Gardens Bike Ride

Today, my mom and I went to Callaway Gardens for a very nice picnic, bike ride and some much needed talking. Here are some beautiful pictures to show what nice of a day it was. Also my produce bags that are for sale in my etsy shop. My produce bags with the pictures taken at Callaway last weekend.
Look at the nice view we had over lunch. A ham sandwich tasted like a steak with this view.

My mom making faces hoping I won't post the picture on my blog.

The view from our picnic lunch again. Look how you can see the reflection of the trees in the water. That is just too cool.

Promised Florida Pictures

I love looking for seashells and when you have plenty of them that makes it even better.
My sister and dad starting off our walk on the beach.

Not a pile of gravel, but a pile of oyster shells.

A very good band that was playing on a boat.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Etsy, Cloth Napkins and The Florida Seafood Festival

Etsy...

I launched a Etsy shop recently it is called "Purpale Strawberry". I wanted to draw every ones attention to my sidebar and cute purple strawberry logo. I only have two items listed but that is better than none.

Here is a little history on the name. When I was younger I remember my dad and I am sure my mom asking me what I wanted to be when I grew up and I always said a "Purple Strawberry". So Etsy is giving me my opportunity to be a Purple Strawberry. Sadly, the correct spelling for purple was taken so I went with the closest sounding spelling that came to me first.

Cloth Napkins...

Everyone we are finally out of paper napkins in our house. Friday is grocery shopping date night, so I need to get some cloth ones made before Friday so we will have some. Do you have any suggestions of a standard size or type of fabric to use?

The Florida Seafood Festival...

WOW, St. George Island and Apalachicola Florida are beautiful, I could have stayed forever. St. George Island has I think maybe 1 hotel/motel the rest is houses all spread out and pretty private. We walked the beach Friday afternoon and saw maybe 2 people. I know that it is November so that might have something to do with it but if you go to Panama City Beach, Florida you can't see the beach from the main road because of all the hotels and condos. More on this and pictures to come later.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Yesterday's Piddlings and This Weekends Fun

Yesterday I had so much fun breaking the soil from my summer crop to plant onions and cover crop. It was hard, breaking through all those tiny roots that had formed but it felt good to be doing something outdoors in the nice weather. I don't think I even broke a sweat.
Also, I sewed a bit making a new quilt and a project for my new Etsy store.
And....
This weekend me, my dad and sister are going to Apalachicola, Florida for the 2nd Annual Florida Seafood Festival. I am so excited and can't wait to get stuffed with seafood. I think I might skip eating tomorrow and make up for it on Friday.
I hope everyone has a good weekend and has something great to eat.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Awhile back I noticed that Rachel started using homemade laundry detergent and then I noticed that she wasn't using it anymore and gave her reasons here. Since all of this I have gotten a new washer and dryer. So now is my time to make a difference and help save a buck or two since I am using less water now.

Last night I grated 1 bar of Fels Naptha and mixed it with 1 cup of Borax and 1 cup of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda. I then asked my husband if he had anything that was so dirty that after I washed it I would be able see a difference with my eyes and it just not smell clean. He said yes and I grabbed a pair of jeans with a mustard stain on them from earlier that day. I did no pre treating of any kinda and added 1/4 cup of my concoction above (1/2 for top loader) and started the washer. When I took out the jeans they were damp but I couldn't see any mustard. I put them in the dryer and this morning ta-da the mustard was really gone. So now I am washing a load of whites and will be stopping back by Publix this week to get another bar of Fels Naptha to make more.

This recipe and many more I plan to warm my husband up to came from TipNut. Check them out, they have tons of cool things and one day I stayed after work 2 hours yes I said TWO just browsing their site.

Extra Details: My washer and dryer are front loading and require only HE detergents which I have only seen in liquid form so I wasn't sure where to put the powder mix. So I added the detergent where you would add the liquid detergent. I checked the drawer 10 minutes later and it was clean, free of powdered detergent so it washes it out I guess.

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Hand Sanitizer Recipe

Rather than buying small bottles of sanitizer, (and then having to recycle them!), you can make up this homemade version at a fraction of the cost and refill your small bottles when you need them. Store any extra in the refrigerator in a sealed bottle:

8 oz aloe vera gel
12 oz rubbing alcohol

Mix well and store covered. Use on hand when washing with soap and water is not an option.

To increase effectiveness, add 5-8 drops of Tea Tree Oil and/or Lavender Oil. All ingredients are available at the health food store and drug store.

I haven't tried this yet but I am going to the store today to get the aloe vera gel so I will let you know. Also, several co-workers said it rocks.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Bee/Quilt Club Blocks

In October for the Bee Balm club I am in we made 3 Spanish tiles for Shelly in yellow, blue and red and then for the September's $5 Quilt club I finally finished the block. Now I just gotta go get the one for October and have it finished by the 2nd weekend in November. I am almost done with my commitments except for Jane's Disappearing Nine Patch.




Sunday, October 25, 2009

Yummy Desserts

Did you cook a yummy dessert this weekend?
If so share it with me or on you blog and send me the link.
This recipe called for 1 can of Comstock Pie Filling dumped into and 9" x 9" casserole dish with an 18 oz white cake mix (dry) dumped on top and then you mix the dry cake mix and pie filing until cake mix is barley moist and cut up 1 stick of butter and place on top in various places. Bake on 350 for 45 minutes and then let sit for 1 hour. After the hour I put it back in the oven on broil so the top could get extra crispy.
Enjoy!!!