Claiming my blog ...... crazy stupid!!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Blessings, Cathi

Need a little smoking help . . . . .

For as long as I can remember, this little German smoker house has been in the family.

I don't know how it happened but when I married, I wound up with it.  I sat it next to a coffee cup so you can get an idea of the size.  Including the steeple, it is 5" high.  There is an incense cone sitting on top so now the house smells a little like gingerbread.  The roof assembly comes off to store the extra cones which I purchased recently at an import store in Hendersonville, North Carolina (great little town, by the way).

Dad has passed on (the German side of my family) and I tried Googling about it but with no luck.  Does anyone have any information on this kind of smoker?  All the Google hits I got were for new ones to purchase that were much more ornate.

Thanks in advance!

Blessings, Cathi

Starting a new collection . . . . .

I have collected many things over the years.

My biggest collection is my white enamel pots.  This is just some of them.

And brown bottles . . . . . . 

And dogs . . . . .

And kids . . . . . 

And old cheese graters (no picture) . . . .

And fabric (won't fit in one picture). . . . .

And quilt patterns (still won't fit in one picture) . . . . . .

And WOOL! Lots of wool . . . . . 

What I have always wanted to collect is PEWTER.  It was just cost-prohibitive. But two weekends ago, Dear Hubby and I went antiquing and found these two little pieces.

They are a little banged up but the price was right.  I am keeping them in a cabinet that Dear Hubby built for me.

I hope to have a collection some day that will mean he will have to build a new shelving unit for me!

Blessings, Cathi

The pool is open! . . . . .

With this 90° weather, I thought today would be a good day to get the boys pool ready.

Within seconds - literally seconds - Reagan decided he just couldn't wait!

Pawing at the hose seems to be the thing to do .....

And then Nelson had to kick him out to get a drink .......

Aaaahhh .... the beginning of summertime .....

Blessings, Cathi

Spring Cleaning . . . . .

While I have a little breather in-between shows, I thought I would do a little spring cleaning.

One of the little things that I decided to take down and dust really well (because who knows the last time I did that!) is this birdhouse that Dear Hubby made for me one Christmas.  I don't remember what year it was but somewhere close to 12 years ago.

It was totally a surprise ..... 

He came up with the design himself after looking at the stash of old wood he had laying around.

He can surprise me anytime!

Are you listening, honey?

Blessings, Cathi

MaMa and PaPa . . . . .

The Married One told us on Saturday that we are FINALLY going to be grandparents!

She had bought this little sign over two years ago and hoped to give it to Dear Hubby when the time was right.

Well, the time is right and we are both tickled pink .... or maybe blue!  We have a long time to wait to find out any details but in the meantime, I'm just enjoying this cloud I am floating on .....

Blessings, Cathi

A small dog . . . . .

That's what I sweep up everyday.

This little pile will barely fit in a dustpan.  At least the boys have relatively short hair . . . .sigh . . . 

Really I'm just checking in.  It you keep up with my quilt blog, Shakerwood Quilts, you will know how busy my busi-ness is. 

I am hoping to take a nap in April!

and post here a little bit more . . . . .

Until then . . . . .

Blessings, Cathi

Mighty Mouse is still the king . . . . .

At least in our house.

Dear Hubby and I spent the day deep cleaning the kitchen.  Apparently we have mice.  We have caught three so far but at least one still eludes us.  The bugger is pretty smart.  But we'll get him in the end.  We just have to build a better mouse trap!

It sure felt good to give the kitchen a good cleaning.  Not a spot was left undone except maybe under the dishwasher.  Which is where he is probably living AND laughing at us.

If only I could teach the boys to be mousers . . . . . 

They don't look too thrilled, do they?

UPDATE ..... Got him the next day!  Whoohoo.  Set another trap.  Nothing else so I'm guessing he was the last of them.

Blessings, Cathi

Happiness is . . . . .

having a computer programmer in the family!

Thanks to Computer Geek for hooking me up with a new computer and getting me back into the blogging world!

I'll be back soon with something worthwhile to talk about.  It's amazing what one can do when they can work on a real computer monitor instead of a little 10" netbook.

Blessings, Cathi

Jealousy . . . . .

I think someone is jealous because he didn't get a Pez or Cracker Jacks in his stocking!

Blessings, Cathi

And to all a good night . . . . .

Sorry I haven't been around much on this blog but I do have my B.W.O. (blogging without obligation) graphic on the sidebar for a reason!

Hope you all survived the holiday rush today if you went out.  Me?  I'm still in my pajamas.  Have been all day. What a great feeling.

I made 3 kinds of cookies today - about 12 dozen.

Naked gingerbread men - and they are staying that way!

Took a 2 hour nap.  Made a grocery list for Dear Hubby.  He volunteered to brave it at Wal-Mart.  He said it was nuts.  Tonight, one more batch of cookies.  The boys (the two-legged ones) are putting together a puzzle of Santa quilting while we watch the Yule Log on tv.

Tomorrow morning is our traditional breakfast casserole.  I used to have to make it the night before but since the children are all grown and don't get up quite as early as they used to, I will have plenty of time in the morning.  Here is our version - a little Christmas gift from me to you.  It's a little late for this year unless you have all the ingredients on hand but it's great anytime you need to feed a lot of people for breakfast with little effort.

Breakfast Casserole                            Serves 6           

1 pkg. Regular Flavor Jimmy Dean Pork Sausage

10 eggs, lightly beaten

3 cups milk

2 teaspoons dry mustard

1 teaspoon salt

6 cups cubed bread

2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 cup sliced mushrooms (optional)

1/2 cup thin-sliced green onions (optional)

Preheat oven to 325 F. In large skillet, cook sausage over medium-high heat, stirring frequently until thoroughly cooked and no longer pink. In large mixing bowl, combine eggs, milk, mustard and salt; stir well. Distribute half the bread evenly in a buttered 9" x 13" x 2" baking dish. Sprinkle with half the pepper, half the cheese, half the sausage and half of each optional ingredient. Repeat layering using remaining bread, pepper, cheese, sausage and optional ingredients. Pour egg mixture evenly over casserole. Bake uncovered for 55-60 minutes, or until eggs are set. Tent with foil if top begins to brown too quickly. Note: may be assembled ahead and refrigerated up to 12 hours before baking. 

Merry Christmas, every one.

Blessings, Cathi

I was hoping . . . . .

When I saw Leann's blog the other day with her post about her beautiful handmade Christmas cards, I was just  hoping that one was for me.  And it was!

I've been on Leann's handmade list for several years ago, not just for Christmas but other times during the year.  But I would hate to assume.  She does such a beautiful job on her cards.

Thank you, Leann, and Merry Christmas to you, too!!

Blessings, Cathi

A tribute to Che Che . . . . .

Please see a tribute that I have written about my sister that passed away yesterday on my quilting blog .....

Blessings, Cathi

Bigger is better . . . . .

I talked to my cousin the other day.  She asked why I hadn't been blogging as much lately.

Well, two reasons . . . .

1)  I have had 4 vending/retreat obligations the last 4 weekends.  I have taken a few pictures but mostly when I am not loading the van, unloading the van, dying more wool because I didn't get as much done as I thought in August and generally working my little fingers to the bone, I am trying to catch up on some sleep.

2)  The computer is on death's door.  I haven't seen the blue screen of death yet but it's getting close.  Fortunately Computer Geek says it is possible to save it.  I just have to wait until Friday afternoon when he gets off work.  I did backup all my files to an external hard drive (Whoohoo) but not the emails or the contact list.

In the meantime, I am working on this . . . .

My adorable little netbook.  And when I say little, I mean little.  The screen is only 10".  It's not so much fun to blog or even read blogs on that little screen with my old eyes. 

It doesn't have any of the Office products so I can't do a whole lot of some things I'm supposed to be working on - like writing a new pattern for my Wool Journal that I taught at retreat.  I have WordPad but when I open a Word document the format can go all wonky on me.

Anyway, here's hoping that Computer Geek can fix it with minimal expense.  Since I backed up files, I'm not TOO worried but I just don't have the money for a whole new computer right now.

Blessings, Cathi

PS.  Happy Birthday to the Married One!!      32 TODAY !!

Fred's new head . . . . .

Fred has made his appearance again this year - a little thicker again - but he's still hanging in with us.

Here he is from 3 years ago . . . .

Over the years, he has begun to fade . . . .

. . . and I noticed he is coming much more spread out around the neck and his shirt a little tighter across the chest!

Maybe spending too much time in the sun . . . .

So time for a new head . . . .

I hope Fred will be with us for a few more years.  Time to put Fred on a diet, too!

As far as my diet is concerned, I haven't gained anything but haven't lost anything.  No small feat considering I have been traveling and having to eat out every weekend.  At least I haven't gained like Fred has!!

Blessings, Cathi

Just fantastic . . . . .

Lookie what Ivonne from the Crackling Crows just posted!

Can't wait to get it and hang in the sewing room.  She does such wonderful work.  I stole the pic from her blog because not only is she a great artist but a great photographer as well.

Blessings, Cathi

Bathroom wall . . . . .

Sorry I have been MIA on this blog lately but I have been gone two weekends in a row vending at shows again.  I have a retreat that I am teaching at this weekend and then another show the next weekend.

I did find some time this morning to take a picture of the guest bathroom wall that I finally decorated.  The bathroom is so tiny that I thought it would be easier to take the picture from the reflection in the mirror.

The spot where the pumpkin wall hanging is right now will have a small penny rug taking it's place.  As soon as I make it!  The pennys are finished but they need to be attached to the background.

I just love the pictures that I redid to fit in the space.  I scanned in some of my favorite family photos and changed them to sepia, printed them out on regular copy paper and put into some old, cheap frames that I had painted black and antiqued.

Here is a better look at them individually . . . . . .

 

Me in Avalon, New Jersey, circa 1960

Dear Hubby with his Papa in the tobacco field - 1961

My favorite pic of the older three - 1987

This one you may remember from last year when the baby turned 21

Below the picture of the bumblebee (AKA Computer Geek) will be some iron or metal black stars when I find the ones that will fit the space.  The tin candle lamp was a castoff from one of my cousins.  It was originally the silver tin color that I spray painted with black matte paint.

Hope you enjoyed!

Blessings, Cathi

Hiding the clutter . . . . .

Do your bookcases tend to look cluttered after a while?  You don't notice it until one day when you start to decorate for the holidays, it hits you. Where did all this stuff come from?

You know the stuff I mean . . . . .  boxes of pictures that you will put in a scrapbook someday, your kids yearbooks from every year of school from 6th grade on that they want you to "hold" for them, DVD's, all the electronics Hubby HAS to have to watch the weather channel (just kidding - I meant football or the Bourne Identity in HD). Here is the bookcase on the left side of the living room.

This picture was taken back in June.  The shelf at the top of the spinning wheel is stationary.  All the others are adjustable.  See all that mess below that shelf?  Now you see it . . . . .

Now you don't!

I've had this for literally years waiting for the right project. I tea-dyed it first and hung them with tension rods.  I didn't quite have enough fabric for these three units and the three units on the right side.  I will fix them somehow by either adding some "antiqued" lace or some fabric that is really close.  I don't want a big in-your-face contrasting fabric.  The right thing will show up eventually.

But doesn't it look better already?  It made it look so much cleaner when I walked in the room this morning.

One of the best things?  The remotes work on the electronics THRU the curtains!  No having to move them to use the remotes.  Because I am pretty sure that I would have been the only one putting the curtains back where they belonged if you know what I mean!

Blessings, Cathi

Two years later . . . . .

I posted about this little cross-stitch two years ago in this post, explaining how the name Arline Clause came to be on it.

And I talked about how I was going to finish it.  It only took me two years!  I finished it this week and hung it on the wall of the newly remodeled guest bathroom along with a few other goodies.

I can't show the whole wall yet as there are a few things that are left undone.  You can see the corner of the mini quilt I finished last week that I posted about over on my quilt blog. 

I really like how this wall has turned out so far.  Now to concentrate on fall decorating!


Blessings, Cathi

Two little projects in the done column . . . . .

Did you ever look at a little project and think, "Ooh, that won't take long.  I'll do it tomorrow.".  Only tomorrow never seems to come!

That's what I did with these.  But I did wake up Monday and think that it was time to do them.  So quickly in fact that I didn't take a before picture of the first one.

I found this cute little bread box at the NC State Fairgrounds on the Friday before My Black Monday.  It is in great shape but it was a boring beat-up brown.  The price was right at $10.00!  So a little bit of paint and my favorite Tudor Brown Bri-wax and ta da!

While I was at it, I painted the wall above the countertop in the kitchen.  Remember we had to remove all the cabinets to put in the new flooring last summer.  We put the base cabinets in and made the kitchen functional but then we stopped and went on to other things.  We even had put some of the paint swatches on the kitchen wall last summer.  I'm embarrassed to say, they were still there.  So I painted.  It took an hour!  What was I waiting for?

After painting

Note the coffee pot in the above picture.  Murphy's law struck again.......

After measuring 15 times, I still put the first shelf a 1/2" too low.  So the bread box was moved here and the coffee pot to the right of the window in the picture.  It doesn't look great yet.  I just threw up some things I had laying around the house.  The brackets came from IKEA last January destined for another project that was never done.  The board I picked up at Lowes that morning.  It was a rough cut cedar board....rough cut on one side and smooth on the other.  Only $12.00 for the 8' board and the best thing - they cut it for me!  No trying to kill myself getting into Dear Hubby's shop and finding the right tools which would have taken HOURS.

Anyway, two more little projects off the list.  We may wind up putting upper cabinets on this wall down the road but in the meantime, I have a nice place for seasonal decorations and the paint samples are gone!


Blessings, Cathi