Summer Sunshine

Another school year is finished, and summer is just around the corner.

Little by little she is becoming the strong woman I always knew she would be.

She always shares her song and smiles making the world around us a little brighter place to be .

Photos taken by: Meredith Rineburg

http://www.photographm.com

Garnet Glass

The sun faces my house in the late afternoons and lights up my collection of garnet glass. This is just a small part of my collection, but I enjoy seeing it all glowy.The white teapot set is the one my mother received when she got married. Love the scroll details and the sentamental value it holds for us.

Happy Birthday...Dalton

Today we celebrated my sons 14th birthday...
Happy Birthday Dalton!!

You don't raise heroes, you raise sons.
And if you treat them like sons,
they'll turn out to be heros,
even if it's just in your own eyes.

~Walter M. Schirra, Sr.~

Tea Room

I love visiting tea rooms and cafes. I think my favorite thing about them is the atmospheres they create. All the decorations, tea cups, and the little touches. This one is in the downtown area of Springfield, IL. I really enjoyed the area with its quaint shops and buildings. Wish I could say the same for the food and tea. Despite that one minor detail, it was a nice place and we enjoyed the time spent there. Its a fairly new tea room, so maybe its just taking some time to get settled into things.

Appreciating the View

Could you ask for a more gorgeous setting? Wow! Even if we aren't lucky
enough to own a home as beautiful as this one we can always dream!


(Picture by:mpop.pins http://www.flickr.com/photos/23328887@N04/2965343566/)

This is such a wonderful collage! I love the style of it. Lots of shabby chic and cottagy style. Both pictures have such awesome architecture. Some times it pays off to take a few minutes from your busy day to appreciate the little things.

Picture by: A Storybook Life

http://www.flickr.com/photos/astorybooklife/431019990/

Memorial Weekend

Your Loved One Lives In Your Heart

Many tender memories soften your grief,

May fond recollection bring you relief,

And may you find comfort and peace in the thought

Of the joy that knowing your loved one brought...

For time and space can never divide

Or keep your loved one from your side

When memory paints in colors true

The happy hours that belonged to you.

~ Helen Steiner Rice

This picture was originally uploaded by:

Anguskirk

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27712868@N05/

In the Garden

These are the Siberian iris' I won at the garden club bingo a couple of years ago. I started out with one and they have finally spread and taken off. I was surprised at how they flourished this year! I've only been gardening for a few years --this being my fourth year actually. The local gardening clubs are a great place to get a variety of plants for a fraction of the cost. Especially for those just starting out. When all this started for me I wasn't sure my green thumb would be able to keep things prosperous and growing even though the desire was there. So its wonderful to share your knowledge and plants with someone willing to give it a try. Since then, when I'm able to divide my more hardy plants I swap them with neighbors and friends. We can each add new things to our gardens and get advice when needed. I look forward to the garden club bingo every year! Wondering what spectacular new plants I will come home with. Each spring I have a new surprise to look forward too. Always renewing after a long winter.

Knit Helmet Liners

The pattern for this helmet liner can be found at:

http://citizensam.org/html/patterns/knitting_instructions_helmetliner.html

Friday Night Knitting

This is Knitting Your Way, our local yarn (knitting and crochet) shop. With Jean's help I have been able to fix some boo-boo's in my WIP project. I'm coming along in my "Dishcloth" shawl and hope to get it finished soon. So many projects, so little time! Its taken me a lot longer than I thought it would, but I'm not giving up! This will be my first finished knitting project. I've actually got a long way to go before I can say I'm a "knitter". I've met some really nice new people and there's a lot of projects going on in the group. Every thing from shrugs, hats, dish cloths, shawls, tanks tops, and sweaters. I enjoyed swapping patterns today, and got lots more ideas for future projects. You've gotta start some where... Lots of patterns and ideas floating around. They are all an inspiration. Jean is the store owner, teacher & our knitting nurse. Everyone brings in their projects to work on or be fixed. Soon everyone is planning on making knit helmet liners to go under our troops helmets and will be sent out at the end of the summer. For me this will be a challenge, but I know help will be standing by. ( I'm hoping to be able to add the pattern for those at a later date.) Any way, I'm having a lot of fun with this new craft and am hoping by this time next year I will be a KNITTER.

My New Handmade Everything Bag

I Love this bag!!! It was originally made as an everything bag, but it's perfect for yarns and knitting projects! I'm so excited.I chose the pattern and fabrics & my Mom was kind enough to sew it together for me.(Thanks Mom!) The draw string at the top allows you to pull it shut and tie it on each side or you can just leave it open. Lots of complements on it already:) Its sorta hard to see in the pictures, but the theme of the fabric is Paris.

Garden Flower Fairy

The idea behind this swap was to create a fairy that looked like a flower and celebrate spring.

So, I used a large silk flower and mounted it on a wooden clothes pin for the body. The body was painted with flesh tones and black dots for eyes. Its embellished with tulle, leaf buttons, and yarn hair. All the other ellements are from the silk flower.

Hopefully my partner will be thrilled:)

Find out your fairy name here ...

http://www.emmadavies.net/fairy/

Little Miss Sunshine...(Yoyo Dotee)

This little gal is made up of a number of colorful fabric yoyo's.The challenge was a yoyo creation. The idea for her was based on the dotee doll,which always has a hanger and a tail (beads at the bottom).Her face is felt,and since she doesnt actually have a doll body,it was sewn to another yoyo then backed with a speckled flower. She is mini size so about 4 inches. Usually the yoyo's are turned under and gathered in the middle,but I prefer the raw edges (raggedy) look so I dont really do that step to mine. I do use fray block to prevent it from coming apart. It dries clear and flexable so does not alter the fabric in any unseamly way. I love the look of yoyo's as well as the fact that they are fast and easy to make.

Spring Stitching

These were stitched for a swap called Cross Stitch Around the World.The patterns are from "The Big Book of Cross Stitch Designs" by Readers Digest, stitched on 14 count aida cloth.It
was so fun to send outside of the US.(They went to Finland and the UK.)These patterns were quick and easy to make .My stitching friends are great and have sent me wonderful patterns for future projects. (Especially loved the Wizard of Oz characters:)

Rainy Day

I plan on going to my knitting class in the afternoon today....I have made progress on my "dish cloth" shawl. However, the yarn I chose is sorta hard to work with and is slowing my progress alot.I enjoy seeing everyones projects and sharing new patterns. Its just nice to hang out with people that like the same things you do and talk about the daily grind.I have noticed I cant talk and knit at the same time though....not good! Dropping the stitches are no fun to fix:) I should be close to starting on my second skein of yarn soon. I havent added a color or new yarn to a WIP yet, so I will have to work on that today.

Rainy days are perfect for coffee and a good read, so I'm planning on taking the late afternoon for myself. I have books coming that I have ordered, but in the mean time I'm going to start
"The Friday Night Knitting Club" by Kate Jacobs. Looking forward to some

R & R.



(Pictures above were originally uploded by: wizmo & Julie {SAVE GAZA}
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wizmo/318353048/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jo0olz/2233067718/ )

Handknit Heroes

I just received my first two issues of the new Handknit Heroes Comics. They are so fun!! Its a knitting themed comic book and has a pattern in back of every issue.I really like the idea ...

I first saw it in an issue of Vogue Knitting Magazine. Thought it was odd at first, so I had to check it out. It definitely grew on me. I cant wait for the 3rd issue. Ive really enjoyed them so far.

(Above: issue #2)

http://comicknits.com

Orange Poppyseed Scones

I'm thinking of making these scones and having tea for my moms upcoming birthday.I found the recipe on a wonderful site called ladies historic tea.You have to look through some of the older posts to find it ,but they have some really great recipes! I love this site.

It gives the history of scones and alot of information on teas.

ORANGE POPPYSEED SCONES Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cups poppy seed

1 tsp cream of tartar

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup orange juice

1 large egg

1 tsp orange peel

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

2. Mix all dry ingredients together. Cut butter into flour mixtureuntil it resembles cornmeal.

3. Beat the egg slightly into the orange juice; add liquid mixture todry mix and gently shape dough into a ball.

4. Cut the ball in half, and pat each half out on a floured surface into a circle about 1/2 inch thick, and 8 inches around. Cut into wedges and place on a baking sheet.

http://ladieshistorictea.blogspot.com/

Spring

Spring is such a nice change from all the cold chilly weather. We finally got a swing for the front porch, which I am totally enjoying:)The flowers are blooming and gardening season is just starting here.Lots of weed pulling and mulching to be done soon. I have lots of seeds from swaps to get planted! Flower shopping is soon to follow.Not buying much this year as prices have went up,so Im just going to focus on what I have and get a new bed ready for next year.Would love to add a berm in the back yard next year and get a privacy fence put up for my dogs.Lots and lots to keep me busy.Last year I started putting bird houses out to get the little cuties to come to my yard, and this year we had a house wren take up residence.Yea! Although we cant see the babies we can hear them . I have a great view of their bird house from the porch swing and can watch the feeding process.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day was wonderful! It was really nice to just hang out with my mom and family.The lilacs and iris are all in bloom (early it seems). Perfect weather for a holiday.My mom made my favorite old fashioned sugar pie...Hmmm.(Once or twice a year wont hurt...shhh).

April and May are very busy months for us, lots of birthdays,holidays,school functions,yearly vet visits and graduations.Shew--I can barely keep up! As soon as things calm down I do have plans to work on my crafts, finish my knit shaw, and start this big cross stitch kit .The cross stitch pattern will be a challenge! Its on 18 count navy aida (which is small for me) and has 2 large pages for the pattern.I think the biggest challenge is just getting it started. Even though I have been putting it off, Im excited about this project.It will be a WIP for some time. Its a picture of a three story victorian house. I just fell in love with it!! I know it will take me forever and a day to finish, but I look forward to having it framed and hung in my living room:) Wish me luck keeping it all straight!

(Click image for larger view)

May 10, 2009

Every child has fond family memories that they hold dear to their heart. The one that stands out in my mind the most are the quiet memories of seeing my mother read her Bible every morning as I was growing up. She had this old tattered Bible she would read as I got ready for school. Im very cynical about religious people that put on airs to be "Godly", but I have to say that my mother was and is a true constant in my life....nothing fake there. She's probably not even aware that I remember that , but its one of my favorites. My mom, her old tattered Bible and her cup of tea ....I love you and hope someday Im as kind and true as you are. The quiet ones are the real gems in life not begging to be noticed because they already know their worth.

Pretty in Pink

Prom 2009

You look amazing....How time flies!

MY CHILD

You are the poem

I dreamed of writing-

the masterpiece I longed to paint

You are the shining star

I reached for

in my ever-hopeful quest

for life fulfilled.

You are my child...

Now with all things

I AM BLESSED.

poem by:unknown

(Above: Kelsey)