Trash to Treasure

My "trash to treasure" this week is this Santa. I purchased him for a couple of bucks at a local
Salvation Army Thrift Store several years. I just love him!

It's Monday!

What a way to start the week. My poor Tom dog is sick. We had a miserable night last night. He was not acting normal yesterday afternoon, but all the dogs here have been kind of goofy for the past couple of days. Anyway, every 5 minutes, he was getting up and moving. So as soon as the vet opened this morning, we were there. X-rays showed air in his stomach and for a greyhound, that can mean bloat. Not good. They did bloodwork, still waiting on results. Can't get him to urinate. But the second x-ray showed the air is almost moved out and he is feeling better. Hopefully by the time I get there at 3:00 they can get a specimen. So we really don't know what is going on. Maybe the bloodwork will tell us something. I can't wait to get him home.

P.s. This is my 100th post. I was hoping for some type of celebration, but just can't get my mind on anything else right now.

P.p.s Tom is home and resting now. Appears to have been bloat, but his stomach had not twisted yet. We are very thankful for his caregivers. They are wonderful at our vets office. Still waiting for blood test results and a urine test. Keeping my fingers crossed for good results!

Trash to Treasure

This week, my "treasure" is this nativity set. I know it doesn't look like much, but it is my absolute favorite Christmas decoration. My dad was going to throw it away when he got his new one, but I wanted it. It is so simple, I think that is why I love it so much. The manger is cardboard. It has a few tears in it, so I am very careful when I get it out. It has become even more special since my dad passed away last year. I didn't realize how much dusty it actually was. That darn camera doesn't know it is supposed to edit out the dust.

Finishing Projects

This weekend found me finishing projects. I have to get all this stuff done for various parties I am attending this week.

The first party is for The Heart of Newburgh. The shop party. I made a quilt for the boss, Becky. Donna quilted it for me, but now it the tedious part, the binding. It always takes me forever. I make such tiny stitches when I hand sew.

Second, the Bunco Christmas party. I am making ??? Can't really say, my friend Teresa sometimes reads my blog, so I want it to be a surprise. But, at least I have until Thursday to get those finished.

Trash To Treasure

I don't seem to be very consistent with my posting these days. But, it is pouring down rain here in Southern Indiana this morning and I am finding any excuse not to get ready for work. Here is my trash to treasure story this week.



When we first moved to Newburgh, I met my neighbor Delores. She was a very sweet "grandmotherish" type and a fellow sewer. She had this really cool sewing machine, which I later found out was a Bernina. I was a little envious then, but now that I am older, I really am jealous. My youngest daughter was just about 2 years old when we met her and we spent hours just sitting on her sewing room floor talking while she sewed. What a seamstress she was.



Delores decided she was going to move to another town and needed to downsize. She knew I had had my eye on this cabinet and she wanted it to go to someone who would love it as she had. It came to her from a neighbor man of hers who used to keep nuts and bolts in it. Can you imagine!Anyway, I was so excited that she wanted me to have her cabinet. I knew exactly what I would use it for. Santas of course! I usually close the doors after Christmas, but if I am feeling like a little Christmas during the year, I just open up the door and look at my Santas.

An Experiment

Lately, I have been reading recipes for Laundry Soap. I know, most people are thinking about Christmas cookies and other goodies. Not me! I have been wanting to try it for a long time. So, off I go to our new grocery store. Low and behold, they had everything I needed for the "recipe". Fels Naptha Bar Soap, 20 Mule Team Borax and Arm and Hammer Washing Soda (not to be confused with baking soda).

The recipe I found is on Tipnut. I made a big old batch. I hope it works, because it makes 2 gallons! Here is the recipe.

1 quart Water (boiling)
2 cups Bar soap (grated)
2 cups Borax
2 cups Washing Soda

Add finely grated bar soap to the boiling water and stir until soap is melted. You can keep on low heat until soap is melted.
Pour the soap water into a large, clean pail and add the Borax and Washing Soda. Stir well until all is dissolved.
Add 2 gallons of water, stir until well mixed.
Cover pail and use 1/4 cup for each load of laundry. Stir the soap each time you use it (will gel).

My family was fascinated. Hey, what you cookin'? Laundry Soap!

First Party of the Season

Last night I hosted our Christmas Party for our Homemakers Group, the Country Friends. Everyone brought their favorite holiday snack and my friend Lori made this yummy punch. After a brief meeting, we had an ornament exchange. Then we revealed our secret pals. It was so much fun watching everyone open their gifts and finally find out who their secret pal was.

At each meeting, the hostess gets to pick a charity that we either make monetary donations or bring items that the particular group might be needing. This month, the charity was Greyhound Pets of America. I brought my dogs up and introduced them to everyone. I gave a short talk about greyhounds. Tom, my shy dog, came up the stairs, took one look at all the people, and ran right back down. The girls, however, loved being the center of attention. As soon as one of the ladies got up, Dixie stole her spot on the couch. Smile and Sadie were loving all the attention. Here is our group picture with the pups. We collected over $50.00 for the dogs. That money I will give to the treasurer and it will be used to help the foster pups. It takes about a dollar a day to feed a foster dog. That will be enough food for almost 2 months. Every little bit helps. Thanks Country Friends!