Trash To Treasure

As I sit here looking out the window at the ice and snow, I remembered it was Tuesday. That means Trash to Treasure hosted by Diane at A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words. Since I am being a lazy slug and don't have to go to work today, I looked around and found something right off the bat.

The littlest bear in this picture is my contribution for this week. I had this old coat of my grandmothers' for the longest time. I finally cut it up and some years later made bears out of it. Mind you, it isn't real fur, just some inexpensive coat that she had. I made one for myself and one for my sister. He is jointed and everything. Oh those were the days, when I seemed to get lots accomplished. I sure don't know what happened!

The Race

I got the link to this adorable video on Youtube through an e-mail group that I belong to. It has some great pictures of greyhounds. The song has wonderful lyrics about these lovable dogs as well, so make sure to have your volume on. Click on the picture below and it will take you to the Youtube video. This picture is my Sadie and foster Smile looking out the front window.







Up until recently I was the secretary of our group. But I have been in training to become an adoption representative. I got my first family to work with. It involves calling references and doing a visit to the home to see how a greyhound would fit in with their lives. I am a little nervous, I have done the references before, but I will be going solo on the home visit. Trying to think positive.

My Sewing Room

I thought I would give you all a glimpse of my room where I "create". I call it my sewing room. My little corner of the world where nobody will bother my stuff.

My design wall. I would have really liked to have this much bigger, but it does the trick. I took a piece of warm and natural batting and hung it from a quilt rack. I was skeptical at first, but it really does work. It is so much fun to play around with blocks and re-arrange them.

I put my sewing machine(s) in the closet. I have a serger, a newer machine and then I have "old faithful". Old Faithful is really good for sewing heavier fabrics. The newer machine is nice, it just doesn't seem to be as substantial as the old one. I have my fabric stacked on one side and quilting books on the other. I also have my Barbies in stored in there.

These two lamps give me some extra light. This room is in our walkout basement and doesn't have a window. Plus with a long curtain rod in between them, it gives me another place to display quilts.

This shelf holds some toys and clothes from my childhood.

The armoire serves as a place for some books and most recently a hand-me-down stereo from my youngest daughter. Oh yeah, I finally got my television back. I am all set. Now if I could only get in the mood to be creative.

Brrrr, it's cold outside!

Here in southern Indiana it has been so cold lately. It was so cold my boss called and said not come in until noon. Well, I fed the dogs and back into the bed I climbed. It was nice to sleep in for a while. Besides, it was the warmest place in the house.


The bright spot in my day was the arrival of the new spring Vera Bradley patterns. Twelve boxes in all. Counting and making sure everything arrived. Plus, I got to check out all the new colors and styles. What fun!



My personal favorite, the new color Purple Punch.


I love this little Taxi Wallet. Shown in the new color Cupcakes Pink. It has a clip to put on a
strap, a little kisslock coin purse and best of all a magnetic closure. Vera has redesigned several styles. I must say they have done a great job.

And for you ladies who are trying to be more frugal and packing your lunch. The new Let's Do Lunch bag is so adorable. Much improved on the old lunch bag. Shown in the Hope Garden. Vera's newest breast cancer fabric.


You can check out Vera Bradley's web site or check with your local shop that carries them.

Horse wrangler?

Yesterday morning while I was sitting at my computer visiting my favorite blogs, the strangest thing happened. Here I am in my red hanes capri pajama pants, a long sleeved t-shirt lounging on the love seat with computer and my dog. I look out my living room window and whoosh, there goes a horse! I am thinking what the heck!!! I jumped up and called 911 to see if the sheriff would at least come out and put his lights on or something to alert drivers. I know the horse belongs to our neighbor about a half block away. What to do? I go to the closet, grab the black rubber tall boots, and my dad's old coat. I'm off. I drive to their house, in the meantime I am scanning the area for the horse. Drat, no one is home. What next? I hear dogs carrying on like none other. Look across the street, there he is munching on the neighbor's lawn. About that time, the sheriff pulls in behind my van. I also have the dog leash with me. Don't think that sucker is going around this dude's neck. He is very gentle, but man is he a big boy. He starts to trot away and the sheriff grabs him by the mane and just starts walking him toward his pasture. We get there only to find the little gate open. I don't know how he got through there. But he almost got back to the gate before I could get it closed. Smart guy. So here we are walking back to our cars and I realize this man must be laughing his butt off. What kind of get up is this lady wearing? Please, I say, don't mind my outfit. In the meantime, I am thinking, he will be telling all of his fellow officers about this crazy "horse" lady. This happened several years ago with a different horse. But then, the horse had a halter on and we were able to get the leash on him and lead him home. I was exhausted before my work day had even started. Of course, the yard where I found him, the man was out in his garage working. His dogs had been chasing the horse and he comes out, "I was wondering what all the commotion was"? Typical man. Now, if my dogs were barking like crazy I would certainly see what the "commotion" was. He goes back into his garage like he couldn't have cared less. I certainly didn't want anything to happen to this horse. Much less have a car hit it. Could you imagine the damage? Just thought I would share this funny story.

A Package in the Mail

This is my latest e-bay purchase. It arrived in the mail today. I got it for a little next to nothing, $3.96. It is only about 5 inches tall, but it is so cute. The original price tag on the box was .39 cents. I couldn't resist!

Grandma's Apron

I got this story about Grandma's apron from a forwarded e-mail. I am most embarassed to admit that I usually delete them when I see the "fwd". But for some reason, this caught my eye. Enjoy!

The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, because she only had a few, it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and they used less material. But along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.Chips and kindling wood we brought into the kitchen in that apron.From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

I am in the process of making my oldest daughter an apron. It was supposed to be for Christmas, but I didn't quite make it. The fabric is a kelly green with big white polka dots. Maybe I will get it finished by St. Pat's Day.

A Sigh of Relief!

Well I made it through court today without going to jail. I only made it about 3 minutes and the judge was so disrespectful that I left. Just because these are young adults, he didn't have to act like they were criminals or something. I didn't feel like getting in trouble today. It is over. My daughter is officially divorced. Finally. It was really sad though. When I think back to the day of the wedding, they were so happy. Once trust has been lost, it is hard to get back. God knows she tried. But I was proud of my daughter she held it together and was very well behaved.

Vacation Is OVER!

Monday starts the new week and the end of hubby's vacation. I know this sounds horrible, but, THANK GOODNESS. Patience isn't what it used to be 29 years ago. Every little project has turned into a huge ordeal. I even worked three days this week. Way too much togetherness. On another note, we go back to court tomorrow for my daughter's divorce. Pray that this mess will be over with. It got postponed last time because the soon to be ex-husband had a panic attack and couldn't make it to court. We just want this over. Pray for me, that I don't wind up in jail.

Happy New Year

Hope 2009 has been good so far to all of my blogging friends. Hubby has been on vacation this week, so I haven't been able to post. Working on the "to do list". Not much accomplished. I always have great expectations. I should say unrealistic expectations.

This year, I am not making resolutions, just setting goals. First, I want to get organized. I mean my whole house. Clean out and organize. Second, I want to work on me. Hopefully some sort of weight loss program will inspire me soon! I need it! Third, I want to finish little projects around the house that have been driving me nuts! Short trip, I know.

Recently I have been inspired by a couple of my blogging friends. Donna at Donna's in the Attic is setting a goal of trying to piece a quilt top in a new pattern each month. Wow! I wish I could do that. Good luck Donna. Second, Quilting Nanny has gotten her room organized. She recently referred to herself as a SLOB. And I used to think you had to be messy to be creative!

I am working on getting my Christmas gifts put away. My favorite gifts this year were my Jetmax Storage Units from Michaels. I hope to have all my craft supplies in one place and easily accessible.

Anybody else out there feel like getting their ducks in a row?