Deck the Halls

Well, really just the house.  It's a little strange right  now walking from this Christmas scene to Fall and Turkeys inside the house.  I usually start inside, but hubby is working out of town and I had to get him to help with the outside.

We usually do a little more, but I only had the one day. I will add some Pointsettas later.

Love my red door. The little sign my daughter-in-law gave me says....Grandma and Grandpa, Where we still raise a little cane.  And it has a cute little Candy Cane on it. My living room and tree will be decorated in Candy Canes.

When we remodeled, I just had to have a front porch and I really love it, but we face south and to tell the truth we hardly ever use it. It is just too hot during the months you would enjoy a porch. We even installed a fan, but it doesn't help much.

Usually, my sweet hubby just goes along with whatever when I want him to help and doesn't say much about whether he likes things or not, but after dark as I was making dinner he said, "Wanna go outside with me and see how it looks with the lights on?"

Well of course I did and we both stood there looking at it like we had never seen it before. There's something about Christmas lights, that just say  "Christmas is here."

Of course we both know the real reason for the season and celebrate the birth of our Jesus Christ.

Are these real?

Thanksgiving dinner isn't at my house this year and since I didn't have a Thanksgiving post, I was just thinking of something my grandkids asked about a dessert I had made.  My oldest two are spending the week with us and they always ask if something is real before they take a bite.  You might ask "Well why would they ask that?  Well, I'll take you on a little tour of my kitchen to show you. Now mind you, these are only a few of my collection. Different ones for different holidays.

This is my chocolate collection and I use it during fall because it fits in with the fall colors.

I love these little crackers and I am still on the lookout for faux cheese as I have several cute cheese spreaders

These are a favorite, because they really do look real and I don't make bread or rolls regularly.

Okay....what's left of these are real and they don't last long around here.

I really do bake a lot and my hubby likes dessert with every meal, and yes he is one of those, (unlike moi) who can eat whatever he wants and not gain a pound. But, I like having my faux food to display in my many cloches. However, with Christmas decorating coming in the next few days, those same cloches will be filled with little vignettes, I will post later.

A Blessed Thanksgiving to all those who visit. I appreciate every comments and love to visit your blogs as well.

"Me Time"

I had the most fun morning. I got up and on the spur of the moment decided to go to my local quilt store, Strawberry Patches for what they call Bernina Club.  My friend Suzanne,who owns the store, and her staff show all the women who come, all the new fabrics, patterns and products that she has received since the last month' s meeting. Also we get to see models of new patterns. Then we get to show and tell about our projects.  I have to say, I don't get to go very often, but am always rewarded when I do with inspiration for my love of sewing from Suzanne and all the women who bring things to share.

This is what I took to share.

I made this jumper for my 10 year old granddaughter, Drew for her recent birthday. I also made the little matching jumper for her American Girl doll, Mallory.

(I don't know if the color shows, but it is brown with aqua dots and trim)

More Barn Quilts

Sunday afternoon and I should be finishing my cleaning and organizing my studio/sewing room/office. I started on Friday, but got sidetracted....imagine that.  Thought I would take a break and post the pictures of some of the other Barn Quilts I saw while in Kentucky in October. These were all in Owenton county.

These were far from the road and I don't have a camera with a powerful zoom, so be sure to click on picture to see more detail.  I love this one with the silo in the background.

Okay, I know this isn't a Barn quilt, but I'm being a little self indulgent and posting this sign at my cousins MiniMart/Gas Station.  It was so sweet of him to surprise me.

Only in Kentucky!!

Baby, Oh Baby!!

Monday and Tuesday I went with my hubby to the Santa Barbara area where he is working. We have our trailer parked up in the hills at a place called Lake Cachuma. He asked me "Won't you be bored with no car and by yourself for 2 days?"  Silly boy....I can never be bored as long as I have my sewing machine, sunshine, 75degrees, doors and windows open and nothing but nature to take my attention. I thought I would show what I did for 2 days (besides a little cooking)

When I was in Kentucky last month, I found Pink John Deere Fabric. These are a baby gift for my cousins granddaughter as her Mommy and Daddy really love all things "John Deere" and I had made their little boy the same only in Blue and Green.

You might say....two days to make those three little things. Well, I also made three more for my son's (who also loves all things "John Deere")youngest and their "baby to be", but didn't want to be repetitive.

I flipped over the back of the Burpie, but it doesn't show up too well. I used the softest, fuzzy fabric called Minkie.  I got the idea from Suzanne at Notes from the Patch on her November 3rd post.

Great two days, doing what I love to do.

Green Tomatoes

While in Tehachapi last week I was given some green tomatoes. They were expecting frost that night and had to pick them or lose them.  I really don't know what to do with green tomatoes except to fry them, but since I don't fry any more, the only thing I could think of was put them on my window sill to see if they would ripen. Guess what? After one day, see that one tomatoe?  Since we finished our kitchen remodel two years ago, I have always wanted something in my window sill. Of couse my hubby would prefer it be pies, but it's not big enough for that.

The farmgirl wanna be in me would like to grow tomatoes, but alas, I will have to be satisfied with looking at them on the window sill. This is two days later and I am having that first red one in my salad for dinner. Silly how I can  get excited about tomatoes ripening on my window sill.

Oh....see my farmhouse sink? I looooove that sink. Some people thought I would be sorry I did not get a divided one, but I have never  regretted it for a minute. It will hide a lot of dirty dishes to later be put in the dishwasher. Especially if I have guests, and don't want to do them right away....out of sight out of mind.  The other reason I love it so much is that it is perfect for bathing grandbabies. I don't have to lean over the tub and they love spashing around in it. Even their mommy's think it is pretty cool for that.  And great for those large pots and pans. Love it, love it, love it.

Madisann, My Sweet Girl

Happy 13th Birthday Madi!!

Okay, I know I promised not to bore you with too many grandkid pictures, but I have to give them equal time, don't I?  Yesterday was Madi's 13th birthday and because I missed her party on Sunday, (Ventura, remember) I drove to Tehachapi (small mountain town 45 mi. from me where we lived and raised our 3 boys) to take her to dinner. She is my oldest granddaughter, and the first girl for me after 3 sons and 1 grandson.  So needless to say she has a special place in my heart.  She has been doing dance including ballet since she was 3, but just started "on pointe" this summer and got her first "pointe shoes" . Here she's laughing (I love that she is always laughing), but I finally snapped one of her on pointe. This was a big step for her in dance and I am so proud. 

Ventura Flea Market "The end of another chapter in my life"

Anyone who knows me will tell you I have delt with a lot of changes in my life.  As a young wife and mom, I didn't always adjust well to change, but with prayer and God's help I now bounce back and go on.

Saturday, my friend and I cleaned out and closed our booth at an antique store. It was a little sad for me but a relief too as I hadn't had the time to put into it I should have. We took everything out to Ventura Flea Market on Sunday. It was a beautiful (hot) day and I had friends with booths on either side.

This is Gail from Victorian at Heart.

This is Cindy . She has her own design business, called JCee Designs. She had some great treasures, but I didn't get a good picture to show off  those.

A few pictures of my friend Ruth's and my booth. (didn't get a picture of her, she said it's just as well)The weather was unseasonably hot for being right next to the ocean and we were all feeling a little wilted.  The bed in photo above is a vintage1930-40's crib with the bedding made from 30's reproduction fabrics. I made the bedding several years ago for another vintage crib Gail had .

My good friend Suzanne from Notes from the Patch and her husband Bill stopped by to say hello.  She got the cutest necklace at the show made from a scrabble tile. Check out her blog.  A couple of other friends came by also that had purchased these necklaces. What a clever idea. Why can't I think of these things. I really intended to walk down to the booth to see what all the excitement was about, but it was just too dang hot to get myself motivated to move that much.

Anyway on to the next chapter. For several months now, I have wanted to spend more time on my love of sewing. All kinds of sewing: Home Decor, Quilting, Cute clothes and other things for my grandkids and quilting.  I also have for a long time wanted to start a childrens line of clothing made from Vintage Linens. This has been a secret dream of mine for some time and don't know when or if it will come about, but a girl can dream can't she.