This and That

Lots of changes at the Swamp...........

School started- the boy is now in high school- I'll be starting to work with the violin in another week.

Son #3 is in Iraq now. He spent the summer in NJ before going to Kuwait. Lots of worries and prayers for his safety.

Son #2 is enjoying married life with his bride.

Son#1 is enjoying the bachelor life

The nest is getting empty.......or so we thought.

Overnight we went from 3 people, 4 dogs , 2 cats and some fish.....to

4 1/2 people, 5 dogs, 2 cats, some fish and a bird!!!!!!

The Alaska daughter has returned to have her baby in civilization. She brought her dog with her.

And a bird few down and landed on my hubby when he was asleep on a lounge chair by the pool!

I know, I know - this sounds like a TVshow- reality TV! Is it any wonder that we are refered to as "The Zoo"???

Getting Around to It

It seems like I have projects piled up to the ceiling! I have some very creative friends who get ideas that they hire me to complete.......I get ideas that I need to complete.......I start things that I do not finish..........it is a vicious cycle!! Over a year ago I got this little table with good intentions of painting it.............

It moved into the parlor (just until I could get to it!) and got covered with stuff. Soon it became one of those things you overlook. You see it everyday - it does it's job - you forget how bad it looks! Until one day you notice it and remember why it is covered up!

So it got sanded down.

And reglued.

Primed twice and painted.

Much Better!

Now, why did it take so long for me to get around to it?

Christmas in August

It is so hard to think about Christmas and snow when the temperature is 98 degrees! But that is just what I have been doing! Due to the rain last Christmas there were a lot of repairs to make this year. We have given new costumes to 6 of the figures and we are excited to introduce 3 brand new figures this year. They will have a grand reveal before the tour. Right now they are top secret!

Scarlett (the lady in the green top with her back to you) is coming home with me soon. Her costume is falling apart and it is easier for her to come to me for a fitting. She has had back surgery this summer and is doing much better. She was doubled over. It hard to see him, but, her husband is to her left- Rhett. And Bonnie Blue is to her right. I know they are not Victorian characters, but she is wearing green velvet so the name fits!

Thrifty Thursday

This was my big find on the yard sale trail this week! I have stalking painted trays for a while but they are not usually thrifty! I even bought 2 smaller trays that I may hang with this one. But, I really wanted a big one and was afraid to ask the price when I saw this one. $3.00!!! Less than I paid for the little ones!!!









LOVE IT!!!!

I found these cuties at Angel's. I never turn away Wizard of Oz stuff!

I found out from ebay that they came from peanut butter. I can not afford the prices on ebay.....let's just say I spent $17 less on each of these than they were on ebay............really for juice glasses?????!!!!!

Tune is to Tales from Bloggeritaville for more thrifty treasures!!!

Long Time No See !

I don't know how it could be August! The Pugs have been sleeping in front of the AC vents for 2 weeks! The temperature has been in the high 90's everyday. We have been like vampires- coming outside when the sun goes down!
I have been doing a lot of sewing. The most important job has been this sweet baby boy nursery. He is due in a month so I had to get this done. The bumpers are a mix of all these fabrics. The stripe is the bed skirt for the crib and twin bed in the room. The blue geometric pattern is the curtains and the yellow minky ddodt is the changing pad. I only have one bed skirt to finish!

This is the cushion for a day bead in my next project. The cording is pink and white leopard. The pillow shams are the green and white. I have just started this room. The bedspread will have ruffled tiers of all three fabrics.

I have also been practicing smocking. The last smocked outfit I made was worn by Son #2 when he was 2. He is almost 27 now. I want to refresh my skills before the Grandbaby arrives in late February!!!

The rest of my time has been spent getting a certain 14 year old ready to start high school next week!