Here A Chick, There A Chick...

Soooooo.... if we cannot have Spring, I guess I will make Lemonade out of Lemons and create my own! Check out the fun little peeps we have around our parts!! We also bought my husband 7 chicks for his birthday...totally the kids idea...I was reluctant because I am the one that will probably be kicking these little ankle-pecking creatures out of the way when they are no longer cute and fuzzy...to get their eggs! It is a new adventure we have decided to partake of! We have always had fryers in the past and I have made sure I am far away when "butchering day" has arrived. I can't take it! So, 'Layers'....are the route for me...keep 'em around for as long as we can and hope the fox and coyotes will leave us alone! They are cute and my kids cannot keep their hands off of them...thus, they all have names, too! So, whether Mother Nature decides to cooperate or not, we are making the best of it!

Bridge over Troubled Waters...

We have had a busy weekend! The news was reporting that the Prairie River was under a flood warning, just North of us...and sure enough...it has caught up to our location! The geese and ducks are in Heaven but we have a few concerns! Being that the river is only 55 yards from our front door can be a little unnerving, but we have a small hill as a barrier that protects us...so far. As far as our basement...yup...we have water coming in. Our home was built in the 50's, so we are fortunate that it has maintained itself, thus far! I've been moving things (of course this leak is in our storage area) and thankfully so far...it has just been boxes of my candle jars. I had the brains to put clothes etc...in those handy dandy Rubbermaid totes! Check out how far out our dock looks...thankfully, it is on barrels and is a 'floating' dock. We have learned from past years that when the icebergs and uprooted trees come floating down...they rip out measly docks, in a hurry! So...all this to say, that our May 3rd opening of the cabin is cancelled. We need to keep the driveway fairly usable and we are supposed to get more rain and snow throughout the end of this next week. Please feel free to check out our booth at Log Cabin Gifts and I am working on another fun location in town, too!

Sunday Satiety...

Spent most of yesterday on the run, and it was fun! Went to LCG to change out my booth, finished that...took pics for the website, and stopped at a few antique shops...my FAVORITE thing to do and I do not do it very often due to fear of little fingers grasping...you get the picture... I found some great little wood, alphabet blocks and old hat boxes! Much more...but that will have to be another trip, providing they are still there! I added the latest Mercantile Gatherings magazine...finally...sorry about that, more of my 'Thanks A Latte' candles for Mother's Day and for saying a BIG thank you to those teachers at the end of the school year! Check out the kewl cupboard we made with some rusty chicken wire and what used to be a common bookshelf! It is a great display piece for my candles, for now! (until someone buys it!) It would also be fun to add to your little boy's room if you had the western thing going on...or the rustic cabin! I put a great, iron star knob on it! Check out the table project I had been sitting on and finally found the ambition to get it out into the public! The Flea Market Finds book was my inspiration on that piece! Also added a couple different nite lights that seem to fly off the cupboards for those of you looking for smalls! I also stopped at our local show called "Handmade in America"....other artists inspire me and I have to say, I am inspired! Lots brewing in this noggin' now, so stay tuned! I wrapped up my day with a visit to my 'bestest of friends' - since Middle School! We have been through thick and thin together, births, deaths, etc.... They are building their dream home, after 15 years of dreaming...it is in full bloom and so beautiful. It is a post and beam home and they have engineered it from the days of old...exterior and interior. When it is finished...I will be posting it on my website so you may have a house tour! They are a clever couple! So here I am - sitting back on a Sunday...completely satisfied with the weekend's events!

Trip to the booth...

Heading to Log Cabin Gifts tomorrow afternoon to give my booth a Spring FRESH look before the weekend hits! Last Saturday was a killer day for sales for us. Thanks everyone! These are just a few of the fun things that will be added! I will snap pictures once I have it all set up and it will be all about G A R D E N I N G !!! Oh...wishful thinking and hoping! I am working on some fun little pots of herbs for y'all...can't wait to show you! This is a fun little stitchery that sets us straight...a great little vintage desk that had a new color put on her and some awesome, rusty hardware added! I've stitched up another Welcome stitchery but this will be the last of it's kind since I've run out of the great wool blanket that I had used for the background. A great and warm little frame to add to your summer cottage! Wait till you see the table I had worked on over the weekend...I want to KEEP it! I got the idea out of a Flea Market Style book....copied their idea but used my own word! (I'm keeping you on the edge of your seat!) Tune in tomorrow....

O My Happy Heart...

Nothing could make my day more ~ than coming home, this morning - from bringing the boys to school and after picking up some paint, stain and brushes for another project... The river is now open. There were mallard ducks swimming and geese waddling and it sounded so beautiful with the birds...it was heaven. I am truly a spring/summer girl. This last heavy, wet snowfall had pretty much done me in. It is the prettiest site to have snow on the ground and a moving and tranquil river in front of your home and business. I couldn't be more blessed. My children were squealing with excitement. We feed the ducks and geese for our own pleasure as well as for the customers! Is is usually at the break of the month of May...that we will see the two Trumpeting Swans...they hang out, have their babies and move on.

I bet you thought you were going to see the end results of the projects I had been working on for the shop and booths...well, surprise. This took precedence...and I haven't finished them, yet! ha! It is a tough call when I also work 'at home' with my ' Life Books job'... at which pleasure will get the attention for the weekend! Don't give up on me, though...check back in around mid-week! For now...simply enjoy my slice of Heaven with me...on the river!

Options to Ponder...

The day is getting away from me! Well, the snow fall wasn't quite as horrible as anticipated but we still cannot get out of our driveway! 'Been working on several different projects that probably will not be wrapped up until after the kid's bedtime! Two businesses have contacted me to carry my soy candle line and in addition to our booth at Log Cabin Gifts...I've been asked to consider a new spot in town, as well! So many decisions! I am considering closing the cabin and focusing on the two in-town locations, but keeping the web store. Let me know your thoughts!

Here It Comes Again...

So, this time I am ready! Last week, I was a sceptic...I am a little older and a little wiser, now!

They say we are getting 12-14 more inches of snow tonight. Schools are already cancelled and we have all battened down the hatches. The winds are the biggest obstacle at this point. I was sure we were going to lose power...so I pulled out the candles and oil lamps...I am ready! I also pulled out my sewing machine and sanders (providing we do have Mr. Electricity) and had my oldest son help me drag an old book shelf in, that I am going to make into a fun cupboard (will show you the pictures later) and a fun drop-leaf table. If I am going to be stuck home...I'm making the best of it! Stay tuned for the creations this snow storm will create!

It's S'no Fun in Minnesota

Back from a successful weekend of scrappin'! Our 'rations' were getting low by Sunday but it was enough to give us enough strength to push out four mini vans...loaded with books and totes! I'll explain myself...Saturday night we were hearing reports of snow advisories and a prediction of up to 14" of snow. We thought they were nuts and stayed at our little retreat. Woke up the next morning to find we were in big trouble and no snow plow! LOL Several of us had things to get to on Sunday...as in church, my daughter's birthday party, etc...,after several phone calls to desperately awaiting husbands for the return of the 'live-in babysitters'...we had a sweet husband come out to the rescue. With his four wheeler/plow... he made several swipes through, some shoveling and pushing...we were free...and never looked back! Ha! I did, however, complete 37 pages of my daughter's album...not too bad! As of Monday, here...our total snow fall at the house is: 21"!! Wow! We had large patches of grass and 56 degrees on Friday...what happened!?

To those of you who came out to the shop...thank you! Sorry I missed you, hopefully you had wonderful conversations with Kevin and I will be back on track for May's sale with lots of fun garden finds and makes!

Where's Your Baby Book?

Do you remember a month ago...I had attempted to get away and work on #4's baby book at a retreat? The little princess ended up getting a double ear infection due to a nasty tooth pushing it's way through. So I felt...I needed to stay home and hold her, etc...and missed the weekend. Well, here comes another weekend and I was told I HAVE to go and get that book started...since she turns TWO this Sunday! It is also the weekend we are open in the cabin...and the thought of leaving that to Kevin...frightens me a bit! But...he's a big boy and will hopefully smile at all of you that come out! ;0) LOL So, anticipating leaving my babies for a night...or two...is a little sad...and I'm spending the day with the girls and noticing that Keira is just not herself. Fingers in the mouth...major drool going on and by noon....lots of crying and screaming...for that matter. But, I'm told I NEED to get this project done...so for those of you that come out for our monthly sale tomorrow (Saturday 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)...feel free to ask Kevin to hold my little cherub. She LOVES attention, as she IS the baby!!

I've Been Fooled...

Started the morning by warning my boys that it was April Fool's Day...I could see their little minds and hands, spinning with excitement as to what they could conjure up! Having dropped them off to school and proceeding on my way...I forgot all about this tricky little day. I deposited my preschooler and headed to our daycare to find a big note on her door that said, "Daycare closed for the day - Sorry for the inconvenience". My stomach dropped thinking I would have to bring my little cherub to work with me, as she is entering the "terrific twos". But as that dog gone flu is running ramped in our neck of the woods, I spun around, ever so gently on those wooden stairs and the door flew open, behind me. I kept my distance as I asked her if they've been hit with the flu and she taunted me with the ole' "April Fools" line. I had been Had! Ugh. And I warned my children of this nasty day! ha! As one does after they have been ribbed, I set out to terrorize friends and family with silly little jokes...and I succeeded! Do you know where this day came from in history???? The history of April Fool's Day or All Fool's Day is uncertain, but the current thinking is that it began around 1582 in France with the reform of the calendar under Charles IX. The Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Year's Day was moved from March 25 - April 1 (new year's week) to January 1.
Communication traveled slowly in those days and some people were only informed of the change several years later. Still others, who were more rebellious refused to acknowledge the change and continued to celebrate on the last day of the former celebration, April 1. These people were labeled "fools" by the general populace, were subject to ridicule and sent on "fool errands," sent invitations to nonexistent parties and had other practical jokes played upon them. The butts of these pranks became known as a "poisson d'avril" or "April fish" because a young naive fish is easily caught. In addition, one common practice was to hook a paper fish on the back of someone as a joke.