This and That Miniatures and Life

Sorry to have been missing from here

2011-02-16T00:50:00.000-06:00

The weather has been so beautiful this past week. Today was even in the 40's. It was is nice that I really got spring fever! This is what I am looking forward to. A nice green yard again. I have to look at my pictures to remember just how green and colorful our yard is in the summer. I can't believe that our flowerbeds are all under about 6 years old. Each bed of course younger as we keep adding more. I went back to the first pictures from about 2005 and marvel on how much we have done in the backyard and front yard. Now with the weather we have been having the snow is melting and some of the green is starting to show. I know that we aren't done with snow yet. But it last for shorter periods of time now. Days are even getting longer!

Anyway I haven't been posting much. But there is a reason. I have been fighting with kidney stones the last 3 1/2 weeks. It has been all I can do to get through work, etc. I had 3 really bad days and the rest have been very uncomfortable. I had a Ct scan done on monday and the stones are lower so hopefully I will pass them soon. I am getting so tired and frustrated. I am not good with pain. But think I have held up pretty good. Just didn't want to write posts that sounded pitiful! Like poor me.

I am re-papering the Bellingham Farmhouse kitchen. I sort of killed the paper trying to put waincotting up. But I think I will actually like this new paper in there better. Still have some scraping to do. Maybe the house will like it better also and stop fighting me on everything. lol. This house for some reason doesn't seem to like my ideas. I don't know why I am having so much trouble. Usually I get ideas and they work the way I want. I think this house is just a diva. Very spoiled and can't make up it's mind. lol. I didn't win anything in the HBS (Hobby Builders supply) contest. But they gave all who entered a $30 gift certificate to the miniatures.com store. I am so happy with that as I can always use something, of course. Who can't? Bellingham needs the chair that matches the sofa I have already, so I will probably get that. I saw a cassorole dish that will also go good in there. "Aunt Gertie" has been pretty patient with the chaos which is her house. Some day she may have a home to live in!!!

Well anyway I hope top be on here more often. Teresa

P.S. I saw a magnet that said "Boys are stupid, throw rocks at them". I told my husband...WATCH OUT I AM GROWING MY OWN ROCKS TO THROW AT YOU. He is learning to duck...Just kidding.

Go Packers

2011-01-22T23:59:00.000-06:00

Come on guys tomorrow is the day! Lets get er done!

Texting too much? LOL

2011-01-21T11:51:00.002-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWtDpGM36J8

Me thinks she should get her eyes off her phone!!!

Our Boys!

2011-01-20T12:44:00.000-06:00

They claimed this comforter. They don't like eack other at all! lol

My new FAVORITE song

2011-01-20T02:27:00.000-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NR8tH9tDGQ

Crystal Bowersox--Farmers Daughter
A story of her abusive childhood. I had tears in my eyes, both from the song and her voice. I just love both.

Electrical moment

2011-01-11T23:42:00.000-06:00

A little dry in the house lately! Murphy loves to "fluff up" the fleese blanket on the couch.

Merry Christmas and pictures

2010-12-24T00:45:00.000-06:00

The nativity ornament I had for a few years. The Bunny we bought at the Christmas tree farm

Our tree, It really is straight! I must have been crooked when I took the picture. LOL.

I love my gardning gnome and santa.

The green ball in the net I bought at a greenhouse last year. I really like it. The white ball was a wedding present from a dear friend. The bell is an old ornament that was in the family.

Teddy bear I bought at Hobby Lobby last year. I was hoping to find a couple more this year. I think he is cute.

A Christams ball we bought in Hawaii in 2004 We took our honeymoon 2 years after we married. I love how the lights light it up!

My husband bought me this snowflake this year. Isn't he just a sweetheart!

I love this snowman also.

I bought this ornament for Jeff this year. It looks just like our Welsh Pembrook Corgi Tanner.

I bought this one for him also. The blue roan (black and silver) looks just like out Murphy. The white and red one (orange roan) looks just like the girl (Jenna) I had when we got married. Both English Cocker Spanials.

I just want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and A wonderful, and Healthy New Year.
I have loved reading your blogs and hope to see you all in the new year. Hugs, Teresa

HBS (Hobby Builder's Supply) contest build. TJ's Retreat

2010-12-15T03:00:00.001-06:00

This is TJ's retreat. My 2010 HBS (Hobby Bulder's Supply) contest entry. I should have done a little bit more to it, but ran out of time.I have better close-up but can't seem to find it right now and seeing that it is 3am I am going to stop looking! LOL.I like it though. It was fun to do. Contests are fun to do but not sure if I will do any next year or not. The next HBS one is just a little bit more then I can afford at this time. I will see what the Greenleaf one is next spring. I do have one house that I want to make for a donation. Maybe Christmas angel tree child. I would like to concentrate on that one and The Bellingham Farmhouse. Will just have to see what comes up next year.

Beautiful give away

2010-12-09T12:53:00.002-06:00

A Gathering of Thoughts Rebecca at a Gathering Place is having a give away of this beautiful pillow.

Perfect shoes giveaway

2010-12-05T14:16:00.002-06:00

Patrisan. Is having her first give away. Aren't these shoes just perfect?!! I know my Aunt Gertie would love them in her closet!

Senoir citizen now!

2010-11-24T00:40:00.001-06:00

Well at least in some stores and restaurants! I will be 55 on Thanksgiving! For the past year my husband has been reminding me that I can get senior citizens deals soon. He is so funny...not. I really don't mind getting older though. It hit me more when I was 29 going on 30 for some reason. Isn't that weird?
My husband bought me the color nook e-reader for my birthday and Christmas. I can't wait to set it up! It looks interesting. Especially if I can get my e-mails on it. It will also be nice that I will be able to listen to books as I am working on miniatures! I LOVE books! and now that I can listen and mini at the same time I am in 7th heaven!
I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and those of you who don't celebrate it where you are have a wonderful day! Hugs, Teresa
A friend sent me this...I love it.

To realize

The value of a sister/brother

Ask someone

Who doesn't have one.

To realize

The value of ten years:

Ask a newly

Divorced couple.

To realize

The value of four years:

Ask a graduate.

To realize

The value of one year:

Ask a student who

Has failed a final exam.

To realize

The value of nine months:

Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.

To realize

The value of one month:

Ask a mother

Who has given birth to a premature baby..

To realize

The value of one week:

Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize

The value of one minute:

Ask a person

Who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realize

The value of one-second:

Ask a person

Who has survived an accident.

Time waits for no one.

Treasure every moment you have.

You will treasure it even more when

You can share it with someone special.

To realize the value of a friend or family member:

LOSE ONE.

The origin of this letter is unknown,

But it brings good luck to everyone who passes it on.

Remember....

Hold on tight to the ones you love!

Give away

2010-11-18T02:10:00.001-06:00

Here is a beautiful give away! Her work is wonderful! The addy is http://rebecca-gatheryeroses.blogspot.com/2010/11/vintage-christmas-girl-sachetanother.html

Things I am grateful for...

2010-11-07T01:52:00.000-05:00

No particular order;
My family..I am also grateful that of the 10 of us only my dad has passed away. He was in his 80's.
A wonderful husband...even if I had to wait until I was in my 40's to meet and marry him (first marriage-married for 8 years now)
Being cured of a form of Guillian Barr'e... which could have killed me...with few lasting problems.
Getting through a very bad time with depression. Hearing a voice loud and clear telling me to get help now. Sometimes I think it was my grandpa...some say my gaurdian angle talking to me. Life is so good now.
Friends..I have met and hope to meet some day.
My dollhouses..keeps my hands and mind busy.
Books...always something new to learn.
My boys...Murphy and Tanner..and all the fur babies that came before
Flower gardens...color all year round...even if it is by pictures in the winter
Surprises...to keep me on my toes
Life...see above list...It's all good.
You my followers and fellow bloggers...your friendship and letting me into your lives, (through your blogs) teaching me every day about LOVE and caring.
So with thinking about Thanksgiving I just had to list a few things. I know that I had left many things out. I will probably lay awake tonight with more to add to my mental list.

Taner by some of our plants (landscaping)

My Little boy Tanner

My big boy Murphy

Have a wonderful life my friends. Hugs, Teresa

God's smile!

2010-11-06T12:56:00.000-05:00

I don't know who took this picture or I would give them credit! This has to be a one in a million shot! It sure put a smile on my face.
Not a lot going on here. Going to work on my HBS contest build. (Hobby Builder's Supply) I recieved my order and one piece was missing. Luckily it isn't something that I need right this minute. But I do have to say that I really have never had a problem with them and when I called they said that they would send it out right away that day. Now to get the ideas flowing. Structurally it is done. Just to add all the pieces to make it mine on the inside. I like to do contests even though I don't think I will ever win. But it is fun to try!
It is a beautiful day. Cool, but very sunny. Nice fall, November day. We are suppose to get bad storms on Wed. But as that is days in the future I won't hold my breath. A lot can chance in the days ahead. Who can really predict the weather!
Now off I go to hopefully get all my ideas working on the contest. Hugs, Teresa

Bearcabinminiatures--give-away

2010-10-29T12:10:00.002-05:00

Last chance to enter is TODAY! So hurry over there! Julia has given us 4 chances to enter. Just enter on each of her Halloween posts.
http://bearcabinminiatures.blogspot.com/

Needed a little color and pretty pitcher

2010-10-28T12:19:00.000-05:00

Just needed a little color to brighten my day! Things are a little stressful at work right now. But then again I am my own worst enemy sometimes. I decided today that I will just do my job and not worry about the slackers. But it does get to a person when you and a few others work hard and the ones that slack off keep getting away with it. I received my evaluation tuesday night and got all very proficient markes so I know that I am doing well. We also talked about some of the things that are bugging me and some of the other very hard co-workers he said that things are going to change. ( He also talked to a couple others that work hard). But how often have we heard this! I don't go in and make it a habit of complaining, but evaluation is "a good time to get things off your chest" as the saying goes. Anyway I am just in a low mood right now. So I bought myself flowers! I should do that just because! These colors are so nice and cheery. Really caught my eye. But then, how can you miss these colors...LOL

Isn't this pitcher pretty? A friend gave it too us for our wedding. There are hand painted clear wine glasses to go with it. Each has a spray of pink roses on it. I'll have to wash them before I take a picture. They don't get used much.

Better watch out...!

2010-10-27T00:23:00.000-05:00

It is so windy here in Wisconsin that I just might end up in your yard!
Wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour. I had to walk into the kitchen this morning to see what my husband was laughing at. A squirrel was hanging on for dear life to the side of the tree. Jeff said that he almost got blown off. LOL! Poor little guy! Then I looked out later and he or a family member was in the feeder and he was holding on to side with his tail to the wind. But he wasn't going to stop eating!
There was also rain at times and a rainbow. So pretty. We looked across the street and the leaves would fly one way and then back again. It was like the winds didn't know which way to go.
I guess in Milwaukee, about an hour and a half from here, a roof blew off a tractor plant. The workers said that all of a sudden they could see the roof lifting so they all ran for a safer area! I have never seen wind gusts like this and last so long. Suppose to end about 7pm tomorrow. Southern part of the state is getting worse weather then us, so I am not going to complain. Teresa

1/144th scale, mini cabnet/deskand rummage sale find.

2010-10-20T12:58:00.000-05:00

This is a 1/144th scale building that I made years ago. I look at it now and wonder how I did it. I looked at a kit lately and realized that my eyes and fingers don't work in this scale anymore! LOL. It was fun to landscape it. I built in car display base, which was nice as the cover keeps the dust off. It was pictured in a mini magazine years ago. That was fun to see it in the magazine. Too be young and and have eyes and fingers that still work in this scale!

This is a cabnet/desk that I bought from Manor House Miniatures. They have specials every week and I paid $12.99 for it. Original price is $24.00. I love it! All those tiny drawers, etc. I want to make my Victoria's Farmhouse more on the fancy side so this will fit in perfectly. That house will probably be my last really big house as I don't have room for any more big houses. But of course I have to finish my HBS contest build and The Bellingham Farmhouse before I can even think about building that one! But it doesn't hurt to be thinking ahead.

I always have dreamed about doing the Westville by Greenleaf some day. I love that house. But with the kits I already have I can't see adding one more. But it is fun to dream! I have an arrow in the box that I bought at a yard sale and the Victoria's Farmhouse kit to do. That will keep me busy for awhile. Especially now that I work full-time. The Westville will probably be a special treat some day. I also have a Sweetheart kit that I bought at a consignment shop that I want to do for donation. I will work on that one next year. I would never get it done in time to donate for Christmas this year. Don't mind me, I am kind of wondering around with this post.

This is some pieces that I bought at a rummage sale in our dept at work. The past 2 years we have had a rummage sale and the money goes for food for a shelter. So far we have about $180. That is by us buying each others cast offs. I love the design. They are a small sized set. I like the size and it reminds me of a set from my childhood. Well that is about all that is new here. Hugs, Teresa

End of summer :(

2010-10-11T01:04:00.000-05:00

I will definally miss summer! All of our beautiful flowers, warm weather, etc. But as the saying goes. All things have their season. Jeff has been raking leaves all week. I did help some yesterday and today. But I have to admit that Jeff has done far more then me. I did cut back some of the perennials. I will wait until more die back to do more. With over 200 varieties it takes some time to get this all done. I am so glad that I take A LOT of pictures every year. It shows me how much the flower gardens have grown and also it is so nice to have something colorful to look at in the winter. Fresh snow is pretty, but you do need COLOR. LOL. We picked alot of cucumbers, both straight 8's and lemon. The lemon ones might look like lemons, ut they taste like regular cucumbers. We grow heirloom tomatoes and usually don't get a lot, but with all the rain and heat we have frozen more then usual. Nice for soup in the winter. We also froze a lot of green peppers. We still have to dig the beets. Their are a lot of them also. We'll have to decide on what we want to do with those. Maybe pickle some. I like those. Otherwise we boil them and eat them with butter on them.
I have been working on my HBS, Hobby Builder's Supple, contest building. I am getting there, but I have plenty to do yet. But it is starting to look like something now. LOL. I will post pictures when everyone has sent theiir pictures in. That is mid Dec. I have been working here and there on the Bellingham Farmhouse (Auntie Gertie is happy about that!). She is getting a little impatieent with standing around in unfinished rooms! But will have to get more done before I post pictures as what I have done lately doesn't add up to a lot. Just been kind of lazy.
I don't like the new way of posting pictures on here. I liked it better when you went right to the albumns and saw bigger pictures. Now I just get these tiny pictures to choose from. Maybe I am doing something wrong.
I want to welcome all my new followers. There are so many that I haven't said welcome to yet. Please forgive me for not naming everyone. I am so bad. But I do apprieciate everyone who cares to read what I write.
Well I guess that is all that is new in my world. Have a great week everyone. Mini hugs, Teresa

vacumn herding corgi...lol.

2010-09-29T01:21:00.001-05:00

He is getting serious! As you can tell in the last picture he has a hold on it. He can lift the vacumn and drag it across the floor! It makes for some fun vacumning...lol. If you are in a hurry you have to lock him outside. We had just clipped his claws and when we were done he ran over and started pulling the vacumn out into the room. He knows that we always vacumn after combing his hair and clipping his nails. He is a goofy dog.

Look what I found!

2010-09-12T22:56:00.001-05:00

They had these at JoAnn's Fabric for something like $4.99. I think I am going to use mine as a Christmas display. Plastic paint can that opens on the top. Just like the metal ones. I think it is kind of neat. I also found a necklace piece that I can use for a picture and a bird cage in the jewlery parts dept.
I am finally feeling better. I am not light headed so much. At least I don't feel like I am going to fall on my face whenever I stand or move my head around. Vertigo is not fun. I slept in the last couple of days and that probably helped also. I see the Dr on tuesday and then will probably be going back to work. I still can't be on the computer for long periods of time though.
I worked on my butterfly for the Holocaust Museaum. I don't have to much to do on it yet. I like the colors I did it in. I will show it to you when I get it finished. If you haven't heard of this project go back a few posts and I have a post all about it. Or you can go to The Houston Holocaust Museum for more information. I never even knew that there was a musuem like this in the states. Someday I would like to go to Texas and see this.
Anyway I just had to should you my find. Hugs, Teresa

Won't be here for a few days 5 hours in ER

2010-09-09T18:53:00.001-05:00

I was in the ER for 5 hours last night. after all the tests (blood, urine, EKG) they came up with vertigo and gastritis. Today my eyes are very sensitive and being on the computer is hard. I will be off work until at least next tues when I see my regular Dr. He wants the pills to start working and in case I have problems over the weekend. I never had this before. It's the pits. All I want to do today is rest. I was tested for heart, kidney, liver problems, and infection. Thank God those all came out good. I was like this since last friday and was getting worse. I work at a hospital (housekeeping) and a co-worker who does ekg's took me to the ER and had a nurse check my blood pressure. It was 170 something over 86. The nurse told me that I really should go through triage and have a dr check me out as this was already 6 days of being sick like this. I sure didn't think I would be there for 5 hours!
So I will try to read your blogs when I can, but if I don't leave comments it's not because I don't care. Today I can only stand to be on the computer for short times.

Busy Sunday organizing miniatures

2010-09-06T17:07:00.000-05:00

Look it is clean and organized! How long will it last? The material on the far right side needs to be done yet. You can't see that part of the closet in this picture. I sorted all the accesorries into plastic compartment containers. Kitchen, bathroom, misc., etc. I sorted out a few things into boxes that go into the projects that I am working on now. Cabin and Aunt Gerties Farmhouse (Bellingham). I forgot about some of the things that I have so it was a nice surprise to find them. I have a few things in a box in the basement to sort out yet into the right containers. Then they will be up here with the rest. I also sorted some of my material, lace and ribbon. I still have to go through my Christmas material, etc. I don't have much of that though. On the floor in front of the closet is a box of book (novels). a few pieces of material that I won't use, etc that I will drop off at Good Will. I have alot of miniature magazine on the secon shelf up htat I might give away or packed away. That is the problem as I do go through them once in awhile, but how many times can you read them. The next shelf over I have some book written by Beverly Lewis. I have all the ones that she has written. I am going to go through those and put them into series and drop them off at a shelter or somewhere where someone else will enjoy them. But I have to see if I got all of them back from my sister yet. They are all written in 3-4 book series. All about the Amish. Fiction but she grew up in Amish area and have alot of Amish facts. I love the books. A new one comes out this week. Starting with her very first book is good though as they are more about the older Amish. Each series becomes more modern. This isn't a book review, just got carried away. I also put all my smaller flowers into 2 dresser drawers. Longer stems in one and shorter stems in another. I had cut all the stems down though as they are silk flowers and I don't need all the stem length. I kept some leaves as I might be able to use those.
I also picked up material that I am planning on using in my contribution for the Butterfly Project. Hopefully what I plan will work out. You can see what this is about at my blog a few posts ago.
Well supper is ready. Guess I will go eat.
I hope everyone had a good weekend. Hugs, Teresa

The Butterfly project

2010-08-31T01:50:00.003-05:00

In memory of the 1.5 million Jewish children who died during the Holocaust, the Holocaust Museum in Houston Texas is collecting 1.5 million handmade butterflies for a special exhibit in 2012.

Can you imagine how beautiful that will be ?

Trudi at Two Dresses Studio, felt she wanted to spread the word about this project out into the art community of bloggers, and far beyond that too, and has organized an artist project to collect butterflies from as many of "us" as possible.

I knew right away I was in, I think this is a most beautiful way of spreading love throughout the universe, spreading love and making the hatred in the world less powerful.

If you are interested please click on the link here to find out more information from Trudi, and if you prefer to create and send a butterfly on your own here is a link to the information about the Butterfly Project in Houston.

http://twodressesstudio.blogspot.com/2010/08/butterfly-effect-open-is-calling-you.html You can get more information from Trudi here.

Date night and weekend fun

2010-08-30T00:51:00.001-05:00

Saturday we went to see Eat Pray Love not sure what I think about this movie. I am glad that I read the book first. It made it easier to understand some of the parts. Jeff liked it. Then we went to a restraunt that a co-worker of his told him about. They actually had a gluten free menu and there was alot for him to pick from. His co-worker works there part time so she knew how they handle the food so that it stays gluten frr. First time we had actually gone out to eat since he found out that he has an gluten intolerance. Mild celiacs. I thought my diebetic diet was tough! You should see his. We even have seperate toaster as he can't have my crumbs get on his food. I can't eat his food as his food is way too high in carbs for me. Then we went to the casino for a little while. Working different shifts it is hard to find the time to do things together sometimes.Today we cut down the pear tree. We could never eat all the pears and it was just a hassle to pick them up all the time. We will put a pretty ornamental tree in it's place. Something small. All in all a good weekend.

I am off my diebetic meds. The Dr feels that I can now do it with my diet. The pills plus my diet were lowering my blood counts way to low. Lost about 10 pounds and that has helped. I got my mammogram done last week, all is well so I can stop worring about that for another year. Whew! Now to get my colonoscopy done in sept and eye test then I will be done for another year! Yeah!! Anyway it was a nice quiet weekend. Hugs, Teresa
Off I go to do another favorite hobby...reading

Give away--Lena's and tests

2010-08-22T13:54:00.001-05:00

This giveaway is so beautiful! I would love to win this one. I have the perfect place for it. But will "let" you try for it also. lol She has a great blog. Aren't the items just beautifully made?
http://miniatyrmama.blogspot.com/
Not much going on around here. Hot again as it was all summer. I stained my cabin yeasterday and have a few touch-ups to do yet so no pictures of it yet. Funny how the missed places show up after you think you are done. lol. It looks pretty good. I must have gotten a little bit of glue on some of the logs, but it looks more rustic now.
I have a Drs appointment tomorrow to see about my diabetis and just in time as my numbers for some reason have been a bit low. I put a new battery in my meter so it isn't that. I even tried another meter and the numbers are the same, so will have to get to the bottom of that. 60's and 70's are not good. Also have a mamogram on tues. Icchy! I hate them. But the last one was 2 years ago. so it is time. I hate tests. You want to count on everything being o.k. but still you worry and then everything turns out good afterwards anyways. Which is good. Also feel alot of congestion with no cold so will have that checked out also. As you can see I am a worry wart. Which is why I always put these things off. Then I have to make my corrorectal test done and that I have really putting off...lol. O.K. I am being gross now. But part of life. I took a vacation in sept so will get that done then. Just wanted to make sure I had the two days off.
I bought some more devided plastic boxes to sort out all the minis I bought a few posts ago. Lots to put in order!! I have kind of devided them already so it shouldn't tske too long. Not much else going on around here. So will end here and everyone have a great Sunday. Hugs, Teresa

Many, Many Miniatures bought

2010-08-15T02:13:00.001-05:00

<>Bear with me the first 2 pictures won't leave. There is a caption under one further down. Lots of minis to look at. <>

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Landscaping flowers

Chair legs, mini yarn, spatterware, milk jug, newspapers, wheel barrel, planted box with seedlings, pumpkins, 2 baskets with sea shells, clock faces, candles in holders, chimany lamps, silverware, gold findings, owl, and heart boxes.

Lots of beads, not sure what I am going to do with those yet, but sure I will find a use for them,, trees, 4 scare crows, 1 chair.

10 House Of Minature Kits

More Landscaping

Tools

Vegatable tea pots, tiny fruit, rockinghorses, toy buggy with bear, 2 vases, candy canes, Raggedy Ann and Andy, which I am always looking for, tiny truck.

Beads, gravel, grass, I love landscaping

lace and material

Rugs, slate tiles, gravel, skirted tables, more plants, handmade Irish laceand still more baskets.

Frames or fancy decorations

Instructions for building a 1/2 scale house, sandpaper, Nutshell News and more landscaping

The dollhouse I bought. I want to use this one for a donation for a girl from a Christmas Angel tree. I don't know if it will get done this year though. I'll have to see how far I get on the contest house. So much to do so little time!

Lots of hat boxes, strawberry planters, baskets, wreaths, wine basket, hats, etc.

I spent $100 but after adding everything up against what it would all cost me at a miniature shop or show I think I did pretty good. I went back today for a few more things. Wood strips, baseboards, 1 more dollhouse, and a few other things for about $20 more. Some of these things I bought today are for a friend. She also had some finished roomboxes, and a finshed greenhouse that she about tripled the prices on from the other day. Must have had someone come to say what they are worth. You had to look through alot of boxes and pull out drawers to see everything. It was a lot of fun going through everything!! I'm happy with the things I bought! Hugs, Teresa

After the rain pretties

2010-07-31T15:41:00.002-05:00

Even after weeks of rain we can find some prettiness outside. I took these this morning while it was still misting out. At least the mugginess has lifted. You can actually breath out there now. A bit cooler also. Just nice to off work today. The last 3 weeks have seemed long. I don't know why, just as many days in a week as other weeks lol. We are picking so many cukecumbers now that I am taking them into work to give to co-workers. I guess they have liked all this rain and muggy weather. Best year for the garden in a few years. I got all my shopping, etc done today so hopefully I can work on mini's tomorrow without interruption. Life is good. Hugs, Teresa

Flea Market

2010-07-25T23:22:00.001-05:00

It was so nice out today. No Rain!!! We went to the Shawano, Wisconsin flea market. It is usually a big one and wasn't disappointed at all today. It is so much fun to look around. There were so many things that I loved like the crocks and old bowls, etc. But no where to put them. I did buy one House Of Miniature kit. A Chippendale canapy bed. I thought of a lot of you when I saw some of the antiques, etc. BUT........ we did get an old fashioned water pump like farmers had in their yards or likes ones that are in some of the waysides and parks. It's about 5 1/2 feet tall and is painted green with some red showing through. I'll have to get a picture when we get it set up. Won't be until we get a tree cut down though. We wanted one for our yard. WHOO HOO!!! I love antiques and just wish I had more room in our house for them.
I am also still looking for patterns for making miniature Raggedy Ann and Andy's. Or ideas of different items to use. I did pick some fimo ones up at the Chicago and 3 Blind Mice shows in april. I would also like some soft ones. These will go into a littles girl's room roombox, I want to make it girly. Way different then what I wanted as a little girl.
Hugs, Teresa

MY MUSE IS MISSING!!

2010-07-11T23:36:00.001-05:00

I am so stressed out trying to do anything in the Bellingham or the HBS contest. I don't know why. I have never been this indesisive about working on the houses that I have done before. I think that part of it is that I am trying to hard to make things too real. I think with the contest house I need to just work on another part of it and stop trying to figure out the furniture placement....I don't even have the rest of it done yet. I have most of the logs on the outside. Just need to finish the front side yet. Maybe once I get the second floor installed things will come together better. I am just jumping the gun for some reason. Over thinking the build. I promised myself that I wouldn't stress out over this contest, but for some reason I am having trouble with this.

The Bellingham is an ongoing project. I have alot of the rooms "done". I think Aunt Gertie is ready to put on a construction hat herself! It's funny as I don't have alot to do on the inside yet, but the second floor hallway floor is still undecided on. It is like I have writer's block, but more like builder's block.
Anyone else get this way? What do you do?

More rain today! The creeks and rivers are really getting full. But all the gardens look great. The cucumber are looking the best this year then the last fre years. If even half of the blossoms turn into cukes we will be giving everyone some. Actually the whole garden is doing great. This rain has been great for the daylilies. They are just huge this year and still have alot of buds on them. We will have to get out there and stake up some of the other plants as the wet ground has made some of the tallest ones fall over. Especially some of the daiseys and queen of the prairie. I can tell some will have to be seperated next year as the middles are starting to die out. But it is so great to see so much color. I'll have to download some of the pictures I took today between rains.
I am in Heaven. I found a sub sandwich bun that has only 28 carbs! It will be great to have a different kind of bread for my sandwich at work tomorrow. Plus I can actually eat some fruit or pudding with it! Life as a diabetic! Little things can make me so happy! LOL!
Well guess that is it for my day. Teresa

Need to build an ARK! Pictures.

2010-07-08T02:24:00.000-05:00

Jeff took some pictures while I was at work tonight. After days of rain the ground is getting pretty saturated. We got another almost 2 inches of rain within an hour. Some of it has soaked in, but it is going to take days for it all to soak in. Now it is raining again. It is suppose to rain off and on tomorrow again. I hope none of the plants drown. The walkway in the first picture looked like a river running into a lake. The second picture is another river running between the bird feeders. In the 3rd picture the mulch is almost all under water. The "lake" was almost to the back fence. BUT at least we didn't get the tornado sighting and touch downs that part of the state had. Thank you God! I haven't seen this much rain in years. Teresa

Welcome new followers

2010-07-04T19:59:00.001-05:00

Welcome to everyone who has joined lately. I have let it get away from me. Just lazy lately and then Jeff and I both got the flu followed by bad colds. Been here looking at blogs, but doing little else. Jeff missed a week of worked and I missed 3 days and am glad that yesterday and today are my days off. But back to work tomorrow.

Jeff did some stone work done on the Bellingham Farmhouse. I did a little done on my log cabin, but not enough to show. I just got the paneling on the walls and stained and sealed it. I also marked some places where I need to do some cutting with the dremel. Other then that it has been a lot of resting.
The gardens are doing great. It is so colorful out there now with so much in bloom. The veggie garden is doing great also.
The dogs are getting to use to us being at home.
I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday/weekend. Hugs, Teresa

Question?

2010-06-27T23:00:00.000-05:00

I want to do a winter scene and am wondering what everyone uses for snow. Ground and on the building it's self. All my other builds have grass so I would like to do something different. I probably won't get to that part until fall so hoping I can get something then or before if I get some ideas from you. But then I would really have to be working on this project wouldn't I? I have been so lazy lately. I did do some work on the interior walls last weekend. But my husband was off this weekend so I didn't get anything more done on it. I received the window that I ordered for it so I can finish the outside treatment, then paint or stain it. I just haven't decided on how old I want the building to be. HBS contest, SHHH! Gerties house (Bellingham Farmhouse) is also waiting for work to be done on it. Lucky that Gertie is so patient. LOL.
The gardens are doing great. Most plants are blooming at least 2 weeks early. Some of the taller flowers have to be staked now as we have been having some driving rains and they got knocked over. Luckily none of the stems broke. But it is so colorful, it lifts the spirits just to walk around out there.
We bought Alice In Wonderland today and watched it tonight. It was very good.
Well back to work tomorrow. Weeknds go by so fast. Jeff is coming down with a nasty cold. I hope it doesn't last to long. These summer colds are the worst. Hug, Teresa

Flowers, Flowers, Flowers

2010-06-18T01:12:00.001-05:00

Our flowerbeds are doing so well this year. Everyday is a new surprise. I love going out each day to see what's new. We have been having ALOT of rain lately, but we did manage to get a few more plants in the ground on monday. The first plant is a false lupine, I just love the beautiful yellow color. The second is a picture of part of the top bed. This was taken from the northwest corner. The beds are huge so it is hard to get all of each bed in one shot. The next is a shot pointing east of part of the lower bed. It is a few years old so it's still quite young. The next is taken from the northeast corner of the yard. you can see a corner of the veggie bed, top bed and some of the lower bed. And of corse Tanner our corgi had to get involved. Our English Cocker came out after I was done taking the pictures of course. The next one is new to us. It is called an octapus plant. Named after the shape of the flowers. The next one also is new. It is a Missouri primrose. I just love the buds. The next one is a bush clematis. It is just loaded with flowers this year. The last but not least picture is of a statue we bought last year. She looks so cute next to the circle of friends plant. (yellow flowers). Our flowerbeds are getting huge, but we have something blooming from May - Nov. now. I hope you like the tour of some of our plants. Hugs, Teresa

Scroll down to see them for some reason there is a blank spot.

50 pounds of strawberries later...

2010-06-14T19:51:00.000-05:00

We made 7- 1 pint containers, and 7- 1 1/2 pint containers of sugar free feezer jam and 9 quart sized bags of whole berries to put in the freezer to use later in recipes.
It was so nice out there when we went to pick them. Not too hot and a nice breeze.Fresh berries taste SO GOOD! Now we have enough jam and berries to last us for awhile. We'll give mom a bag of berries and a quart of jam. She will be happy to get them.

We didn't do too much today. We are on vacation so am just taking it day by day. We did pick up the bigger hose and fittings to make our small wallerfall flow nicer. Luckily our pump should be big enough. It is so nice to be able to get outside, we have been having so much rain lately. We needed some of it as we were awfully dry, but it can stop for alittle while now. That was our day. Hugs, Teresa

Pretty colors...NOT!

2010-06-05T14:25:00.000-05:00

On my arm. Last wed. a guy in another department at work came out of a room fast and hit my wrist with the door. Luckily he didn't break my wrist, just a nice deep bruising of the nuscles. So now I am walking around with it wrapped. I have to ice it several times a day and wear the ACE bandage until the swelling goes down and it feels better.
I was going to work on minis today, but it is too hard to work on anything small right now. It hurts to grip anything. Hopefully I can in another day or two. I have off from work this weekend so at least I can rest it. I didn't do alot today except for going to a used book store. I received $28.00 for the books I brought in and used $26.00 to buy more books. LOL! I also went to some plant sales and bought a giant Jack In The Pulpet and an English daisey. I also went to a few garage/rummage sales but didn't buy anything. Just a nice relaxing saturday.
Well off I go to ice the wrist again. Hugs, Teresa

I love this time of year!!! Plants are blooming!

2010-05-25T02:39:00.000-05:00

The plants are starting to bloom! Pictured above is one of our tree peonies. The blooms are so big! Then there is our lungwort with the wild ginger behind it. Next is our False Indigo in her pretty shade of yellow. We also have 2 purple ones. Another tree peoney is next. This one was only about 3 inches tall when I bought it about 5 years ago. It is a very lovely shade of purple. I can't forget our new yellow iris. It really is a nice compliment to the orchid coloered ones behind it. Then our fushia, now if only the hummingbirds would find it. Every year we buy a new piece of art, etc for the gardens. This year is our lovely hummingbird. I just love it! We went out again to a nursery we like about 2 hours away from us. We did manage to find a few new plants, but it is getting harder to find things that we don't already have or that will fit into any of our gardens. But of course if we do like a plant ( and I don't know of many that we don't like... LOL) we always find a place for it. I really need to go out and count all the different plants we have. We don't have many duplicates. We have at least 45 daylillies and 35 Hostas but none that are the excact same plant. So that is 80 plants alone with just these 2 families of plants. Have I said that I LOVE plants?? We still have to plant the ones we bought on saturday, but at 90 degrees I will wait until the weekend when it is suppose to be cooler. Anyway this is a small look at our gardens. Hugs, Teresa

My mini house I have been working on - pictures

2010-05-17T00:24:00.000-05:00

This is a log cabin that I have been working on. I ought the "logs" from a home improvement center. It was by the full sized door casings, etc. The "logs" came in 7 foot lengths and I cut each one. They are half rounds. Flat on one side. I think I might have gotten a little smaller ones but I like the way they turned out. I still have one side to do, but I have to decide on a door yet. I also have to stain or paint them. I noticed a few came loose on the ends so I will have to glue and clamp them down until they dry. It was so nice to work in the sunroom where I can look out at the flower beds. he last 2 days were so nice and things are starting to bloom. Early this year, but I am so glad to see color. Winter is always long. Anyway here are the pictures. I hope you like what I am doing so far. Teresa

Mini's outdoors

2010-05-16T13:13:00.000-05:00

Well actually in our sunroom. It is so nice to work out there where I can see all the flowers growing. I am working on the HBS (Hobby Builders Supply) contest so I am sorry that there aren't any pictures. But it has been a beautiful weekend.
After Jeff got off work yesterday we planted the plants that we bought at the Flower Factory. 13 moe perennials. People always ask us were we find room for more plants. But our beds are not full yet. I don't know what we will do when they are though as we can't make anymore beds. We don't have alot of lawn left. LOL. The lawn that we do have sets of the beds nicely. I wish I could get a picture of the whole yard to show you. I would have to climb up on the neighbors roof and I don't think they would like that idea much. LOL.
Does anyone have a pattern for rustic furniture? Like made of logs or country look. Couch ( sofa, davenport) and chair. I need one for one of the houses. Then I need to buy or print out some country style material. I'll have to look at the fabric store and see what I can find.
Back to work tomorrow so I am anxious to get back outside to work on the contest building. I don't get much done on the days I work. ut we do what we must do to live and pay the bills.
Well off I go to cut some more siding. Hugs, Teresa

20 yards of mulch later and other thoughts

2010-05-10T00:01:00.001-05:00

My husband and I bought 20 yards of mulch for all of our gardens (flower) and still came up a little short! (I wonder how many wheel barrow loads we each did???) We did create a new bed so that one took alot of mulch. We have 3 narrow beds that can still use mulch, but that will be next year probably. He worked on it when I was at work on thurs and saturday morning while I was asleep. But I helped all sat. afternoon and evening. Everything looks so nice now. I slept late on sat. morning because of some issues at work and couldn't sleep well the two nights before. I did talk to my supervisor and hopefully some of the issues will be taken care of. I hate when things build up like that and you really feel like not going in. If nothing else I got some things said that needed to be said. It is hard for me to complain, but sometimes you just have to. Especially when it comes to our moral. Funny how a couple of people can make it hard for others. At this point I wasn't the only one to go to him about them. Alot of my co-workers did also. But life goes on and we survive it.
We had a snow storm friday! It was very hard to see when driving home. It stuck to the grass, but was mostly gone by mid morning. The mulch got covered but the inner layers stayed dry so it wasn't a big deal. It was a very pretty snow. Large fluffy flakes. Almost felt more like December. But it can stay away now! LOL.
I hope everyone had a great mothers day. We went to my mom's on saturday night. We bought her some solar lights for around her garden and patio. She was happy with them. At almost 81 it is hard to figure out what to get her as she is trying to down size. But I know she had mentioned wanting some solar lights.

One of our gardens from last year.

Have a great day, hugs, Teresa

Ain't she cute-Doll

2010-04-29T12:46:00.002-05:00

This is the Marsha Backstrom 1 inch scale doll that we bought at the Bishop International show in Chicago.I love Raggetty Ann and Andy's so she fits in well. I just love her. We had to wait for her as we didn't have our checkbook and had to send her a check. She was nice enough to save her for us. Our little girl arrived yesterday right on Jeff's birthday. He saw her first and decided to get her. I was surprised that he wanted to spend that much, but she is worth it. He has good taste. It is hard to find R.Ann and Andy minis so I was lucky to find a couple more at the shows. I am building my collection slowly but surely. The doll of course is the biggest mini I have. But she is so delicate, we are going to get a dome for her to live in. Can you tell that I am excited that she is here!!!

mini find at rummage sale

2010-04-28T00:35:00.000-05:00

Here is one of our bleedinghearts. At least one branch of it. I took this picture about 1am. This plant is loaded with flowers. We have this one (old fashioned), yellow leafed with pink flowers, a white one and 3 different fringed leafed ones. It is so nice to see all the plants emerging from the ground.

This is the mini find. It is alittle less then 1 inch scale, but it should make a nice conservatory. It is white metal. I have to put some "glass": in the top part yet. The bottom half has "glass" already. I will have to paint it to freshen it up some. It opens from the top. Roof is hinged. A bad picture, but you get the idea. $5.00 deal.

Sorry I have been so quiet. Not alot going on here since we got back from the shows in Chicago. But sometimes that is good. Gertie was very happy with her purchases. Hugs, Teresa

Gertie in Chicago (miniature doll)

2010-04-21T10:09:00.000-05:00

Here is Gertie in Chicago. She enjoyed her stay at the Marriot. She relaxed with a big glass (for her) of diet Coke. You have to watch that figure you know.
She had a great time at the Bishop show and the Brookfield zoo. She especially liked the skinks and the large sea turtle statue. Also had a great time laughing at the chimps antics.
We managed to find alot of miniatures to bring home. The dove stained glass is one that my hubby decided we needed. Now to figure out which house, new or old, to put it in. I did find some more Raggetty Ann and Andy's for my collection. I love the turned vase. Pretty much everything except the furniture and rugs came from the Bishop show. The furniture and rugs I found at an extremely good price at the 3 Blind Mice Show. Also the wolf and deer head. All and all it was a nice relaxing 3 days. It was so nice to get away. We also have a Marcia Backstrom doll that we ordered. Actually we didn't have our checkbook and she doesn't take charge cards so we had to send her a check when we got home. Hopefully our little girl will arrive home soon. Can't wait for next year! Hugs, Teresa

If your at the Bishops show...Chicago

2010-04-16T15:19:00.000-05:00

Look for me. I will be in a blue shirt with eeyore on it. We will be there on sat. I don't know if we will get to any of the other shows. Can't believe that it is here!! Seems like I waited forever!
Dropped the dogs off at the vets to kennel them for the next few days. They love the play-time that we pay for. Also a chance for them to see other dogs. But they didn't look to sure when I said goodby. It is always hard to leave them. Luckily it isn't often. Last time was 2 years ago. One reason we board at the vet office is that if something happens help is there. Why do I always feel guilty???
We leave early tomorrow morning. We should arrive at the hotel by mid morning. Hope to see someone from here or the Greenleaf board. Have a great weekend what ever you do. Teresa

Aunt Gertie in Chicago? You vote. Go or stay home!

2010-04-14T12:37:00.001-05:00

Aunt Gertie has found out about us going to Chicago! She has started to list what she all needs in her house! The list is getting longer each time I look. Now she is saying that she should go along...not in this lifetime...! I think the next few days will be a trying time. I told her that she will just have to wait until we get back to see what surprises I find for her. She is not happy!! Plus the fact that she will have to stay home by herself. Oh Boy! Lucky she is not like Casey's Tessie and can't just zap herself anywhere she want to go. She said that now that she has a purse she should be able to take her money "WHAT MONEY"! and be able to buy what ever she wants. Living with these little people can be very trying at times!! She also said that if he is going she needs all new clothes. Gertie YOU ARE NOT GOING!! She said that she won't take up much space and will keep quiet!! LOL. You know it might be fun to take her. Show her the big "bad" world! HMMM I will have to rethink this. Jeff will think I am nuts. LOL. O.K Gertie how did you get into my brain and plant that thought!
Hugs, Teresa

Softies for Shelby

2010-04-12T12:34:00.001-05:00

These are the two things I made to send, I hope Shelby likes them. I might do something about the seam in the middle of the pillow yet, I am not entirely happy about that. But it is nice and soft for her to rest her little head on. This was a remnant I had here and thought it was cute. The monkey's hat has a ribbon on it to pretty it up a little. Her dress has Winnie The Pooh characters on it.

Chicago/ softies

2010-04-11T23:54:00.000-05:00

http://softiesforshelby.blogspot.com/

Carey from Softies for Shelby and Chicory Nits is collecting softies for Shelby a little girl on dialysis and has a broken femur. Her mother Lorie has a blog. Little Shelby needs something to smile about and if you are able to participate and make something or buy something to send to her it would be apprietiated. All information is at the above address. I finished mine today. I may make one adjustment to one of the softies yet though. But I am going to get them into the mail this week before I head to Chicago.
Only 5 more days before we leave!! I can't wait!! Staying 2 nights, saturday and sunday. Yes I have mentioned this before. I am just so excited!!! If anyone else is going maybe we can meet. I would love to meet more people interested in miniatures.
It was so nice outside today that I stuffed one of the softies and did some of the hand sewing out there. You wouldn't know that we got 6 inches of snow the other day! Well I need to get a few more things finished, back to work tomorrow. Hugs, Teresa

Chicago International Miniature Show..Here we come

2010-04-08T12:50:00.000-05:00

We are going after all. I was suppose to go with my friend, my husband and another lady I use to work with. But my friend has to be in Alabama to help a friend that had surgury and also her friends daughter that had a bad car accident. Please sent out prayers and good thoughts for a full recovery for both of them. Then my husband decided to surprise me and made plans for the 2 of us to go. We are staying 2 nights (sat. and sunday) and going to the show on sat. and the zoo on sunday. Maybe hit some plant nurseries on the way home monday. WhoooHooo! I am so excited! We are boarding the dogs so it is a little expensive, but we haven't had a vacation in so long.
My HBS order came today. One piece had a part unglued, but it's easy to fix. Otherwise the other 3 pieces were good. One piece is on backorder. Now that I have the windows I can start with the siding. I just wanted to trace the window frames so that I got everything right. I still need a door but can wait until I find one I want. Maybe at the show, or make one. I am just so EXCITED to be going and also having a vacation. Have agreat day, Teresa

We worked on the bathroom today

2010-04-05T00:40:00.002-05:00

We installed the over the toilet cabnet, I don't know for sure what I am going to put on the bottom open shelf yet. Maybe a jar of sea shells and 2 or 3 other jars with something in them. I think 3 jars in all would be best. Like I said I haven't made up my mind. But it will come to me yet. We also put the decorations on the walls.
The sink unit is different for us as it is more like a furniture piece with the arched bottom. Tanner (corgi) has decided that this is a great place to roll his toys!
The shower curtain has shells of course and is blue on the edges and a peachy pink in the center. The peachy pink goes well with the walls.
This is a tile picture of sea turtles that we bought in Hawaii.
Our new sink and counter top with the shell soap bottle and toothbrush holder. The fish in the corner is a heavy glass one that I bought in the gift shop at work. the mirror has flowers etched around the border. Just a few things to do for decorations yet and the bathroom will be done.

That was pretty much our Easter. We did have ham and twice baked potatoes and a broccoli salad that I make that Jeff loves. But it sure is nice to have 3 rooms done and updated. (the master bedroom was done a few years ago).
Well I guess I had better try to get some rest tonight. Hugs, Teresa

Easter Blessings to all my friends

2010-04-04T02:02:00.002-05:00

Happy Easter everyone!!! This is what I am looking forward to this summer. This is part of our back yard. I took this picture from our house roof. The plants are just starting to come up after their winter nap. I can't wait to see how much they will grow this summer. I know that either this year or next year we will have to devide the daylilies.

As you can see we have many different colors. We have about 45 different daylilies. All different. This is the biggest patch of them that we have, the rest are scattered around the other flowerbeds. July is such a colorfull month!

I used my 40% discount at Hobby Builder's Supply on April 1st. I got Aunt Gertie a 11 drawer trinket chest for the upstairs hallway. I showed her a picture and she is happy with it. LOL. I have wanted that one for a long time. It was only $18.00 regular price, I think they took $7.49 or something like that off for the sale. It was my highest priced item so that is what I used the discount on. I bought a few other things, but they are for the HBS contest so I can't tell you what they are yet. December seems so far away, but..., I can start on the inside once my order comes as I need to see how a certain piece fits and how much room I have left for everything else I have planned for it.. I am getting excited to work on it now that I have made up my mind on what it will be and have started to buy and make things for it. Chicago International Miniature Show is 2 weeks away and I can't wait! I still want to see if the lady that had the Raggedy Ann and Andy miniatures is there this year as I want to get more. She had some great pieces last year. I wish I would have gotten more then.

Well I hope everyone has a great Easter and are blessed with good health and happiness, Hugs Teresa

Rome wasn't built in a day.

2010-03-29T01:33:00.000-05:00

And either is the contest house. I forgot that I need windows before I can put the siding on...as she slaps her forhead.I did clean up the Bellingham somewhat though. At least it isn't so dusty now. Gertie can actually get into her kitchen. I still haven't done the second floor hallway floor but I want to wait until I go to the show in Chicago to get ideas. I know excuses, excuses. I did glue the doors into the rooms that I have wallpapered and have the floors done. Why does it seem that when you think you are going to have time to really work on something something else comes up? Real Life just gets in the way sometimes. At least I got bits and pieces of time today. Sometimes I just get lazy. I'll have to look through the HBS catalog to see what windows and door will fit in this build.
Well I guess if I want to get alittle reading in before I go to sleep I had better go. I picked up the New paperback book by Maeve Binchy the other day and am enjoying it. Have a great day, Teresa

Crafters Poem

2010-03-28T00:20:00.000-05:00

Crafts are here, crafts are there.

My crafts supplies are everywhere.

I really should clean this mess,

But I like it, I confess.

Floor is littered, chairs are piled,

Kitchens looking pretty wild,

On the table, counter too,

Seems that any place will do.

Hall is stacked with cartons high,

Filled with things folks like to buy.

Garage is full, but so far.....

There's still room to park the car.

I never have an idle day,

New ideas come my way.

Don't know yet what I'll create,

But my imagination's great.

My family smiles, they don't complain,

Although at times I am a pain.

But when all is said and done,

I really am a crafty one.

(Author Unknown)

~~~
WOW does the first part of this poem fit me!!! I seem to have craft supplies everywhere. Once in awhile my husband goes in my craft room and sorts it out. Then I have to find what I need. My table in there gets awfully crowded.
Hopefully after I drop the dog off at the groomers tomorrow I can do some work on the HBS contest piece. I have my ideas and supplies for the outside of the building. I have to remember measure twice and cut once!!Now that Gertie has a few things to keep her occupied I can work on the contest without her glaring at me!
We are suppose to be into the 60's by the end of the week! Already the plants are sticking their heads out of the ground! This is such an exciting time of the year. You never know if your plants have all survived the winter. Usually we are very lucky, but you never count on them all as it all depends on what kind of winter we had. Pretty mild one this year so I don't think too many had too much of a problem. Dailey walks around the yard are a must as there seems to be something new everyday. We have a new (to us) nusery about 2 hours from here that we want to check out this year. More native plants then most places that we go to. We love to go around the state and find different plants. Some of our plants that we have we bought years before they were offered here in our part of the state. It keeps it interesting to try new plants. We might have to have a plant sale next year as our daylilies are going to need to be devided. We are also enlarging our planting space. We don't have alot of lawn left, just enough to have green space. About 1/4 is left of what we once had. The rest is flower and veggie gardens, mostly flower gardens. But it is GREAT to have all that color for months, especially after seeing white for so many months. Of course that all comes with a price....we have to haul mega amounts of mulch this year. We have it delivered as we don't have a truck and then we move it all to the beds. But it will all look so nice and fresh again!
Well, if I want to get to sleep earlier then the past few nights I had better end here. Have a great day everyone. Hugs, Teresa

Auntie Gertie etter not be bored anymore!!

2010-03-26T12:15:00.001-05:00

Aunt Gertie can't complain to much as she has a lot to do now. She has her radio which may be moved into the hallway to make room for a chair, her new t.v, her piano and her violin. Her new purse is also by the couch. She seems pleased to have something to do. She has had all this since sunday and is still petting her new t.v. She is so happy to not have to go to the neighbors to watch her soaps. She also teaches piano to bring in a little money. Now to get her away from the t.v. long enough for her to get a few things done. Being ONE of the firstAnother chair is in the works. People have to have a place to sit down. Yes! Gertie in time. to actually have a t.v. I am sure she will have guests over to show it off!

I feel like being goofy

2010-03-22T00:32:00.000-05:00

So I am going to use this background for a little while. It makes me smile.
I monkey'd around on the contest house. I glued the walls together. Now I can start cutting the wood for the siding I am using. Of course I can't show pictures of that one until Dec.

Can you tell that Aunt Gertie is getting a little impatient with me. I really need to work on the Bellingham and make her happy again. I did find a purse for her (actually a jewlery finding) that I think will be her style. Maybe I should give it to her to make her happy and to show her that I am thinking about her. She is getting tired of living in a half finished house. I will get her TV out of the box so that she can watch her soap operas.

I think maybe it is time to get some shut eye, the monkeys are influencing my thoughts...LOL. Hugs, Teresa

A giveaway

2010-03-21T14:23:00.007-05:00

Marleen at http://marleensminiaturen.blogspot.com/ is having a giveaway. Wouldn't you like to win this, I know I would.

Bathroom shadowbox, etc.

2010-03-21T14:08:00.000-05:00

Here is a shadowbox I did for the bathroom. I might put some rope around the edge yet. All in keeping of a beach theme. Notice that each row goes around in a circle. This to me indicates that love never ends. I did it in the style of a seaman's valentine. They had alot of time at sea so they would glue shells in a pattern to send to loved ones. I also have a shelf that I have to stain yet and a small pail that looks rusty on the top edge and bottom to go on the shelf. I am thinking of finding a small lighthouse to go on the shelf also. The bathroom is done except for decorating.
We raked the lawn today, it is cool but nice out. Actually Jeff did most of it. I am also doing laundry. Luckily we don't have much grass left. Most of the yard is mulched flowerbeds. Huge beds. Remind me of feeling lucky about the small grass areas when we bring in mega amounts of mulch this spring...LOL.
Hopefully work will be better this week. Last week was stressful.
I think I will go work on miniatures for awhile. I want to start gluing the HBS contest house together. I am so glad that I decided to only do that contest this year. The Greenleaf Company one is a little pricey this year. But it is laser cut. Which is suppose to be very nice to work with. It just didn't "speak" to me this year. Even before I knew the price. Now that I work full-time I just don't have the time to get something contest ready in 2 months time.
Well, I guess I had better go fold the wash before I can have fun. Mini hugs, Teresa

Women please read--important

2010-03-17T11:55:00.001-05:00

I received this in a e-mail and thought that it should be shared. It is important for us as the sythoms are different then men's symthoms.

NURSE'S HEART ATTACK EXPERIENCE

I am an ER nurse and this is the best description of this event that I have ever heard. Please read, pay attention, and send it on!

FEMALE HEART ATTACKS

I was aware that female heart attacks are different, but this is the best description I've ever read..

Women and heart attacks (Myocardial infarction). Did you know that women rarely have the same dramatic symptoms that men have when experiencing heart attack.. you know, the sudden stabbing pain in the chest, the cold sweat, grabbing the chest & dropping to the floor that we see in the movies. Here is the story of one woman's experience with a heart attack.

'I had a heart attack at about10:30PM with NO prior exertion, NO prior emotional trauma that one would suspect might have brought it on. I was sitting all snugly & warm on a cold evening, with my purring cat in my lap, reading an interesting story my friend had sent me, and actually thinking, A-A-h, this is the life, all cozy and warm in my soft, cushy Lazy Boy with my feet propped up.

A moment later, I felt that awful sensation of indigestion, when you've been in a hurry and grabbed a bite of sandwich and washed it down with a dash of water, and that hurried bite seems to feel like you've swallowed a golf ball going down the esophagus in slow motion and it is most uncomfortable. You realize you shouldn't have gulped it down so fast and needed to chew it more thoroughly and this time drink a glass of water to hasten its progress down to the stomach. This was my initial sensation--the only trouble was that I hadn't taken a bite of anything since about 5:00 p.m.

After it seemed to subside, the next sensation was like little squeezing motions that seemed to be racing up my SPINE (hind-sight, it was probably my aorta spasms), gaining speed as they continued racing up and under my sternum (breast bone, where one presses rhythmically when administering CPR).

This fascinating process continued on into my throat and branched out into both jaws. 'AHA!! NOW I stopped puzzling about what was happening -- we all have read and/or heard about pain in the jaws being one of the signals of an MI happening, haven't we? I said aloud to myself and the cat, Dear God, I think I'm having a heart attack!

I lowered the foot rest dumping the cat from my lap, started to take a step and fell on the floor instead. I thought to myself, If this is a heart attack, I shouldn't be walking into the next room where the phone is or anywhere else... but, on the other hand, if I don't, nobody will know that I need help, and if I wait any longer I may not be able to get up in a moment.

I pulled myself up with the arms of the chair, walked slowly into the next room and dialed the Paramedics... I told her I thought I was having a heart attack due to the pressure building under the sternum and radiating into my jaws. I didn't feel hysterical or afraid, just stating the facts. She said she was sending the Paramedics over immediately, asked if the front door was near to me, and if so, to un-bolt the door and then lie down on the floor where they could see me when they came in.

I unlocked the door and then lay down on the floor as instructed and lost consciousness, as I don't remember the medics coming in, their examination, lifting me onto a gurney or getting me into their ambulance, or hearing the call they made to St. Jude ER on the way, but I did briefly awaken when we arrived and saw that the radiologist was already there in his surgical blues and cap, helping the medics pull my stretcher out of the ambulance. He was bending over me asking questions (probably something like 'Have you taken any medications?') but I couldn't make my mind interpret what he was saying, or form an answer, and nodded off again, not waking up until the Cardiologist and partner had already threaded the teeny angiogram balloon up my femoral artery into the aorta and into my heart where they installed 2 side by side stints to hold open my right coronary artery.

I know it sounds like all my thinking and actions at home must have taken at least 20-30 minutes before calling the paramedics, but actually it took perhaps 4-5 minutes before the call, and both the fire station and St. Jude are only minutes away from my home, and my Cardiologist was already to go to the OR in his scrubs and get going on restarting my heart (which had stopped somewhere between my arrival and the procedure) and installing the stints.

Why have I written all of this to you with so much detail? Because I want all of you who are so important in my life to know what I learned first hand.

1. Be aware that something very different is happening in your body, not the usual men's symptoms but inexplicable things happening (until my sternum and jaws got into the act). It is said that many more women than men die of their first (and last) MI because they didn't know they were having one and commonly mistake it as indigestion, take some Maalox or other anti-heartburn preparation and go to bed, hoping they'll feel better in the morning when they wake up... which doesn't happen. My female friends, your symptoms might not be exactly like mine, so I advise you to call the Paramedics if ANYTHING is unpleasantly happening that you've not felt before. It is better to have a 'false alarm' visitation than to risk your life guessing what it might be!

2. Note that I said 'Call the Paramedics.' And if you can take an aspirin. Ladies, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!

Do NOT try to drive yourself to the ER - you are a hazard to others on the road.

Do NOT have your panicked husband who will be speeding and looking anxiously at what's happening with you instead of the road.

Do NOT call your doctor -- he doesn't know where you live and if it's at night you won't reach him anyway, and if it's daytime, his assistants (or answering service) will tell you to call the Paramedics. He doesn't carry the equipment in his car that you need to be saved! The Paramedics do, principally OXYGEN that you need ASAP. Your Dr will be notified later.

3. Don't assume it couldn't be a heart attack because you have a normal cholesterol count. Research has discovered that a cholesterol elevated reading is rarely the cause of an MI (unless it's unbelievably high and/or accompanied byhigh blood pressure). MIs are usually caused by long-term stress and inflammation in the body, which dumps all sorts of deadly hormones into your system to sludge things up in there. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive.

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this mail sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life.

*Please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends (male & female) whom you care about!*

As the article said: we don't get the same symthoms, so be aware of your body and what it is telling you.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My thoughts on art and decorating

2010-03-14T00:56:00.001-06:00

Here are two pictures that I have to put in the Bellingham. I don't know why, but these two picture have alway "spoken" to me. The one with the girl- It is Christina's World 1948- had hung in the hospital that I work in for years and has always made me stop and look at it everytime I passed it. I don't know why but it has always facinated me. I think I like the other one for it's simplicity. It is just funny how certain pictures catch your attention. All art is like that. What catches your eye catches a part of you and who you are. I am always amazed when I hear people have someone come in to decorate their houses for them. Do they ever feel like they really live there. I guess a good decorater really gets to know who you are and what you like. But I have to go with what my heart feels when it sees a piece of "art", etc. I am just writing aloud. Just my view on the subject. How many of you feel this way?

WOW!! No FOG!

2010-03-13T15:04:00.001-06:00

We had fog 5 days this week! I don't remember having so many days in a row with fog. Especially dense fog. Hazy out today but at least you can see across the road. It must be this wind we have today that finally blew the fog away. Next week will be in the 50's so that will seem like a heat wave. It was in the 40's this week. But alot of the snow has melted and the daffadils are starting to come up!! Some of the perennials are also greening up. I guess spring is on it's way!! Of course it is still March so we still get some snow, but it won't last. We had a pretty mild winter.
I decided to do one contest this year.I just don't have the time to do 2 without stress. I will do the HBS one. I have more time before it is due to be done. I might buy the Greenleaf one depending on the price as I want to do a garage for one of the houses some day. This kit would go well with one of the farmhouses. But like I said it will depend on the price. But it is laser cut. So that would be interesting. I have never put a laser cut house together. Everyone says that they are a treat to put together.
The bathroom is done except for hooking up the vanity sink and oh yeah and the trim around the window, door and baseboards. The pink walls are a little more pink then I expected, but they go well with the peachy pink in the shower curtain. There is also a steel blue which goes well with the blue bathtub. Not that you see a real lot of the blue on the tub, but it all tying in good. Now to decorate!! I am happy with it. The shower curtain has sea shells on it, so a beachy theme sounds good. We have a sea turtle picture done with 3 tiles and framed that will go back in there. I think a cute beach pail with rolled towels would be cute, not sure yet though. I will have to look around. It's a small bathroom so I can't do alot and it will depend of what kind of cabnet we put over the sink. We looked today but haven't decided on one yet. I will also get a few pretty sea shells somewhere. Probably a craft store. Lake Michigan is near, but we don't get really good shells there. Wouldn't you know I had a box a long time ago of shells that I gave to my nephew. I am talking years ago!! Oh well I know that Hobby Lobby carries some.
O. K. I just got back from Hobby Lobby and picked up some sea shells, now to decide on what to put them in. I think I have a pretty basket. Any ideas to go with the beach theme?
Well I had better get a few things done, Teresa

LIKE PEA SOUP

2010-03-11T01:37:00.000-06:00

I came out of work tonight to dense fog. I am glad that I only have about 6 miles to drive. You could hardly see the lines in the road!! Rainy day. We are suppose to get rain until next monday. Better then snow though.
The bathroom is done except for hooking up the sink and decorating also need to get a mirror or medicine cabnet. Going with a beachy theme. We have a framed 3 tile picture of a sea turtle that we bought when we vacationed in Hawii. Now to decide on what else to put in there.
Murphy was asleep on the couch. He just woke up howling. He does that once in awhile. Really a eerie sound.
There hasn't been much else happening this week. Sometimes boring is GOOD. Teresa

What a beautiful day....

2010-03-08T01:13:00.000-06:00

It was in the 40's and so sunny. Lots of birds by the bird feeder. We had some of the windows open and it smelled like spring...well when you could smell anything over the smell of primer. Jeff got the bathroom walls primed and other projects done in there. Tomorrow he will paint. Hopefully it will be one coat. but more likely it will be two. I spent the day vacumning the house, laundry and grooming the dogs. I used the furminater on Tanner (corgi) this is a really good grooming tool. It reall takes out the loose hair. It is one tool that I found to really work. I think he sheds for a living. I also trimmed the bottoms of Murphy's feet as he was sliding on the wood floors too much ( English Cocker Spanial). We really do need to get him into the groomers. But I was afraid of him slipping and getting hurt. I usually do this once or twice between groomings. They were both so good.
Tanner of course being a herding breed love to herd the vacumn. He loves to grab any part he can and can actually lift it off the floor. I always have to put him outside as it is hard to vacumn when the vacumn is airborn and dragged every-where but where you want to vacumn! If you don't mind hair and a vacumn wrangler get a corgi they are so amusing. You never know what he is going to come up with next.
Then we went to the store and bought a new shower curtain and rug. In a few days we will have a "new" bathroom. It will be so nice to have a sink again!
All-in-all it was a great day. Teresa

I am o.k. at sewing

2010-03-06T15:19:00.000-06:00

These are the curtains I made for the kitchen. They have a tuscan style print. It is kind of hard to see but their is green piping along the bottom. Jeff has to adjust one end up a tiny bit as I was a tiny bit crooked. I couldn't get a good picture because of the shadow from the decorative cabnet trim. The fringe has all the colors that are in the material. Now I think I will cut out the curtains for the window in the door going out to the garage. My eyes are really tired now (I have very weak eyes). The fringe was surprisingly easy. I though it would be harder to sew because the top of the trim was so thick. The piping was the worst. I never did that before. Not perfect, but I am still proud of them. O.K. enough playing around, ack to work.

Award!

2010-03-06T02:52:00.011-06:00

Thank you Allison fron http://www.miniaturealsort.blogspot.com/ for the Kreativ Blogger award.
That was so nice of you.
I would like to nominate:
Lara- http://www.larasminiatureworld.blogspot.com/
Mags- http://mags-nificentminiatures.blogspot.com/
Jody- http://www.peachbloosomhill.blogspot.com/
Julia- http://www.bearcabinminiatures.blogspot.com/
Tink- http://www.minitink.blogspot.com/
De- http://delightfulminis.blogspot.com/
Josje- http://josje-bouwt.blogspot.com/

7 things about me:
1 I LOVE green
2. I love to read everyones blogs!!!
3. I didn't get married until I was 47
4. I love all plants and have huge gardens
5. My husband says I have to remember that I am 54 not 24. Last year I took pictures of the flower garden from the roof.
6. I love shopping at consignment shops
7. I decorate with things I like- not nessarilly the current trend.
Thank you again for the award!

Power Outage

2010-03-05T13:29:00.000-06:00

This is a joke...so I hope no one gets offended. We females have all gone through this test.

POWER OUTAGE

At my recent assault trial, I offered a plea of "Guilty with an explanation."

The judge asked me what my explanation was, so I told my story.

"Your Honor," I said, "I had a mammogram appointment, which I actually kept. I was met with: 'Hi! I'm Belinda!' This perky clipboard carrier smiled from ear to ear, tilted her head to one side and crooned, 'All I need you to do is step into this room right here, strip to the waist, then slip on this gown. Everything clear?'

I'm thinking, 'Belinda, try decaf. This ain't rocket science.' Belinda skipped away to prepare the chamber of horrors.

With the right side finished, Belinda flipped me (literally) to the left and said, 'Hmmmm. Can you stand on your tippy toes and lean in a tad so we can get everything?' 'Fine', I answered. I was freezing, bruised, and out of air, so why not use the remaining circulation in my legs and neck and finish me off? My body was in a holding pattern that defied gravity (with my other breast wedged between those two 4 inch pieces of square glass) when we heard, then felt a zap! Complete darkness and the power went off! 'Oh, maintenance is working. Bet they hit a snag.' Belinda said, and headed for the door. 'Excuse me!

You're not leaving me in this vise alone are you?' I shouted. Belinda kept going and said, 'Oh, you fussy puppy...the door's wide open so you'll have the emergency hall lights. I'll be right back..'

Before I could shout 'NOOOO!' she disappeared. And that's exactly how Bubba and Earl, maintenance men extraordinaire, found me ... half-naked with part of me dangling from the Jaws of Life, and the other part smashed between glass!

After exchanging a polite 'Hi, how's it going' type greeting, Bubba (or possibly Earl) asked, to my utter disbelief, if I knew the power was off.

Trying to disguise my hysteria, I replied with as much calmness as possible 'Uh, yes, yes I did thanks.'

'You bet, take care' Bubba replied and waved good-bye as though I'd been standing in the line at the grocery store.

Two hours later, Belinda breezes in wearing a sheepish grin. Making no attempt to suppress her amusement, she said, 'Oh I am sooo sorry!' The power came back on and I totally forgot about you! And silly me, I went to lunch. Are we upset?'

And that, Your Honor, is exactly how her head ended up between the clamps...."

The judge could hardly contain her laughter as she said "Case Dismissed."

Followers

2010-03-05T13:18:00.000-06:00

I have some new follwers!
They are:
Angeles- Elrinconde.blogspot.com
Allison- MiniatureAlsortsBlog.blogspot.com
Lara- laraminiatureworld.blogspot.com
Janee- blinkleblinkle.blogspot.com
Sabiha- I don't have a blog for her
Mags- Mags-nificantMiniatures.blogspot.com
Talluhah Belle= TalluhahBelle.blogspot.com
Josje- ABeautifulWorld.blogspot.com
Jody- PeachBlossomHill.blogspot.com
My Ralitty
Hopefull I didn't leave anyone out. Thank you for folling my blog.

Hi again

2010-03-04T02:51:00.000-06:00

I feel like I am neglecting my blog lately. But there really hasn't been much going on.
The HBS building is in dry fit yet. Trying to do some research and picking out what colors I want to paint it. Greenleaf dollhouses has also thrown out a hint about what the Spring Fling contest piece will be. They only showed a door so far. But it is laser cut which should make it interesting. I was only thinking about doing one contest this year, but I am now getting excited to see what Greenleaf has come up with.
Our vanity is now gone. Jeff took it out today. Tomorrow is the big garbage day for us. Once a month we can put out something like a pile that is 4"x4'x2'. So he took the vanity apart to make it small enough to go out there. Otherwise our garbage goes out in tall bins on wheels.Then the truck comes along and lifts and dumps it, the trucks have arms that hug the bin and lifts and dumps into the top of the truck. I know alot of you probably have this already. So we don't have a vanity/sink for a few days. He put the new vanity and sink, etc together in the computer room. It looks so nice and modern. After this weekend we should have a nice fresh looking bathroom.
I hope everyone hops over to http//sabsminiinteriors.blogspot.com/2010/02/giveaway.html
She is having a giveaway and the prize is a surprise that will be made with the winners tastes in mind. Doesn't that sound intreging?
Everyone have a great day, Teresa

Well I got something done today

2010-02-28T23:21:00.000-06:00

I actually got the HBS contest building into dry fit. Now to decide what I want to make it into. I have one idea so far. I think I want to make a winter scene. But I will let it stay in dry fit and live with it until I really decide. Then the lips will be locked until I enter it in the contest in December. Not that it will be a big deal, but I want to have something to tease everyone with....LOL. Just wanted to show you that I can actually get something done lately.
We also picked out the paint for the bathroom. A very light pink. But it makes the granite pop. We went to The Home Depot and tried different paint sample cards next to it. This one seemed to be the best. We couldn't go with a dark color as the room is small. Pink isn't my favorite color, but I like soft pink or mauve, just not the brighter pinks between these two colors. The "kid" at the paint counter was rude. He told us that we have to use a oil based primer because we had wallpaper on the walls. Even though we get all the wallpaper paste off he said that the paint would still buckle. We tried to tell him that we already primed and painted two rooms that had wallpaper and didn't have a problem. One was done 4-5 years ago and one about 2 weeks ago. We would have gone somewhere else but it was already 6:45 and all the home do it yourself stores closed at 7. We always prep our walls well. Wallpaper paste remover, and 3 different kinds of rinces. He also argued with another customer. But at least we have the paint now so that is all water under the bridge. Jeff and I work opposite shifts until saturday. He has wed. and saturday off so he will probably work on getting the paste off on wed. The bathroom will probably be our last indoor home improvement for this year.
I also want to show you a picture of the closet I have for craft supply storage. Get ready it needs to be organized again. All the smallest minis are in small plastic containers with deviders that are labled for each room and one with mini landscaping supplies. It's the rest that needs organizing. LOL. This is one of my areas. We took the closet doors off and put two shelving units in there. The second picture is a bookcase that I bought at a yard sale for $8.00. But even with that closet I have minis everywhere. The computer desk has supplies on top, the work table is always a mess, the closet in the computer/craft room has another smaller shelving unit that holds my paint and tools, ect. Plus we have a 6' table that holds my dollhouse neighborhood (2 houses on it so far) in the basement with storage underneth. Some how most of that has migrated upstairs though. I should really work down there but it isn't as comfortable. Nicer to be upstairs where there is natural light.

Anyway at least I got a couple of things done today. Still feeling like this flu is never going to end, but at least I didn't sleep all day like yesterday.

Well talking about getting sleep I guess I should get some shut eye. Have a great week everyone, Teresa

This and that kind of day

2010-02-27T18:18:00.002-06:00

Blinkles Boulevard: *FREE Treasures* and some new designs!#comments

Janee at Blinkies Boulavard is having a giveaway of the most amazing pieces of art. These tiny treasures are so wonderful. You have to see her fairey nests and wish bottles. I don't know how to put her giveaway picture on here so I just added the link.

Man the flu sucks...opps, but it does. I am so happy to be able to go to all these blogs and read everyones fasinating thoughts and art work. It takes me to a happy place where I don't dwell on how crappy I feel.
I really haven't done much this week. I did finally get my HBS kit. Hopefully I will feel like putting it into dry fit tomorrow. Also get started on the curtains for the kitchen. But when I feel sick things don't seem to go as planned. I don't want to make mistakes with the material. But it will be nice to get curtains up again. I did sleep most of the day. I must have really needed it as I don't usually do that. But tomorrow is another day.
I can't believe that March will be here in a couple of days. Closer to spring!!! I shouldn't wish my time away, but I find it so exciting to see what pops out of the ground each spring. We have huge flowerbeds so I am always anxious to see if we lost anything over winter. It is such an exciting time of the year.
I think I will spend the rest of the evening resting, maybe get the kit out and at least look at it. Read the instuctions. Then start planning what I want to do with it for the contest. Maybe a winter scene. But of course I never know until I at least get it into dry fit. Have a great evening everyone. Teresa

A few more

2010-02-25T02:26:00.001-06:00

Here are some more pieces I had picked up at the consignment shop. The picture is 3D and isn't really Tuscan but I like it. I had the shelf already. I am thinking of putting saucers on the shelf and hanging cups under the shelf. The shelf isn't deep enough for the cups.

I also bought these. I need to get a plate holder yet to hang it up. The plaque has a hook in the bottom. It's called a wine hook. The vase Isn't really Tuscan, but like the picture above I just love it. It also matches the color of the wall paint. I am still looking for a picture for the other side of the hutch.

Now we have started on the bathroom. Walls still have to be washed down to get the wallpaper paste off. We pretty much decided to go with a very light lilac. I think it will go good with the new counter top. Jeff took the rest of the wallpaper off tonight when I was at work. He also took the baseboards and door molding off so that we can match it to the hallway flooring. We will probably sand down the door and resatain it to match. Also will do the window trim. All we need yet is a cabnet for over the sink. This house is getting more and more to our style. Plus UPDATED! Little by little we will get the remaining rooms done. It will take awhile, but we aren't going anywhere.

Well time to hit the bed. Good night or good day by the time you read this.

Consignment shop, Bellingham Farmhouse

2010-02-21T23:43:00.000-06:00

Well the consignment shop that I was thinking about going to has closed. I didn't get to any others so I still need a picture. But it doesn't have to be right at this moment. Half the fun is in the hunt. HMMM if I leave early to go to the Drs office tomorrow I could stop at the first one I went to. It is only about a mile or so away from there.
We bought the vanity, sink and toilet and faucets today for the bathroom. Granite top on the vanity. The store had an excellent sale. No more blue sink and toilet! The bath tub is still blue but the shower curtain covers most of it. Now we can start taking the wall paper off. Then we will be done on the inside of the house, at least for this year. Another month and we can start working a little outside. We want to build an arbor. Nothing too fancy, but strong. Other then mulch we don't have any other big project planned. Then we can plan our yearly road trips to nurseries. We love to go out and see what's new. Nice to get away for the day.
Jeff put the "grass" under the Bellingham Farmhouse today. He wanted to do that before he works on the foundation and makes the house even heavier. We have the stone and morter here. An HBS buy we made last fall. He just needs time to work on it. This winter has been going fast as we were so busy.
I still haven't gotten my HBS contest build kit yet. It was sent out the 11th so it should be here soon. I would like to make a list of things I want to look for when we go to the Chicago International Show in April. One thing on my list will be to scout out the lady who had the Rageddy Ann and Andy's. I would like to get a few more. I hope she is there. I don't see them in mini much. I can't wait to go as that kind of kicks off spring.
Well another busy weekend gone, back to work tomorrow. Hugs, Teresa

Mail

2010-02-19T02:11:00.000-06:00

I am still waiting to get my next contest piece from Hobby Builder's Supply. When you enter you get the next years project free, It was sent out on the 7th and it is now the 18th. Hopefully it will get here soon. I don't know why I am so anxious as it isn't due until Dec, I just want to get it into dry fit so that I can start getting ideas, or see if the one I have will be the one I will actually enter. Getting it together even with tape lets me see how big the kit is and if there is any bashing (alterations) I want to do. I am still working on the Bellingham Farmhouse. But slowly this week as I am getting a bad cold and am just making it to work. I feel so drained. Then in the next month or so The Greenleaf Company will announce their spring Fling. Another contest. That one you do have to pay for. But not a big amount. I will see if I like that kit or not to see if I will enter. Now that I am full-time at work I don't have as much time for crafts. Lucky I like my job. Plus I still have to make the curtains for my RL kitchen. I also want to check out another consignment shop. I need one more picture for the right side of the hutch. I can't believe that I found so many Tuscan themed items at the first 2 consignment shops I went to. I really am loving my Tuscan themed kitchen. It is completely different then the themes I had used before. Wonder what else I can find this weekend? I am excited to go hunting again. Well off to bed I go. Need my beauty sleep you know. Teresa

TA DA.....

2010-02-15T13:05:00.000-06:00

I put the new pieces on the hutch and one picture on the wall...still need another one for the other side. (and put the other plaque on the right side). It is hard to tell in the pictures that the wall is light green. We actually have a sunny day and the light is coming through the patio door. It's not finished yet but getting there. Then I can decide if I want to do anything to the other side of the room. Kitchen part. Canisters, etc. My floor chef is back on the floor by the aquarium. I will have to look around and see if I find anything. The pictures aren't the best, but you get the idea. But with the Chicago International Miniature show coming up I might have to cool it for awhile. But here is a picture. The dish set inside the hutch is one that came from his grandma.

Welcome

2010-02-15T01:14:00.000-06:00

I would like to welcome:
Norma from: makeminemini.blogspot.com
De from: De-Lightful Minis.blogspot.com
and Lori from: Oh Mini Of Mine.blogspot.com
Thank you for becoming followers of my blog.

Now that the kitchen is painted I can start placing all the new items I bought for it. It looks so nice and fresh now. Just have to sew the curtains. Once I have things placed I will be able to see how much more room I have for more Tuscan treasures. I still need one more picture for the other side of the hutch. But the hunt is so much fun...
I will take pictures when I have it all together or at least when I get the curtains finished. I just love the minty green walls. I know if I were going true Tuscan I would sponge a darker green over the mint green to make the walls look old. But I will stick with the mint color. Jeff did a wonderful job of painting. I am so glad that the wallpaper didn't give me a fight. But it pulled off in big pieces for once. Lucky me. Only 2 more rooms have wallpaper. I would also like to get rid of the carpet in the computer/craft room. Very old and ugly, but one thing at a time. We're not sure what we want to put in here yet. We are leaning towards vinyl. Sure would be nice and easy to clean and easier to find the minis that I happen to drop on the floor. LOL. But that is for another time. Too many projects, too little money. But bit by bit we are getting things done. I think that saving up and doing things when we can makes it more interesting and fun.
I did do a little miniature work today.I glued the treads and spindles on the staircase. But at least I did something miniature.
I should be getting the HBS contest build soon. According to Hobby Builder's Supply it was sent out on the 8th of feb. I can't wait to get it into dry fit as then I can see if my idea will work out.

More Tuscan

2010-02-14T16:06:00.001-06:00

Today I picked up the crock that I was debating on yesterday. I also picked up a basket with apples in it that has grapes painted on the side.
I also put fruit in one of the pieces I bought yesterday. I think it needs a little something in the middle yet. Not sure what yet. I am thinking either some blak olives sticking up here and there or another piece of fruit. I am thinking if anything just a few small pieces here and there. Something to break up the yellow, green and orange.

Here are the 2 pieces I picked up today. I am not sure if I will add more fruit to the box or just use the box. It is going to be on top of the hutch and if I don't add fruit the fruit won't be seen. I might just use the box though as I like the picture of the grapes and adding fruit may take away from the painting. Any suggestions for the 2 questions I have. More fruit or something in the bowl/urn and what about the box?

This is the material and fringe. The fringe will go on top. I bought piping to go on the bottom. The material was 1/2 off and I had a 40% coupon for the fringe. There will also be enough left over for either place mats or a round piece for the middle of the table. We have a round table. Not sure what I want to do yet. I will have to see just how much material I have left. I think I will have a yard and a 1/2 left over if not more. I bought extra in case I need to match the pattern.

Have I mentioned that I love sales, coupons and consignments shops? I saved alot at the fabric store and the consignment shop. I think the paint cost more then anything else put together. But then again we have a gallon off paint left over. We might do the hallway yet. It won't go to waste.

Tuscan Shopping

2010-02-13T13:18:00.001-06:00

I went to a couple of consignment places today and bought a few items for our almost painted kitchen. The final coat should go on tomorrow. I had fun going through and finding things that went together. Not easy when you go to a couple of different places and and can't remember all that you bought at the first place. I also bought 2 bunches of grapes to go in the pot. I will have to get other things to put in it of course to make an arraingement.
It is so nice out today. Perfect day to run around. Here are a couple of pictures to show you what I found. the clear bottle in the middle has a silver hummingbird on a cork stopper.

I am still thinking about a crockery jug that I saw at the last place. It would look nice on the floor by the hutch.
Anyway it was a fun day. Teresa

Well it is going good

2010-02-11T12:54:00.000-06:00

The walls are free of wallpaper, paste and scrubbed down. We have almost everything taped off. Now he can start priming. We had the primer tinted the same color as the paint so I should have green walls by the time I get home from work. Even if it is only primer. Yeah! Jeff had two days off so he was able to get pretty far. I just helped by taking the wallpaper off and taping the edges of cupboards, etc. I can't wait to see the new look! But have to go to work soon so that will have to wait. It "warmed" up enough here that he can open the windows a little ways to air out the room. Still cold, but at least not under 0 degrees F!
Can't wait until tonight! Teresa

My name is Buttercup Elffrost

2010-02-08T00:49:00.001-06:00

Your fairy is called Buttercup Elffrost

She is a cheerful sprite.

She lives in clover fields where fairy rings grow.

She is only seen during the first snow of winter.

She wears bright clover green. She has delicate green wings like a cicada
=============================================================================
This is funny as I LOVE green!
You can get your free fairy name at: http://www.emmadavies.net/fairy/default.aspx

We are ready!!!!

2010-02-08T00:22:00.001-06:00

We are ready to start on the kitchen! We bought the primer, and paint (mint cream) a light green. I think it will look nice and fresh. When Jeff was in the other room I expermented on how easy the wallpaper will come off. Two large strips came off in one piece. Floor to ceiling. Yeah!
I also bought the material for the curtains. Enough for the window over the sink and the window in the door. It is in a Tuscan print. Which was on sale for 50% off. Yeah again! I also bought some fancy fringe for the top with all the colors that are in the fabric. I had a 40% off coupon for that. I made sure that I bought enough material so that I could also make placemats to tie everything together. I think I may have bought enough material to make other things to decorate with. I get carried away at times. But a lined basket would be nice on the hutch. Filled with Tuscan type things. Or a basket made from the material. Haven't decided yet.
I can't wait to see this come together as the paper was so old and dated. I like antiques, but this didn't fall into that catagorie. The patio curtain is a cream color. HMMMM would'nt a fabric covered cornice look good up there???
I did not know that there were SO MANY shades of light green! It took awhile to find the exact one that we liked. Just subtle differences, but when you held them together you could tell them apart. Some had too much of a hint of blue, some too much of a hint of yellow, etc.
I was surprised that Jeff wanted a color at all as he is usually the one that wants an off white on every wall. He wants to do the bathroom also. At least take the wallpaper off and paint it. The tub, etc are blue though so I don't know what we will do in there. That might have to be white with maybe a border. But that probably won't be for awhile anyway. It won't be long until the outdoors calls. Hopefully anyway.
Otherwise it was a weekend of relaxation. Mostly only did what we had to.
Have a great day everyone, Teresa
Next morning: All the wallpaper is down. It came off so easily that it took me about 10 minutes to finish what was left. 1 full wall, 1/4 wall around and on top of the patio door. 1/4 of a wall on the side of the fridge, around door to garage and over the window above the sink. So there wasn't alot. But if it would have been like the master bedroom I would be lucky to get anywhere before I had to go to work!! I never had paper come off this easily. It looks so much brighter in there already. Teresa

Fall 7 times

2010-02-04T13:12:00.000-06:00

Fall seven times, stand up eight.

- Japanese Proverb

O.K. I am done with the pity party I had yesterday. My contest building didn't even get honorable mention. But I am all ready for the next build. Bring it on. It should be shipped today. So I should get it either theis weekend or early next week. Actually I think this is my fourth contest, but I think the quote says it all. Keep on trying. But at least I am trying new techniques. I can wait to put the kit in dry fit to see what it wants to be. I have one idea so far. But it will have to wait until I get the kit to see if it is what I want to try. The Bellingham is probably screaming....WHAT ABOUT ME??? But I am still jazzed about working on that one also. Now that ideas are flowing again. I think I have decided on the floor pattern in the second floor hallway. Pretty easy but different then i usually do. She is coming along.
Mini hug, Teresa

The Bellingham has stairs....

2010-01-31T23:09:00.000-06:00

O.K. I finished painting and staining the staircase in the Bellingham Dollhouse. I think it looks pretty good. I set the staircase in for now just to see how it will look. I painted the spindles. I stuck pins in the bottoms for something to hold on to as I painted them. Then stuck them in the foam to dry. You can see the stained newel post and railing on the plate behind the posts. Also a hint of the mess my table has on it.

This is a picture of the master bedroom so far. The carpet is a match of the darker pattern in the wallpaper and also the wallpaper in the hallway. I still have to make the floor for the hallway. But will wait until I have the stairs in. The wall is straight, it is me holding the camera higher with my left hand. LOL. Like I mentioned before I need to make bedding and curtains yet.

It feels so good to get something done on it. It seems like I put so much energy into the last contest that I didn't have any for this house. But I am pleased with the way it is coming along now.

I didn't do too much else today. Baked another loaf of bread for Jeff and looked at some of the other blogs I go to. Just a relaxing kind of day.

Finally! My muse is back!

2010-01-31T00:56:00.000-06:00

I actually got some energy and painted the staircase. I still want to do another coat and stain the stair treads. I think I will like the white paint and brown stain together. I already have a stair runner, if I decide that I want it in this house. Otherwise I will keep it and the matching rug for a future project. I also carpeted one more room. I will probably put a rug on top of part of it to lighten the room up. I love the room, but it is a little dark. My favorite color...green. I will decide once I check to see what I have here or once I start putting accessories in. Maybe even lighter colored furniture. I love to play around until I get the look I am going after. Sometimes it goes in a whole new direction though. I just turned the bed and I think that if I make a colorful bedspread or patchwork quilt that might just bring in the extra color that I want. Also window treatments to go with the bedspread/quilt. I think I was just stuck for awhile and finally something clicked and I am back on track now.Now I am anxious to see what I can do with the room. The green matches the pattern in the wallpaper and also the wallpaper in the hallway. It is nice to see it all blend together. YEAH!!!!

I was at Walmart today looking at material as I would like to make some new curtains for my RL kitchen. I made the ones I have in there a few years ago and am getting tired of the whole chicken theme. But as usual I can't decide on what I want to do next. But I know I will see a piece of material that will just jump out at me. That is the way it usually happens. I will check JoAnn's also. I love material. Got that from my mom. She has been sewing since she was small. Her and 2 of my sister's do craft shows. Out of 5 of us girls only 2 haven't followed in mom's footsteps. Not that I am as good at it as they are. I like to sew things, but they LOVE it. It does come in handy though. Now to find that elusive piece of material! I think half the fun is in the looking for it.
Time to get off my butt and get some shut-eye. Mini hugs, Teresa

Welcome

2010-01-30T13:43:00.001-06:00

I just want to shout out a big welcome to my followers. Thank you for following my blog..
I welcome:
Dawn at :InMyMiniatureWorld.blogspot.com
Elly at: ellyinamsterdam.blogspot.com
Purvail at AthomewithElaine.blogspot.com
Teresa at minimadwomen.blogspot.com
Julia at Bearcabinminiatures.blogspot.com
miniaturemaid.blogspot.com
Amina Shk at Claypaperwood.blogspot.com
Debbie at Tinytreatures.blogspot.com
Marie Jos'e at marivigano.blogspot.com
Elien Karina
Miniaturefriends at casitamini.blogspot.com
Sonia at minitink.blogspot.com
Also Linda and Barb friends of mine
I love your blogs. I hope you all keep following.
Now to go lay some mini carpet and paint some steps. I wish you all a very wonderful day. Mini hugs, Teresa

Victorian Cottage Jr

2010-01-28T01:35:00.001-06:00

O.K. yesterday I showed you the Newburg Dollhouse. Today I will show you the first dollhouse we ever did. This is the Victorian Cottage Jr. This one is before we even knew what we were doing. It turned out better then I ever dreamed it would. Also the first landscaping I did. We bashed all the windows and the door. The rest is history....the Newburg was next and then I started on the contests. Where-ever will it end!! LOL I have to go through my albums as I don't know where the inside pictures went to. Here is what I have for now. Teresa

http://s107.photobucket.com/albums/m302/life2events/miniatures/

Here is a link to the inside pictures. I don't know why they are in there but not in my regular albums. When our computer crashed all sort of things seemed to have disappeared from my pictures albums. Lucky I have alot burned and some in photobucket. Computers can be so confusing sometimes.

Pictures of my Newburg Dollhouse

2010-01-26T13:12:00.000-06:00

Just to prove that we do work on dollhouses. LOL These are some pictures of my Newburg. I love landscaping as much or sometimes more then anything else. My husband painted it, put all new windows in the bottom half for me and made the slanted porch roof into a flat balcony, he also shingled the house. I helped with the planning. We changed the porch into an open one. The steps were pulled under by one step and also are open on the sides. They were suppose to have cement sides. The second picture shows the landscaping a little better. I always have fun with that. You should see our RL yard with over a hundred variety of plants! We plan our bashes together. My "job" is the inside. I had him pick the colors for this one as I picked the colors for the first one. It is fun to work on these together, Brainstorm ideas on bashing ect.

This is the livingroom with the statues of corgi puppies. I would live to find a statue of our English Cocker Spanial for the Bellinham. I think that it came out kind of comfortable. At least that was my idea. We also changed out the baywindow that came with it for one that we bought at a liquation sale at a miniature shop we went to in Thiensville Wisconsin. We were very sad to see it close down. It is on the right side of the house, so not too visable in these pictures.

This of couse is the kitchen. I like the nice airy look. Wouldn't you love to sit in the sun filled dining nook for a cup of coffee? The plates are just white plates with flower stickers on them. The rooster tiles over the stove are a printable I found and I printed it onto picture paper. There was a hutch that came with this set, but there wasn't any room for it.

This is the master bedroom. There were some odd angles in the corners nesr the window so we decided to make closets. We used shutters for unusable doors. There was just enough room for a desk for the occupants to make out bills ect between the closets. I have an old oval picture of the girl readin in Real Life. I was thrilled to find this one at Hobby Builder's Supply to match my real one.

This is the ittle girl's room. She really wants to be a ballarina when she grows up. It is haed to see but the wallpaper has a ballarina theme to it.

This is the batroom of course. Not alot of room but who needs a giant bathroom. Hopefully you don't have to go when you are in the lower part of the house as it is on the 3rd floor. lOL

This is mom's place to get away. Where she can read or play her violin. Just a nice restful place for her. I don't play any instuments. But love the miniature ones I have found. Kind of goes with my love of music. A friend of mine stitched the rug.

Here is a whole picture of the back of the house. We have started a street in the basement. 6 foot able covered in green fabric. There is still room for the Bellinham and the Victorias Farmhouse on it yet. All my contest builds are scattered around down there. The contests are my babies. I hope you enjoyed the tour.

Life--laugh with life....

2010-01-24T19:12:00.000-06:00

Today is your day to dance lightly with life. It really is.

Play with life, laugh with life, dance lightly with life, and smile at the riddles of life, knowing that life’s only true lessons are writ small in the margin.

- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

I like this thought. I want to make my life like this. Not to take it so seriously.

Rainy days

2010-01-24T00:47:00.000-06:00

It is so hard to get the inpsiration to do anything on rainy days. I did try to knit today. I got one row almost finished and then dropped a couple of stitches. I am going to start over and try to get the tention a little bit looser. But it did seem to be coming a little bit easier for me today. More practise needed though. But I really think I am getting closer to being comfortable with the size of the "needles". When I get off the computer I am going to cast on again.
We went to the casino today and did better then usual. Which means that we didn't lose as much. LOL. Actually almost won back our money that we took. For us that is GREAT! We really shouldn't go at all, but sometimes we need to get out amounst people. The band they had there was good. Nice to hear live music.
I picked out the carpet to put in the Bellinham Farmhouse Master bedroom. It is one of the discontinuded sample pieces I got from a furniture store when we bought furniture. It helped to mention dollhouses as the sales lady had some discontinued samples for her niece. She let me go through them. I used one in the livingroom. It is always nice to get free things that you can use in the dollhouses. Free is great! I am still deciding on the flooring for the hallway on the second floor. The room is big enough to put a small bench in. I still would like to do some kind of pattern on the floor. I went through my material and picked out some to make into a patchwork quilt. I have to look in my mini supplies downstairs and see what color bunka I have. I would like to do a chennil (sp?) bedspread. I remember those from my younger days. If I ever get off my butt Gertie will have alot done in her house. Hopefully tomorrow we won't go anywhere and I can get some of these projects done. At least I can dream about them. LOL! I saw some pictures of Shabby Chic that I like. I never thought I would like that style, but it seems to be growing on me. Not in the Bellingham though. Maybe a smaller house. Maybe even a contest piece. I will have to think about it some more and see what I can come up with. The next HBS contest is a small house.
O,K, off my butt now and get a few things together for these projects.

Contest results

2010-01-21T02:27:00.000-06:00

Well I entered the Hobby Builder's Supply miniature contest. I showed pictures in another post. I didn't win. :( I am waiting to see if I even got honorable mention. But I might not know that for awhile yet. Not that means anything. Just want to see what kinds of entries other people sent in. This was a tough one. I am proud of what I made. I think it was the best one of my entries so far. But I have to say that the more I enter the more I learn. I learn that I can bring my imagination to life. I learn to try different things, to think outside the box. I learn that it is o.k. to stretch my skills and learn new ways of doing things. It would be nice to win....but I just like to compete!
It is cold again. We are suuppose to get snow this weekend. Goodbye January thaw.
I haven't had time to pick up the knitting lately. I promise, when I have something to show you will be the first to see it. But as I said before don't hold your breath as it may be awhile before I have anything to show. But my motto has been...keep learning, you don't know what kind of adventure is awaiting you. Keeps the old brain cells active. LOL. Now to get the brain cells and my hands to cooperate.
Well another ending to a nice day. Hugs, Teresa

Patience

2010-01-17T22:57:00.000-06:00

Patience is the companion of wisdom.

Saint Augustine (354 AD - 430 AD)

I am practicing my patience. I am trying to knit a miniature afgan. LOL. I'm not using regular needles. I am using turkey lacers. Used to tie shut the hole in the turkey to keep the stuffing in. They are a little smaller then the smallest knitting needles. Patience comes in as in the fact that I have never knitted before. LOL. I did take a couple of lessons years ago but never used this craft. So right now it is knit a couple of rows and tear it apart as I dropped a stitch or two. But I really want to do this so I will try again and again and again. They say practise makes perfect. But they never said how long I will have to practise. But I do love to learn new things. Life would be boring if there wasn't new things to learn. Either that or I am a glutten for punishment. I did find this pretty yarn that i think will look wonderful in a mini afgan. It is usually used for socks. I will take pictures when ever I have something to show you. But don't hold you breath as it may be awhile yet. :) I may cast on again tonight but probably won't get much farther as I am so tired. One thing I know about myself is that things go easier when I am rested.
I did get two of the pants hemmed today. The 3rd pair didn't need hemming. I don't know why I had to cut 6 inches off 2 pair and the last one was the right length. It must have been petite and just not marked that way. So now they are all done. Yeah!!!
Otherwise nothing else new here. back to work tomorrow. Teresa

Just thinking and typing...decisions, decisions

2010-01-17T01:31:00.001-06:00

It was cooler out today, but still above normal.
I bought some more material for bedding for my dollhouse. Walmart sale material. I really like the patterns. Now to get them made. I am so awful lately about getting things done. I did get a couple of Micheal's Craft Store hutches taken apart to make into upper cabnets. At $1.00 a piece I don't worry to much about not being able to save all the wood from them. Usually they do come apart pretty easily. I usually use the parts I don't use for small projects. I don't need alot of them in this house. This house is set loosely in the 1920's-1930's so there weren't alot of cabnets in most of the houses that I know of. Usually nothing too fancy anyway. I'm not sure if I will have room for lower cabnets though. Unless I decide to take the narrow hutch out. I would like to keep it in there as I like the pattern on the serving pieces that I have displayed on it. Ok. I am just thinking that I could put a plate rail up and then have one or two counters. I am over-thinking this. I don't usually have a problem deciding what I want to do with the houses.
You would think that I have never built a dollhouse before. Calgon! Take me away!
I now have 3 pairs of pants to hem. I picked up 2 more today. I now have enough for a week. I plan on hemming them tomorrow. Still couldn't find them in short length. Of course they went up in price. But with 5 sets they don't seem to wear out so fast. I figure that I save in the cost of having to do laundry less often. O.K. I told you that I have been lazy lately. LOL. I just read this post over. I really am NOT as air headed as I sound.
I am going to sleep...

What a week!

2010-01-15T02:07:00.001-06:00

With the grand opening at work stress levels have been high. VIP's got to go today, tomorrow is employees and sat is for the public. I will be glad when we go back to "normal". But it is a beautiful building!
I hemmed 2 pair of scrubs for work today. Darn short legs. Usually Walmart has "petite" which is petite in shorter legs for bigger size people. My husband says that that is an oxymoron (sp) as I wear an extra large. But I hate tight clothes anyway as I do a lot of stooping, squating, bending, stretching, etc. in my job. Scrubs don't stretch!
It was so nice out today. It is almost 2AM and it is 27 degrees. There were alot of puddles out there. This is our January thaw. At least we get rid of some of the snow before we hit the storms of Feb and March. Makes room for more snow. LOL.
Jeff was watching a program on the white deer herds of Wisconsin on PBS. They have a website for their program and Jeff showed it to me when I got home from work. They are really beautiful! Even the antler velvet is white. Did you know that not all albinos have pink eyes? like everything else there are variations. They must be a surprise when you aren't expecting to see them!! I thought they were rare, but there are at least 2 large herds in northern Wisconsin. I wonder why that area has so many?
One of the girls at work found a samle book of vinyl tile in the garbage at work.She saved it for me. I think I will be able to use it to make patterned floors in the dollhouse. There are alot of colors, Each one is big enough to use in a small room, but I can stretch them out to do bigger rooms as long as I use a couple of colors to make a pattern or make a border or insert in the design. There are about 15 sheets with a different color on each side, so I have alot to mix and match. I thought they might be a little thick. But when I got them home they are just as thick as the ones I bought from The Greenleaf Dollhouse Store. Which I might add has a fabulous forum. (Greenleaf Dollhouses)
Well, with keeping with my new resolution I will end here and get to bed.

I could take...

2010-01-13T12:50:00.002-06:00

I could take this weather for the rest of the winter. I actually feels warm out. My computer says 22 degrees F, but it sure feels warmer. I filled the bird bath (heated) and went to get the mail and it is nice and sunny. I have to work today or I might have spent some time out there. It is suppose to be warmer yet for the next week or two.

Open house for the new area at work this fri and sat. Next week they will see their patients in there. It really looks nice. It really was built for the comfort of the patients with cancer. I can't wait to see the roof next year with the gardens. Living roof. Cool!

This will be a short one as I really don't have alot to say. So I will end with a picture. This is from the Picture Rock boat trip in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It is so beautiful up there. A lot of waterfalls and rock formations. Hugs, Teresa

Darn...

2010-01-12T01:17:00.001-06:00

I have to put in another order to HBS. LOL. I still have the 25% off coupon that is good until midnight friday. We need some noch grass for under the Bellingham. Jeff wants to get it before he starts to put the stone on the foundation. I like the floral ginger jar that I received in the mail from the last order so much that I am ordering another one in another color. Only $8.99 and it is so pretty. I am also ordering an old time washbasin. I think it will look good with fresh from the garden veggies in it. Then I had better ease off in case I get a chance to go to the Chicago International Show. I really like to see the items they have there. I can't afford alot of it, but it is fun to look. I can't believe the craftmanship of some of the pieces!! Only about 3 more months to go!! Cross your fingers that I get to go.
Well in keeping of my getting to bed earlier I will end here. Good Night, Good Night my friends until we meet again. O.K. getting slap happy now. Good Night, Teresa

Another restful day.

2010-01-10T23:47:00.000-06:00

We really didn't do much today. Played some Mahjong and went to the casino for a couple of hours. Then just came home and watched a little tv. Now I am just catching up on my e-mails and sites I go to. It was so good to have a weekend that wasn't busy. Back to work tomorrow. Lucky that I like my job, wouldn't you say?
I have been planning out patterns for the upper hallway floor in the Bellingham dollhouse. I want to get it just right. Not quite there yet, but close. I have been so lazy lately. Gertie is going to kick my butt yet if I don't start working on her house soon. She is leaning on the speaker glaring at me as I type. I still have to do something with her hair. It is pretty wild. Which reminds me that mine is no better. I have been letting it grow out as I just don't know what I want to do with it. Maybe I will just get a perm for now.
I got my American Miniaturist magazine the other day and picked up the Miniature Collector magazine. Read them both once already. Now to go back and write down any ideas that caught my eye. The magazines and the forums I go on have really taught me alot about miniatures. I know that I have come a long way from the first dollhouse that I worked on. But isn't that the way with everything.... The more you do something the better you get. Well sometimes no matter how many times you try it doesn't get better. lol. But isn't it better to try then not to try and always wonder.
I really have been lost in thoughts lately. This usually happens when winter is here and there isn't as much to do outside.
I will leave here now and leave you this poem that I like.

If ' - by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too:

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream and not make dreams your master;

If you can think and not make thoughts your aim,

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same:

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools

Mahjongg and miniature order.

2010-01-10T01:46:00.000-06:00

How many of you play this on the computer. My DH just picked up a game to upload onto the computer. Now I have some harder ones to do. Called brain games. I think it is relaxing to play this game even the hard ones at least harder then the one that is on our computer. Not saying that I am a whiz at it or anything, but something to stimulate my brain.
I just love this picture. So peaceful and serene. It would be such a nice place to sit and dream.

My HBS order came today. Now Gertie has her own old fashioned toaster and telephone. Very nice ones. I was pleasantly surprised on how nice they were. Especially since they were so reasonable in price. She also has her sewing machine on the stand and a pair of boots for gardening. Her house is coming along slowly, but surely. I still want to make a quilting frame with a quilt in progress. I need to find another chair for the livingroom yet. I only have a couch so far. I am leaning towards a rocker but not sure yet. Nothing has really caught my eye. I also have a piano in the room and am thinking about a fireplace. I did get a few other things also. But they are for future projects. Yes, I really am working on it.
We went grocery shopping today and it was a mad house! I don't know if it was because of the football game tomorrow or just a typical saturday but it was nuts. I don't like shopping in that kind of mess. Being short doesn't help. Even the bookstore was busy. You can tell that winter is here. People are finding things to do inside.
It was a good day though. Except for the stores it was a relaxing at home kind of day.
Now that the Christmas tree and everything is put away the livingroom looks big. Funny how much smaller it looked with the tree in there. Not that the room is large but it looks less crowded now.
Well i guess I had better tottle of to bed as it is 1:30am. Hugs, Teresa

Sunny day

2010-01-08T12:58:00.000-06:00

Sunny day after yesterdays snow. We didn't get more then about 4 inches or so but it was so windy. Drifts were pretty high in spots. One thing about high winds is that it makes the snow storm move on a little faster!!
Jeff finished taken down the Christmas tree down yesterday. It looks so different in the livingroom not. So much more open. Not that we have a big livingroom. Nice to be back to "normal" He also went through old ornaments and is taking them to Goodwill today. They really needed to be thinned out. I think he got rid of all the dough ornament ones. Kept what is sentamenal af course. There was alot that we never used. Maybe someone else will be glad to get them. Someday maybe we'll have enough to put up what we collected together. With some sentamental ones.
I worked a little more on the Bellingham. It is really starting to come together now. I am liking how the flooring is coming out. I still want to do something different for the upper hallway. Just haven't decided what it. I will probably stain in two colors and make a pattern. I will do it on card stock in case I don't like it when I am done. Prabably some pattern in the middle beside the staircase. Now just to wrap my mind around it and come up with a pattern. Maybe even a quilt pattern. Jeff is off for 5 days so I don't know how much I will get done on it. Otherwise not a whole lot going on.

Hi everyone.

2010-01-06T12:53:00.000-06:00

Busy morning. I thought I had better vacumn as with a corgi there is always an abundance of hair. Plus being an active herding dog he makes vacuming very interesting. You have to put him ouside or put up with you vacumn going in every direction, except the one you want it to go. He can find the smallest part and grab on and then it is a free for all as he tries to drag it around the room. Luckily it doesn't last very long. He is very strong and can really move it around!! With him life is a big adventure. I feel sorry for a cow if he ever came upon one. The poor thing would probably be pulled around by one leg! I know that he can really try the patience of the English Cocker. It like having two kids sometimes. "Mom Tanner won't leave me alone" But when Murphy is in a playful mood look out. He can give as well as he gets. It sounds like a herd of buffaloe if your in the basement. But at the end of the day they are snuggled up together. But what would we do without them. LOL.
I am so glad that my rbs are feeling so much better. Not 100%. but better.
It is nice out today. Cloudy and it looks like it could snow, but the winds have died down and it actually feels "warmer". Hey 30's in january are better then the minus zero's we can have.
I did manage to take down some of the ornaments yesterday before work. I had some small boxes up here so I could pack a few ornaments into each one. You can diffently see that I made a dent in the numbers of ornaments left. I'll have to have Jeff bring the box up so that I can do more. Well, I guess I had better think about getting ready for work. Have a great day everyone.

I have to stop

2010-01-05T13:24:00.000-06:00

going on the computer at night that is.. I am not getting up until late morning and not getting anything doen. I work until 11:30pm and am usually on the computer until 2:00-2:30 or so. But it is so nice and quiet then. LOL We still have to take the tree down, that will happen friday when Jeff has off. He can carry the boxes better then I can. I am not to good on the stairs when I am carrying things. I know excuses, excuses. I want to make sure that we put all the ornaments that Jeff and I collected togeather in one box. Hopefully weed out alot of the old stuff. Surprising how much we collected in the 7+ years we have been married. We went bird crazy this year and collected Old World birds this year. You have to have birds on your tree for luck. We had some already, but we wanted more. He would not agree to get the rubber chicken one though. I thought it was funny. Maybe I will sneak it in it in if I find another one. He really isn't that bad, and I could have gotten it if I really wanted it. That was just his opion on it. I'll be glad when the tree is down though. Pretty as it is I would like to get the room back in order.
Off to work I go in another hour or so. I will be so glad when this inflamation is out of my ribs. Makes work hard, but of course things could be alot worse.
I was in the new part at work last night and they put some of the fish in the new aquarium. This thing is as big as my round kitchen table! It is so pretty. This area is for cancer patients coming in for treatment. The aquarium will be calming for them. They are also bringing down the other salt water tank for the lower level. This one is from the old cancer unit. We know already that people like that one. The new one will blow peoples socks off. PLus there is a prayer garden with a heated walkway so the snow just melts away. Plus the roof is a living one. Mostly sedums right now. People will be able to walk up there and sit and relax. I can't wait to see it when it is done. It, of course, is huge. All the plantings for all areas will be watered with run off from all the roofs and stored in a basin underground. This will be first roof top garden this far north. There are some in the lower part of the state. We have gone green long ago and this will even make us more green. The hospital has gotten awards for how green we are. Except for the new part the hospital is over 50 years old so this is saying something. This process has been so cool to watch unfold. Even the constuction company for the new part and any remodling had to agree to recycling everything possible. I forget how much they figured was kept out of the landfill. Plus all the recycling we do on a dailey basis. I just love the idea that a big company can do this.
Well, have a few thigs to get done before work. Have a Great Day.

Answered prayers

2010-01-05T02:21:00.000-06:00

There are more tears shed over answered prayers than over unanswered prayers.

Saint Theresa of Jesus

Doesn't that sound about right. Usually we forget about about prayers that go unanswered. They seemed so important at the time, but after a while you forget about them. Usually it is because of something better happening. It seems like down the road you might remember but wonder why you prayed for it in the first place. Answered prayers most of the time are things that we REALLY needed. Even when we don't remember asking for them. They may be prayers that someone else prayed for us.
My "resolution" for this year is to be more patient and pray more. Asking God to give me what I need and not just what I want. Need meaning what would make me be a better person. That's it, just help me to be the person I was meant to be.

Finally

2010-01-03T18:48:00.001-06:00

I actually worked on my Bellingham dollhouse. I cleaned it out. I had stored stuff in it as I worked on the last contest. I put carpeting in the livingroom and Greenleaf vinyl tiles in the hallway. I really like the tiles. They were so easy to use. I am going to look at the local home do-it stores and see if I can get vinyl in different colors and just score it to make tiles. This will depend on if the real life tiles are too thick or not. The Greenleaf Dollhouse Store (I love their forum) only has so many different colors. The carpet that I put in the livingroom is a sample that I got when we bought new furniture. I mentioned my dollhouses and the sales lady let me look through discontinued samples. I now have alot of different pieces of "carpet". The piece I used today was enough for one good sized room and some rugs or runners.

Here is a picture of the dollhouse as you can see I have a lot to do yet. I have flooring in 4 rooms now. I have 4 more to go. I would like to do one floor kind of fancy, but stay in the farmhouse theme. I also still have to put wainscot in the kitchen. The stairs are only taped in right now as I have to paint or stain them.
I baked one loaf of gluten free bread in the bread machine and have another loaf rising by the stove. I want to see what works better with this mix. I don't have a big mixer but it isn't as stiff as regular bread so was able to mix it by hand. The first one I made a few weeks ago I had to knead, but I think the bread came out better. Of course that one wasn't a mix and seemed to work nicer. We'll see after this one is done. I made pumpkin bread with this mix yesterday and that was very good.

Winter just started

2010-01-03T00:04:00.001-06:00

Winter just started and I already found some plants I want to look for this summer. But it is so nice at this time of year to sit back and dream of flowers. We have huge beds ( a few hundred perennials) here and it is always nice to find something different to grow. We travel all over the state each summer to find new plants. This is a picture of part of our yard. I took it from our house roof. I wish I could get all the beds in one shot.. or even all of one bed in one shot. I love taking pictures of the new plants that bloom each year. We started flowerbed in 2005 at least that is when I started photographing them. It is so cool to see how things have grown. We don't have alot of lawn left. But enough for the dogs to play on. They have been pretty good about not mowing the plants down even when they go in the beds. We have 2 huge beds in the backyard, 3 smaller beds and a veggie garden. In the front we have another newer huge bed and then some shrubs along the driveway. What can I say we love our flowers.
Plans for Auntie Gertie are coming along. I think she is going to be single (but that might change). She is going to have a sewing room with a quilt rack where she is working on a quilt. I found one at HBS but I think I can make it. An old fashioned sewing machine and other sewing things to put in there. I put in an order at HBS Hobby Builders Supply and found some things for her. The sewing machine, antique toaster, doilies, 1920's telephone, and a few things for future projects. I got the new catalog in the mail the other day. Between the catalog and internet store I could have gone broke. Coupons are great!! I love the bicycle on the front cover, but it is not one of the items for sale. Just a prop. I e-mailed them to see if they have any to sell. Not counting on it but you never know.
I finally cleaned off my work table so there is no reason not to work on this house. I want to do flooring next. I have to make some templates and then I can start. I would like to do one fancier floor in this house. But still keep to the old farmhouse look. So many ideas floating through this brain of mine!
I made pumpkin bread today and was able to stay with-in Jeff's diet and mine. Gluten free for him and sugar free for me and it actually tastes great!! Next weekend I will probably have to make some more loaves of bread. He will have gone through most of what I have made so far. Maybe I will make one tomorrow just to be on the safe side.
3 day weekend and only 1 more day to go. Weekends go way too fast.