Another Year Oldler But Wiser, I Hope

Sorry I have been slipping on updating my blog lately. I have been a very busy girl but just haven't taken the time to sit down and put it into words and pictures.

To start off, yesterday was my 49th birthday...(where have the years gone...I still feel 29). Age is just a number...that's what I say now but next year when I turn 50, I might be rethinking that statement. But my Mom always says "You know how to stop getting older don't you....die young" so that statement, from a very wise woman, has always made getting another year older not big deal to me :)

Here's another statement she used to say to me a lot while my kids were little and they were fighting and making messes and doing things kids do to make a Mother's head spin right off her shoulders...she would say...."this too shall pass"...and she was right. But now I miss those good ole days!!!!!

Anyway, my husband hand delivered these beautiful flowers to me on my birthday (thank you honey, you are so thoughtful) and also took me out for dinner. Before our dinner date, we stopped at Altel and renewed our cellphone contract (fun, fun) and we both got new cell phones so I guess I can also say I got a new cellphone for my birthday which I needed very badly...mine pooped out on me the other day. We added texting to our plan so I am now in the world of texting...look out!!!!!

My Daughter Kara surprised me with these BEAUTIFUL old sewing machines for my birthday. I LOVE old sewing machines and she knows it. I have about 5 of them right now and plan on someday decorating with them when we get a house someday.....I still have FAITH for my new house!!!!

I LOVE all the gold detail on this machine. Thank you Kara so much for blessing me with this machine....you know your Mother so well. You a my precious gift from God!!!!!

My daughter Alyssa had this adorable pan custom made with my name on it and a cross delivered to me for my birthday...I LOVE IT!!!!! Thank you Alyssa...we will have to have some Mother/Daughter time together and fill it will a new recipe :) You are also my precious gift from God :)!!!!!

And for my son Kasey....well, you know how boys are not sentimental.....he did give me a gift on facebook though which was pretty funny. He said when I come home to Spooner he has a card for me until then..he gave me his humor which he has plenty of, he has ALWAYS had a way of making me laugh, even when he was a little boy......He is also my precious gift from God!!!!

Here is what I have been working on the past few weeks

I started this little gal last week, she is so close yet so far from being done. The small detailed finishing touches are so time consuming but I am hoping to get her finished up today. My vision for her is to be wearing a prairie bonnet and also holding a bouquet of Sweet Annie...but time will tell.

Here is a cat family...this pattern is from Walnut Ridge Primitives and the pattern is Milly & Tuck

These horses are also close to being finished...hopefully today..this is my own pattern

These pigs are so cute....they are ready to head to the Country Freckles. This pattern is from Sassafras Hill Primitives

The Three Little Pigs

I came across a blog the other day and it really impressed me..click here to see it. She made the most beautiful crocheted pillows I have ever seen.

Years ago when my kids were little, I used to knit and crochet...my Step-Mom taught me how. While I was pregnant with each of my 3 kids, I would sit at night and knit or crochet a baby afghan for my baby and was so excited to wrap them up in it during our homecoming from the hospital.

All 3 of my kids, who are now adults, still have the baby afghan I made especially for them. But as the years have gone by.....knitting and crocheting have not been high on my list of hand work. But because I admired the pillows displayed on the blog and found that the pattern was posted....I got out some yarn and started in.

I only had red yarn (Annie hair) available to me right now so that is what I had to use. But if I do find time to make these pillows....I will have to go yarn shopping and pick out some bold and vibrant colors.

I also came across a quilting blog click here to view her blog.....that I really enjoyed and it inspired me to start a nine patch quilt. I found at the Goodwill a couple weeks ago, a pack of fabric that was already cut into 4" squares. So I dig them out and got started yesterday deciding I needed a break from my dolls. My quilt is a work in progress and I am not sure how long it will take....but I will work on it her and there and will keep you posted on it's progress.

Last but not least, my daughter Alyssa is done with her Junior year of college and is Spooner bound to work at her old job as a waitress at Jo Mama's. Jo Mama's is a cafe she has worked at since she was 16. She makes really good money there and Jo (the owner) loves her.


So seeing we moved last fall.....we could not find the apron I made for her last year so I had to whip up a new for this season. Along with putting her name on it, she also wanted a bible verse on the pocket. This is her favorite bible verse Hebrews 12:1 and she will be sporting it with pride this summer as she runs around at Jo's like a chicken with her head cut off....it gets VERY busy there which is a good thing.

Well, that's about it for now. I am heading to my sewing room to finish up projects and probably start new ones knowing me. Hope you all have a BLESSED day....until next time....God Bless...Rhonda

Spooner Time And New Handmade Primitives

This week I went home to Spooner and spent some time with my daughter Kara, I enjoyed our time together so much. She gave me for Mother's Day the cutest handmade garden bench, it's just adorable.
And them for my birthday which is May 13th, she surprised me with an antique singer sewing machine..it is AMAZING......and I LOVE IT!!!!!! I will post a picture of it next post. She is such an awesome daughter and she knows just what her Mother LOVES!!!! It's pretty cool when your kids know you that well :)

I also enjoyed spending some time with my Mom on Wednesday, we went shopping a Hayward and also had lunch together. She is going to come and spend the week with me this coming week, I am looking forward to that!!!!

Well in my primitive sewing world here are a few of the items I finished up last week. I made a Topsy Turvey prairie doll and I think she turned out so adorable. All you have to do is tuck one doll into the skirt of the other and you can tuck her in a cupboard, set her on a shelf or display her on a end table....the possibilities are endless. She stands up real nice by herself which is a feature I really like.

Or you can display them together side by side and have 2 dolls in 1. I have them spread out like this to show you how they are hooked together.

Here is the black dress...I LOVE their stitch aprons.

I made some prairie dresses in several colors, they are a real hit right now.

Blue Homespun

A blue and maroon homespun

I LOVE this one. I was not sure about it when I started, but was pleasantly surprised how it turned out.

A burgundy homespun dress

And here is a stitch dress sampler...."Every time a child is born so is a Grandma"....cute!!!

On the way to Spooner, there was a storm brewing on the horizon. I couldn't resist taking a few pictures while driving.....don't worry, I was very careful :)

There is something about a stormy sky that is so threatening but yet so beautiful....go figure.

That's all for now....Until next time....God Bless.....Rhonda

A Day In La Crosse and Climing the Bluffs

I spent the day with my daughter, Alyssa, in her college town of La Crosse, Wisconsin on Wednesday. We had a BLAST shopping, going to lunch and last but not least....climbing the bluffs of La Crosse. It started off we were just going to go for a walk, but Alyssa said "let's climb the bluffs". I was game, so I said "sure".....how stupid...just kidding Alyssa :)

Here is the beginning of the trail, it is called the Hixon Forest Walking Trails. It doesn't look too bad from here but wait til you get going...this trail is a killer!!!!

Here's a map of the trails just incase you get lost.

Here we go, Alyssa led the way.

It became very obvious that I was not going to make it to the top of this bluff. I told Alyssa that she is in shape, she runs 6-10 miles a day....I am fresh off the couch from stuffing dolls. I really didn't realize how out of shape I am.....I thought I was going to cough up a lung during some of steep climbs. We saw a spot that looked like we could maybe see a view at the top, so Alyssa climbed up off the beaten trail to see....but there was just more woods at the top. So we got back on the climbing trail to see if I could make it.

We finally gave up and realized that I was not going to make it to the top today....I did a lot of complaining and whinning so maybe she got sick of listening to it. At one point she even busted out "now I know how the biggest loser trainers feel"....LOL. But anyway, for what ever reason it was I was glad to be heading back to the car. Here is a view of our down hill climb, that's Alyssa in the distance.

At least I am still smiling here.

After the bluff climbing we took a spin down to the Mississippi river for a look at the beautiful view. The bridge boarders Wisconsin and Minnesota. After you cross on the right hand side of the bridge you are in Minnesota...kinda cool.

Here is Alyssa standing in front of her apartment building. She has two really great roommates and is very happy living in La Crosse. I always enjoy coming to visit her in her little piece of heaven. She always shows me a memorable time!!!!

Well that's it for now....God Bless....Rhonda

Whatcha Workin On Wednesday

Today I finished up some dolls I have been working on this week. It was actually half way nice out today which is hard to believe considering yesterday it snowed in the morning and the wind blew like crazy all day long and into the night....what's up with this weather....and what in world happened to the Global Warm they are all talking about....we sure have not had any of that so called warming here this winter or spring...brrrrrrr!!!!! Anyway here are some pictures of the gals....enjoy.

I LOVE the little lace shawl around her arms...she's such a lady

This gal started out heading toward becoming an Annie, but I am kinda getting sick of making Annie's for now so I turned her into a Annie with a twist.

I LOVE the dress fabric and her little stitch apron

This little gal is wearing a beautiful purple dress with a stitched linen bodice.....so cute and prim

I thought she needed to be holding something so I made her a prim bird. I hand stitched her eyes on and pinched stitched her mouth and nose, I think she has a very kind look on her face...such a sweetie.

This sweetie can hang as a door doll or sit on your favorite shelf or chair

This doll can also hang or sit...I love this option for both when I display my dolls

ok....She's so ugly she's cute...I agree

I have to finish this little gal up tomorrow. She needs an apron and also I am going to put Sweet Annie in the seed bag hanging around her neck.

Well, that's about if for today. If you want to join in on the fun, go to Leslie's blog and let us know what you did today. Until next time....keep prim'in....God Bless.....Rhonda

Rug Hooking Class On The Farm

Here is one of the wool hook rugs the teacher made...this picture does NOT do this rug justice...it is stunning in person!!!!!

Saturday I was blessed to have been able to attend a rug hooking class. Joni, from the Country Freckles, invited me to attend there were 7 of us all together. I had such a fun day enjoying the company of these very talented ladies and also enjoying the atmosphere where the class was held. The whole experience was amazing!!!!!

We left Wisconsin Rapids around 8 am and arrived in Wausau around 9 am. The class was held in an adorable restored farm house with gorgeous grounds and fun animals. Cathy, the teacher, teaches these classes out of her home and not only teaches you how to hook rugs but treats you like queens for the whole day. This day was not only about learning to rug hook, but it was also a refreshing time spent in an amazing home which had a reflexing feel of simpler times.

Another one of the Cathy's rugs....she had so many of her creations displayed through out her house....I wish I would have taken more pictures of them....you would not believe how many rugs she has done...I am sure hunderds......She has been a very busy girl.

We started off by picking out the pattern we wanted to make, that in itself was hard...so many choices. Then after we settled on something we just started in. Here we are in deep thought and hooking away.

Cathy dye's her own wool which I don't even began to understand that process. But on each wall she had shelves of gorgeous wool. Wool is what you use to hook into a burlap like fabric to create your rug. The wool is cut into 1/4 stripes and then woven into the fabric following the design on your pattern. It sounds confussing but it's really not that hard....just very time consuming!!!!

Here is what I decided on and how far I got during the class. I know it is upside down here but that's how I was working on it at the moment.

Cathy even served us a delicious lunch which I didn't expect. She is quit a lady. She has 6 boys her rug hooking business..her home and farm to take care of, plus she travels to shows and teaches at other locations...wow, I was tired just hearing about it.

It was Cathy's birthday so Joni brought her a birthday cake and we all sang Happy Birthday.....Joni even had candles!!!!

Here is Cathy's beautiful dining room

After we finished lunch it was time for the baby goats to have theirs. Cathy's husband had the bottles warmed up and ready to roll. We asked if we could come and watch but as you can see we also got involved. Joni and Toni were all smiles as they fed the babies...I was surprised one of them didn't sneak one of them babies into their car...they loved them.

Toni feeding the baby

Joni feeding the baby

Here are the Mommies watching the feeding. Cathy and her family actually milk these gals and drink their milk instead of cows milk. The babies do drink some from their mom's....but most of the mother's milk goes directly into the farm house for the family to enjoy. I asked Cathy if her kids liked goats milk and she said yes they do. I don't think I could have gotten my kids to go for goats milk. I myself have tried goats milk before and I was not impressed. I suppose it is what you get used to. I give Cathy credit...I would love to feed my family with farm raised fixins.

I have been working on my rug at home and am making progress. It is hard because I still have dolls to finish up this week and so I have to split my time between them all. All and all I really enjoy rug hooking...I will probably make another one when I am finished with this but maybe a little smaller piece. I will keep you all posted as the rug progresses.

That's all for now....God Bless.....Rhonda