Trip down Memory Lane

My trip in the country today also took me down memory lane.  This little run down shack is where I lived as a 19 year old newly married girl.  Back then, 33 years ago, it was a cute little box of a house, with a freshly painted exterior, a very neat yard, and a little wooden deck, built around the tree, for a porch.  It was probably less than 400 square feet of living space, but it had all a young couple needed - a tiny bathroom, kitchen, living room, and bedroom.  I don't think anyone has lived there in about 30 years.

I spent many a day in this yard.  We used to put walnuts in the driveway and run over them to hull them.  Then my Mother-in-law would sit on her steps and pick the "goodies" out of the shells. Such a beautiful view.

Quilt Blocks on Barns

I spent part of this beautiful East Tennessee day taking my son's Grandmother to see her sister in Sweetwater.  We passed by these barns with the quilt blocks.  It was a perfect day for a drive in the country.

Exciting News

I maybe having my first blog giveaway soon!! I am so excited. More info to come. Stay tuned.

Cooking Shows

After watching The Pioneer Woman cooking show today, I decided to do a little pot roast for us tonight. I found a small half roast in the freezer.  Hers only had carrots and onions for the veggies.  I added celery, mushrooms, and a little minced garlic.  Looks good! we will have this with mashed potatoes and green beans. A hearty meal for my hubby after a long day of fishing (yeah, that is such hard work!)

Pumpkin Muffins

This recipe comes from my DIL, Katie. These are wonderfully heavy and taste very yummy.

Recipe:
I moist yellow cake mix
1 15oz. can pumpkin
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
(I didn't have the nutmeg and cloves, so I added all spice and some vanilla)

Mix together (batter will be very thick); pour in muffin cups or tins and bake about 20 minutes at 350.  You can top them with cream cheese frosting, but they are yummy even without it.

Scrappy Stars

I found this pattern ages ago and really love the traditional look of it.  I am using shirt plaids (still have many leftovers from my other shirt projects).  I've been putting off starting it because I know it is going to be a booger.  So many tiny pieces and I am not a precision cutter or piecer.  Over 1200 1 1/2" squares if I make it the size shown.  Nah.  I am going to make a lap size.  The hub has been wanting a new lap quilt.

Here is tonight's progress.

Can you see the little "Polo" emblem?  That shirt was one of my $1 thrift store finds.

Another picture

This is probably my favorite of the ones I took of Elijah and Katie last weekend.

Visit to Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

This is where Elijah and Katie live.  I had a great visit with them!

They took me geocaching while I was there.  It was fun.

Turkeys in the Yard

These guys/gals live in the woods around our house.  There is a flock of them!  They were having a heyday digging underneath our neighbors bird feeder.

The Lake

We were supposed to go to our church picnic this evening but we backed out at the last minute.  I went walking and hubby went fishing.  Then later, he picked me up for a ride.  It was nice.

Little Quilts

I found these today and thought how nice they would look layered on our breakfast table.

Another picture of my handsome model.....

How to remove scuff marks from shutters

I am posting this because I've looked and looked on the web to find out how to clean those tiny little gray scuff marks off of faux wood shutters.  Sometimes when I am closing them, my ring will make a tiny mark along the slat.  Regular soap and water, and even a Magic Eraser doesn't easily get them off.  This morning I tried Soft Scrub (without bleach) and with very little pressure, took them right off.  So there you go.

Picture Label

A friend merged a picture of myself with a picture of one of my quilts.  I thought this would work great for the label.  I hope to enter this quilt in our local Country Fair. I love making labels.  I can imagine my great grandchildren one day saying, "so that's what Mamaw looked like!"

Shutters

The "shutter man" finished up today.  I am thrilled with the results.

By the way, these were purchased through Lowe's and the installer did an excellent job.  We have been very pleased with the quality and the workmanship.

A favorite

This is one of my all time favorites.  Made from Elijah's shirts.

After supper the hubby took me out riding around to snap a few pictures.  This is the Sugar Grove Valley bridge.

For our little guests

Some friends are coming over tonight for a fish fry.  They have four children.  I thought the little ones would like this.

Glorious Rain!

So thankful for the bountiful rain we are getting today.

Pillow

I made this last night using curtain material.  I have more of this beautiful silk.

Tonight's festivities

We had a good time tonight with our friends from church.

And after everyone left we had this little guy flying around our nasty florescent lights in the garage - a hummingbird!

Think I need to dust the garage ceiling?  Well, I chose not to so no one would think our place is too perfect......lol

Another ruffled tank top

I think I like this one better than the last.  Again an old tank top, and this time I used a rarely used white t-shirt for the ruffles.

Hospitality

It seems hospitality is a lost art.  Why?  Are decorating shows/blogs making us feel like our homes don't measure up?  Are we too busy?  Has my home been "too perfect" and made others feel like they couldn't have a group over at their home?  I hope not.  Truth is, for most of us - working or not, there is no way our home, our food, our kids, can be perfect.  Yet, some of us strive for that. And in doing so, we neglect others - others who don't have family close by - others who don't have close friends - others who are craving some friendships but don't know how to start - younger couples who need mentors.

I am so thankful for those in my past who have opened their home for casual get togethers, drop-ins, and planned church get togethers.  I remember couples that had several group events at their homes.  I was a young married woman who needed that friendship with mature Christians.

I need to do more of this.  We are having our Sunday School class over tonight.  I hope my home isn't too perfect.  Maybe I won't worry about getting the bird poop off the porch.  A sweeping will be good enough.

Trying something new

Sometimes, I just have to make something.  I don't have a quilt going right now, am waiting on some shirts. Today I read so many neat blog posts about making ruffles for old t-shirts or tank tops, I had to try it.

So I turned this....

into this...

Not much has survived this heat

Oh....those aren't real anyway....