Christmas shopping in September???

I am so glad Elizabeth who is almost 6 months old can't use the internet yet. Because if she could she would see what Grandma bought her today for her first Christmas present. It looks just like Lizzie with the blue eyes, no hair, and a headband.

I am excited to make her, her first baby doll quilt. After that I can make baby doll clothes. I still have the original doll clothes pattern my Mother used to make the ones for my doll.

This was my first Christmas present I've purchased this year. Many more to go . . .

The rest of my shopping didn't go well today. I was wanting two shirts to matches work pants. Either I wasn't in the mood or I was too picky. Oh well as my friend Kathy says, bad shopping day equals money saved!

But the good news is I did finally manage a hair cut!

Grandparent day!

Doesn't this make it all worth while! Beautiful eyes! And Grandpa's aren't bad either.

We even got to eat donuts together.

What kindergartner doesn't love his grandparents to come and visit him at school?

It's a giveaway

Go check out Missouri Quilt company. They are having a give away.

Saturday's road trip

Now is this a beautiful scene in the country or what? BT and I headed out before 5:30 am for what would be a 400+ mile trip. We went to Matthew Burnett's home place for the BAM (Missouri Blacksmiths Association) meeting.










Some of this material would turn into . . .












. . . this, a finished wooden wagon wheel with an iron rim.

To read more about the meeting you can click here, Osagebluffblacksmith.


It looked like Matthew and his dad are raising a few turkeys, possibly for a thanksgiving table somewhere. We were lucky enough to have Matthew's dad make lunch for all the smith's there and even some wives. He made the best chili using roast beef. It was steaming hot and seasoned just right. Our dessert was German Chocolate cake. We enjoyed the wonderful meal while sitting under the huge shade trees overlooking the hills.




On the way home we gave PW a call. He told us to stop by. An hour and a half later we were in the driveway of Flat Creek Farm. While we toured Tammy's flower garden she gathered white coneflower seeds and some red gaillardias. I just hope I can make them grow.


After a cold refreshing glass of tea, we got a tour of their new shouse (shed/house). They are putting in shiney new tin ceiling in their kitchen. It is awesome, as is the bead board in the bathroom. These are two things that I have always envied. I got to meet Gracie and Ruby, her two miniature donkeys. There were just adorable. The two were relaxing, listening to some tunes on the radio.


Our visit was way too brief, but we were anxious to get home since we had started out very early.


Once home we ate our carry out pizza. Just as we were about to relax, the grandsons came to stay all night. Seven of the past eight nights we have had house guests. It's going to be awfully lonely here this week!


Don't forget now, surf on over to read more about the BAM meeting at Osagebluffblacksmith.

Busy week!

We've had company! It was this couple ------->





It's one of my anonymous readers. Actually he is BT's cousin. Jim and Nancy from Iowa. They stayed with us 3 nights. In the day time they were visiting Jim's brother Tom, who is ill.





While they were visiting with us, we pulled out old pictures. Since I didn't have an opportunity to take a current photo, I decided to use these. I even found a picture of their wedding cake. It really impressed me on their wedding day in 1976 and it still impresses me 33 years later.














The tour of Missouri bike race came through here again this year.



Last year we had visiting cousins with the same last name as Jim and Nancy and they watched it with us. This time I was stopped just a mile from home. However BT went the back way and made it to our drive way to watch it with this year cousins!





This tire change happened right in front of me. I was amazed that I got the picture, since they changed this tire in like 10 seconds and because of the cars whizzing by.











Fried green tomatoes? That has nothing on Nancy, this was our breakfast Friday morning. After the bacon and eggs were fried, she dropped sliced of red tomatoes and flash fried them. Try it you'll like it.





Sadly they had to leave for home on Friday. We are praying for Tom and his family in this difficult time.

Labor Day weekend

A three day weekend!

On Saturday the mailman delivered mail to our door. (Usually it's about a 1/4 mile from the house to our postal box) There was a package from the Iowa cousins. You see BT fixed his Harley Davidson in the blacksmith shop a couple of weeks ago. Dan was very impressed and sent him this Harley T-shirt. The hat is from another cousin a year or so ago. It's a Harley Davidson hat from Sturgis! Cousins are good to BT.



Sarah and Rusty were here for 4 days. This is what you do when the electricity goes off for almost 2 hours. There is no charging cell phones, no surfin' the internet, no showers or hair curling, thus the faceless photo.





The vines I asked about the other day? Still unidentified, but look really good draped over one of the wardrobes.

Just received an email from Tim, a friend who works for Missouri conservation, he tells me they are Bristly Greenbrier.
For more information see his report. Thanks TIM!!!





So Sunday we went to the cabin fishing.









But first Sarah goes for a swing.













Rusty caught the first fish.







Sarah then caught one, and another one and more.












I even got into the fishing thing. BT was busy baiting and repairing the girls lines. This was the stringer full when we quit. They were all bluegills. Good eating after BT filets them.






BUT WAIT . . .nothing compared to Jeremy's 3 day fishing trip.





This scale is holding the biggest fish. No you can't see the fish, it wouldn't fit into the picture. It weighed 77 pounds!









I can't think of a comment to leave on this picture.





Day 1 of the Mississippi River/Meramac River trip.







Day 2









Day 3


Hope everyone had a great Labor Day!

Practicing retirement

It's been a different week, BT is off 'practicin'. This means no set routine, get up when we want, eat when we want, go to bed when we want. Man this is the life! This is great considering we are doing this while still on the payroll.



One thing he wanted to get done this week was to built a grape arbor. There are beautiful concord grapes on his home place and for years we have talked about getting starts of them.



Today would be the day as BT had some help, and I say some lightly. Alex had been dealing with strep and couldn't go to school until he was 24 hours fever free. Today he was on the mend and wanted to go outside with Grandpa. He was pretty good at helping to clean out the holes.





Well for awhile, even airplanes would side track him!

BT finished the job of putting the posts in.






Here's the finished arbor. Today I called the master gardener on the local radio show. She said we could transplant them now, due to the wonderful weather we are having.





Can anyone tell us what this vine is? It has very dark round berries hanging on it.

Since I was home most of the week, I had things I wanted to finished too. One was repainting the the kitchen bar stools.

I got Maryjane's quilt bound.

Finally, remember this little camp stool I bought last week at the antique store. BT sealed the wood and help me staple a new seat on it. It will work great to use by the sewing machine and set my scrap box on.


Now the weeekend is here, rain and all. Company is coming in for 4 days! Sarah and Rusty are coming!!!!!!!

Have a happy and safe Labor day.