"From the Halls of Montezuma, To the shores of Tripoli...."

Hi Everyone! Well, it's official.  My nephew Ridge is a Marine.  His graduation was today.  I am so very proud of him.  He is heading home for 10 days and then he will head back for weapons training and then on to Pensacola for 9 to 14 months of schooling.  He's going to learn to work on aircrafts.

Unfortunately, none of my family were able to make it out to San Diego for his graduation.  But his mother's side of the family were able to attend.  I'm so glad someone was there for him.  My brother and his family and my parents are all going to get to see him before he heads back to San Diego.  My parents will be on their way back from Florida next weekend and will be staying over to spend some time with him.  And will meet up with my brother's family.  I'm so happy that they will get to spend some time with him!

I am so proud of Ridge and the decision he made.  He decided at 17 that this is what he wanted to do and signed up for 5 years.  Such a grown up decision from boy.  He's not a boy any longer. 

My sister-in-law said it best, "Just a few short weeks ago, a scared but excited young man left for boot camp.  Today, the United States Marines are returning to us a young man, a Marine.  I have so much love and pride in my heart that he has undertaken such a noble goal.  Today he joins the elite.  He is a United States Veteran forevermore."

Congratulations Ridge!  You make me so proud! 

Farewell and Good luck to my nephew...

Hi Everyone!  Well, my nephew was here.  And we had a wonderful time.  I took a few pictures of the Christmas tree at Union Station in Kansas City while we were waiting for his train to arrive.

And here is my nephew and Dad minutes after he got off the train.  I hadn't seen him in person for almost two years.  And it was two years too long.  It's hard to believe he's 18 and joining the Marines in a matter of days.

And here he is with my mom shortly after we got him home.  We had a great time.  Played lots of games.  He loves to play card games or the tile game (as my Mom calls it).  We laughed a bunch and just enjoyed having him here.  He helped Dad do some chores around their house and helped Dad and I move some farm equipment back into storage.  Which was a lot of help, especially after the tongue of the hay rack landed on my foot leaving me to hobble along.  It's not broken just bruised really bad!!  And boy did it hurt!  The swelling is coming down which is good, but it's made it difficult to get orders filled.  So hopefully this weekend I can get caught up.  Mom and Dad took him to meet my sister-in-law so he can spend time with his Dad before he leaves for Marine boot camp on December 12th.  I will miss him and wish him well on this new phase of his life.  Good luck Ridge and be safe!  I know you'll make a great Marine!

My mom's tree...

Hi Everyone!  After our Thanksgiving meal, I put up my mother's Christmas tree, so I thought I'd show you how it turned out.  I made her the tree topper star as well as the snowman ornament in the middle of the tree.

 I really like how it turned out.  And she was very happy to have someone put it up for her.

I also gave her one of the trees I had left over from the craft fair.  Have a great day!  Thanks for stopping by.

Jenny Lind headboard bench...

Hi Everyone!  Happy Tuesday!  I am spending today with my nephew Ridge but I thought I'd share with you one of the benches that I made for my last craft fair that did not sell.  This is what it started out looking like.  It is a Jenny Lind headboard.

I made this one armless since I did not have a footboard to go with it.  I took the feet from another headboard (one that I didn't like and used the back to make a sign out of it) to make the front legs of this bench.  Then built the frame work.  I had originally wanted to make storage in the seat of this one, but I ran out of time.  But if you look at this, it only needs the bottom of the storage part.  Maybe I will rework this one and add storage to it.

I painted it with Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint in Graphite with a little black paint added to it to darken it a bit.  I upholstered the seat with my usual fabric choice (it's just been so popular).  And I added the saying to the bottom, Sit Long, Talk Much, Laugh Often.  But since it didn't sell, I think I'll finish off the storage in the seat and then it will be ready to go for next year.  Well I'm off now to spend quality time with Ridge before he heads off to Marine Basic training!  I hope you have a great day!  Thanks for stopping by. 

The end of fair season...

Hi Everyone!  Happy Saturday!  I know I've been missing this week.  Last Saturday was my last fair of the season.  It went pretty well.  The parking lot at the facility was all torn up so there was limited parking which I think hurt as there weren't nearly as many customers as there normally were.  I still managed to sell quite a few things including a bench, lots of tress, and some one of a kind items.  I'll show more in the next few days.  One of the things that sold right away was Hank, the snowman post.

The gal that bought him was so excited when she saw him and picked him up right away and said she just had to have him.  It always makes me smile to see people get excited about their purchases.  So I know he went to someone who will appreciate him.

I ended the day last Saturday with several orders so I had a total of 10 things I needed to make.  I managed to cut that to 4 on Tuesday and then picked up another order on Wednesday.  Tuesday I started getting a cold and by Wednesday morning it was a full blown cold.  So needless to say, I haven't gotten anything else done this week besides going to work.  I'm feeling a bit better today, so I will be hitting the shop this afternoon to get going on these five orders.  I need to get them done soon! 

I got some exciting news on Sunday.  My nephew Ridge, who is joining the Marines and is leaving in December, will be coming here for a few days!  I am so excited.  I was afraid I wasn't going to get to see him before he left. 

I bought him a train ticket and my parents and I are picking him up a week from tomorrow.  He'll be here for a few days and then my parents will take him to meet his Dad where he will stay for a few more days before heading back home and then leaving for boot camp.  I'm so proud of him and can't wait to see him!  So I must get things done despite my cold!  I hope you all have a great weekend!  Thanks for stopping by!

Hawkeye Fans.....

Hi Everyone!  The weekend of my big Craft Fair something else excited was happening.  My brother and his family (minus my niece-she's not a fan) went to an Iowa Football game.  I have a very dear friend, Craig (Happy Birthday!), we've been friends for 13 years, who has Iowa Football season tickets and is nice enough to share them with me and my family.  My dad and I usually go every year and we give the other two tickets to my brother and his wife for their birthdays.  But this year my dad and I did not go.  Instead we gave all four tickets to my brother and sister-in-law so they could take their boys. 

 This is outside the stadium.  My nephew Ridge has never been to a game.  He lives in southern Missouri and I bought him a train ticket to get to his dad's (his car is not reliable).  Ridge is leaving for the Marines in December, so this trip was extra special.

 My nephew Quinton got to go last year with us because the game we picked was late in the year and at night and boy was it cold, so Dawn did not go.

 Now there's a Hawkeye family!

There is a Hawkeye train that takes you from a parking area a couple miles away and stops at the base of the stairs outside the stadium which makes parking and getting there so  much easier.  This is my brother and nephew on the train.  The Hawks won so a great time was had by all.  It would  have been even sweeter if Dad and I had gotten to go, but I was busy at the craft fair.  Next year.  Thanks for stopping by!