Bad, bad blogger!!

I am pretty sure that I am not a good blogger. I think that good bloggers check in more than once a month. But to my defense I have been working on opening my Etsy shop, working on the Website, making new products for the shop, cleaning out all my old files in the farm office, getting ready for taxes...and a few more very very important things ;)

Easter buckets for the grandkids.....

These are a few of the items in my Etsy Shop...Stop in and see..Midlife Repurposed is the name. I opened yesterday and made my first sale today. Thats a good thing!!

Hello?

I have been looking for a chair like this. Didn't want to spend 200-300 dollars. Saw this at the Salvation Army Store...what? 50 bucks!! Yep, looks like brand new!! If it was yours...thanks :)

Getting back to work...

My Thermometer says -6 today. Great day to stay inside and work on some "projects". Hopefully I can throw in a few loads of laundry, vacuum and cook in between jobs. I look a fright these days...I have orange hair (due to some at home coloring), I have a nice case of dermatitis on my face that seems to be spreading (yes, I have been to the dermatologist for this ;) , I am fat (been dieting since Christmas and lost 2 freakin' pounds-not happy),  I am hungry, I wear sweats and a sweatshirt everyday, my socks all have holes in them, I have no desire to go out of my house and the worst part is I AM NOT DEPRESSED! My friends think I must be in a deep dark depression...nope. I am a sick woman! I told my husband yesterday that he is so lucky to be married to such a prize and he said "you're still perrtyy"! What a guy...his sick sense of humor compliments mine ;)                                 

I did make these confetti glass mugs that turned out really cute.

Silhoutte Cameo Cutter...HELP!!

Working with my Silhouette Cameo...I think I need some practice. Although the little circle on the bottom left looks a little like George Washington...don't you think?

These are a couple things I got for Christmas from my husband who takes hints (o.k. so I took him to Home Depot and showed him what I wanted ;) so well. The Silhouette I found on Nomorerack.com and volunteered to order it for him (for me) because it was the best price I have seen. Of course he was delighted to have me order my own gift. What a guy! I have not had time to use either one yet but have been reading up on the endless possibilities...so excited to cut things up ;)

Hppy New Year!

Christmas is over and the New Year is here and I am already feeling behind at everything. Christmas stuff is put into boxes but still sitting in my garage..just another way to irritate my husband. I need to vacuum but it scares our new cat (Carl). Trying to catch up on laundry, office work, tax records, cleaning, appointments, projects and writing.  I think my thyroid has stopped working! I colored, bleached, re-colored and toned my hair only to reveal a beautiful shade of orange. I threw out all the junk food in the house and am now longing for it. I am trying to exercise more but below 0 temps keep me inside wanting a nap instead. I have been eating healthier and pretty sure I lost an ounce last week. Other than that, life is good. 

My last project was making cement bowls.......

As you can see, I did something very wrong.

I am thinking maybe the consistancy of the cement mix was off or maybe I got too anxious and didn't let them cure long enough.

So, this is what I got. I will be trying this again.

Christmas cookies at Grandpa and Yaya's

Looking pretty good so far....

Looking a little rougher...most all counter space is filled.

Little hands...so cute (for awhile ;)

Going down hill...blobs of frosting on the counter, floor, clothes, faces.

Only the beginning of the dishes...next day and I am still cleaning.  Notice the cement bowls to the left of the sink, I will comment on those later (after I finish cleaning this disaster).

Trying for grandma of the year again. I am not very successful as usual.  We had the kids (6, 4 and 2) spend the night and planned to make christmas cookies, crafts, snowmen...read books, take bubble baths, get happy meals, watch Christmas movies. It was all going well until Ivey (the 6 yr old) told me I was getting kinda bossy.  Oh well, I will try again next year.

Blogggggs!

I have been looking at other peoples blogs and I have confirmed what I knew all along...yes I am a loser. What the heck? How do they do all that cool stuff on the sidelines and get people to advertise on their blogs. Do I have to do political rants? Cause I can! Maybe some inappropriate language? Can't do that..my kinds would ground me. How about some nude pictures....hahahahhh, we would have people poking their eyes out by the dozens. I could talk about my dysfunctional family, but I'm sure you all have one of those ;)  Maybe I could get a psychiatrist to do an ad. If you're reading this, you may need one. Anywhooo, I guess I will just keep writing what I know about and all the interesting things that happen in my life. 

Next post...making cement bowls! See...now that is interesting stuff huh?

Christmas is coming...

Just pondering the twelve days of Christmas and came up with my own little song...don't be trying to steel this! I know you can relate ;)
                                                                                                                                                              

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a big stinky artificial tree.

On the second day of Christmas..My true love gave to me, two (bad) attitudes and a big stinky artificial tree.

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me....Three needy children, two (bad) attitudes and a big stinky artificial tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...four non-working strings of Christmas lights, three needy children, two (bad) attitudes and a big stinky artificial tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, five boxes of greenery, four non-working strings of lights, three needy children, two (bad) attitudes and a big stinky artificial tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...Six trips to town, five boxes of greenery, four non-working strings of lights, three needy children, two (bad) attitudes and a big stinky artificial tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me... Seven frozen hoses, six trips to town, five boxes of greenery, four non-working strings of lights, three needy children, two (bad) attitudes and a big stinky artificial tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, eight maids a working (but not for me), Seven frozen hoses, six trips to town, five boxes of greenery, four non-working strings of lights, three needy children, two (bad) attitudes and a big stinky artificial tree.

On the ninth day of  Christmas my true love gave to me, nine recipes ruined, eight maids a working (but not for me), Seven frozen hoses, six trips to town, five boxes of greenery, four non-working strings of lights, three needy children, two (bad) attitudes and a big stinky artificial tree.

On the tenth day  of  Christmas my true love gave to me, ten muddy paws, nine recipes ruined, eight maids a working (but not for me), Seven frozen hoses, six trips to town, five boxes of greenery, four non-working strings of lights, three needy children, two (bad) attitudes and a big stinky artificial tree.

On the eleventh day of  Christmas my true love gave to me, eleven Stuarts sleeping, ten muddy paws, nine recipes ruined, eight maids a working (but not for me), Seven frozen hoses, six trips to town, five boxes of greenery, four non-working strings of lights, three needy children, two (bad) attitudes and a big stinky artificial tree.

On the Twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, twelve unfinished projects, eleven Stuarts sleeping, ten muddy paws, nine recipes ruined, eight maids a working (but not for me), Seven frozen hoses, six trips to town, five boxes of greenery, four non-working strings of lights, three needy children, two (bad) attitudes and a big stinky artificial tree.

Don't get me wrong..I love Christmas, I love decorating and I am very blessed even with all my "issues".   Merry Christmas!

Here is proof that I really do get into the Christmas Spirit!!!

The Dish!

So, I washed, scrubbed, soaped and it looked pretty good. Then....I put it in the dishwasher and this is what came out. All the red is completely gone, the green is now blue. But on a brighter note, the silver sharpie is the definitely a winner. It lasted through all the tests! I guess that if you hand washed your dish or cup or whatever, it would hold up just fine...but if you get a little vigorous in your cleaning (I don't really have a problem with that :) you may want to stick with the metallic markers.  Now I need to find out if they are food safe or if I eat out of my pretty dish will I die??? or worse yet, if I give it to you as a gift...will YOU die???

More testing....

I just finished drawing on a dollar store plate with colored sharpies...here is the photo. Just a quick design I did not take much time as I am testing the baking theory. I will put it into a 350 degree for 30 min. then I will wash it, scrub it...put it in the dishwasher (which is not recommended) and see what the results are....stay tuned. This would make a nice gift for someone, a personalized mug, plate, bowl...so many possibilities. Walking to my oven now....;)

Christmas is coming.....

   I am pondering where I will put my tree this year. Its the time of year when I decide that maybe I need to add on to our family room. I am capable of knocking a wall out, I am just not sure if I am capable of adding a new wall. So maybe I will move my china cabinet and put the tree there...not sure where I would move a 1000 lb. cabinet full of china and glass....upstairs maybe :O  I think I will put it in my living room...its tiny and has a piano in it, but I cannot sit in my big squishy chair and gaze at the tree in the evening since it is around the corner from my chair.  Hmmm...guess I will be moving some furniture. 

I have been working on all kinds of projects as my sister is getting our website up and running and needs photos to get us started on the "Sibling Rivalry" debut!  It will be a fun venture for our families. If we sell nothing, we will have lots of great gifts for everyone we know....we will be giving things to strangers!  I have a bit of a problem finishing one project before starting another...I have too many ideas floating around in my ADD brain. I am trying to be organized! Trying!

On a brighter note....I AM DONE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING!!!!!  Until I realize that I have forgotten a long lost relatives gift (like my mom or dad perhaps). Enjoying the reason for the season now.  Sweet baby Jesus :)

Yard Sale Finds...and more projects!

My grandkids :)  I love this frame...not a yard sale find and I did not make it...but I bought it as a pattern and I will make a similar one :)

I painted these stones (and pot of whatever those greens are) on the staircase wall...many many years ago. It was cool at the time...but its time for it to GOOOO!

I made this super cute shelf with lots of cubbies out of old barn wood just laying around the farm.

We bought a piece of farm ground that had an old shed on it...found this treasure inside. I painted the inside with the grey/blue and left the outside original.  It still has the original wire insets in the door and bits and pieces of the old fabric that lined the inside.

 

Tiny piano...$10 bucks...works great. Kids love it! Not sure what I will do with it, probably keep it..help me!

Adorable tiny wicker set....probably keep these too...grrrr

Projects....and stuff.

Cute little yard sale bench and a big ole raggedy ann!

Old window pane I sprayed the back with snow...rubbed out some peep holes and hung a wreath on the latch with a shiny green ribbon.

Old window pane...painted red, added cork covered with black and white fabric and some ribbon!

Shabby old yard sale cabinet with crystal knobs...didn't do anything to it..too cute already ! Fits perfectly in my cabin room.

Not a yard sale find, but just as cool. Has been in my husbands family for many many years and was played by his grandma. I cherish this!

Weekend update...

We (my husband and I) just spent the weekend in McCall Idaho. We went with two other couples who have been friends of ours for about 25 years. We all know each other too well and share way too much (not in a weird way ;), laugh way too much, get indigestion from laughing way too much, eat too much and have way too much fun. We go for long drives, have picnics, play cards, we make "plans", we talk about our dreams and did I mention..EAT? The girls have sung together in a trio called Spontaneous for many years and the boys support us (hahah) and talk about farming and politics and sports...all nonsense. We had a blast and I am very thankful for our fun times in the past and many more fun times in the future. We're funny and we know it!! ;)

A New Review....or two

HAPPY HALLOWEENER!!! HAHAHAHA!!
 So, I tried the hot dogs with spaghetti noodles shoved into them...and guess what??? It is definitely a ***** five star pin!!  The only problem is that you have to cook them for so long to get the noodles cooked thoroughly that your wiener is now pretty big and swollen (eek...but true) and kind of wants to split open, we can't have that!! So I would recommend getting the super skinny noodles for this project.

Sugar cookie dough...with a surprise inside :)

Next, I tried the sugar/rolo cookie.  You simply put a rolo in the center of a ball of sugar cookie dough.

I guess it was ok.  Maybe *** star pin. Nothing spectacular..although it was pretty darned easy! They tasted better when the were cold...FYI

A before and after photo of a yard sale side table....treasure!

Notice the cat (now deceased) and the dust :) 

  I just need to put on another coat of stain and it will be all finished. I like it, I may keep it. This store may be bad for me...real real bad!

Beet Harvest 2012

 Beet harvest is a favorite time of year...the smells, the sounds, the chill in the air. It is also the final crop to come out of the ground. Which means the end of another farm year.  We still have a couple weeks of disking and ground work to put the soil to rest for the winter but it is a much slower pace and not as critical as getting the crops into storage or wherever they may be going.