It wasn't me

"I told you I didn't do it!"

This is the newest addition to our house, Misty. She was abandoned at one of the properties my husband's agency manages and he had been eyeing her for awhile. So 2 days ago he brought her home and Chad named her. This is the most affectionate cat I have ever had and I've had a lot of cats! She is pure love with whiskers. Anyway, there was this bad smell in the house and I thought the poor cat had an accident even though I knew she was using the "box". Well it turned out that we have a plumbing problem and the basement got flooded. So I'm not only getting a kitchen pass today, but no laundry either! It was one of those days where you just gotta laugh..... ......and then eat cake and maybe have seconds!

Its been a long road

Today is the 1 year anniversary of my husband's accident. There just aren't words to express how you feel when you get that phone call that starts off with, "everything is ok". There's a lump in your throat and your mind begins to race. My brother-inlaw was on the other end of the phone, not who I expected since we have caller id and he called from my husband's phone.

The guys had went to Gorman, a popular place for dirtbike riding. My husband, his brothers and several friends who were all very experienced and safe riders. No goofing off, no drinking. My husband could have been a pro rider, with a wall full of trophies to prove it. He is in law enforcement and had also been through classes for offroad safety.

So I said to my BIL, where are you taking him and his reply was I dont know we are waiting for a helicopter. I looked at my little boys and thought daddy might not come home today. It is the worst feeling ever, that uncertainty. But our story has a happy ending thanks to the good Lord.

Three surgeries, 6 pints of blood, 10 days in the hospital and a whole lot of prayers and Kenn is ok. He was in a wheelchair for a while, had a walker, then 2 crutches, then 1 and then finally able to walk. He is back on full duty but is not 100% yet. It has been such a long road for Kenn but he did it. He is the most determined and yes stubborn person next to myself that I know.

So this is for you Kenn, you made it to the other side and there is no looking back.

I love you,

New Fabrics

Where do the days go? I have been so busy doing ....well I'm sure it was important at the time. Oh yes it was market time at my showroom. That's why I'm pooped and cant think straight. Making a few new samples, taking pictures, laying out the new catalog, making packets for the reps......and then there's the website. My love-hate relationship. I've been redoing it so a whole new look will be up soon. I think it will be a little more user friendly. This one man show stuff is tough but if I wasnt doing it I dont know what I would do with myself. You really do have to follow your passion.

I just read "The Martha Rules" by Martha Stewart. She has good advice and some stories that not only made me chuckle, but surprised me. Like when she catered a fancy dinner and burned one of the courses. Her amazing advice is "dont panic.....cut the pie up and throw out the bad part". She devotes a whole chapter to this theory. I just picked up the "Portable Coach". I'll let you know if its a good read.

These are the new fabrics I am adding to my collection of pillows, aprons and tea towels. I think they are so sweet. The colors are so pretty they just make me happy! The pink/white combo I call "Whisper" and the pink/yellow combo is "Daydream".

Have a great day girls and thanks for stopping by,

More love from Tahoe

More love from Tahoe! It is truly beautiful here. We decided to take the gondola to the top of "Heavenly". So we boarded this dangly thing that is not very well ventilated!



That is the top.....very, very high. Have I mentioned I dont like heights? I think we were above 8500'.

That is where I left my sensibility, on the ground.(I've always prided myself about having my feet on the ground, where they belong!) I am not sqeamish.

We are not at the top yet...I am not a girly girl....I have power tools.

These flowers grow wild eveywhere.

A sweet little bird's nest with new hatchlings.

We made it back safely and went to the lake. This is the welcoming committee.

He gave us a big hiss!

Here is Cody's collection of shells, rocks and feathers.

Yes, I am raising romantic boys.

This is a hike we took to a waterfall.

This is just one of the breathtaking views we saw.

My three boys!

This is the top part of the waterfall (lower left). I couldn't get a picture of the water coming over the rocks which is actually below where this was taken because of the way the trails turned. It would have been a very tough hike with the kids.

Bodie Ghost Town

I've been on vacation and thought I would share it with you. This is "Bodie" an old goldrush ghost town. Its off of Interstate 395 about 2 hours from Lake Tahoe. It was truly an amazing place, yet so sad and full of mystery. Most of the structures were in such dissrepair that they could not be entered. It is a statepark now.

This is the old mine. I don't know who these people are...I tried to get a shot without anyone in it but it was pretty busy....dont they know I gotta blog?lol! Bodie was known for being a rough town. There was a wealth of gold here and I guess that brought out the worst in some! We also visited the cemetery. It was really a crazy experience reading about the things that happened to people back then.

This is part of what's left of Bodie. There is only about 5% of the original structures still standing. At one time there was 10,000 people living here.

Look at that dressform! The bright blue display at the bottom left said "over 200 new patterns". I wish I could have gotten my hands on that . Sorry about the glare on the window. It was so bright out there.

This store was full of all kinds of amazing things! I just can't believe the townspeople just walked away and left it all behind. If walls could talk! Some of the winters were pretty harsh and this is how they kept warm. What would they think of our gas fireplaces? I just love the cabinet in the back with the glass doors. My teacup collection would look so good in there.

I would love to get my hands on this piece and refinish it! You can see the weather damage to the walls....some rooms had really beautiful wallpaper but it was really moldy and hung off in large strips.

This room was in pretty good shape compared to a lot of what I saw. It's hard to see the old sewing machine in the corner but take my word for it, I was wondering if I could acquire it somehow. I guess I'll have to search the fleamarket.

All of the rooms were so small. I don't know how they managed. Will a frozen lasagna fit in that oven? I will never complain about my kitchen countertops again!
This crib is to die for! Oh that would of course be cute in a pink shabby room for a sweetie pie but it could go in the garden as a raised bed of flowers! No pun intended;)

This is in the kitchen. Isn't the baby chair adorable? I can picture baking tarts in that tin and singing to the baby. I love the green paint. Ya think Home Depot could copy it?

We can change the World

I wrote this hours ago and didn't post it right away as I needed time to really think about it and what I wanted to say. Ok, girls I'm gonna get a little deep....Here is my disclaimer right up front. This IS NOT intended to insult or offend anyone, anywhere. Having said that let me also add that I believe with my whole heart that every person has a purpose. Everyone has God given gifts (they just don't always know it.) I know your wondering where I am going with all this, so bear with me. I was blog hopping today and found this beautiful blog that is a support & encouragement for women of color. It's called Mybrownbaby ,I began reading things they shared about life, motherhood, hopes, dreams and even fears. We are all the same! I've always believed that. I have lived in southern California 43 years and there is every ethnicity here. I don't see a person by what color they are wrapped in. Do you? You have to read this piece by Jennifer Johnson about interracial relationships. It is amazing how some of us have been raised to "pick" black or white. Can you imagine? I dream of a day when we don't see lines of color drawn in the sand.

I was so moved that I felt compelled to share this with you. I think most of my readers & I are like minded. I couldn't be wrong? A few years ago one of my husband's friends traveled back to the south for a funeral. He told us that there were still water fountains marked for black use or white use. We were shocked. I think those should be taken down and never should have been put up to begin with.

Remember when the "What would Jesus do?" books first came out? I remember how my kids would quote that all the time. Well faith aside, what would common decency do? We can change our world girls. Women are powerful. Afterall, we give birth we can do anything! We can conquer racism. We are raising our children instilling in them our values and traditions, we can teach them to accept others. I was thinking about how we are all Americans and I saw in my mind our men, our husbands, brothers, fathers and sons standing side by side fighting for our country. I dont think they fall into ranks based on the color of their skin. I learned a lot today by looking through someone else's eyes. We have the power to change things simply by changing our visual perspective.

Maybe it was best said by Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder....Ebony and ivory, side by side on my piano keyboard Oh Lord why cant we?

I love all of you, thank you for listening.

Birdbath makeover

Living a double life! I'm an ordinary birdbath by day, but in the evening I take on another life...I am a shabbylicous candleholder. Did you recognise me? I was the gold bird bath that was rescued from Liberace's palace!
Here is my "before". Do I clean up good or what? I think this would also be realy cute in the bathroom next to the tub holding french soaps or filled with dark chocolate peanut M&M's next to me while I watch a movie...ok that could work!

Happy 4th of July

Wishing you all a Happy 4th of July. Have a blessed and safe holiday.

God Bless America.....Home of the brave, Land of the free!

4th of July decorations

This is the fastest least expensive decoration I have found and I use it all year round changing the wired garland with the season. It looks so festive in the evening.

All you need:

1. Assorted jars in any size or shape. I like to mix the sizes to add interest.

2. Wired garland. I got mine at Michael's for less than $3.00 for 25 feet. You can make quite a few with just one package. I think Walmart & Hobby Lobby carry it too. You could substitute with curling ribbon also.

3. Sand (I stole it from the boy's sandbox) and candles of your choice. I happened to have a package of red votives left from Christmas. A great deal from Dollar Tree, box of 6 for just $1! If you would like to add a handle you will need a medium weight gage wire. The addition of the handle will allow you to hang it if desired.

Simply wrap the lip of the jar twice with the wired garland and twist together. Then I wrap the lengths around my finger to make them curl. If you are adding the handle, put it on before you wrap with garland. Fill with sand and add your candle.

I usually line the steps of my front walkway with the jars to "set the party mood" and welcome guests. Then I cluster the jars in 3's on the tables as a centerpiece.