I don't Do Well With Changes

For as long as I can remember I do not take change well. I realize that as life goes on things must change, but that doesn't make it any easier for me to adjust to. So much has happened since my last post I am at a loss as to where I should start.

    Probably the biggest change is last week we lost our favorite UNCLE. Uncle Eddie was , perfect. Kind, sweet and as good a guy as you will ever find. The perfect son, brother and uncle. In the past seven years since my Gram has passed away he has been with us for holidays to keep the family going. He is probably best remembered for the line of kids waiting to kiss him goodbye before he left. Some of us got in line more than once, he never minded that! I am handling this much better than I thought because he is with my Gram now and both can chat the days away. In heaven I bet he's bowling again. I will think of thunder in a whole new way from now on. The saddest part is the little ones in the family did not have nearly enough time to get to know him. He will be greatly missed at our house.
   Luckily for me I have a wonderful friend who is more like a sister, Jean for the Teapot Quilt Cottage and Garden Center in Montello. In good times and those awful times she is always there to lend a shoulder and help talk me through the tears.
    I started taking college courses online!  Will I run off and get a career? Maybe, if not I will still show the kids if Gramma can do it so can YOU.
   We are getting ready for a move.  That means packing and unpacking. I did mention I hate change and this will surely add to the stress in the house. On a good not the kids will be out of school and can help. Can help, should help!

  I have also added some new items to the shop and hopefully after catching up on orders can get a few more done.

A holiday weekend ahead with a birthday party and BBQ ( speaking of BBQ, here is a great take along salad recipe from Pioneer Woman ), two small boys 2 puppies, 3 kittens 2 dogs and a cat, it should be a piece of cake! Have a safe weekend!

     

Where have I been? What have I been up to ? Those are the questions I get from friends and family and the simple answer is I have been spending alot of time with mermaids! 

      

'Mermaids Everywhere!' by jebstreasures

This treasury list gives you a variety of mermaid items just in time for summer.

The Mermaid's Pearl... thependantemp... $8.95	Vintage Mermaids Charm ... baublesbeadsn... $36.88
Medium Custom Handmade ... graciousandpu... $40.00	Mermaid Locket Necklace... agothshop $17.00
Mermaid photo prop / ne... GrammasGifts $29.95	Custom Boutique Mermaid... SPBClothing $62.00
Medium - Mer Bear - Men... DowdyStudio $26.00	BLUE MERMAIDS on Front ... sarahndipityC... $32.00
vintage design MERMAID ... ToTheMoonAndB... $15.00	RW2 Leather MERMAID Clu... RW2Gallery $50.00
Beach Decor Mermaid Bot... beautifuldeta... $16.00	Goldfish Mermaid with B... sarambutcher $16.00
MERMAID Ocean Nautical ... metalshine $15.00	Mermaid, Oceanica, Sea ... chimeracustom... $25.00
MERMAID BEACH SOAP - Ro... JOANSGARDENS $5.50	Mermaid's Key Cream... CastawaysHall $16.00

Treasury tool by StylishHome.
The mermaids have kept me very busy, I am happy to say. and with that seaside theme in mind I have added a crab and lobster to the shop as well. Alot of fun and very cute!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/97849222/crab-diaper-cover-set-newborn-photo-prop
http://www.etsy.com/listing/97811036/lobster-newborn-photo-prop?ref=v1_other_2
http://www.etsy.com/listing/72926254/goldfish-hat-and-diaper-set-newborn?ref=v1_other_1

Creativity

In a house where it seems no one sleeps some days and there is always something going on, finding time to be creative is not so easy.  But, after a much needed physical and some new meds I had two...TWO days with no little guys, the teens were all busy and it seemed I was alone. The others in my house were scarce in case I might find them something to do!  So I sat down and with some recent inquiries about new hats picked up my hook and yarn and just relaxed. Here are some of the items I finally gor around to or finished.

This little monster hat was photographed by HB Photograhy in Reno, Texas. Heather is just amazing.

This 3-6 month baby sweater and cap was my attempt to make my Gram's sweater set. The hat is different because she left no pattern for it. 

I have a couple other items in the works and am resting and feeling much better. Having Myastenia Gravis, is like being the energizer bunny and having your battery run down. Just breathing is tiring. 

Today will be the test, the boys are back.. I have two monster hat orders to finish and everyday life to take care of.  I will just take it as it comes,maybe we will have nap time today !

I am also starting a new money saving, much needed process. Coupon Clipping. I have been watching as others in the area have saved quite a bit on groceries and those daily needs , so I have even gone as far as to set up a time to have Dannelle Fraser Gay come to Montello and give her Coupon Clipping 101 Class. My goal is to save enough to get into the house that I want and NEVER have to move again! Never pack another box and stay put. I will let you know how we progress.

Very Busy

The past few weeks have been very busy here in our little neck of the woods. The recent addition of two cockapoo puppies, the two boys back almost full time and now last week right after visiting with the Easter Bunny the birth of five kittens. I see an ark in my future.

These are Bingo and Spot, 2 adorable puppies bought by the boys MOM, yet residing with us because, well she can't have them where she is now staying! Both kennel trained very easy and listen fairly well for being about two months old. The other dogs had a little getting used to but are fine with them now, in fact they keep the big dogs exercised.

then.... if that wasn't enough along came the kittens

There is of course a Dad cat also. 

Now to that mix add in two 17 year olds, a hubby, a 22 year old grandson and upstairs a daughter and her 13 year old son. Life is pretty full and busy.

So, with all this going on how do I keep my sanity ( hubby claims I don't ) and keep the stress levels down to keep my myastenia gravis in check.  

CROCHET 

Yes, that is my therapy!  In fact over the past few weeks I have had some really cute brainstorms. On a wish from a customer  I made a mermaid outfit. It turned out very cute and after seeing some other fun seaside type hats I came up with this adorable crab set   Then I thought ....crabs, beach, sand pails and came up with this crab hat .  Last night instead of sleeping ( I have a sore throat and just could not get comfortable) I came up with yet another that I hope to get done today. If my Gram could see me now... we used to say she could look at an item and make her own without a pattern. Of course all these silly hats and such were not what she would do, she made beautiful christening outfits, doilies and pinafores. The pinafores I have mastered but the others for right now are beyond me.

My Etsy shop has been very good this year and I am hoping to keep coming up with fun items that people can use for gifts or photo props. That makes my items sellable ( if that is even a word ) year round instead of them being winter hats and cold weather items. I hope shoppers think baby showers , Mother Day and more! 

My friend Jean owner of Teapot Quilt Cottage and The Garden Center in Montello, and I are also hosting a Coupon Clipping 101 Class

• •                               Wednesday, May 9, 2012
  • 1:00pm

• First National Bank Montello, Wi 408 Main Street

  
  This class is given by Dannelle Fraser Gay . She was able to save $40,000 in less than one year for a new house, and now teaches others how they too can save money with Coupon Clipping 101 and Meal Planning 101 Classes. Join us for what we hope is the first of many such classes. Seating is limited so please get your tickets in advance at The Garden Center 505 Main Street, Montello Tickets are $15.00 each and the proceeds will go to help stock the Marquette County Care and Share Food bank.

Well, I am off to put Curious George in the DVD player, do the morning dishes and then work on a hat. Have a great day!

Booming Busy Week

Busy here with orders coming in, the two boys enjoying the spring weather and Boom on Wednesday that has us all wondering "What is up?" The whole house shook so I went to NBC15 on Facebook and asked if they new anything about the BOOM we heard. Others posted that they also heard the noise but no one had an answer. The next day I received a message from Chris Woodard at Nbc15 that he was coming out to look into this strange noise in Montello. I met with him and Jean at the Garden Center and here is the video.
http://video.nbc15.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=6864113&h1=VIDEO%3A+Booms+in+Montello+6pm+3/21/2012&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=40656&LaunchPageAdTag=News&fvCatNo=&backgroundImageURL=&activePane=info&rnd=92350601


We still don't know what it was, and am just hoping it doesn't keep happening like Clintonville.
We finally got a good rain last night and it looks like we could get more today. We could sure use it. With the temperatures well above what they should be, everything is in bud and popping up.

The boys enjoyed some bubble blowing , and yard work. The yard work was of cousr done by the superheros not the little boys in the house!

Batman and his sidekick Robin were lending a hand. Robin works much harder than Batman. Batman left to rest part way through the job!

Bubbles, shorts and yard work, SPRING really is in Wisconsin about 2 months early but I for one am not complaining.

Hopefully I will get some crocheting done and items photos taken to share with you. I am working on  a few Easter gifts for the granddaughters and a new fireman newborn set so stay tuned!  Have a great weekend!

here is a fun cupcake idea for spring or Easter http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Chirpy-Chick-Cupcakes

Signs of Spring

The weather has broken and there are sure signs of spring. The sandhill cranes and red winged black birds are back and the boys are outside exploring with the new pups. Baby and Spot, about 8 week old cockapoos who try very hard to keep up with the boys. Another spring treat was a strawberry soda when we came in to rest.

Carsen found that the pretty pink bubbles make your face red. It did not slow him down a bit.  J.J. is partial to making his ice cream all melted and stirring away.

The good weather and boys outside has given me a chance to get some work done. Althougyh just when I see light at the end of the tunnel, a wonderful thing happens. Someone orders again. The mermaid outfit has been a big hit and I love making all the little parts.

This afternoon we are making pink lemonade cupcakes and in the morning trying cinnamon scones from a recipe I saw on Pioneer Woman Cooks site. I just love her recipes. Real food that real families eat. We have used the white bread recipe over and over again. It makes 4 loaves so with a full house that is perfect. Her cinnamon rolls are to die for and the drip beef recipe is now our family gathering stand by. Check out her site I am sure you will find something you can't so without. http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/03/sweet-cinnamon-scones

I better run and finish the sock monkey set during SPONGE BOB time then baking. Have a great day

Spring Forward

Spring Forward, that is this Sunday. Set your clocks ahead and get ready for added daylight and bright sunny spring. That is also my new life plan  Spring Forward. Don't look back. Make steps in the right direction.
I have started doing just that. How can you get anywhere unless you have a plan and set a goal.

My spring goal is to learn to shop more wisely, use coupons and save money. All this sounds like a good idea but I plan on stepping things up because I have a HUGE goal. For some time now I have wanted to go to Ireland. This always seemed like something other people do. Then, I checked some prices and looked in to travel and I think with some good planning, setting money aside and putting me on my list of priorities this can be accomplished. The plan is doable so to make it just a little grander I looked farther and would love to be able to trace my family tree back through Ireland to Paisley Scotland. More research, some emails and this is not such a far retched plan.
                                                               Now, to put it to work.
First, a big cost in our house are groceries. For that I am going to need some help. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Operation-40K  I found just what I need . Someone who made a plan, followed through and got more than she had hoped for. Groceries and the everyday shopping needed to run a home, smarter, cheaper and learn to also help out the local food bank at the same time! Amazing yet very doable!  Family, step back and watch me shop!

Next the electric usage and utilities bills are going to reexamined and changes made. Gas usuage for the car is also on my list of things needing to go on a diet!
All those need cutting but on the flip side to revamp and build up the Etsy shop to help it feed the Ireland Pot of Gold. My shop has come a long way and I am just now opening new avenues of sales for my newborn hats and some of the bath items. Much work to be done , but I enjoy the crocheting and learning from other shop owners some of the ins and outs to get noticed.
All this is made possible with the help of my little guys who every other week keep me on my toes and a constant reminder of what is really important.
Then, I do have to stop and say, It is MY TURN......I want this trip and I will make it happen!
Join me on this adventure and follow along as I learn more about coupons and saving money and share themlinks and info. Some good recipes, shopping and laughs along the way.