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Abe Lincoln

“You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich...strengthen the weak by weakening the strong...bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift...lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down...build character and courage by taking away people’s initiative and independence...help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves." -Abraham Lincoln

Friday, December 14, 2012

Winner of my giveaway




I'm late in picking a winner for my giveaway   I was in the hospital for another seven days, with more blood clots, and a tumor growing in between a big blood vessel and my spinal cord.  This is pushing my disc out of line and causing the blood cloths.  So sometime in the next week I will start radiation treatment again. :0(

But then I can have another giveaway when I'm done.  Please keep me in your prayers!


So the winner of this giveaway is Valerie from Yorkies Primitives.  I hope you enjoy your basket for many years to come!.  Stop over and visit with Valerie and her shop.





Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Celebrating the end of radiation with a give away



Please leave a comment to enter to win this hand-woven and hand-painted basket.  


One week ago I finished 25 rounds of radiation!  To finish this I have spent eight days in the hospital, and now looking forward to healing.  This all started early in May when I found out I have cancer of the uterus.  This lead to; blood clods, seeing a heart specialist, having surgery, radiation, and from all the side affects from this and the drugs.. I'm now left with some pain in my lower back.  I'm sure in time this will also go away.  So please leave a comment to enter, and if you have time please share on your blog and Facebook.  I did take some pictures of the staff and the machine, but because of the lead in the walls they did not turn out well.  So please help me celebrate the end of this long journey!

May you all have a blessed Holiday Season!

Winner will be picked 12-10-2012


Wednesday, October 31, 2012

What is Wednesday - Halloween



Halloween is the day before All Saints Day.  First started to mark the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter, with its darker days.  

In Ireland and Scotland they used turnips to carve, but the immigrants to North American like the native pumpkin better for carving.  The first recorded carving the pumpkin started in 1837, but it was not until the mid 19th century that that it become associated with Halloween.  Thousand of vintage Halloween post cards shows children dressed up, but not going door to door trick or treating.

The first mass produced customs for Halloween where in the stores in the 1930's.  Beside ghost stores at parties there is apple bobbing, or eating donuts hung from string that had to be eaten with out the use of your hands.

Halloween foods include candy apples, candy corn, caramel apples, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, roasted pumpkins seeds and apple cider.  Enjoy your Halloween and make it a safe day for our kids..

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Dirtroad Team With Valentine Fiber Art and Fine Old Things

I have been missing again, more health issue! With that said please take sometime to visit with two more shops from the Dirtroad Team.  The first is Donna from Valentine Fiber Art.  Donna makes a lot of different items with a portion of her profit going to the Calliope Rescue.  They are a group of volunteers who rescue and rehabilitate animals to be permanently placed with a family forever.  Donna crochets bags, totes, pincushions, facial scrubbies, and more.  Make sure you check out each item for the all would make some great stocking stuffers, while help a pet find a new home.





The next shop is Karen from Fine Old Things. Karen is always on the hunt for some new vintage treasures for her Etsy shop, and with 13 pages of vintage goodies you will finds something for yourself or for a gift. Bring back some great memories with the McDonald's glass mugs or some other wonderful memories. Many of her items could be added to Christmas stocking also.  Keep checking her shop for that missing item you have been looking for, or contact her for some help.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Artfire Daily Collection

One of my collections on Artfire made the daily collection!  Stop by and find some wonderful items.


Monday, October 8, 2012

Artfire Collection


Thursday, October 4, 2012

Big Give Away over at the Rusty Thimble



Stop over at the Rusty Thimble and enter to win a big give away.  Follow the link then follow the rules.

Good Luck!

Dirt Road Team Contest Spirit of Autumn

Follow the link and vote for your favorite item from the Spirit of Autumn contest.  Make sure to leave your email address to be entered to win the Stoneware Mug from Montezuma Mudd Pottery.  Contest ends on October 6, 2012.






Have fun voting and may you be the lucky one to win!

Dirt Road Team - Melbecreations and PWOriginals

I'm back with two more wonderful shops from the Dirt Road Team on Etsy.  I was away welcoming home my son and daughter in law from Afghanistan.  The first shop is Melbecreations, come and meet Melissa the owner of this shop.  She comes from Minnesota, where she loves to photograph Mother Nature.  Once she has her pictures done she turns them into some amazing kaleidoscopes.  Each picture can make many different kaleidoscopes.  Melissa then turns these kaleidoscopes into prints for framing, note cards, sun catchers, ceramic titles and pendents.  Check out each one to see if you can find the animal or flower that made up each one.  Melissa is also are team cheerleader, promoting each of us on Facebook, Pinterest and more.




The next shop is PW Originals, come and visit with Pam from Virginia. Pam designs, creates, sews, shops for fabrics for her wonderful purses, scarfs, pillows, pincushions. She even has purses and bags for girls and young ladies. Pam started sewing at a young age, making money sewing formals gowns with a rented sewing machine. She made all her clothes in college! Her love of fabric shows in the care of each items she makes. Pam has a kind word for everyone on the team, and keeps us going! Besides sewing well, she volunteers at the hospital local gift shop. If you are on Etsy and live in a small town, come and visit with the rest of the team. We love all forms of art!

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

What is it Wednesday - Ice Box

The first refrigerator used ice blocks to keep them cold.  This was  the latest and greatest fine for the kitchen.  The poem below comes from the book "A Garden Supper Tonight" by Barbara Swell.  Little poems where used to help get chores done and keeping a house in order.  This one is for the new ice box!

Ice Box Rule
Keep your ice box clean and neat,
For it hold the things you eat,
Milk and butter, to be nice,
Must be kept against the ice,
As they quickly spoil and smell,
                                          You must have them covered well,
                                           Fruit and vegetables should go
                                           With the meat, on shelves below.
                     
                                            When Mother Let's Us Help - 1916       

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Warming up the home for fall!



It is that time of year for straw, pumpkins, scarecrows, cornstalks!  With this done it is time for the apple orchard for some cider and donuts!  Take the time with very little money to make your home a happy place to be!  All of these goodies (less the scarecrow - which is 15 years old) came from the local farmer down the road.  Love to support our local farmers and find some great finds to make my house a home.  Happy Fall!

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Gold Star Mothers Day



The last Sunday in September is a day for Gold Star Mothers.  Gold Star Mothers are those who have lost a son or daughter serving out country.  This group of mothers was incorporated in 1929, then on June 23, 1936 the last Sunday of September of designated Gold Star Mothers Day.  The Gold Star is given out by the Department of Defense.  So on the last Sunday of September hug your kids, many can not.

Remember say a prayer for those who where a uniform to defend out country!

Friday, September 28, 2012

Welcome Home


Last week I had the time to run down to welcome home my son and daughter in law.  It was a great and busy week helping them out, but fun was had by all.  


This is the plane that was bring them home!


The kids had a very hard time waiting for all the soldiers to come off the plane.  Some where worried that their dad would forget what they looked like.


 It was standing room only for the march into the hanger.  Love seeing and watching all the kids, many dressed up or in a total red white and blue outfit.
For the first time in a year I have all my kids in one time zone.  YEA!

While I was very happy to welcome home my kids, we have to remember those who are still in a war zone, and the ones going back.  Keep all of them in your prayers.  Freedom is not free!

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

What is it Wednesday - Christmas Shows



Today I learned of the passing of Andy Williams.  I remember watching all of his Christmas specials with my family growing up.  This made me think of all the other great Christmas programs that came on once a year, like White Christmas, Bob Hope Specials, Charlie Brown, Frosty and more. Watching all of these great programs as a family was part of our Christmas, with popcorn sitting on the flooring and not wanting any of them to end.  Sad to think back and remember all the good times and how the family fun is not part of TV watching anymore.  This was a time of saying "Merry Christmas" and not  worrying about not being PC correct.  The magic that was part of my growing up is gone, but I can hope that this will change someday.  All I can do is keep it going for my family!  What was your favorite Christmas program growing up?

Friday, September 14, 2012

Artfire Collection

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Dirtroad Team with Montezuma Mudd and Metal by Mandy

Welcome back to my blog!  I have been sick most of the summer, and then had some big issues with my blog.  So now I'm getting well, and the blog is fixed!!!! YEA!  With all of this behind me let's visit with some of the wonderful shops from the Dirtroad Team.  The first shop is our team leader Phyllis from Montezuma Mudd Pottery, from Colorado, and one of our potters.  After being evacuated this summer because of the forest fires, and the big clean up, she is back.  Her shop is filled with pottery that is oven, dishwasher and microwave safe, unless otherwise stated.  She uses non toxic, lead free glazes on her pottery.  Plus her sister does some amazing pencil drawings that Phyllis turns into decals for her pottery.  Love it when family helps each other out, plus her mother is also one of the team captains.




The next shop is Metal by Mandy, from Kansas, where Amanda the shop owner specializes in silver and copper.  You will find some wonderful personal pendants, plus pendants that she has made up already for you to purchase.  My favorite is the baby fingerprint, what a wonderful gift for the new parents or grandparents!  This would make for a very special and personal gift this Christmas season.

Make sure to add both shops to your favorites so you can come back for some great gifts this holiday season.


The Dirtroad Team has a web site http://www.dirtroadartist.com, where you can find and visit some of the other wonderful shops from this team.  Each of us comes from a small town across the U.S., and each one of us comes with our own talents.  Love the great mix on this team, plus the care we have for each member.  If you are on Etsy and live in a small town check out this caring team.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Sale - Sale - Sale

Many of the shops with the Old Farmhouse Gathering are having a sale. Type in ofgwelcome into the search bar to find the many shops are having a sale. The sale applies to whole shop, so check out each shop for the many bargains and start some holiday shopping! For my shop just type in BASKETS10OFF for the coupon code. You can click on the etsy site on the right hand side of this page.