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.

http://www.dirtroadart.com/contest.html

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!

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       

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!

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!

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!

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?