A Giveaway and a Sweet FREEBIE Cross Stitch Pattern

First of all, the giveaway! Because I will be enjoying a week up north (northern Minnesota/Lake Superior) that I look forward to all year, I am having a giveaway! What it will be I don't know yet because it all depends on what I find on my vacation travels. It could be something I stitch up, maybe a little antique I find, or a sweet vintage item, or possibly a prim pattern. I don't know yet ... but I'm sure you will like it!  These are the requirements for the giveaway: (1) you must be a follower of my blog; (2) you must leave a comment on this post; (3) for another chance at winning, you can post about my giveaway on your side bar or blog post; and (4) for another chance, share a crafting tip! Good luck to all and I'll see you (well, your blogs!) in about a week.

I also wanted to pass along a sweet, cross-stitch freebie that I think all you sewing sisters will like. Its from a wonderful blog I just found called The Primitive Hare. The pattern is called "Sister Stitcher" and you can download it HERE.  I think it would make a lovely present to someone close to your heart that is also a stitcher! The contest ends on July 20th with the winner announced on July 23rd.

Well, I'm off to get the vacation in gear! Hope you all have a fantastic week too and pamper your kitties with a few tasty treats!

MUCH TOO DRY!!!

I know all you sweet ladies and gents out there have big hearts so I'm asking you to keep the people and firefighters and law enforcement in Colorado in your prayers.  The fires are being banked by strong winds.  They need rain (and so do the farmers here in the midwest).  Thanks! I know our prayers can make a difference.

Unexpected Yard Sale Finds: Firkin, Potato Bin, Cut-Glass Cruets

Last Saturday, my daughter stopped by with Henry and "convinced" me to go yard saling with her.  My first find was a little firkin for cheap that I am going to try my hand at "making over" with the techniques found in A Primitive Place magazine. I will post about it when I've gotten it done.

Next we stopped by at an estate sale! To see what Molly bought, visit her blog at Molly Makes Do.  There were so many wonderful antiques and prims there, I didn't know what to look at first.  I did purchase this sweet, old, oak potato bin.

 Here is a picture of it next to my hoosier cabinet that my hubby restored (it was originally from his family but was in the barn in pieces when he started re-doing it). My daughter said it looks like they were always meant to be together!

I also purchased the little, oak, Bible box (complete with Bible from the early 1800's) that is sitting on top of the bin.

The last two items I bought were a little cut-glass deviled egg plate (yep, 30 years of marriage and I never had one - up until now just watched those little devils slide across the plates) and a cut-glass cruet set.  It is not very ornate and that's just how I like it.  It has 4 cruets: salt, pepper, vinegar, and one that I put sugar in, but I am wondering if it is for mustard? Any one have any ideas?

Of course, there has to be a "cat" thingy in all this ... notice the kitty treats jar? I found that at a local consignment store recently!  Well, that is my show and tell today.  Hope you all have a great stitching and kitty hugging day!

My First Hooked Rug

I actually did some crafting while I've been away.  I have been trying my hand at rug hooking.  A few years ago I purchased a hooking frame and other accessories and they had been sitting around.  Well, I wanted to craft around little Henry, but I didn't want to worry about losing pins and needles when hand sewing, so I thought I could make up a simple hooked rug pattern and try out my talents as a hooker (LOL).  The pattern I came up with was inspired by a hooked rug I saw somewhere based on one of the verses from "Simple Gifts" (tis a gift to be simple). I thought that was pretty neat and decided I'd like one that said "tis a gift to be free."  So here it is, my first attempt at rug hooking!

It really was a make-do kind of project as I used wool that I already had in stash from my wool kitty projects and penny rugs.  I learned a few things (especially what not to do) and made another one very similar to it and just a tad bigger for my mom's birthday.

Here it is hanging on my Americana wall.  I am thinking of making another one for the local American Legion's (I'm an auxillary member) auction this fall.  We use the money raised to send community teens to summer camp.
 

I have another hooked rug project I'm currently working on -- wanted to get it done this spring but the gardening took over! It will be a nice thing to work on when hubby and I go on vacation up north in a few days!

As far as my cats go, they LOVE playing with the wool strips whenever I'm  not looking.  Here are Louie and Oscar looking very innocent and lazy basking in the breeze on the screened in porch. What a life ... they are always on vacation!  Well, I wish you all a lovely weekend full of fun times and quality stitching.

Robin's Chick Named Elvis

I really had no plans to post today for many reasons but mainly because I can't find my SD card for my camera! But I was reading Robin's blog (The Cranky Crow) about a chick named Elvis and found out she had won a subscription to a magazine called "FOLK". I was intrigued with the magazine's name, so I though I would check it out. 

I really liked what I saw and joined their blog and ordered a magazine to see what "Folk" is all about.  If you want to read about real American life (their motto) then pick up this magazine.  Here' what they say about it - 'Devoted to presenting a fresh and youthful interpretation of simple country lifestyles.We are all about REAL AMERICAN LIVING: the country, sweet tea, indie music, antiques, road trips, small towns, comfort, home, artists, locally grown and locally made, supporting small businesses and main streets, one-of-a-kind art, open spaces, photography, patriotism, simple living.... and the little things.' Sounds great, doesn't it?! Thanks again, Robin for posting about this! I'm excited to receive my first magazine.

So, Happy Friday, friends! Sending best regards and leaving you with a little more cat humor for the day.

Cat Laughs for the Day!

I was browsing the new books lists of one of my book clubs and couldn'ts resist ordering this book - "I Could Pee on This: And Other Poems by Cats"! It will be available August 15, 2012. The book is by the author of comic strip Sally Forth. The poems are written from the view point of cats -  with titles like "Who Is That on Your Lap?," "This Is My Chair," "Kneel Before Me," "Nudge," and "Some of My Best Friends Are Dogs" It will have photos of the cat authors throughout! I think my cats will love to have them poems read to them. I'm lovin' this photo below too! Hope these make you smile today!

An "Uh-Oh" Morning

Good Morning! It's sure starting out to be a hot one here in NE Iowa! But I get to spend the day in the air conditioning at work, so I'm greatful.  Later today, I'll join little Henry and his mom at swim lessons.  Some days though you can't win, this morning started out by discovering that hubby's cell phone wound up in the wash.  Now I am waiting to hear if it can be resurrected with a new battery. HOPE SO! There's no cell phone insurance on it (of course) so either he does without until December or we buy a new one at cost (very sad face).

On a happier note, I just wanted to pass along that you can pre-order the 2012 Country Sampler Home Tour Edition now.  This edition is not available through your regular subscription.  This special edition includes 12 never-before-seen homes featuring styles from primitive and Colonial to cottage and farmhouse. I really like this edition and look forward to browsing through it every year. Click Here if you would like to order it.

Hope you day started out better than mine! Make sure to provide plenty of shade and water to any of your outdoor kitties today, too.

Hello, Again, Hello

Well, nothing like taking a 6 month vacation! But I'm back and can't wait to get caught up on all your blogs out there! Here is the number 1 reason I've been away.

This, of course, is Henry (at 16 months) enjoying some watermelon. I have been busy enjoying life with this little guy (he only lives 1/2 block away from grandma!). I have done some wool crafting (more on that in another post), but I have mainly been "green" crafting.  I've done a lot of container plants (both pots and barrels). Here are a few pictures to enjoy!

 Starting a strawberry patch.  Next year, though, I have to put a cover over the fence because the birds find these very yummy!

 Last year I planted a black raspberry bush and this year - my first crop!

 Some of my garden herbs: I've planted dill, parsley, cilantro, sage, basil, and rosemary.

 The grape tomatoes are coming along nicely. I can't wait for the first ripe ones!

A barrel full of cucs and yellow beans and grown-from-seed marigolds.

And a barrel full of carrots and a few indian corn stalks.

My daughter and I have also bought a CSA (community supported agriculture) share this year and here is our first box of veggies! We've got brocolli, radishes, lettuce, kholrabi, and kale.  The kale will be used this weekend to make kholrabi and cabbage coleslaw (recipe follows) and tonight we will try our hand at making kale chips!

This share also included some green onions (a bit bigger than the store bought kind!). That's Henry playing with some wooden refrigerator magnets that I made him the other day.

The kitties are doing fine.  Here is Oscar lounging around!

Well, I have much more to say but it can wait for another day.  Enjoy your morning and weekend and Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful dads out there (the world needs more of them).  Here are the recipes I mentioned before:

Kohlrabi Slaw

2 cups chopped cabbage

4 kohlrabi bulbs, peeled and grated

2 stalks celery, sliced thin

2 carrots, sliced thin

2 tablespoons minced fresh onion

1/3 cup white sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/8 teaspoon celery seed

1/2 cup mayonnaise

4 1/2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

Toss the cabbage, kohlrabi, celery, carrot, and onion together in a large bowl. Whisk the sugar, salt, pepper, celery seed, mayonnaise, and vinegar together in a separate bowl until smooth; pour over the cabbage mixture and stir to coat evenly. Chill in refrigerator 1 hour before serving. Recipe courtesy of Bass Farms (http://bassfarms.blogspot.com/).

Kale Chips

1 bunch kale

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided

1 tablespoon sherry vinegar

1 pinch sea salt, to taste

Preheat an oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).

Cut away inner ribs from each kale leaf and discard; tear the leaves into pieces of uniform size. (I made my pieces about the size of a small potato chip.) Wash torn kale pieces and spin dry in a salad spinner or dry with paper towels until they're very dry. Put the kale pieces into a large resealable bag (or use a bowl if you don't mind getting your hands oily). Add about half the olive oil; seal and squeeze the bag so the oil gets distributed evenly on the kale pieces. Add the remaining oil and squeeze the bag more, until all kale pieces are evenly coated with oil and slightly 'massaged.' Sprinkle the vinegar over the kale leaves, reseal the bag, and shake to spread the vinegar evenly over the leaves. Spread the leaves evenly onto a baking sheet. Roast in the preheated oven until mostly crisp, about 35 minutes. Season with salt and serve immediately. Recipe courtesy of Bass Farms (http://bassfarms.blogspot.com/).

Have a great day and don't forget to hug your kitties and your grandkids today!