Happy Birthday... to Me!

My hubby is soooo good to me! He gave the ultimate sacrifice for my birthday - he took me shopping the Saturday before my birthday! Now, you have to know my husband to understand what a great thing this was for him. We also went to lunch and then to dinner on the actual day. I do love patterns and books -- but I guess I should get busy and make some of these up. I really like baby quilts. The fabrics are adorable and the patterns are quick and easy. I can't wait to make one or both of these!
I only bought a few fabrics to supplement my stash to make this one.

Again, baby stuff is fun to make. I thought this bib is cute and practical and would make a cute gift for a neighbor who is expecting her first boy (after 3 girls!)

He took me to Home Depot so I could buy some MDF and hang much needed shelves in the sewing closet.

This is kinda hard to see, but my kids bought me some lights for my new umbrella.

A Brad Paisley CD and some garden clogs. Do you think I could 2-step in these???

This is what I found in a birthday box from Marta! These plastic plates, mugs, and glasses were the ones we used at the spring luncheon. There are 2 of each color plate and will be so cute to use on the deck. Note the cute glass cozies - I just love them

I love these bowls. So cheery - and the stash of scrap booking do-daws will be fun to use. She must love me!!

I also got a birthday phone call from my Aunt Laura. I think she loves me too! Talking to her is like talking to my mom - so I always love visiting with her!

Don't you think it's nice when people remember your birthday? Even when birthday candles and cake no longer hold the magic they did when you were little, getting a card or a phone call just makes getting older almost worth it!

Pork and Beans ........and Weinie too!

My kids recently acquired 2 new 'kids' - 2 little pygmy goats named Pork and Beans. The newest project was to build them a shelter so I was there with my camera shooting the activities. These little guys sure seem interested in what she's doing. She told me she wanted to build them a ramp (out of scraps).

Hey, it works --Pork really likes the ramp!!

Beans is going to get in on this ramp thing.

Taking turns

And of course, you can't have pork and beans without weinies.

Our New Deck

It has been in the making for quite some time. I hired some guys to tear down the old deck and haul it away back in April. But sometimes good things are worth waiting for! At the beginning...
Starting to look more deck-ish

Now that's what I'm talkin about. We can actually walk out here now.

Taken this morning. It's so nice. I had the guys haul the bbq up and made some chicken last night.

I'll post pictures next week of the newly, fully decorated deck.

I'm In LOVE!!

I am a cookie freak - and believe me, these are gooooood. I probably made 2 dozen yesterday and this is what's left. (no, me and the hubby didn't eat them all- the fam was over yesterday).

This picture doesn't tell the whole story --these babies are huge!

And better yet, they make great giveaways. Go to Intimate Weddings.com

type in cafe cookies in the search box, scroll down past the ads, and go to the entry entitled "Cookie Favors: DIY Chocolate Chip Cookies in CD sleeves. They give you the recipe and a really cute way to package these beauties.

FESTIVAL DAYS ARE BACK!

I have blogged about this event before, but I just can't help it - I'm a sucker for a good parade! (ok, so there probably is no such thing as a good small town parade - but it is entertaining!

My favorite 'float'... oh, wait, it's a goat float!

This one actually looks like it belongs in a parade.

I LOVE a good high school marching band. And this one takes national honors every year. (I wish you could hear the drum line!)


I have NO idea what this is - it just looked kinda funky.

There is something about tractors - they are so pretty!

And for the best part in the parade - the Grand Marshall car broke down at the beginning! One of those guys pushing it is my son-in-law. They probably got as big an ovation as anyone else - even the motorcycle cop was grinning.

Happy Birthday!

I know I've said it before, but July is the best month of the year! July means it's fashionable to show your patriotism, go to small town parades with wonderful high school bands that really get your heart going, fireworks,...

and my birthday!

I made this sampler about 20 years ago.

I really liked picking out the colors on this one.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!