It is Nice to Be Busy

Things have been pretty busy around our house lately.  My Etsy shop Grammas Gifts has picked up again, and that keeps me hooking. I am taking two classes online and am learning to study all over again. Then we did have seven new puppies come along, my Granddaughter brought her dog Daisy for a visit and she decided to stay a bit. I was also trying to get ready for Easter at the new house, the little guys and I will be heading to Montello and the Annual Easter Bunny Parade. This is the fifth year and each year the crowd grows. The kids really look forward to this. Being from the Chicago area, as kids we went to the mall and saw the Easter Bunny. In this area there is no place to take the kids, and the Garden Center has been kind enough to bring the Easter Bunny to the folks of all ages who live here. Now add to that they we are in the process of trying to get my five year old niece here from Tennessee. Visits with social workers and loads of red tape. The probate on my Uncles estate is still hanging open , so yes we are busy here.
Even though all this is going on I had to get ready for spring. I decided to make what I am calling a diabetic Easter wreath, let me give you a peek....here is a link for the peeps

Marshmallow peep like bunnies.....NO SUGAR involved

Nothing fancy, but a touch of spring on my front door.

our seven little puppies are now wide eyed and crawling everywhere!  The Mom is overwhelmed, so many little mouths to feed.

These are our two guys last year when the weather was warm, the snow was gone and it felt like spring. This year we may be wearing snow boots and mittens to hunt for eggs.

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!

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!

Slow, sleepy Saturday

  It is grey and cold outside, and that was my mood when I awoke this morning.  A headache ...there just enough to make me uncomfotable and a kind of blah feeling.  So much for the trip to Walmart I had planned with my Mom for this morning. Instead I think I will have some coffee finish some buttons on hats and just stay in warm and try to shake of this feeling. 
     I need some sunshine and warm weather, maybe a bunch of bright yellow flowers would help. A dafodill or two. In that case I know just where to look for a pick me up and the flowers.

     Everyone should have that one person who knows what your feeling without you saying a word. Who listens and doesnt judge and who sincerely does care.  I have such a person.  Not an old childhood friend or sister, but someone I met about four years ago here in town.  A fellow busines owner who now, seems like I have always known.  Alot has happened to both of us over the past few years and she has always been there with a kind word and hug.  I hope I have been the same for her. Jean owns the Teapot Quilt Cottage and Garden Center with her husband, Bob . Two of the nicest, down to earth people you could meet. p.s. her husband grows THE best sweet corn in the area.  Jean gives classes, sews, knits, gardens and is always there when you need her.  I am NOT a knitter or quilter. Let me say about 20 years ago I made a pledge to make my first Grandson Joey knit mittens, like any good Grandma. Well he is 21 and I never made them.  I did take a class at the high school, which I learned to put stitches on the needle. Then took a cass with Jean at the Teapot, I did make half a mitten. I am not as patient as I would like and knitting is not for me.  I would like to do some quilting though. My Mom moved up here from Tulsa in October and she quilts.  My other Mom, ( I have two ) also quilts. A baby quilt makes such a nice gift and I could add them to my Etsy shop. Another project for me. Maybe before the snow melts I will go visit with Jean and take a class.  If you are living or visiting in the area, this is a must see stop.

Jean's February calendar is done and so many nice classes to choose from. Beginners Knitting on the 3rd, kids woven heart basket from 1-3 on the 5th ( no charge),Needle felting for beginners oon the 11th,  baby rag quit on the 12th ( I think I will take this one ) , recycled wool mittens on the 16th ( these were  ahuge hit for the holidays ) no frills apron, cherry pie day and so much more.  If you are interested and want to know more stop by at 505 Main Street in Montello or give Jean a call. 608 297-7849 and she can explain all that is going on at the Teapot Quilt Cottage in Montello.

This email with Jeans calendar came at just the right time, I was sipping coffee and feeling yucky as the kids would say when YOU"VE GOT MAIL popped up and there she was. A good friend always knows when you need to be picked up a bit.

I did get a couple hats done and hopefully I will get them posted yet today.

from baby to teens everybody can use a hat! 

Even this one for those grouchy days !