Working the Grape Vine

Lately I have been in a very big crafting mood. Fall brings it on, never fails! This is the time of year I like to call "craft season". So, before 9am this morning what was I doing? I was outside, of course, pulling down grape vines! (If you know anything about me, you got the sarcasm in that sentence!) I was randomly reading "Country Wisdom" and came upon grape vine baskets and wreaths. I have further been inspired by my Google search on grape vines. I then thought, "Hey! My yard is overrun with wild grape vines!" The only reason I would even think of pulling the vines down are because there is an overabundance and it won't hurt the eco-environment that I am currently in. They grow back really fast. (Now that that hippie moment is over. It really has more to do with my Native American blood than anything else.)

So, I have many plans. I want to make a few natural wreaths. A few small grape vine pumpkins. A Christmas tree (because I like to have real trees but don't actually like to pay for them! Hence, the Charlie Brown tree we cut down last year). Also anything else that I can come up with. Maybe some small ornaments or something to give as gifts? Or keep? Or even sell? I don't know. I tend to like my creations too much! LOL This site has a lot of wonderful ideas (and things for sale!).

I also am going to be on the lookout for wild grapes. We assumed that they fruited in the summer, but they are fall fruiting plants. I just have to wait for the leaves to turn yellow. I also have to hope that the millions of birds around don't eat them all (I just want a few!).

Well, I am off to check out some more things to do with grape vines!!

May Days

I am having diapers made, 25 to be exact. Too bad it is a month away from Kaine's 2nd birthday. Potty training is right around the corner. I wonder how he will do? I hope well. Hopefully soon I will have a few pictures of some cute diapers/training pants. I had the material, so I decided to go ahead with the project. I just outsourced most of it this time, so it would actually get done!

On another note, we are having a construction site birthday party in my backyard! I am really looking forward to it. Three legged races, digging in dirt, playing in water, throwing water balloons, eating cake and smashing a pinata! Sounds like a ton of fun doesn't it?

Oh yeah, we are also going to be paying our first school fee on the first! How exciting is that? It will be a good day.Go here to see the school he will be in.

A Store of One's Own

SO.....the idea of creating a store for boys has popped into my head. The times are right for it. We have some money set aside and can be used for start-up. I have *some* talent and can at least fumble my way through until I get the hang of it. The information age is booming and there are places like Etsy to get the ball rolling without having to sell a kidney to rent a store front! So, I think I am going to jump in the deep end and see if I can swim. God willing, to use a phrase my Grandma says frequently, I will stay afloat and generate some income in a fun and creative way! Maybe this means that I will finally get the sewing room I always wanted and life can be one cluttered mess after another (Just kidding...I hope!).

I have been researching this idea. It seems there is a market for it. Of course, there are baby and toddler stores out there already but, none are just for boys! There are plenty for girls only or girls with a few cute trucks, trains and planes shirts thrown in for boys but, nothing exclusively made for boys! I have been cruising the net trying to find things that are especially boyish and hoping to stumble onto a site just for boys. When, suddenly the idea HIT ME! I literally felt like the this following phrase slapped me in the face : "Why not do it yourself?"  "Really", I thought, "could I make this happen?" Then, after talking to Matt about the ins-and-outs of getting started, ideas started flowing like water! I am hoping to get more in put and do more research, things are looking good, however!

I would say wish me luck. But luck has nothing to do with it. Luck is when preparation meets opportunity! (Sounds like I am really smart, eh? I got that off of a movie --- "Uptown Girls" with the late Brittney Murphy. I have always loved that quote!).

So, send me positive thoughts and ideas. May good things come to those who are willing to do the work and prepare for one's future!

PLANS: Bankable Bookcase { Land of Nod }

Do any of you remember a few post ago about the bookshelf, toy thing from Land of Nod. Well, I follow a blog called KraftyMum and she posted about another blog called Knock-off Wood. They have the plans to make this wonderful organizational tool. I feel like I have hit the serious jackpot of all jackpots in the blog community! I love crafty people, they sure know how to spread the word about wonderful things! Thanks KraftyMum and Knock-off Wood!!!

Here are the plans:

PLANS: Bankable Bookcase { Land of Nod }

Kids Honey Wooden Storage Open Top Bookcase

Do you think my husband would make this for me? I would need two like in the first picture! I am def. NOT going to spend that kind of money on something that would be WAY WAY cheaper to make, when I have someone who is capable of making it for me! (A little flattery never hurt! ;) )

Christmas Gifts

Okay, I know that I have been telling you for a while now that I was going to post these. (Finally got done because I had a wonderful friend, Erin, who pointed me to Picasa!) I hope it was worth the wait! This is the Felt Playhouse! Desriptions from

Top Left across to Bottom Right: Wheel on a Table on the inside of Cave, Cave Entrance with Rocks, Triceratops eating grass on dirt under a Prehistoric Tree, Volcano spewing lava and Volcano Bombs, Fire - Every good cave man has one inside his cave!, Apple Tree with removable apples (big hit, btw!) and a Mommy and Baby Bronciosaurus and another view of the Triceratops!

This was suppose to go on a card table but we decided that Matt would make the frame and then the gift was from both of us. The only problem with this situation is that now, it is gigantic and unmovable. Which, in retrospect, was what sold me in the first place. Now we REALLY DO need a playroom! But it is fun and now we get to experience it everyday. Which is good considering all of the work that went into it.

 The following pictures are of Kaine on Christmas day. Opening presents, playing with the cars in his Stocking, my homemade Cinnamon rolls, Matt's Degree with an artists Gator and Stadium, more Kaine and Our Stockings and Presents! See the mountain of presents behind Kaine? Those were all from his Poppa and Nana that's Matt's Parents! We had so much fun.

All of my Christmas presents are ready. I take that back, I have two more to finish. BUT all of the big stuff is out of the way! All I have left is to sew the playhouse walls and roof together and cut out the door! It looks so unbelievably awesome!! I will be posting pictures soon! I also have to get Grandma's pictures together, but that is not that big of a deal. It is just some scrappin' that needs to be done.

The In-Laws are going to be spending the night tonight. It will be our first Christmas morning at home since we got married. We usually go to Mom's house and help her be Santa. This year, because everyone has little ones, we thought it would be better to spend Christmas in our own houses and then come together for the afternoon / evening. I am looking forward to the change, but missing the excitement of the morning filled with kids. I am sure I will be filled to the hilt with kid Christmas joy by the end of the day though!

Mom is going to have a full house. The kids are: Kaine, Lilly, Landon, Jordan and Grace. Adults are: Grandma, Neil (?), George, Mom, Matt, Loren (that's me! :) ), Kristen, Brent, Lee and Allana. When I write it down like that it doesn't look that bad. But the count is: 15! That is a lot!

Merry Christmas to all of my family that are not with us.  To my friends that live too far away to see.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Christmas is coming!

I am still trying to finish all of my Christmas gifts. I hope I will have time to do it. I still have 3 small cross stitches to do. Then I have to finish Kaine's Felt Playhouse. I am hoping he is going to like it. He has been hiding under his high chair and saying "Hey! Boo!" which is giving me a lot of hope that he is going to love it! I think he is getting to the age when little houses and caves that he can make his own are going to be really fun.
We went to the Winter Wonderland 2009 in St. Augustine and they made an elf village and there were about 15 little houses and Kaine and Jordan went and they were playing in all of the houses. Kaine and Jordan were having a blast. I am hoping he feels the same way about his fun new dinosaur cave! Hopefully I will have pictures up soon. I am going to try and see if I can take pictures of the whole process. It is actually kinda easy, it is just time consuming because it is so big.
I will try and post pictures of the things I have made for this Christmas too. I will probably post them after Christmas because some of the people that I have made them for read this.

Update on Dad: He is doing well. Talked to him this morning. He will be home for Christmas. At Aunt Deb's at least. I am hoping to get up there the day after Christmas and will probably stay for a week or so. I have not heard anything else about Grandpa Joe, so I am assuming that everything is still the same. We are not getting updated to well from that side.

More Christmas stuff

IMAGE FROM: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://witchdoctor.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/christmas-tree.jpg&imgrefurl=http://witchdoctor.wordpress.com/2007/08/04/christmas-trees-will-save-the-nhs/&usg=__D3j8pQodTJAvsbuHCVNLA-eM40s=&h=800&w=800&sz=358&hl=en&start=7&tbnid=tZRvUWqy1MxluM:&tbnh=143&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3DChristmas%2Btrees%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den


           I am putting together Christmas presents still. Not having any money to do so. I am still making most or all of them. I did end up going to the dollar store and looking around for some stuff. It ended up with me buying all of the kids some sort of toy because they had name brand toys (Name Brand!) for $5 dollars. I don't care what you say, living in the boonies has it's rewards!
          I hope I get everything done in time. I am almost finished with my sister's stuff. I will be moving on to the rest. So far this is who I have left:
Grandma, Neil, Patty, Douglas, Lee, Brent and his kids.
          Most of the gifts I already have figured out. Oh yeah! I still have to finish Kaine's "Santa" gift also. The felt playhouse. I just have not been motivated to get it together. I do have most of the pieces ready, it's the sewing part that I am stalling on. Plus, Matt still needs to make the house frame, or should I say cave? It IS going to be awesome when it is done. I think I just need to get all of these other little projects done before I move on to the Grand Finale. Plus, I work MUCH better under pressure. Yes, that makes me a procrastinator! But, in my defense, I am doing other things. Not just putting this thing off, kinda. HeeHee!
Short tonight, just wanted to update anyone who follows this. Leave me a comment if you do follow this.

Found another one!

This one is just as cute!
http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/snowman-gift-bag-669345/

 HAVE FUN!!!

Creative Bags for Gifts!

This is what I am thinking about doing for Christmas this year for wrapping my presents, they are just SO cute!
Here are the links, you must check them out! :

http://familyfun.go.com/christmas/homemade-christmas-gifts/christmas-gift-wrapping-ideas/christmas-tree-gift-bag-669329/

and this one:
http://familyfun.go.com/christmas/homemade-christmas-gifts/christmas-gift-wrapping-ideas/reindeer-gift-bag-669337/

These are just SO cute, I can't stand it. Plus all I would have to buy are bags and maybe some jewel like items! So great and fun! Hope this inspires you!

Christmas Gifts are underway!

Okay, so I decided to make everyone a Christmas gift this year. At first I thought, "This will be good. I will save some money and won't be driving myself crazy going from store to store in search of the perfect thing!" Can you imagine? Kaine in tow the whole way too? I don't think so! So, what better way to give a gift of love, make it yourself. Give something with meaning this year, that's my moto. SO....what is going on you ask?

It is actually going pretty well. Today I realized, in a bit of a panic, that today in December 1st and I only have 25 days to Christmas! How will I get everything done??? Well, I will tell you. I have grounded myself, sort of. Exept for going to the grocery and watching my shows on Thursday night, I am going to be putting the petal to the metal (literally, you know what I mean if you sew!). So, I have been working on the following:

1 & 2. Two Cross Stitched pictures for my sisters.
3. Kaine's felt Playhouse (although, this is fun, the machine doesn't like it!)
4. Birthday present for Matt's mom (not actually started yet, not sure what to do!)
5. Made Mom's present at the 1st of November (toughest person off my list! No offense. I am elated!)
6. Will be making pie crusts to fill and give away
7. Make Grandma something
8. Patty something
9. Possibly the boys, not sure though
10. Books for Lilly, Kaine, Landon, Grace and Jordan
11. Other things I have not gotten to get to yet

I need to be getting to work. Send me some positive thoughts and shoot the Big Man upstairs a shout for me to get it all done and to love every minute of it!!! Love and Merry days to you!

Camping & Christmas Crafts

Hello bloggers!
We are going to Oleno State Park this weekend. We are going with the Boy Scouts. I have been doing research all week about what to bring and what types of food to bring to make. We are going to be taking Kaine. So, we will see how it goes. I think it will be an adventure, to say the least. I will be posting about the adventure when it is over.

Craftiness

IMAGE FROM: http://www.ocregister.com/giftguide/children/images/craft_kit.jpg

Everyone will think I am crazy, until they know what I am about. I have already started to prepare for Christmas. I know. I know! But I am making crafts for Christmas. I have always loved the personal touch. The only thing about that is YOU MUST PREPARE. Handmade = Time. But I do think it is fun and people appreciate it. Or, at least, I hope they do. 

I think it is a shame that no-one either has the time or takes the time to put the personal touches into their gifts. Anyone can go and buy something at a store. I am sure it will be loved (and for little ones, I have to add, this is still the way to go). I just feel, for people who know better [;)], that personal stuff shows that you love them. You were not just thinking about them for 1 day or maybe two, you were thinking about them for weeks at a time. Wishing and hoping and putting your love into an object for them to admire and love themselves. In a way, you are giving a piece of yourself to your family and friends to hang on their walls, put in a book, cover up with, what ever it may be! AND, if you have the ability, WHY NOT? 

So, here my journey starts. Hopefully things will come out as beautiful as I want them to. Love to everyone!

Halloween 2009

I have to say that I am SO looking forward to this Halloween. I have always enjoyed this holiday. Jessica always seems to come to my mind too! (Not that she is ever that far away in the first place! We had such fun.) 

Last year was fun. Kaine was still too young to really enjoy or even know what was happening. People thought I was crazy for taking a five month old door-to-door. I really wanted to have the experience though!Shamed,  I then ended up pawing his bag off on Jordan, who diligiantly told everyone (on his own accord, mind you!) that it was for his cousin and could he please have a little extra! Sweet boy!  

This year, I am hoping is going to be great fun! Kaine can walk. He sort of says Trick or Treat! He more mimics the sounds made by the words that I say, kind of like the melody of a songthat you didn't quite catch the words to. The boy is so musically inclined!  

Anyway, I am hoping that he will have just as much fun as I intend to have. We are going to carve our pumking tonight and roast the seeds...one of my favorite things to do. Kaine, I am assumming will be eating his pumpkin guts raw again this year. Especialy after the protest we got from him last year when we tried to take it away! New pics to soon follow!

On a different note: I will be changing this blog page soon. Going to be incorporating new things on the sides and in the text. Many more pics and am going to try to figure out how to create an album for all to parrooze (if that is even a real word!).

Church Carnival and OP Fall Festival

Yesterday we went to a church carnival with Allana, Lee, Lilly and Landon. It was fun. Kaine wanted to walk around so we made sure he had his shoes on. (It only took about 6 pairs to find out what size he wore!). He walked around the whole church carnival. We didn't even have to get the stroller. The only bad thing was that he didn't want to stop! :) 

There was not much to do at the church carnival and the lines were REALLY long for everything. I don't think it was that organized and (surprisingly) the people weren't very nice at the food booths. The helpers at the bouncy houses were great though! We got the kids into the castle bouncy house. Kaine really wanted to do it, until he was inside that is! Ladon had fun jumping around. Lilly did too. Lilly was having trouble climbing the boucy house slide however. So, we decided to go ahead and leave. 

We went to the Orange Park Town Hall Fall Festival. It was nice. It was a little chilly, the wind was blowing. They had a TON of vendors and food people. It was really nice. They even made it wrap around the playground so the kids would have something to do. However, it was REALLY crowded so we didn't play. You could even take pictures with this guy that was dressed up in a scarecrow/pumpkin head costume. To me, it was creepy but, most didn't seem to care. I can't imagine trying to put Kaine with that guy! Yikes!

I bought a necklace charm. I will have to post the website in my next post. I don't have the card with me. They are an artists paintings that she turned into jewlery. (It was all of her own art). Lilly and Landon both got new babies. Lilly got a doll with a brown ponytail and a pink, butterfly tu-tu style dress with a headband that had butterflies on the top and "big girl panties". Landon got a yellow striped kitty cat animal with a tee shirt and shorts, looked kind of like beach wear. I asked him what his kitty cats name was and he said: "Kitty cat". It was really funny!

We then went to moms house on the way home. We ended up staying for dinner. It was really good. Jordan looked like he was doing much better after his bout in the hospital for his foot. Grace was worn out. She was ready for bed and was very loving! Kaine decided to show off all of his walking skills and pull out every toy he could get his hands on, haha! He even walked from the living room to the florida room to the other side of the kitchen then into the kitchen, until he fell right in front of the oven. We couldn't believe it! He is getting so good at walking! Now I am really looking forward to Halloween. He will be able to walk up to the doors and we are also working on him saying "Trick or Treat!". Which, by the way, he kind of said last night when I was saying it to him! 

This week I will be at moms house, being busy with the kids. Lots of plans. Tuesday brings a Cub Scout tour of the train museum and jail in green cove springs. Wed brings art class for Jordan. Thursday we are going to go to the Loomis Brothers Circus at the Clay County Fair Grounds. Friday we are going to spend the night at my house. Saturday we are going to go to the Coon Family Farm Maze (really looking forward to this!). I will post more on each of these as they happen! Talk to you soon!