200 year old pine trees/Quilt retreat 2010

What a great time I had at the 3rd and 4th day of the retreat.
While we were there the volunteers came to work on the trees damaged by the hail storm in 2009.
It was devastating. The 200 year old pine trees did not make it and they are all being cut down.The trees around the lodge had to come down because of the danger they posed to the buildings. There are many other trees to come down.They cut 5 or 6 that weekend.
There are over 360 trees on pine lake park
property that are dead or dying. Pine lake state park will no longer have pine trees. Very sad to see these giant trees come down. The 3rd picture is looking back at the lodge up on the hill behind the stand of 200 year old pines that are on the park proper.


I went on Friday the 5th but because of a bad headache went home on Saturday.
I had paid for another day so set up to go back on Thursday the 11th and 12th.Here are several of the projects others were working






on.Aren't they beautiful! There were many more.
I'll be sharing the things I did in another post.j

Our special day Anniversary no. 46

Mr. T has never missed bringing me roses for our anniversary. Even through the years when I had a flower shop I got my roses. On the 40th ann. I got 40 yellow roses. That was a really big surprise.
This year it is 6 beautiful red roses.

A nice prime rib dinner and the movie RED with good friends. It was a great way to celebrate.

The movie was funny. A no brainer movie just good entertainment.
From the movie's review "Frank, Joe, Marvin and Victoria used to be the CIA's top agents, but the secrets they know just made them the Agency's top targets. Now framed for assassination, they must use all of their collective cunning, experience and teamwork to stay one step ahead of their deadly pursuers and more »stay alive. To stop the operation, the team embarks on an impossible, cross-country mission to break into the top-secret CIA headquarters, where they will uncover one of the biggest conspiracies and cover-ups in government history."

Our special day November 14, 1964.
It was that day I married my high school sweetheart. Don't we look young.Well we were. 18 and 19----- just kids.

Today is nothing like the day we married 46 years ago.
Today it is 32 degrees windy and cold.
46 years ago the day was perfect. The weather was perfect. Over 70 degrees the 14th day of November in 1964.

We could not afford a photographer. I am sharing the only pictures I have from that day.
I would say to anyone getting married,go less on something else but get good pictures.

The man I married has taken care of me, and I him, for 46 years.They have not always been wonderful years,there were some very hard times, but we were in it for the long haul.
There were times I was ready to give up on us but never did. I am glad of that.
Our God joined us. God gave us wonderful kids and grand kids.
We have been blessed with good family and friends through our years.
We have our health.
We are blessed and thankful every day.

I will be posting a couple of long blogs about the quilt retreat. Check back.
Have a great week.j

Quilt retreat 2010

I am home from the retreat.I came home a day early. Had headache that was a dozy. Went to bed yesterday as soon as I got home.
It was great and I will go back on Thursday to get in my 3rd day.
I hated to have to leave but I was fearful of a cluster migraine.I was having the sparkles in the left eye again.
Mr.T bless him did not complain about missing out on the last, free from work, day.
I did get the major thing done I went for and will share a picture soon.
The weather was beautiful. The lake was beautiful.There is no better place for a retreat than the lodge at Pine lake Iowa.
much damage was done by the hail storm in 2009.They were removing very big pine trees the first day we were there.
Pine lake has lost most of its very old pine trees.

Shelves up

Again I came up with an idea Mr. T. had to help with. Poor man hates it when I say "I have this idea".
Remember from the post about the first shelf?--- well the idea was to use up some of the wainscoting we took out of the rectory.
Of course it became more of a chore than I thought and it took longer than it should have but they are both done and they are perfect. They went from a stack of boards like this to finished shelves like this.
The wall looks green but is brown.Funny how the light changes things.












Now I have to decide if I want to paint and glaze them to match the entertainment center. I am leading towards painting. I will not do anything until we get back from the quilt retreat weekend. Did you notice I got 2 new side lamps? It is coming together but not quite done. Still need curtains. The brackets are up but are to low so they all have to be moved up.

I look at Martha's blog everyday and saw her new things.Corbels.Love them!

The shelves are where I wanted to use the Martha Stewart corbels. Her new line is at Home Depot. Cupboards and all that goes with them. I stopped at the HD in Waterloo.They did not have the corbels in stock. I asked the price so they looked them up.
Are you sitting down??? $344.00 each.

I know they would have looked better than my hobby lobby metal brackets but I really didn't think $1376.00(for 4) plus tax was in my budget. I may find other corbels in my price range and can always change them later. I wrote to Martha,on her blog, but did not hear back. Did I really think I would. Well yes------------ well no not really. If someone wrote to me and said that my product line was not affordable for everyday people I guess I would not respond either. Have a great weekend. See you next week. j

Vote today

It is your right and privilege.
God bless America.
j

Pumpkin party link /Repurposed board into New shelf

I decided to link this post to the Pumpkin parade.Go visit there are cool pumpkins there.
My pumpkins are made from gourds, I painted with acrylics.They make me smile.Perfect for the new shelf.
http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2010/10/halloween-pumpkin-parade-party.html


Years ago I found an old wooden box in Gertrude's old falling down garage. This was a lady that lived in Alden in the same place as long as I knew her. I had seen an old wash tub she had sitting by this old building and stopped to see if she would sell me the tub for a planter.I looked inside the garage and saw the box.She told me the box had belonged to someone in her family. The box was more like a trunk.
It was sad that this old box, that had traveled with her ancestors, was left in a place that allowed it to become damaged. There are so many things that are lost because someone, doesn't think the thing has value.
I rescued the carved piece off the box. Of course Mr.T did not see the value in this old board either. I have to say I have MY side of the garage that I keep things , other than my car,in. The board did not take up much space stacked along the wall with other boards I have saved. Through the years when we have been cleaning out Mr.T has asked if I really want to save the old board.
I knew some day I would use the board. I did not know *what* I was going to use it for and on the show about horders they would have said if you have not used it in a year you probably never will.
This past week--- after 15 years--- I used the board.
It is perfect!
I didn't think to take a picture of it before.It was a green color--- very worn. I painted and glazed the old board and 3 new boards. Added metal brackets and hung it in the computer room.

The star is another 2nd hand piece I have had for a while and really didn't know where I wanted it until the rooms recent redo.
The paint on the star was a little darker than the shelf. I dry brushed it with the same color as the shelf added a berry wreath, some bitter sweet from my vines and it is just right.
Stay tuned we have 2 more shelves to build. We have wainscoting boards from an old rectory that will be just right for the next 2 shelves. Why buy new when OLD will do.
Have a great weekend.j

New followers/ new doll

Good news, I have 2 new followers. Up to 12. Thanks for joining. j

I am starting a new doll. I have the body sewn, stuffed and the seams covered with paper clay. It is made from an old flour/feed sack. Ink spot on the face will be covered, side view and back. The pattern is my own.
Nice round head with chin. Stuffed very(as in softball hard) firm.

After sewing the arms and legs on another doll I made for Susan Fosnots class I discovered when I enlarged the pattern the arms and legs did not go with the head/body. To small. Took them off made new.

I think with a 2 inch extension on the top of the legs they will work for this doll. The size is better.

I think with a 2 inch extension on the top of the legs they will work for this doll. The size is better.
Next step gesso,and sanding--- several layers.
Have a great weekend. Rain is predicted. Hope so we are dry. j

Shelves

I thought I would share that one shelf is UP!
There are 3 more to go.
Mr T. is done with field work and was home by 5 last night.That has not happened in a while.
Of course I have a honey do list. Hanging shelves is top of the list.

Before I could paint everything came off the walls and all the nail/screw holes were filled.
By the way. Paper clay works really good for that little job. No sanding just a wet finger will make a smooth surface. I could not find the nail filler.

The first shelf is one I bought years ago at a craft fair. It is made from an old door.
I have had it hanging in the living room,--- now it is in the computer room over the corn burning stove. A perfect fit. More rustic/prim than I want in the living room. Pay no attention to the tools.




I really don't have a style. I like to many different things, so a little country, a little primitive and a little cottage.
Lets just call it . Judy's style.





We moved the entertainment center to the north wall and shelves on either side will be perfect. I can display my things without all the nail holes. I am hoping to do seasonal decorations on the new shelves. in the living room. The 3rd shelf is over a buffet in the computer room.















The man I live with is a saint.I am told that often by my friend Marilyn. He lives with me for starters.
He puts up with my ideas. I have said before I get the idea he makes it real.
Poor man,---- the honey do list is so long he will never be done. If you go to my web shots pages you can see projects he has done. http://community.webshots.com/user/nana5111
patio/patio kitchen and the kitchen remodel are just 2.

I need him to router the 3 boards I bought last week.
Then I can paint and glaze them.
I never was good with waiting for something to be done and for many years I would do some things myself. I still do---- but routing a board is not something I ever learned or ever want to learn. So I wait.

I have never been really good at waiting. Living with Mr. T has taught me many things. Patience is one I am still working on.
I have to say his work is always perfect. Thanks Bud.
I sure hope he reads my blog. Stay tuned for the ongoing shelf saga.
j

A quote from Dixie

Dixie Redmond is on my blog list.This morning while reading her blog I found something she wrote fit me too.

A quote from Dixie "I know these studies of Izannah's works will inform my next creative steps. That they are a path through to something that is entirely my own. A kind of training ground. "
http://www.northdixiedesigns.com/2010/10/taking-time-to-really-look.html

I wish I had a way with words that some bloggers have. I do not. I write like I talk.
The lines she wrote would fit me perfectly if it said,
"I know the studies of the Columbian dolls and Helen Pringles works did influence my creative steps. They have been a path through to something that is entirely my own. A kind of training ground."

I would have to say these 2 pictures have been where my inspiration has come from for most of my dolls. The girls in red are Helen Pringles.The single girl with the folded hands is my first MJ(Maggie Joy)













The Columbian in white and my Emma in the hat.





Funny how reading/seeing something makes things clearer.
Thanks Dixie,Helen and Emma Adams.
j

I love pumpkins/field work

There are folks that collect apples things,some collect corn things, others collect things with cherries. I collect pumpkin things. Not halloween.

I now have out my soup tureens and some of the serving dishes on the shelves in the dining room. I will share as I get more things on display.I love having the pumpkin things out.

I had looked for years for affordable plates and dishes with pumpkins. I found them at Hobby Lobby a couple of years ago.

Every year for several years I have participated in the festival of tables held at our local library. 2008 was the year for the pumpkins.





2009 it was a Christmas table










This year I will be using red white and blue.

Mr. T is done with field work. The corn and bean harvest is complete. Thank God all are safe and sound.
It is a worry each year.
Tonight, Oct.15,2010, Mr. T was remembering other harvest seasons and can not remember having such mild weather on the last day of corn picking.
They finished November 21, 2009.
Have a great weekend.j