Check this out

Just thought I would share a pic of what I did with the tray that I received from Terri at our swap. I know this was suppose to be a porch swap but this tray was perfect for my kitchen and just what I had been looking for to organize some little things on my counter. Isn't this sooo cute? See what you think. Until next time...

Porch Swap

Several weeks ago I entered a porch swap on http://www.charsethman.blogspot.com/ and today I had the pleasure of meeting the lady that was picked as my swap partner, Terri. Turns out that we live in the same county just a short drive away from each other so we decided that we would love to meet and swap.
Terri is such a sweet person and her gifts were just awesome. She gave me two hanging planters for my porch and another pot of flowers that I am going to sit in a pot holder on my porch. I also got candles with a candle holder, a pot of herbs and the neatest tray that she painted to match my colors with decoupaged flowers on it. We had the greatest time getting to know each other and I just love the gifts that she gave me. Meeting my swap partner made it seem so much more personal. Thanks Terri for all the wonderful gifts and thanks Char for such a great swap. Now to share my swap day.




















I got two of the purple pansy hanging baskets and they are so cute on my porch.

Happy Memorial Day

I would like to take the time to wish everyone a very happy and safe Memorial Day.
While celebrating with your family and friends, please take the time to say a special prayer for all those who have died fighting for our freedom. Also remember to pray that God will wrap his loving arm aroung those soldiers who have come home wounded and give them the strength they need to recover. And please remember those who cannot be with their loved ones this year because they are still fighting for our freedom.
HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY everyone! Until next time...

Giveaway

Hey everyone, The Krazy Kraft Lady is having a candle mat giveaway on her blog. Check it out
http://thekrazykraftlady.blogspot.com.

Chicken Feeder Bird Feeder Tutorial

Several weeks ago, Char of charsethman.blogspot.com had a tutorial on making mason jars with chicken feeders. Well when I saw this I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. So now I am going to share with you how to turn a mason jar and chicken feeder into a bird feeder. Here's what you need:

Wire plyers

wire cutters

quart mason jar

20 gauge wire ( about 36 in.)

plumbers clamp

Foultry Feed Label

Modge podge

sponge brush

straight edge screwdriver

chicken feeder ( found at your local Co-op or Tractor Supply Store)

First you need to decide what size clamp you need by taking a tape measure and placing it around the bottom of the quart jar. Then you can go to any hardware and get a clamp that will fit it. If in doubt, take a jar with you. I used 20 gauge wire because it is easier to work with. I doubled it to give more strength. That being said, here is all you have to do. First, take the wire and double it, then place it over the clamp and twist it so that it will stay in place. Then just twist the wire together until you reach the end. Then, place it on the opposite side of the clamp, bring it around and twist it together to tighten it to the clamp. You need to make sure the screw is in the back of the two wires.

Now take the clamp and put it on the jar towards the bottom with the hanger facing up. the jar will be upside down. Place the screw in the back of the jar. This should be the side that has writing on it and using your screwdriver, tighten it until snug and clamp doesn't move.

The next step is optional but this what I love the most. I purchased the Red Rooster Poultry Feed label from Yankee Lane Primitives and I just love it. It needs to be 3"tall X 3 1/2 " wide. I tore the edges off to make it look old and applied modge podge to the back of it. Place it on the front side of the jar and smooth out so there are no wrinkles or bubbles. Then put a coat of modge podge on going from top to bottom. Let it dry completely. When dry, it will be clear. Then put another layer on going from side to side. Let dry completely and put one more layer on going from top to bottom. Let dry completely.

After this is dry, that's it. Just add your bird seed, attach your chicken feeder turn right side up and hang it outside for the birds. And let me tell you they love this feeder. I was shocked when they ate all the seed in this feeder before touching the other bird feeders. It must be because the holes are larger, but they love it.

If you don't craft and would like to purchase one of these, I sell them in my etsy shop at http://www.yorkiesprimitives.etsy.com/ or you can purchase it off this blog by emailing me at valerie999@comcast.net. If you have any questions about this tutorial feel free to email me at my email address. I will respond within 24 hours.

Hope you have fun making this bird feeder. Until next time...

Sweet surprise

I received the sweetest surprise from my friend Nancy of stitchesnstrokes yesterday. She mailed me a box of rusty springs and a surprise gift. I haven't counted the springs yet, but there are several in this box. And then, I noticed a little bird. It is the cutest littles bird and she did an excellent job on it.

Thanks Nancy, I really love my surprise!

A Tribute to my Mom

My Dad died when I was 5 leaving my Mom to raise 5 kids ranging from 4 years old to 11 years old. She had an 8th grade education, never worked and couldn't even drive. But somehow she found the strength to overcome all obstacles in the 50's to raise us and love us.
She raised five kids with five different personalities and did this with a wisdom that I never realized until I was much older. I was the stubborn, hardheaded one of the bunch and she knew that whipping me would do no good. So she found other ways to get to me. She also found a different way to get each of my brothers to listen.
We didn't have anything growing up. Lots of times in the winter, we went cold and hungry. But we always knew that we had each other and we always, always had our Mom! Thinking back, I don't think I would have wanted it any other way because we grew up with a bond between us that still cannot be broken. Mom taught us to be honest and hard working. She taught us to be kind and forgiving. (I didn't listen very well to that lesson)LOL But most of all she taught us to trust in God.
The one lesson I learned from my Mom is that no two children are the same. You cannot love them the same and you cannot discipline them the same. You have to know each personality and be willing to accept each child for who they are. In doing so you teach them to be proud of who they are and they can grow to be responsible adults and pass that teaching on to their children.
Mom passed away in 2003 and it left a whole in my heart that cannot be filled; a pain that cannot be healed. We were very close. I lived next door and we went everywhere together. Not only did I lose my Mom, I lost my very best friend.
I received this letter in an email and I would like to share it with you this Mother's Day

Mothers
Real Mothers don't eat quiche; they don't have time to make it. Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox. Real Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids. Real Mothers know that dried play dough doesn't come out of carpets. Real Mothers don't want to know what the vacuum just sucked up. Real Mothres sometimes ask "Why me?" and get their answer when a little voice says, "Because I love you best." Real Mothers know that a child's growth is not measured by height or years or grade... It is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mom to Mother...
4 Years of Age- My Mommy can do anything!
8 years of age- My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!
12 years of age- My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.
14 years of age- Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either.
16 years of age- Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned
25 years of age- Well, she might know a little bit about it!
35 years of age- Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion.
45 years of age- Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?
65 years of age- Wish I could talk it over with Mom
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!
My Mom was a REAL WOMAN and the best Mom in the world! I thank God for having a REAL MOM!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Rocking chair makeover

Growing up, it was a tradition that every Christmas my Mom, her sister and my Grandma went Christmas shopping together and Grandma let them pick out their present from her. Grandmas's last Christmas, my Mom ask for a doll so that's what she got.

Then came my daughter and wanted to play with the doll. By the time my Mom realized she was using it as a teether, the baby was missing two toes. So needless to say, that stopped the playing with the baby.

I now cherish the doll as a remembrance of my Mom and Grandma. The missing toes just tell me that it was loved. So when I found this rocker for 50 cents at a rummage sale, I knew what it would be for.

So I stripped most of the red off the rocker, painted it umber brown and then painted it military blue. After sanding it and putting an oak stain to darken it, this is what I got.

I then made a hopi weaved cushion out of an old brown flower fabric that I have had for years and I think it is the perfect rocker for my cherished baby. And since I have changed my living room to chocolate and blue, this will be the perfect additing to my prim/country living room. Whaddya think?