Has it really been that long?

Wow...I REALLY fell behind on my blog, didn't I? I didn't realize its been 2½ months! Where does the time go?

My last post said I went on a last minute trip...well, I went to Virginia! I got to visit the Waltons Museum, the Natural Bridge and several other places. After I catch up on writing, look for the photo album with my pics in it.  Can't believe I forgot to share those on my blog!

We've been busy working on my studio AGAIN! We've also had some sick kitties. My oldest kitty, Mr. Spock, has had some really bad days and I have to give him fluids throughout the day and sometimes encourage him to eat. He's better now, but I can tell he has gone downhill a lot. It is sad to know he won't be with us much longer, but he has had a long & happy life. I just have to keep reminding myself of that.

Today I'm scraping paint, trying to get ready to paint the outside of my house. I'll be so glad when its done, but scraping paint isn't my idea of a fun time. Ha! And it is hard to find time to create with a whole house needing to be painted!!

Road Trip!!

 Well, I decided to go on a last minute trip! I decided on Saturday to take off on Sunday morning and stay gone all week. I wanted to share some pics from my trip, but can't get them to download to my laptop, but I will definitely be sharing them with you when I get back. Should be home in a few days....July is about over, so don't forget to enter to win the Itty Bitty Kitty in my previous post!

Trip to Kentucky

 
  These are some pics from a recent road trip to Kentucky...my husband bought a bunch of old post office boxes (really cool!) so I rode with him to pick  them up. We had a blow out on the way, but it was still a fun trip. Standing on the interstate to change the tire wasn't so good, but besides that it was fun...enjoy the pics!

 

Look for me in Create & Decorate...

Here are my latest projects in Create & Decorate magazine...Sissy & Pineapple Annie! Would love to hear what you think about them! Its the August 2009 issue-pick up a copy and try them out. They're really easy and there are more good projects in there too.  And don't forget to enter the contest if you haven't already....scroll down to the previous post after reading this one, or click here!

I've been thinking of getting some chickens for my yard for a long time. I ordered several books and have been looking into it. Any of you have anything to share about chickens? :) You would think I'd know since my Daddy is a chicken farmer, but I guess chickens in your yard is a lot different. I just want a few and I'm sure they'll be pets as much as anything, but I want them for the eggs and to control the ticks & mosquitoes. I'm checking with the city before I do anything--I could just imagine myself getting attached to some baby chicks then finding out  I have to get rid of them!! I really need a farm, I think but I'll just have to practice here until I can get a bigger place! There's no telling what kinds of animals I'd have if I had a big farm!!! ha!!

I'm still here!

Maybe you've been wondering where I've been! I have had so much going on! I got back from my show and have to take care of some kitties and some other stuff. Strawberry had to have FOUR teeth pulled! It was scary for me to have it done, but I'm glad its over with. He seems to be feeling good and has been pretty playful! He has had problems with his gums for a long time, practically his whole life (it has just gotten a lot worse in the last year) and has had his teeth cleaned so many times. So I'm hoping this is what was needed.

 Here's a picture of my booth .... remember I was going to make curtains for my Halloween booth? I ordered the fabric, bought a bunch of tulle and lights and never made the curtains and didn't have electricity for the lights....Well, I was going to make curtains for this booth. I ordered a bunch of red with white polka dots and after I got there, I decided I didn't want to use the red after all! My "Dr. Seuss" tree

was a big hit with the purple lights. People kept trying to buy the tree and my mannequins from me!  It was a long show--I was there almost a week--so I was happy to be home. I've been spending time getting my house cleaned and doing a little holiday decorating. We're having our Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow so I may put up my tree on Monday!

About my trip....

Now I can FINALLY tell you more about my trip! As soon as I got home I had to finish my taxes. I took one day to rest, then the rest was spent working on taxes. I was so relieved to mail them out yesterday!!   This photo is my favorite on I took on my trip. My husband and I both thought it looks like the place Robert Johnson must have gone to the crossroads!! I took a lot of photos and you can see them in my photo album. Click here to see them all. Or just click the link to the right when you're done reading....

When I got to Amarillo, I had a car reserved. Its a long story, but basically I ended up without a car and every car rental place was full! I was about to cry and some lady felt sorry for me. Don't ask me how she rented me a car when she just said they were full....I certainly wasn't going to question her. I was just glad to had it! So I ended up driving this HHR, which I had never heard of. But I liked driving it! I went straight to my hotel and got settled in and just rested on the first day. I got up at 3 am so I could be at the airport at 4:30 in the morning!! It took about 2½ hrs. to drive from Amarillo to Portales, so I was traveling most of the day.

The next morning I went to the tv station to set up my stuff and make sure I had everything I needed. Some guy was supposed to call Sheryl to come over. I waited about 2 hrs. and she never came and no one knew anything about what was going on....so I finally figured out to go to the new studio to find her. (He did tell me he was sorry that he called her and she was on the other line and forgot to call her back....he was really nice!) On the way in I stepped in a big hole (it rained all night) and soaked my shoe up to my ankle. I did find Sheryl and talk to her and then when I was leaving the campus some girl yelled at me for stopping where there wasn't a stop sign! LOL....it wasn't that bad, kind of funny after I thought about it. I was nervous that it might be a bad sign with all the storms and silly stuff happening to me. But it got better!

I drove to Roswell, NM to the UFO museum, which was really interesting. I have to show this picture to my nephew and tell  him I saw a real alien there! hee hee...then I'll tell him the truth. I ate at the Red Onion, had to stop at Wal-mart for scissors for the show, then back to Portales to rest. For dinner I had some really good BBQ from a restaraunt in Portales. I believe its  called Something Different?

I kept worrying all night that I was going to be nervous, I kept waiting....and waiting. I did get a little nervous the next morning while I was getting ready, but not like I thought I would. I have this huge fear of public speaking and I avoid it at all costs. When I was in college, I took speech and the first assignment was to introduce someone. All I remember is standing up, then being seated again. I blacked out during the speech and don't know what I said! I never went back either....flunked speech and had to take it again during my last semester. I turned down good business opportunities because of it, so I decided I HAD to do it this time. And it wasn't so bad! Everyone there was really nice & laid back and I enjoyed  it. Now, I may not enjoy looking at myself on tv, but at least I did it!! After the show, I planned to drive on Historic Route 66, but it was so windy I finally decided to just go on the Amarillo to my room and rest.

I had all of the next day just to ride around and see the sites. First I accidentally found the Cadillace Ranch....then I drove from Amarillo to McClean to the museum. I ate at the Red River Steak House and that was delicious! It was fun to not really have anywhere to be. The only thing that I was a little sad about was my nephew, Jackson, was born that day and I wasn't there. But I did go by the hospital as soon as I got to Huntsville the next day! Here's his first picture: http://www.infantxpress.com/nursery2.php?orgID=20070 

But the next day is really when I had some bad luck....My plane was scheduled to leave at 7:35. So I wanted to leave my hotel room at 5:30 and be there at 6:00. (I hate to be rushed!) I set my phone alarm for 5 and asked for a wake up call at 5:30 in case I didn't wake up. My phone alarm went off at 6:30!! I never even got a wake up call from the hotel! So I had to brush my teeth, throw my hair up and run. I raked things into bags and left a sweater that I didn't have time to go back for. I had to park my rental car and run with 3 really heavy bags. I was huffing and puffing when I got to the check in and they told me "you better hurry if you're going to get on this plane!" They said I should have missed the plane. I went through security and forgot to take my phone out of my pocket so I had to be patted down. Had to wait for a woman to come. It was cold and I didn't have time to get any warm clothes, so was in a t-shirt and sandals. They wouldn't let me have my shoes, so stood there freezing and bare footed. LOL! I can laugh now, but it wasn't all that funny at the time.

I had a good time on my trip but I certainly was glad to be home....I know my kitties are ready for some more photo shoots!

I'm Back!!

I had fun, but I'm so glad to be home!! There were some really good guesses and y'all got pretty close. I went to Portales, New Mexico to film 3 segments (6 projects) for Creative Living with Sheryl Borden! (It's a PBS show.) I have known about it for almost a year--I've kept a pretty good secret, huh? I heard from Sheryl a few weeks ago and had to drop everything to get my projects finished. I know, I should have already had them done, but I didn't! I'm excited and flattered that she asked me to be on her show. I don't know when they will air, but I will keep you updated! This was my first tv appearance and I kept waiting to get nervous, but it really wasn't that bad. Sheryl was great to work with!

I flew into Amarillo, so y'all were right about that too. Then I rented a car and drove to Portales to stay a couple of nights. Then came back to Amarillo and spent 2 more nights. I thought since I was there, I should enjoy it! I did take some pictures and did some fun stuff. I'll post all that later--now I need REST!! Oh, and my new nephew, Jackson, was born yesterday so I stopped to see him too when I got home. He is so cute and so tiny!

If you get a copy of the next issue of Create & Decorate (on stands April 22, I think) look for the article about me. I can't wait to see that either!

Home Sweet Home

I just wanted to remind y'all I'll be home some time this afternoon--I may not get time to post today. If I don't, I'll fill you in tomorrow!

Coming Home tomorrow!

Tonight is my last night here--I'll be flying home tomorrow! My nephew is supposed to be born today too, so maybe I'll get to meet him as soon as I get home! Today I plan to just drive around and see what I can find. No real plans, I would love to find some rural areas to ride around in, but not so far away that I get lost! Maybe I'll find a ranch and take some pictures there....okay, now that was a good hint! I'll bet someone guesses where I've gone. But I don't know if you'll know what I did there!! I'm sure it will be nice to get home and see my husband and all the kitties!

Meeting New People....

Well, today is the big day! I'm writing this ahead of time, but I am positive at this moment I am pretty nervous! This is something I have never done before, besides being in a place I have never been before! After this is over with, I'll be driving back and seeing some sites, taking lots of photos. I'll probably eat some barbecue....I hear the barbecue is good here...

I'm here!

If all has gone as planned, I got off the plane yesterday and drove a couple of hours, got a little rest. Today I'll go get ready for that thing I have planned for tomorrow. I'll give you a  hint--its probably going to be hot there! And I had to bring some dolls with me! I think the weather is going to be a little different here than I'm used to too....I'm wondering if anyone has even come close to guessing yet? I told my nephew I'd bring him a souvenir, something that would make him think of where I'm going and he asked for a horn! I'll bet you're really wondering now!!!

I'm gone!!

Well--by now I should be on a plane to where I'm going. No one has guessed it yet--I've had so many people guess at what I'm up to and no one has guessed it yet! First hint, yes it does have something to do with my designs. And, as you now know, I have to travel out of the state to do what I'm doing. It would take me about 17 hours to drive there so I decided to fly. I considered driving because I would love to see the sites along the way. But I'm renting a car and staying a few extra days. I'll fly to one state, rent the car and drive a couple of hours to the next state. I'll have lots of pictures to share tomorrow. So, any guesses on what I'm doing and where I'm going?

Saying 'bye for now!

I'm leaving tomorrow morning. I don't know what I was thinking. My flight leaves at 6 am so I have to get up early! I was paying more attention to the length of the flight because I didnt' want long layovers. I hate sitting around in airports! So, after paying so much attention I didn't think much about it. Now I'm thinking about how early I have to get up! I guess tomorrow will be a make-up free day! ha! I think my kitties know I'm leaving. Do you think Mr. Spock looks sad? lol! I'm sure I'll miss them more than they miss me....

I love it that they love to get inside things--boxes, baskets, drawers, lunch boxes, whatever. This was my Easter basket that Pumpkin crawled inside. After I got all the Earth friendly grass out of it, of course! (I left that at Momma's--you can never be too careful with Pumpkin!) This setup was perfect for him--a basket inside a box!

My brother-in-law called us to come look at some stuff in an old, old building. I shouldn't have gone because I have too much stuff and I'm getting ready for my trip, but I couldn't resist! We went on Saturday & we got a really old wooden cabinet that I'll photograph and share pics of later. It cleaned up nicely and I'm already using it in my kitchen! We also got an old saddle, some bottles & jars, rusty ol' junk, old ropes, old screen with wooden frame....probably nothing to most people but we were happy. I don't think my husband really wanted to go, but he was glad we did. It was way back in the woods (I don't know why I didn't take my camera!) and the building was so old. I had to make him leave! lol!

Then Saturday afternoon I saw this dog that someone abandoned or something--my husband had already told me that he saw a dog rolling around in the road that morning. He had to blow the horn to get it to move and had to come to a complete stop. Then we saw it following someone down the road. I think I have seen it before on someone's porch. The next time I drove down the road I got a good look and it was pitiful! Its hair is so matted it has a hump on its back almost as big as its head. It has mats dragging behind it and its filthy. It looked like it couldn't see, but later when I got closer I decided its just because its hair is in its eyes! I walked to the end of the street and no one claimed it so I was going to bring it home, bathe & clip it and see if I couldn't find it a home. It wouldn't follow--it would come smell of my hand, then run. I came back with cat food and that didn't work. (But the neighbor's dog enjoyed those two cans!) Finally some kids in the neighborhood got it to come inside my fence, but it escaped before I made it outside with some water. I emailed and called everyone I could think of. (Except animal control--I wouldn't do that unless I was here to go pick up the dog....) I told the kids up the street that I wanted to cut its hair and give it a bath and maybe someone would adopt it. They said "you want to adopt it??" Like they couldn't believe it....it does look bad but would be really cute. Its white so its really dirty. So if its still here when I get back, that will be my next project, I guess! I reckon I just have too much excitement going on these days!!

Don't forget to be guessing where I've gone until I get back and read my hints for the next few days!! And check out Helena's Spring contest to win a carved bird! I have one of her birds (and I'm getting more too!!) and some other carved stuff by her and they are sooo cool!

http://helenacstudios.typepad.com/snow_pond_primitives/2008/04/a-spring-fling.html

Some new plans

Well--I think its official that Frazier is feral and probably won't ever want to be petted. But that's okay with me--he can just live out his life here and eat on my porch. I have plans to build a little building behind my studio where they can eat & I can store some of my "stuff". I wish I could just leave food out all the time, but I would have raccoons, 'possums, skunks, birds, rats & mice all out there eating too! ha! But I do have plans for something for them, I just don't know exactly what it will be yet. The black short tailed cat may be coming around though. I sat on the porch while he ate yesterday and he started to come over to me, rubbing on the porch posts. Then suddenly he decided to run off. Too bad I'm leaving just when he's warming up to me, but I think he will come around! I would love to get a good picture of Frazier to share but he is way too scared and I think a flash would really scare him!

So here are my 3 entries in the design contest --I think you can still vote:

Unfortunately they never got two of the banners fixed so you could see the full size banner.

I will be leaving very early on April 8....my plane is leaving at 6 am! Sometimes I'm not even in bed by then!! So be thinking of me and hoping I won't oversleep!! While I'm gone, I'll have some scheduled posts with some hints about what I'm doing and where I'm going! Maybe y'all can leave some comments and guess where I'm headed and what I'm up to! Then when I get home, I'll spill the beans! I will be back on the 12th, but probably won't get around to getting on the computer until the next day...

I wonder if my kitties will miss me while I'm gone?? I wonder if my husband will miss me too? Or will they all be glad to have a vacation from me?? haha!

Perfect Weather!

The weather was just perfect today! Yesterday after work I saw one of the stray kitties. He came at 5:00 on the dot. (Does he know when the vet's office closes?) So I hurried to call them and they waited on me. He was pretty easy to get into a carrier--didn't need a trap for him. So he spent the night at the vet and I picked him up this afternoon. They all talked about what a sweetie he is!! After I brought him home there was that giant dog in my yard again. She made me nervous at first, but she is just a big baby too. I still kind of worry about her getting after my cats, but she doesn't even act like she notices them, even when they hiss at her!

I sat on the porch this afternoon and snapped pictures of my kitties lying in the sun, bathing and just being lazy. This is Rusty in the first picture. So handsome! Then it looks like Elvis had his own little photo shoot! ha!

 

There are more....I had a hard time deciding which ones to share. Elvis is so photogenic though--I love taking his picture!

This is a crazy picture of Dill, isn't it? Ha! I guess its the sun shining through his hair? I love it....He has been living outside most of his life--he used to get to come in to visit until he started marking everything in my house....including some antique books. That was the last time he came in. He just couldn't help himself and I couldn't keep an eye on him all the time. I really felt kind of bad about it though. Lately he has been scratching at the back door when he hears me get in bed, so I let him in for a few minutes, carry him around and pet him. I wonder why he started asking to come in?

I snapped this picture of Dusty last night--she has such long thick fur in the winter! I have to bring her in and try to brush her hair--I know she looks kind of mad in that picture, but that's just how she looks. ha ha! She's Elvis' Momma....can you see the resemblance?

Now....I really must get to those dolls. They are begging for some clothes!! I meant to paint in my studio today too...it was just too hard to work inside with such nice weather!!

Being from the South....

We have lots of funny sayings.....I thought I would share a few. Have any of you heard these? Or do you have a favorite saying?

...sweatin' like a pig

...Drunk as Cooter Brown

...old enough to eat cornbread and not choke on it

...nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rockers

...mean as a snake

...easy as pie

...mad as a hornet

....livin' in high cotton

...up the creek without a paddle

Well, those are just a few. Do you have a funny saying? I think I could sit here typing them for hours!! "Git 'er done" is not one of my favorites. I hate that one--half the men here sound like Larry the Cable Guy anyway! ha!

What about favorite southern foods--

buttermilk biscuits ~ chocolate gravy ~ fried taters ~ cornbread ~ sweet iced tea ~ collard greens ~ peach cobbler ~ fried catfish ~ just about anything fried ~ fried okra ~ fried squash ~ pintoes ~ stuff fresh out of your garden

I don't know anyone who eats 'possum or gross stuff like that, but I have heard people say their grandparents ate them. Hopefully that was only because they had to....We have a 'possum that has been sneaking on our porch to eat--he doesn't seem too scared of us and for a second I considered trying to pet him. :) We have nick-named him Leonard....and he won't be anybody's meal!!

Its funny what people think about us Southerners....I actually did live outside Alabama and  even outside the country for a little while. I couldn't believe some of the things people thought. One girl asked me if we have airports in Alabama! ha! I guess she thought we rode our horse and buggy out  of Alabama to the nearest airport. I was only 18 then and I didn't realize what people really thought about the South until I travelled a little.

It is different here--I have to admit that. But I love it--I love our accents and how most people are friendly. Its  more country where I grew up....when you drive down the road, everyone waves, even if you don't know who it is. (You probably know them, they are probably just driving a new truck!) I love that it isn't so busy here, not a lot of traffic and I love all the trees! And I love how when  you meet someone, if you don't know them, after you talk a while you know someone they are related to. It always bugged me when I had a date or a friend coming over and Daddy would ask who their parents were. I'd say, "I don't KNOW!" (Probably rolled my eyes too...) I didn't know why it mattered who someone's parents were. Now I completely understand! Oh, and I love it that I knew everyone in my school. At my elementary & junior high school there were less than 20 people in my class. After the 4th grade, we had two grades in each class and the school only went to the 8th grade. That school is gone--but that's another story for another day.   

Transporting kitties

On Saturday I volunteered to pick up 5 kitties and help transport them. We picked up 4 Pixie Bobs and 1 extra cute little white kitten. We drove to Manchester, TN and met a lady at Cracker Barrel to pick them all up. Then we drove to Chattanooga, TN with 4 carriers with paws reaching out for us most of the way. :) They were all pretty quiet except the kitten (Lily). She really wanted some attention! We met Lily's new owners at the Cracker Barrel in Chattanooga and they were so happy to have her! They had a long ride, so I'm sure they were all glad to get out of the carriers and to their new homes. We met Cheryl from Atlanta Persian & Siamese Rescue (www.cat-rescue.org) and they picked up the 4 other kitties and took them to Georgia. Oh....did you notice I said I volunteered...but we went to get them? I talked my husband into going. He wasn't too excited about driving that far, but I think he enjoyed the trip and he was checking out all the kitties! Here are a couple of photos Cheryl sent....

  

It was a very rewarding thing to do & I'll be doing it again, I'm sure. You should consider it--if you can't adopt a pet, this is a good way to help them get a chance at a new home. Look at my links on the left and you can sign up for the Transport List. Who knows, maybe there are some pets coming through your town that you could help transport!

Be sure not to forget about my Valentine ornament giveaway. Click on the heart ornie photo on the left or click here and you'll go to the post and see how to enter. You have until Feb. 12!

Now...for the latest pictures of my crazy cats!!!

We knew we had the room too hot when we saw Sweet Pea lying around like this! This is not a shot where I happened to catch him stretching....he actually kept his leg up like this for a long time! Please don't give him a hard time about his big belly--I call him my big marshmallow!

 

Pumpkin in his house--the photo isn't turned wrong--the house was turned on its back and I was standing over the top of him to take his picture!

One of the kitties I transported--I wanted to get them all out and snuggle with them!

Okay...this isn't my baby 'possum, but I wish it was! Someone sent me this photo and now I kinda wish I would find a baby 'possum! If only they all wore pink bows on their heads......

Where I'm from....

  I'm going to tell you a little about where I'm from.....with photos! One day this fall my husband & I went riding around town to take some photos. This one is here in Scottsboro, at the railroad tracks, of course! At night sometimes I can hear the train. I love to hear it! Its not too close so its not really loud, I just barely hear it in the distance. I don't know why, but I have always love the sound of a train!  

Of course I always see a cat!!

Another view of the fall foliage!

 

Right outside of town--we live near mountains and the river.

The is leaving Scottsboro to go to my parents' house (about 30 minutes away). You can see the river on the right, barely!

This is near our house...

Bob Ross could have painted this scene!!

Pigeon Forge....

We had such a good time at Pigeon Forge! The Inn was so nice--we even had a balcony so we could see the Christmas Place and the mountains from our window. This is the outside of the hotel.

Inside the hotel and even inside our room was so festive!

 

The balcony had a  nice view....and was a good place to take silly pictures!!

We had an indoor pool and even a waterfall outside that we could see from the balcony...

what I was looking forward to the most....shopping at the Christmas Place!

And we were all so impressed by all the trees with blue lights....they were so much prettier in person!

I got a lot of Christmas gifts there...I think I got even more for myself! I kept telling my sister she is a bad influence because she kept finding things for me to buy! lol! I was excited to see a couple of dolls in a booth that were made from my patterns! That was kind of exciting!

I have been on a mission to find some new windows for my studio....in the utility room, the holes have been cut for the windows, but none ever put there. I have looked everywhere for some to fit there,but I haven't had any luck yet! There is one more place to go and I planned to go today. The place closes at noon on Saturday and I woke up at 9:30 and thought to myself I was getting up to go. I closed my eyes for a second, then when I opened them it was 12:00! OOPS! Maybe I can go next week!