Ramblings from the Home Place

Okay you don't have to tell me.  I have become a slacker as far as updating my blog.  I am so sorry, but life has slowed down a bit and there has been nothing too exciting to post about.  After all we all do laundry, clean, cook, and then start all over again right?  That train of thought, got me to doing a little thinking, and along with that my mind wandered back to when I was a child at home.  Most of you know my Grandmother lived with us.  She was home with me in the summer as my mother worked. 

My Grandmother had a day to do everything.  When she woke on any given week day, she knew what chore she had planned to do that day.  There was a day to do laundry.  There was a day to clean house.  A day she set aside to bake. And I can still smell the pine sol from where she had mopped and cleaned when I would come in from school on the bus.  She planned her day around the time the insurance man would come to collect.  Remember when they really did this?  And on Saturday we would go shopping.  But not until the produce truck had come and fresh vegetables were bought for Sunday dinner.  Back in the day restaurants were not open on Sunday.  Everyone respected the Lord's Day.   Yes, those memories are set in stone in my mind. 

So.... was just wondering... Do you have a schedule to preform the chores you do?  I picked up these little towels many years ago at the Dollar Tree.  Why?  Because they reminded
me of the schedule my Grandmother kept when I was young.

 

I always do laundry on Mondays.  So much to catch up on from the weekend.  Shopping,,, well I can add that to any day of the week when opportunity calls.  I love to clean on Thursday.  Mr. P's schedule at work lets him come in on Fridays after a half day at work.  So I love having all my cleaning out of the way for the weekend when he comes in. Saturdays are free...  I DO NOT garden and work outside.  So thankful Mr. P. loves outdoors and he enjoys doing those things.  Baking... well don't do that often but when I do, I love having something homemade for the weekend as well.  So there you have my schedule of chores.  I don't always stick to them other than laundry and cleaning. 

 

This past Monday, Holly and I had a shopping trip planned to go to Joann's in a neighboring city.  I was on a mission.  I wanted to purchase some yarn, and try my hand at making a scarf.  Valarie over at  http://lifeslittlegarden.blogspot.com/  showed the scarf she had made and was kind enough to share the link to the pattern.  Thanks Val.  You are too kind.

 

 

It is  hard to tell from the photo, but when finished it will be one of the ruffle scarves that is so popular.  I have seen many patterns but they were all to be knitted and I have not mastered that craft.  I was so excited to have a pattern for crochet.  On my To Do list for the weekend.  To finish the scarf.

 

I have a funny little story for you.  On Sunday afternoon Darbee Rae called and I could hear the excitement in her voice.  She wanted to know if I was coming to the evening service at church.  When I questioned her she told me she had me a gift and she was going to bring it to me. 

 

She was so funny.  When she came in the building she immediately told me my gift was in the car.  All during church she would giggle and whisper  that she couldn't wait for me to get my gift.  She even told me it was "Primitive" and she got it at the grocery store.  The grocery store???? Do I eat it?  And she giggled and said no. After service I had to ride with her and her mommy to eat. Her Daddy and Papa had to follow. She couldn't wait for me to get my prize.   This was my gift.

 

 

Too funny.  What 5 year old would think this recycled paper these towels were made from would be primitive?  Only Darbee Rae.  She said, "Look Nana, these are already coffee stained".  So,,, do you have primitive paper towels in your kitchen?  Mine are on display on the counter.  Darbee Rae will be just as excited to see them  being used as she was to give them to me when she visits. 

 

 

With all the winter temps. still hanging around, I have been slow in doing my Spring cleaning and putting out Easter decor.  I have finally gotten  Prairie  Style curtains for my bedroom and bath.  Put up a new shower curtain in the bath also.  Here is a photo of the change.

 

 

 

Sorry, they don't show up as good with the sun shining so brightly through them.  They are lined and I love the way they look in both rooms.

 

Yesterday I did start decorating for Spring/Easter. .  This bunny found her home on the old shoeing box. 

 

 

Will share more photos a little later.  Today is Thursday so I have to start my cleaning.  The afternoon will be spent watching Mr. P and Darbee Rae construct the porch on her Playhouse. 

Holly is preparing supper for her Daddy and myself.  Yummm Yummm. 

 

Hope you are all doing well and wishing Spring temps to all of us over this holiday weekend. Wishing you all a very Happy and Blessed Easter. 

 

Until next time

Life Is Good

\

 

Happy Friday to all my dear friends. Yes, Spring is almsot here.  In fact Mr. P. mowed the lawn yesterday for the first time.  A sure sign that Spring / Summer is just around the bend.  Hoping
 you all are looking forward to a wonderful weekend.  At the home place, we are looking forward to a beautiful, warm, Saturday at home.  It will be the first Saturday we have been home in 3 weeks.  If you don't follow Holly's blog, then you might not know that Mr. P. is building Darbee Rae a playhouse.  It is huge. He has been up there on the weekend's and since the time change in the afternoon's last week working.  We are so excited and can't wait to see it finished and all painted and decorated.  Darbee Rae has her own ideas on the colors.  Pink paint has already been purchased for the outside. Inside she wants Zebra print, pink,black, lime green.  Here are a few pictures of the progress.

 

Mr P still has to do the little porch and hang the door.  Soon he will be finished. 

Since Mr. P. has been busy making the other two girls in his life happy working on the playhouse, my list has gotten pushed to the side for awhile.  But that's okay.  He is almost at the end of the list and that's a good thing, as it is time to start working for the fall craft show.  Yes, I know it is just March, but with his job and only working on the show items in the evenings, it takes a while to get everything built.  Plus this year he has added a one day show in April to his list.  I won't be entering my goodies in this show. This cabinet was purchased at a thrift store by Holly.  When it wouldn't fit where she wanted it, she passed it on to me.  You have seen it in pictures.  It sat at the end of my little island in the kitchen.  It was painted an ugly green.

 

I told Mr. P. what I wanted done to it, and now this is the transformation.

 

It is a lot darker than in the picture.  He painted it red over black.  Love it now, and he made me this to go above it,

 

 

 Loved the way it turned out.  

 

This week I received a wonderful little bag in the mail.  Have you ever heard of In A Pikle bags?  I have been wanting one for a long time.  Holly and I both for that matter.  Well, she ordered hers  and when it came, I had to order me one too.  You can find them here. http://inapikle.com.   Here is a picture of mine.  They are wonderful. They come with a starter kit and I did order extra bags.  They snap in and it is amazing all you can get in one bag.  It did away with 2 zippered bags I had in my purse. 

 

 

All of these items came with the bag and are in the zippered pouches, plus I have added my own personal items.  I still have bags left to fill.

Complete In A Pikle Pak Contains:

• 1 hand sanitizer pen
• 1 spot remover pen
• 3 individually wrapped antibacterial wipes
• 1 credit card size mirror and floss combo
• 1 pair of tweezers
• 1 pair of fingernail clippers
• 2 emery boards
• 1 travel size sewing kit
• 1 retractable mini scissors
• 1 24" tailor tape
• 3 hair bands
• 5 rubber bands
• 5 bobby pins
• 5 safety pins
• 5 paper clips
• 1 philips mini screw driver
• 1 straight mini screw driver
• 1 mini pen
• 1 "In A Pikle" sticky notebook
• 10 adhesive bandages
• 1 package travel tissues
• 1 pill box

Can you tell I am so excited to finally own a "Pickle?"

 Well guess that is about all the news I have on this wonderful Friday.  Life has been good here at the home place.  Hoping all is well with you where ever you are today.  Enjoy your weekend, stay safe, be happy. 

 

Until next time.

 

Come In From The Cold and Grab A Mug

Finally Friday has arrived at the home place.  And I am welcoming it in with open arms.  Another busy week has come and gone.  Don't ask what I accomplished,,, let's just say I survived!! And welcome March.  I hope you bring us warmer temps and sunshine.  It is sunny here today, but COLD and we are in store for a cold weekend.  The weather forcast is calling for snow flurries AGAIN,,, {we have yet to have any when forcasted} but we will see.  Not getting excited at all. 

I have the crockpot all ready for a roast to go in and I hope to snuggle in this weekend and do nothing.  Hee,hee, Sounds like the busy week I just finished.  Mr. P  will be back at Holly's working on the playhouse for Darbee Rae and at some point I will take the roast and we will have supper together after Mr. P. is finished for the day. 

Today I am doing a post a little late.  I had joined in Cindi's a Whole lotta love earlier in Feb. but came down with the crud and never got to finish.  One of my dear loves are my coffee mugs/cups.  Yep, I have always been on the look out for a cute coffee mug. Do you like coffee mugs?  I have my Daddy's coffee cup and the cereal bowl he always poured the coffee in to let it cool.  I wonder if anyone still does that? I cherish that cup.

One of my most favorite mugs is not because of what it is, but of the memories it brings when I use it.  As  most of you know Mr. P. ocasssionally has to go on the road for his job.  Well the first time he had to do that was to Nashville, TN.  He was there for over a month.  About half way thru the job, he came home and Holly and I went back with him.  On the way up, we stopped at a flea market and I got two of these mugs.  Yes,, a long time ago, and sunflowers was the rage then.  Everytime I use the cup it brings back memories of that trip. 

 

I love redware, but there are no sources around here to buy it.  Two of these mugs came from The Speckled Hen in Clinton , TN.  Meeting blogging friends and then on to the Mountains on Girl's Trips  make me think back to the days I got these special mugs.  Need one more, but they didn't have a cup when I was there in February.  Maybe next time.

 

 

However on this trip, I did find this mug.  Thought it was cute and I love saltbox houses.

 

 

 

We all know crows just speak Primitive.  Picked this one up on an outing and I love it.

 

 

This little yelloware mug is a little small.  Love it, but I use it only for hot chocolate.  Gota have more coffee than it will hold.  {smile}

 

 

I love penny rugs and mats.  When I saw this mug, it just reminded me of those wool circles.  What do you think?

 

 

We all love sheep, right?  Another favorite.  I love the shape of  this one.

 

 

These are heavy, mugs and they hold lots.  I have several bowls and dishes that match these mugs.

 

 

I love mornings when all is well with my family and my friends.  When I can drink my coffee, content and happy.  This mug fits that mood just perfectly.

 

 

Most of my favorite seasonal mugs are stored away with decorations for that season.  However my favorite valentine mugs stay in the cabinet all year.  I love hearts and they don't have to be just for Valentine's right.  After all we all have hearts .  What keeps us going.  I try and wake each morning with a Happy Heart.

 

This is more of a fall mug.  It is pottery and I just fell in love with it when I saw it.  So it stays out as well.  The scene on there makes me wish I was there.

 

 

And this one I use all the time as well.  I purchased it for the fourth of July.  This mug has memories attatched to it as well.  Holly was in the National 4H Shooting Sports Competetion and we were out in Kansas for that.  We happened upon a little barn like shop and I found this mug in there.  Wow,,,, that was too many years ago to think about.  Been a good mug, huh?

 

 

Well, that is just a few of my favorite mugs that hang out in my mug cabinets in the kitchen.  Mr. P is so funny.  If he starts to bring me coffee on the weekend, he has learned to ask,, "What mug do you want it in?"  How do you choose your favorite mug?  Mine has to feel good when I hold it in my hand.  There is just a feel to that special mug.  And I pick my mug according to my mood.  Yes, I am for real.  I love to feel good about what I drink my coffee from. 

 

 You can have your pick .  I love to share my mugs with my friends who come to chat and have a cup of coffee.   Hope you all have a fun and blessed weekend.  Stay warm if you are still having winter weather in your area and be safe.  We will visit again soon.

Until then....