I am so happy!
This weekend we put new flooring down in the kitchen. We've been living in this house over ten years now. Most of the house has been remodeled but not the kitchen. The vinyl flooring in the kitchen was horrible. The family that lived here before us had kids and the kids wore baseball cleats in the house so you can imagine what my floor looked like. Our hope was to replace the floor when we got around to remodeling the kitchen but thanks to the economy I may be dead before we have the money to remodel.
So we decided finally to replace just the flooring.
Love it!
It's a vinyl flooring with a cushion-y backing but best of all it has the look and feel (wood grain) of an old-time wooden floor.
I love log cabins and the cozy feeling that they have and that is what this makes me think of.
Good Morning!
We are having yet another snow day today...no school and no snow on the roads at the moment but they are forecasting 2-4 inches for this afternoon and into the evening and overnight.
We live in town but our town is totally surrounded by hills and those roads can get pretty nasty when the weather changes and downright quick.
Quick enough that they don't want to chance having to bus kids home on the hills after the roads have gotten ice and snow covered. So we are having another free day of play in our household. The kids are playing (and arguing with each other as I type this) and I am practicing my dulcimer.
**Note to myself: Kids must be bored if they are fighting. Will have to find a few chores for them to entertain themselves with. ** :0)
Anyways, my parents got me this for Christmas a couple of years ago and I quickly became frustrated with it. But over the weekend I got it back out, tuned it and began plucking and strumming again.
My kids informed me that I am horrible at it, but I see improvement. I can now play London Bridge and Mary Had a Little Lamb.
Hey, it's a start, and a better one than my past try.
I'm reading through my book.
And watching a few YouTube videos. Now I just need to learn more, read more and practice, practice, practice.
As I tell my kids, you gotta start somewhere and practice makes perfect!
Fall is my most favorite season of the year!
We love to spend weekend evenings sitting out back by the fire. It was a bit chilly this weekend so we all huddled as close as we safely could.
Saturday morning was crisp and cool but once it warmed up a bit Dad and I went for our weekend bike ride. Those trees along the trail were blown over earlier this summer during the "big storm". The roots are HUGE!
After riding, I spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning the house, catching up on laundry and preparing dinner. Evening came and we went next door to help the neighbors pick apples from their tree. The deer are eating them all up so they figured they might as well pick them before the deer finish them off. There were still tons of apples though. Hubby climbed a ladder to get the good ones. Naturally they were at the tippy top of the tree.
Can you guess what I did on Sunday?
I made applesauce with some of the not so great apples that we picked. The rest are packed and stored on my top porch where the deer can't get to them.
The rest of Sunday was spent finishing my Autumn Blessings Block 1. It's supposed to have leaves and a few vines on the pumpkin as well a buttons added to the corners. I couldn't decide if I liked them or not so I opted to leave them off for now. I can always add them later.
Well that's about it for my weekend.
Today it's back to school and work for everyone.
I'm already looking forward to the upcoming weekend because it's time for the Oktoberfest at Oglebay Park.
It's such a beautiful place and there are so many talented crafters there.
I've seen this on a good many blogs lately and thought I'd join in on the fun.
Want to know a little bit about me?
Then read on!
A is for my age which is 38
B is for bike riding on the weekends with my Dad
C is for Calla Lilies which are my favorite flowers
D is for dishes ~ my most dreaded chore of the day
E is for embroidery & stitching which I love to do
F is for my family for without them I would be lost
G is for glasses because without them I'd not be able to read all my favorite blogs
H is for my height which is 5'2"
I is for the sweet iced tea that I sip on all day
J is for John Deere items that I love to collect
K is for kisses. Hubby and I never leave the house without a kiss goodbye.
L is for lefty, which I am. I do everything with my left hand. (Anyone know how to teach a lefty how to knit?)
M is for Misty ~ my best friend since kindergarten
N is for my Nike running shoes that make my feet happy
O is for my favorite outfit which is a pair of shorts and a t-shirt
P is for the puzzles that I love to work (jigsaw)
Q is for my favorite movie quote. (from Love Comes Softly)
"The truth of God's love is not that he allows bad things to happen - it's his promise that he will be there with us when they do."
R is for recipes ~another collection of mine
S is for Survivor ~the one show that I never miss
T is for my telephone that I am always talking on
U is for what upsets me ~ rude and dishonest people
V is for Vanilla Buttercrunch candles ~ my favorite scent
W is for western romances which are my favorite books to read
X (I'm cheating on this one) how about Xword puzzles that I love to work....does that count as an answer?
Y is for yucky foods which is seafood of any kind
Z is for zip lining which I hope I get to do someday
Well that's me A - Z.
I love the concept of Pinterest.
A place to pin (collect) all the great finds from the internet.
Somewhere you can store all the wonderful ideas that you find on the internet and have them at the click of a button.
No need to have to go back and scour the internet for that one idea that you found ~ Now where did I find that at??
I don't pin because I just don't have the extra time to do it. I'm doing good if I can find enough time to check my email and blog here and there. But the good thing and what I love, Love, LOVE about Pinterest is the fact that others can share their pins with us.
If they provide the link then you can view all their great finds.
So me, being the Pinterest "slacker" that I am finds this extrememly helpful.
It's how I found my next project that I hope to work on over the long and cold winter.
Linda over at Prairie Flower Farm shared this pin on her Pinterest and I loved it the minute I saw it. It didn't have a link included as to where I could find a pattern but it did have a pattern name so I just typed in crocheted african flowers on my internet search and wahla...the pattern.
Crocheted African Flowers *Click to go to the pattern!*
I love the pinks and greens but was unable to find enough variety of those shades in our local stores so I picked purples and greens instead.
So far, I've only crocheted one flower but I'm in no rush. I've got all winter to work on it.
Hope you all are having a great week and getting to enjoy the cooler temps. like what we are having here!
My absolute favorite movies are those from the "Love Comes Softly" series that air on the Hallmark Channel. Over the years my husband has bought me the DVD's and believe me they get watched over and over again.
They are THAT good!
Well, who knew that there was a prequel to those??
Not me!
This weekend I was feeling miserable with headaches that just wouldn't go away. So instead of stitching (as I had planned) I ended up on the couch or in bed watching tv and sleeping.
While flipping through the channels I found this new series, "Love Begins" that tells the story of Clark Davis and his life prior to Love Comes Softly. It's his tale of love with his first wife, Ellen (The mother of little Missy).
Clark and his friend are passing through Trinity on their way to find gold in California. They find themselves in a bit of trouble but Clark does the right thing by staying and working off his debt. He works it off by helping Ellen and her little sister to repair their farm. Slowly Ellen and Clark fall in love and eventually get married.
If you missed it last night you can catch it again on October 1st at 7p.m EST or 6p.m. Central.
It will be followed by the newest episode "Love's Everlasting Courage" which will tell how the family deals with the hardships that a terrible drought brings and the death of Ellen due to scarlet fever.
For more info click HERE.
Philadelphia Candies, located in Hermitage, Pennsylvania has been making sweet treats since 1919.
It all began with four brothers who immigrated from Greece and began a small chocolate company in the Shenango Valley of Western Pennsylvania.
As with all new businesses, a name was needed. The Macris brothers decided on "Philadelphia Candies" which in their native Greek language meant "candies made with brotherly love".
Ninety-two years later the company is still operated by the Macris family and making the same delicate and delicious chocolates.
I was recently contacted by John Macris and given the opportunity to sample some of their fine chocolates.
My sampling included:
Chocolate Covered Pretzel Twists
Assorted Milk Chocolates
Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles
Coconut Easter Egg
A variety of all 6 Candy Bars
Philadelphia Candies T-shirt
The milk chocolate was oh so creamy and the rich centers were buttery delicious. My very favorite was the Original Butter Cream Croquettes. They were so good that I had a hard time sharing them with the rest of the family. (Shame on me!)
John also sent me some fundraising materials that I had asked him about.
Each brochure has 40-60 pictured items to choose from and they all range in price from $1.00 to $47.00.
During the Easter and Christmas seasons they also offer special holiday brochures.
If brochure sales aren't what you are looking for then you might like the candy bar fundraiser. A case of 180 bars to buy and resell for a great profit.
Philadelphia Candies has two locations.
Factory and Retail Store
1546 E. State St.
Hermitage, PA 16148
Philadelphia Candies Shop
14449 Boardman-Canfield Road
Boardman, OH 44512
If you are ever in the area be sure to stop by one of their locations and taste their sweet creations. You won't be disappointed!
*Saturday April 9, 2011 there will be an Easter Factory Tour at the Hermitage, PA location from 9-4. Bring the kids and receive a treat from the Easter Bunny!*
To learn more: PHILADELPHIA CANDIES
To shop online : SHOP PHILADELPHIA CANDIES
For Fundraising Info: PHILADELPHIA FUNDRAISING
**CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE**
Last night we headed to Wheeling with the kids to see the monster trucks of the Monster Jam 2011.
We got great seats (first row) which would have allowed for some great pictures but because of the fast movement most of my pictures were just a blur.
I had two favorites.
One for appearance and one for performance.
Virginia Giant had my vote for "looks" though he messed some of those "looks" up towards the end of the show as he landed on his side doing doughnuts.
He climbed out safe and sound but ended up parked while he fixed some of the damages.
Rap Attack got my vote for performance.
He put on a good show with lots of noise and smoke.
I took over 60 pictures but as I said many of them blurred due to the fast speed. I did get a neat one that I think I will call Twist and Turn. These two trucks look like they are doing just that. Kinda neat looking!
Lots of smoke and plenty of noise. (thank goodness for ear plugs)
A fun night out for all of us.
Today has been another busy day and I am pooped so I think I'm off to bed.
Catch you all later!
My weekend mornings throughout the summer are usually spent bike riding with my Dad. Since getting a new lease on life a little over five years ago with the help of by-pass surgery my Dad has taken a new approach on his eating styles and exercise.
Diabetes has also crept in over the years so between the two it's not an option ~ it's a must!
Though he is on his own in his vegetarian diet, I am more than happy to join him in his bicycling adventures in an effort to remain healthy and strong.
So THIS is where you will find us on the weekends and here are some photos that I took this weekend while riding.
We had an extra one (Katie) riding with us on both Saturday and Sunday. It was the first time that she had ever been on the Wheeling Trail and she enjoyed the new scenery plus the playground.
The above photo is looking North to the Wheeling Suspension Bridge with the Fort Henry Bridge in the background.
These next few were taken behind the Wesbanco Arena. They are looking out across the Ohio River and/or south.
Looks like a nice fishing spot.
Dad and Katie taking a quick rest at Wheeling's Heritage Port and taking in all the scenery.
This playground sits just north of Wheeling's Heritage Port. (right alongside the trail)
Nice hair-do huh?
She had a bad case of helmet head after wearing her bike helmet.
While Katie was playing I took a closer look at the remains of the old Pennsylvania Depot that sits directly across from the playground.
This is all that is left of it.
My Dad sent this picture to me and said that he believes that this is what it used to look like.
You can still see where the bars on the windows used to be.
Lots of vine and weeds now taking over.
We found these just above the Wheeling Suspension Bridge and I'm wondering if they are the Hedge apples that I have been in search of to repel spiders and insects.
Anyone Know???
They are pieces of one that has been smashed.
They fell from a huge tree that sat on the hillside. I would have loved to get more of them but to get to them I would have had to climb this huge stone wall.
Don't think that's gonna happen!
Well that's all for my biking pictures.
It was a busy weekend. I didn't even get the time to go near my computer.
I thought weekends were meant for resting up but it seems there is no time for rest. There has been something going on every weekend for the past month or more.
I guess I shouldn't complain though because once winter settles in and the snow begins to fly we will all be stuck indoors and bored to death wishing for that something to do.
Catch you all later!
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