Halloween Purse

This week I've been working on a new Halloween purse.   I love the colors in this fabric and added a some matching buttons for embellishment.  The handles are black belt webbing covered in purple grosgrain ribbon.  Inside is a double pocket for my cell phone and all the other "must haves" I carry around with me.

I must confess, my new purse is made of place mats!  

Happy Fall!

One of my favorite things about fall is "cool weather" foods. This past weekend I made a five-quart dutch oven of homemade vegetable soup.  My soup never tastes the same because I use different ingredients each time I make it (which means whatever I have on hand).  My mother always added a can of tomato soup and a few drops of Worcestershire Sauce to her soup broth, so I like to add these two items also. 

Sweet potato pies are another of my favorites.  I can't wait to bake this recipe as soon as I pick up fresh potatoes.

Sweet Potato Pie

2 cups sweet potatoes, cooked and mashed

4 eggs

1 stick margarine

1 1/2 cup sugar

1 teas. each of:  vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon

1 large can Pet evaporated milk

2 pie crust shells

Bake 1 hour at 325.  Makes two pies

Optional:  Add one cup coconut

Dolphin Tale

I went to see the movie Dolphin Tale Sunday afternoon. It is a great family movie based on a true story.  Morgan Freeman is cast as the doctor who designs the prosthetic tail for Winter (the dolphin). Winter got tangled up in a  rope from a crab pot and had to have his tail amputated.  Did I forget to say that you need to take some tissues?

It was heartwarming to see at the end of the movie that Winter is healthy and lives  at the Clearwater Marine Center in real life.

Button Bracelets

My friend, Donna, is a writer for the wonderful  Button Floozies blog. She wrote a great post about my button bracelets yesterday and used  this beautiful picture she took when I had lunch with  her  recently. Since that post I have sold all three of these bracelets!

I could definitely be classified as a "button floozie".  I have loved buttons since I was a child.  My mother kept her buttons in a round tin and it was fun to take them all out, sort them by colors and match them up.

Years ago the fabric shops would put button cards in reduced bins and you could buy several cards for a dollar.  I have quite a collection that I bought like that. Old metal buttons are getting harder and harder to find and new ones are  expensive.  I saw some today at Hancock Fabrics that were $8 for two buttons.

Enjoy your first fall weekend!  I love all the church bazaars and yard sales this time of year.

Family reunited with missing dog after 11 years - www.ktnv.com

Family reunited with missing dog after 11 years - www.ktnv.com

Susan Paley Lady Vases

It's been quite a while since I added any new vases to my collection.  I found this little beauty, Maya, at a consignment store this week.  She is part of the birthday series and has an emerald necklace for the birthstone of the month of May. I haven't seen her before and fell in love with her soft colors and red hair.

This little lady is Roseanne. I found her at an estate sale a few weeks ago for $2.  She's in perfect condition with no chips or cracks.  Both vases are about 5 1/2 inches tall.

In case you are not familiar with these vases, the artist, Susan Paley, lives in California.  She designed a whole series of these ladies and they were reproduced and sold by the Ganz company  until the entire line was retired in 2006.  They are becoming very hard to find.  Her work is beautiful and I love the fine detail and their smiling faces. I  display mine with the pretty lace on my vintage handkerchiefs sticking out of the top.

A Very Special Gift!

When I visited with Donna from Brynwood Needleworks in Williamsburg recently, she gave me  this exquisite little heart  with hand embroidered silk ribbon flowers. 

Each tiny  flower and French knot is absolutely perfect! Handmade gifts come straight from the heart and this one will be cherished forever!  Thank you, Donna!  Your handwork is amazing!

A Great Day with New Friends!

Arabelle, Tag, and Donna

Arabelle and I recently had the pleasure of spending the day with Donna from the blog, Brynwood Needleworks, and her precious corgi puppy, Tag.  Donna and her husband are from Sarasota, FL, and were in Williamsburg on a business trip.  Tag was just bursting with energy and personality and obviously wanted to make sure that Arabelle enjoyed her visit.  

We decided it would be fun to take the two corgis for a walk down the Duke of Gloucester Street in the restored area of Williamsburg.  It was such a beautiful day and the weather was perfect.  There were lots of families, school groups and dogs for them to interact with and they did!  

They're watching two huge German Shepherds walking down the street.
 They did not miss anything!

By the middle of the afternoon,  all four of us were tired and ready to stop for lunch.  Donna and I enjoyed eating at the Chickahominy House Restaurant while the corgis napped in the car in their crates.

Donna is such a warm person and so much fun!  We just didn't have enough time to talk about all the interests we share.  I'm hoping we'll have an opportunity to meet in Williamsburg again next summer, if not before.

How Do You Like These Pumpkins?

Last week was very busy for me and I missed several days of posting.  I'm looking forward to catching up on all my blog reading and writing this week.

I've made several  pumpkins with sweaters I found at the thrift store for $1 each.  They are fun to make and take very little time.  It's early for colored leaves, so these aren't great but do add interest to the picture.

Someone requested that I post a picture of myself on my blog last week.  I take terrible pictures but this one with my beautiful granddaughter is good enough to share.





Arabelle's Adventure (as told by Arabelle)

Yesterday my mom and I drove to visit my cousins who live on the Chesapeake Bay.  We spent the day visiting relatives, checking out thrift shops and then had a wonderful dinner.  After dinner we hopped on the golf cart and headed to the beach. There was a nice breeze blowing off the bay but I was a little worried that it was going to blow my "corgi pants" off.

This is my cousin and her husband hugging.  They hug all the time!

My fur cousin, Cami, and I played on the beach.  Cami is the one who looks like a hot dog with a tail and that's her pretty mom.  We had so much fun but I don't understand why I got yelled at every time I tried to roll on a dead fish.

This is a  big osprey nest that mom took a picture of. Judging by the size of the nest, I think I'm glad there wasn't anyone home!

I was so tired and slept all the way home.

There's one thing I forgot to tell you.  I saw the strangest kitty at my cousin's house.  When he saw me, he fluffed up like he was going to explode (wish we had a picture).   It was quite a  sight, I hope he's feeling better today.

Small Fry & Co.: White Sweater Pumpkins Tutorial

I came across this tutorial tonight on making pumpkins out of old sweaters.  I love them!
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Small Fry & Co.: White Sweater Pumpkins Tutorial: I first saw the idea for these on Craftaholics Anonymous . I have already confessed my pumpkin addiction but can I just say how giddy whi...

Make Sure Your American Flag is Flying High on 9/11/11

9/11 Bud Commercial - AIRED ONLY ONCE

Rainy Days and Reading...

We've had several days of rain this week as the aftermath of hurricane Lee moves up the East Coast.  Rain and reading always seem to be a perfect match for me. I've been reading Riding Lessons by Sara Gruen which is a wonderful love story, romantic love and love between horses and their owners.  I also want to read Flying Changes which  is a sequel to Riding Lessons.  I think Sara Gruen's most popular  book is Water For Elephants.

Meet Little Zoey!

A few weeks ago, my friends got this precious little Boston terrier after their older terrier passed over the Rainbow Bridge earlier in the summer.  Isn't she just the cutest thing ever?  I can see the mischief in that little face!

I made this fun bandana to fit on her  collar and embroidered her name on it.   She can wear it with several different color collars.

There's nothing cuter than a puppy!   Well... maybe a kitten.

Stone Gable

One of the blogs that I read everyday is Stone Gable. Yvonne's post today is absolutely beautiful! I love the pictures and the verses and with her permission, I have copied a few of them.  I always find the greatest tutorials and recipes on this blog. 

When you have a minute, stop by and tell her I sent you.

Cloning Cats

Tonight on 60 Minutes there was a segment on cloning domestic cats.  My two were stretched out together on the foot of my bed watching it with me. These two are so entertaining! She's very affectionate with him and he pretends he doesn't like her.  He's 17 and she's about 13.

Ladybug Dishes

A few weeks ago I came across these beautiful dishes made by Hausenware at Ross department store.  Knowing that I absolutely don't need more dishes, I paused for a few seconds and then the power of my addiction kicked in.    I justified my purchase with the fact that they are inexpensive, the plate was only $2.99.  There are some small smears and inperfections on most pieces so I feel sure they are seconds.  I've been able to find several pieces but still need plates and a sugar bowl. 

Hope everyone is enjoying this long holiday weekend.  I cannot believe this is the end of summer. 

Great Reading and Giveaway Winner!

My power was off from last Saturday night to 10:45 Thursday night and I spent my evenings reading by the light of a battery operated lantern.  I finished two books and even though they were very different, I loved both of them.   The Undomestic Goddess is light and entertaining.  It's a great stress reliever, which I surely needed this week!

Sea Glass was written by Anita Shreve.  I love her writing style and can't wait to read more of her books.  The story takes place in a New England mill town around 1929.  

Congratulations to Lisa of Two Bears Farm blog who  is the winner of my 300th post giveaway.  I'll have her gift in the mail the first of next week.  Thanks to everyone for their nice comments!

I can't wait to catch up on my blog reading tonight!  I really missed all of you this week.