They're Supposed To Be Working

but instead decided to take a break and play a few games of OUT... and one is still in bed sleeping! Get working, I say! They're digging a new trench for the invisible dog fence to keep the dog in the back. Seems our neighbor gets a bit irritated when our dog barks when people walk by or ATV's ramble up the street. We live on a private road and we don't get much action here, so I like the dog to warn me when anyone's around. Now he'll have to do all his warning from the backyard.

Spring Top Number Two

This is the second top I made, Simplicity 4589. This one gave me a bit of trouble. For some reason, I couldn't get the neckline to line up right. I ended fudging the entire neckline. It came out O.K...not perfect, though. It also is a bit short. I'm long-legged and short-waisted anyway so it would probably have been fine except that I like to wear low-rise jeans so I would have liked the top to be just a bit longer. I should have checked that beforehand, but didn't. If I were to make this top again, which I probably won't because it gave me so much trouble, I would choose a more giving fabric; something more flowly, lengthen it, and redesign the neckline... which is a joke because I have enough trouble just following a pattern, let alone redesigning it! Anyway, I'll wear it just the same.

Spring Top Week is Here!

Wow, that came awfully fast! Remember I posted about this weeks ago? The Made by Rae Spring Top Week officially began today. I have three tops done so far. I'd love to squeeze one or two more in by the end of the week, but I don't know. Anyway, here is my first top: Simplicity It's So Easy 2962. It was very easy and fits me quite nicely, too. I used a soft cotton blend material I bought last year. I loved the print then and now that it's sewn up, like it even more. I will surely make another top from this pattern.
If you'd like some inspiration to get you going, click on my sidebar on the Spring Top pic thingee and visit Rae's blog. She has lots of links to other people's tops and a free pattern by her! It looks like a fun week ahead!

Seedlings and Chickens

The chickens are enjoying the freedom to roam the yard. They're supposed to stay contained in their own 'playground' but lately have been able to fly over their fence. My husband will clip their wings this weekend to keep them where they're supposed to be. I wouldn't mind, but trying to avoid chicken droppings isn't fun.

My seedlings that I planted in March are doing really good. I put them out on nice days to get some fresh air and direct sunshine.

Normally they're stuck on the windowsill and a table I set up in my bedroom. They do get plenty of sunshine though, even there. On Memorial Day weekend I will plant them in the garden. My father-in-law always said not to plant until that weekend, as we nearly always get one more frost before that. Every year, he's been right.
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A Peek Into My Living Room

We started tearing down wall-paper on Good Friday and had the walls painted and the room back together for Easter Sunday dinner. Boy, was that a lot of work. All the kids helped though, one way or another, and I'm happy with the finished room. The name of the paint is Covington Blue by Benjamin Moore. It's a beautiful color, and depending on how the sun or lack of hits it, changes the color. It's a very calming color. I bought a new picture for over the couch... my one big splurge for the room, oh and area carpet, too; O.K., two splurges for the room. I sewed the valances but still need to make some pillows for the couch and a new runner or something for the coffee table. The linens on the end tables were bought at an antique store for $1.00 each. They're hand embroidered on linen and simply beautiful. It saddens me that people don't appreciate the time, art and talent of hand-work. I think they're beautiful and am happy to have them in my home. So, beware, this post is picture heavy with some work shots along with finished room shots...

Cassidy helping to tear down wallpaper. After wetting and scraping, underneath was a bright yellow paint.

The owners before us must have liked the sunshiny look; funny I don't remember that when we looked at the house.

Kaleigh goofing around. She was a HUGE help, though. We had a lot of laughs, with music blaring and lots of dancing!

My beautiful fireplace. On the mantle is my collection of Hummels. They're delightful.

My finished valances. They're made from a soft yellow calico fabric and give a cottagey, homey feeling to the room.

Here's a view from the couch.

And another from the opposite side of the room. I sat in there last night for two hours; the longest time since we redid the room. I'm quite happy with how it turned out.

A Peek Into My Kitchen

Remember all that painting I was telling you about? Well, my kitchen is painted and nearly all decorated. I used a Benjamin Moore paint and was trying to get a 'vintage' feel to the room. I still have to make a wall hanging for the main wall, which I didn't take a pic of just yet, but thought I'd share some of the kitchen that is done. I picked up this bowl before I knew what color my kitchen would be. I just couldn't resist as it reminded me of my childhood; ya know, Snap, Crackle, Pop!
I thought I'd make good use of this shelf. I used to use it to hang some country"ish" things but found it to be dusty and useless. Instead I decided to hang our pretty aprons on it.

When I was shopping a few weeks ago, I went into an antique store and purchased a pretty vintage table cloth and hand embroidered, round centerpiece. I put it on the table last night before I went to bed. Oh, did it look pretty. This morning the girls were up and eating breakfast. We're talking twenty minutes into the day. They spilled milk all over it. Nope, cloth still doesn't work here... so instead this afternoon I went to the hardware store and picked up this vinyl, flannel backed table cloth. I LOVE it! Again, it takes me back. Just the look I want.

I was a busy bee this afternoon. I remembered I had this pretty green and yellow fabric in my stash. I bought it a couple years ago and intended to make one of the girls a skirt from it. I zipped up a valance and got the rod at the same time I got the tablecloth, came home and hung it up. Perfect match! And still some left over for that skirt I'm gonna make...

Remember this set up in my other room? This nook is a much better place for this work-center.

Oh, and these two little pictures are counted cross-stitch I did several years ago.
Thought this little wall space was a nice spot for them. I'll be back with more room
transformations... I'm on a roll!

A Giftee of Socks

I haven't been posting lately as I've been terribly busy finishing up school with the kiddoes and deep cleaning, painting and spiffing up the house. I really want to get most of the inside stuff done before gardening weather is here. And you know how home improvement stuff goes; once you paint one room, the next room/hall looks iffy and you just keep going. That's how it's been at my house for the past week or so, and I'm not done yet. I'll get some pics up soon.
I just celebrated my birthday on the 15th. Gary and I went out to dinner on my son, Kyle, and it was really good! I love Italian food and he got me a gift certificate to an Italian restuarant. We both really enjoyed that. I got some other nice gifts and cards, too, but thought I'd share the cute socks that Kaleigh knit up for me. After all the work I've done today, I thought I could put up my feet for just a few minutes and admire my new socks at the same time!