Happy New Year!

I just want to wish everyone a wonderful, healthy, happy New Year! I hope all of your dreams and wishes come true in 2009! I look forward to reading more wonderful posts about you and your families. I love the recipes, the crafts, the gardening and the wonderful pictures of your decorating styles! I have met some truly lovely people on this blog, both inside and out. I pray for peace for our nation. Blogging has been such a positive experience for me and I hope it continues for a long time to come. Big hugs everyone and stay safe! ~Beth~

Big Christmas Hugs!

Hey everyone! I just wanted to say Merry Christmas to you all and I hope all of your wishes and dreams come true! May the blessings of Christs's birth bring you peace, hope and joy.

Here is a picture of our tree. Don't look at the quilt behind it......those two rooms are a work in progress. Didn't want you to have to look at that! LOL!

And here it is at night. Recognize the box? My antique store find. I love how so many of you have put yours in different containers and I thought it would be better than the piece of homespun I usually do. That is one of the things I love about blogging..the fun ideas and the tutorials. Not to mention the recipes. Thank you everyone!


Well, I know you are all so busy.....we're coming down to the wire! So enjoy your family get togethers and parties! Thank you to everyone that stopped by my blog! I really appreciate it! Peace Be With You.......

My 2nd Miracle is 8!

We all know that today is the first day of winter, but did you also know that this is Lauren's 8th birthday? Yeah Lauren!

Eight years ago today I went in for a scheduled c-section. Schedule the birth of a baby all you want but it never goes the way you want it to!

Let us rewind to nine years ago...October 1999. I was 12 weeks pregnant and began to have a miscarriage. I had been through this twice before, so I knew what was happening. I was getting ready to go to the ER when I started bleeding at a really fast pace. I wasn't sure what was happening. I had miscarried before but it wasn't like this. Len called 911. The neighbor across the street was an EMT. He came running! I told him I knew what was happening but this just seemed different. By the time they got me to the hospital my blood pressure was 60/30....I was hemmoraghing and I was losing blood at a very fast rate. I remember looking at Len and all I could manage to say was "Help me." He yelled at the nurse and when they checked me it was far worse than anyone had anticipated. I was taken to the operating room to stop the bleeding. Once again, just like when I carried Emily, there were tumors except this time they had separated and taken the baby with them. They wanted to do a transfusion, but with all the talk of diseased blood I was scared. I refused. So the Dr. told me that it could take as long as 18 months to re-coop the blood. I had strict orders to not get pregnant again for at least 2 years.

Fast forward, 6 months later. Guess what? You got it....I got pregnant. This baby was due on Christmas Day 2000. Needless to say Doc was not thrilled! Three miscarriages, an emergency c-section, hemmoraghing, not to mention the fact it was hard for me to even concieve without meds. Oh yea and I was pushing 40!

The Dr. scheduled me for December 21, 2000, so we could be home for Christmas. We went to the operating room so I could get my spinal started.....the trouble begins. The anesthesiologist could not get it in. She just kept shoving and pushing...I wanted to slug her! As soon as the medicine began to take effect it felt odd. Once again, I turned to my DH and all I could do was spit, I couldn't even speak! I felt hot and cold at the same time. I was in heart failure! The meds as far as they could figure out had done this. I was the first woman that they had ever had in the cardiac care unit with a newborn. They had to take care of me and Lauren. Also they found that Lauren had 2 little holes in her heart, Thankfully, they closed up within 6 months without any further complications. Anyway, after all of that, here is how it ends up........my sweet little Lauren!
This is my Dad holding Lauren right after she was born. He had just finished up his last round of chemo that morning and he and mom came to see us. He was battling cancer for the second time. Lauren loves this picture.

Here we are at a get together when she was about 3 or 4 months old.

We call this one "The spaghetti face picture." I love it!


I love this picture of Lauren. My sister Sheila took it at the last birthday party we ever had for Dad.


We were at a school picnic together, here.


And,this is her Kindergarten graduation.


Here she is on the first day of school this year.


And here's my baby now! I love you Lauren! You are a wonderful little girl! Happy Birthday!

My Winnings!

Janene over at Primitive Lifestyle had a drawing for her 50th post and I won. My winnings came and I just love them! Had to show everyone a pic! Thanks Janene and congrats on your 50th post!



I just love Janene! She is one of those people that just makes you feel right at home. She is so easy to talk to and we have come to realize that we have quite a few things in common. She has such a true caring spirit.

This is what I mean.....
The day she sent me the email about me being the name that Molly pulled out of the santa hat, My husband had just come in the door from work and told me that Honda was cutting back to a 3 day work week. When you are used to a 7 day pay check....well you just know it is gonna hurt. I replied to her email with pure excitement! It was just a bit of good news I could use at that very moment to lift my spirits! I'm taking it as a sign that things are gonna get better. So anyway, the point being, Janene is such a good person that she took it upon herself to throw in this little extra something........Yes, a gift card for The Olive Garden! Oh I love the Olive Garden! It is one of those things that Janene and I have in common, our choices in restaurants.



So, I hope everyone will go on over and visit Janene and make her a friend just like I did. You won't be sorry. She is a wonderful person to get to know. She has six, count them, 6 girls! I have 2 girls and sometimes thay are like 6, so I don't know how Janene does it! I guess that just goes to show you what a good person she is! Oh and her husband is a fireman....gotta love a man in uniform!

Well, that's it for today. The girls are on another 2 hour delay and Lauren's class is having a pancake breakfast. So, I got 45 sausages waiting on me in the kitchen to be cooked up! I hope everyone is enjoying the hustle bustle of the season, but I also hope you are taking a moment to just look around at your loved ones and realize "It's a Wonderful Life!" Until next time everyone....big hugs! ~Beth~

Whatcha Working On Wednesday

Christmas is a week from today.....I'm never gonna make it! Of course we have ice this morning and the girls are on a 2 hour delay. So no getting out the door early for me today!

Well, I have managed to make a few prim goodies and I wanted to share them with you today, since it is Whatcha Working On Wednesday. In case any of you are new to blog land and don't know what that is.....It is a day where we all show what we have been making or doing with our time in the past week. It is hosted by Leslie at My Country Home. So go on over and see what she and everyone else is up to!

All of the things I am going to show you are crafts I made for my niece Ellen. She and I decided to do a swap with each other and boy has it been fun!

This is the little Mason jar lamp I put together for her. It has a Santa that I handmade. He was a fun little guy to put together! He was inspired by a pattern I used from Threads That Bind. I don't know if it is still available or not, I have had mine for several years. If anyone knows feel free to leave info.



This is a close-up. See the little doggie? It is a doggie ornament I found in a local prim shop. Ellen was getting frustrated because all she could find was prim cats but no dogs. I was thrilled when I happened upon him! I just knew I could do something with him. So I put him in the jar with Santa like a helper! It looks just like her dog Stephanie who is a golden retriever. She cried when I gave it to her. I think it was her favorite.



Next I did this stitchery for Ellen.I got the pattern from the Holiday 2004 issue of Create and Decorate magazine. In the pattern it used little pieces of wool for all of the decorations but I just wanted to stitch them so I left that part out. It looks pretty either way. I had the frame from a yard sale, so I painted and stained it to go with the stitchery. I think it turned out quite well.



Here we have a little ginger that I sewed and grunged and sprayed with cinnamon oil to smell good and then I tied him on a bread board I got awhile back at Goodwill. The ginger pattern is in the December 2008 issue of Mercantile Gatherings.



I had ordered these little mittens for another craft project last year and when they came they were to small. So, I threw them in the craft box and said maybe I can do something with them later. Well, finally I figured it out! I have been seeing them made into snowmen, so I thought I could do it. It was so easy. I just painted on the face and added some candy canes I bent from chenille and stuck in some fake greenery. I think they are so sweet!



I just love how this little snowman turned out! He is also from the December 2008 issue of Mercantile Gatherings. Mine looks a little different because I used the spools and fabris that I had on hand. I have a whole box full of these little spools from an auction on Ebay. I did Ellen's snowman in red ticking, but I did mine in green check homespun. He turned out cute, too!



Last but not least, I have a Santa that I made. He is from a pattern I used that came out of the October 2005 issue of Country Marketplace magazine. This magazine is no longer published and I hate that! It was one of my favs! But sometimes you can find it on.....where else? Ebay! Of course. He was not near as hard as I thought he would be. He just took a little time and patience. But he was fun!




Well ladies, that's all I got for ya! I hope you enjoyed my crafts and I hope you will try some of these patterns. Hope everybody has a wonder Wednesday and take care! (Update: The school has closed....nothing will get done today.)

Hugs! ~Beth~

Antique Store Finds and I've Been Tagged!

Good Sunday morning everyone! First I want to say thanks for all of the birthday wishes for my sister, Sheila! She and I enjoyed and appreciated every single one.

Ellen and I went to a wonderful antique place that we like on Friday. It is huge! They have building after building to walk through and it is packed! We love it! We walked and looked until our fat little legs couldn't go no more! Lol!

And here is what I found.......Grand total with tax? $15.50! Can you believe it?

That rocking chair was only 5.99! The large box was 2.50 and the small box was 1.50 and the Mason jar was 4.50. What a deal! While we were there we had lunch at the little restaurant they have in the front of the building. They make homemade comfort style food and it is priced really well. We had pulled pork sandwiches and I had potato soup while Ellen had the minestrone. It also came with chips and a pickle for 4.95! Ellen bought lunch and I went back and bought the dessert....sugar cream pie and lemon meringue! It was a really fun day, lots of laughs and lots of goodies! I can't wait to go again!

**********************************************************

I've been tagged by Pam over at Prims*By*Pam


Thank you so much Pam!!


These are the rules:

Rule #1 ~ Link to the person that tagged you.

Rule #2 ~ Post the rules on your Blog.

Rule #3 ~ Write 6 random things about yourself.

Rule #4 ~ Tag 6 people at the end of your post.

Rule #5 ~ Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their Blog.

Rule #6 ~ Let the tagger know your entry is up



Here are 6 random things about me:

1. I used to work for a Dr. that was an Indian Chief.

2. I can't swim. Just like Pam!

3. I have an associates degree in Medical Assisting. (See #1)

4. I used to have a doberman that was trained by the USAF military police.

5. I hate horror movies. Those are brain cells you never get back! Lol!

6. When people I know die, I cut out their obituaries and I close my eyes and open a page in my Bible and I place it there. (Weird, I know.)


So now I am tagging these people:

1. Rondell from Tomatoe Creek Prims

2. Lauren from Simple Blessings

3. Janene from Primitive Lifestyle (Your getting it again cause I love ya!)

4. Char at The Pickled Pepper Patch

5. Terry at Cider Moon Cottage

6. Katy from The Country Blossom

Okay girls, you are my picks, and all for one reason or another! But mostly because you all are some of the kindest people I have ever come to know.

Have a great day and a big hug to you!
~Beth~

Happy Birthday To My Sissy!

Today is my sister's birthday! Happy birthday to my sister Sheila! I won't tell you how old she is but I will say she's older than me! Lol! But, she looks younger than me! How did that happen?

This is my sissy with her most favorite person in the whole world......Dad. She misses him so much. Dad loves you sissy!


This a beautiful picture of Sheila with her husband Steve and her son Steve at Steve and Emily's wedding in the mountains of Gatlinburg, TN last month. Aren't they all just gorgeous?


But this is my sissy like I know and love her....glasses on her head cause she can't see crap without them, LOL! One time she told me "Wait until you turn forty, you go blind!" And I did! I can't see crap either! Lol! Then she told me "Gggzzz, wait until you turn fifty, body parts start falling off!" I'm not there yet but, I have started to feel a shift towards the expected falling off! Lol! I can't wait to hear the wisdom she has for me at 60! Or maybe, I don't. Anyway, this is my sister and I love her with all my heart! She is a wonderful sister and a great friend. She has helped me feel better about the passing of Dad so many times in these past 3 years. And today I just wanted to tell her Happy Birthday and I love you.....you are the best sister a girl could have! Enjoy your day!

Oh yea, one more thing.....she is Ellen's mother! My niece that I write about in my blogs so much.

Outdoor Decor

Just a few pictures of our outdoor decorations. We had a bit of snow over the weekend and it just made everything look so pretty.

This is the backdoor, which I have shown you before, but it really looks pretty with the snow.

Here is another Santa I got from Ebay. It is from the same lady as the one hanging on my old ironing board behind my dryer that you saw in a previous post. She is really good, but so far she hasn't had anything for sale this winter.

I just love these little trees in my window boxes. I got them at Target on clearance a couple of years ago.

I put this wreath together. It has some candy canes and ribbon on it. I really hate when you can't hide the cords!


Well, I hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend and I just want to say I really have enjoyed making so many new friends in blogland! Until next time......
~Beth~

Is It Wednesday Again?

Well, it's Wednesday and I can't really show you what I'm working on because certain people like to read my blog.....right Ellen? So, that would give things away. But I have a little bit of decorating done. No tree yet, because we have all had that nasty virus thing. Emily and Lauren have been taking turns staying home from school and you can't get anything done when that happens! Hopefully, we have had our turn and it won't be back.

Here is one of my favorite Santas. I got him off of Ebay last year...I just love him!


Here is some decorating I did at my back door. I got the Santa at the fleamarket and I re-painted him. He looks better. I got the little bench at a shop earlier this fall when Ellen and I went on a road trip to West Liberty to check out all of the little shops. It was blue and I painted it black. I got that Santa hat at Walmart for a dollar and I grunged it to look old...fun. I also grunged up the little tealight in the mason jar.



I saw this cute little survey on quite a few blogs and thought I would try it. Well, that's all I got! Sorry, but all of this sickness just wears you out! I don't know what's harder...being sick or taking care of those that are sick! Hope everyone else is well and enjoying the fun of the season!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both - I like to mix it up!
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial. We used to buy real, but when the girls got to the point where they said "We're freezing to death, just pick one!" Well, you can see how that kinda takes the fun out of it.
3. When do you put up the tree? Usually the day after Thanksgiving, but everyone of us has had that virus that is going around so we're behind.
4. When do you take the tree down? New Years Day
5. Do you like eggnog? Uh, no....
6. Favorite gift received as a child? A baby doll that looked so real. It was my favorite until my little brother drew eyebrows on it with a permanent marker....
7. Hardest person to buy for? Len
8. Easiest person to buy for? Lauren
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, I have several because everytime I buy one and put it out a piece gets broken!
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Both
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Not sure
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It's a Wonderful Life
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? All year long
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Ham
16. Lights on the tree? White
17. Favorite Christmas song? I'll be home for Christmas....because in my heart my Dad will be home for Christmas
18. Travel at Christmas time or stay home. Stay home
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yes
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Punched Tin Star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Both The girls are allowed to open 1 present on Christmas Eve
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Not enough time to get it all done
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Prim - greens, reds
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Ham
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A BMW......but I know it ain't happening!

My Miracle Is 17 Today!

My Emily is gonna be 17 today! A day for me that I never thought I would see. Just getting pregnant was an ordeal. The hormones and the fertility drugs, what a pain! But, finally I did get pregnant, but it was not to be. I lost the first baby at 8 weeks. Of course it was just the end of my world! So back to the drawing board. More hormone, more fertility drugs.....you get the picture. Finally I was pregnant again, It was a year later. Emily was 6 days overdue and I was scheduled to be induced on the 26th. The night before, right after I had my supper I began to have pain and throwing up. Emily was finally ready! So, I entered the hospital a day early. I had been laboring for 19 hours and I was sitting in a rocking chair in my room when I had the worst pain of my life. The bottom part of my body was experiencing such a force of pain like I had never known before. Emily had made a bowel movement and then took a breath before she should have! She was basically drowning! Then it all became one big emergency. I was put on a table with abot 30 people in and out of my room. Hooking me up to this and to that. I remember telling one of the nurses :i don't wanna do this anymore." And she said "Honey, I think it's too late to change your mind!" After that I would remember a feeling of floating over top of myself on that table and watching what everyone was doing to me. The next thing I remember is how when the doctor pulled Emily out I didn't hear a thing except for people running here and running there, but no crying from Emily. Later I would find out that she was a 0 on her APGAR score. Yes, the running around that I heard, was all the people that were trying to resuscitate her. And finally, finally I heard that precious sound! The biggest cry you would ever want to hear!

And here is the moment I waited 30 yes thirty, years of my life to have.......

I can honestly say it was worth every scary, painful moment I endured that day! She was wonderful to look at!


And here she is at 2 months old visiting with grandma Mary who passed away 3 months later from cancer.


Here she is dressing up as Madeline. Madeline was her very favorite story book character. She still has her Madeline doll......but you didn't hear that from me...


Emily used to wear glasses when she was little but she doesn't need them anymore. Just recently she realized how much her glasses were like Harry Potter and she really thought that was cool! She can not wait for the new Harry Potter movie to come out.


My baby then..........


And my baby now..........

She is just as beautiful today......inside and out! I love you Emily. Happy Birthday!

An Award And A Great Goodwill Buy!

Just one more thing, among many, to be thankful for this week! I got this award from Janene at Primitive Lifestyle because, as she and I have discovered, we have such a large amount of things in common. And when she writes her life story she is going to dedicate it to me! LOL! Thank you so much Janene, I really do appreciate it! I'm supposed to pass it on to 7 more gals but it seems like most of you have it! So if you don't have it, come on over and get it and put it on your blog! There are just so many of you that I love reading about everyday! It is my most favorite part of the day!



I also wanted to show you this. My niece Ellen and I went shopping Friday and we decided to stop at the Goodwill Store. As we were looking around, Ellen said "Did you see that?" She was looking down at the very bottom shelf on the end. I looked down and gasped! Of course being the good aunt that I am, I said "Do you want it?" And the very second she said "No, you go ahead." I grabbed it! Can you believe it? What kind of a human being donates such a beautiful thing? Not that I am ungrateful, but I find it amazing and unbelievable! Oh yes, I headed straight for the cash register. It was mine and I just wanted to make it official! LOL! As I waited by the door for Ellen to pay for her purchase, you would not have believed the gasps and the "oh my's" that I heard! I totally understood their shock and disbelief at what they were seeing me holding, very tightly, in my arms! I paid 14.99 for it, which at a Goodwill store would be the biggest amount I have ever paid for anything. But, when I went home, of course, the first thing I did was check Ebay. The cheapest one I found was 89.99 and the next one was 109.99......yeah, I'd say I got a great deal....wouldn't you?




I hope everyone is having a great weekend. We are still fighting off the stomach bug thingy that is going around. This weekend is my Emily's turn. Hope you feel better soon Em! Hugs everybody and take care!

Whatcha Working On Wednesday

Good morning everybody! Well, at least it was morning when I started this post! Lol! Lauren is home sick today and my mom has gout in her ankle so between feeling bad for the two of them and doing laundry, dishes and the like, I'm having a hard time getting this done. But here goes.....


This is an unfinished shelf I got at the craft store. I really needed a little shelf for this corner to display all my little laundry collectables. I think the black looks good because to the right of it is a little cupboard that is red.


These are some little icicle snowmen that I made along with a simple fabric covered box that has potpourri and tart melts inside. I simply added some greenery to the cute little stocking and the sweet little candleholder. None of these projects were hard, but they all look so cute!

Remember these little stockings from my trip to the flea market? I grubbied them up with some coffee and vanilla and they look so much more prim than they did.

This is the stitchery I started about 2 weeks ago. I got the pattern from Chestnut Junction. I love how he turned out. Now to find the perfect spot for him when I decorate!

Now, I have saved the best for last! This is my Lauren's first stitchery! Can you believe it? She did an excellent job. She will be 8 years old next month and I think she did surprisingly well. When I was working on my Santa, she asked me if she could try it. I was shocked that she would find it the least bit interesting. Living in this technological world that we live in, I really didn't think it would appeal to her. Boy, was I wrong! She is as addicted to it as I am! Now she is going to be working on some Christmas gift stitcheries......I love it! Gee, I don't sound like a proud mommy, do I?

Well, that's about all I got for today. Go on over and visit Leslie at My Country Home and see what everyone else has been up to! And have a great day while you're at it!
~Beth~

Secret Santa Goodies!

My goodies are here! Yes, I love to get goodies in the mail! A few weeks ago, Jenn, over at Bittersweet Prims posted a blog for anyone that wanted to join in. So, I thought, yes I can do this and it will be so much fun! And it has been! I have been crafting away on my things for the person that was picked for me. The send out date was to be November 21st. But some people, I have read, sent their's out early! I feel so behind! But seriously, mine is ready to go out. I hope she likes her things as much as I love mine!

My things, as you can see in the pic, are from Juanita over at It's Harvest Time. I just love every single thing! The little stitchery is my favorite! I love stitcheries! This one will find a home for sure when I do my decorating. And the little faux rock with the John 14:6 passage on it will be put on my Dad's headstone at the cemetary. It is just perfect for that. The little grubby stars and the potpourri smell so good! And the little girl in the red dress has already been claimed by Lauren! Lol! Oh gee, I just love it all! Thanks again, Juanita!

The Tears Will Flow and The Snow Will Fall

I think this picture tells the story.........

Yes, we lost. It was a heartbreaker. But as Coach Kosiorek said "The pain will last for a few weeks, but the memories will never fade." I couldn't possibly be any prouder of my little school! We are "The Best Small School In Ohio"!


And this is what we woke up to this morning......Life does go on......doesn't it?

VETERAN'S DAY

I just wanted to take a moment to say Thank You! Thank You to every person that has ever served this great country of ours! Past, present and future. I am grateful everyday of my life for the fact that I am free. I am forever indebted to those who fought for our freedom. I am thankful for the right to vote.....even when my choice did not win. I am thankful I live in a country where my girls are not denied an education simply because they are girls. I understand the sacrifices that were made for me to be able to freely sit here and express my opinions on this blog. I am an AMERICAN. I am the daughter of a WWII VETERAN.........and for that I am thankful!!



WOODROW WILSON ZIMMER...MY AMERICAN HERO...MY DAD

We're Movin On!

Well, we won again! I am so proud of our little school! We are just making things happen around here! Go Burg!

I also wanted to mention that the unthinkable has happened......My Emily got a job! Can you believe it? She will be 17 on the 26th, like that's not hard enough to believe, she went and got herself a job! She is working at the local grocery store. Our little village has been without a store for a while now, so having it back is a big deal in a little town like ours. I stopped by yesterday, which was opening day, to see 2 things: 1.Yes we actually have a grocery store and 2.Yes Emily actually had a real job! She was great! I am so proud of her! Why all the fuss? And why did I call this the unthinkable? Because my Emily is the kind of girl that just automatically thought she would grow up and marry a prince and the she would be waited on hand and foot! Let me give you an example....when I first tried to teach her how to wash dishes, she wouldn't stick her hands in the water. Why? Beacause she said "Those dishes are dirty and I will get that stuff on my hands!" This is the girl that had to run around the track one time to pass gym class and the school nurse called me to pick her up because she threw up! Yea. This is the girl that wouldn't play sports. "I can't play soccer, it makes you sweaty!" Now, you would think to yourself...I bet she is a chubby little thing, oh no she's a size 6. Why is this such a big deal you say? Because, all this time my husband and I kept saying to each other, "She better find herself a rich husband, because she's never gonna cut it in the working world!" But, do you wanna know what I saw yesterday? I saw her working circles around alot of the other girls. The other girls were pecking the cash register with one finger and flipping their little blinking light on to have someone fix their mistakes and reset their registers. And who do you think that person was? Yep, it was Emily! She went from cash register to cash register fixing and resetting. All that time on the computer and all of those thousands of text messages later, yes Emily had become some sort of technological wizard! Yes,I am really proud of my Emily! Great job girl! Now, if only I could get her to put her clothes in the hamper instead of on the floor beside the hamper. Oh well, all in due time.

God's Promise

I just wanted to share this picture of what I saw out my backdoor this evening.



"Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth." GENESIS 9:16