A LITTLE BIT OF PARADISE....AND THEN SOME!

 Isn't this beautiful?  This is where we spent our weekends this summer.

 The waves were just right, and the kids had a ball!

 Why we never went here every Summer, I will never know!

 I love this place...Lake Erie! It is just so amazing, and as I sit here contemplating my surgery Tuesday, I wish I was back there. It is one of the most serene places on Earth, and it is the place to go to relieve stress. 
There was never more than a handful of people on this part of the beach, and I am so looking forward to going back. And to think it was practically in my back yard.

 I told you guys I/ was getting ready for an auction in November, and after working on dolls for two weeks, I still have tons to get ready. So I am hoping everything goes well in surgery, and I have a fast recovery. Yes, I am still upset about having it, but it is supposed to be a life changer. I am praying it is.   Two posts in one day? What am /I thinking!

GREAT GOODIES FROM AMY'S "HARVEST GATHERING SWAP"

 Sweet Amy from Bumble Bee Lane held another FABULOUS swap, The Harvest Gathering Swap, and I was so fortunate to have two wonderful partners this time! First, There was Danice, "HOMESPUN HANNAH'S Blog. Below are the wonderful items she sent me.

    

 I was so excited to open this box of goodies! I had Danice as a partner before, and she is such a sweetheart and Friend.

 This little painted basket of goodies was just so cute. Pumpkin seeds for next year!

 Then this cute little Harvest Rabbit with her little pumpkin and carrot. It is the sweetest ever. A homemade apron with an owl on it, a pretty fall dishtowel, a set of homemade coasters

 And this cute as a can candle holder with candle commemorating the /harvest Swap...what a clever idea.

 My little Autumn sign she made, and a sweet little pillow tuck!

 A pretty floral pinkeep...and a beautiful card. Thank you so much Danice. You have spoiled me, and I just love everything!!!

 

 

I also had Becky from GINGER CREME HOLLOW! BECKY HAS ALSO BEEN MY PARTNER BEFORE. Below is what Becky sent:

 

 

 Look t all these goodies!

 Love these little mats

 This is just the cutest pumpkin and scarecrow ever, and the bag of potpourie is so unique.

 Love this pumpkin sign.

 And the crow...I love crows. I have it hanging on my tree.

 Two candle tarts that smell heavenly... and she must have known how much I needed the wonderful heating, cooling pad. It works wonders

     

 Thank you so much Becky. I enjoyed being your partner, and you are a wonderful Friend also. I? love everything

   You Girls are the best...And to you Amy...you are the best!!! you make our lives fun here in blogland, and  I enjoy your swaps immensely. You are an amazing Friend. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart!

     Happy Fall everyone. It has been so long since I have posted, but it was  a very busy Summer. I have been getting ready for an auction for Nov 2nd, and it has literally taken up the past two months getting ready. I am going in for total knee replacements on the 8th of Oct. and now I am getting really anxiety ridden over it. Kinda of scared, but I know the good Lord will bring me through it. I was in Amy's Harvest Swap, and I had two wonderful ladies I swapped with. I will posting my goodies this weekend, and other pics of what has been going on. I am now on countdown for surgery, and have my days crammed full of things that must be done. Hoping to finish up with auction items by Monday, then house cleaning time. Hope everyone has a wonderful evening!

I LOVE MY SWAPS, AND I AM SO SPOILED...

Yes, I do love swapping, and Amy, from BUMBLE BEE LANE, (what a sweetie) has done it again with the "FARMHOUSE SUMMER SWAP"  My partner was Vicky-myart.blogspot! What fabulous goodies I received, and she has spoiled me but good. Vicky is such a sweet and caring person, and this is the second time I was fortunate to have her as my partner. Here are the wonderful goodies I received, and believe me, the pictures do not do the justice she deserves. Her work is superb! 

 I love this Uncle Sam..He is just so darn adorable. He sits in a little tin bucket and He is so loved!!!

 I love this sign Vicky made, and it will go in my new kitchen when it is done. So cute!

 Next is Miss Crow (I love crows) sitting on a flower with a seed tag on top of a rusty spring!  She also sent me a lovely patriotic apron with stars, a beautiful candle holder, and two great smelling tarts. And of course the cutest card.

 Thank you from the bottom of my heart sweet Friend, I love it all so much. And to Amy, a big thank you for another wonderful swap!

        It has been such a crazy year so far. Can't seem to get done what needs to be done, and the weather has been the strangest. We have been redoing our  kitchen, and it has been a nightmare since Day 1! the hubs is on the road for extremely long periods since January, so my communication with him is the phone, and trying to explain to the contractors what I want done and what he wants done ...well...you know how that goes, but finally we are getting near the end, after a near fire, a near electrocution, a minor flood, and having to hire another contractor, we are getting near the end. Oh, and the first contractor shorted my electric out on one side of the house, so it took an electrician to come and fix that mess! I will have to post pics when we are done. I do have my antique cupboard full already. I really love it. Here is a glimpse of it.

ARE OUR CHILDRENS INNOCENCE LOST FOREVER?

I live in a rural area, and  the town my grandkids go to school is six miles away. The school is about 3 miles off I-80 in Pa. Yesterday both High School and Elementary schools went on lock down. There was a man with a gun between the two schools. Police, swat team, helicopters were all called. we saw and heard the vehicles as they sped by, but had no idea what was going on. It then came across Facebook, and my heart stopped. They captured the man, who was not from around here, spoke no English, and was illegally in this country. He said he was shooting at birds. The schools are right across from one another, and well marked. The kids were terrified, but the teachers took very good care of them. By the time my daughter got there, parents were hysterical, and pulling their children out of both schools left and right. I don't think I've have stopped crying since it happened. All I can think of is Sandy Hook, and what those parents went through.  The innocence of children is coming to an end. My 6 and 7 yr old g.kids told me they thought they were going to die, and were never so scared in their life. Who would have ever thought that this could happen here. Thank God everyone was safe. The border patrol was notified, but this whole story is being kept quiet, and there still is not a lot being released. I guess no place is safe anymore....I just want everyone to know that it can happen anywhere. A big thank you to the Pa. State Police and The Swat Team, and our local Authorities. Also to our School System for their excellence in handling things the way they did!

AMY'S "SPRING TIDINGS SWAP" PICTURES

   Amy, from BUMBLE BEE LANE, held another fabulous swap for Springtime. She is such a sweetheart. I had Jen from BUSY BEE BLOG as my partner. look at the wonderful things she sent me. She knew I liked dolls, and the  one she sent me is a gem. She is wrapped in old newspaper, and I love her. Then there was a big bag of prairie grass. What won't they think of next? There was also two rolls of burlap garland for my primitive tree. Can't wait to get it decorated.

I AM SO EXCITED AT WHAT I FOUND!!!

  I was browsing Facebook and I found the most beautiful cupboard in Pittsburgh. I called Hubby and he told me to go get it, so Thursday I am on my way to the 'Burgh to get it. I am so excited. We are starting our kitchen remodel in the next week or two, and it is going to look great. Here is a picture of it...Isn't it beautiful? Gosh, I am excited. Have a wonderful evening everyone.
                                       

MY WIN FROM LAURA, AND PINCUSHION SWAP!

  I recently won a beautiful little bag from Laura at RHODES CREATIONS. It is so beautiful. And included in my package was a pincushion. lAURA and I were partnered up in Wendy's "Pinkeep Swap" (RAVENWOOD WHIMZIES) THANK YOU LAURA SO MUCH FOR THE LOVLIES. and THANK YOU  Wendy for hosting this fun swap!!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!  Hope everyone is having a love-filled and special day! I was in Amy's HUMBLE HEART SWAP recently, and JoeyLea from LADY LOCUST was my partner. I received my package the other day, and what a nice surprise.

There was a lovely game Joey made and it is so neat. She also made a needlekeep which is so pretty, and a braidedrope to hold the cute little initial ornaments that she had made with my initials on. The little red can held some homemade chocolates that needless to say, are gone, and they were so good!!!  It was so nice to get to meet a new friend and thank you so much JoeyLea for the wonderful swap. Thank you so much Amy for all the hard work you do in putting together the wonderful swaps that you host!

JOIN IN ON "PAYING IT FORWARD"

  I signed up for Wendy's "PAYING IT FORWARD" (RAVENWOOD WHIMZIES), And I hope some of you will join in on mine.  The idea is to send  5 people (the first five people to sign up) a gift to make someones day and a reason to smile , just a wonderful act of kindness. If you sign up, you must also post this and do the same for 5 people who sign up on your blog. This is for USA AND CANADA ONLY. You must specify in your comment that you want to join in on "PIF" . You must follow through on your end, and remember that it is always better to give then receive. It will be something handmade or maybe something elsa you might really like. there will be no junk! So come on Ladies, sign up!!!

MORE SWAPS....THEY WERE WONDERFUL!

THIS FUN PACKAGE IS FROM MY SECRET SISTER! I can't wait to try these wonderful patterns out, there is even material for them. I don't know who she is, but she is a very sweet and kind S.S. She made last year so exciting with her gifts, and most of the time they came when I needed a boost. I thank you secret sister from the bottom of my heart!

These are the cutest snowman and Santa with the little snowman clips that came in my package, and this lovely homemade gift bag. Thank you again my Friend!!!

FINALLY I CAN POST!!!

  I finally figured this out, with a little help from my Friends...I can now post my long overdue pics, etc. Yeah!!!! These wonderful items came from my swap partner at  COLORADO LADY'S "SECRET SANTA SOIREE"  Swap. I love this darling Prairie doll" The pic does not do justice. So from the bottom of my heart Secret Partner, I thank you. I loved everything!

 I then was in an ornie swap that Miss Danice from Homemade Hannah's had. It was for one ornie, and I received this sweet ornie from Kate. Thank you Kate!

SO GLAD IT IS THE NEW YEAR!

I am so happy it is the  New Year, as it was rough last year healthwise, etc., and etc. Won't bore you with the details.  I have been trying to post pics of my Christmas swaps, but can't get any of the pictures to load. I don't know what the heck is going on. Any suggestions?  I want to thank everyone for the wonderful swaps at Christmas time, and as soon as I figure out what is wrong, I will post the pics. Finally warming up in PA. today.The sun is out, and we have lots of snow on the ground. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!