LOOK AT THE GOODIES I GOT....AND A VERY HAPPY EASTER TO YOU!

   It has been awhile...had a few setbacks etc., but everything is starting to look good! Thank goodness, Spring has finally arrived. I recently was partners with Francine, "PRIMITIVE STARS" IN Amy's (BUMBLE BEE LANE) annual "SPRING TIDINGS SWAP. "  I had such a good time getting to know Francine,  she is so bubbly and sweet. She sent me some really nice things, as you will see. Some of the pics didn't come out too good, but they are viewable. (kind of like my blogging)

 Love this little vintage glass. And this this sweet bunny egg cup is the sweetest thing ever. I just love it!!!  Abeautiful card, and a yummy bag of caramels, which I already ate...they were so good Francine

 Love these bundle of prim eggs and the pretty tag.

 Love my apron Francine.  Brightens up my kitchen.

 A better pic of the egg cup, isn't the Bunny so adorable?

   The cutest little pillow ever!  And look at ny hook! It goes in the kitchen also.

     Another picture of the apron. isn't it so pretty?  I want to thank you Francine from the bottom of my heart. You spoiled me, and I love everything. It was so great getting to know you! And Amy, thank you so much for hosting this wonderful swap. You are super!!!

   Here  is a picture of my brown eggs I colored. I think I like them better then the bright ones They are different. And then I found this chair a couple of weeks ago at a sale. I have been looking for one like it for awhile. And that really made my day. Well, I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter, and I wish you all a beautiful weekend...

MY AMAZING SWAP...

AMY, our sweet dear friend from Bumble Bee Lane hosted another wonderful swap. The "HUMBLE HEART SWAP" I was paired with HEATHER  from THE COUNTRY SCHOOLMARM. I had such fun getting to know Heather and making her things for the swap. She is just the sweetest person, and she will be a friend for life. I am a little late posting this, as the flu bug has hit our place, but it has finally gone away. Here are the beautiful items Heather made and sent me:
                                         

 Isn't everything beautiful?

                                   I love this beautiful box with the heart on top that she made.

                             These three homemade prim strawberries. They are just so cute!

                              This unique stitched block, which looks great on my desk...

                        I love this pinkeep. Love on one side and 1884 0n the other side.

Thank you so much Heather! it was a wonderful swap with you, and To you Amy, thank you once again...you are the best. Love you guys.

MY WONDERFUL "MERRY CHRISTMAS SWAP"

Amy, from BUMBLE BEE LANE, hosted her annual MERRY CHRISTMAS SWAP. I had Sandi from THE PRIMITIVE SKATE for my partner. What a beautiful package she sent me...Take a look and

see...    I love all the Snowmen. Everything was just so sweet!                                                                       

                                                           Aren't these just so adorable?                                                                   

                    Thank you so much Sandi. I enjoyed being your partner, and love everything so much!
            Amy is such a Sweetheart hosting all her swaps, and I want her to know how much she is appreciated. You hear that Amy?  I am slowly healing from my knee surgery, and I hope to get back to normal pretty soon. Hubby had his surgery, and is on the mend, hoping to get back to work next week. I have had him home since Thanksgiving, so I am ready for him to go back. {not used to having him home}, but he WAS a big help the first couple of weeks. It is bitterly cold here this week, and I don't think I will ever complain about hot weather again! (probably till summer) I hope everyone is staying warm.Have a wonderful and warm week!

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.