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!

     

OLM's ORNIE SWAP! SUCH TALENTED LADIES IN BLOGLAND!

I recently was in OLM's Ornie Swap this year for the first time. What a wonderful Hostess, and I want to thank you Marie for letting me join in this  year. The ornies were all so beautiful and I loved them all. Marie had put a bag of candy in with the ornies with the cutest snowman tag. Can't wait to tear into it. Thank you so much .

 This sweet ornie was made by Evelny of "LEE HILL PRIMITIVES"  There was a lovely Xmas card and yummy candy. Thank you Evelyn!

 

Next there was this wonderful smelling gingerbread man made by "THE OLD APPLE BARREL"  Thank you for this sweet ornie.

 

 

 

  Then there was this sweet, sweet snowman and adorable little stocking from Tam from "A PRIMITIVE PLACE"  Aren't they the sweetest? Thank you Tam!

 

 

 

And last, but sure not least, was this beautiful orniefrom MARY at "MARMMIES, MAMMYS, AND MORE". Thank you Mary. He is the sweetest! These ladies are so talented and I want to thank them and Marie again for making my Tree and Christmas a little brighter!

 

A SURPRISE FROM MY SWEET BLOGGING SISTER!

      WHAT A NICE SURPRISE TO RECEIVE WHEN YOUR DAY IS NOT QUITE RIGHT, AND THEN YOU GET A SWEET SURPRISE FROM SOMEONE TO MAKE YOUR DAY ALOT BRIGHTER! THANK YOU SWEET BLOGGING SISTER. LOVE YA!  sORRY i AM SO LATE POSTING.

AMY'S ORNIE SWAP

   Amy, recently hosted an ornie swap for the Holidays. I received four of the sweetest ornies and here they are:  This sweet Santa was fromCindy,"CINDI'S PRIMITIVE COUNTRY CORNER" Next was  a beautiful angel from Becky, "GINGER CREME HOLLOW."

 

        Fran, from "THE RAGG  LADY" CREATED THIS CUTE LITTLE SNOWMAN.

  
 Allison, from "SEW MANY GIRLS" CREATED THIS BEAUTY.

                           
Thank you amy for hosting this swap, and thank you Girls for the lovely ornies to adorn my home this Christmas.         

WONDERFUL GIVEAWAY AT HILLCREST HOME PRIMS!!!

    OUR WONDERFUL FRIEND TRICIA IS HAVING A 3 YEAR BLOGAVERSARY GIVEAWAY!  It will be closing on July 6th. It promises to be one big firecracker of a giveaway.(Gosh, I hope I win) Look at all the goodies. Hurry over to Tricia's and please tell her I sent you. ( hillcresthomeprims.blogspot.com)