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Flowers or "Flours"

Working on some flowers today...
When the thought occured to me to call them FLOUR pins. Now how cute is that?

Treasures found July 28

Finding really is a treasure, and it triggers my creative brain. Do other people see this 'stuff' and not get excited? Like those incredible wooden necklaces, wow, can't you just see them hanging in some  fashion from a fun shoulder bag! Okay okay, we will take those big wooden chunky bears (?) out of the one and restring it. Who would wear a big brown wooden bear around your neck? But the colorful wooden beads ...oh...so cute. And I love the waverly blue and yellow curtain. WAVERLY mind you, the nicest fabric.   I find such excitement in thinking about re-purposing things. I am not a real big environmentalist. Well, I don't litter and such, but I just don't spend a lot of energy thinking about "protecting" the environment. BUT I do think about waste and what a wasteful thing it is to toss something out that is perfectly usable. If feels wrong to me, BUT when I can repurpose it and use it for something else..that creates excitement - and partly because I feel like I am following the maxium..."Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without." My mother uses these little maxiums, is that even what they are called (?) all the time. I was quite literally raised with them. She even made up several of her own, "The squacky duck gets shot" is one I remember. I don't remember what it was in relationship too, but I think it orginated driving in the car with a bunch of little kids, so it doesn't take a big imagination to realize what it meant. Ok, back to the treasures of today, there are several packages of seam binding in there. What can I do with them? They are very light weight, so I don't know. Will they work as bows to put in the floppy flower corsages that are brewing in my head...or...maybe they will work as the tie on for the wristlets that are also jumbling around in there. We'll see, we'll see.

My personal challenge.

To use every part these wonderful bags in every creation. I love them. They have a history to them. I will combine them with other fabrics, trims etc that have enjoyed a previous life as something else. That combination brings energy and 'life' to the product.  Can a thing really have 'life'? I think so....
Working with the fabric in these bags  is so delightful. I love them.
I am going to keep a bucket of every scrap, who knows what my brain will come up with? Fodder for those sleepless nights!

My ego feels a little scared.

The Farm Chicks wrote back and said my aprons were adorable. They used that word... adorable.
Of course we all know the really adorabale thing here is the model and her babe...but they said I could be part of the show. Do I really want to try and produce enough for a show...all by myself? I have painted enough ornaments for an entire Christmas Tree at the Ridpath Hotel...three times !, when I had kids at home and 'other' things going on. Is this how I want to spend my time? Aprons are pretty easy, actually and I do love working with this fabric. Have fiddled with making a few bags also.
We all know you have to have a variety of things to sale so people wander into your area and fondle 'stuff'. Because my things are more geared to a spring time sale Farm Chicks has told me I can do the Spring show...."we would love to have you. Your merchandise 'fits' our venue."
Sometimes laying in bed at night I can think of a million things to do and get so excited...I want to jump out of bed and work on them. Well, I do jump out of bed and work on them. Like I figured out how to make this big floppy flower detachable and then it can we worn as a pin, would that be cute on a denim jacket? Or how about I make a bunch and put them on sticks and have them in a big mason jar as a country bouquet?
THEN...other times I get so scared thinking, "Does anyone else really like this old floppy stuff like I do?" "What if I make a fool of myself." What if....What if...
Then I second guess the product..maybe I should put pockets on the apron, maybe they are too long, maybe I should have the ties long enough to tie in front. Maybe.... maybe.... maybe....
Carson loves be an entrapeaure...or however you spell that word...I can't even spell it and I am not sure I want to be IT. I did find some more cute worn tablecloths to use as lining..like on this big one. What is it about softly worn fabric? It seems to talk to me...I love the feel - smell - texture - wondering about where it has been what it has done. Yup...I have 'old things' issues. Does anyone else? AND...if they do, do they have money? Oh...my.

Going to the Doctor is NOT punishment

That is what Rick had to tell me to get me to go. I really really don't like going....but I did and it is a  good thing. But first of all I diverge, the reason I don't really like going to doctors is, first, what is the point, and secondly, like I told Barb,  Hilters don't get the day off when they are sick, you just work....sick. Know what I mean? Anyway back to good reason I went,  I have an infection in my e-sof-a-gus, that is why my bullfrog voice won't go away - it has been three weeks -  AND a bladder infection that maybe into my kidneys - but Dr thinks we caught it in time. If not a lot  better in 3 days back for more tests. So the delight of high-power anti-biotics and the good news...one kind can treat both. Do you know about the high cost of medicine? I was bracing myself...you know the $10 a pill stuff and I can't just take it for 3 days as I am too 'infected' so need to take it for seven?  Do the math. But what do you do? So off to Wally Land...(you know how I feel about Wally), and the pharmacy tech says, that will be $500. I about feel over...$500. I thought I had myself braced, but that is like a new stove! Well, it is better than being in the hospital, right? Then he chuckled and said, no Cipro is now generic and with your insurance it is $5.00. Oh, I love that decimal point in there! Wahoo! I feel better already.

Another interesting development, in the feel better department. Rick is out of town, on the coast, I know I know eat your heart out, we love the coast. The only consolation is it is cooler here, so I am not in total envy. And remember, I don't feel too good. In fact, the word ragged comes to mind. But the good development is this, I eat fat free hotdogs. Oh, yum, right? Well, I knew I was going to be watching the grands and so bought the fat kind, you know a REAL hotdog. I don't feel like cooking, as mentioned above and Rick is out of town so can't fix me anything, oh hardy har, har like he ever cooks, but that is beside the point. Sooooooooo I decided to just eat a left over hot dog, the real kind....fattening. Guess what? I didn't like it. I like the fat free better. Isn't that great?  A delightful development. However, I haven't found a fat free Snickers. But we will  just take this one step at a time.

Wally Mart and Me

I have a love/hate relationship with Walmart. Now don't get paniced and think I am going to go off on some policital vent here about all the workers in China and the starving people right here at home. It isn't about that. It, the love/hate relationship, I have is about the actual going to buy things at Walmart.
The part I love is the prices. Sometimes items are a whole dollar cheaper than elsewhere. So bring on China. There are probaly straving people in China, too.  It's a good deal for my pocket book and little ole me boycotting Walmart will NOT make a difference. On the news it said Walmart has one hundred million, I wrote that in long hand so no one is confused and think it is JUST one million, no, it is ONE HUNDRED million, shoppers per week. Phew, what difference could I make? Diddley. So to Walmart I go....
But- I hate going there...I hate the parking, I am always in the nether most parts,(oh, just a minute I have to tell you about the parking? One time when I went, I find a spot kind of close, drove in, and a lady starts honking her horn at me and showing me "tall man finger" out the window, I looked at her bewildered and she yelled - I HAD MY BLINKER ON! Sorry  lady. So I got back in my car and called the Mister on my cell phone to chat and put on lipstick and doodley doed, while Miss Hothead is in her car 'waving' at me. I then drove slowly out of my spot to find someplace in the nether most parts. It made me all shaky inside)
Once in Walmart  I hate them yelling yes, they yell,  at me over the speaker system, I hate the general mass of humanity that is there. Oh, I know, I am ONE of them. I get that. BUT on my last visit I decided something. There are just some body parts I don't want to see. Some things are to be private, aren't they? And I'm not even talking about the short shorts on fat men, and the 'bunched up' (you know what I mean about bunched, like where the said, 'bunching' is, don't you?) shorts on larger women. And I don't even think it could be called ponography when the tight, immodest shirts are on  dirty women. I mean, that is not titilating, in my opinion.  But the body part I am talking about is....well...let me see...maybe I can share it with this little limerick.
There once was a man, hairy and 'unfit'
At Walmart fetching beer for the (BBQ) pit
He created much fright
When others saw the sight
Of his sweaty, hairy, disgusting armpit.
You got it folks, I just don't think I should have to see other peoples armpits, disgusting and matted with sweaty hair. Just writing about it makes me queazy.
But alas, my friends, I need some of that Ben and Jerrys and it IS cheaper at Walmart, and so off we go, and the experience of getting it............. well........... it is memorable............unfortunately!

Beauty Shop Day at Grandmas

Two precious little girls...came today to have the beauty shop treatment...at Grandmas. Ashtyn came to be cheerleader and playmate.
One rag tag little Brookey Bear. Ready for a cut and perm...but no bangs. So here we gooooooooooo......
Just a haircut made her pretty happy. Isn't she a doll? And her buddy Ashtyn is pretty adorable, too.
Next was Autumn who didn't want a cut..she wants her hair long and to be as beautiful as her Aunt Jilly....
(notice her TWO missing teeth)
So we begin...Autumn has so much hair we used every perm rod and two perms...
Look at that head FULL of curlers...

On this cute little noggen!

Next was Miss B...
And then when we were f-i-n-a-l-l-y done. We took one last picture...
Remember Amy is 8 months pregnant and has a BIG belly in our tiny kitchen so we gave her belly lots of bumpety bumps working on this and to add to the drama of course we had Spence-a-rooney here and Hailey May and Grandpa came home and everyone wanted supper. YIKES!?! But we did it and it was very fun. These precious girls are a delight. They are so beautiful inside and out. They respect each other and are obedient. They choose the right and want to make choices to be happy. We did have a few giggle attacks during the whole episode.

Bye, Bye Mr VW

Volkswagon...that all our kids drove. Bye Bye...You shouldn't love someTHING that can't love you back. Right?
So why am I emotional...???
The man that bought it...was in Germany in the military. Learned how to work and and rebuild VW's. He could get any part at the junk yard for free. Came home...bought and rebuilt several. All four of his kids had one. Then he just got done with that and sold his last one, with all the magazines and manuals and 'stuff'that went with it. That was several years ago. He has been sorry every since. His wife finally said, "Why don't you buy another one and rebuilt it?" So he has been looking for one... and ours...fit the bill...he it  is going to a good home.....

One of my favorite people

Because he 'gets it'. He is now a professional...listener and adviser and I have to say, who better? He is always instantly on your page. He encourages. He inspires. He motivates. He can express himself expertly. No matter what subject is being discussed he can contribute and do so intelligently, isn't that amazing?!  He is aware of, and plugged into, and 'on the cutting edge' of the world around him but manages to keep from being sucked into the negative forces of the world. He teaches clearly and simply, even though he can and does use really big words. He is honest - everytime - all the time.  He is a family man and runs a tight household. He validates and encourages and appreciates his wife. He knows the needs and personality of each child and is there to help them on their way.  He has found his path and follows it with passion and enthusiasm.
He is our oldest boy...our pride and joy.

Is the Corn Knee-High?

You know the corn should be knee high by the 4th of July? And the first crop of hay safely in it's stack by the corral. Big push to get all things done so we could.......take the day off and go to town...for the festivities. In Rupert Idaho, the 4th of July was a big celebration a big deal.
All the farmers with their farmer tans came to town...with clean levi's on and plaid shirts and bolo ties and caps. The latest cap...Simplot or John Deere or 'whatever'.
The farmers wifes brought picnic lunches with home fried chicken, potato salad (it's a wonder we didn't all die of food poisoning, isn't it? but we never got sick) and watermelon...well, watermelon if it was 4 cents a pound (Mom wouldn't buy it until it was down to 4 cents a pound). We never bought lunch in town. (Oh...I shouldn't say NEVER...I do remember ONE TIME, when we had our new 58 gold and white Chevy Biscayne buying a hamburger at that little hamburger stand right there where you cross the RR tracks by the bean company....it wasn't on the 4th, though.  That is the ONLY time I remember us eating in town - with the exception of a nicklel weenie at  Kings, the five and dime store - we did on rare occasions get a weenie there, which may account for the reason I don't really like weenies today) The only other time we ate away from home...was the 4th - with our home grown picnic lunch. There was a parade around the 'square' in town. Every ward and church and 4-H group had a float - and there were lots of tractors and horses and such. Women with aprons sitting on straw and hay bales on flat bed trucks with flags  a waving. There was a grand marshall leading the parade in some slicked up fancy car...just like big time city folks.
After the parade we mingled with other farmers in the square and ate our lunches and played. Farmers aren't real good at playing but we did on the 4th. Men would sit with straw toothpicks and talk about crops, farmers wifes would talk about farmers and crops and kids would scatter hither and yon.
Now, even though we weren't in the fields on the 4th...there were still cows to milk. We would go home to do chores (20 miles to home, mind you) and hurry hurry so we could go back to the rodeo. All this excitment in ONE day.  $10 for the family to go to the rodeo. A lot of money, but Dad loved horses and calf roping; he enjoyed watching the horses work as much as the cowboys. Of course, the most fun were those scary bulls and the bull riders. Sometimes we would go over to the 'shoots' and just look at them and see them snort. I remember watching humanity in the grandstands as much as watching the action in the arena. Dad loved to watch people, also. Sometimes men would be drinking and women scant-y-ly clad (what most girls wear to school in this day) bellies showing and tight levi's. Mom was always teaching us ...how unhappy those people were and the poor choices they were making and how awful they looked. We parked out in the pasture behind the rodeo grounds and I remember walking to the car past the rows of cars...a lot of cars in one place....over cow pies and it was so so  late. It was probably 10:00 p.m. but we still had to get home and be up early because the next day because the chores and farm waited. Cows need milking, you know. When we got home, Dad would go out and check the livestock, we had the old mangers, worn smooth by cows necks, in that day so he didn't 'push up' the hay, he just checked everything. I wonder what he felt and thought? I know he loved his farm. He loved his work. He loved summer and as Mom says, never got tired.  We would all tumble into bed.  BIG day, the 4th of July.
Of course, in Rupert we knew almost everyone and so the 4th was like a big community reunion. We would have sparklers to play with - they burned your arm when the sparks flew onto them and we had to stay by the willow tree on the grass so no stray sparks would get on the haystack. We lived a long way from any fire house and a stray spark would mean a lot of destruction. (Kind of always scared of a wildfire.)

I remember two specific 4th of Julys.....

One was the year I had rheumatic fever, the 4th was the first time I could get out of bed and go to town except for the doctor. I remember feeling white (I hadn't been outside like usual and I felt and looked white from no sun and white from being so sick for so long), and I had new shorts to wear. I remember staying close to Mom -  I vividly remember the picnic lunch in the cardboard box, and Dad taking his hat off and his suntan line on his forehead -isn't that funny, I remember that little snippet so clearly? I didn't really want to wander much.
The other 4th I remember is the year Dad gave money to the Ritters for the rodeo....Ritters had the farm where the frog pond is. They were an 'interesting family'. Walt the Dad, was the most generous and giving man alive...to everyone but his wife....Jesse. Mom felt sorry for her. They lived in filth and shambles. Walt came to our house often, (Mom said he should have been home taking care of Jesse) and Mom and Dad were always kind. Mom did make the rule when he ate with us he had to wash his hands to his wrists. (It looked like he had on white gloves). If I remember right, Mom correct me if I am wrong...he would sit on his chair backwards at the table. I don't remember the kids except Jimmy, who was my age. I felt sorry for him. I hope I was kind. I do remember one time someone was making fun of him because he couldn't spell. I knew my Dad was a poor speller and I thought my Dad was a hero so I said,'You don't have to spell to be good.' Other than that I remember him running, always late down his long lane to the bus...he smelled badly - urine BO, had bedhead...not cool bed head like now, but bedhead, stinky greasy..and always had hi-water pants and dirty shoes. Because Mom and Dad were always kind to Walt...I hope I was kind to Jimmy.  I only remember one time going to their house..it was unfinished...for as long as they lived there. They had a basement but didn't have the stairs to go down -  there was just a hole in the middle of the living room floor. They just tossed EVERYTHING down that hole...the black hole. I was pretty freaked out about the utter mess they lived in.
One 4th of July they were out hauling hay, and Dad could see them...all those raggedy dirty kids out there working. We were doing chores...hurrying to get to the rodeo and Dad had one of us take $10 down and give it to Ritters so they could go the rodeo. They didn't even go to the house - to clean up - they just turned the hay-hauling truck to town and away they went - right out of the field, hay dust, dirt and all. We saw them there..having a great time. Mom kind of thought they should have put on 'town' clothes. Town clothes? They were probably down that black hole.

Oh...the 4th...homesteaders - freedom - opportunity -  community - a 'day off'.....