lost ....

and kind of found!

computers.... aren't they loads of fun?

I'm using a re purposed computer! Thought I was getting a good deal...but...I have no way to download photos, took a step back in time with word, and the anti-virus, that's a whole 'nother ball game.

I've been keeping up on reading blogs that I follow, but not so good on my own!

Life's been a WhIrL wInD lately.

I got a part time time job working at a local store 'The Scrapbook Page' and loving it! I still have my antique booth, however, moved back to a smaller booth and doing very well. And I still have a handful of pooches that I groom.

With Thanksgiving right around the corner,

I guess I'm thinking about all the thanks that I have & feeling like I need to share...I'm thankful for my best friend, my husband! He has kept me grounded lately. I'm thankful for having the two best step children that a woman can have. I love these two young adults more than I could have ever imagined. I have a roof over my head, food on my table & laughter in my heart.

I've also experienced something pretty cool...my neighbors adopted a couple of adorable sisters (3 & 4 years old) from Russia a few months ago. The other day I came home from work the same time they did, not having the best of days, until...I hear 'Traci, Traci...Hi.' (they don't say my name quite correct) I waved & shouted hi back, then I heard...'have a good evening!' This just warmed my heart! Not having children of my own...I'm finding out that I'm more of a softy than I thought. (oh great!)

Anywho, overall, things are good & I'm really not lost,

just took a looonnggg break from blogging.

Who knows, maybe,

just maybe,

Santa will bring me a new computer for Christmas.

Whippet Wednesday...a day late

an apology....

I owe an apology to anyone that reads this....

my last few posts have been pretty blah & I'm sorry for that!

Even though I have a few good things in the works.

I'm also a little overwhelmed by the bad.

This blog seems to be an easy place for me to release some of my feelings.

My mother's been ill again &

I found out this evening that my step-mother has breast cancer.

Plus, I've had a dull headache for the past 5 days.

However, I'm going to try & remain positive, therefore,

from this point on....

I will try to leave you with better posts.

God bless family & friends!

frustrated & sleepy sunday

the past five days have been spent looking at house after house, three hours away from home, with 2 dogs & a husband....feeling like, well, what am I doing!!! ? I feel like I'm just starting to get things rolling with my cards & what am I doing.....
I'm so overwhelmed right now that my husband & I fighting. He likes this...I like that...not agreeing on anything, other than we are annoying one another. Oh joy!!!
I need sleep...soooo....goodnight all. Thank you for letting me vent my frustrations.

bad blogger blues

Hi all....boy-oh-boy, I've been a really bad blogger lately!

I guess I enjoy reading rather than writing.

Things have been a little busy around here...the worse part...this morning,

I said goodbye to my old cat! That's two pets in a couple months.

Making the decision vs dying unexpected...hard either way.

I've been struggling with making this decision for weeks. However, yesterday I could just tell...he starting limping & really having a difficult time getting around. When I didn't wake to him walking around the house this morning meowing, I knew in my heart it was the right thing to let him make the trip over the Rainbow Bridge! Rest peacefully little kitty!

On a brighter note...my cards having been wonderfully, along with my altered journals and such. Needless to say, I've been stamping & gluing, trying to get ahead of my sales.

Well, I've got lots to do....have a beautiful day!

Where's the Whippet??

There's one!

Pitiful, isn't?

Rainy weather has just turned these guys into snuggle bunnies. Oh & another~!
I've been busy, busy....
Sales are going really well at Dreamworld.
The gal that owns Dreamworld has referred me to another shop.
(for a total of maybe being in 3 different areas)
Hoping to have cards ready for a presentation on Friday.
Who would have known...

My booth sales have also increased. Went out there today & completely
rearranged from top to bottom. Felt pretty good on how it looked.
And of coarse...forgot my camera.

I'm so thankful that things just seem to be falling into place.
However, it's weird...I guess everything happens for a reason, right?

Hoping that you've had a wonderful day!

Rainy Monday, time to brag....

It's a yucky, rainy day here in Kansas.

Thinkin' Chili's what's for dinner....Don'tcha just love crock pots!

I'd like to share a few wonderful

things going on for me.

I don't like to toot my own horn, but this time I just can't help it.

This is what I've been wanting to happen & just didn't

know how to get things started.

A couple weeks ago, I was asked to show my cards & a bag

that I made a month ago for myself, to a friend of a friend.

Ya know how that goes...

Well, lucky for me, she loved my stuff & asked me to display

my cards and what "k"nots in her shop.

Could I have things ready for the grand opening...on Mother's Day evening?

I accepted the challenge....but...

not nearly enough cards made.

Needless to say, I got busy real quick.

I made mini card packs, flour sack bags, cards and more cards.

I also decided to make glass magnets.

I've made them in the past for family, so.....why not!

Opening night turned out to be very successful & exciting!

I've also been asked to make tote bags along with a few cards for another shop.

I'm looking so forward to sharing this journey ....Thanks!

Cinco De Mayo - Whippet Wednesday

My goodness.....really....it's been several weeks since I've blogged....yikes!!

Where has the time gone?

I've been very busy....yippee!

I have lots to share ....later.

It's time to call it a day.

They are already ahead of me!

Hoping that everyone has had a productive day.

where has the time gone....

I kept telling myself...I'll post on my blog later. What do ya know, a whole week has pasted by.

It's just been beautiful out therefore I've been taking advantage of it while I can. Before long it will be so blasted hot, I won't want to be outside. I've done some yard work, painted on some projects, and organizing stuff in the garage (a never ending process). I'm trying to get the garage ready for future treasures that I'm hoping to find....getting my hoarding skills back in order...

Oh & working some too.

I'll admit, I've also been just sitting outside enjoying the newness of spring....

reflecting a little & looking forward to some new beginnings...new opportunities.

My hubby will have 30 years in next spring. We're looking into relocating.

This summer we have several areas that we will be checking out....

around Rogers, Arkansas & around Waterville, Kansas.

Who knows where we are going to end up!

The whole process is going to be exciting and a bit scary.

So, that's where the time has gone...me having fun & thinking too much.

Wordless Whippet Wednesday

Finally Friday...

What a fabulous Friday this has been, even with the rain.

A few estate sale finds from the sale I worked at... loving the typewriter...

Of coarse, I'll be keeping a few of these beauties...

My Greyhound(Whippet) domino pendant that I purchased

from robomargo.com/store.
Thank you Margo for your beautiful work!

(having picture difficulties again...sorry!)

And finally my very first giveaway winnings from the Eggstra Fun Egg Swap.

Thank you Shara.

Now I want to be a part of a swap!!!

I'm also looking forward to my stepdaughter's coming home for the weekend. We're having dinner together this evening, then she'll be spending Easter with her mother's family.

Tomorrow the hubby & I have a few errands, then Sunday

we'll be going to see his brothers, sisters, and mother.

Wishing all a joyous Easter & a wonderful weekend!

Whippet Wednesday

Some days it just doesn't pay to make the bed...

Doc enjoys snoozing with Little Kitty for an early evening nap. Little Kitty's our 21 year old cat, the energizer bunny...he just keeps going & going. The first day at the estate sale was an experience!

I've gone to plenty of sales, but never right when they open or working one.

People were lined up outside, beating on the door, then pushing and running when the doors opened. I'm sorry folks...nothing is that important to act like complete idiots.

And to top things off...a few rude ones.

Luckily...most were friendly.

I'll be going back tomorrow afternoon & Friday morning (1/2 price day). Most of the things I was interested in sold...but it's ok...I'm still eyeballing several others...

Hope that you had a Wonderful Wednesday!

couple projects & more booth pics

Sorry for the side view picture....I've downloaded it several times & can't seem to fix it. I guess this is going to be down fall this week....Picture problems! Anywho....

I made picture holders out of the bottles I purchased a week ago. Added a little lace, buttons, and burlap on the back. You can't really see them very well...but very cute, I must say!

The mini dress form, I decoupaged pages from an old gospel hymn book...don't worry, I didn't harm the book...it was already in really bad shape.

More pics of my booth. I think March is going to be a pretty good month for me. Not my highest in sales, but a good one. Yippee!

Another colorful view!


Well, tomorrow is the first day of the estate sale I've been helping with...
go to http://estatesales.net/estate-sales/102138.aspx to check it out.
The ladies at Sagamore Creek Estate Sales have really good prices.
It should be a good sale!

Hoping you've had a wonderful, productive Tuesday!

Booth redo

This morning I decided to re fluff the booth.

It's going to be another busy week so since I had time,

taaa-dah!I really like how this area turned out.
And another view...

For some reason, the rest of my pictures I can't seem to download.

I guess that will give me a reason to post again tomorrow.

Happy Monday!

Sunday = Lazy Day

Ahhhh....this was the most relaxing day I've had in a long while.

I'm not even going to mess with pictures today....I just don't feel like it.

It's been a busy week...after being sick & helping with setting up for an estate sale last week, my house was suffering.

Friday I cleaned this place from top to bottom. Even cleaned windows & washed curtains.

Yesterday, I hit an auction that was just around the corner. I understand why they didn't advertise....nothing but junk....not the good kind either!

Oh back to the estate sale....a few weeks ago, I was asked to help.

It has actually been fun...a lot of work but fun.

It's like an Easter egg hunt....the excitement of finding out what's inside...a kid in a candy store...yummy! I enjoy going to estate sales for the hunt...but this was a different kind of hunt. However, it did make me take a step back....

I've never seen so many gift bags (yeah I save 'em too),

perfume boxes (not old), dishes, etc...etc...

I'll be a little more cautious about my purchases in the future and what I save.

Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of really good stuff too.

I'll be working on Wednesday & Friday...and I will share some pictures!

Well...Basketball is over for the weekend...I guess I should go spend some time with the hubby. Plus...I still need to work out....

Eggscellent Post

Woooo-hooo....check this out.

monkeybox: Eggscellent Post for YOU

I just found out that I won my first giveaway....I'm so eggcited!

I'll share pictures when I receive my goodies. Thanks so much, Shara!

Whippet Wednesday...kind of

a Whippetme with short hair
and a cowboy boot

Who is this artist, you ask?

My Mother!

I just wanted to share her talent with you.

Hope you've had a beautiful day!

Friday Finds

I actually hit a couple garage sales this morning....yahoooo. Got a great blue & red filing tin box, a couple bottles, doilies, an enamelware spoon, a drafting ruler, a mini dress form, a small book and a scrabble game. With the snow that they are predicting for tonight & tomorrow, I'll have several mini projects to work on while the hubby watches basketball.

Hoping that everyone has an enjoyable weekend.

Whippet Wednesday

Squirt & the boys snuggling.

yeah...I'm still around, but...

I went from a great week to a crushing blow to the heart.

Last Wednesday I started coughing & had a sore throat. Then it hit me hard last Thursday night....so I went to bed early.

One of my cats (Squirt) went to bed with me...snuggling & purring, he was lovin' it and I was too. Rolled over to drift off to sleep....and as he's done a million times before, he walked across my legs, then let out an awful meow. By the time I turned on the light & yelled for my hubby....the little guy was gone....

Our healthy (so I thought) 7 year old cat was full of life one minute then gone in the next.

He suffered a heart attack.

I am so very grateful that I was there with him. I can't image coming home to find one of my beloved pets dead. This was bad enough, again I'm soooo thankful.

I spent the next 36 hours in bed. Illness & grief don't mix well. I still don't have my voice, but I'm trying like hell to move forward. After 20 years working in a pet hospital & I still don't handle death any better now then I did before. Boy, I don't miss that part at all.

Not to keep going on about Squirt....but honestly, he was about the coolest cat I've ever owned. We called him our cat-dog.

He was more like a dog than a cat....would greet us at the door, begged for food along with the dogs, played hide-n-seek, and the big one...would come when called. Cats come when they are ready, not when asked. He had a pretty good life and I'm glad I got to be a part of his life.

RIP

Squirt

08/23/2002 - 03/11/2010

I love & miss you dearly!

Wordless Whippet Wednesday

Playing catch-up

Holy-moly time flies by when you're having fun....first let me say... thank you for the Birthday wishes.

This by far was one of the best birthday weeks ever.

Yeah, I said 'birthday week'!

Listen to this... a couple girlfriends took me to a burlesque show Thursday night. I thought I'd get embarrassed, however, much to my surprise, it was very tastefully done. A very classy show.

Then bright & early Friday morning, we all went to several shops around the area that are only open the first Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of the month. Had lunch & shopped some more.

Fun..Fun..Fun! On Sunday, my sister proudly holding one of her scrapbook pages from our gathering. She finished several. It seems that I can only download five pictures with each post. So, sorry ladies.

We had a great time chatting, scraping, and eating. My sis even had a Birthday cake for me.
Saturday, re fluffed my booth. Whew...it was much needed.
Don't ya just love the hippo planter? He makes me laugh!

Another view

This area turned out pretty cute.

And then the dresser that just won't sell....I marked it down last week, so since I've made a comment about it...(fingers crossed) it will soon.

On top of all this, I was cat sitting all week, had a couple dog walking appointments and a dog to groom this morning. Needless to say, my house has suffered....sooooo I'm off to continue washing cloths, cleaning floors and etc...blah..blah..blah!

Happy Monday!

Whippet Wednesday & 40!

Turning 40's the new 30, right? Right!

It's now official, I've entered the landmark birthday...middle age. Please, no need for the bad forty jokes...already been hit with hormonal changes, from acne to being overheated...ahhh the wonders of growing old.

I've had a great day!

When my hubby asked what I'd like to do for my birthday, I thought long & hard before I answered. I'm easy to please...soooo...let's hit a few antique stores and have lunch together.

You see, this is a big deal....he dislikes going to antique stores...once you've seen the inside of one, they all start looking alike...blah, blah.

We hit 4 stores. The first one was highly priced. The second one had several good sales.

Got a 3 tiered white shelf, a cute pink wicker stool, a platter, child's stool, a sprinkler bottle, an American Beauty paddle, and 3 spindles.

The third one had a cafe...yummy!

Wonderfully big, deep dish slices of pie. Hubby had peach & I had apple.

The final shop was just as expensive as the first.

Time went by way too fast...

Have a wonderful Wednesday evening.

Knot much...

Needless to say, I really don't have much to write about...I forgot my camera the other day. No pictures of the booth after a re-fluff!

Still waiting for my mom, she was supposed to be back earlier today, but was having so much fun with her old friend that she's...running late. Her dogs haven't been too bad. I think they are more than ready to go home.

It's been an interesting & busy last couple days.

I haven't had much time to play however,

my sister is going to have a scrapbooking, card making gathering next Sunday....

I haven't figured out what I'm going to take, yet.

Several of the girls want to get into scrapbooking, but don't know where to start. That's where my sister & I come in...she's the scraper & I'm the stamper...so we thought between the two of us, we could show them a thing or two. It should be fun.

Well...I'm off to take care of the gang.

Hope everyone's had a good weekend!

bags & tags

I've had a bag of material for months...grabbed the sewing machine and put together a few little bags. My husband calls them "And What Knot bags". What am I going to do with all of them? Who knows. Right now, putting little bunches of material in them. I might take a couple out to the booth to sell. They turned out really cute. Some have one handle or two.
I've sold many chalkboard frames out of my booth. I love them. So when I saw these little wooden tags at JoAnne's the other day...I had to do it. Fun little chalkboard tags!

Finally, I transferred an image I found for free, yeah free, from the Graphic's Fairy to fabric stick sheets for an ink jet printer and made myself a bag. I love how it turned out.

Hope everyone's having a wonderful Thursday. Myself...not bad...staying busy!

My mom's heading out of town for a few days, so we have her two dogs, my two, plus I groomed two this morning. We're going to the dogs in this house!!

Going to hit an estate sale in the AM, then re-fluff my booth so that it's all pretty for the weekend. I have several new things that I'm taking out. Looking forward to it. Going to the antique mall is my relax-mode time, even though I'll be working in my booth.
If I remember to take my camera, I'll share pics tomorrow. Until then.....
have a good one!

Whippet Wednesday

Poor guys...they get so bored with me taking their picture.
Really??

No, I won't give you ears.

Just give us the treat.

Tea-dying & dirty finds

Whew...I almost forgot to share my dirty finds from yesterday with ya.

Since it has been raining, sleeting and snowing today, I decided to tea dye fabric & tags today. My husband brought home a few tags from work...he saved them from being thrown away.

210 tags later...I started a few sewing projects. I'll share them once I'm finished with them. A brass 3 armed hanger, a lovey wooden box (a weakness), and I'm really not sure about the other thing. It's cast iron.
The cast iron thingy, a rug beater, and masher.

A metal recipe box, two more wooden boxes, a wooden and cooper spool, and a metal pulley piece.

With all the messy weather, I had a wonderful, productive day today.

The worse part, I had to go to the store to pick up a few things.

Hoping that I can make it back to the estate sale in the morning before my grooming appointment gets here & the weather permits.

Ohhh...I almost forgot...you should check out www.fionaandtwig.blogspot.com. They are having a great giveaway...."The Flea Market Style" magazine.

I'm thinking that's going to be my new favorite magazine.

Have a wonderful evening!