Spring Has Arrived

Last Sunday, I got a call from our post office stating excitedly that baby chicks had arrived! I have to mention that I was a little surprised because they were here a week early and also I did not even know that the post office had employees in on a Sunday. Oh well ...... we certainly had some running around to do.

I did not have the chick feed and the chicken coop was not finished. So we drove to the post office and there in a box not much bigger than a shoe box were 35 baby chicks. I had ordered 25 females and 3 males ( a "free" rare breed chick was also included). I know this does not add up ... so they must have sent me extras ... just in case.

After much study on the different breeds I decided on a breed called Buff Orpingtons. Here is a little statement about them from the Murry McMurry Hatchery.

"One time years ago at our Hamilton County Fair the poultry judge was asked to describe the correct plumage color for this variety. Taking out his gold watch he said, "That's the color for Buff Orpingtons." And pure gold they are, symbolic of great value and high quality. Introduced from England in the late 1800's, they became one of the most popular farm fowls in this country. These are large, stately birds of quiet disposition. Easy to dress for the table they are white skinned, plump, and juicy, a beautiful eating bird. Their heavy, full plumage make them excellent winter layers, shelling out brown eggs right through cold weather. They also make excellent setters and mothers. These "Golden Beauties" have been one of our most popular varieties for years and years with their glistening plumage and pinkish white skin. Baby chicks are a soft light buff color."


Their first "pen" was the bathtub ...yes ... the bathtub. They have been moved to larger quarters now, they reside in a pen about the size of a twin bed. When we put them in the pen last evening they would just run and run ... so happy and free. They finally settled down and grouped up in a huddle to sleep.

Our 8 year old poodle, Smitty, was not sure what to think. But, he joins in the fun.

I will keep you posted about their growth and I know I look forward to the first egg. Hopefully by the end of summer.

I am off to work on the coop/tool shed.

Recycling Rocker

I don't look like a person that would stop by the side of the road and pick something out of the trash pile .... but .... I am. When I proudly tell people that may be admiring something in our house that .... I picked it out of someones trash .... they either look at me with amusement or start asking questions. Most of my friends and family like the idea of "saving" something from the unseen world of the dump and making it useful once again.


I thought it would be fun to share with you the rocker we just "saved" from the dump. As you can see it was still sturdy, in fact ..... I did the "sit test" and it was just perfect and comfortable.

My husband nailed and glued down the rush that had popped up, not the way a true craftsman would have done it, but it would certainly suffice for our front porch.


A little spray paint and a nice breeze to dry the paint and we now had a comfortable place to sit and watch the birds on our front porch!

So the next time you drive by someone that has something interesting at their curbside .... think about fixing it up for yourself or giving it to someone that can use it. Remember that the bigger picture here is about recycling castaways to make them useful again ... it will not only brighten your life but brighten our Mother Earth a bit more. Everything you do counts ... you just need it to count toward the positive side of the environment.

I think my next blog will be the recycled corner flat screen TV cupboard that my husband just finished.

Sewing Studio

Here are a few photos of my sewing and design studio, I couldn't help but notice how clean it looks in the photographs. It goes thru stages ... just like I do. I find myself in there late at night doing what I call "shopping" for the next days fabrics. It started out with all the fabrics in color groups but that only lasted about a month.

I just recieved a Nikon D-40x for a gift and am so excited to use it. It has been overcast here and needless to say I was not inspired to go out and shoot. I have just been experimenting around the house taking photos of the dog and a few flowers. If I come up with anything that is worth sharing I will certainly post it here.

I am just finishing up some luggage tags for my son's wedding and will be glad to get them off to Colorado. They are going to be small gifts for the guests to come to their wedding in Maui next August. I am so excited about their wedding as she is a world class woman and I can't picture my son without her in his life. I have alot of sewing to do between now and then to earn some money to get myself to the wedding. I hear things are not "cheap" in the islands.

Our reading group has grown to 7 now, and we will be meeting in March. If you have time and want to expand your thinking please read the Eckart Tolle book ... it is wonderful and planet changing.

Removing Clouds

I was so excited about Oprah's new book club selection, "A New Earth - Awakening to Your Life's Purpose" by Eckhart Tolle. That I decided to leap into starting a local book club, I have never done this before so this will certainly be something new for me. I called the book club "Removing Clouds"
So far 5 people have joined in my area, now I just have to figure out how to get us all on the same page so to speak.
I am reading his other book "The Power of Now" and it is just mind blowing to say the least. His words are certainly powerful.
Hopefully I will get some sewing done and get some new items on my Etsy page for you to look over.

Just Learning To Put Myself Out There

Please bear with me as I start this wonderful process of "blogging". I wish I knew as much about the computer as I do about sewing.

I will be adding a new line of luggage tags that can be used for ... well, luggage ... and diaper bags, school bags, computer bags and anything else that may need that extra piece of identification. I got the idea from my future daughter-in-law. I can't wait to see what you think of them. My mind is going at warp speed thinking of different combinations of fabrics and patterns.