DRAGON'S LOYALTY AWARD

This award represents a loyal reader (because dragon's are loyal!)
I want to thank Debby from Just Breathe for this award. I love reading her blog. She has such a kind and genuine heart. She's just interesting to read. Reading her blog each day, is like calling a best friend just to say hi, how are ya? and she is one of my loyal readers as well. I'm just so lucky to have such fun, wonderful, loving bloggy buddies. Be sure to check out her blog.

So now I am supposed to list my loyal bloggy buddies. My "Sisters-of-the-Blog". These are people that read my blog regularly and comment. I have tons of people reading (as shown by my counter and traffic feed), but few comment. So this award can only go to the ones that comment since I DON'T KNOW WHO THE OTHERS ARE...

Sharon at Sweet Repose, dear close friend in blogworld and realworld.

Piper at Friends Candle Shed , my P.O.C. ! check out her blog.

Mary at Cohagen Chronicles has become a dear friend through the blogworld.

Jeannette (?) at ButterRum, she does excellent tutorials re: cooking, baking, love her.

Colleen at Main Street Memories All I can say is she will put you in a good mood and make your day just by reading her blog. Oh, be ready to laugh out loud!

Penny at Little PenPen I love her posts. Be sure to check her out.

Kathy at Glass Artist... a mentor in glass world... love ya Kathy. Her work is so awesome...

Debi at Life in my Studio Love what she does...

Lovella at What Matters Most what a sweetheart.. and a beautiful blog

Jan at Summer Sundays Always has something to share, and her arrangements are beautiful. Check her out and her place at Leola's.

Kitty at What Now? She visits me all the time... thanks!

Barb at Simply Iowa Love her!!! If we lived physically close to each other, we would be dangerous together. She flies all around the MidWest with her cute lil' blue truck.

Life is Good (Sorry. Don't know your first name) but a devoted follower and leaves the sweetest comments.

Debra at Common Ground the coolest decorating ideas and leaves dear sweet comments.

Joan at Anything Goes Here the neatest ideas, quick tutorials, great adventures in the world of estate sales... thanks for the comments.

and last but not least, Cher at The Texas Woman, my Tuesday entertainment... go to her blog and see. Love ya Cher, Mohawk Woman...

THANK YOU ALL MY DEAR BLOGGY BUDDIES,,,, I love you all.... You are the ones that keep me posting because of your comments, kind hearts. It is a friendship like none other!

Now collect your awards and pass them on to your best readers....

This post just took me forever... So if you don't have forever to spend on this project, I understand, it's okay.... I know I missed a bunch of people, I am truly sorry... but this little clock was going off in my head and all I could hear was tick, tick, tick,,,,, so time to go!!! LOVE YA ALL and thanks for commenting, I look forward to reading more....

MWAH TO YOU DEBBY, WEARING HATS TODAY

See that new award I just got!!! Look over there, on the right, see it? Thanks Debby from Just Breathe...I am soooo excited, but honestly, I have no time to type til tonight. I'm just sneaking this in while waiting for DH to call me.

Yes, I am "taxi woman" this morning because it is the first day of picking and that means being on call for anything (since I am retired, this has become my job of sorts).


The first day of picking means alot of adjustments so I wear many hats; tool finder woman, lunch packer woman, good listener woman (sometimes I need ear plugs for this role), taxi woman, to name a few... oh, there will be a few more hats in there, I just can't think of them right now and my phone is ringing, guess who it is?... yup, DH (dear hubby)... I'm out the door... type to everyone tonight,,,, see ya!!!

FUN FUN FUN...

Okay, so I have been playing with this glass on glass thing. I am having a blast, but have become a real recluse whenever I have been home, which is okay because we are going into our harvest season and I become a picker's widow each fall.... and when he isn't pickin', he's fixin' (the broken, not workin' equipment-of-the-day).

Here's the first one I have done. Pretty prim lil' crow..

WHEN YOU PUT THESE IN A WINDOW, THE LIGHT SHINES THROUGH THEM.

Also working on Christmas presents for the Iowa people....

(As always you can click on the pics to blow them up)

So are you thinking about Christmas presents already, like I am?

When you are in craft mode for gifts, gotta start early!!!

Got some fun ideas? Please share with us bloggers....

JARS

I wish I could get more into decorating these days. I used to put out tons of decorations for each season, each holiday. Heck, one year I even had a little Christmas tree in the bathroom
(I know,,,, WHAT.....who does that?)
But year after year, my decoration desire is deminishing.....
So, this is my fall decorating... just this little corner....
See that jar?

Well, Piper painted these jars and has them at the Shed. They are just so cute. You can put a tea light in them or maybe candy, whatever.
I just added mine to the fall decor.


She also has Christmas on her mind. I didn't want to say that too loud, it might start snowing and as much as I don't mind snow, I don't want it to start too soon.
So she painted a bunch of snowmen.
They are just cute as can be. Again, you could use it for any purpose, but they shine so cute with a tea light in them. There are polka dots on the front and stripes in the back that allow the light to shine through.

TODAY, START PUSHIN' OUT THE GLASS & A NEW BIRDHOUSE

So I haven't been to The Candle Shed for 4 days or so and needed to take some things in there and see what fun things Piper dreamed up while I was gone. This birdhouse was sitting on the corner of the counter. Isn't it just the cutest thing!!! I tell ya, she just gets better and better on ideas and painting. She said she has 8 more sitting at home to finish painting. If 6 months ago, I would have said, Piper, by September you will be knee deep in painting birdhouses, she would have said, WHAT?????

I don't think she ever knew how popular her birdhouses would become. She was even featured in the local newspaper!

Piper also asked me if I wanted to take a bunch of stuff to a show in LeClaire, IA the weekend of October 10th & 11th. At first I thought, noooooo, but the more and more I thought about it, I started warming up to the idea. Now I just have to revvv up the engines and get a bunch of stuff made. So that's what I am doing... I will show ya stuff as I go along. This is going to be a push, cuz I don't have much stuff at this point, but I also have 2 weeks..... so I might not be blogging alot!!

Gotta go!!! Boy, am I glad it is supposed to be raining for the next few days. That will help keep me chained to my room, cutting glass!!! If you get a chance, check out Grasshoppers, LeClaire, IA. I guess that's where we are going to set up!!!

DAY TRIP

We have always been spur of the moment people. I think it goes along with farming life because you never know when you are going to have a day off and when you do, you just go! Farming is a 24/7 occupation if you are self-employed and if you have livestock. I know all you farm wives are shaking your head yes....

So yesterday, I am doing my routine, coffee (always first), read blog, read newspaper, put in a load of wash (Monday is wash day for me)...... DH (dear hubby) says, "I think I want to take a ride today and check out some equipment (who knows at this point what equipment means! I don't ask, I just go along with it), maybe swing by and see Tracy. That's our daughter,,,, she lives 75 miles from us. For some reason, I'm thinking to myself, that's not just swinging by, but okay, I can play this game (cuz I didn't take Mind Reading 101 in school).

I said I could be ready in an hour and by his pacing, I'm thinking.... make it sooner. I announce that I am taking a shower quick (after all, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do). I decided to do everything; shower, hair, makeup, get dressed in super warped speed because we girls CAN when necessary!

and off we went!!!!

I decided, as we head into Iowa, to maybe do a Barn Theme picture taking blog. I quietly mention this to DH and he just smiles at me. By reading his mind this time, he's thinking....HUH????

I just have to keep myself entertained with my camera otherwise, I am telling him how to drive and that is one thing that just boils his blood.... so I just snap pics out the window... it is safer that way!

So these pics are me entertaining myself for what ends up to be a 200 mile trip to look at equipment and see our daughter...... left at 10:30. Got home at 6:00.

This flag is HUGE on top.

old corn crib

Alot of barns through out Iowa area have put what I call quilt patterns on their barns. You see them especially going towards the Amanas and Kolona. I like 'em!

This barn is kinda a landmark going to Columbus Junction. I have always liked it for it's grafitti. Kids have been known to drag their photographer out here for senior pics.

All in all it was a very enjoyable trip. We ate at a place in Washington, IA... Frontier Family Restaurant. Excellent food and packed with people.


and we stopped in Amana. I got to visit Sharon from Sweet Repose's new place.

I'll share those pics in another post.

Time to go... time is up.... I have been on this computer all morning and just need to MOVE ON!!!

YOU KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN GONE TOO LONG WHEN......

You know you've been gone too long when....

1. Blogger.com asks you to identify yourself

2. A reader asks, "is something wrong, you haven't posted for awhile."
3. You have to read your own blog to figure out where you left off.
4. You realize how much has gone on since your last post.
5. You go to read other blogs and you have 4 days worth of daily blogs to read!



Wow, I was amazed that 4 days had blown by, just vanished. I sometimes wonder how come these days go by so fast, but when I worked full time, the days couldn't go fast enough,,,



So here is what I have been doing since my last post .



Took my daughter in law shopping all day Friday for her birthday this Wednesday. She found an arm full of clothes and a pair of shoes and I found 3, HOLY MOLEY, 3 pair of shoes/boots. Anyone who knows me knows I hate buying shoes! I am not a shopper for myself. I would much rather shop for others... oh and by the way, I hate clothes shopping worst! I know, not the normal typical girl I guess!!






But then I got to go to the Candy Store, in my mind!!!


I got to go to the Glass Blast, Bettendorf, IA. This is by far, much better than any shoe, clothes, or purse fix!


Look at these beauties!!! and all 12x16 huge pieces of glass! I may be a little warped, but this was a heavenly load of glass. I just can't tell you how thrilled I get over glass. Hey, you glass people out there know exactly what I mean....




Then, remember this place from my post re: Atlanta airport, Charleys' Grilled Subs. Well, to my surprise, there is one in NorthPark Mall, Davenport, IA. I love the Philly Chicken sandwich. So lunch with Ami (d-i-l) was awesome!!!




Then home for a nap, I was pooped from all the thrills!!!


Saturday,,,,, painted the kitchen at church with a few other people.
went to a 4pm wedding
went to a 6:30pm retirement party


Sunday,,,,,, church, my turn to usher and I do children's sermon each Sunday, lunch, nap (I love
naps), grocery shopping (uck!), Menards (better!), came home and started working
on another idea I picked up re: bottles, copper wire, candles....
oh I will show you as soon as I figure it out!!!!


Monday,,,,, I need to play catch-up on the house and laundry. Got apples to work on (I make
apple pie filling and freeze it for the rest of the year). Still need to plant all those
mums..... and the list goes on and on and on....


See how fast that went..... time, such a funny thing....
When you want it to go fast, It doesn't! When you want it to slow down, it goes faster...


So what is your next project. Are you working on something fun to share???

Let us know, fill us in on your days that whizz by......

THE HUGE FLOWER THAT COULD....

Last year a friend said she had this HUGE FLOWERING PLANT outside their house that she didn't know what it was, but if I wanted a piece of it, to just come over and dig it up. Well, you don't have to tell me twice when offered outdoor plants!!!

(I can't have anything inside. My cat thinks it is a new source of food. He WILL TRY TO EAT ANYTHING RESEMBLING A PLANT, even if it is fake!!!)

Well, I have been known to put plants in the yard in the Fall and by Spring, I have forgotten I did it. I know, I know, make a diagram.... hey, that would ruin the surprise!

ANYWAY....

I forgot about this one!

This Spring, I saw this THING growing and for some reason I didn't pull it while weeding.

I just thought, let's see what this is and left it. Never watered it, just let it go...

And boy, am I glad I did!!!!!

This Hibiscus flower measures 10 inches across. I can't believe this made it through the winter, that I didn't pluck it when weeding, and that it sprouted this HUGE flower on hardly any stem. I marked it with a stick so NEXT YEAR, I will remember I put it there and it will have a chance once more to utterly astound me!!

This is a regular 8" brick just to show you the size of this flower. The whole stem is only 20" high and there are two more buds... WOO HOO!!!

ASTER-tastic and MUM-alisious

I love all seasons, but fall is my favorite. Cool, less humid air is a welcome change from the hot steamy summer and flowers!!! Oh flowers!!! I LOVE, LOVE the colors of fall. The mums and asters.... did I mention the colors!
Here are a few pics from yesterday, just me and my camera, taking it all in....

DAYDREAM - Aster

PRISCILLA - Garden Mum

TANAGOR?- Aster

PUFF - Aster

PRISCILLA - Aster

GINGER - Garden Mum

DAYDREAM - Aster

TANAGOR ?- Aster

So guess what I am doing today???? PLANTING......... outside all day.... just me and my flowers! Have a wonderful, colorful day!!!

TWO NEW......

I have been promoting the blogworld to two people that have enjoyed reading blogs and wanted to get started with their own. When I started my blog back in April, Sharon at Sweet Repose, held my hand for a bit while I was getting it set up and helped me tweek all the little parts that nearly made me cuss.
Since April, I have met some of sweetest, kindest people, who have literally become my cyber friends.
So, in order to keep the circle going, I have tried to spread my passion for this extension of friendship to others.

Piper, at Friends Candle Shed, had a blog started and just needed a little nudge to take some pics and get going. Please stop by her blog and see all the things that are flying out of her head and into wood, jars, etc. She is one of the most talented people I know in the creativity dept. Ya know, Sharon at Sweet Repose, and how talented she is...... yea,,,,, Piper, is her little apple that didn't fall far from the tree..... These two people ooze talent!!!! and humor comes along with it... I like being around them, they keep the spirit positive and their energy and passion for fun is inspiring!

Maria, at Hilltop Greenhouses, is the same fun loving kind of person. She is full of ambition and is in full swing with Mum Season. Her place is so inviting and her spirit is fun to be around. She was so excited in getting a blog started, we carved out a little spot of time last week and got her up and running in no time. Because she always has 5 things going at all times, she may not be able to post as often, but, I think you will always find her posts to be enjoyable.

SO GO TO THESE TWO NEW BLOGS, SUPPORT THEM WITH COMMENTS (we all love comments) AND ADD YOUR NAME TO THEIR FOLLOWERS LISTS. YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!!!

WHEAT STONE

I have been wanting to post this stone for some time, but because it was a commissioned stone for a gift, I held off until the gift was given. This stone was my biggest challenge yet. The request was an anniversary gift stone for a family that raises wheat.


I found this clipart and blew it up and asked if this idea would work. Then I found the color of glass that I thought I could make work.


I started cutting, cutting, and cutting. The more I did, the more I liked how it was coming along. This is after all the pieces were cut.





I held my breathe, said a prayer, and poured the cement. Oh,,, I was nervous!!!!! But I was pleased with the outcome. This is a 12 inch stone....


It was shipped and received and I am so glad that the person who ordered it was happy that it turned out the way she wanted it to.


If anyone is interested in a stepping stone, please email me at lrick4444@yahoo.com with your request. I like to have a month in advance notice, so I have time to create the design, cut, pour and cure the stone...

SHOUT OUT SATURDAY, KATHLEEN DALRYMPLE-GLASS ARTIST

This is Shout Out Saturday, and I would like to feature an artist from Texas who I have discovered in this blogworld. Kathleen Dalrymple - Glass Artist.
Kathy is a member of the Society of American Mosaic Artists, the Texas Glass Artists Association, the International Guild of Glass Artists, and the Weatherford Art Association. She is also represented by Artisans of Rocky Hill Gallery in Fredricksburg, Texas, and by Studio 2600 in Dallas, Texas.
Kathy's art is absolutely amazing! She does many things, but what attracted me, was her glass on glass work. I have had the great fortune of Kathy contacting me after I emailed her with some questions. Not only is her talent so extraordinary, but she is as sweet as can be with a real passion for glass work.
As many of us say, I sure wish I lived closer to her. I would love to see her art in person. Maybe someday! But for now, please go to her blog and view her incredible work!!!!

So this little 5x7 was my first attempt in understanding the art of glass on glass. I had so much fun, but there are some tricks and some kinks to work out...

I love it when the sun shines through...


I just love learning new ways to do ALTERED GLASS!!!

Please visit Kathy's blog. You will be amazed as much I was....

If you have a new way to feature stained glass, please contact me at lrick4444@yahoo.com.
I would love to learn something different and feature you on Shout Out Saturday.

EVERY YEAR AT THIS TIME MY HEART HURTS SO MUCH FOR THE TRAGEDY OF 9/11.
I HOPE EVERYONE REMEMBERS THE FAMILIES IN PRAYER.
I DECIDED NOT TO POST REGARDING THE EVENT THAT CHANGED SO MANY LIVES, BUT I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW IT IS MY MAIN THOUGHT FOR THE DAY!
GOD BLESS AND BE WITH ALL THOSE WHO ARE AND WERE AFFECTED BY THE DAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2001.

BREAKFAST

Every year we (our church) has a Labor Day Breakfast! It is a wonderful get together, breakfast by donation and a car wash by the Youth Group. This year was a great success.


The morning started out just beautiful. I was up to the church at 5:00 am. along with several others. After we poured coffee into each other we got the show going....


Robert kept the hungry people orderly upstairs while the little elves were cooking downstairs.


The tables were set, all forks and knives ready...


These guys were cooking the whole hog sausage from Reason's Locker... This is the best sausage...

These are the kitchen people. I thought I would bring a little color to the bunch!!! Three scrambled egg people, one egg cracker and one sausage gravy maker (actually Laura, second from the last) did a little bit of everything. She's the organizer.

We served soooo many, 300+, we ran out of biscuits, but that didn't stop Laura.

She whipped up homemade biscuits for an extra 50 people as opposed to telling them sorry we ran out. Then we ran out of gravy, but that didn't stop Laura.

She whipped up another pot of homemade gravy rather than disappoint people.

Nothing phases this woman!!! She just goes with the flow, leading the pack!!!

These people served the crowd, plus a few others missing in the picture. Then there was a whole crew that cleaned tables and reset them and a few others that filled the plates full of homemade rolls, muffins, breads, etc.

All in all, there are quite a few, 25-30, people that worked the Breakfast and another 10 that did the Car Wash.

I love it when our whole church works together for one cause all for the glory of God.

Praise be to God....

LABOR DAY BREAKFAST

Each year our church does a fundraiser, Labor Day Breakfast. This, my folks, is the-best-breakfast! And because I am a carb lover, I am in sweet roll heaven. All homemade, with the best sausage on the side..... The diet is on hold today.

My contribution this year....

BLUEBERRY SCONES

2 C. flour

1/4 C. sugar

1 Tbl. baking powder

1/4 teas. salt

1/4 teas. baking soda

1 Tbl. grated orange or lemon zest (I used orange)

1/4 C. butter/margarine (I used margarine)

3/4 C. buttermilk or plain yogurt (I used buttermilk)

1 egg

1 teas. vanilla

1-2 c. blueberries (I used fresh)

Mix dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Cut the butter into the dry ingredients with a pastry blender, until fine.

Mix the wet ingredients in another bowl then add to the dry ingredients, stirring with a fork until all the mixture has been moistened. Fold in the blueberries.

I try not to mix any more than I have to.

Drop by large spoonfuls onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet and flatten a little so the dough is not mounded.

Bake at 400 for 18 minutes.

This recipe comes from the Blog, What Matters Most? Anneliese's Low Fat Blueberry Scones.

Well, I'm out the door! I am one of the scrambled egg people, so gotta get,,,,,,, ya know,,,,

Chop, Chop, daylight's a burnin'!!!! (not really, it is pitch black out!)

Have a great Labor Day....