I'mmmm BBBAAAACCCKKKKK!

This is my family 'surfing' the alligator...We were on our way to Raliegh for a craft show and stopped at this crazy little spot along the way. It's filled with creatures like this one, HUGE flamingos...It's really funny. There must have been 100 billboards along the way to make sure that we didn't miss it. Guess what? It WORKED! We had fun with all of the animals...

We had a nice time together...lots of laughs...lots of fun...

Enjoy your family time! You never know when you might have it again!!!!

Sunday, June 1st!!

Bark at the Park Day

Logan, Gome, Ellie and I had a nice time at the 'Bark in the Park' here in Columbia. I think that we all enjoyed seeing the beautiful dogs! Ellie had a great time - any booth that we would stop by immediately gave her a cookie or something! They had booths for people ice cream and doggie ice cream! There must have been 50 tents of crafts, doggie treats, doggie apparel and even doggie massage therapists, and psychics....Hmmmm...

WE had a nice 'family' day even though we missed Lane. It was a breezy early morning, but it was a fun 'girl day' for us!!

These beautiful Irish Setters and their 'people' are enjoying the ice cream!

The Rosewood Crawfish Festival

A very very breezy day downtown Columbia that day. as you can see in the picture we brought garden pavers to help anchor the tent! Met alot of great people and everyone loved the new items! My neighbor set up a tent as well. Even though they were slackers and didn't come early enough to be beside us (we had a palm reader instead???) she had a great turn out, too. WE thought that it was funny because we had been planning this for months and getting our inventory together and then once it was over we didn't know what to do with ourselves...we had free time that we weren't working on anything...Yikes...we weren't stressing about packaging and pricing and displays...funny...It is nice to have a purpose for crafting. We are going to look for our next 'purpose' and get started on that crazy path again! Yippee!!

The 'Stephanie'

(one of the new additions to the spoon collection!!)

I hope that catches everyone up a little bit on what's been going on in South Carolina...I will make sure that I blog when I get the pictures downloaded from our Memorial Day festival here at Sparrow Pointe!!

Well, take time to enjoy your family - don't forget to call them occasionally (my speech to myself) they like to hear your voice as well as seeing a blog and/or email!! Send pictures so they can see the fun you are having and most of all tell them that you love them!!

Enjoy!!

Saturday, February 9, 2008

The bait is set...

Ellie is ready and waiting....

Baby Kitty is ready and waiting...

Lucy is ready and waiting...

Yes, that's right we are all having a little touch of the Springus Feverus...Usually brought on by the beautiful days of sunshine and the warmer weather...Also the fever is usually spiked by the longer days of play time...

So until the official calling of Spring Time and until the day that the groundhog DOESN'T see his shadow, we'll all wait patiently by the door dreaming about the birds and squirrels that will be there to chase!!

Enjoy your warming days with silly things like squirrel chasing and bird watching!!!

Sunday, January 20, 2008

My 15 seconds of fame...

So, we've all heard about Mitt Romney's argument with a reporter about Lobbyist running his campaign...Well, guess WHERE that little argument happened??? That's right...at my little Staples store in Columbia, South Carolina...Our District Manager called about an hour before the whole 'thing' landed on us...A bus load of reporters, his body guards, and his 'handlers' arrived first and then he made his entrance. I handed him an Easy Button and shook his hand and he said that I was very kind...hmmm the presidential candidate thinks I'm KIND! Those were some nice words from a nice man. He was supposed to make it to the upstate but they were snowed in. I really don't mind being second choice because it was really exciting!

(we might have jinxed him, though...he received only 15% of the votes...eekk! Sorry!)

My 15 Seconds of Fun...

The night before the big Romney 'visit' it actually snowed in Columbia! Lane looked out the window and screamed 'SNOW'! like a little kid and went running around the house to find his shoes! We got bundled up and went outside to play. It was dark but you could see the quarter sized flakes! We must have took a hundred pictures but this one is my favorite. You can really catch Lane laughing because I was blinding him with the flash ( I was holding the camera in front of us)... That's Lane for ya...brings a LOT of fun and laughter to my life!

Take time to enjoy some laughter and silliness even if there isn't any snow...find a reason!!

Sunday, Jan 13, 2008

Baby Kitty, the jungle cat!

Just thought this was a great picture of Baby Kitty trying to hide! The picture really doesn't have anything to do with anything going on...just a really cute picture that really grabs the personality of this cat. We 'inherited' him from one of my customers at work. He and his siblings were found in a parking lot in Columbia. This was the last of the family and I was suckered (didn't take too much to twist my arm) in to making him a part of the family. He was skinny, sick, flea infested...and now he is a strong healthy playful cat.

Just wanted to make sure that you all knew that I have an updated website now! It's officially up! It's at palmettocrafts.com. A friend of Lane's really did a great job! I'm hoping it will help me with my business (if that's really what you can call it at this stage)!!

So, take an minute and visit it and ....you know the drill...

ENJOY!

(my two little Guitar Hero's)

Thursday, December 20, 2007

I know, I know, I know....

I can't believe that I haven't blogged since September, either!! My husband asks me every day if I have blogged and I just keep laughing at him...

A lot of things have been going on lately. I've really gotten into the crafting business lately and that has really used up any free time that I've had. I've been to three craft fairs and have done really well. I'm working now on my catalog to send out to the little boutiques that might just order some of the goodies to carry in their spring line. We'll see what happens. It's a fun venture no matter how it turns out. It's still a creative outlet, too.

This Holiday season has really turned out to be a real revelation to me. This really has been the first season that I haven't felt like I could just pass out after working all day. Goodbye to soft-lines forever!!! We have our craziness because the best gifts are electronic these days - digital frames, cameras, GPS, etc. so that part gets crazy, but nothing like cleaning out fitting rooms every 30 minutes to find out that you can't even see the floor because of all of the clothes!! My manager is even taking the week of Christmas off!! Who's EVER heard of that??? I'm taking the next week off and I'm really excited to get some crafting work done and to relax and clean up the holiday decorations. I really have had time to enjoy my family and my LIFE this season. This is really a first for me and sometimes I'm not even sure what I should be doing at times. I've gotten all of my Christmas gifts made for my staff, I got my presents off early to Texas and I'm really up on things. What a holiday season!!

We've planned to have a ham for dinner on Christmas Eve. I'm making my famous Mac'n'cheese (yes, from scratch if you can believe it!) and Lane is making is all famous mashed potatoes (again, no box will be used in the making...) The ham is coming from Heavenly Ham, so that's the only cheating (?) we'll do this time around. Logan is with us on the Eve so we'll celebrate and open our gifts then so we can sleep and make a nice breakfast for Christmas before Logan goes back to Mom's to have another celebration...So, yet another day of fun and relaxing.

Sunday we are going to the Trans Siberian Orchestra concert here in Columbia. I just can't wait. We haven't done anything like that as a family EVER! We are going to put on our Sunday best - no holey jeans, no tennis shoes...They are supposed to have a light show as well as a really exciting musical Christmas story. I'm tellin' ya - I JUST CAN'T WAIT!!

One of Lane's friends is working on a new website for Palmetto Crafts. I can't wait until everyone see's it. It's soooo professional looking! Lane is trading his computer building services for her web design services. She and Lane worked together and now she is working at a Columbia based web designing company. So, I'm getting a great look!

Here are some pictures of my crafty booth and the family at the latest craft fairs....

Take time to rekindle with your family this holiday season. Remember what it's REALLY about... Enjoy!!

Sunday, September 9th, 2007

Kitty

1999 - 2007

(Soo many things have been going on with me lately that I just can't seem to get focused on blogging. )

My dad's mother passed away two weeks ago. She lived to be 96 years young! She worked every day of her life. The only reason that she went to the hospital in the first place was that she told one of her co-workers that she was feeling tired. So, her co-worker took her to the hospital to see what was wrong. She had had heart problems for a long time and we were wondering if it might be the issue. She ended up having pneumonia, and a few other minor things. But all of the minor things really brought her down. When she didn't end up getting any better she ended up having cancer all of these years and we didn't know it. She lived in a the same house for about 50 years. Her streets were made of bricks! So, anytime a car went by it sounded like horse hooves going by! We sure squished about 100.00 worth of coins on the railroad tracks behind her house. That was the silly fun we had - placing the coins on the track, walking back home, listening for the train whistle and letting out a squeal of glee as we all raced to the tracks to search for our squished prize! Simple pleasures! She sure led a full life and everyone was there to send her on her way. She was buried near my mom and she had her funeral in the same chapel. She was soo beautiful. She was a crafter like my mom and they shared sooo many crafts. I figure that there will be a little more crafting in heaven with those two paired together again!!

The Life in the Yard...

Our Orange plant is really making us oranges! Who knew! We had to spread a little Seven dust and put some chimes near them to keep the critters away!

Our Tried-n-True Gerber Daisey! Never fails to bloom and bring color to the dead yard!

And even though it never bloomed this year due to a late frost, our hydrangea never looked heartier!

And who would have thought that our gardenia bush will STILL be making the backyard smell so good?

And my personal favorite - the hibiscus! It has the most beautiful samony/red HUGE blooms on it! And they just keep coming!!

For some reason I sure get a lot of happiness from our yard. I'm not sure why...I just love to mow it, water it, and then enjoy it... its that simple!

It's getting hard to type because the baby kitty has moved to my arms (like a baby) and I only have one hand now...

So, enjoy your family. Celebrate them here and now and when they are gone, think about the fun things they have ahead of them and who they will have fun with...Enjoy the simple things like a yard, a flower, a little baby kitty trusting you in your arms...Enjoy your family, no matter where they are, how furry they might be...

Sunday Part 2

Logan's Request

So, Logan wanted to make sure that you saw her pool pictures. They were all making up cheers and stunts in the pool so she wanted for everyone to see them. Well, here are the girls...playing in the pool...
Funny girls...


Again, enjoy the silliness while you can....




Logan

Savannah

Crystal

Sunday August 19, 2007

High School Musical 2
Sleepover!



I just can't remember being sooo excited for a movie to come out on TV! In my day you couldn't wait for a movie to come out at the THEATRE!!!
Well, I guess that things have changed and the Disney Channel has as well! Logan planned a little sleepover for her friends to enjoy the movie. We moved the coffee table out of the way and put up the blow up mattresses and Wa-La a slumber party pad! We taped the movie as it was playing so they could watch it all night long if they wanted. The nice thing about them being downstairs is that we were UPSTAIRS! They had all night long to be silly and loud. I think that they crashed about midnight and the TV was still going on at 6am when I got up. We made pancakes and bacon and the girls spent the rest of the next day in the pool! A really nice time was had by everyone. The girls are so nice, polite and they play really great together, too. You really can't ask for a better party as a parent than that, right? Only one time did one of the girls get their feelings hurt, but after I heard all about it and made everyone hug and say they were sorry, I was back out of the picture and they were back on to playing in the pool together!

So, enjoy these times when they are young and let them have some fun. You never know what 'parties' will be like when they are 16...

Monday, August 6, 2007

Tough times in the neighborhood...

When we first moved into this house we met all of our neighbors. We had a nice elderly couple behind us - Sarah and Mr. Bob. We chatted with them frequently over the fence - admiring their yard, chatting about the weather, etc. We found out about their family in Texas...The neighbors to the left of them had a black lab that we would always feed treats to. Occasionally the dog, J.J., would make her way to our front yard (found a sneaky path through the houses) and we would call her 'dad' and she'd call her and she'd come running back...A really nice neighborhood. Well, we hadn't seen them much this summer. We just thought that maybe it was too hot or too hard from them to get out. We saw their neighbor and they told us that Sarah was in the hospital. Then, she didn't pull through. So, Mr. Bob went home to Texas with his kids and now the house is up for sale...wow...

Then, we met our next door neighbors. They are an elderly couple. Tex and JoAnn. They spent their life in the military. They lived overseas and settled here in SC. Their kids live here, not to far away and they have one grandson. They have a beautiful backyard, garden, yard. We used to laugh that Tex would get up EVERY morning and mow his yard, edge it, blow it and then take the dog for a drive...He really does have the best yard! He's not very appreciative of us walking through his yard to get to our friends yard, so we take the long way and walk down to the street and then over to our friends yard...We try to be respectful. Well, JoAnn is becoming a little forgetful - maybe Alzheimer's? She asked me the other day if I was her new neighbor...I told her that I just hadn't seen her in awhile and that my hair was different. Maybe she just didn't recognize me. She said that she had never seen me before. I didn't realize then that she really didn't know who I was. Now, every time she sees me or Lane she asks if we are new to the neighborhood and what happened to the couple that lived in the house before us...wow. Sometimes I tell her yes, just to get through her frustration AND mine...When we are all outside, she comes out to figure out who we all are. Tex comes out and calls her to come back in. I'm not sure what they would do without each other...

Lane has started a new job with MicroPrice PC. It is a very well known PC Tech business to all of the small business downtown Columbia. They just had a big promo with MicroSoft. They had the big MicroSoft bus come for a promotional event. It was really neat. I went up to help out and got to meet a lot of the business owners of Columbia. A lot of the Chamber of Commerce members, City Council, lawyers, suppliers, architects, etc. It was really interesting. I meet a lot of great people at my job, too, but not like this. This was more personal. Shelly, the wife of the owner was meeting and greeting and I was kind of her gopher. I got everyone water, helped with the prize drawings and offered a smile to the people. It was fun. I took a nice picture of them in front of the bus and had it blown up at work. It was a great memento of the event!

I'm off to working my six day work weeks. BTS is taking over the world right now and I have to help sell and clean up after all of the craziness...

Here's to enjoying the joy of the kids getting back to school, football games starting, the air starting to chill...

We enjoyed the summer - now let's enjoy looking forward to the fall...

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Craftiness...

Meet Sadie and Sam...My latest 'sockies'...I found the cutest book and am just inspired by ALL of the toys inside. These are the first two cuties that I attempted and boy did they come out cute. Sadie is supposed to be a monkey, but no tail? Her dress was a little to thick to 'smock', but she's cute.







I can't remember this dolls name. Logan came up with one (you know the same person that came up with Inga and Flocka...so, no surprise that I can't remember this one...). She is from that cute book too. Her arms are kinda kooky, and Logan thinks that her pants are ugly, so we'll revamp her outfit and then she'll earn a face! AND maybe some shoes. In the book there are all kinds of clothes patterns for her.

And here is the book, the picture on the front that inspired me and the inspirees?? You have to check out the book or just email me and I'll send you pictures. You do have to enlarge most of the patterns to 200% so as long as you have a scanner at home or like me access to a wide format machine at work, it's easy.

And finally a craft I'm constantly working on. When my mom passed away we were talking about how she always knew EVERYONE's birthday. We thought that she had some great memory or something...Well, when my dad was packing to move, he found my mom's secret trick. A little recipe box with month tabs that had an index card with every one's bday/anniversary, etc. on it!! Well, I was at Goodwill about a month ago and found this vintage box with the month tabs ALREADY in it! I bought some colorful cards from work and started the process. Then I decided that these little glass pressed flowers that I got on my last trip in Texas needed to go on the top...I'm continually going to work on the box. I'm sorry to Donny, but this is the first time that I remembered (or even knew) that it was your bday! And I sent a card and a little crafty! And as I look through the tabs, the next group isn't until September! I'm ON it!

That's about it from here...I was digging for pictures to share with my friend from high school, so as I blog today, I'm scanning in some really embarrassing pictures from long ago to share with her here...

Enjoy the day, the things you make, and the way making something makes you feel!

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Blast from the Past...

So, I got an email the other day from my best friend from high school. Wow...Soooo many memories came blasting back. She and her family are living happily in Texas. She has been married for 19 years and has 4 kids...That's the life.

Ever think that there is divine intervention some how at work?? It's funny. I had been thinking that my husband has led such a diverse life - from crazy times in high school to growing up in the country with friends and homemade meals...It's not that he talks about it all of the time, but every now and again I get 'snippets' from his past life. We've only known each other for about 7 years now. I didn't know him growing up, from high school, from work...I just met him when he was going through a 'new' chapter in his life just as I was going through one, too. I was thinking that the only thing that I've done in my life is work with a little (very little) craziness thrown in for fun. When my long lost friend emailed me, it reminded me of the silly times WE had growing up. She reminded me of the days at the lake with our friends, just driving down the street playing music really loud, band practice, the blisters on our thumbs and fingers from twirling our flags, the white tape we would carry religiously to protect those blisters, the leg warmers over our jeans at band practice...and the boys of course. We were really good kids, we just had good clean fun - a little drinking here and there and some mean games of 'quarters' but we had 'silly' fun - not hurtful, mean, disrespectful fun...

I have to say that I really thank you, Sherry, for emailing me and reminding me of the fun we used to have. We learned a lot about life those years, shed a lot of tears, but I really feel proud of the Flag Corp team we were a part of - even to this day I can only think of the good things. (yes, I'm still a 'glass half FULL' thinking girl) You emailed me at a time I really needed to remember those times and you and our friendship. I don't really remember what happened to us specifically, I just know that we headed in different directions when all was said and done. I don't keep up with Nollie, Marsha, or Mary but Lisa White and I found each other a few years ago and she kept me up on the gossip with the group. I don't know what ever happened to Angie, Shannon or Eric but am really scared of that groups outcome...

So, I'll dig out some crazy photos of us during those years and shock my friends and family who keep tabs on me here...

Thanks, again, Sherry.

Enjoy your life. Enjoy your friends and family - past, present and future.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Back to Swapping...

Yes, I signed up for another swap. It's been about 2-3 months since I last swapped...I had lost my crafting mojo and have just recently found a few things to inspire me. I kinda forced myself into this one - signing up on the last day available so there wouldn't be any turning back. Not only did I sign up for this 'birdie' swap, it had 5 partners AND international!! When I tiptoe back into the swapping game, I really stomp on in with my big ole feet, huh? Well, anyway, this is my little birdie. I made five of them, but I can only get about half to actually stand. They really all have such cute personalities!! After I made these five, I got a cute little book with cute little stuffed animal patterns. One is a sock monkey (not your tipical one) and patterns for their clothes...I took the book to work and enlarged all of the patterns and they really are coming out cute!! I think that I'm getting inspired again to craft! YIPPEE!!

What are friends for?

It was bath time for Ellie - a little stinky from digging, playing, rolling, etc...So, she layed down and enjoyed the attention of us scrubbing, washing, picking at her, etc. Then, I brought her inside to help prevent her from rolling in the dirt again. Along comes her buddy to help dry her. Ellie takes the front, and Kitkat takes the back...They sleep together and sometimes you can see Ellie dragging something white and fluffy behind her - KitKat loves to pounce on Ellies tail and sometimes likes to go for a little 'drag' with her...They are really funny. So, I'd say that she is feeling just fine now. Our neighbor 'vet' said that she had had her front legs broken before, her whiskers are cut and she had a bad infection in her chest. Poor thing. She has a good home now until we find someone to take her in. She is a little tooo feisty for the other cats and I think that they see her as a nagging little sister. Funny.

Well, it's Back to School time at work and you just wouldn't believe the craziness. I didn't realize the competition for School supplies is soooo fierce. We had to move up one of our 'penny' ads just to compete with Office Depot and WalMart. We had pencils, pencil sharpeners, pencil boxes, glue, folders, etc. all for one penny!! So, if anyone needs any of those items, I promptly spent my .25 and got a few things to stow away. This week we are having a great .15 sale on paper, etc. Craziness.

We are getting plenty of rain around here now. It almost seems like time for fall because of how the sky looks. I know that my Texas family is getting drenched constantly, so I really can't complain about a few days of sprinkles and thunder! Hopefully they will dry out soon!!

Enjoy the rain, the great sales at Staples, and the thought of the kids going back to school!!

July 5th, 2007

Happy-Day-After-The-4th-and-Time-to-Clean-Up-After-the-Festivities-Day

Here we are in all of our tie-dye wonderfulness...We had a really nice day and we loved our coordinating outfits! The weather was nice and mild and the breeze was just enough to keep us cool. We enjoyed the day with the neighbors and cooked the usual hamburgers and hot dogs. We were all supposed to make food that was red, white and blue but I fell a little short in that category. Logan, Lane and I decided that we would make a cake and mix up some icing in those colors...Well, once we got started with the icing we fell a little short on the colors...

So here is our cake that is celebrating the country of IXPLADKLFN and their independence day. We celebrate ALL countries in our little Sparrow Pointe....

Logan and her patriotic self! She and the other girls were drawing flags and goodies with the all time favorite item - side walk chalk. You can never have too much of that!

You'll notice that there aren't any pictures of Ellie as she is a fradey-cat when it come to fireworks. She was decorated with plenty of ribbons during the day to be a festive part of the family, but when it was time for fireworks, she became a happy dog in the laundry room with the door closed. That is her favorite spot when there are storms and fireworks. We read up on a lot of issues with the Golden Retrievers and the experts say that they need a spot that is THEIRS that is dark and quiet so they can relax and feel safe...Well, thanks to a big laundry room that is in the middle of the house with no windows, etc. we can put a load of laundry in for a little drowning out noise and she's a happy camper!

I hope you all enjoyed your 4th. We did and we enjoyed our day with our friends!

Time to clean up the neighborhood now!

Enjoy the holiday!