Friday 30 September 2011

I'm Seeing Red!

 
No, I'm not mad. I'm not upset. I'm just seeing red today.
      This is my new red dutch oven my MIL bought for me. She knew I wanted a cast iron cook pot
      for simmering roast on our wood stove. And she knows how much I love red. So this beauty is
      both cast iron and red! I can't wait to use it. If you've never had a roast that has simmered for
      hours on the top of a wood stove top-you don't know what you're missing girls!
      Red apples for applesauce!
This isn't red, but I ran across it while browsing my photos. I shot this in a restaurant
in Wawa where we went blueberry picking in August. I thought it was a turkey made with
ties. But as I look closer I see it has eyes. Creepy, I think! I do think someone with
imagination could make a turkey tie wall hanging. What do you think, is it cute or creepy?
Another question too- how long does it take you (on average) to create a post? Another blogger
friend was mentioning how much time it takes for her to post, so I'm just curious now as to
how long it takes most bloggers. I'm not revealing how long it takes ME to post on the grounds
that it might incriminate me or make others think less of me. So please let me know!
Have a wonderful fall weekend friends!


Wednesday 28 September 2011

A Hoot of a Give-Away!

  Hoot! Hoot!

My sweet blogger friend Trish over at Notes of Sincerity is having an October give-away.
I'm not going to give you the details, but I will tell you this white little hooter is involved!
If you have never visited Trish's blog, you are in for a treat as well. She eats, drinks, and
sleeps quilting, I think. How else could she turn out all those happy coverlets she makes?
I am on my way over this very minute to register,  and then I'm going to show you my
make-do autumn arrangements.

O.K. I'm back. Am I fast, or not?
Seriously, I am on this kick to 'make-do'. It all started with the whole de-cluttering
process. I think when you go through so much stuff and determine that you haven't
used it in years and don't even want it or need it anymore, it gets you to thinking about
your future purchases. I find that I now ask myself just how badly I want something or
really need the item before I just up and buy it on a whim- just because I can.
 
Last week I discovered that my box full of fall decor was stuffed out in the shed
with all the other boxes from what was once our garage, which as most of you
know is now the MIL camp. So this was the perfect opportunity to put my money
where my mouth is and 'make-do'! The pumpkin in my wooden bowl was 'free' at
the pumpkin patch and the gourds were a gift from my daughter. Not sure how long
this will last, but I'm really enjoying with the challenge.
This was taken yesterday, between downpours, on our way up to the Canadian Carvers gift
shop. My SIL brought my MIL back from Michigan and we had to visit 'The Voyageur's
Cookhouse' for sweets and tea and then on to shop. No, I didn't buy a thing.
How are the colors out your way? I really do love hearing what's happening where you live!
Blessings-Kimberly

Tuesday 27 September 2011

The Pumpkin Patch

   We had so much fun with our daughter and the grandchildren last weekend at the  pumpkin
patch! This was a new adventure since Emily and her family have moved from Des Moines
back to the U.P. But I have to say it rated an A-plus in my book as far as pumpkin patches go.
    Here is our little Lambert with a Billy goat. I think it's tickling his hand while he's trying to eat


Here's our adorable Starlet feeding the llama. This lady didn't want anything to do with you
unless you had food for her! Every 20 minutes the hayride would come with a new load of
people who would buy food for her. I don't know how she kept from bursting!

Starlet loves cats. I think she enjoyed this barn cat more than the other animals on the farm.
Probably because she could grab him and cuddle him!
Lambert was our designated pumpkin inspector!
Doesn't this make you want to start an alpaca farm? They are so sweet looking.
Now doesn't it just look like this crew is crying out, "Take me home"? We had lots of fun, but
after walking the corn maze, the hay bale maze, the pumpkin patch, climbing the hay bales,
riding the toy tractors, playing in the sand, and visiting all the animals on the farm everyone
was just plain tuckered out. I know I was! But it was priceless.
Have a awesome Tuesday friends. It's raining here again. That's fall for you!

Monday 26 September 2011

The Witch Is In!

 
Ever have a day where you feel like this lovely lady? Well, this is me today!!
We had a sweet, but short visit with my daughter and her family. We went hiking and a fun trip to the pumpkin patch, played games, read together, all kinds of fun, but then we had to come home......
Today my MIL and sister in-law are arriving so I don't have time to post the pics from our
days fun at the pumpkin patch. But I'll shoot for tomorrow on that.
Hope you all have a good Monday and  are not feeling as "Witchey" as me!

Friday 23 September 2011

Things That Count

  Isn't this just adorable? In my de-cluttering process I ran across this memory album
I had bought. I decided to list it on my etsy shop. All of it's pages were blank, but one
little cut out newspaper poem fell out. I just have to share it with you.
                                                                                                                                                                       
"Things That Count"

Not what we have, but what we use,
Not what we see, but what we choose,
These things that mar or bless
The sum of human happiness.

The things nearby, not things afar,
Not what we seem, but what we are,
These are the things that make or break,
That give the heart its joy or ache.

Not what seems fair, but what is true,
Not what we dream, but what we do,
These are the things that shine like gems,
Like stars in fortune's diadems.

Not what we take, but what we give,
Not as we pray, but what we live,
These are the things that make for peace,
Both now and after time shall cease.
                                                                                                                                                                   

   I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did. Have a wonderful weekend!

Thursday 22 September 2011

Kimberly's Bear Grazing



Hi Friends, I thought today I would upload another bear video for you. My husband advised me not to get carried away. You know boring you with too many bear photos, etc. But I assured him this is only the second video and I only have one more left to show anyway. One of the things that I've learned in my bear watching is how bears like to graze on grasses. I knew that they liked to eat berries and have found rocks in the yard that they have turned over for grubs, but this grazing is a new revelation for me.

We are heading over to my daughter tomorrow to spend the weekend and take the grandkids to the pumpkin patch. It is so much fun. They have a petting zoo and mazes, all kinds of neat stuff for the kids to see and do. Sure hope it doesn't rain!
Hope you all have a great weekend and I'll try to remember to get lots of photos to show off!

Tuesday 20 September 2011

Amish Quilt

 
O.K. I know what your saying,"What has a gnome got to do with an Amish quilt?" Nothing, nothing at all. I just think this guy is so cute and wanted to share him with you. It is actually a Swedish soap advertisement I picked up in Minnesota in the neatest Swedish gift shop. It was somewhere between Grand Marais and Duluth. The owner told me that he sells more of the signs than he does the soap. That's not surprising,is it

Now my Amish quilt. I made this many, many moons ago and then stuffed it in my cedar
chest.. During my decluttering process, which is still going on, I found it. I can't find any
reason to keep it. It's twin sized and I have no twin sized beds. I can't give it to the grand kids
because I already made them other quilts. It doesn't match anything. So, I don't know why I would
 keep it? Because I made it, I guess.  I have these crazy visions of when I'm dead and gone,
my children and grandchildren keeling beside the cedar trunk going through all the old stuff
inside it ouing and awing. Each one picking out something special just because Nannie made
it with her own two hands. OMG, I'm so silly, I know . But I don't care, this quilts not going anywhere. Not unless I have some change of heart.
This is the backside. Have you ever seen such BIG roses?
Here is a close-up shot of the stitching I applied to the edges. Do you notice anything
familiar about the pink fabric? Yep, it's paisley. I guess I was paisley crazy even back
then. Here is a short, but sweet, quilt quote I'd like to share with you-author unknown.
 I saw it on a pillow once.

Families are like quilts
lives pieced together
stitched with smiles & tears
colored with memories
and bound by love.

Sweet, isn't it? Have a nice Tuesday!

Sunday 18 September 2011

Mother In-Law Camp

 
 I really had not planned on showing the MIL camp until it was completed, but so many friends had ask me to post photos, so I will  and try to give you an idea of what it is you are looking at. I hope
you have a good imagination! This 1st photo is the large bedroom. The appliances are here because
my husband is laying the flooring in the kitchen area where they belong. The door in the corner is
the bathroom door.


This is where the kitchen sink will be located. The frig will go in this corner. As you can
see, there is no trim up yet. But aren't the views out her windows pretty?


This is so faded that it doesn't do it justice. The granite that my MIL chose is quite nice. When I take photos once it's finished maybe I'll have better lighting.


Have you ever seen a compost able stool? Really neat. This way we don't have to worry about connecting to the septic system.

This is a bunk room. My husband is building four cot sized bunks for visitors. He is waiting for the two small windows and new doors to arrive yet. These two windows were supposed to be in last week but when we checked on them we found out the two men who said they were ordering them didn't. I can
  understand one fellow forgetting, but two. Well, maybe they each thought the other had ordered them.
At any rate, it's going to be another three week wait! There you have it. There is still ALOT to get finished. He has to run the water lines, put in the counter tops, insulate the attic, install all of the doors and the rest of the windows. Oh, and custom build bunks! I'm sure I'm probably forgetting something too. Next photos will be when he is completely done.
Enjoy your Monday!

The Church's One Foundation


 
    Samuel J. Stone                         The Church's One Foundation                       Samuel S. Wesley

The Church's one foundation Is Jesus Christ her Lord;
She is His new creation By water and the word:
From heav'n He came and sought her To be His Holy bride; With
His own blood He bought her, And for her life He died.

Elect from ev-'ry nation, Yet one o'er all the earth,
Her char-ter of salvation, One Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy name she blesses, Partakes one holy food, And
to one hope she presses, With ev-'ry grace endued.

'Mid toil and tribulation, And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation Of peace for evermore;
Till, with the vision glorious, Her longing eyes are blest, And
the great church victorious Shall be the church at rest.

Yet she on earth hath union With God the Three in One,
And mystic sweet communion With those whose rest is won:
O happy ones and holy! Lord, give us grace that we, Like
them, the meek and lowly, On high may dwell with Thee. A-Men.

Photo: Our Little Church

Saturday 17 September 2011

bear video



This, my friends was taken in early summer. Now that I know how to do this, I'll show them all. But I thought I should do so in the order they were video taped. It did take 40 minutes to upload this to you-tube! I like to think I got a little better at video taping with each one. This one was a little shakey.
Hope you enjoy it-it's short, but sweet!

Thursday 15 September 2011

Farewell Hummer

 
This is my one and only hummingbird photo. We would have as many as five at a time fighting
each other over the feeder. Last week we were down to only one hummer. This morning, after a
night of high wind and waves, I found the feeder lying on the deck and syrup all over my screen
and patio glass door. I think it's safe to say they are gone for the season. I can't say I blame them.
After all, it's not as if they can enjoy the cozy fire with me. I will miss them, but look forward to
the new wonders that come with fall and winter.


Speaking of wonders, we had a Mama bear with her two cubs come to visit lastnight. They
were right up to the patio peeking in. I keep forgetting to take a picture, not a video, because
I still haven't mastered uploading a video yet. I have tried all the instructions, but it just
isn't happening. I hope they return so I can get a photo to share with you.

Our good friends and neighbors came by for supper tonight. We have known Wayne and Marg since we moved to the lake. We all attend the same church. When I asked if I could take their picture Marg said you're not going to put it on your blog, are you? No Marg, never!
This was a sunset a few nights ago . Since then it's been cloudy and rainy.
I didn't have any luck finding the fabric I wanted for my shams. I think I'll
wait until I go to visit our daughter and her family. The have a JoAnn's fabric
and a Michael's there in Michigan, so I'm hoping.......

Tuesday 13 September 2011

Dreary Day

It rained last night and has been dreary all day. Since it was only 50 this morning
I built myself a fire. No, no 'love' fire today. DH was already out working on the
MIL camp by the time I decided I was either going to dig out the mittens to put on
my cold hands or break down and build a fire for myself. I did hint at him building
it when he came in for something, but only got a look that indicated he thought I
was nuts.  So what have I accomplished today? Very little. As you can see I've spent
a lot of time drinking tea today. I am showing my tea cup for Vee at A Haven for Vee
to check out, as I think we have the same dish set.

 
This is the other thing that occupied my time today. I played my you-tube 'autumn leaves' several times. It was really good exercise for me. I would hit play, run and put the toast down. Run back hit play again, only different pictures this time, eat my toast. Then turn on HGTV (no volume),
listen to 'autumn leaves' again. I put a load of clothes in the washer, back to hit play again.
Well, you get the picture! I did this at least 6 times, so I definitely got my arobics workout  done
for today and for once actually even enjoyed the exercise!

                  Jumping to a new subject.
Now that I have most of the poofy paisley quilted I am thinking about the picture arrangement
for over our bed. This is my inspiration. The photo doesn't do it justice. The background is a
wee bit more vibrant, minty green. I'm hoping to find a shabby, floral fabric to make the shams
out of. I bought a metal medallion with my initial on it in Michigan on my way down to the
reunion. It was from a old cooking stove made in 'K'alamazoo. Then I also have an old
floral wrought iron medallion that I plan to put my DH's initial on. So many idea's, but
at the rate I seem to move lately, I may have it done by Christmas! Are you working on
any home decorating projects right now? Or are you like me, always got some kind of
          an iron in the fire?
          Take care friends,

Monday 12 September 2011

Autumn Leaves - NAT KING COLE



Dear Friends-I am such a huge fan of Nat King Cole and so many performers from the 60's. I grew
up watching all the old entertainment shows with my folks. And then I remember my mom waking me up to catch the bus by blaring the kitchen radio with so many of the great singers too.
I'm experimenting with uploading from u-tube. So if you can play this favorite of mine-I did it!!
Enjoy!!

Sunday 11 September 2011

While I was Working

Starting Friday I wrestled about doing a 911 post. I didn't want to. I don't want to
do a post that is a reminder of something unpleasant. I vowed when I started that
I wanted my posting to be positive and uplifting, minus any negativity. But I realized
 that certain aspects of 911 can be a positive story. It is a story of hundreds of
men and women that laid down their lives for total strangers. It's a story of a country
that when faced with a most unimaginable and incomprehensible evil, united together
with strength and resolve to combat these forces. It's a story of  hurting peoples who
at the loss of their loved ones has found the ability to face all their tomorrows without
those loved ones.  Oh, I have to admit like you, I still can't wrap my mind around the
fact that another human being could feel so much hate and have so much evil in their
heart that they could want to take the lives of innocent people just going about their
work on a beautiful September day. But I am thankful that I can't comprehend
this and may I never have a heart to be able to .

On Sept.9, 2011 I began my morning as usual. I went to work at the Shell gas station/convenience
store that my husband and I had just bought 2 months prior in northern Canada,
having  just moved here from our home in the US. We were
fortunate to have our home in the back and on 6 acres in a country setting. Everything went
along as usual. We were very busy in the morning with people heading into the city for work.
Sometime shortly after 8:30 my husband came in and told me one of the customers had told
him a plane had flown into the World Trade Center in NY. I was quite surprised, but thought
it was a small plane probably with someone who maybe had a heart attack or a plane malfunction.
After all, who could think anyone would purposely fly into a building? Since our home
was attached to the business, he suggested I run over and turn the news on. I did. It didn't
take long to register that this was no small plane and it wasn't any accident. Before I could
get back over to tell my DH so, I watched as a second plane hit the second tower. I couldn't
believe it. I ran over to the station crying, "We're under attack, someone has purposely
flown those planes into those buildings!" I was crying, he just stood there in disbelief.
All through the morning we took turns going back and forth between the house and
the station keeping the other posted about what was happening. Our dear customers
were coming in expressing their sorrow and support, as Canadians to me an American.
I know it sounds crazy, but I wanted to be there. I wanted to be back in the US. There
was no rhyme or reason to my feelings. I just wanted to be there to somehow fight
back against these evil doers. I knew there was really nothing I could do if I where there,
but it was just my gut reaction. DH and I ended up doing what I sure so many of you did- pray.
It's been 10 long years now. But we must never, never forget. Not only the precious lives
that were taken that day, but the lives of the men and women that are on battle fields now
as a result of that day. These fallen soldiers should be honored for laying down their
 lives as a result of 911 and their families sacrifices acknowledged , as well.
I  just say "thank you"  to all who have kept our countries safe.

Please take a moment when you have time to google: Gander, Newfoundland.
As I said, my new Canadian neighbors expressed their love and support for
the USA immediately. I have since heard of this small community where 38
planes were diverted on 911 and over a thousand people from 93 different
countries had to be housed and fed during this time. It's a wonderful story of
how this small community pulled together to unexpectedly 'entertain strangers.'
        Blessings,





Thursday 8 September 2011

Double Meaning



Hi from: 
This, my friends, is a camp photo taken from a Cabbage & Roses book I checked out from
the library. Now remember-CAMP.
This is a COTTAGE where one would go cottaging, right? OK, so now you are wondering why
I'm asking such a stupid question. We all know that a "Camp" can be a tent, a cabin, even a shack that one has situated in either the woods or the country. A "cottage" can actually be the
same, but I more often think of the beautiful English cottages scattered around the UK's countryside. But apparently these two words can mean something totally different in England.
A very sweet blogger from there bravely e-mailed me this morning to let me know this just in
case I might like to change my blog name. I am not going to go into any details here. I'm sure
it can probably be found on-line if one wishes to investigate the "alternative" meaning. Just
think of the word we have used once upon a time to say "I had a "jolly" ol' time.
So, naturally I spent a good deal of my morning debating about what I should do. Should I change my name? No! I love my blogging name and I had my own special reasons for wanting
to call my blog "camp & cottage living". But I didn't want my UK friends to get the wrong impression either. So I  e-mailed a favorite English blogging friend and she assured me not to worry about it at all. So it's settled I'm not going to-at all.
Now on to some fall decorating!
I bought these antler recently. They were covered in camouflage. Yuck! A man thing, of course. Don't they look so much better in the velvet? I have two fall moose pictures to hang with these to complete this woodsey, fally look.

I purchased these from Fabric Postcard.com and they are copyrighted, so please don't
copy them!!
These were originally purchased for pillows, but I think they'll look better framed.
Over our breakfast this morning my DH  told me he had taken some "nature" photos I
might want to put on my blog. I said, "Oh really, what was that?" I could tell by the
mischevious look on his face I wasn't going to like this. I just knew it had to be a photo
of me snoring in that "natural" way that I do. But he assured me "No" he would never
do something like that to me and expect me to put it on my blog. Frankly, with all the
work I had to do today I completely forgot about it. But when he brought it up again at
supper I thought it really must be something special so I uploaded the photos and  this
is what I got!!! A cobweb in our bedroom window! Well I guess that is an example
of "nature" at work and me not at work. He didn't think I would post it. But I'm
here to let the world know that I'm no "phoneyfit"! So there you go Honey!

I have a favor to ask. If there is anyone with any extra time on their hands
that can explain to me in elementary terms how to get a video to upload for
posting, I would be so....grateful.
 The MIL camp is close to being ready to
photograph. It's a long ways from being done, but it is really looking like
a sweet cottage now. DH is doing working hard at it every day.
I joined the Bunny Hop over at BunnyJeans Decor & More today.
Until next time, Kimberly