Adventures with Belle

I've had so much going on this week I can't remember what I've posted and what I haven't. Please don't say I'm getting old, 'cause I surely don't need another reminder of that!

I had Belle come stay the night this week and we had the best time. We started out by going to watch my son-in-law play ball, but the real interest for the kids was climbing the bleachers. I'm thinking they should make this an olympic event for pre-schoolers. It seems with lightning speed they escape your reach and head for the highest possible place.

Believe it or not I can actually remember walking across the top of a neighbor's swing set just to hear her squeal for me to get down before I broke my neck when I was a kid. I can't imagine why that gave me such pleasure, or why that is one of the memories that sticks out from childhood, but it did, and it is, and now I'm being paid back in spades! I did not disappoint either, for I'm sure my screeching was just as frantic and entertaining as the neighbor's from my early days.

After the ball game we headed back home. When we climbed into the car immediately Belle spotted some alphabet cookie

cutters I bought recently at a yard sale, and asked ever so sweetly, "Mimi, I want to bake sumfin wif you?" Since it was really late I promised we could do that in the morning and we headed to bed. She loves to bake and to wash dishes.

The next morning we had a tea party with some dolls, then, as promised, we headed to the kitchen, and I asked Belle what she wanted to bake. She said, "I want to make my mommy a pie." So we made a pear cobbler. When it came out of the oven I announced my plan to take it to her mom while it was still hot.

Belle was not ready to go home so while I put the pie in the car she found a very good hiding place and parked herself ever so quietly there. I ran through the house frantically like a crazy person, first thinking she was hiding, then not so sure, then in

a real state of panic started to think of really frightening scenarios. I finally called her mom even though I feared she would never let her stay again. I mean who loses a three year old when there are just the two of you? After a great deal of commotion we finally found her smiling quietly sitting under my sewing table with a mischievous little smile.

Now who would ever think that this little innocent face could scare a body so badly?

Video Tutorial by Angel Eyes

All of these wonderfully, crafty ladies have the most amazing craft tutorials on their blogs. While I love piddling at all kinds of creative pursuits I don't feel qualified to show anyone else how to do anything. However, my six year old grand-daughter has me beat!

Angel Eyes wanted to do a craft to enter in the fair. After looking around for something different and eye catching that a six year old could pull off by herself I found several sites showing how to make tie dyed shirts using permanent markers and alcohol. (here is one of those sites) It looked promising so I got out an old shirt and tried it myself. Then I told A.E. I had the perfect idea for a fair worthy craft. She was so excited because she loves tie dye and has been wanting to try it for a long time.

She came over and we got everything out and set it up on the porch and began to work. After trying her hand at it A.E. exclaimed, "Hey, Mimi, we can do our own craft video! Quick go get your camera! Pleassssse!!!!"

Of course I did, and without any instructions other than, "Don't use your real name, and talk so I can hear you." I started the camera rolling. Here's what happened:

One note, we pulled an area of the shirt over a bowl with a rubber band before we began. I think she did pretty well for her first try. If you scroll down to yesterday's post you will see her shirt won a first place ribbon!

County Fair Ribbons

Here are pictures of the ribbons we won at the fair.

Angel Eyes won a ribbon for her tie dyed shirt. I'll be posting a video of her making it later.

my daughter's apron

my mom's needlework

various pickles, jams, preserves, relishes and salsa

and cinnamon rolls, yummy!

County Fair

One of my favorite things about fall is the fair. We take our kids and grandkids and all head out together to ride rides, view exhibits, pet the barn animals, and eat greasy fair food.

This year was no exception. We have been talking about it for weeks and planning what competitions we would enter. My dad entered a painting, my mom entered a piece of needlework, my daughter entered some of her canning, some cinnamon rolls, and an apron, my grand daughter entered a tie dyed shirt, and I entered some of my canning as well. It was so much fun and so exciting when four generations came away with ribbons.

This is one of the highlights of my year, having the kids and their families together, and all of us enjoying the evening.

Great Goodies

I have so much to post about tomorrow! I'm just too tired tonight, but I have to show you the lovely things I won over at Becky's blog Sew in Stitches. Aren't they beautiful! I adore vintage linens and aprons so winning this apron and kitchen towels made from vintage linens was a double happy! Thanks so much Becky! Go check out her blog, she's always having cool giveaways, and has some nice stuff in her etsy shop. There is a fireman's apron in there that I think is so cute!

Giveaway Winner and Family Birthdays

Congratulations to Liz who won the CSN giveaway! Have fun spending your gift certificate!







We all enjoyed a family birthday celebration for September and October birthdays combined. I know I've said it before, but I truly love my family, every last one of them. Thankfully they love me too, even when I show up at a party looking like a complete clod, such was the case tonight. I have been putting up pear preserves and jelly, and worked until the very last minute tonight, then flew out the door in a tissy, forgetting a gift and the salad dressing I had made, I did remember the salad though. I left with my apron still on, and wore it all night which might not have been so bad, it clashed awfully with my blouse, which I had planned to change too, but didn't. Oh well, like I said, I'm so thankful they love me just as I am, even if they do snicker tonight behind my back for my squirrelly behavior. (I'm sure I would have too had it been one of them.) Happy Birthday to Spidey, Baby Dino, my precious daughter-in-law, and my middle brother. I love you all, and hope God blesses each of you with many, many more birthdays!

CSN Giveaway Ends Today

Get your name in the pot today for the $35 gift certificate from CSN stores. I'll be drawing the winner this evening. Check out the details here. Have a wonderful day!

Giveaway Scout

If you like to enter giveaways, and who doesn't right? You need to head over to Giveaway Scout. They scan oodles of blogs daily to find the best giveaways and provide links for you to go enter any that interest you. I've won several cool things this year through giveaways, as a matter of fact I'll be blogging about one soon. Go check out the site and see what you can win!

Lovely Day

Yesterday was such a lovely day. Sweet Cheeks and Scooter came for a visit, and of course wanted to go visit the cows and horses, so we headed that way.

It started out as a nice little stroll,

then progressed to

dancing, skipping, playing,

and just enjoying the day.

Then we encountered this fella, and ekk!!! He wouldn't move! He would not even budge from his place in the middle of the road.

He almost ruined our day!

Thankfully, I had my cell phone with me and called my son who came and rescued us.

Then the sun began to set...

So we all had a popsicle, and everything was better again!

Kitchen Help

I had the cutest little kitchen helper the other night. She came in while I was cooking, put her cubby, little hands behind her back and ask ever so sweetly, "Mimi, can I wash the dishes please?"

Well, what was I going to say to that? "Of course you can!!!" I hope she always enjoys this chore as much as she did this time! She washed them all and put them in the other sink, dryed her hands, and hoped off the stool and proclaimed, "I'm finsihed." Such a doll she is.