Bees Alive!

I wasn't too confident after the cruel winter. They are flying!  Honey this fall?

Snowdrops

Make me so happy. 

Toothless Plush

Finished just in time!

Directions and pattern here:

http://quirkyartistloft.blogspot.com/2013/03/free-pattern-toothless-dragon-plush.html?m=1

And We Have A Color!

Blue.

Strawberry Rhubarb Tarts for Thanksgiving?

Rather than a whole pie for two adults and two children. With a scoop of vanilla ice cream tomorrow - might be a new tradition!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hiatus, and a Lot of Changes

If my blogging has dropped off the cliff this year there are a couple of big reasons, and big changes. 

The first was that blogging is only a hobby - mostly a motivator to me to finish projects in order to post them!  It isn't a business or a way of life for me. So it comes waaay down on the list of priorities of activities to spend time on, I'd say after being a good mother, wife, daughter, friend, homeschool teacher, housekeeper, crafter, gardener, and probably some other things like being a person who goes to bed on time so she isn't a cranky wreck the next day. After all that is being a good or at least consistent blogger. 

Second, I love Pinterest (you can follow me over there - much more action) And I NEED Pinterest, because we are putting an addition on our house.  

Before. The double window on the ground floor is the kitchen. 

During. 

We are adding a family room, kitchenette/pantry and ADA bathroom downstairs (in case we ever need it the family room could become a first floor master suite) and a master suite upstairs, which this old farmhouse didn't have. Oh, and we added a porch and French door off the kitchen.

We expect to be as done on the inside as we are on the outside by Christmas. 

There are many frugal and crafty projects underway, two vanities and a kitchen cupboard from old dressers, a clawfoot tub to be painted black because it will be freestanding, a grape arbor from pipes, etc. Then there are just all the design decisions - it's like being able to get any book you want out of a beautiful library, but then you have to keep it forever ... And even if we were made if money there are still so many things I'd like to do myself. 

And finally, there will be FINISHING everything.  We moved in here with a 9 month old and a 2 year old so I just threw stuff in rooms and hoped I'd have time to sort it out later, like maybe when the kids are in their 30's?  I don't honestly know how some bloggers with beautiful houses and young kids manage it - I guess it goes back to priorities. So I solemnly vow to spend the time as we move in to the new half of the house to finish those rooms all the way, make full use of all our new storage, and then work on the old house to get them to match up in level of done-ness. 

Finally Hung Up My $8 Mirror

Why it took two months even after I bought the supplies is too long a story to tell here. It just needed a wire, people!