Adieu armoire!

Finally got rid of the old armoire. It was adopted out to a lady who also quilts, and who wanted it in her basement sewing area.  Her husband came with help to move it out of our sunroom, and I later learned the story of what happened when they got it home.  She said he insisted on its going into their bedroom. This thing is a piece of furniture turned MONSTER!  I  kid you not.  After dismantling the door frame, through which the armoire still did not fit, he dismantled the window frames, once more scoring zero on squeeze room.  So she finally got it down to the basement where she had planned it to be parked.  All I can say is, we are breathing sighs of relief to see it moved onwards to a new home.  Some things are just like that.

Easter weekend

Saturday it rained, so we did a little rearranging of our family room to create more space. I served Easter dinner, which was a motivation for our kids to help us move that furniture.

We did have a huge rustic Baltic fir armoire, bought at an antique store in Lexington years ago, which served the purpose of our media cabinet. But it took up too much room. So we asked for help from our kitchen cabinet carpenter, who created some cabinet door frames for a three drawer gentlemen's dresser (the kind with the little glove drawers on top) on brass casters, probably from the 1920's or 30's, bought at a friend's garage sale. Hubby got aluminum gridwork, finished in a brass color, and inserted cut-outs from this metal, making a screen for each cabinet door, which not only allows air-flow for all the electronics, it also allows us to push our remote buttons with success. We have way more room to move around, and I am trying to decide whether or not to look for a love seat, or a nice lounge chair with ottoman. Either one will be my comfort zone while watching tv. The armoire sits in the sunroom now, awaiting its transformation into a garden center/tv enclosure for the exercise times.

One thing I did learn over the last few weeks--everyone wants to unload their entertainment armoires! When I first listed ours on Craigs List, there were only 18 others listed for sale. In a matter of two weeks time, the number grew to well over 240! Obviously everyone else was also sick of the big things taking up too much space in their houses. Hubby was actually talking about putting it on our brushpile when we burned it, but I talked him out of it, for the moment.

Easter gifties

Had to try out the little birdie pattern I found on Pinterest the other day, so made up a few for some young sweeties in CA; the older sweeties out there got the swag.

Finally finished 4 placemats that match the quilted table runner I made last summer, just in time for our Easter lunch. Next project--putting new canvas seats and backs on our redwood deck chairs. I think the serger will have to help me here!

So far I have all the flowerbeds weeded of dandelions, baby elm trees and poison ivy. Now we just have to start mowing and trimming. Ahh the joys of spring!

Signs of Spring

The first crocus blooms...guarded by Mr. Lucky.

More beading projects for the Spring Youth Auction at our church...

And new baby stuff for a Spring Arrival...

Spring is in the air!

Every spring we grab at the chance to drink in the colors and fragrances of spring before it really arrives, at the Flower, Lawn & Garden Show in downtown KC. This year it was as beautiful as usual, and we even wandered to the opposite hall to see the home improvement booths. Since we now have a pup, who seems to have the wanderlust, we made it a point to talk to the dog training guys, and got some ideas which we are putting into practice, but which Milan seems to think are even more hilarious than chasing the geese/chicken/ducks/cats around. We shall see. So far the game score is: People ZERO Milan About a Million and a Half.

But at least we saw some gorgeous orchids again, and viewed the raptor rescue display, which is pretty neat to see because we have all those birds out here in the country, but close up and personal, they are truly magnificent.

Milan really enjoys running in our creek, and getting all wet and muddy every day. After viewing all the stone and water structures at the show, maybe I can convince hubby to build a rock-lined pond and waterfall big enough to suit our pup's needs (haha).

New puppy

We lost our Belgian Sheepdog Molly back in September, from severe hip issues in her old age. She lived a long and happy life out here in the country. And this past winter we missed having a dog as a pet in our house. It was too quiet. The cats were entertaining but we just missed having a dog. So one day a few weeks ago I was cruising Craig's List for pet adoption, and chanced on a half border collie/half Australian sheepdog mix, which looked exactly like Perky, our kids' grandparents' dog. So I emailed her, we traveled for several hours way up to the northern border of MO/Iowa, and found a farm dog, 8 months old, who was used to running after the cattle on the farm. We brought her back, an eventful trip, considering she was not used to car riding (luckily we had a drop cloth and old rug in the back of the minivan), and she came home to our house and cats. Violet was happy to see another dog, but our older cat continues to give her great disgusted looks. ALL the time! Milan is our pup's name, named after the town near that cattle farm. You pronounce it MY-lan, not the usual Italian pronunciation, but typical for Missouri--ask any Missourian how we pronounce New Madrid???

Anyway, Milan went into heat right away when we got her home, so out to the vet for her first surgical experience. She did great, came home with a cone, which just mortified the poor girl beyond belief, so we took it off and reminded her about not chewing on her stitches. Pointing at the cone on the counter seemed to send the message, because she quit. She is getting her shots series all caught up, and having a great time herding our cats, herding the neighbor cats back home, herding the ducks, geese and chickens back to their house too. This is truly a country girl, with a sense of humor and a big smile on her doggy face.

Winter crafting

Every January, I get stricken by the "love-bug", wanting to craft Valentiney stuff, in lots of reds, with hearts. So started in small scale, and sewed up some American Girl-ish stuff for the grandnieces' dolls, and it started a sewing trend. I had not been at that machine for a month and a half, and it was like returning to an old friend, just sort of picking up the friendship where we had last let it lay.

Then I tackled a recycle project, turning a sweatshirt into a jacket, cutting it down the front, removing the stretchy bands, and sewing quilt borders on instead, then doing some quilted applique on front and back. This is a birthday present for Mom, which I plan on sending out this week. Hope she likes it enough to wear while walking along the beach in San Diego.