Perry Hall Craft Show...Set Up Done

Spring in Perry Hall Craft Show

All set up for the Perry Hall Craft Show for Spring. This is a drop off show which will run for 2 weeks and I can be back in the studio while my items are being sold for me.
My friend Sheila has been running the show for years.
She also has a show in the fall for Autumn and Christmas goodies


There are 50 or so vendors who make a variety of items.
You can click the link above for pictures of the show displays.

The show also has an area of vintage and used furniture. I found a glass topped table and two chairs that I just had to have for my porch to replaced the table and chairs that were lost or damaged when we had the tornado pass over us in the fall.
Also there is a section of gently used children's clothes. I found 4 Hawaiian print shirts for Dylan, some shorts and several other summer shirts and paid a total of $14.00

I am loving this adorable little girls sundress with the embroidered daisy.
One of my favorite pieces in the show.

Also, I need to tell a funny story about the wine bottles that my longtime friend Connie of Wood and Wax decorates and puts lights. I was collecting empty wine bottles for her and so was my younger daughter Meagan. I had shopping bags full of empty wine bottles in my kitchen sitting by my recycling bin. When my son-in-law Chad saw all the empty bottles, knowing that my husband never drinks, he told Holly he was worried about me...maybe I had a drinking problem.
Gotta love a guy who worries about his mother-in-law.

Adult Truths...

Received this in an email today...thought I'd share.

Adult Truths

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

2. Nothing is worse than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How the heck are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died..

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories..

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to..

14. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

17. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

19. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?

20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

22. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

23. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time.

24. The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important.

Ladies.....Quit Laughing.

Heal the past, live the present, dream the future.

Enjoy life!!!

Grandparents...Who knew?

Your life certainly does change when you become a Grandparent. On Friday night, Lou and I met Donna and Ron, my aunt and uncle, for dinner at the Gunpowder Lodge. We hadn't seen them since Christmas and had lots of catching up to do. They both retired at the end of last year and had spent 6 weeks in the land of Mickey Mouse (Orlando, FL). And what did our conversation keep coming back to...our grandbabies!

Their grandson Paul was one last week...A birthday party for his First Birthday was held on Sunday. He is such a happy, beautiful child and just loved the birthday cake his Mom Mom made for him.

Dylan loved the bubbles...

We all talked about how these precious blessings have so filled our hearts and lives and how, after spending a day with them, we are just worn out. It is such an overwhelming love.

And of course, the above is soooo totally true.

In Your Easter Bonnet...

This week I've been getting back to my routine after having the Darlin' D boy here with us for 6 days while his parents were at a wedding in Florida. I painted and shipped orders and finally was able to take some photos of some new springtime goodies.

This shabby Rabbit Welcome sign is a redo of one of my patterns I used years ago. Sometimes old is new again. This can be used for Easter and all spring and summer.

You can make any basket an Easter basket with this Bunny Ornament to tie on.

I painted the lids on some canning jars with pastel colors and little rosebuds.
Fill with buttons, sweetener packages, jellybeans, tea, coffee, soaps.
A sweet addition to your kitchen or bathroom.

A new Happy Easter Sign of Pansies to hang on the door or display with

an Easter basket and eggs.

And here are the best photos...That's me on right, with Donna, my aunt in 1955. We are all dressed up for Easter...complete with our Easter bonnets. Taken in front of my Grandmother's house on Nicholas Avenue in Baltimore.

And me with my Easter basket. I am loving scanning these wonderful old photographs.

Nothing Stays the Same....

Yesterday we took Darlin' D to the Maryland Zoo and much has changed since I was last there. I believe the last time, I was on a field trip with Meagan when she was in middle school. The trip was sponsored by the Art Department and the kids were to do quick drawings of the different animals. It was then called the Baltimore Zoo. When the girls were young, there were many times when Lou and I took them to the zoo for the day.

The whole layout of the zoo has changed. There are no longer cages next to cages as you walk down one main walkway. It has gone to habitats for the animals which is so much nicer and this had been started years ago. But now it is all larger areas which is wonderful for the animals and great walkways of stone and wood where many visitors can view the inhabitants of each area.

Lou and I became aware that taking a toddler to the zoo as Grandparents is much more tiring than taking a toddler to the zoo as Parents. Also, we are much slower. When we pulled into the parking lot with all the young parents, we were still getting Dylan out of the car and into the stroller, tucking the diaper bag into the compartment in the back of the stroller, and the "parents" were already pushing their strollers to the entrance, leaving us in the dust.

There are many wonderful sculptures now throughout the zoo. The lion above has been there for years. We have a photo of Holly sitting on one of the pair when she was two years old. The lions have been moved from their original location. Unfortunately, Lou didn't get the whole lion in the photo.

The photo below is outside the Polar Bear exhibit

And what thrilled Darlin' D... Playing with a stick!

I plan on putting together a book with the photos of the animals I took for Dylan so he and I can sit down and remember our day at the zoo.

Am I The Only One Who Still Uses Clothes Pins?

I do believe that spring has sprung in Carney, Maryland today. Clear blue sky, yellow daffodils popping open, and the air smelled, well like, spring.

A great day for washing curtains and windows. Before Dylan (we are loving having him here with us) woke up this morning, I took down the curtains in our bedroom and the kitchen and tossed them in the washer. Dylan woke up and I gave him breakfast and fed the dogs. (yes we have Dre here too while Holly and Chad are out of town for a friend's wedding) After the curtains finished washing, I took them out and hung them on the clothes line we have in the backyard. What a comedy...the two dogs chasing each other around the yard, Dylan running behind them. Then Dre decides to lift his leg and mark my laundry basket, with freshly laundered curtains still in it. I scream at Dre and Dylan starts to cry. I took those two panels he marked, threw them back in the washer.

I think that I may be the only one in my neighborhood who still "air dries" my laundry. Any of you out there who still hang out the wash?

After the curtains were hung out to dry, Dylan and I took a little ride to visit my Mom, Dylan's Great Grandmother. Those two are buddies!

Got the windows washed and curtains back up while the boy took his nap...

I Love Lucy...

I do love Lucy...I named our darling pooch Lucille Esmerelda McGillicuddy, Lucy's maiden name on the timeless I Love Lucy television show. Granted, my Lucy girl is not a redhead, but she does look pretty in pink.

Just love this Lucy quote. It will be a great gift for my sister, who has a collection of Lucy dolls and other Lucille Ball memorabilia.

Kindle...

I have been on the fence about purchasing an electronic reader. I love to read, although lately I haven't had much time to do so. I mentioned to Lou and the girls I was thinking about getting one, but really wasn't sure I would be willing to give up the feel of book in hand. Several weeks ago, the decision was taken out of my hands. For my birthday the husband and daughters gave me a Kindle.

I love being able to choose books while sitting at home. It's comfortable to hold and I don't miss the feel or smell of the paper. I was glad to be able to read and to connect to the internet while at the H&G show the past two weekends, but I transported it wrapped in a tea towel so it wouldn't get scratched while in my purse.

When my friend Shar heard about the towel, she whipped up this fabric cover for my Kindle using flip flop fabric. It seals with Velcro. She also made an eyeglass case and change purse to match so looks like I'm ready to go.

New Week

Getting a slow start on this beautiful morning. The two weekend show is finished and when I make it up to the shop today, I can slow down the pace a bit. Setting up at the home show makes you want things. I'd like the patio above, complete with the Disney World like shooting fountain.

It's going to be a fun and interesting week. We are going to have the Dylan boy staying with us for several days. Looks as thought the weather will be warming by the end of the week so I'm hoping for a trip to the zoo. We haven't been to the Baltimore Zoo since our girls were small.

Also, the OBG Cocker Spaniel Rescue could use some help. We love our Lucy and there are so many other fuzzy faces that need the love of a family of their own. If you have a moment and could click on the vote for a shelter link below the doggies would appreciate it. Enter "oldies" as the rescue & VA as the state.

Vote for a Shelter

Dragging my feet long enough...off to package some orders to be shipped...

A Springtime Pleasure...

When I was a child, my Mother taught me the pleasures of gardening. I remember one of the first plants she introduced me to was the pussy willow. The huge bush growing at the very end of the backyard had started as a cutting she was given by a friend. When Lou and I moved into this house 36 years ago there was an enormous pussy willow in the yard which brought back memories of childhood. Unfortunately, it was not as beloved by my husband as it was by me. As he extended the driveway to the back of the house, he "accidently" ran into so often that it met an untimely death. I still have not forgiven him for that one.

In the garden section of the Home and Garden Show, there was a nursery with cuttings of several varieties of pussy willows. I purchased 2 large bunches and they are now in a tall glass vase and I'm hoping to soon to have a new bush in my garden, and also to share with the daughters for their gardens. I've already let Dylan softly touch them. Maybe he'll have memories of his Mom Mom showing him that fuzzy little plant.

There Are Three Kinds Of Men...

Found this quote by the humorist Will Rogers.
Had it at the show this weekend.
The Ladies laughed and the Men rolled their eyes but didn't deny it...

There are Three Kinds of Men

I had a visit from my friend Dee on Sunday and she laughed at the quote too. She told me that she and her husband were looking into electric fences to keep the deer away from their plants. Dee told me to go to YouTube as many videos had popped up while searching.
This one is from a National Geographic Mythbusters type of show.

Ok Guys...I realize that there are many man bashing sayings in my list of signs.
But hey...You're just so easy!

Lucy's Revenge...

While we were at the Home and Garden Show...

Lucy let her Dad know that she really doesn't like being left behind. She chewed out the heels and toes of 3 pairs of Lou's socks.

Not just a Darlin' D Post

I know, I've been absent for a while. We have been getting ready for the MD Home and Garden Show. Many early mornings and late nights. We set up for this two weekend show yesterday and had to be there at 9 this morning for the show opening. I took pictures of the display and some of the new items we've been working on planning to post those tonight but it's not gonna happen. The camera is in the truck and I just can't get these two old feet to shuffle out to the truck to retrieve it.

Although today was not a great financial success, we had so many friends come to visit us at the show, that it was a heartwarming success. First, my friend Shar and her husband Bill stopped in, bringing us homemade vegetable beef soup for lunch. What a sweet thing to do. Then I had a wonderful surprise visit from my longtime friend Gail. We worked together at Montgomery Wards in the display department 25 years ago. We go for long periods not being in touch, but the friendship is one even if we haven't spoken for a long time, when we do, it's like we were just together yesterday. She made a special trip after seeing on facebook that we would be participating in the show. My son-in-law's Mom stopped by and we gushed at what an amazing grandson we have. And then, Lou's childhood buddy David and his wife Ann stopped by to see us. All these wonderful people made for bright spots in a very long day.

Then we get the above photo of Darlin' D sent to the cell phone...just gotta smile at that dear little face.

I want to thank those of you who have checked in with me to be sure all is well. Just haven't been blogging as there haven't been enough hours in a day to do it all. I have been checking in on you...just haven't had time to comment. Hopefully things will get back to normal (as normal as things can get around here) after the second show next weekend.

Sleep tight all!