How much Love can One Heart Hold?

What I did today...spent the day loving
and taking care of the grandbabies...
At the end of these days with the children...
I realize I am not as young as I use to be.

But being a Mom Mom is the most wonderful thing.
I have truly been blessed.

Workin' on Spooky Stuff...

That Spooky, Full of Fun Holiday

is quickly approaching and I have been busy working

on some new Halloween decor...

A Witch and Her Little Monsters

 Ghostly Things

Jeepers Creepers

www.countryworkshop.net

A Sad Day in Baltimore County...

This morning I watched the neighborhood children standing on the corner, waiting for the bus.  It was the first day of school in Baltimore County.  I then made my way up to the shop to print shipping labels and package orders to get them ready in time for the mailman to pick up so that I wouldn't need to make a run to the Post Office.

I received a phone call from an old friend who was at work and had been told by one of his co-workers that there had been a shooting at a Baltimore County school.  He called to ask me if I had the tv on...he wanted to know which school.  His wife is a teacher at one of the local elementary schools...he needed to know she was safe.  I flipped the television on and found that there had been a shooting at one of the local high schools...one within several miles of my home.  My girls didn't attend Perry Hall High School but several nieces and nephews did graduated from this top rated school. 

A 15 year old boy went into the cafeteria, with a sawed off shotgun under his shirt.  He shot a 17 year old student who is still in critical condition at Shock Trama.  Comments by reporters said the shooter had posted on Facebook in the morning that this would be his last day on earth.  Thank goodness for a courageous guidance counselor, a former student from this school, who tackled the shooter before he could fire at any of the other students in the cafeteria.  The shooter is in custody. Still many questions to be answered.

I know it is what any of us would think...I didn't believe a senseless act of violence like this would happen our neighborhood schools.  It has shaken me to the core...I can only imagine what the parents of all the students were going through as they headed to the school to find their children and knowing only that there had been a shooting on this first day of school.  Praying tonight the victim will recover.  And praying for the families of both the victim and the shooter. 

I also a want to thank the brave young man, who without thinking of his own safety, stopped what could have been another Columbine. 

Thank you Jesse Wasmer
Guidance Counselor Lauded As Hero

Z is for Zinnia...

photo via flickr.com/photos/wayne

Zinnias...
the first flowers I ever grew. My Mother and I planted seeds when I was a child and watched them pop out of the soil and grow a bit every day.
I believe that started my love of gardening.

A lovely memory...

National Dog Day...

 National Dog Day?
...Lucy thinks it's National Dog Day everyday. 
But we did have a few extra wiggle butts here today to help celebrate.

 My brother's pup, Callie Lou, has been staying with us for a few days
while her parents were away.

And grand dog Dre was here with his humans for family dinner.

Lucy had her very favorite pooches here to help her enjoy this very special
doggie day.

Doggie Dance Sign

Pyewacket...

thegirlwhokeepsdreaming.tumblr.com

 

When I saw this photo of this beautiful cat, the name Pyewacket popped right into my brain.

For those of you may not have ever have seen the movie Bell, Book and Candle,
Pyewacket was the name of the cat in the story.

 

 

The movie was released in 1958 and stars Kim Novak as Greenwich Village witch Gillian Holroyd  and James Stewart as Shep Henderson the man she falls in love with. 
Pyewacket is the witch's Siamese cat. 

I'm just a sucker those old romantic comedies from the 1950's and 60's.   

Are you a Good Witch or a Bad Witch...

 Yesterday this was me.  Yes, the Bad Witch. The window air conditioner that was in the second floor studio area of the shop has been squeaking for about a week.  Yesterday it gave out one loud, long squeal and the fan died.  The unit owes us nothing...we've had it probably for 10 years but when we called the local Home Depot, Sears and Lowes we found they didn't have any units in the stores.  Did you know that air conditioners are seasonal merchandise and in August, in Maryland (when it can still be in the 90's) they are no longer in season?  A new unit cannot be found in DE, MD, or VA.  Although yesterday the temps were a bit cooler, on the second floor of the shop, with the sun beating down on the roof,  it was getting a bit toasty.  I wasn't happy...I don't work well with sweat dripping off my nose.

Well The Wizard went to work and took the dead machine out of the window, pulled it apart, oiled the heck out of the fan, pushed the on button and said, "It lives!". MAGIC! So for today I am the Good Witch...as long as that cool air continues to magically travel in my direction. 

Back to School...

This wonderful photo is of my girls enjoying the summer...can't remember what year it was.  I've been seeing on many of the blogs I follow, young mothers writing about preparing for their children to go back to school. Many blog about how they can't wait for the start of school year.  I always felt a bit of regret when the girls started another school year.  Summer back then, when the daughters were young, was a magical time of long lazy days.  I hated getting back into the hustle and bustle of September with new classes and teachers.  Then there were also the extracurricular activities...  The first day of school, I always put a little note into each of their lunches telling them "I love you".  I think I may have missed them more than they missed me.

Colors of Autumn

It was a much cooler day here in Maryland and it lets one know that fall is certainly on its way.

The summer is almost over, although anyone who lives in the land of pleasant living knows,
 you blink and the weather and temperatures can change.

A Primitive Place

Yes, I'm ready for cooler temperatures and
shades of fall colors...

Home Maker 2 Words

vines of bittersweet and fields of pumpkins.

 

The Witches of Muckmire Marsh

Halloween is Creeping Up Behind You

  
I know, the kids are just starting back to school, but I've been working on Halloween goodies for the The Country Workshop website and for the quickly approaching fall craft shows.

I have several other new sign designs that I still need to photograph and have been painting sets of shelf sitter blocks. There just aren't enough hours in a day it seems.

Soon I'll need to start jingling the bells...where has this year gone?

Annie's Playground

Lou and I took the grandbabies to Annie's Playground in Harford County Thursday.  It is a loving tribute to a beautiful little girl who was tragically killed by a drunk driver.  We've been wanting to take the children for a visit there all summer, but the days we've had with them have either been too hot or rainy.  

My dear husband took Dylan duty...up the steps and down the steps and all through the playground.  I put Mariah J on the baby swing and then sat in the shade feeding her a bottle while Lou was running after the D boy in the sunshine.

We enjoyed our time at Annie's Playground but knowing the reason the park was built, made me hug the grandbabies a little more tightly.  

Hydrangea Forest, Japan

photo credit

This amazing photo was found on Pinterest.  I thought I need to know more about this beautiful forest/garden in the photograph which was titled only Hydrangea Forest, Japan.  I've been searching but only found the information below.  
Guess I'd better start rooting cuttings if I want to do this in my yard.

Hydrangeas of Michinoku Hydrangea Garden (Ichinoseki City)

For the month beginning in late June, hydrangeas bloom brightly in the cedar forests of Ichinoseki. Stroll 1.5 km of walking paths and enjoy 20,000 flowers representing 200 varieties of hydrangea.
Dates: Late June – Late July

Lets Go Girlfriends...

The Twilight Witches Ball

So who wants to go dancin' with me?

A Fix It Weekend

The past weekend is usually the weekend we set up for the craft show in Ocean Pines, MD.  Realizing, with the number of internet orders we've been receiving we probably wouldn't have enough merchandise, we decided not to do the show.

 We did however decide to go to the beach and visit the show as customers instead of vendors.  I was sooooo happy we didn't set up our display as it was so humid I would have sounded like the Wicked Witch, "I'm melting...I'm melting!"  We made a quick stroll through the park, looking at the wonderful handcrafted merchandise and made a beeline back to the truck, thankful we weren't sitting in that heat.

We stayed at my Mom's mobile home just outside of Ocean Pines. She's had it for a number of years and it has been in need of some updating.  My brother and his wife were there 2 weeks ago to pull down the original wall covering and paint the living/dining area. When they took down the drapes and sheers at the windows, the 20 year old fabric just fell apart.  He ran to Walmart and purchased mini blinds for the windows. Before they left for home, my brother realized the water heater was leaking.  He turned off the heater and the water and stopped by our house to tell Lou about the leak so he could take tools to deal with the problem while we were there.

I told my Mom that I would make valances for the windows so we took my new sewing machine(never out of the box), cutting board and all the other supplies I might need to sew curtains.  Lou took several tool boxes filled with anything he might need to put up new curtain rods and fix the hot water heater.

    The valances got made...the place looks so much brighter without the heavy draperies.   Lou, with the help of our son-in-law, Chad, was able to repair the leak...without having to buy a new hot water heater.  Now, if we can just talk Mom into a new sofa and carpeting...

If It's August I'm Thinking Witches, Ghosts and Goblins

It's August and I'm now working on Halloween...A new witch sign for the haunted holiday.
And They Danced By The Light Of The Moon