Feed meeee...lol

Bill asked what was growing out of my plant...lol

 

no knead bread

 Fresh no-knead bread right out of the oven! I make this a lot, we stopped eating commercia bread a while back. It's so easy, that even with this terrible head cold, flu thing that I somehow contracted, I was able to make it and rest while it was rising.

 

NEW POTION BOTTLES

I'm trying something new with my potion bottles, at least new for me, since I usually decorate just the outside. I know it's only June, but you crafters know we have to start early on seasonal projects. Also, we have a wild plum tree that we basically ignore every year and let the animals eat them. So, just for fun , I gathered some up and made a jar of plum jam, and it is really good. It was very work intensive, as these plums are very small. So, unless there is an apocalypse, I won't be doing that again. I hope you all have a great day! 

 

Happy Birthday, Sylvia

 Happy Birthday to my beautiful sister-in-law, Sylvia Erickson McKelvey today! Sending you much love and hope you have a great day!

 

Fun times at the Barn Door and with family

 We went to the Barn Door Market in Kell, IL today! It is a fleamarket with mostly antiques. We visited with friends, ate cupcakes and I came home with a stegasaurus and a flamingo.. Then we met with the Haltermans at the China Buffet in Salem to celebrate brother-in-law, Steve Halterman 's birthday! It was so great to see everyone, especially Bradley Halterman and Mikala, who just moved back to Illinois from Texas. I hope everyone had a great day and above all stayed cool!

 

Here I am sitting in the dark watching the lightening bugs.

 Here I am sitting in the dark watching the lightening bugs.

 

Happy Birthday, Darren

 Happy 54th Birthday to my son, Darren Holsapple today! Here are a few photos of his high school years when he dressed like Ducky from the movie Pretty in Pink most everyday to go to school. His nickname also became Ducky and people still call him that today! HAPPIEST OF BIRTHDAYS, son, love you so much!

 

Lonely sparrow

 Bill has moved all of the bluebird houses onto the pole barn, 7 feet up, so nothing can get to our birds again. A few hours later there was a sparrow sitting on the one nearest the house. He kept chirping and chirping every few seconds all day until his bedtime. I thought it was a female looking for a mate. So after the chirping was getting on my last nerve, I Googled "why is this sparrow constantly chirping"....and so, I found out that this is a male, they find a nesting place, then chirp until a female is interested. Of course, I did not know this. If she likes the nesting place, she will stay and have babies, if not, she will move on..that is kind of pitiful, isn't it? After almost a week, he finally got some interest from a lady.. He even started putting grass in the nesting box to impress her. She went in and out and took a while to decide. Finally they were making the nest. At first, every time she would leave, he would immediately follow her..I think he must be kind of needy...she can't have a moment by herself..anyway, if you made it this far...thanks for reading..UPDATE If the male does not find a mate, he will chirp like that everyday, all day throughout the mating season...for months..incase you were wondering..

Cartoony Me

 

A Beautiful evening

 What a beautiful evening! The lightening bugs are everywhere, temperature is perfect, low humidity and the moon is brightly shining. We didn't make a fire, but just lit our lantern and enjoyed it until just a few minutes ago. No mosquitoes yet, that is the best part!

 

Little Shop of Horrors plant decor

 I got an Audrey II for one of my plants!) (Little Shop of Horrors)How fun, wish it was bigger! There is a Medusa one I got to sell, may end up keeping it. They are just 2D flat picks, but I like them anyway. Hope everyone had a great day!

 

An evening with my co-workers and friends

 I had a lovely time with my friends and co-workers from our years at World Color Press in Salem.  What fun we had back then.  It's nice to still keep up with everyone and their lives.  We ate at the ABC Pub.   The place was very busy for a Thursday night.  People were playing pool, having a brew and dining with their families. It was karaoke night, but we didn't stay for that.  Back in the day we would have jumped at the chance to sing a tune.. Looking forward to seeing these ladies again next month!

Lady bug solar light

 I had better things to do, but instead I made this ladybug solar light out of a cracked flower pot. So far the raccoon has left the geraniums alone. This is all I have on my porch, but I bought a couple of plants for hummingbirds that I haven't repotted yet. Wish me luck! Hope everyone is having a good evening!

 

Chicken Gnocchi soup

 Well, I planned on buying plants today. I thought I could get them planted before the rain came, but...no! It's been raining since 9:30. We had 2" already about an hour ago. So, since I couldn't accomplish that, I made this Chicken Gnocchi soup and it is delicious. I didn't have any spinach or carrots, or half and half or thyme.so, I used green peppers, milk and dill. Anyway, it was supposed to be a copy cat recipe from Olive Garden...now I don't know what you'd call it, but it turned out fine!

 

 This guy has killed two bird families, tore the bird houses off of the posts, ripped up all of my tomato and pepper plants that were in pots and dug all of the dirt out of the pots, tore open a bag of soil i had on my front porch and scattered it everywhere, that is all in less than a week. The bluebirds and sparrows had babies just ready to fly, makes me so sad.. I know it is just the way nature works, but that doesn't mean i have to like it! So if anyone would like a pet raccoon, let me know....he's free of charge.

 

Just some dandelion seed heads in the late afternoon sun.

 Just some dandelion seed heads in the late afternoon sun.

 

New facebook profile picture

 I just realized you can see my messy craft room in the background. I want you to know the rest of my house is not like that. 

 

Mother's Day sunset

 We had a beautiful sunset on this Mother's Day evening. Hope everyone had a great day!

 

Happy Mother's Day

 Happy Mother's Day to my mama in heaven. I miss you everyday! Love you forever. Wish you were here for one more hug.

 

Red Hat lunch

 Had lunch with my Red Hat sisters today! They are such fun and sweet ladies! Thank you Debi Champion for the lovely gifts of handmade soap and loofahs, so sorry you couldn't join us at the last minute. Hugs

Choose Joy

 I was always that girl who would be up very early at slumber parties, happy and chattering away, even though there had been very little slumbering going on. I remember one time someone said " Oh no! Sheila's awake!"Most of the time, I never even went to sleep...do girls still do this?

 

Fairy house bottle

 I started this last year, lost interest and just stored it away. The only thing I had done was glue the door and windows on, which I had moulds for. The rest i just did by hand. With modeling paste, paper clay and my trusty glue gun, I finished it today. I wanted lots of texture, kind of over did it, but, it was fun anyway!

 

Cindo de Mayo.

 

Sunday drive around the town

 We took a long Sunday drive, as old people do, and enjoyed this beautiful day. The wind was crazy wild though. It died down in the late afternoon, so we had a little fireside time. I hope you all had a great day!

 

Flowers for me!

 Bought myself some flowers today at our flower shop that just opened in town (Sparkling Blooms and Blessings)I went for the peonies, but came home with roses and irises too. So pretty! Made some more bread. I am baking it while it is cool and putting it in the freezer for later. Plan on making a couple more loaves. Hope you are all enjoying your day!

 

Steampunk owl bottle

 I became overly enthusiastic yesterday and made this entire two sided steampunk bottle and yeast bread from scratch....today....I am tired.

 

Little Chipping sparrow

I saw this little Chipping sparrow fly out of his nest today. He landed about 5 feet from me. Doesn't he have the sweetest little face?

 

Ha Ha

 I don't have a cat, but if I did, he/she would probably have this attitude.. Aren't cats funny?

 

 Bill has been giving that fishing pole a workout! Look what we had for lunch today! Two more bags are in the freezer!

 

 Mama bluebird sticking her head out of the nesting box on this hot, windy day!

 

Happy Birthday, Preston

 Happy 49th Birthday to my son, Preston (Alexander Preston Phillips) today! Have a great day, Son! Love you so much!

 

 We just saw our first hummingbird of the season! Bet he had a rocky trip through all those storms last night!

Good night

 What a nice day! It was windy, but I sat out in my swing and had my coffee. On Thursday afternoons I volunteer at Country Creek Treasures and help with customers or other projects that need done, but mostly I visit with my team mates and friends. Then it was Pizza time at Mago's pizzeria with my co-workers and friends from World Color Press. I hope you all had a great day! It is almost tomorrow, have a good sleep everyone...Good night

Barely caught a glimpse of a rainbow

 Barely caught a glimpse of a rainbow...