Pink Saturday's 3rd Bday

Congratulations Beverly...We are so glad you created Pink Saturday...

Blogger Comments and New FireFox4

Yesterday I finally caved and downloaded the newest version of FireFox...against my better judgement, but I was sick of the upgrade reminders and prompts so I finally hit the YES UPGRADE NOW button....I had also seen some ppl post about having trouble with leaving comments on some blogs but did not think much of it...

Well as soon as the update was installed my blogger went haywire...I could not even login or leave comments, which I tried to do on many posts yesterday...Sorry to those of you I owe a return visit, chances are I came by your blog but could not let you know...

So anyway thinking it could not be a coincidence that FireFox4 gave me a lovely little msg about not all add ons are compatible yet and me loosing features on blogger...So I swallowed my pride and launched Internet Explore *shudders*...and hey guess what...I was able to leave a comment for Cindy and login to my account to post this msg...

SOOOOOO how many of you out there having commenting issues are using the new FireFox?

Blessings Kelsie

Spring continues to fill my garden with lovely surprises...

What a fun surprise to find this cute fat (not so little) caterpillar munching away on my dill..Thanks to my MIL's research we found out he will become a Black Swallowtail butterfly.

I am thrilled by the sheer number and different types of butterflies we have flitting around the garden this year...I planted with hopes of attracting them, but was not expecting so many...

I have always admired images of cone flowers and was surprised to have them bloom in my own garden this week courtesy of the cottage mix seeds I scattered back in Feb...Anyone who follows my blog will have figured out by now I am totally loving the number of flowers I have gotten from this one $1.99 box of seeds from Dollar General..Will be buying more of them next year for sure...Not to mention allowing my current flowers to reseed as well..

And just as I was about to give up, the White Wisteria seeds my MIL sent me have finally begun to grow...I was ready to toss the soil back into the bag of potting soil to be reused else where...Not any more...

And an update on my baby wrens...They are now a week old and I finally was able to get a non-blurred photo of them...You look at them like this and it is hard to believe they will be ready to fly in just one more week...Mom and dad work around the clock during daylight hours bringing them lots of tasty morsels...When you are on the porch you can hear them calling for more food non-stop also...I think my cockatiels are enjoying having some bird company on the porch.


Blessings Kelsie

Sharing this post for
Outdoor Wednesday @ http://www.asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/
Cottage Flora Thursday @ http://fishtailcottage.blogspot.com/
Flaunt Your Flowers/ Fertilizer Friday @ http://www.tootsietime.com/

Antique German Doll Redressed

On the weekend I shared a before photo with yall of an antique German doll that I had been asked to re-dress for a dear sweet neighbor...Today I am sharing the end result...

On the back of her head I found the stamp "Germany - 136 5"
This would indicate she was made in Germany, using head model number 136 and is a mold size 5...My research tells me that this doll head was in production during the 1890's and early 1900's...making her close to 120yrs old...This doll has had 3 companions over the years and is been well loved for many decades by her current companion who named her Suzy.

Aunt Audry and her beloved Suzy...Suzy is now wearing a dress resembling one that would have been typical of this kind of doll originally..

This is how she arrived at my studio...Somewhere along the line someone had added a "poof" to her and made her a bed doll...

I carefully removed the poof to discover that Suzy still has the cloth part of her legs...But we are still not seeing the original dolls body...The lace top and satin pants are most definitely machine stitched and my guess was done in the 80's from what I was told of her history.

I removed that layer to find the original suede body...I did not remove the satin on the arms and legs as the integrity of the suede under them did not feel like it was still fully intact...
Which brings up the point...why are her arms and legs so stumpy?...She would have originally had porcelain hands and feet but over the last 100+ yrs are no longer with her...

Here she is today...

Click Image to enlarge to view the details of the garment...

We chose a lovely soft antique inspired patterned cotton that brings out the blue of her eyes...I accented it with white lace and a small amount of blue ribbon...The style as I mentioned is in keeping with the time period of the dolls production...I also made Suzy a set of fabric hands, which I did attach to the doll...The dress and petticoats however are fully removable.

It was such a delight and honor to work on such a loved antique doll...

Blessings Kelsie

Joining the following parties this week:
Wow us Wednesday @ http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/
Show and Tell Friday @ http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Harvest Mosaic

This is why we do it...

Mosaic Monday @ http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/

Blessings Kelsie

First batch of pickles....

DISCLAIMER: This is NOT a recipe or how to guide for canning or pickling, just a post about my first time..and all you seasoned canners out there, please don't laugh too hard at me for this post :)

I am feeling very clever right now...Maybe a little too much so considering how long this process has been around...but we just made our very first batch of Bread and Butter Pickles from our own home grown cucumbers....This is not just our first batch of pickles but our first time canning ever...

Look at that big lovely batch of cucumbers...Oh and the pretty red tomatoes on the window sill were picked out of the garden today as well...

Simmering our jars to warm them up, lids and bands in the small pan in back..Black stock pot is for the water bath..Had to wait for the jars to be done to start the pickling liquid in another pot...For the first time in my life I understand why ppl want 6 burners on their home stove..

We got so wrapped up in the process I forgot to take photos of the mountain of sliced cucumbers...Here they are lined up to get the liquid added...

The first 2 jars to go into the water bath...Why 2 jars, because these are the smaller pint jars and only need 5 minutes...The rest are quarts and require 10minutes...

"Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and caldron bubble."

Ta-Daaaaaaa...9 jars of yummy yummy (I hope) Bread and Butter Pickles...

Note the bottom of the jars are all just liquid...I thought I had stuffed those jars really full of sliced cucumber, but when the hot liquid hit them they wilted and that created more space for the liquid...Next time I will do half the liquid then stuff more slices in the top after they have wilted some...

that is UNLESS someone has any advice for me on this matter?

Can't wait to taste them tomorrow night...

Blessings Kelsie

Sharing this post for

Farm Friendly Friday @ http://www.verdefarm.com/

Farm Girl Friday @ http://www.deborahjeansdandelionhouse.com

Antique German Doll

Meet Suzy - She is from Germany and was born in somewhere between 1890 to the 1900's...She has spent most of her life living within about a 3 mile radius of here and has been a companion to 3 little girls, who grew up and passed her along to the next one...

This is how she arrived at my studio earlier this week
Markings at the back of her head - Germany 136 5

I have been given the honor of redressing her for her current companion, my 85+yr old neighbor who is the "3rd little girl" to have her...

Yesterday I finished the foundation of her new dress, now just have to add the hand detailing and make her under skirts...If I am lucky I will get a little time this weekend, if not, Monday for sure...Then I will be back to share photos of the end result, as well as those I have taken along the way...My goal..To make an old lady cry *grin*

Blessings Kelsie

Corny Images

One of the things I really love about growing corn is how impressive it looks...

The front veggie garden is looking lush and full...we even had a couple of volunteer tomato plants show up.

The Bloody Butcher heirloom corn is now pushing 7 ft tall...

My poor little bunny statue is lost in the monster Basil and onions...Can you see him peek out?

A couple of Jalapeno peppers almost ready to be picked...Add them to the tomatoes and sweet peppers we harvested this week from out the back garden, the cilantro from the herb garden and I can make hubby some homemade home grown salsa :)

The sweet yellow corn out the back has already started to show silks...Such a beautiful sight...

I picked up all my canning stuff this week and hope to make my first batch of pickles in the next day or so...yay.

Blessings Kelsie

Sharing this post for
Farm Friendly Friday @ http://www.verdefarm.com/
Farm Girl Friday @ http://www.deborahjeansdandelionhouse.com

Life continues in the garden....

Though the Gladioli are finished for the year there are still plenty going on in this 8x8 garden bed ...The 2 small rose bushes planted in here are currently hidden by the "cottage mix" flowers I sprinkled around them at the beginning of spring...Now this lovely mix is showing all its lovely gems and if the box is to be believed will continue to do so all summer long...I sure do hope so...

A bee enjoying the Corn Flowers..

I love these pretties...From what I can tell these are "Gloriosa Daisies" but I could be wrong..Anyone know for sure?

And of course the king of summer flowers, the sunflower, courtesy of the bird feed that used to hang over this spot :)

And lastly a very bad photo of the best part of a spring time garden...Wren Chicks...these babies are inside a basket containing my faux Stag-horn plant that hangs on the front porch...
I could not get a better photo because momma and poppa have done a great job of making sure the nest is down deep inside the basket under the faux plant and I did not want to disturb them anymore than I already had...

I also discovered another birds nest tucked away in the old power meter box that has had the meter removed that is located over near the old place...Not sure if it has chicks yet because I am too short to see down into where they tucked the nest lol

Blessings Kelsie

Sharing this post for
Outdoor Wednesday @ http://www.asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/
Cottage Flora Thursday @ http://fishtailcottage.blogspot.com/
Flaunt Your Flowers / Fertilizer Friday @ http://www.tootsietime.com/

Spent today at the sewing machine....

With lil Sara at Day Care and the Musical over, I finally had a day to get back into the studio to get some work done...

Was so happy inspiration finally hit for a new fashion for the 16inch Fashion Dolls...70's Icon now on eBay in the next 5 days...Hope it sells well...
Auction Link Here

Then a little something for Alex, lil Sara's 18inch girl doll...I still need to make a T-shirt to go under the dress but I only promised "a new dress for Alex" when you get home from Day Care...Plus I ran out of time for the T-shirt today...Maybe Wednesday I can squeeze it in...

Talking of Wednesday, I am so excited, I will be working on a new gown for an antique doll that belongs to my 80+ yr old neighbor, it had belonged to her mother before her...I feel very flattered she would trust me with her...Promise to share photos along the way...

Blessings Kelsie

Sharing today for:

Wow Us Wednesday @ http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

Putting a perspective on Homelessness...

Tonight was the Children's Choir Musical, and wanting to support our kids and our children's ministry team I attended though I did not have children performing and really don't know any of the children that were either...Well I came away with my eyes opened or should I say re-opened.

We all know in 2008 here in the USA the housing market hit a wall and the economy went belly up...We all know in the back of our minds that this created homelessness...But 2008 was so long ago and as each of us has faced our own struggles to make ends meet and keep a roof over our own heads, we forget how lucky we truly are...If you are reading this you have a home, you have electricity, you have food.

So many that are homeless it is not because of anything they did or did not do...Today's homelessness is real and it is effecting not just individuals but whole families..

How much harder is it for those homeless that have children...How hard is it for the children to look towards the future when their basic needs are not being meet today...Through no fault of their parents these kids are experiencing hardships in life that is this day, in this country is crazy...Unemployment is like a cancer and minimum wage does not cover the basic costs of living, with oil prices rising, so is the cost of food...People are having to choose between eating or paying the rent/or morgage...

Now I knew that there was a few kids here in our town that are classified as "homeless"...I have heard about via my eldest daughters school last year...But we live in a small rural community...how bad could it be...

When my daughter graduated in 2010 it was a graduating class of 107 students...The student body is made up from kids from 3 small towns...Now here is the perspective that slapped me in the face...there are over 200 homeless CHILDREN in our county (that is children K to 12 register in the school system)...and I am not just talking homeless living out of a hotel...there are families with children living in the woods behind the shops on Main street...I was shocked, and cried just hearing this...Actually I am crying as I type this...My heart breaks for these families...We personally know how hard it is to find work around here...4months hubby was unemployed in 2008 and I lost my business, but we are so blessed and have a roof over our heads today...Many have not been so lucky...more than I though so it turns out.

For a community this small 200+ is an astonishing number...I know many of you that read my blog also live in small or rural communities and like me probably think of homelessness as a "city" problem...I challenge you to find out what the numbers are in your own back yard...

What am I going to do personally about this???..Talk to our Children's minister and see what we can organize to do to help these families...Find out how we can contact them and bring them the help they need to get back on their feet...and of course PRAY and ask you all to pray too...Just because the media has stopped covering this issue does not mean it has gone away.

Blessings Kelsie

Lost Barn Cats...

Opened my front door to find this yesterday...

Cosmo, Ginger and Piglet

These cats do not seem to understand what their function is around here...In the mean time we have wrens nesting in the water softener and rats eating the wiring in hubby's collection of vintage cars...I do not think sleeping on the porch counts as "being outside"

At least Fish-food pretends and naps in the garden instead...

Actually she is a very good hunter and will bring me little gifts...we do like it when they are gifts with fur and tails instead of feathers and wings...But at least she is earning her keep, unlike some other cats I could mentions *coughs*

Blessings Kelsie

The Stage is Set

Sharing for Show and Tell Friday @ http://romantichome.blogspot.com/
And though this is not at my house, it is a project I have been working on for the last few weeks along with the Choir director...So it is close to the heart, making it almost as good as HOME :)

Last week I shared with you a couple of snap shots of the back drop I have been working on for the Children's Choir upcoming performance...

Wednesday night they moved the panels to the back of the stage and today we spent the morning putting the rest of the stage props in place...

The Choir Director did a great job gathering together everything else needed to turn the church stage into a City Park... Fencing panels, park benches, birdbath etc...The greenery we begged and borrowed from around the church buildings...I wish them luck pulling it apart Monday and remembering were they all need to go back...

The full effect from down the back of the church...Click to Enlarge....

Please excuse the poor photography, by the time we finished I was to tired to do much more than point and shoot and hope...guess I should have thrown in a prayer for them to come out better

Blessings Kelsie

This weeks gardening update...

I picked up a couple of lovely full size and blooming foxgloves at the local Feed Store this past week...For now I have them still in the pots they came in but placed where I would like them to be planted...So far they seem to be liking with the garden Angel who greets those coming thru the front gate....

The Forget-me-not is blooming...I am so pleased as it is one of my favorite cottage type flowers and reminds me of my childhood home...

This watermelon bloom is for a very dear blogging friend...it resides on a volunteer watermelon vine next to my front porch...this lady is so sweet and always blesses me with her encouraging comments and friendship, whenever I now see a watermelon bloom I am reminded to be a better person to all I meet in life and online...Thank you Pat for being you *hugs*

I was so excited to be able to create my first bouquet of cut flowers...They made a great last minute gift for our neighbors 61st wedding anniversary :)

This is another one of our "confused" barn cats...Does that look like a barn in the back ground...no it is a nice soft comfory couch in our living room...This is GINGER, she is a Manx as you can tell by her lack of tail...She is also very naughty and daddy's baby...

And finally the veggies in the melon field...Look at the size of the corn, it is taller than hubby...The tomatoes will fill your hand and are just starting to turn yellow...not long now...Bottom left is a baby cantaloupe...mmmm can't wait for these babies to be ready to eat...and lastly, the cucumbers are coming in now...I picked one on Monday and the one pictured did not look ready, well today it was 14inches long...and there are a few about 7 inches that will need to be picked in the next day or so...

I have much to get done in the yard but with the weather getting into the 90's now it is not quite as pleasant as it was a couple of weeks ago...Might be time to switch my focus back indoors for a little bit while we wait for the harvest to start...And then my adventure into learning canning will begin lol.

Blessings Kelsie

Sharing this post for
Outdoor Wednesday @ http://www.asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/
Cottage Flora Thursday @ http://fishtailcottage.blogspot.com/
Farm Friendly Friday @ http://www.verdefarm.com/
Farm Girl Friday @ http://www.deborahjeansdandelionhouse.com
Flaunt Your Flowers / Fertilizer Friday @ http://www.tootsietime.com/

First Day Lily, Greek Chicken and Childrens Recipe

My first Day Lily of 2011 opened this morning...I have been watching the buds for the last week or so, waiting to see this beautiful flower open and share all it's glory for just one day...Sadly tomorrow it will be gone, but there are many more buds waiting to open right behind it.

After lunch Lil Sara and I ventured into town to go grocery shopping...I rarely buy raw chicken because, well I simply don't trust it to be fresh once I get the plastic off (has happened a few to many times)...But got brave today and picked up a whole fryer that had been cut length ways in half at just 99c a pound...also grabbed a cheap bottle of Italian salad dressing and all the fixing to make Greek salad...

Once home I skun (word?) and washed the chicken, put each half into a large freezer ziplock bag, squirted a good couple of tablespoons of the Italian salad dressing into each bag and worked it around to coat the chicken, removed as much air as possible and sealed the bags...Placed bags in fridge in a large bowl, I will turn the bags ever hour or so until 5pm when I will pop them in the oven to bake for about hour and a half...Hopefully they will taste great with our Greek salad and homemade fries from home grown red potatoes...I can't wait for dinner tonight

Children's Fun Cooking Recipe

You will need:

One large pot with or without a lid, a wooden spoon for stirring, 2 plastic bowls and plastic utensils.

1/2 box of dry uncooked pasta of your choosing...We like to mix it up and do 1/2 mac and 1/2 spirals.

1 cup of dried beans, again of your choosing.

1 young child or toddler

Instructions:

Place all things on kitchen table...Let child loose...

This recipe should buy you about 20 to 30 minutes of occupied toddler time....Enjoy


This is how I keep Sara busy while I am handling foods she can not help me with such as raw chicken.

Blessings Kelsie

PS: I should have mentioned that we keep and reused the pasta and bean "mix" each time and it is stored in an old pasta box in the pantry marked "Sara"...She is so proud to have "her" cooking stuff in with the other foods.