Saturday, October 31, 2015

Happy Halloween!

Our favorite neighbors throw a full blown Halloween Party each year.  Spooky décor, live music, and of course a costume contest!  ;-)
 
 
Do you remember the Tall Tales from Elementary School days?  I love being this Paul Bunyan's Babe!  ;-)  He is such a good man.
 

Handsome Husband doesn't really care for costumes, so he is wearing a red flannel shirt with jeans and work boots.  For me, I found this cute workout set that will definitely be seeing the gym!  A Halloween store had the horns, ears and tail.  (OK.  You can't really see my tail!)  I made my udder using pink knit fabric and four calf bottle nipples from Tractor Supply.  My necklace is a cow bell on a cord from Hobby Lobby.  'Pretty simple!

 
Some of the other costumes were over-the-top cute and very elaborate!    Their party was definitely another success!  We are already looking forward to the next one!
 
Please send me ideas for next year's couples costume!
 
Happy Halloween!
 
;-)  -Marci

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Soup... It's What's for Dinner!

Craft fairs are a big thing here in Northwest Arkansas.  Last weekend was the Big Grandaddy-of-Them-All Weekend Festival.  It began with War Eagle Craft Fair ages ago and has grown to such crazy proportions that there are artisans all over the area that weekend every year.  My buddy, Amanda, and I, took in one of the bigger ones and had a great time.  All I bought was food.  Go figure!  ;-)  I'd like to tell you about one of the items in particular that has been a BIG hit. 
 
 
*Disclaimer:  I am not getting paid for this post.*
 
As Amanda and I were cruising the booths, Old Plantation Soups and Dips had samples and, of course, we wanted to try their products.  Everything we tasted, we liked!  I purchased the Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Soup and the Taco Soup mixes.
 
Now, I should preface this next part of the post by saying, Handsome Husband and I are both employed full time.  Our work schedules can be long and pretty dang erratic, so week night meals really need to be quick and easy.  One late evening when we were both hungry, but neither of us felt like cooking, I grabbed the Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Soup mix.  The directions said to add water, chicken and a can of tomatoes.  I pretty much followed the directions on the package.  Using a large pot, in went the mix, 4 cans of chicken, one cup of rice and some tomatoes fresh from the garden coarsely chopped along with a small can of sliced black olives.  The most difficult part was probably chopping the few tomatoes.
 
  About 20 minutes later, we had a WONDERFUL hot dinner with plenty left over for the next day.  Oh, man!  That soup just really hit the spot on a cool Autumn evening!
 
I found their website and ordered some more soup mixes.
 
Anyway...  Just wanted to pass along a tip for a yummy, quick meal!

What have you been cooking?
 
;-)  -Marci

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Party Time! Tuesdays with a Twist

We're your co-hosts:
 
Each co-host will be sharing her own picks for Features. This gives everyone a better chance of being featured.  Be sure to check all of our blogs!
 
 Y'all make choosing features so difficult!  There were GOBS of great links last week!  Thank you!  Drum roll, please...

You're gonna love this one! 

How to Make Time for your Creative Goals

creativegoals

from Cole at Peace and Chaos!
 
If you've been featured we'd love for you to grab a button.
We all love comments!  Please hop around and show some love!

The party starts every Tuesday at 7am EST and will continue until Friday at 11:59pm.  Feel free to stop back any time and "like" your favorites.  Please visit other blogs if you have a moment. 

Share older posts as well as new ones.  No limit on links!
*Pictures should be your own* 
By linking up you give us permission to use these photos
 (with proper link backs) in our features. 
And now for the party!

;-)  -Marci







Monday, October 26, 2015

Halloween Round Up Feature

My little post about DIY Broomsticks has been featured!
 
 
 
 
Anne at Domesblissity has the coolest Halloween Round Up!
 
'Sending a big THANK YOU to Anne for the feature!
 
;-)  -Marci

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Hiking on Beaver Brook Trail



Can you stand some more Colorado vacation photos?
This gorgeous trail runs from Genessee to Golden.  What a view!


In no particular order...


I hope you enjoy these photos!






This is our son.  I still call him my baby boy.  LOL!


He has the sweetest dog.
 










We posed for some photos on a large rock in the middle of a stream bed.  


Even though it was a warm sunny day in September, that rock was  C O L D ! !


Where are your favorite hiking spots?

;-)  -Marci

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Dishwasher Maintenance, Anyone?

I love being married to a big strong fella who can build and repair just about anything.  He's wonderful!  Sometimes, though, I have more than one project to do at the same time.  This weekend, for example.  Handsome Husband is hard at work replacing the bathroom floor.
 
Suddenly, I feel the dishwasher filters *MUST* be cleaned today.  No, not tomorrow.  Today.  We've had this dishwasher for about 15 years or so.  (Does that make it "vintage"?)  It's been working fine up until a few days ago.  The dishes have been kind of gritty.  A little maintenance is probably all it needs.
 
How hard can this be, right?  What could go wrong, right?  ;-)
 
I typed my dishwasher's brand and model number into my laptop browser and *POOF* there was a video on how to disassemble it!
 
Thanks to this
 
 
I grabbed some tools and tackled the project!  'Pretty exciting, huh?  I thought so!
 
Once I got to the part that needs cleaning, let me just say
 
Eeeewwww!
 
Make sure you thank whoever has been cleaning these at your home!  I scraped and scooped and rinsed until all the filter places were clean.
 
After putting it all back together, I was a little nervous if it would actually work.  LOL!  We had a few dishes from breakfast, so I added the dish soap and hit the start button.  It works!  No leaks or crazy noise!  The dishes came out sparkling! 

Yay me!
 
While I am very grateful for all my husband does around here, I am pretty dang handy myself and so very proud of my new skill.
 
Vintage Dishwasher Maintenance
 
What have you been learning?
 
;-)  -Marci

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Party Time! Tuesdays with a Twist

We're your co-hosts:
 
Each co-host will be sharing her own picks for Features. This gives everyone a better chance of being featured.  Be sure to check all of our blogs!
 
 Y'all make choosing features so difficult!  There were GOBS of great links last week!  Thank you!  Drum roll, please...

This one is pretty as well as practical!  DIY Reusable Gift Bags

DIY reusable gift bags tutorial

from Teresa at  Keeping It Real!  No need for huge trash bags after the celebration! 
 
If you've been featured we'd love for you to grab a button.
We all love comments!  Please hop around and show some love!

The party starts every Tuesday at 7am EST and will continue until Friday at 11:59pm.  Feel free to stop back any time and "like" your favorites.  Please visit other blogs if you have a moment. 

Share older posts as well as new ones.  No limit on links!
*Pictures should be your own* 
By linking up you give us permission to use these photos
 (with proper link backs) in our features. 
And now for the party!

;-)  -Marci




 

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Pawnee Grassland

Here are some more vacation photos from Colorado.
 


 
Pawnee Grassland is north east of Denver

 
and so very beautiful!




We even got to see some antelope!

 
;-)  -Marci

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Is She Southern or Spooky?

There are so many adorable little Southern-isms!
 
Hey, there Sweet Pea!

Oh, bless your heart!
 
How y'all doin? 
 
Can ya stay for a spell?
 

;-)  I love being Southern!  ;-)
 
Let me tell how this little 'wreath' came together.
 
 
I picked up this shadow box frame ages ago.  There's a nice depth to it.  'Definitely lots of potential.  It's been sitting in a pile of frames waiting for me to have The Idea for it.  I was torn about leaving it scruffy brown or painting it black.  You can see it got a zap of black spray paint, but I may sand it a bit.
 


I posted a tutorial to make this CUTE LIL BROOMSTICK right HERE using scraps from the flower beds.  Really!  Just scraps!



The adorable pumpkin was a whopping fifty cents at my grocery store.


This cat...  I love it!  It was painted  y e e e a r s  ago, but is still one of my favorite pieces for Fall.  I am not sure how many times the tail has been glued back, but a bit of ribbon hides the scar.  ;-)


 
There you have it!  My latest take on a wreath.  For me, it has the right balance of sassy Southern charm with just a touch of spooky!
 
What is your favorite Fall décor?
 
;-)  -Marci

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Let's Party! Tuesdays with a Twist

We're your co-hosts:
 
Each co-host will be sharing her own picks for Features. This gives everyone a better chance of being featured.  Be sure to check all of our blogs!
 
 Y'all make choosing features so difficult!  There were GOBS of great links last week!  Thank you!  Drum roll, please...

This one is so pretty!  A Wedding Card Garland from Penny at Penny's Vintage Home


 The cards were sent to Penny's mother for her wedding!  What a wonderful way to honor grandmothers at the celebration! 
 
If you've been featured we'd love for you to grab a button.
We all love comments!  Please hop around and show some love!

The party starts every Tuesday at 7am EST and will continue until Friday at 11:59pm.  Feel free to stop back any time and "like" your favorites.  Please visit other blogs if you have a moment. 

Share older posts as well as new ones.  No limit on links!
*Pictures should be your own* 
By linking up you give us permission to use these photos
 (with proper link backs) in our features. 
And now for the party!

;-)  -Marci









 

Sunday, October 11, 2015

'Time for Broomsticks and Black Cats

 
Have you been cruising corn mazes and sipping pumpkin latte's?
 
 
Here's my latest Fall Project.  A Twiggy Broom made from scraps around the garden.
 
It's very similar to MY STICK SHIFT from last year, just smaller!  ;-)
 
 
Tools are pretty simple.  Some small wire and pliers to twist it.  You may not need a tape measure, but I was struggling with proportions so it came to the rescue!
 

When I was cleaning spent daylily stems, they seemed like PERFECT broom making material, so they were stored in the greenhouse. 


Some feathers caught my eye as well as a small redbud tree seedling that had been pulled from one of the flower beds.  I really like those wispy roots.  They make me think of rusty red smoke.  After quite a bit of experimenting, here is what worked.


With the redbud seedling in the middle, daylily stems were placed around it, allowing the wispy red roots to squirm any way they liked.  (The feathers were tried a few ways, but never seemed quite right.)


 
Then I simply placed the small wire around the bundle and twisted it pretty snug against the bunch not once, but twice.  The sharp ends of the wire were tucked into the plant material.
 
 
Next, the daylily stems were trimmed just above the tight wire and a few stray roots were snipped a bit.  'Pretty simple, huh?
 
 
I'm still working out where the tiny broom should be placed, but promise to keep you posted!  The little Black Cat was painted years ago, but is still one of my favorite pieces for Halloween!  I like the two of them together, but need to work out the logistics!  ;-)  Any suggestions?
 
What fun Autumn activities are keeping you busy?
 
;-)  -Marci

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Butterflies, Beetles and Tarantulas

 
 
These photos were taken at Butterfly Pavilion near Denver, Colorado.
 
 
Their motto? 
 
 
Butterfly Pavilion is the zoo of small wonders and BIG experiences!
 



I think these sweet children would agree!
 


Any time a butterfly would land on or near one of the visitors, their little faces would just beam!


We spent about three hours there and had a wonderful time!


There was just so much to see!



Lots of nectar rich plants in bloom.
 


 
A small aquarium has a couple of petting tanks and visitors are invited to pet a horseshoe crab as well as two different star fish.  Just so you know, horseshoe crabs feel kind of like a turtle shell.  'Not sure how to describe the starfish.  Bumpy, I guess, but not sharp or rough.
 


Not being a big fan of beetles, it didn't occur to me to photograph them.


Inside the butterfly greenhouse, there were several small streams and ponds


holding various fish, turtles and tortoises.


 
I love turtles!
 

 
 
 
OK.  If you don't like spiders, stop right here!  No, really!  Stop, unless you are OK with spiders.
 
 
We hopped in line with the children so we could hold a tarantula!
 
 
This one only weighs a couple of grams.

 
We could barely feel her weight.



Did you know tarantulas can live up to 25 years?


 
 It was a lovely way to spend the morning!
 
Butterfly Pavilion is the zoo of small wonders and BIG experiences!
 
;-)  -Marci