Welcome

Welcome to my little world! My name is Donna and I'm the mother of one very spoiled kitty named Clarice. I was a banker for over 20 years but now I'm a SAHM and loving every minute of it. I'm a super, huge Bon Jovi fan and an avid cross stitcher. I love decorating my home with flea market finds, primitive style items and vintage items. My hubby says if the last three generations threw it out as trash it'll end up in our house as a decoration.



Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Midweek Update

We went to the Country living Fair on Saturday and I must say it was GREAT!  I just walked around touching everything, drooling and trying really hard to not go just ape crazy!  It was a good thing Mark was along or I'd have maxed out the credit cards.  I got to see vendors that I had only seen in magazines and was just in awe.  Of course being the bargain shopper that I am I had to see all the booths before I'd buy anything and Mark was so patient.  It was quite pricey to get in the gate $15 each, $10 parking then lunch was another $30 but oh so good.  It was picnic type food including fried chicken but I had the most delish sammie ever!  Think grilled chicken, thin sliced pear and balsamic...yummy!  I'm making my own version tonight for dinner with swiss cheese.  Anyhoo, I bought a vintage frame to put my newest finish in and Halloween tree, decorations, ect for half off already.  I think the guy just couldn't bear to pack it all back up again so he was willing to deal.  I got a orange and black "feather" tree that's about 3 feet tall for $12.  Now I'm thinking I might have to start stitching the Blackbird Designs stockings now that I'll have a tree large enough to display them.  And the best news, Clarice hasn't toppled it yet.

I'm busy studying for a insurance class and exam for work next week.  I'm really worried about getting my broker license or more importantly passing the exams to get my license.  Damn, banking has changed a lot in the past 25 years and I'd sure like to go back in time now to rethink my career choice.  We'll be converting to the new bank's operating systems, policies, ect the first of January so more changes headed my way and I just love change!  The dr has written me an sedative for panic attacks but I'm trying really hard to not get the script filled...I just think it'd be too easy for me to drug myself then deal with my life right now.

My dirty martini queens took our annual trip last weekend without me.  I've just missed 2 trips since we started this tradition 15 years ago but just couldn't make my schedule work this year.  I suggested they go to Branson, Mo this year since it's driving distance for them and I'm sure they had fun.  I bet they set that little country town on fire!

Well that's all the news from my little corner of the world so I'm off now to make choco chip cookies.  It's storming like crazy here so I want to just snug in for the nite and nest.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Fall XStitch and some Jovi thrown in for fun!









It takes me a week to decorate the house for Halloween but I love every minute of it.  I have so much stuff that Mark made me promise that anything new Halloween coming into the house requires at least one thing going out.  Now you'd think he'd know by now that he'll never even notice something new unless I point it out to him so I'm safe in saying not too much will be going out.  These are a few of the Halloween theme cross stitch and I need to make some of the every day, year round stitching.

And a couple of Jovi pics from the Atlanta show in April of this year.  Of course there is the one everyone swoons over...Jon but more importantly is there is a great pic of my man David.  I get weak in the knees just looking at the pics.  Remind me sometime to tell you all about my out of body experience where David sang Bed of Roses to me!  I thought I'd died and went to heaven at that moment.

We're headed to the Country Living antique show this weekend at Stone Mountain and I just can't wait.  I hate that it's this weekend since it is Mark's birthday and all but what better way for him to celebrate than doing something I love.  What a guy!  And by the way, he showed up at the bank today with gorgeous flowers for me just because.  Now you know why I'm still crazy about him after all these years.  He treats me like the queen that I am!  Have a good weekend!

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Weekend plans?

All my include "Honey Do" projects all of which Mark is dreading.  So sorry but it's a gorgeous fall day and what better way to celebrate with pressure washing the decks, cleaning  the basement, cutting all the shrubs & trees, cleaning out the storage area with all my seasonal goodies and anything else that pops into my little old head while we are puttering around.  Then we're off to dinner with friends and maybe the fair if I can talk them all into going with me.  I say eat dinner at the fair....yummy corn dogs, cotton candy, funnel cake, roasted corn, ect...it'll probably cost more to eat there than any 5 star restaurant. 

I love Christopher Columbus and sure enjoyed Monday being off work.  I slept in until 7:30, ate my poptart while catching up on everyone blog and then took a quick trip up into the north Georgia mountains for some primitive retail therapy.  I just love, love Hearts and Flowers in Cleveland and would love to have at least one of everything in her store but sadly my budget doesn't allow for that much retail therapy.  I did some awesome stuff.....a pillow that's a Halloween black cat, brown coverlet table runner, brown homespun chair pad that I want to make into a pillow, small irvin's tartwarmer, black crow, snowman, 3 bags tarts, the newest Early American Home and Simple Things magazines and finally  prim candle ring for Christmas with little sprigs of pin and tiny pinecones.  Wow, it does sound like a lot when I type it all out but it all fit into 1 shopping bag.  I also stopped at Bessie Mae's where I got a cute little prim snowman, treat or treat post its and a little wooden thingy which I think is part of an old clamp or maybe a rope bed turning device.  Don't you love the techinal talk of thingy but it's hard to explain.  I'll post a picture this afternoon and maybe someone can tell me what it is.

I'm making great progress on my Trix or Treat pattern from Blackbird Designs.  I started while at the camp but set it aside when we got home so I could finish Be Kind and True also by the uber talented Alma and Barb.  I crawled into bed last night with some of my older patterns to decide what I want to start next and I'm thinking....hmmm....Beware of Cat by Birds of a Feather....I hate that they aren't designing cross stitch patterns anymore because the Halloween ones are to die for!  I've got all of them plus several of the every day patterns and hope to finish all of them.  Also want to start The Primitive Needle's Halloween Revelry which was featured in the 2009 Just Crossstitch Halloween magazine.  Oh and her Oujia Board pattern which I won on ebay a few months back.  Why is there never enough time to stitch?  I'm going to join the ladies on the yahoo Blackbird Designs group for a SAL starting Christmas day so I'll have to pick that pattern soon and get whatever I don't have on hand.  Why is that you think I have everything I need for this pattern then you start sorting thru thread and realize that you're short a couple...ugh!

Ok, it's now 10 minutes until I get off work so I guess I should post this and actually do some work before we close.  Nah, I'll just go make copies of the patterns that I want to start next week and then lock the doors.  Have a great weekend!

Monday, October 11, 2010

Maine Vacation Photos

Lighthouse in Portland.  It was just what I imagined

Tate House which is Mark's fave photo-Old House/Sports Car

Apple Bench that looks like I set this photo up but it was already like that when we walked up

My future home

Camp

Camp

Fireplace at camp

Cozy Nights


Coastline view