Pinkeep Swap

 

Hello.  My name is Mrs. Wise.  I am a teacher. 

Wait.  I am a mom now to TWO furry children, one of which is half laying on my laptop as I write this.  He tired himself out from wrestling his sister AND dog bed (yeah.  I don't get the dog bed thing either.).  

I sing, I tap dance, I, wait. Been there, done that... Okay, so I don't do either of those.  With my agility record this week, it ain't ever happenin'. I fell down at school, I mean flat on my back, not just  once.  Oh no.  TWICE! And, I realized I am now feeling my age.  The day after I fell the first time, I felt like a truck ran over me!  Yikes. 

So my week has been:

No talking in the hall!

No, no!  Don't chew on that!

Shhh! (Students or dogs)

You need to write your assignments down in your planner.

Lay down.

Eat your food.

Don't eat dirt.

Finish your lunch.

Get in your crate.

Did you study?

If you leave the lid open on the wet wipes, then they become dry wipes (Yes, that is sarcasm).

Bring me a toy.

Write in cursive.

Whose paper is this?

A screw is a combination of a wedge and an inclined plane.

...And Mary, Queen of Scots, was beheaded.

Okay, you destroyed that toy.  That's going in the trash.

"Help! I've fallen twice, and I can't get up!"

But, what made my week was the arrival of my pinkeep swap package from Theresa of Dulaney Woods Treasures.  It was hosted by Wendy of Ravenwood Whimzies. What a delight! I was blown away by Theresa's talent and generosity! So, without further yacking on my part, take a gander at my precious package...

I did open it last, truly!  What a sweet note!

Insert sigh of delight...

Insert drooling...

I busted those little beauties open RIGHT AWAY!  Thank you, Theresa!!!!

All of my favorite colors! Just perfect!  But, you can only see the top.  Wait until you see the rest of it...

Wow.

An adorable and wonderful smelling beeswax sheepy made by Amy of Bumblebee Lane.

Beautiful gift tags!

A oh so sweet bear made by Theresa.  I am just blown away by her many talents!

He goes perfectly with my folk art animals that are around my Noah's Ark bird house!  He is right at home and dressed for the weather!

I put this at the end.  I would love for you to think I ate these slowly as I opened and admired my swap items.  In actuality, I should probably put this picture right after the open bag picture.  That would be the correct sequence. 

So in all, just what an absolute thrill and joy to have such a beautiful package to open and enjoy after a long, stressful week!  Thank you, Theresa, for sharing your talent, for your thoughtfulness, and for your generosity! You are a blessing to me!

This was my first swap!  Thank you, Wendy, for organizing it!  It was so much fun!  I look forward to trying other swaps in the future!

Blessings and good night, dear friends!  You are all in my thoughts and prayers daily!  I miss chatting with you all so much!  I will be back soon, I promise! Thank you for your patience, friendship, and prayers!

Love and Hugs!

Heather

Here's the Story...

Hmmmmm. I wonder who brought these?

     Okay, so you need to read that title to the tune of "The Brady Bunch". Just so you know (And if you don't know what that show is, let me pause now as I wail about my old age). Now, on with the story... Well, if you follow Granny Trace's blog, which I know you all do, you read that we got to meet on Friday! Yipeee!  We just went right to breakfast and chatted like old friends having coffee. I know all of us blogging gals imagine doing that together with one another (Trace' and I talked about that), but it was nice to do it for real and not just for pretend!  Trace' is just as wonderful and dear as she is on her blog. True to form- pink Converses and polka dots, although I would have recognized the smile anywhere.

     So, we went to a new cloth shop in town.  Yes. I said it. Cloth shop.  Ya'll can keep giggling at me.  I'm a goober, no doubt about it. ;) They had really pretty fabrics.  They seemed to have good prices.  I had to ask Trace', I didn't know.  They had a lot of the Civil War reproduction fabrics which I LOVE. After that we went to a thrift store that is housed in an old Good's Furniture store.  She ain't kiddin' when she said it was big.  I love that store.  We were supposed to get coffee first at my favorite coffee place, but, um, I was too busy talking and was drawn like a magnet to a store full of bargains...  But, we so did need coffee by the end... Granny and the Marm run on coffee.

Here is a gander of some of the goodies I got from the CLOTH store and thrift shop.  I think I have them all in the picture.  I put them out right away that I forgot to take a picture of them. Oooh, there was a little pot too. There is another 2 yards of fabric, but I am going to use it on my table, so I will show it to you when I finish. 

I am loving the crazing and the burgundies and greens!

Feels a bit like St. Patrick's Day to me...

Guess what these are for...

     So, my husband wanted me to make the house more dog rompin' friendly.  And, judging by the NASCAR finals that have been going on the last 3 days, he's right.  So, I am pairing down, making room... I am trying to incorporate more stitcheries and such. Here are a few sneak peeks.  They are peeks because they are avoiding most areas because I have stuff sorted all over- things to go up, to put away, and some off to eBay.  I have some things on there now that are ending today. I am always glad to be rid of the stuff to clean things out.  I moved my Christmas tree to the dinning room.  I, of course, took the Christmas off and went for more folk artsy look.  I think.

Steve's Pappy's Rocker... My new comfy spot to do devotions!

     Speaking of eBay, I LOVED this grinder when I saw it on Jody's blog, Cobblestone Corner & Grandmas Bisquits.  She said she was doing some spring cleaning and was listing some things on eBay. (Yeah.  It's helping my Spring cleaning. Truly.)  I have always wanted a grinder with the fancy metal top.  Very "Arts and Crafts" style, don't you think?  Jody is so lovely and sweet! She was so dear to send some DELICIOUS chocolates (Can't show you 'cause they're gone!) and wonderful smelling soap! So generous and thoughtful.Thank you, Jody!  Check out her eBay!

     And of course, Charlie wanted to make sure he was seen in this posting since his name was mentioned. He says, "Hellllooooooooooo!" Okay, really, right this moment, he is out for the ten count.  Yesterday, was blustery.  Wind was blowing snow showers sideways.  Wind chill factors way low.  I would hold my arm out the front door with the leash.  It was too bitter cold.  Charlie would just go out, do his business, and run back in.  Bailey, and my friend Anne's dog, Lexi (Yes, square-to-spare Anne), would just sit out there. Sit. And sit.  I could not feel my arm.  And then when I look at you lovely chilly blog friends with your snowstorms, well, I wish you warm hugs.  Charlie loves to lay body-length on top of you.  So, if you are cold, have a furry pup laying on you, the wind is howling outside. Yeah. Let's say not much was accomplished for a few hours yesterday but sawing logs...

He licked my iPod.

 

Well, that is it for now.  I have my top ten "Whole Lotta Loves" post coming up some time this week!

Until then...

Warm hugs and love!

Heather

Hanging my head in shame...

     Oh, my.  I hang my head in shame.  I have been a terrible blogger.  I have been reading your posts between "Noo!  Don't chew on that, Charlie!" and "Bailey!  Be nice!" And then at school, it's a little of the same thing except the chewing... :)  Just a normal week at school!

     Hubby just got back from a business trip to Rhode Island.  Yup. During the blizzard.  Lost power at his hotel.  Just a whole adventure for him.  Praise God for his safe return! He came home today to meet our new furry baby.  Charlie was on trial, but my dear hubby said that we could keep him!  He said he was cute, but not a lick of guard dog in him.  Steve came home, got him out of his crate to take him out, and got licked to death.

My name is Charlie!

I sleep. I play. I sleep.

Talk to the paw...

Yes. My pj's have polar bears...

Hah!  I found the toy stash!  Mine!

Don't be fooled... They aren't having a whole lotta love for each other yet...

 Yup. That's right.  He is a sleeper. But hyper to asleep in 60 seconds... So, I must admitt, not much blogging and commenting on my end!  But I have been praying for you and reading your blogs!  I will try to get up to speed and also honor my commitment to Cindi's "Whole Lotta Love".  Cindi, I think it was just so wonderful for you to start that!  I have enjoyed reading what people have written!!!

A whole lotta love to you all!!!!

Heather, Bailey, and Charlie

Whole Lotta Love- Day 2 (Oops) and 5

Of Hubbies and Puppies...

      I have a whole lotta love for my hubby! We met when I transferred to another division of a retail outlet store that I worked for.  The one I was working at just wasn't a positive environment (and we'll leave it at that). However, it was a staff of all women.  I was a floor supervisor.  I became a floor supervisor at Steve's store, which had a management staff of all men (fun times...).  My first day, I was asked to do a display of shoe care items, and Steve was put in charge of my progress.  We both remember the situation differently.  He remembers thinking that I did a good job.  I remember being terrified of him because he seemed so serious and he made me nervous.

     Well, the more we got to know each other, the more we found out we had a lot in common. Around the time I got my first teaching job, he was transferred to another store nearby in Reading.  That is when we started dating.  A little over a year later, we got married.  God has blessed us with 15 years of marriage this year. 

     Steve is my best friend, my comfort, my shoulder to cry on, my encourager- my help-meet. He has been with me for better and for worse.  He has been by my side as I struggled to find relief from my Bi-Polar 2 disorder.  He has never failed in showing love and kindness even when I was at my ugliest.  Most of all what I love is that he makes me laugh.  Sometimes so much so that I either fall on the floor or have to use the bathroom (Sorry for the TMI, but I wanted to convey how hard he makes me laugh). Side-splitting laughter. You look at what God demonstrates as in Himself as our spiritual husband, and I am blessed to have a husband who diligently strives to be an image-bearer of that model.

Puppies...

     My mom and I frequently discuss how God just put so much thought into dogs.  What comforts they are.  What companionship and unconditional love they provide.  I am so thankful for God's provision of my dog, Bailey.  She is such a loving and snuggly dog!  Of all of the dogs I have had as a child and the one other I had as an adult, Bailey is the first one who truly loves me.  Who wants to sit in my lap and snuggle with me at night. She is company when Steve is away.  She is comfort when I am sick or depressed. She is a bundle of warmth when I am cold. We have had a few health scares with her, but I am blessed that God is gracious to continue to protect her and keep her in my life.

     We are thinking of adding a second dog to our family.  The last picture is of a dog we are fostering to see if the two will get along.  His name is Charlie.  I just brought him home tonight.  I googled how to introduce a new dog to an established dog.  No, there weren't fights.  Just one dog crying in a crate, and Bailey drooling with anxiety.  My couch looks like someone spritzed it with a hose. Bleck!  Now both dogs are asleep and snoring.