Tell is ALL Tuesday!

It almost a month has past and I haven't blogged. It would be an understatement to say that I've been busy, but it seems like everyone is that way now a days! I will try and update you as best as I can remember!

First off: my husband has been gone a lot. He has been to Oklahoma to farm on two separate trips. Both at least a week. So, I've used that time to work on projects. I didn't get quite as much as I wanted done, but such is life. It gets in the way of projects. My problem is I have WAY to many of them in my head that I could never be able to accomplish them all... or so it seems. I guess maybe I need to stay away from Pinterest!
The latest busyness is Bobby left for Oklahoma on the 13th of September, returned the 22nd of September, then left for Del Rio {with his boss to work} on Wednesday {the 25th} the I left the 26th to go on my girls trip weekend {more on that later} and he returned home the 26th after I left then I got home on the 29th. Lets just say we haven't seen each other much. I'm sure most of you don't even care about our schedule, but it seems to just be getting busier. AHHH!!!

On a good, stress removing note, I have narrowed my employment down. Not sure if I've shared this before, but I have worked in 3 separate offices within my county for almost 2 years (November would have made 2 years). So now, I have quit one office and just work in 2! If this sounds crazy... that is because it is. Gotta love small communities!! So starting today, which is the first day of our new fiscal year, I am just working for the extension office and for the county judge. I'm loving it so far. I love not having to worry about all that other stuff! I didn't realize how much of a relief that it would give me, but it has!

Another thing that has added to my busy, crazy life is Texas Cotton Tales. My sister and I have started this "company" if you will. We make things for babies and for home decor and such to sell. We have an etsy shop and are about to have our first booths at shows. This weekend is the first one. The little community I live in has a huge fall festival every year. So we are going to have a booth there and see if we can't sell anything. I've actually never been to this fall festival so I'm not sure quite what to expect, but it's so close to home I figured, "what the hay!" Then the big one is Petticoats on the Prairie, October 18-19 in Colorado City, Texas.  This will be a bit bigger. Which is more intimidating, but ready or not....
This has somewhat to do with why I've been trying to get all these projects done.... well it has everything to do with that!!
If you're close, y'all should come check it out. There are details on Petticoats on the Prairie's facebook page.

I will try and get some more pictures up of projects for our booth. I have a couple I can share. Sorry if I'm re-sharing some of these.

That is just a brief glimpse of some of the stuff we have going! Much more to come!!

And I've also finished a couple of chalkboards.

some blank ones to sell or to do custom stuff on!

This is one I sold!

This is one I made for myself... maybe I will sell it too!

 I know that my work is not the best, but I have so much fun doing this stuff! And I think the more and more I work on, the better I will get!

We went on our girls trip to Warrenton for antique week this past weekend. It was hot, but it was fun. Let's just say when you're used to a very dry climate and you go where there is 100% humidity, your body is in for a shock! But Sunday was much nicer and we found some good stuff. The best part of the trip was getting to hang out with the girls in my family and spend time with my sweet, walking niece, Miss Gracen! Love that little girl to pieces! She is so happy and has the most wonderful laugh! I love it!!!
I will try to get pictures of all the goodies I found and update, soon!

Welp... That's about all the good stuff I know. I know fall is here and the mornings are chilly! Can't complain with that!

Happy 1st Day of October!!

Mandie

Land of the Free...

I know I have been awful at keeping this thing updated. I've had good intentions, then life comes rushing in! Last week was busy with me being out most of the week. I had to go to central Texas for a funeral so that took up most of my week. No complaints here, though! I got to drive through some beautiful country and stop at a couple cute antique shops! Plus, I got to hang out with my sweet niece and make her giggle! I love sweet Gracen giggles!

Now a disclaimer: I didn't take these photos. I just stole them, but she is too cute not too share!!

Redneck Swimming Pool/ Feed tub

I got home on Friday evening and then had all weekend to get some projects done. {Which is always great!}
Even though I did do a little house cleaning, I mainly got to mark several things off my lists!

One thing I did while I was "dusting" was take down Spring decorations and put up Summer. Since I hadn't shared my latest Spring decor, I took a couple pics! Now, you will have to excuse my awful photography skills. I just used my phone and they didn't turn out very well, but you'll get the idea!

 

I got me an old branch and made me a 'spring bloom tree'! I think it turned out so adorable!

These are my spring blocks... I change them for every season. Bobby gives me heck and says that he thinks it funny that I have that up there as if we might forget what season it is... Well, I like it! So there!

I got many ideas from my creative mom over the couple days I was there, and so I had to put them into action once I got home. Of course, I stopped by Michael's on the way home and picked up a couple things!

I made the bunting to go with my new American flag my mom quilted... I told you she was good!

 

And since I had one, might as well make 2! Maybe I will sell one!

 

This cutie was an idea off none other then Pinterest! I have it on sale on my etsy shop if anyone is interested!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/texascottontales

Check it out! My sister has some cute stuff on there, too!

Here is me telling everyone it is SUMMER! I know it is obvious, but there it is!! And I'm loving my red, white and blue this year... we can celebrate all year!

 

This was another idea off Pinterest. A girl actually makes them and sells them on Etsy. you can check out her shop, she does any state and and color I believe! I decided to make my own! Didn't turn out too bad, if I do say so my self! This also go along with my red, white and blue!!

I have a couple other projects up my sleeve... or in my head, I should say, but I have other things I need to get done! Like yesterday I cleaned the mud room and touched the paint up in there!! Go me! And praise the Lord we have had rain to make mud and make the "mud room" useful!!

Speaking of rain... I have pictures from weekend before last of our garden. Not much has changed since then... except the weeds are doing well off the rain! We do have a couple blooms on some squash and cantalope, but that's about it. After you see the pictures of how enormous our garden is, you can imagine why I don't want to make it thrive. This was the guys {Bobby and his boss, Dennis} idea, so they can take care of it. If I had it my way, it would be WAYYYY smaller!!

 It might be hard to tell from this picture, but that is the garden. Well, there is still some to the left you cannot see in the picture. From here all they way to that big barn in the back. Yep... it's huge! Most of it is supposed to be corn, but it's obviously not doing too well!

Green Beans

Squash

 I borrowed the 4 wheeler to take out the trash since the pickup was hooked up to the trailer. It's about a mile down to the trash pit... I made them run!!

 But, they got a ride back!!

 Then I hauled some rock for another flower bed on the south side of the house. Moving rock is as far as I've gotten! Hopefully I'll get around to it soon!

Hope y'all have a wonderful week and a cool SUMMER!!!

M

Sunday Projects.

I love a lazy Sunday. Those Sundays that you don't have to do anything you don't want to. A time to catch up on sleep, projects or all of the Hallmark movies you want!! This Sunday was definitely one for the books. My brother, Rygh, and his wife Lyn had come for the weekend to help us work calves. {You can check out her pics!} They left after breakfast Sunday morning and then we just chilled the rest of the day! We played with the dogs, laid in the sun a bit!, watched some tv/movies and most importantly.... WATCHED IT RAIN!!!! Boy, I love the rain!! We probably didn't get too much {I didn't even check the rain gauge}, but it was so refreshing! I pray this is the start of our spring rains!!

I had shared some pictures of the goodies I got at Petticoats on the Prairie a couple weeks ago. Well, I finally did something with one of my items. I'm not sure how long I will like this, but I wanted a cute way to display my instagram photos.

This way it is easy to change out pictures as I get new ones! And I had been looking for something to put on my chalk board for this month. I wanted something springy, but hadn't seen anything I really liked. I do like this a lot though. I want our love for the Father to grow as well as green grass and veggies!!

 

That about does it for the projects I got done. I'm slowly tackling the pile in my craft room! Hopefully I will start getting more and more accomplished!

Hope you all have a great week! 

Praise God for the Rain!!

M

Easter.

I'm not exactly sure why, but ever since we moved into the new house I have the urge to decorate for EVERY season. I always did Christmas {of course} and did a little for fall, but other then letter blocks I haven't done much. Just regular ole decor. Well, now I make a point to decorate for all seasons. Maybe the cool ideas off of Pinterest or the fact of having a new house. I don't know. But here is my small tribute to Easter.

 A Pinterest inspiration!

My ever changing chalk board!

I've done a couple other things. I will share when I get pictures. May this Easter we remember the redemption we've received!

M

The Brindle Steer

Even though this title sounds kinda like a kids story book title, it is about the new addition to our house. When Bobby's PaPa passed away five"ish" years ago, Bobby inherited this Brindle Steer. I wanted to give him a name, but Bobby said they've always just called it the Brindle Steer from the old army camp. I think he looks regal hanging on our wall!!

Slowly but surely we are getting our new house outfitted with homey decor. It is exciting! And who knows, maybe I'll write a kids book about him... Someday!!