Great things do come in small packages!!!

The old saying in my title couldn't be more true...
Needless to say most of you know that my family has had a tough winter/spring and it hasn't gone unnoticed by my friends and one in particular wanted to do something...so she did what she does best...make something from her heart!!! Jody, Star Spangled Pretties, we became fast friends... We meant in an eBay group. We are neighbors after all.. she is from Wyoming and we share the love of the flat land we both live on and we both almost used the Platte River, which runs through both of our states as a possible part of an eBay seller name at one time or another!!! She is so very talented with her dolls that I have always longed for one but never have had the money to buy one, but Jody fixed that... when not just myself but two other of our group members were having a tough time this winter with hubbies out of work, Jody went to work!!! She was in the midst of remodeling her house, yet still found the time to make all three of us dolls!! She made one with a red dress, blue dress and my 'Jody' doll with this creamy white dress!!! I just love her and Jody filled my box with lots of little extras that she know I could and will use on my projects!!! She is just the best and I can't wait for the day I can see her in person and give her a hug!!! She really did brighten what has been a dark time for me and just knowing that she cared that much has given me some new hope that things WILL get better!!! Go peek at her blog, her and her sweetie did an amazing remodel on their home... I want them to come to mine now!!! Thanks Jody, thanks for caring enough to share your heart with me!! LOVE YOU!!!

Isn't she just the best!!!??? I added the firecrackers, but I can change them out to match the holiday!!!

The detail in her face is just amazing..I just stare and her and am amazed!!! What a talent!!!

She is so little and so grand all at the same time!!! Doesn't she just look like a princess... she looks so good with one of my lamps and rag balls I made and didn't sell!! Now in hindsight...I'm glad they didn't, they all look like they were made to go together!!! LOVE THEM!!!! I'm such a lucky girl to have such a good friend!!!! :o)

Where Have I Been???? 061009

I know, I know.....where have I been??? Very busy as I'm sure a lot of you are at the end of a school year and beginning of summer. Actually a lot has gone on it seems since my last post over a MONTH ago!!! I have been so bad!!! My DH is finally back to work!!! But we are still kind of day to day with it, so we still have to be very careful and hope that this work holds out for him and that we don't have to sell anything else we really don't want to, to just keep going. We have also had a rough spring with deaths in my small hometown community. We buried two friends in a week and 4 since Dec. So it has been a difficult time for lots of people I love. I have such great friends and family with great support, I'm just glad I grew up in the community I did, they are always there for you when you need them most!!!

The kids are both out of school now and enjoying their summer break thus far. We have had an unheard of, for Colorado, amount of rain the past month so our out door activities have been limited. No pool yet, but I really don't want to get into a bathing suit!!! Oh my eyes!! lol
This picture of Brandon was at his school track meet!!! No his hair was not fixed like that on purpose... The wind was blowing so hard it made it just stand on end... It was terrible, but the kids really didn't seem to mind and they had a fun day and the ALL got awards no matter what. He is officially a 4th grader now!!!! Oh he isn't suppose to be growing up that fast!!
This was Ashley's last day of school. She didn't want to leave because she doesn't think that she want to go to kindergarten "with all those spelling words", as she so tearfully put it!!! Her teachers Jo and Karen were just such a joy for her to have and she misses them terribly, but we have promised to visit next school year.

I was also, in my absence, working on things for the spring open house at my mom's antique shop. It was a bitter sweet day. They have decided to close the shop this summer for good!!! :( The economy as claimed yet another victim. The past few years have been hard on the shop and they want to close before they 'have' to and just enjoy time at home. The four ladies who own it are all good friends but all lead busy lives outside the shop so they will not be lacking for something to do I'm sure!! But is it sad to see it close. They will be open through the summer then lock the doors. But on an exciting note, I have put some of my things into a shoppe here in Sterling. It's called French Creek Market. It is a very neat shoppe with quite an eclectic variety of offerings, old, new, candles, specialty teas and classes. I'm hoping it will be a good outlet for me. Ebay has been slow for me and If I can get something going here that would be great. This is just one of the things I made for the open house. I have many more but it would take up too much space.... The shoppe I'm in doesn't have a website or blog yet, but once they do I'll post a link so you call see all the goodies there. I'm excited and hope it is a good thing for me!!

Oh, my sweet little helper Ashley!!! I painted my room and she wanted to help so badly, so I let her help, but it really didn't last too long, but she is dressed for a mess don't you think!!! Since she is only 5 the topless things is okay for now!!! lol She has on her dad's 'mowing' hat and raggedy jeans...perfect painting attire in my book!!!

From all white to this!!!

It needed it's Spring cleaning anyway, so while I was at it I just painted two walls. I just LOVE it!!! It was just all white before and now it is "Spartan Stone". It is just such a pretty calm color and my room actually looks bigger. The bedspread is a very old chenille bed spread that my mom gave me to make snowmen out of, but it only has a few flaws, so I am using it until I can get something else make. The quilt is from my Grandma, who just turned 99, and is all done by her. It is hand quilted and it a treasure for me.

I don't have a picture of my front yard, it actually looks good too with all of this good rain we are getting. I'll save that for my next post... I miss everyone and what is going on in your lives. I'll be better, so don't give up on me!!! Busy summer has just begun..we still have VBS, swimming lessons, a lake trip and two fairs in the future!!! I hope you are all having a great summer!!!
Off we go!!!