The Primitive Excellence Award

A big *THANK YOU* to my prim friend Pam at Antique or Not for giving me this award. She is a wonderful friend and excellent shopkeeper! She does the best at keeping the past alive. You all should visit her as she is having a giveaway, but not only that, she has fantastic items in her store; all of which you can order!!!

In these trying times, we women really have to support one another in creative endeavors; we need to frequent those shops that support our ideals and our way of life/decorating. We benefit from folks like Pam who provide us with quality goods that we can display proudly in our homes and also be happy in the knowledge that we are giving our emotional and financial support to our prim/antique sisters. So visit Pam's blog and her store Antique Or Not. You sure won't be sorry! And while you are there check out some of her bloggy friends; they are fantastic too!! I have to admit I was a lurker at Pam's for a while, and last night, I was lurking about with her bloggy friends too!!!! Well, you all know how it is! So go visit!

Now here are the rules for this award;Here are the rules for the award:

1. The winner can put the logo on her blog.

2. Link the person you received your award from.

3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.

4. Put links of those blogs on yours.

5. Leave a message on the blogs of those you’ve nominated.

Well, you know it is hard for me to limit myself to SEVEN!!! And these are prim blogs so that helps a bit! Yikes! I love every blog; I learn something new from every blog I visit!!

So here's the list:

Jenn at Bittersweet Fixins N Primitives

Jill at Fruit Of Her Hands

Julie at Country Girl At Heart

Tammy at Country Girl At Home

Cindy at CynthiaLeeDesigns

Beth at Raggedy Angel

Blondie at Vintage Prims

A Great Giveaway!

Pam over at Antique or Not is celebrating her 100th post by giving away a $25 gift certificate to her store; so if I were you, I would jump right on over there and get in the drawing:
http://antiqueornot.blogspot.com/2008/08/100th-post-giveaway.html
To enter, just leave a comment on her post. Entries will close on Sunday, August 31st at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and a winner will be chosen at random and announced on Monday, September 1st. AND SHE IS PAYING FOR THE SHIPPING TOO!!! WOO-HOO!!! Well Hurry UP!!! I want to win it, but hey, if it is someone I know, well that is great too!!!!

Quilting Giveaway!!!

Jane at JanesFabrics Blog and my quilty friend, let me know about this wonderful giveaway at Quilting With Debi (click on this to go there)
Here are the particulars about this wonderful giveaway;(even if you don't quilt yet, maybe it would make a great gift for a quilter or.... maybe you have always wanted to learn to quilt; either way go over and visit. Debi has a lovely blog; beautiful pictures!)
http://debiquilts.blogspot.com/2008/08/200th-post-giveaway.html

From Debi's Blog:"It is giveaway time. I just noticed that I have a over 200 posts. It is also a little over one year since I started blogging. So.....I will be giving away the following: 1) Two Moda charm packs "Wee Play and Peek a Boo", 2) the "Q is for Quilt" book, and 3) two spools of Essential thread, one each lavender and orange. All you have to do is leave me a comment and I will pick a winner on September 1st. To get an extra five (5) entries, post my giveaway on your blog and a link to this posting. Good luck to everyone! ***If you leave an anonymous post, please include your email address in the comment or I can't find you!!!!

Good Luck

Halloween Purse Giveaway

Hi everyone; Calamity Jane's Cottage is having a giveaway of a Halloween (fabric) purse. To enter, just click on the name above. I am sorry, I could not get a picture like I normally do! The contest ends Aug 28,2008; so hurry on over!

Another Generous Blogger

Here is another one of those generous bloggers I am talking about. Head on over to see Tammy at her blog and enter this contest for this beautiful Amish type doll and the three clothespin dolls are included as well!!! WOW! The contest ends Saturday the 30th at 6 PM Eastern time . And the drawing will be held on Sunday the 31st at 12 Noon Eastern time. So get going!!! Good Luck ( well, ya know I hope I win; but as I always say, if I can't win, I hope it is one of y'all)

Thank you Jenn!!!!

Well, here we are!!! Another award; I'm telling you guys, I am feeling more love than ever here in blogland. WOW!!!! Thanks Jenn; again!!! Go visit Jenn; she has some great things including how-to's on her blog. So here are the particulars associated with this award;
Here are the rules:
1. The recipient must link back to the awards creator (it's right on the award)
2. You must post these rules if you receive the award.
3. You must choose 5 people to receive the award after receiving it yourself.
4. You must fit the characteristics of the recipient of the award (see below.)
5. You must post the characteristics of a recipient.
6. You must create a post sharing your win with others.
7. You must thank your giver.
Characteristics for the Smile Award:
1. Must display a cheerful attitude. (not necessarily at all times--we are all human).
2. Must love one another.
3. Must make mistakes.
4. Must learn from others.
5. Must be a positive contributor to blog world.
6. Must love life.
7. Must love kids.This award was created by Mere at THE BABBLINGS OF MERE. She did terrific job on this award!

All the blogs I visit share these characteristics; I think that each and every one of you display generosity and love, your blogs are positive in nature, you are all willing to jump in and help whenever asked. You all love life and kids; both fur and human!

The reason I read your blogs is because you all give me a chance to have friends all over the world; you give me recipes to try, both craft and edible. You give me hope when I have lost it, you show me light when it is dark, you give me faith when I have none. You make me laugh and cry. You share your joy and your pain. You share your homes and your talents with me. You are generous; the things you give away are wonderful, and speak of time,effort and thought on your parts.

Through you all I see the good in people, a view I had lost sight of. I can't give this award to just five of you; I hereby give it to you all; please take it and share it with those that make your world a little brighter; that is what I am doing right now.

Thank you all for visiting with me; thank you for sharing your world with me. The world is brighter with you in it; and even if you are not on my list of favorites take the award and use it; I have so many on my reader too; and I have to get you all listed on my favorites.

Keep up the good work; ALL of you!! You are fantastic!!

Red Cinnamon's Giveaway

This is a giveaway that Scoti over at Red Cinnamon Prims is holding; here is her description of these items:

We have a garage sale find of this sign there's no place like home...a bag of fresh dried lavender.....a grudged..cinnamon flag...my first 2 grungy candles i ever made...couple of weeks ago...a few vintage buttons from an auction....a bag of seeds....a rustic metal star...a small cinnamon bun candle...courtesy of Brock I didn't know he put that in there til after I took the pic....:) a old oatmeal bowl....a wooded ball......my first ever craft...a painted paint of ..Home of the Free. because of the brave.....and a tin of my first batch of homemade lip balm in sweet orange...... so any takers....please post a comment on this post to enter...one enter per person..unless.. you post on your blog...then you get 2 chances..

Well; I am not sure when the drawing is to be held, but hurry on over!!!

Y'all Gotta Be Quick on This One!!!!

Hey Y'all: JenW at PurtyGirlPrimitives is giving this away in honor of her birthday! I just found out; but HURRY!!! She is drawing on Sunday at 10:00 P.M. I know its quick, but hurry over and leave her a comment!

Another I love your blog award!

WOW; Another friend, Nicole from Back in the Day has also given me the I Love your Blog Award!! Okay this makes six! I am so grateful to all of you; this is so wild that you all love my blog as much as I love all of yours! I am so happy to have met you all here in blogland and I hope that you will continue to visit with me.

Again thank you all; the bullies here say" Thank you for making our mom do the happy dance, this is the first time we have seen our mom do it for so long!!" Murphy and Niles say" We's don't know what all the fuss is about, she didn't even get a milkbone for goodness sake! We gives her awards all the time; oh wait Niles, those aren't awards, remember when Mom said those are "tootsie rolls"? Oh yes,Murphy, you are right, but she was hopping up and down the other day when Sydney left her the awards, I mean, tootsie rolls, by the front door, 'member? But Niles, that wuz a different kind of dancin', I think it wuz a unhappy tootsie roll dance! Ohhhh, yeah; okay, I get it now! "
Well, the boys are right about that one; I am doing the really happy dance now ( not the tootsie roll dance, thank goodness!)

THREE IN ONE DAY!!!!

Okay; while I was awarding Jenn over at Bittersweet Fixins N Primitives; she was awarding me the SAME AWARD!!! HOW COOL IS THAT!!! Yikes; great minds think alike I tell ya; I gotta love that Jenn; go visit her; she always has something going on!!!! Thanks Jenn!! And she has some great crafting recipes and ideas too; what a sweetie she is; SOOOOOOOOOOO; Now I am nominating another blogger I just met for this award; The Shabby Blue Cottage. She has a new blog too so go over and visit her and leave her a nice comment; she would appreciate it I'm sure! Y'all are sooooo generous!!! EDIT: Jill at the Fruit of Her Hands just gave me this award too!!! And Jane at Jane's Fabrics returned the favor, what a gracious blogger she is! Love it!!!! Five in One Day!!! Yippee!!! I am so overwhelmed; thank you,thank you; and the bullies say "two paws up" to all their mom's blogging friends!Second Edit!!! Cindy from CynthiaLeeDesigns just awarded me this award also!!! Thank you Cindy!!!

TWO Awards in one day WOOO!

Well, I have to say I am so happy today. I just found out that two of my blogging friends have sent me an award! This really means a lot to me. When I started this blog, I was envious of all the awards displayed on the many blogs I visited. I could see why they received awards; they are all creative and industrious, friendly and generous. So to be again recognized ( my first was from TwoBarkingDogs who is a fantastic blogger!) was just so amazing. Thank you to all these ladies! TwoBarkingDogs, who gave me my first award and now to Sandy at For the LOVE of Prims, and Angie at Simple Thyme Primitives for these two new awards.

Now here are the details about this award;

1. The winner can put the logo on her blog.

2. Link the person you received your award from.

3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.

4. Put links of those blogs on yours.

5. Leave a message on the blogs of those you’ve nominated.So, here is who gets my "I Love Your Blog" Award in no particular order:

1. Jane at JanesFabrics blog

2. Jenn at Bittersweet Fixins N Primitives

3. Rochelle at Tales from Olde Crow Hill

4. Tina at Stitching in Texas

5. Cindy at CynthiaLeeDesigns

6. Train Wreck at Cowboys,Kids ,Sunsets

7. Jill at Fruit of Her Hands

8. D at TwoBarkingDogs

Well; I did eight because I have two awards and I don't know if I am supposed to do double??? But anyway; if you are on my list... and even if you aren't yet... consider yourself a winner too and put this on your blog too. I keep trying to remember to click that darn save on top after I add folks, but I have missed Cindy twice over so now I have fixed that! I get confused; sometimes I save y'all to my blog reader and forget to put you in the list, but I am getting better at this and better at not lurking so much!!!! I know we all forget to comment at times; I resolve to do better from now on.

And a special award to Shanda over at Front Porches,Sweet Tea as she is dealing with caring for her mom who recently broke her hip. Please stop by and wish her well, send her your prayers as she is such a good person and a great blogger. I am hoping that her mom has a speedy recovery and that Shanda gets a much deserved rest after this.

About the Pay it Forward Game

Hey blogger friends; I had some folks looking for a Pay it Forward to join since mine is now closed.(click on their names to go to their blogs) Jane ( who, by the way, owns a fabric store! Quilters; woo-hoo; this is a neat place to go and it's online and easy!!! See the links to the left for the website and her blog!) from Jane's fabrics had an opening or two on hers and Jenn at Bittersweet Primitives and Fixin's has an opening If you are ready to have some wild fun and get some goodies in your mailbox, go on over and sign up with these two. Jenn does prims and Jane is a quilter, so you never know what you may get, but it will be fun. Then you get to be the giver and put up the Pay It Forward on your blog and give out some goodies of your own. And it can be a small something so don't worry about having to go crazy finding things ( okay. that is what I am doing, but that is because I am a nut!!!LOL!) Have fun!!!

Another Giveaway!

Hey; Cheryl at Canadian Country Gal is giving away this fantastic sign; She has opened her own website and is celebrating by giving us a chance to own this handmade sign. Please go to http://www.canadiancountrygal.blogspot.com or her website athttp://www.yesterdayscountryandprimdecor.com. OOOOOH The goodies keep getting better and better don't they. I am going to keep entering these contests until I win something doggone it! But I am truly happy when my friends win; so hurry on over and tell Cheryl I sent ya!

Another great giveaway

Well; these bloggers are a generous lot aren't they? Go on over to Sue at Country Pleasures; http://www.countrypleasures.blogspot.com/and enter for her Fall goodies giveaway. I think eventually I have to win something right? Well good luck and she has a really wonderful blog too, so visit for a while.

Fall Giveaway at Behind My Red Door

Hi Everyone; Go on over to Linda's blog: Behind My Red Door to enter for her fall giveaway!!http://www.behindmyreddoor.blogspot.com. Hurry; the contest ends on Sunday and she will draw the winner on Monday!!! Run!!!! Look at all those wonderful things for Fall; she has a number of individual photos on her blog, so you can see all these items up close and personal!

Pay It Forward

Sandy at For the LOVE of Prims had this on her blog and so I thought I would do it too, sooo...

This is how it works: I will send a gift of my choice to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this "Pay it forward" exchange.YOU MUST make the same pledge on your blog! So, if you want some goodies from me and you are willing to do the same on your blog, do let me know! I will need your email address so we can correspond to each other for mailing addresses so I can get your little goodies out in the mail.

Well, what do you guys think; it is supposed to be something small; like something that can be sent in a mailing envelope or very small box. I think this will be a fun thing and I know many of you are already committed to do this, but I am hoping for three who have not done so yet :)

Let the FUN begin!!!!!

I have been meaning to show you all some of my treasures from thrifting and some recent photos of my craft items; but you all keep distracting me with your beautiful,creative,gorgeous blogs. Each day, I plan to do things, but the call of blogland is very hard to resist; Meg from Lucchese to Louis Vuitton says she doesn't have time for tv anymore because her blog is her "mistress". I agree, except for me, it is your blogs that call my name. I hate to miss a thing; I am currently mad cuz I missed out on a huge Secret Santa at chookyblue's blog! And I know it will be FANTASTIC!!! But I missed out cuz I didn't read her blog on the announcement day and she got flooded! Next year I'll be paying better attention; it sure looked like fun!

Okay enough whining about that and blaming y'all cuz I have NO discipline! Oh, it's true; I do not have a bit.

So now I am playing catch up!!! These are things from various treasure missions; I like the Lapeer Farmer's Market; not only do I get good cheap fresh locally grown fruit and vegetables; they have treasures! They are open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from May to October. I also go to thrift shops like Goodwill and Salvation Army; I feel good about that because my little amount of money does go to help others. ( I also donate things that I don't need/want anymore to help out too!)

I also began doing a little garage saling; by accident; I got two grungy quilts to use in crafting for all of nine dollars. And some never used beautiful pillows for $5...












You know these bunnies are waiting to get all primmed up; but they were $3 for both!

These were free( I love the green bowl? dish?)

This was found at the Goodwill store for $2; there was one like it at the Farmer's Market for $8; I think I did good!!!!

There's more....
from the farmer's market:


from the thrift stores








Also from the farmer's market;


That is a goofy sticker in the bowl; arrgh! It looks bad; but is NO LONGER THERE!
This is a feed sack from the local Co-op; also from the Farmer's Market:



These bears I got on two separate trips to the farmer's market; both were $1 each!!!



The Primmy Things I make and sell:



One of the super primmy snowballs; smells so good; cinnamon,coffee,vanilla;

My soon to be house sign inspired by another blogger's sign! I have to look to remember whose it was:

Not so primmy; more shabby chic; I made this a couple of years ago.

Small Shaker Box I primmed :

One of the lids for the jars:

Sorry the last two are a bit blurry; but you get the idea. Now I am mostly up to date on my treasure finds ; Last weekend we went to the farmer's market in Lapeer on Saturday; then we headed to Port Huron so I could go to Mary Maxim's Craft Store; you can order from them online; they are in the U.S. and also have a store in Canada (Sarnia,Ontario I think) The link is http://www.marymaxim.com/ for the U.S. one; link for Canada is http://www.marymaxim.ca/ . They have some great items for crafting,knitting,sewing,quilting,beading, and they have email alerts and coupons for sales too. We did not take the bikes that day because I did want to buy a few items and it is impossible to do any good shopping on the bikes, at least 'til I get saddlebags!!!LOL!

Here are some photos from that trip:

The Blue Water Bridge from the U.S. (Michigan) into Sarnia, Ontario,Canada

The Huron Lightship; used to warn ships with its light:


My two favorite flags; Canada and the US; this is in Ontario.

Then on Sunday; we went to take Niles,Murphy,Zoey,Bitsy to McDonald's, where their sister is beginning her manager training. And these mugs love McDonald's! This is what a bully trip looks like ( in Sparkle):
Niles is telling his Dad;" we needz more sausage biscuits!"

Niles and Zoey; "Dis openz, how u do dat?" ( I had never opened the back hatch window, so this was a big revelation to them!

The Murph; " U didn't tell me it openz! Whatz up wit dat?"

Bitsy and Zoey; " Me stick my head out first, NO!! ME FIRST!"

Murphy says; ( in LOL speak; see I has a HotDog link) this my hooman sister, her names is Christmas Eve; we calls her Chrissie; we is a bi-species family,canine-hooman; but we don'ts care; we luves her like she is canine! And she gives us good noms; and makes her co-workers gives us good noms too, like Milk-Bones!
After we took them back home; we decided to take a short ride around the Thumb of Michigan; I think we totaled about 190 miles all together.

Here's some more for you to look at:
The fountain in Port Austin where we had lunch; Port Austin is on the shore of Lake Huron;

Our bikes; no, mine does not have a name; but I love it just the same !

My FAVORITE helmet; I love pink and black!!!

Harbor Beach; also on the shores of Lake Huron;
So I am almost caught up; but I want to post a pic of the rainbow outside my sewing room window yesterday, but I have to download it; so I will have to do that next time. I have never put this many photos on at one time; AND it has taken me all the day to do it!LOL!!!!

Well that's all for now!!! I bet you are saying finally!!! LOL

I've been tagged!!!!

I have been tagged by Jenn over at Bittersweet Fixins "n" Primitives; she is a very funny gal; you should all go over there and visit her.

This tag is "Seven Strange Things About Me"

(Now she makes me have to think! I think everything about me is normal; LOL; I bet I will be getting my comments filled on that one!)

1.) This is the REAL BIG ONE!!! I have severe claustrophobia; it is so bad that before I go anywhere I have to find out about the "elevator situation" I absolutely cannot even walk by an elevator without getting lightheaded; my heart beging to pound and my hands start to sweat like crazy! I can't be in a small bathroom where I have to lock the door for fear of getting locked in a small space. I know why I have this problem, and yes I have gotten stuck in elevators twice. When we go to a hotel, I like to go to ones I have stayed in before because I know the layout!

2.) I named my truck; *Sparkle* I have never really cared for cars all that much ; just that they have a cd player and that they run, okay up until we got our really big truck the H2; after we got rid of it, which killed me... we finally got the second most truck of my dreams... and I love it; so for the first time I named her. Although I did always call the H2 Big Dog!!! LOL. Here's a picture of Sparkle...

3.)I have running conversations with my dogs; and yes, I understand fluent dog; read my posts; you'll understand. LOL

4.) I love cotton candy pink crocs! I wear them everywhere and I actually have a winter pair lined with sheepskin (faux of course!)

5.) I LOVE TAB!!! that's right; the soft drink from what; the sixties,seventies??? Yes, you can still find it in certain areas. It was the precursor to all the Diet Coke,Diet Pepsis we have today. Well, it comes in a pink can for goodness sake! AND... it allegedly has the most caffeine of any diet drink. I am not talking about the *energy* drink; I am talking about old school Tab; used to come in those funny frosted bottles. I have to tell you a funny story about Tab; when I was growing up, we drank pop/coke as kids. My dad was funny, he loved a bargain ( he also loved to dumpster dive, which was then called; garbage picking; we kids were embarrassed to death; now I do it!!! LOL) soo, unbeknownst to us kids, Tab was cheaper than regular Coke, so my dad would buy it; and we did not know. well, when I was older and started drinking Coke I kept wondering why it didn't taste the same as it did when I was little. Well, I gained a whole load of weight with my last pregnancy so I thought I would start to drink diet coke; I started by drinking Tab which was then available at KFC; I finally figured it out; we got slicked by our dad! But I still love Tab!!! When we lived in Canada, we would go to Buffalo,NY for our shopping raids I called them and we found a place that sold Tab; so each time we went we had to get Tab and Krispy Kreme Donuts ( until they got them in Canada at which time I did the happy dance)

6.) I watch cartoons!!! Oh yes, I do! My favorite of all times is Bugs Bunny; and they have a lot of bulldogs in those cartoons! I have it on my I-Pod; and my computer. I also love Tom and Jerry; again a lot of bulldogs, love that Spike and Butch ( hee-hee; I married Butch !!!) I watch SpongeBob SquarePants currently. I refuse to act my age! I would rather watch cartoons at least the old ones than to watch a lot of the icky stuff on tv.

7.) My husband is my closest friend. I know that they say you should have some secrets from your spouse, but I never have. We go everywhere together; I have tried going off with a friend or two on occasion, and have had some fun, but not as much as when he is there to share it with me. I am very close with him and have been since the very beginning; we have gone through a lot together and we like a lot of the same things.

I have one more... I love the Mounties!!!( RCMP)

Okay now its yourrrr turn; I do not know who to tag so I am tagging all of you; can't wait to see your "secrets"