spring

Ah the wonderful things that Spring has brought us this year.  For starters, I am sad and happy to say, that I am closing my day care.  It is time that I rejoin the outside world of work.  I am seriously going to miss the kids, all of my crafting, cooking, mothering and loving, but it is time for me to move on.  We initially opened the day care so that I could make money and be able to raise our own kids here instead of sending them to day care.  A year into my business we found out that I couldn't have children.  I am thankful that I had loving kids around me at that time and since then, otherwise I might not have made it through the depression of life not turning out the way I had expected. 

Katie Bug and I have spent a lot of time in the woods lately.  She plays in the creek while I hunt for mushrooms and all of the wonders that Spring brings.  I am so happy to say that I found five mushrooms this year... as of yet.  Most years I only find one.  I don't know if I am getting better at spotting them or if this is just a good year for them.  I think I am getting better at it and knowing were to look.  Each one I found was nearest to a Sycamore tree.  I have tried to make mental notes on the condition of the ground, the leaves and what was going on around the sites where I found them.  You just never know.  They have been the tastiest morels ever! 

I got really sick last week.  Sicker than I think I have ever been.  The doctor said it could be from tick bites as I also picked up some of them while mushroom hunting.  I went back in the woods as soon as I was better.  Call me silly... but I've killed a lot more ticks than ticks have killed me!  You gotta get right back on that bike. 

I got a new job!  I am supposed to start on the 25th so please say a little prayer for me.  My new job came a lot faster than I really expected.  I made the decision to close my business and start job hunting and within two weeks had a job to go to.  I feel it is a sign that I am doing the right thing. 

Here is a peek of mine and Kate's time in the woods.


The first morel I found this year on 3/26/16. 

Along with a shed that One Nut found while mowing.

One of the many gorgeous sparkly rocks on our place.

These come up down the creek.

We got to see all of the dog toothed violets in all of their beauty.

Trillium everywhere.

Lots of little violets.

I didn't pick and fry any fiddleheads this year.

The second morel I found.

And third.

And fourth... hiding under a downed tree.

This is where Kate stays while I hunt.  She splashes and barks at the water until she hears a gun shot somewhere and becomes attached to me.

I cam across Shaun's dad hunting for mushrooms last Saturday.  He found some good ones and when I got home he had left them on our front porch!  Thanks Gary!

weekend shots

I am loving this spring weather in Tennessee!  On Saturday, Katie Bug and I took a walk.  I had been wondering of the top field was full of buttercups and if the iris had popped up yet.  No iris yet but the buttercups were giving quite a show.  My winter blues have dissipated as warm weather is here.  Even if we have another cold snap or two I know we are headed for warm nights and hot days!!

 

The dog toothed violets popping up.

My pretty little Rattlesnake wild orchids.



A Barbie Bathroom

I am pretty sure this will be the last Barbie room/addition to our Barbie house here at the day care.  If not, I will have to gut the rest of the room and deem the entire room one big Barbie house.  I reckon I have to draw the line somewhere.  This room stumped me a bit.  How does one make a toilet for a Barbie house?  I came up with one that is self-contained and tank-less.  It is also water-less... thank goodness.  It is made from a tea box and has a Dixie cup for the bowl.  You can even raise the lid.  I cut a sink into an existing counter that I had made and used ribbon to hide the card stock basin.  The shower curtain was found in a bag of scarves.  I don't recall seeing it before but it made things a lot easier on me as I was rushing to work one morning and found it.  I quickly ironed a seam, sewed it and hurried out the door.  The accessories, perfume bottles, and pictures are made from beads, shells that I glittered and magazine cut outs.  It came together nicely.  At the last minute, glue gun in hand, I glued everything down.  I felt kind of mean in doing this but I wanted to take pictures and honestly speaking I have been known to go in the Barbie house after everyone leaves and straighten everything back up.  This way, it stays and the Barbies have use of the facilities.  Is that wrong? :)

 

 

Not bad huh?!?!

I used a picture of purple hydrangeas for my sisters Marty and Mary Evelyn.

Marty who loves the color purple and Mary Evelyn who loves hydrangeas.

That faucet is an earring piece.

Recognize that plant cup anyone? 

 

 

I need to make towels yet and maybe a bathrobe.  I think it turned out nice.

 



lovin right now

Well I have been in love with lots of things since my last Lovin Right Now post I'm sure. 

Here's what I am actually... Lovin Right Now.

 

 

 

I found these at Kroger last weekend and haven't stopped eating them!  They are good to snack on.  For breakfast, I use almond milk (unsweetened, no vanilla) and have diced apple... yum!  Last Saturday I made granola bars and included this cereal in the mix.  So good!

I've been using Josie Maran body butter since last year and LOVE IT!  My most recent purchase of lotion included a jar of face butter.  Before I got it I had just been using the body butter on my face.  I really, really like the face butter.  It is wonderfully silky and not heavy on my face.  I use it on my face and neck.  I order mine from QVC.com.

My Vitamix is a couple of year sold now and I don't use it all the time.  It actually goes in spurts as to what I am into making.  Lately I have gotten back on my smoothie kick.  I made the berry beet smoothie and my favorite green smoothie the most.  Recently I found another one with cranberries and chopped ginger that I like too. The recipe is HERE.  I have a sensible breakfast fairly early, then have my smoothie about 10:00 A.M.  For lunch I have sliced carrots and celery with almond butter on melba toast. 

For the longest time I ran across people that quoted the movie Office Space.  I had never seen the movie so I didn't know what they were giggling about.  I glanced through the five dollar movie bin at WalMart one day and the movie was there so I bought it.  I bet I have watched it fifteen times since then.  Each time I pick up on something else that strikes me as funny.  It's not the best movie in the world but I like it.  It also makes me every so thankful to not work in an office/cubicle environment anymore!!!