Time To Go Back To School...

Well it is that time of year...again...already...

I spent the last two days organizing and straightening the
 school room:)  I have spent the last two weeks going
over the curriculum for this year...

and as of tonight I am ready for school to start on Monday!

The books are in the desks and the first week's

lesson plans are complete...sigh of relief.

Here we come 7th & 8th grades!!!

I pray for God to bless our upcoming school year.

To give me wisdom, strength, patience, and knowledge

to be the teacher He wants me to be. And for my 2 students

to have open eyes and minds to learn as God 

 directs our steps each day.  Amen

Hugs & Blessings,

Terry

Train a child up in the way he should go,

Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

                                            Proverbs 22:6



Grapes and More Grapes

This the first year that our grape vines

have produced...and I am very happy with

them.  Next year should be even better:)

This quite a large bowl,

which I ran though my Dear Grandmother's colander.

After  smashing them,

cooking them,

squishing them,

ladling them into jars,

and processing them.

I came up with....

12 jars of Grape Jelly!!!

Yes, I am very happy :)

Still have green beans left to harvest

and blackberries & raspberries

in the freezer to work with.

Check back in for more

"canning progress".

Hugs & Blessings,

Terry

July DJSP Gift

My wonderful Dear Jane Secret Pal

once again out did herself.

She has a embroidery machine and I was

blessed to receive some of her work this month.

Two beautiful blocks that could be the beginning of a quilt.

(hint, hint, hint)

Wouldn't they be gorgeous with black sashing...

that would really make them POP!!!

The lace bookmark was also made on

her embroidery machine.  So very pretty.

Already in my Bible.

And of course, the July digi card.

I really look forward to seeing the

digi card each month.  She has some

beautiful designs.

As always I love my gift:)

Only problem this month is

she has me wondering if I need an

embroidery machine...

Many thanks and hugs and blessings to my Secret Pal.

 Hugs,

Terry

July Paper Crafting

Running a bit late with my July card making and

challenges post, but here they are:

Christmas in July card

Around the House challenge...

I had to use something from around the house on this

card (recycle), I chose the pictures from an old calendar.

The Build a Sketch Challenge

Different Kind of Card

Love this little onsie card:)

Male Themed Card

Mystery Item Card

The Fall leaves were the mystery item

that I was sent top work with.

New Technique Challenge

The background was the new technique,

using ink and saran wrap.

And last, but not least was the 12 x 12 Paper Swap.

I was to use one sheet of 12 x 12 paper to make 4-5 items

for 2 different people.  I love these swaps:)

Thanks for stopping by.

Hope you enjoyed your visit:)

Hugs & Blessings,

Terry



Canning, Canning, and More Canning

Last week was a very productive canning

week for me:)  More tomatoes and peaches

are now safely tucked away for the winter.

This is about a third of the tomatoes

that went into the pot...

and were cooked for 2 hours to become Salsa.

Then I turned to the peaches...

These sweet peaches became

Peach Honey and Peach Jam and...

Spiced Peaches :)

So today I took the day off and spent the afternoon at

a dear friend's house in her pool and chatting while

swinging on her porch swing :)

Tomorrow, I will be back to canning

and then Card making :)

Have a blessed week.

Hugs,

Terry



Busy Last Week...Busy This Week

Last week I was able to get my

quilt blocks made for an upcoming Friendship Swap.

Got to use up a lot of scrap fabrics I had stashed away!!!

All have left to do is sign them:)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Then the first of some garden goodies ripened...

So I made my first batches of Blackberry Jelly and Salsa.

There is a jar or two of each already missing...

My dear grandchildren LOVE both of these items:)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And I received this too too cute Summer Mug Rug

from a wonderful quilty friend :)

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Spent some of this past week cleaning so I can get going on

some much needed re-organizing and getting rid of.  I can't

believe we will back in school in less than a month....

I have curriculum to go through and lesson plans to get done,

Good Grief, I've got so much left to do!!!!!

So much for getting the living room wall paper stripped

and a new paint job on those walls - that will have

to wait until Fall Break :)

And this week is even busier in the kitchen -

I have 2 bushels of peaches to can and make into jelly,

About a bushel and a half of tomatoes, so far,

to transform into salsa and tomato juice,

and 6 gallons of Blackberries and

3 gallons of Red Raspberries to make into Jelly.

Next it will be more tomatoes & green beans & potatoes...

and it won't be long before the pears & apples will be ready.

I am so very blessed to have all this coming in and the

ability to can everything :)  I Thank God for all His blessings

and all that is good in my life.

Hugs & Blessings,

Terry

How Dry Is It...

I was trying to do some work in my garden

yesterday, but I felt like I was in the "dust bowl" of the 1930's!

I was stirring up so much dust I must have looked like the cartoon

character Pigpen from the Peanuts cartoon strip. 

Thought I would share a picture or two.

This is what  my garden and yard looked like last year...

Green!!!!

This is what my garden and yard look like this year...

Brown and it crunches when you walk outside... yuck!!!

I have had to water the garden, but it isn't doing real well.

I have gotten some peppers, cucumbers, and tomatoes.

The corn is a total loss.  Still holding out hope for the potatoes and grapes:) 

We even have cracks opening up in the yard...
The little bit of green plant growth...WEEDS!!!!

And the ground is rock hard.

100+ degree temps, I feel like I am living in Arizona.

I am not a winter girl usually,

but I am looking forward to winter coming

this year...cooler temps and some rain & snow, I hope.

We sure do need it. 

Hugs & Blessings,

Terry 





PIF Time......

It is time for a PIF - Pay It Forward.

Remember how this works:

I need 3 people to play.  The first 3 to say

they want to play will receive a homemade gift from me.

Once they receive their gift they MUST offer a PIF

 on their blog and send out gifts to 3 people,

and so it goes:)  PIF also spells F U N!!!!

Just leave a comment on this post saying

that you want to play:)

I was lucky enough to receive a PIF from Terry's Treasures.

My PIF gift from her arrived today:

Oh, looky here, she wrapped with fabric also, LOL

I received this oh so pretty mini quilt, which is on

my dining room table as a table topper.  And a really cute pin

cushion, I collect pincushions :) 
and some wonderful colors of embroidery floss.

Love it all.  Thank you so much, Terry.  As always, your work is GREAT!

Hugs & Blessings,

Terry

Dear Jane Secret Pal Gift...

Here is my June Secret Pal gift:)

Love the wrapping fabric...

that is one great thing about quilters, we use

fabric to wrap with and cloth ribbon for bows.

No waste there!!!

And when my package was opened...

these are the goodies it held:)

Cloth napkins, candy (do you here "yummy")

and the next pattern to the Little Red Barn set.

And of course the June digi card:)

Love it all, Thanks so much to my DJSP.

I don't know who she is yet, but I know she is Awesome!!!

Thanks for stopping by,

Terry



Summer Rug Mugs

This lovely rug mug was

sent to me by a wonderful

lady in a quilt group that I belong to.

The group offered a Rug Mug Swap:)

Love these bright summery colors!

These are the Rug Mugs

that I made to send off to

their new homes:)

Love the "Big Bottomed Fruit Gals"

Everytime I look at that fabric I laugh!!!!

Love these little Mug Rugs,

hoping they offer more swaps.

Hugs & Blessings,

Terry



Happy July 4th

Hoping everyone has a safe July 4th.

Take time to remember what this day is truly

about.  Ponder where we have come from and where we are headed.
Then honor our Founding Fathers as well as the generations to come,
 by taking a stand.

Hugs & Blessings,

Terry

June Paper Crafting

Here are this month's card swaps & challenges :)

Sketch Challenge

Origami Shirt Card                                                                      Beach theme

Mystery Item Challenge



"Girly" Bookmark

ATCs - Letters G for Glam Girl & T for Tree

Had a great time making these.

Hoping to get some more paper crafting time in this month:)

Hugs & Blessings,

Terry

                                                                                     ~ Borrowed from Facebook Friend :)

A Walk Around My Yard...

Thought I would share a few pictures

from around my yard.

This little guy is a daily visitor.

He seems to be very partial to doughnuts

and peanuts.



Flowers from around the house. Most were from late spring.

This is what the front flower bed looks like now.

The lack of rain is taking it's toll on the flowers,

they just aren't spreading as usual :(  Looking for some

more flowers to add this weekend.

Plan to add a variety of colors of Mums in the Fall.

Hoping for some much needed rain for them

as well as the fruit and veggie garden...

Used the tiller in the garden Saturday and felt like I in a dust bowl!!!

I have been watering and thankfully everything is growing:)

And of course my walk would not be complete

without checking in on the raccoons...

Here are a Momma and 1 of her 3 babies...

ummm, little camera shy today :) 

Thanks for stopping by. 

Hoping everyone finds something special

to bring themselves joy each and every day.

Hugs & Blessings,

Terry

Borrowed from Facebook Friend