Have a Heart...& Patience...

We are over run by chipmunks...

I've got stories on top of stories that would
keep the sternest of faces smiling for hours.
We purchased this Have-a-Heart cage
to safely capture and relocate them...
After 10 or so we stopped counting!
I think they find their way back home...
through the park, across the small creek,
up a very steep hill...to our back yard~
WITH NEW FRIENDS!

We think they're the dearest little critters~
HOWEVER!
They manage to clog EVERY air filter/intake
in our cars...until it smothers the engine...
Chew wires in the cars 'til they all
touch each other & light up the dashboard
idiot lights as though it were Christmas...
Get inside our cars and use the
glove box as a bathroom! (eeweee)
UN-wire the snowmobile trailer...
we only have some plastic remnants left~
Dig CITIES in our flower beds...
Tunnels that travel everywhere.
Not just an occasional hole~

They have gotten into the interior fan
of the car I'm driving while the tranny
is being replaced in my Jimmy...
I turned it on the other day~
to hear this horrible grinding sound~
pieces of chopped leaves blew into
our faces...out the vents!
I can't run it until hubby cleans it for
a second time~ for fear of fire.

Our friends have chipmunks around...
they don't do this to their cars...

****sigh****

We might have to stop feeding our birds~
;(
I think the chipmunks have life pretty
good around here...hourly nourishment,
warm cars to nest in...
bird baths for fresh water...

They have the dearest little faces...
They're "STARS" in my children's books!
I simply wish they would live
outside our cars...

Pastures & Fences...

When I was young I lived next door to a
small dairy farm.
The day time pasture bordered
our lawn on two sides.
Some mornings I would wake to the
sound of hoof beats as the "girls" were on their
way to pasture through the morning mist.
Now & again it was a treat to
look out & see "Daisy"~
my dear friends horse...grazing along side
the girls. She was a beautiful horse~
blond with burnt sienna patches.
She looked like a city chic hanging with
all of the milk cows on the hill...
They all wore black n' white fur~

I love this cow pictured...
It's Daisy & The Girls all mixed into one~

The First Treasure Box Started...

My sweet girl chose this fabric to cover a
lampshade in her room~
With the left overs we decided to start
a treasure box...
The cover is decoupaged with the fabric~
The rest of the box will be a surprise when
we finish it this weekend!

Pedestal Finds...

Some of my treasure boxes are very large...
These will work perfect!
Such deals!

Fun Projects...

What started the thrift boutique visits...
Christmas gifts!
I know everyone begins "the holiday season"
far too early...but when your making gifts...
It's never too soon!

This candle stick was $.29
The rest of the pieces have been collected
here and there~ little at a time.

Twins...

And then there were two!
Was out running errands today~
Stopped by one of my favorite thrift boutiques...
I had purchased the first one a few days ago~
Today...this coverless beauty!
Again...a treasure for $1.29~

Fall Nest...

I love this vintage little bowl...
It seems to be the perfect fit for
this mossy, twig-filled~ pine needle
and dried leaf NEST!

This gem was found on top of a bluebird
nest...I think three different birds
were trying to claim the space as their
own most of the summer...
It sat empty through August & September~
Now the bluebird house is all cleaned and
waiting for a new tenant!

Nests in a Row...

As my studio space becomes more
business-like~
these sweet little abandoned nests

soften the view & keep me inspired!

With our growing collection
a few had to put into clear containers...
Kept safe for a still life or
a quick study!

Quite the neighborhood!

Brown Mouse n' Friends...

I just adore owls!

Trying to organize the studio...

Taking a lunch break to share these
adorable cards my daughter found
at a tag sale when she was wee little.

Finding small things bring
back great memories & make
the job a bit more fun!

Vintage Sugar...

This was a treasure found...
hidden behind a bunch of mugs & other
general kitchen clutter...
Our $1.89 weekend buy!

Clean Vines...

This was "Homecoming Weekend"
While the games were on & the family
was off cheering on the red & white!
~I decided to do a little fall clean-up
around the gardens...and cook down
another HUGE harvest of tomatoes.

We had an excellent growing season
this year...perfect amount of rain & sun~
Our freezer is full of container
after container of home made chili and
Italian sauces thanks to 4 Roma
tomato plants! They were still full and
making more when I cleared the
veggie garden for the season~
I picked off most of them & they're on
our kitchen "surfaces"...
When they ripen a bit more~
they're off to a friends house!

Oh, how yummy the house smells
when home made sauce is simmering!

Michelle Palmer Fabric...

I LOVE to design for all ages~
This is one of our summer fabrics...
Springs Industries/Daisy Kingdom
does such a nice job!

It was fantastic to see our
fabric design printed on the pattern!

A friend sent me this image of a
completed dress...I think she found
it on eBay a little bit ago...
(I wish I could give credit to the person
who did such a beautiful job sewing it!)

She knows I don't sew! Teehee

What fun!

Hidden Friends...

Look who almost got a hair cut when
I was trimming back some perennials!
Silly little friend startled me
and I startled it right back~

"I survived the 1st frost!"

"So did I"

Had our first light frost Thursday night...
Most of the flowers are still standing!

Hope you have a wonderful Saturday!

Silverware Sisters...

Hi Diane~
The door handle in my studio!
Something about silverware...
;0)

Praying Mantis...

This is the largest Praying Mantis
I have seen in Upstate New York!
I'm sure there are larger ones
near wooded areas that wear jeans
and hiking boots~ tee hee...

I was cooking dinner & looked over...
There the little friend was!
(Perhaps it's one of those woodside
giant size ones~ it was looking for a
meat n' potatoes dinner!)

Now that the photo shoot is done~
I'll move PM to a safer location.
This is our Tippy-Boy's favorite window.
We wouldn't want his nail's ripping the
screen up any more than it already is!

Be happy!