A Celebration

Jenn and Ryan were married a few weeks ago and the day after they left to go on a cruise. So we put off a reception until this weekend. It was very informal with family and friends.



As you can tell Jennifer Noel has never been shy! Good luck Ryan!!!



Jenn's best friend Leslea with her sweet lil' daughter Kaylee and her Mom Julie and Kenneth.


Family


Food



Cake and Punch



Cruise photo's



Family and Friends




Here is a few photo's of the room we have been working on. We are doing it very rustic.



We have been working just about every evening....In the left corner we are planning on putting a large fireplace area.





We are getting closer to being done with the walls.




In this back corner we plan on enclosing a little room to put our washer and dryer into and a place for storage to hold all the tables and chairs for our family gatherings.

Well I'm hoping this week to find some time for stitching. On Thursday afternoon Mom and I are taking a trip to San Antonio to visit a cousin and spend a few days....It will be good to get away for a few days.

Happy Trails....Ginger

Spiked String Blocks and Chicks Update

Worked on the spiked string blocks as time allowed. All blocks are finished and sewn into rows. Now just sew rows together and add a border fabric. Then it goes into closet with others waiting for quilting.

Hot day (almost 90 with slight breeze) so the hens enjoy water. Leaves on Mesquite trees are coming in so it looks like spring for sure.
Hen waterhole "downstream". I run the water a few minutes several times a day. Those hens love scratching in mud and sitting on cold dirt.
I found Golden Laced Polish chicks on CraigsList a few weeks ago. Here are the two I purchased at one week old. They have been living in the box until feathered and now both go out with Frizzie's chicks during daylight hours. They grow so fast! Frizzie's chicks are looking very mature.

Caught the speckled chick napping. Little head is tucked almost under wing.The coloring is really going towards the Mille Fleur rooster color. But the chick has an extra toe so we thought white Silky roo was the dad and Speckled Sussex was that chicks mom. Confusing, but will be a pretty chicken when all is said and done.

Smudgie watching me, waiting for her bit of canned food before bedtime. Mimsy and Patch are around the corner, waiting too.

Dear Wonky never met a food bowl he didn't like.Nom nom nom !

Wacky Weather

We had a tornado touch down just 1/4 mile from us yesterday. All of sudden it started hailing - the hail stones were golf ball size the sky just turned black and the noise was horrendous. It was so scary for the Mom - me I just sat there watching Mom wondering why she was getting all nervous!! They are saying it followed the highway and also passed within 1/4 mile of where my Dad works - luckily they had some warning and were already in their safe places. The sirens here went off after it passed but the wind was making so much noise I didn't even get to howl at it !!!!! You can read about it here at our local news site. Mom and I are also very sad to see that the storms yesterday have killed over 200 people now - that is 200+ families grieving today, 200+ families without a loved one and facing a lonelier future. I am sure it is also a number of pets without a Mom or Dad too. So please put your paws together and say a little prayer for all the sad people and pets today.

We Got Our Hairs Cut!

Mommy said we were pretty shaggy and I (BRD) was really fussing when Daddy brushed my hair, so last week we went to see Jody, our favorite groomer. Hootie is cold all the time now, so has been wearing his sweaters and jacket around the cabin. (Sheesh! Mom keeps it at 60degrees here!)

ON another note, is anyone having problems with using the "font size, bold, italic, or link & spellcheck, etc" features here on Blogger?? We haven't been able to get any of them to work for over a week now. Through shortcuts bold/italic has worked, but the command buttons on the top of the blogspot toolbar do not. Any help out there?

Smooches from pooches,

Baby Rocket Dog & Hootie

PS-Sorry we've been so bad at visiting blogs. We'll try to get on the stick soon!

Wordless Wednesday

Update on MY bluebirds

We had bad storms and tornado warnings again last night and of coarse first thing I did this morning was go out out and check on MY Bluebirds. They are quite quite happy (even though we had to move their nest box to a new post) and are busy padding their nest some more.

We are supposed to have a nice today but then this evening more severe weather. Luckily storms don't bother me at all - I just keep snoozing right on through them no matter how noisy they get. Mom is not liking them though - she doesn't like feeling of being "on edge" when the tornado warnings come across the weather radio. They don't have tornado's and hurricanes in Australia so this is something my Mom just isn't use to. Have a great day everyone and stay safe where ever you are.

Not so Eggtroidinary

We were watching the video of Misty and Oreo playing with plastic easter eggs that had treats in them and Mom thought it would be good for me to try too. Well "IT" figured out it pretty quickly but me - hmmm why would I want to play along with this game? It really wasn't challenging enough (darn that I couldn't get the thing open ---ummmm I mean the darn thing WOULD NOT open!) Mom says I have to keep practising. Notice I did hit it with my paw like Mom told me too and of coarse when Mom had the video on "IT" he wouldn't do it again which means there is no proof that he did do it! Oh - Mom found the plastic eggs at Walmart - they had all the Easter items 50% off at the moment - so it cost like 60 cents for 8 of them.

A Blessed Easter Day

I do hope each of you had a blessed Easter today. We enjoyed a rainy day as we traveled to church this morning. Much needed rains have been coming down the last few days and we are so thankful for the showers.

Today I think back of the cross, the nails, the pain. I think of the grave and the sacrifice made for me. I was given a gift of life and I'm truly blessed to serve a risen Saviour.

So lift up your voice and sing.....Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King!

Happy Trails....Ginger

Abandoned

Can you believe my Mom and Dad ABANDONED me for the weekend. Can you guess where they went *hint* it is the home of the Blue Angels. While they were off seeing the sights I was left at home with "she who is never seen" (dad's daughter) and "IT" (Jackson) Mom had been mumbling something about missing the smell of salt air and sand between her toes and dad had promised when she was well enough he would take her "THERE". They said they don't allow doggies "THERE". What kind of place doesn't allow doggies ???? A BAD BAD place I say.











Mom has promised me though that the next time they go away they are taking me with them because she missed me soooo much. And I guess I can't complain too much as she did bring me back some treats. Oh the place where the Blue Angels home base is - is also where my dad did his flight training when he joined the Navy. He got to see lots of places that he remembered that were BM & BR (before Mom and before Reilly)

It's That Time Again!

What an evening.....circulation all around us and no hidey hole. I asked Danny what's the plan if this thing turns into a tornado? Will get in the little room with the extra fridge and we will be okay. My words to him....Are You Ready To Go? His answer yes but don't want to go yet....me either but I'm ready!



It's always good to be prepared. This was right over the shop behind the house. Thank goodness no damage.

We are very thankful for the rains that are falling.
Hope your having a safe weekend!

Happy Trails...Ginger

Help Celebrate This Saturday!!

It's a special Birthday celebration on Saturday at Ronnie's place (http://ronniisramblings.blogspot.com/)! For more info. please go see Miss Asta at http://AstasWorld.blogspot.com. It's gonna be a party!! WooHoo!!!

Smooches from pooches,
Baby Rocket Dog and Hootie

Had my eye on a different string top in HeartStrings photo album, these are the beginings of my own version. There are other projects to work on but I like to keep strings and papers at machine for when I have a bit of time to sit.
Pulling papers off block backs. Decided I like using end roll newspaper better than slippery catalog paper. Press after paper is torn off so strings press flat. Next step, trim the block square. I found tearing papers after squaring pulls out edge stitches.

Smudgie is keeping an eye on me this morning, waiting outside of each room I go into. I better check the catfood hopper, it may be low. These cats get antsy about their food.

Chick Update:
We have decided this chick is not the Frizzle Bantam's baby. Daddy is the Silky rooster and Speckled Sussex (best guess). This baby is twice the size as Frizzle's little baby. Both chicks have the extra toe that comes from a Silky breeding, plus feathery feet. I'll try to get some pics of the two chicks, it's hard cuz mom Frizzie has taught them to be afraid of me.
Hate to journal about this but the big Cochin broody hen (Lola)gave up on her eggs. She slowly started to push eggs out of her nest. No idea why a hen would do that. Maybe they weren't going to hatch? Could she sense there was no sign of life after a couple of weeks? I sure don't know. Today would have been hatching day.

Stitching, Strawberries, and Picking Posies!

Been working with needle and thread a little as time allows. This was a pattern by Cedarberry Stitches.



This is my 2nd one of this great pattern by A Stitch In Time....Just a very fun piece to stitch. Once it was stitched I added it to a piece of old army blanket.



Again I have grabbed some scraps from the wool basket and have started stitching. This one isn't quite finished.



We have been enjoying a few strawberries from the very small patch I have planted in an old tractor tire. Actually a lil' boy has been enjoying them he pops them in his mouth as fast as he picks them.





The addition of the gathering room has been completed on the outside. The guys did a wonderful job. The electrician who is in his late 70's has been working on putting up lights and adding lots of elecrical outlets for us. He should be done in just a few days.



Danny and I will be completing the inside and I'm hoping it flows as smoothly as the rest has been. I want it simple and prim and I've been experimenting with a few ideas with the walls as they will be done in wood.



I have been working on the flowerbeds a little as the wind allows....goodness it has been blowing for weeks. Sloan found a patch of "flowers" he proudly announced he was picking flowers for his mommy....He had quite a handful to take home!



Now a question. I ordered a vintage punch that I'm wanting to try. Last year while at Star of Texas rug hooking camp in Fredericksburg, Karen Kahle spoke about using one of these and showed rugs she had made with one. I am wondering if anyone has tried it or seen how it is used. I want to give it a try soon....just need to find some time to give it a go. If you have used one or know about it I would love to hear your thoughts on using it.

Happy Trails....Ginger

A Paw Note

Mom and I were out inspecting the damage and Mom picked up the nest box to move and heard scrattling inside. Momma Bird is still in there - sitting on eggs!!! We covered the opening quickly and put the nest back up on one of the new poles that survived the wind. Fingers crossed we may still get some baby bluebirds after all. Mom and I are doing the Reilly happy dance !!!!!

Oh - this is what Mr Bluebird looks like - isn't he pretty