Tea in the Garden ATC SWAP

A fun monthly ATC swap, with hostess Kimberly at ArtJoyStuff, is something I truly look forward too.
Our  exchange is in the mail and I cannot wait for them to be delivered. It's a plus to my day.

These are my little creations for the April "Tea in the Garden" swap:

Click on the photo to enlarge for a better view.

Sorry for the glare.. I need to read the online 189 page information booklet on my camera. I truly wish it had been sent to me when I purchased the camera.

My ATC fits within the little quoted envelope

Thanks for stopping by.  We are having a calm after the storm. Thankful for no tornado's, we needed the rain, never need the terrible winds ( 75MPH ) so branches once again ) I was able to cover my newly planted flowers to prevent the hail damage.  Enjoy your day and may you have sunshine.

WOYWW #257

Good Morning, hope you are having a terrific day.
WOW...it's another WOYWW. I missed last week and a whole week of posting. Busy times here

As Julia mentioned on her blog STAMPING GROUND   " So that's only 3 weeks from the big 5th anniversary on 260"  and the chance to exchange ATC's with one another. She has all the info on her heading, if you are interested. 

My desk has seen no creativeness, I dropped a few items from a fun trip I took with a friend to Minnesota. The little glass items to be some pincushions, no doubt. Lovely old crochet work for some fabric designs. I am hoping to make a few fabric journals. And another little muffin tin...and I think I'm missing a sack with more goodies, misplaced no doubt. It has some tiny child like kitchen wares. I have several cards to get done before some May birthdays and this Sunday is Mother's Day in the US.

Temps will be over 80 today.  Busy times, included another cousins funeral, cleaning out my garden shed, planting flowers, dealing with Mr. Wind and more sticks................................a wonderful day with my mom doing some medical appts and shopping. And helping transport hubby between fields. He started the planting of soy beans. And finalizing 50 year class reunion information .I volunteered to make an excel sheet on addresses, phone #'s, email address  (107 classmates accounted for) The conversations have been wonderful. Can't wait for the 2/3 day get togethers in Sept.   A nap here and there !  And a storage room waiting to be decluttered for a garage sale or donation site.

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy all that life has to offer. I'm having a cup of iced coffee and measuring cabinets this AM...kitchen renovation also started.  More next week.

WOYWW #255

 Good Day to all of you.   WOW...if forgot WOYWW, I cannot believe it is Wednesday.  Julia at the STAMPING GROUND has a weekly sharing of the workspaces and I hate to miss it.

I've been rushing around for days. My hubby is working in the fields and  I start something, the phone call, can you bring the truck, back home, start something, phone rings, need to move to another field.  You get the idea...................when I get back home, I forget what I was actually doing.

 Not much changed on my desk...just dropped off a heart box, I gave to hubby...he eats the candy, I collect the boxes..some lavender with the idea to make something fragrant from some of the fab, but didn't want to disassemble the cute star they made. and a froggy baby bid, I want to take the pattern from.

This stack was from cleaning ............yes I tore the bedrooms apart, washed the walls, windows, curtains and took Everything out from under the beds, vaccumed and sorted a few drawers. It is a SPRING thing.

We spent Easter at my sisters for a wonderful dinner with family. Thankful it rained so we could attend. Farmers don't stop for holidays when the weather is on their side.

Today is also my cousins birthday, which I also forgot..he will be so surprised not getting a card from me. And I feel bad, he just had open heart surgery, but will have to make the phone call and tell him when you are my age you tend to forget.  (I am 4 months older than he and he thinks it's funny) .

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your WOYWW visits.

HAPPY EASTER TO YOU AND YOURS

Taken at Easter morning mass. An awesome choir, and many welcomed guests.

Ane with the love of nature, my niece shared her back yard this morning from Minnesota ..

Best Wishes for Happy Spirng.

FRIDAY SMILES

Here it is Friday and almost time for Easter Sunday.  Annie in the UK  sets Friday to share a smile or two. You can visit her blog at  A STITCH IN TIME, so many fun things to uplift your soul.

Today I want to share a Tulip Field in Germany.  My son took his two little girls there to pick flowers for their mommy, who was in the hospital with a new baby sister, Savannah.

click the photo to enlarge

Sky Lynn is in the back. She was 4 in April.  Summer Rose is in the front and is 2 1/2.  I got to see the bouquet via Skype and it was beautiful ..SO many colors and varieties . My favorite was a lavender shaded to purple, with the ruffle edge.   I swear Sky will own a flower shop someday. Ever since she could walk she has been picking flowers.

And not to let Savannah out of our thoughts....here is a photo of our new granddaughter.

God's Little Blessings.  We have so much to be Thankful for.


Have a wonderful Easter.  Thanks for stopping by.

It's #254at WOYWW and a NEW BABY

Hi everyone, so excited to share my desk and the good news of being a new grandma !

Julia at the STAMPING GROUND has Wednesday set aside for whoever enjoys a trip around the world, peeping at other bloggers workspaces.

During our Monday snowy blizzard, I cleaned my desk.

The table behind my chair....use for cutting papers/fabric, dies, embossing folders.

And the storage under that table, wood/clear stamps, tulle, embellishments, much misc.

NOW THE BIG NEWS:

Savannah Marie was born Thursday April 10th...She weighted 8 lbs 7 ozs. was 20.2 in long.
All are doing well and she came home Saturday morning.  To be entertained by her 4 yr old sister Sky, who is ecstactic over a new baby. But little 2 yr old Summer...she is now Daddy's girl. This is my military son who is in Germany.  I am so thankful everyone is doing well.  J. was impressed with the hospitals there.

 Mr. Wind has left us for a while, we have bright sunshine and a temp of 26 degrees. UNREAL for our April in Iowa.  Last year my hubby had some of his fields planted.  Thanks for stopping by, enjoy WOYWW and I'm off to work on a few ATC's.

MARCH ATC SWAP COMPLETED

Welcome to my snowy, cold world.  It is April and there has been time to create.  Kimberly at ArtJoyStuff
hosted another lovely ATC Swap,  Black, Pink and Bling.  I would like to share the lovilies I received.

 This was the pretty packaging Kim used for mailing

This so fun loving one came from Jane in Florida  Such sparkly pretties and that cute little image

 This is from the hostess Kim, just lovely layers of bling and statelyness

This one is from Sheng, more lovely layers and beautiful butterflies.

These ATC exchanges are always a delight. Thank You to all for your beautiful creations. I'm working on a new display for them, so in time may repost.

 A little gift for the hostess

 A couple of my creations for the swap

And my individual evelopes for each card...these photos are a little blurry, but had already mailed them out so couldn't retake.

Kim is hosting another swap for April, Tea in the Garden, I have a button on my sidebar if you are interested.
Thanks for stopping by, have a lovely week.

Something New on the Farm

Posting to Annie's SMILES on FRIDAY    A Stitch in Time   so some across the pond can enjoy so IOWA news too.

Welcome,   it is SPRING here in Iowa.........but not the fun Spring days we usually have. If we have Sunshine, and warm temps, then Mr. Wind has to mess up the day with his constant gusts.  If  Mr. Wind leaves the area it is cold and dreary. No green grass as yet, or budding trees, and flowers well nary a peep of any breaking thru the ground.

My DH did venture to plant some radishes today. He enjoys the outdoors no matter what the weather is. Picking up sticks, raking the rocks out of the lawn from winter snow plowing, dealing with his animals, being pals to the 16 or so barn cats, preparing his machinery for spring planting, washing all of it and our vehicles.

The added fun we have in our Barn, are the newly born calves.

 The one to the right of the mother and babe, is a calf born mistakenly in December. How he has grown through our bitter cold.  We were thankful he was so strong.

This is also a photo of him alone.

Thanks for stopping by, the oven is beeping, need to set timers or I forget, but have a meat loaf and baked potatoes ready for supper.    AND waiting to hear from my son on a new baby due any time.

WOYWW #253

Good Day to all of you. It's time for Julia's Stamping Ground  Wednesday's workspace visits

 My table to the left, some wooden letters, a bunny pattern, some trim and some glue. I think I can keep here  now that the temps are warmer. My area is in our lower level and this winter was quite cool.

This table sets along the left side of the above and it more or less collects things. I haven't been too creative this week. Cleaned the window panes on the one nice day we had. Sorted closets for summer clothes and was hoping to fo to Minnesota's Junk Bonanza with my sister (who now has the flu) and a friend (who has a funeral) and haven't made up my mind if I want to travel alone yet.  Suitcase is packed, I have a free room and a free brunch at the casino only about 2 miles from the event.  So will see how I feel in the early morning. It is a 2 hr drive and to be a nice day. So I'm thinking it's a done deal. I do well alone, just lots more fun with friends.

Have a great day, hope you are enjoying the colors of SPRING....it's still cold and no green here.
We do however have 3 new baby calves. Or my DH may have made the trip with me as more are expected.  I'll try to get some pictures while they are still so small.

It's Friday's Smiles

A good blogging friend in the UK has a fun Friday post  A Stitch in Time.  and you can hook up and share
"A FRIDAY SMILE".

Best Wishes to Annie....they are trying to sell their home,  So I thought I'd share

Some WINE and ROSES.....Enjoy some Spring too.


Here we are having an APRIL blizzard.  High winds, 3/4 inches of snow blowing  and schools delayed. I think I'll start early with the Wine.  Have a lovely weekend.

It's #252 WOYWW

Welcome to my Weekly post. Or so it seems.

It's been awhile, but I am back.  Expressing a big THANK YOU to all  of you who left such kind words with the recent death of my FIL.  The next week was another cousin's death  and I left Sunday thru Thursday for some time with my grandchildren who were on spring break. Just a wonderful time with them. Cedar Rapids is where I lived for 30 some years before moving back home, so it's so fun to visit.

Julia at the STAMPING GROUND  is sharing #252 What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday. And it's a fun weekly event I rarely miss.  My poor workspace...just a piling station for my new wares. I went to a new JoAnn's Fabric store in Cedar Rapids.  WOW  3 hrs later  I had some great fun purchases. Some of the items on my desk are ebay purchases also. Like the china dolls and little printed images. Just so hoping I can find some time to actually create some things.

Thanks for stopping by...You can click on the photo to get a detailed view. Hoping you are enjoying SPRING, not here yet. In fact our forecast is for up to 4 inches of more snow. So unusual.  I'm ready for bright colored flowers, warm temps and dreams of riding my bike and walking.

Have a great WOYWW ..

WOYWW #250

It's Wednesday the day to share workspaces.  Julia at the STAMPING GROUND has all the info on her blog about participating if you are new to this fun.

May desk has been a piling station for mail and things I have had upstairs.

My day last week of wanting to spend time out and about was waylaid. It  turned into much sadness and spending time with family. My father-in-law passed away on Friday after 2 days of dealing with congestive heart failure.  I have info here Sharing Our Loss. Hoping by tomorrow things are getting back to some normal activities.  My son and wife are here for a quick visit. And one of my hubby's sisters spent the night with us.

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy all your WOYWW visits.

Sharing Our Loss - Dancing in the Sky

Remembering and Sharing our Loss.  The sun is shining bright but,

It is with a heavy heart, and tears in my eyes, but I must tell you my father-in-law passed from this world on Friday evening.  As we prepare to say good by our hearts are heavy and we know that he is so happy to be reunited with the love of his life and all of his family.

OAKCREST FUNERAL HOME   will have details ..of services.

"I never had a bad day in my life" was Irwin's favorite expression. Irwin Frederick Hildman was born November 21, 1916 at Wesley, Iowa to George and Sophia (Wirth) Hildman. Irwin attended school at St. Benedict then helped his father on the farm until he was drafted.

Irwin served in the United States Army from 1941 to 1945 with the 113th Calvary in Bowie Texas. He served in France in World War II, doing reconnaissance missions. Honorably discharged in 1945.
After his father's death in 1948 he and his brother Clair took over the farming operations. He was especially proud of his herd of Simmental Cattle, some of the first in the Wesley area. 

On January 7, 1949, Irwin was married to Helen Ramus in Livermore, Iowa. Irwin retired from farming in 1981. Helen died in October, 2003 and Irwin became a resident of the Algona Manor Care Center in June, 2013 and died there on Friday evening, March 14, 2014 at the age of 97.

Irwin enjoyed fishing, gardening, playing cards and attending stock car races at Algona Raceway, which he continued to do into his 96th year. He especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. Irwin was a compassionate person and always there to help someone in need. He was a long time member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Wesley.

Survivors include his children, Sharon Hildman of Humboldt, Robert Hildman and wife Joann of Algona, Larry Hildman and wife Sylvia of Wesley, and Diane and husband Lloyd Brandt of Algona as well as nine grandchildren, two step grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren and five step great grandchildren. Also surviving is sister Mildred Martin of Algona, sisters-in-law Eleanor Hildman of Algona, Loretta Hildman of Britt, Velma Ramus of Fort Dodge, and close family friend Karen Simpson. Irwin was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Helen, three sisters, Rosella, Beatrice and Adella and three brothers, Clair, Leo and Aelred.

Homemade School Games A Family Project

Sometimes you get special Heartwarming Feelings in totally unexpected ways.  My daughter-in-law Juli, posted on Facebook a school project. In a Skype conversation with  their 3 children, I knew there was a project going on. This time it involved the adults....Mom and Dad.

I just couldn't have been more PROUD  than when Juli posted the finished photos. These are wooden games my son Josh built for the School's Fun Fair. She was being modest, but I am sure they worked on the designs together. She has got some good art ability....and Josh he's always been creative.

 School Colors

Delightful fun colors

And here are 2 of the cutest...Look at those fun little green faces....and those cute little yellow ducks.
Besides Josh cutting these out and assembling. I know that Juli was drawing a duck on Cash's black board the day of my Skype visit.  And talking about paint colors.  And the kids were soooooooooo excited about the new games.

Chills...that's what I have. Knowing that they are so busy with all the kids activities, busy, busy jobs and always volunteering.  It all gives me some great confidence that my grandkids  have some very good parents.  And it makes me so proud.

Love you Josh, Juli, Cael, Camryn, Cash.  And Harley !