Back to Life, Back to Reality

The last 3 post have been about fun things that are going on it my life. So I thought I would use this post for the rest of the happenings in my life the last 4 weeks.

LILACS ARE IN BLOOM

After leaving a customers home we came across this Snapper Turtle. No I did not take him home. LOL! The picture doesn't really show how big his is. TURTLES & WORK

We have been keeping pretty busy this last 4 weeks. At one of the liner replacements we were doing in Plymouth, Bob saved this little Painted Turtle and I of course had to bring it home. We haven't name the turtle yet, because it has to grow before we can tell if it's a boy or girl turtle.

The day we brought it home I showed it to Kayden and he said "Moooore" and pointed at the turtle tank. Now every time Kayden sees the new turtle he said "Moooore".

The new turtle is just a little bit small than what Myrtle was when I brought him home, April 2008. Below it Myrtle 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Maggie and Myrtle 2009. Maggie and the new turtle 2010

Myrtle and the new turtle.

Myrtle and Maggie 2010

Picture of me working. Restoration of a pool and washed all the retaining walls, pavers and deck.
Bob made these limestone mantle supports with a hammer and chisel. Sometimes he even amazes me! He had to make 4 of them the same.

The Fireplace is finished!!!

The mantel and hearth are limestone. The hearth weighed over 500 pounds.

WATER WONDERS - POOLS & SPAS

We opened the retail shop Saturday May 1st. There is alot of things that still need to be done and I'll try to get some updated pictures up next week.

We had to go to the town meeting to try to get a dumpster for the business. There is no place to put it where the shop is at, we proposed a location that is in the towns parking area, out of the way from the main stream. Before the meeting we talked to a friend that works for the city and he said he didn't think they would give us the dumpster. We also were requesting a 15 min parking right in front of our shop, due to the heavy items that customers or I would be carrying out the door. When we arrived at the meeting we (Bob and I) were both surprised to see one of our customers on the board. They accepted both of our proposals. With the exception of the dumpster has to have fencing around it. This is a new law the old dumpsters were Grandfathered in so they don't have to have a fence.

STITCHING

I finished "All My Hearts" by Trail Creek Farm, just need to get the charms and frame. And I put a few more stitches in "What Happens At Grandmas" by Waxing Moon Designs. Last update I just had the words stitched.

SERENA'S GIFTS

Update picture of my booth spaces in Indianapolis at Serena's Gifts.

Several have asked how it is doing, well not to good yet. But the owner has had some personal things going on and has had to have the shop closed. But now she has someone at the shop until she can return. So, hope things will pick up there soon.

GIVEAWAY

The Loud and Wacky Street Team at Etsy are doing April Showers Giveaway. Be sure to check it out. That is where I am giving away my flower poncho that I showed a few weeks ago.

Life is a Highway

STITCHING

I stitched these two freebies from Cross-Stitching.com.

Fancy Pants And Polka-Dot Bikini
The alphabet I used was from Leisure Arts "The Treasury Of Alphabets". I think they turned out real cute. I will be framing them and putting these on the doors to Bob's shop. They are stitched on 28 count linen.
MY WEEK

It was a very busy week, I worked in Bob's shop, cleaned the garage. Went to Kalamazoo, MI for a big pool and spa show. And went to Indianapolis to Serena's Gifts, to set up my booth area.

Below is a picture of her shop sign. I blurred out the phone number.

This is a picture of the shop. You can't see it but she has a beautiful display for weddings in the window.

Picture below is my booth area. It was hard to get a good picture of everything, but you can see most of it. It took me over 3 hours to set this up!!! I thought I had taken too much, but I see I could have done a lot more with my space. Well, that leaves me with room for improvement.

Serena was so nice, I think this is one of the best things I could have done. I hope it brings good things for both of us.

MARCH GIVEAWAY

Is posted below! Make sure to check it out!

ETSY

Featured Artist at Shapes and Memories Blog. She featured my Crochet and Beaded Necklace.

I have been working on patterns, to put in my Etsy shop. And I have two patterns ready to add to the shop next week. I hope to get more done soon.

(Thanks everyone for the wonderful support and comments, they mean so much to me.)

My New Adventure

STITCHING

Kayden's blanket is done! I think from the picture you can see how big it is. As big as Bob who is holding it LOL!
While stitching on his blanket, Kayden liked setting by me and he wanted to be covered up with the blanket while I stitched. A couple of times while I was stitching he would put his finger on the pattern and move it over a little, like he was counting stitching. I wonder where he got that from. Tee-Hee.

After finishing the blanket I stitched the name tag for the ILCS retreat, on my bag.

It has snowed everyday this week! Longing for summer I pulled out a few summer patterns and finished the 3 pictured above.

The pattern is call "Flip Flop Summer Trio" by Pickle Barrel Designs. It got the pattern from one of the ILCS retreats. The material I dyed myself at one of the Hoosier Stitchers retreats.

Still need press the pieces and get the beach ball button. On the last one pictured I changed it from "Flip flop" to Splash and added a charm that I had in my stash.

I think I'll be hanging these in Bob shop. There are are two entrances to the shop. Enter through the main door, to the right is his shop's door and if you go the other way down the hall is another door. There are 3 shops in the building. One is a pet shop and the other is a dog grooming shop. So anyone that is coming in to the other shops will know that we are there too. LOL!

BEADING & ETSY

Also did a little beading this week made two beaded fobs.

Added the red & white one to my shop.

Then I made 4 ID lanyards and I have added the blue, green and red to the shop.

I would like to think everyone that voted for my Star Necklace at Studio Haus blog. I won and she put a link to my shop on her shop's announcements.

Today is the last day of Feb and I am sad to say that I had ZERO sales this week. I can't think of anything different I did this month. Hope next month goes better.

MY NEW ADVENTURE

Friday morning as I was going through my regular computer routine, I found a new post on The InCrowdTeam board. Serena posted that she had a booth space open in her shop in Indianapolis and was offering it to anyone in the group that would be interested. Of course I had to reply and find out all the info I could. We have been chatting back and forth through emails and she sent me pictures of her shop. The picture below is the spot I will be taking over.

I plan to make the trip with all my stuff Wednesday. So I have been working my tail off trying to get everything ready. I had to pull several items from my Etsy shop, get it all tagged. Called all my sisters and my Mom to see if they had anything I could borrow to help set up my table.

So today I will be driving all over Northern Indiana to pick up things to help set up my table.

GIVEAWAYS

Craftymoo - Big stitching giveaway.

I am still working on the my giveaway. Hope to post something next week about it.

(All pictures should be clickable to get a better look and all links should take you to what I am talking about. Thanks for all the wonderful comments and support, they are much appreciated.)