Saturday, April 29, 2023

Animal Crackers - The Jeep has been parked all month!

Howdy - 

Hubby's Jeep has been parked all month. Now if you knew my Hubby you would know he LOVES his Jeep - and loves driving his Jeep. But we had guest that were growing in the spare tire on the back. 

 

A sweet little Carolina Wren built a nest in one of the holes in the wheel. And she had worked very hard for that nest and those 4-5 eggs! So for the last few weeks he has let the Jeep stay parked and been watching that little Mom go in and out of the tire. 

They hatched... still watching but keeping a safe distance. They started growing their feathers and now I think they are getting close!

We are keeping a watch to see when those baby birds will be adventuring out and taking their first flights.

 

They are really cute... zooming to get a photo of them.

Snapped a cute photo of McLaren this week.  Hubby was working on an old bucket for our antique business... McLaren decided the best place to watch him work was from inside the bucket.. LOL

She is so funny - 

Went out to the goat pen yesterday - I was a little under the weather, and we had some rain the night before so it was muddy... so I just stayed up by the house for a few photographs. 

As always old Miss Scarlett "Red" came to say hi. We are keeping a close eye on her, she is getting older and so so skinny.  Still very active and Still in charge of the pen though! 


 

I'm not sure what Jackie was doing on the far side of the pen. Most everyone else was either enjoying breakfast, or lounging in the huts in the shade. It was a LOUD Stormy night so they were all a bit sleepy and slow to get out -

 
Crissy was enjoying the shade and doing a little weeding for us - 
 
 
Hated to tell her that the shade was getting smaller and smaller so better enjoy it as the sun was coming up!
 
Now last week I showed off our peach tree and how excited we were about the fruit growing so well this year on it. Wellllll - Two very rough storms this week and the peaches were on the ground. They didn't survive the high wind and hard rain it seems...so so sad. There are some tiny ones growing so we will still get fruit hopefully. But those large ones are gone. 
 
The tomatoes did much better through the storms - Maybe because they are lower to the ground. 
 


These are some cherry tomatoes.. so we might start seeing some turning red soon. I will say with the rain and all the lightening everything is growing like crazy! 

Hope you are having nice weather where ever you are - Get out and enjoy some nature and some furry friends! 

HUGS and

Monday, April 24, 2023

High Hopes Stamps - Take time to Smell the Flowers!

Howdy - 

This week for High Hopes Stamps I have pulled out one of my very first! Many Many years ago I placed my first order with High Hopes Stamps - I think the first stamps I had ever ordered online before. This sweet little girl was in that first order. This is "Jolie's Little Friend" I adore her!

Normally I color her in denim and reds... or pinks. This time I decided she needed some fun bright colors! And who wouldn't like a pair of bright green overalls? So I colored with my Copics (colors below) and then went and found some papers from Kaiser Craft Tropical Punch collection. Layered things up and sewed down the layers with zig zag and straight stitches. And then in the paper collection I found this sweet little scallop punch out lace for a border.

The sentiment is also from High Hopes Stamps and just perfect for this image. "Smell the Flowers" PERFECT! 

I decided her shirt needed some polka dots - Nuvo white paint dots. Then added three dots for embellishments. 

Copic colors used -


Love the happy feel of this image and the cards created with it. Adorable. To see more images that make you happy as well click HERE and enjoy all the fun!

Saturday, April 22, 2023

Animal Crackers - House Guest

Howdy - 

We get to puppy sit our Grand-doggie Ammo this weekend! He is what I use to call Mini-Autie when he was young... But now he is just a mirror image of his Daddy. Who I miss sooo much. But loving on Ammo gives me a little of my man. He is such a sweet boy.

I have spent way too much time not working and loving on and playing with this guy. Oh and not only does he remind me of his Daddy Autie when awake... he sleeps just like him as well.... LOL

 

In some of the funniest positions! Loving our weekend with him! 

Had to show this photo I snapped of Miss Ferrari... LOL she was keeping a very close watch on Ammo. She would look at me and I know she was thinking... ok. Sneaking in another one of those "dogs" Not to happy about that! 

 
All the cats were very cautious the first night. But they soon realized that Ammo is a sweetheart and no danger at all for them. They were very young when we lost Autie so I don't think they remember him. But maybe who knows -  they maybe trying to figure out where he went for a year and now is back. 

Hubby and I were coming in a few bales of hay - The guys were watching us very very closely... now they have lots of green grass to to graze - but fresh cut hay is so yummy! 


As always - Flavio and Patricio are first to the meal! Mr Flavio (the grey one) really has a green grass gut on him! I mean Patricio is a bit on the chubby side as well, but Flavio ... HE looks like he is preggo! But HE isn't it is just enjoying all the green too much. 

No worries ... Miguel and Diego were not far behind and made sure to get in on the fresh hay! 

They all really enjoyed their meal - but honestly they ended up and walking off and leaving most of it for later. That tells me that they are getting plenty of grass and not really that hungry. 

Zooming here.. and man I wish I could hear the conversation - Our two oldest having a little in depth talk here?

Darlene is now over 31 - and Black Jack is right there nearly 30 himself. And these two have known each other for a long time, even before they came to live here many years ago. So I know they have the scoop on things and know all the scoop of the farm. 

Spring nature photo to end up ... take a look at the peaches on our tree!


So hope we actually get some fruit this year. Critters of all kinds have stolen all our past fruit. Deer, raccoons, squirrels, grasshoppers. Living in the country food is out there for everyone. But seriously I would like to enjoy one or two myself! This tree is in the back yard at this time. So maybe it has more hope for us getting some fruit for ourselves! 

Hope you have a smile this week. We sure do! Loving our fur children! And Grand - Children! 

HUGS and

Monday, April 17, 2023

High Hopes Stamps - Spring Bunny Sampler

Howdy - 

 Spring Bunny Sampler for High Hopes Stamps - This is such a fun image to color!

 

Spending the afternoon coloring - how fun is that!! I colored with my Copics (colors below) I then went digging into some older papers for some spring papers. These are Heidi Grace papers. Love the glitter on them. I created a scalloped mat with an EK Success punch, then sewed down all the layers with a zig zag stitch. My image is sewn on to a white mat as well. It needed a little more... and for spring that had to be flowers right?

A few mulberry flowers and some Martha Stewart leaves punches in the corner with a yellow brad. Love how this one came out. And adore those bunnies! 

 Copic colors used - 

 

To see more fabulous Spring images at High Hopes Stamps pop over HERE to get there fast! 

Have a blessed day - 

HUGS and

Saturday, April 15, 2023

Animal Crackers -

Howdy - 

 I love visiting the fur babies in the evening of a nice warm day - Everyone is out and happy enjoying the sunset. 

Alvin was his friendly normal personality and of course wearing a bit of his dinner.. 

 

Isn't he adorable - even wearing his dinner :0) - 

Oh look and his son happens to be wearing a bit of his dinner as well... Like Father Like Son - I adore you too AJ! (Alvin Jr.)

 

Handsome just like his Daddy - and funny like him too - 

Honestly I guess they each have their funny personalities - I love their grins and how each of them is so different. 

Gracie is the super model - loves to pose and I know she smiles for the camera! 


Now Lizzie here... I that is more of a smirk? A sideways grin to me - 

 

Now I would like to say that this is Sweet Pea's special grin for my camera!

 

Nope this is is just Sweet Pea's normal look. LOL Man I love this goat! She is so much like her late Grandma Lillie and her bigger than life personality and humor in one look! Is it the grin? Or those eyes? Both make it a perfect face!

And one look.. The photo has the sun in the lens but honestly, this photo makes me grin. Is that a yawn or what? Oh Vickie are you that bored waiting for dinner?

A yawn...  beautiful! 

And for my Spring closings - How about one of Hubby's Pink Gerber Daisies?



He says they are not perfect, and that there were some yellow ones that are just opened and a better photo. But me.. I love the bright pink coloring of these Gerbers... gorgeous. 

Hope you have a Animal Cracker smile this week - and have a blessed wonderful weekend!

Hugs and -

Monday, April 10, 2023

High Hopes Stamps - Rainy Day Ducky

Howdy - 

Spring is here? Or close? So I am having fun with a sweet little Spring Ducky! This is Rainy Day Ducky

Totally adorable right? I colored with my Copics ( colors below ) I then found some papers from SEI that I just love, and they are glossy! I sewed down the layers with zig zag stitch and matted the image with a green card stock with a straight stitch. Love how the duck pops! Then I just had to do more... So I added some Nuvo glitter clear paint pen for the puddle - and felt like why not? So I made it rain! Love how it turned out. 

The sentiment is a fun favorite with a rainy image. "Dot Rain or Shine" It is perfect right? This one made me happy - hope the person who gets it has the same happy feeling! 

Copic colors used - 



 For LOTS of fun Spring images pop over to the High Hopes Stamps web site HERE and fall in love!

 Have a blessed day - 

HUGS and 

Saturday, April 8, 2023

Animal Crackers - Cold and Rainy

Howdy - 

Well so much for Sunny Warm Spring here in Texas - the last few days it has been cloudy, cold and rainy. I kept putting of getting my photos, thinking at some point I should have a break in the weather and go get some decent photos... well I had to give in and bundle up, put my rain boots on and try and find anyone willing to stand out in the rain with me to have their photo taken. 

 

Jorge will usually always come over to say hi. He is a tough guy and looks like he has been out in the rain most of the day. A few don't mind it and they were all out grazing out in the pastures. But Jorge... he will make his way to me for some ear scratches. All though they were very wet ear scratches! 

Penelope also made her way out of the hut to see me. Now I felt so special, loved by this sweet little girl. To come out of her warm hut and make her way in the cold drizzle to me. 

 

Then I looked up and many of the goats were starting to stick their heads of the huts... checking to see if I was Dad with their dinner! He is coming guys ... just a little longer and he will feed you. I would have waited for my photos until he fed, but it was already getting dark and the photos during feeding is just a bunch of heads down in their food. So dark heads down wasn't an option. But Penelope she is a good sport for her photo today! Came for loving and a photo.

And in the doorway of one of the huts I found Miss Olive Oyl cozy and enjoying the view of the rain I guess. No chance she was giving up her spot until there was proof of dinner on the ground!

This next photo is absolutely horrible. But cool too. Yesterday afternoon we were getting home and Hubby was getting ready to get out and get our gate. When we both saw "them". There was two huge hawks up on the poles of the guys front pasture. Now I know... there is only one in this photo... They are so fast at flying off I was amazed I snapped and got this one in a photo. Gorgeous Birds.

This photo is from a couple of weeks ago. I forgot to share it. So I just had to!  We were packing up the trailer for our Antique Show I sat down this old pull toy horse for Hubby to take out. And in seconds we had a rider!

 

McLaren riding without a saddle and didn't want to get down! I took the time to snap a photo, then made sure she jumped off the hundred year old horse. Then I decided to put it out on the back porch to wait its loading to make sure he was safe from all the kitties wanting a turn to ride the rolling horse! 


Since my photos were not the best this week and not a lot of happy color going on, how about a couple of Hubby's roses?

They are solid roses and buds. Stunning Colors and so beautiful. 


 He has such a green thumb - and grows gorgeous flowers.... as long as I don't touch or help in any way! LOL

I hope you enjoyed - and I hope you have wonderful weather and enjoy a weekend of family and friends for the Easter Weekend. 

HUGS and

Monday, April 3, 2023

High Hopes Stamps - Raindrops Willa

Howdy - 

This week for High Hopes Stamps I went cute and yet bold! This image is Raindrops Willa - I adore her!

 

She is colored with Copics (colors below) Then I added some Nuvo Glitter for those raindrops. Love the glitter drops. My papers are from Daisy's D's collection. A little shabby.. yet very bold and bright! I sewed down the layers with a zig zag stitch, and then added an EK Success punch border to a band of pattern paper. All sewn down. Wilma was also sewn down to a piece of kraft card stock. The sentiment from High Hopes Stamps "Rain or Shine". Such a sweet image for a friend. Punched with an EK Success Ticket punch lined with a red Copic marker. 

Copic colors used -


Love the bright colors on this one. Especially with one of my favorite High Hopes Stamps! What is your favorite? Click HERE to create a list of your favorites as well! 

Have a blessed day - 

HUGS and
 

Saturday, April 1, 2023

Animal Crackers - Love when they stop and pose!

Howdy - 

Love when my fur children actually stop and pose for me! Patti was posing so pretty with her front leg up and her ears long and tall. Such a pretty old girl. With Lacey standing behind her coming at me -

 

I had tried to get Lacey to pose for me first but she was too busy... When you have an itch you have to scratch I suppose! 

 

Must be nice to be able to reach around like that though! 

Another great pose - Vicki stood perfectly still for a portrait shot.

And as normal her shadow Pepita was close behind her. She hates to be very far at all from Vicki.

I found Sweet Pea enjoying the weather and taking a little nap in some of their breakfast. Cozy bed of hay. 


The weather was so nice I think if we had a hammock I might have joined her in an outside nap! That is probably why there isn't a hammock - Hubby and I both would want to snooze in it to often instead of working! 

Now this isn't napping here... 


 
I have zoomed a long way to capture this one. Miss Moxie waiting for me to head towards the back gate. So if she lays right in front of it I just have to stop and rub on her belly right? That was her plan, she laid there about 10 minutes waiting and it all worked out. I stopped and did just as she wanted. :0) 
 
Ending today with some pretty nature - One of Hubby's Miniature roses - These are so beautiful! 
 

These roses are just loaded with buds another week and it will be completely full of roses. But even just the single is stunning! 

Thank you so much for visiting this week - 

HUGS and