Animal Crackers - Around the pens

Howdy -

Yesterday evening we got home from setting up the Antique Mall Booth just before the sun started to set, so I went straight out to say hello to everyone and snap a few photos while making my way around the pens.

First up... As soon as we got out of the truck, the goats let us know that they thought it was very close to dinner time. They are very vocal... here they are gathered to make sure we see that they are hungry.

Now as wide as some of these girls are, they shouldn't be hungry ever. (guess they could say the same about me, LOL) Some of the young girls are fat from eating so well... some of the older Ladies are very wide cuz they are VERY close to having their babies!

Hmmmm. Annie seems to be a bit one sided with her babies.

Funny some days they look HUGE, then the next everyone rolls over and they don't even look pregnant. Seems yesterday Annie was a little of both.

Speaking of rolling over... Raffie decided a little evening Dirt Bath was in order -

They do like their dirt baths... must feel good. Makes me itch all over, but they way they roll, shake and grunt they love it.

Handome man  - even if he is a dirty mess now.

Next I turn to the left and see Mr. Cleatus relaxing on the top of his hut. I know he would hate it me bringing it up to you, but I just adore the little curls around his face!!

He is a stunning goat, and even though we have more Bucks than we need, I am so glad that no one bought him last Spring when I ran ads. He is just too gorgeous, with his striking coloring, ice blue eyes and of course those rings of curls around his face! Peso is in the back ground reminding me that he is handsome too...

Next I make my way to the Adult Donkey pen, most everyone was busy chowing down on the rare November Green Grass. Flavio was curious about what I was doing. He came all the way to the fence to me, let me touch the end of his nose, she sniffed my hand and then trotted back to the grass line to his Mom. He better enjoy his Mommy Bella... this boy is just about to be moved over to the Fraternity Pen with the other young gentlemen.

And that is where I went to next... the Frat Pen. 

Found all the young guys but Sergio, standing and watching me. I think all of my animals know they are suppose to stand still when I point a camera at them - LOL  Good looking group of young dudes aren't they?

I then made my way to the Sorority pen to say hello to all the young girls. Some were too busy eating, then a few were to interested in nose scratches and sniffing the camera. Took about 10 photos and realized that they were just not into modeling yesterday.

Next up the Cat House - Yes, the CAT HOUSE. I had someone ask a week or so ago if they were still in the "chicken coop". And honestly, we did let them out a few weeks back to roam the farm, and "be free" but it didn't go so well. These are city cats if you remember, a bit sheltered spoiled kitties. They do not know much about wild animals and Big Dogs and coyotes that are around here. After one night... everyone but one was at the Cat House the next morning and wanted back in.

It seems that they love their House, they are completely safe, have shelter with big cozy beds inside. They have a covered porch and outdoor area to enjoy the good weather and stretch out in the sun when they would like. We left the door open to the house to see if they would come and go, but no, they felt secure inside their area, and when Teddy our standard Donkey decided that he would like to see what the inside of their house looked like and totally freaked them all out by trying to go in, we decided for their safey as well and keeping Teddy and the outside Dogs out of trouble we would close it. And they are perfectly content to live there - as long as we promise to visit them every day for some ear scratches and plenty of food and water of course.  So it is officially their house, the Cat House now. Hubby has promised to build me a new Chicken Coop as soon as we are all caught up around here.

Big Moe is the biggest love of the group. I would move him in the house in a minute if he didn't hate dogs so much and I didn't think he would climb and tear the house apart running from my rug rats.

Next up I went to say hi to the young men in the goat pen. But they were all at the other end of the pen... I did take time to stand and look at one of their huts... Don't ever think that goats are not destructive, especially Male goats!!  BAD GOATS!

 That is all I have for today, and yes I know... I know... I don't have any photos of the doggies this week. You are due a few I know. I took about 75 photos of the dogs, they were insane running from fence to fence and wouldn't pay attention to me at all. NONE of the photos of them were remotely in focus or even slightly worth trying to show off. I will keep trying - all the Goats screaming and Hee Haws were just too much for them I guess.


See you tomorrow!
HUGS and

Whimsy Stamps Release Day 2 !

Hello and welcome to Day 2 of our November Digital Stamp Release Showcase! 

On Thursday (1st November) Whimsy Stamps released this month's new digital designs, From then until 4th November the Whimsy Digital DT and Special Guests are showcasing these fabulous new goodies with a daily mini blog hop and I am part of today’s hop! Each mini blog hop has a new release prize hidden somewhere along the way and you have 24hrs to enter each prize draw. To be entered into today's mini blog hop prize draw, be sure to leave a comment on ALL of the DT's posts listed below by 12.00PM EST tomorrow. All winners will be announced on the Whimsy blog on 5th November

 To take a peek at today's fabulous new release creations, please click on the links below...

Moon Cookie Gallery

 Stamp Art Designs by Kathryn

Dana's Digi's

Lia Stampz

Crissy's Digis

Here is my card for today's release -  I fell totally in love with the Christmas Cardinal from Stamp Art Designs by Kathryn!!

First again I need to give a huge shout out to Tina Wenke - Her new papers are so beautiful and they are perfect for this image are they not? Make sure to visit her new site and see them ok? (www.tinawenke.com)  Now back to this beautiful image. I will be honest here... I colored on this for over an hour. I kept going back and adding more shading, adding more snow, adding more stickles to the berries. Then after all of that I decided to pop the bird... so I printed me a second one and colored the bird all over again cut it out and pop dotted it over the first bird. 

You can see the popping here - 

I also die cut out a little wooden fence and added a little snow to it as well. Then I added the very last piece of my favorite ribbon. I need to find more of that ribbon.... 

Here is the inside with matching piece of the Tina Wenke Papers -  

From now until 4^th November the Whimsy Stamps Digital DT and Special Guests are showcasing these fabulous new goodies with a daily mini blog hop and I am part of today’s hop! Each mini blog hop has a new release prize hidden somewhere along the way and you have 24hrs to enter each prize draw. To be entered into today's mini blog hop prize draw, be sure to leave a comment on ALL of the DT's posts listed below by 12.00PM EST tomorrow. All winners will be announced on the Whimsy blog on 5^th November

Tammy Ortiz 

Jackie Randolph 

Charlene Brown 

Kelly Mannix 

Michelle Oatman

Tammy Davison 

Kim Taylor 

Jackie Smith 

Tracie 

Christine Garner 

Jan Ltc 

Suzi Mckenzie

Nicole Gent 

Carly Wilson

Remember that the entire new release is available to buy right now from the Whimsy Stamps store along with all your Whimsy favourites. Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to pop back to the

 Whimsy blog tomorrow for more new release creations!

Hope you are making the rounds to see all the new images - another great month of released images from Whimsy! The wonderful thing about Digitals... you can afford to get more of them and you can get them really fast and size them to any project. 

See you tomorrow - 

HUGS and-

Whimsy Stamps Release

Hello and welcome to Day 1 of our November Digital Stamp Release Showcase!

On Thursday (1^stNovember) Whimsy Stamps released this month's new Digital designs from 

Moon Cookie Gallery

 Stamp Art Designs by Kathryn

Dana's Digi's

Lia Stampz

Crissy's Digis

From now until 4^th November the Whimsy Stamps Digital DT and Special Guests are showcasing these fabulous new goodies with a daily mini blog hop and I am part of today’s hop! Each mini blog hop has a new release prize hidden somewhere along the way and you have 24hrs to enter each prize draw. To be entered into today's mini blog hop prize draw, be sure to leave a comment on ALL of the DT's posts listed below by 12.00PM EST tomorrow. All winners will be announced on the Whimsy blog on 5^th November

And my card for Today's Release - 

I am Totally in LOVE with the new image from Crissy Armstrong!!! Nativity Scene is just one of the cutest Christmas stamps ever don't you think?

I had so much fun coloring this one! And loved adding the Marvy Snow Marker to the bunny tails and adorable little Lamb :0)

The inside I added a sentiment from Crissy as well - I love how PERFECT it goes with this stamp!

To take a peek at today's fabulous new release creations, please click on the links below...

Shannah Bartle 

Doreen OBrien 

Jackie Randolph 

Charlene Brown 

Michelle Oatman

Rosica Ivanova 

Sarah McLaughlin

Debbie Dunn 

Jan Ltc 

Laura Palmer

Juelmarie Morgan

Remember that the entire new release is available to buy right now from the Whimsy Stamps store along with all your Whimsy favourites. Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to pop back to the

 Whimsy blog tomorrow for more new release creations!

See you tomorrow :0)   Hubby and I are doing a few quick errands then coming home to load up the trailer for the booth in the Antique Mall. Quick stop at the Doctor for my weekly weigh in... I sure hope it is a good week for that, I feel like I haven't stopped moving all week that should count for something right? I might cry if I don't show a loss... LOL 

Have a great day - HUGS and 

Happy Halloween! Anyone want a "Treat"?

Hi!  It is October 31st.. and that is not only Halloween, but the day I promised to choose a reader that posted on last weeks blog candy post.

Now we are running out the door for a few errands and then a little hopefully to hit a few antique shops. But before we go I wanted to go ahead and pick the winner so you don't have to wait around til late in the day.

To speed things up I yelled out to Hubby and asked him to choose a number from all those that left comments. He said.. "how about 13? That is A-Rod's number and he could use some luck next year." Even when baseball season is over, he is still reading and associating with it. :0)

So number 13 is our winner - and you can thank the Yankee's giving A-Rod that number.

 peggy S from OH said...

Thanks for sharing your life and projects with us in 'blogland' -love it! Can't wait to see what you find to replace the Texas desk! loved the pics of your booth!When you get a chance to pop on the blog, I'll be there.

So Peggy S from OH ... if you can please email me your mailing address. I will get your "Treat" in the mail right away for you! If you know Peggy S... shout out to her and make sure she checks in here. 

Better get out the door now - Have a great day, and make sure to pop in tomorrow ok? New Release starts at Whimsy :0) 

HUGS and

High Hopes Challenge - Feathers and Fur!

Howdy - today is the High Hopes Challenge! And this challenge really is a Fun one.. to include Feathers and/or Fur in your project. Now don't worry.. you don't have to use the real thing, the image can just be that has Feathers or Fur. But stretch your imagination and see if you can add a little fun to it!

Me I have been just dying to use this adorable image that I got  - it is so perfect, and I love that sentiment with it!

The image is called "My Best For Him" and it can be found HERE. And the sentiment is called "Truth about Christmas" and it can be found HERE.

Now before I go to much into the card I just have to give out a huge shout out to my Buddies Mike and Tina Wenke!!  They have been working on some fabulous new papers! Yes... that wonderfully talented artist Tina Wenke now has scrapbook and card making papers for sale! Just pop on over to her web site (www.TinaWenke.com) Click on into her shop and you will see lots of new goodies.  I am totally in love with the new Card Making papers!! They are 12x12 "Scrapbook" Papers diving into four 6x6 different pattern papers on one piece! So for my card I have four wonderful prints, but only used one piece of paper. Love that! And as soon as I saw tis wonderful Rejoice in the Winter Collection I knew it was perfect for my stamp I was using today. There are lots of great patterns so please pop on over and see them for yourself!  Tell them Michelle sent you and I said "Hi" :0)

Ok, now back to my card for the challenge - I colored my image with my Copics. (Sorry I mixed up my Copics before I snapped my photo) I then cut down the pattern paper and zig zag stitched together two of the patterns for the front, using the center of the mat pattern to also be the mat for my image. Thrifty huh? I then sewed down my image and attached to the front of a kraft card stock base. I found some dark brown twine in a drawer and it just seemed to be a natural embellishment for this image. I wrapped around the top three times, and the bottom three times and then took some small pieces and tied around them while curing the ends. I then stamped out my sentiment. This is one large sentiment... I just cut it in half so it would fit better on my card. I used a Copic to create a mat look on the edges, and pop dotted in place.

Then I added some glue and Ivory Flower Soft to my little lamb. I wanted to use Flocking, but in my mess of a room I couldn't find mine anywhere!! Hate that, but I don't think the Flower Soft turned out too bad. Gives him a bit of a curly look don't you think?

I then used the other two patterns from the Tina Wenke paper to create a simple inside -

This card really made me happy - it feels right I guess. And it came together all wonderfully.  The great image, with the great traditional Wenke Papers and the natural embellishment.

Now you want to see more Feathers and Fur? I know you do, cuz I have seen them and you just must! So head on over to the High Hopes Challenge and check out all the DT have flocked, feathered, puffed up and put together for this weeks challenge. Then please do join us! You could increase your count of High Hope stamps!!

So it is Tuesday... we have our wonderful helper coming out so Hubby will be out with him most of the day working on something. Me, I think house cleaning, laundry and cleaning and pricing things for our booth in the Antique Mall. Blah... I would so much rather be outside - or out junking!  But somethings to have to be done don't they?  Hope you have something wonderful to do today -

HUGS and

Me and My Space - Post Office Sorting Unit!!!

Alrighty now... I have been so excited about this piece!!! A few days before our show last week I found and ad for a large oak sorting table. When I called about it, I found that it is a Post Office Sorting table from the early 1900's. Solid Oak with a unit above with shelves and dividers.  My mind went nuts. This could be the perfect Die Cutting area! She sent me a tiny little photo on my phone. We "negotiated" and I bought it over the phone... LOL and then to make it even better... she lived in the same town we were doing the show in!! Seriously!!

The night after our first day we went over to pick it up. It took 3 men to load it! Once the show was over Hubby had to take it all apart to get it into our house... much less down the long hallway around the corner and into my craft room. The wonderful young man that helped him carry said that I should consider selling it with the house instead of moving it if we ever left here. (Good thing we are not planning that any time in the future)

Ok... so you want to see it?

This photo just does not do it justice... It doesn't seem so huge in this photo. But it is against the ceiling and wouldn't fit where I had planned due to the height. This thing is SOLID oak... old oak. I love the shabby look of the blueish grey worn paint. Hubby asked if I wanted it refinished and I said no... I love it just as is. The hole underneath the left side is for a trash can to slide under and then you could "file" the trash into the bin. A great long drawer and it is hard to see but on the right corner there is a old old cast iron hook. This would be where the mail bag would be hung to make it easy to pack up. There are wonderful old metal dividers that slide in on all the shelves.. I think about two inches for every divider. I didn't use too many of them yet. In fact I slide the bottom shelf out and just laid in on the back of the table so the large Big Shot Pro Dies would fit.  So I have Sizzix dies across the bottom and part of the second shelf. Then I stood up EK Success punches. The next two shelves are Martha punches all sorted and easy to see. Top shelf, behind the large stamps, are metal baskets filled with Friskar punches. Then I filled in with some of my favorite stamps. The BS Pro fits perfectly on the table top, and this baby does not rock around at all! Strong and steady!

I will probably set up the doggie beds underneath - Once I get the rest of the room sorted and back in order. Hopefully sometime soon. We are so busy with all the shows coming up, the booth in the Antique Mall will need to be set up this next week. Animals... oh Goats are getting close! So then all spare time will be spent making the babies super friendly with lots of hands on loving. Hard job... but hey someone has to do it! :0)

My Postal Sorting Table though... Hubby still can't believe I found it in an ad, bought it basically sight unseen and now it is here. He really thought it wasn't going to be that good- when he saw it he winked at me. His way of saying well done. On our way home with it he said it was really lucky to have found  such a great piece. I said I knew it all the time... it was meant to be in my craft room. Really I prayed it was as good as I hoped cuz he would have teased me forever if it wasn't. LOL

Now if only I could run across a few more! One or two more for me, and then a couple to share :0) For now I am loving all over my one and happy to have it for sure!

You have anything new that you are loving? Share...  

Ok.. on the run.. Sunday breakfast with the locals and then we have an appointment to look at someones collection that they are wanting to sell.  Toys and Dolls - should be fun to see, and hopefully I can come home with some goodies to resell.

Have a great Sunday!
HUGs and -

Animal Crackers - A little Hide and Seek Anyone?

It's Saturday!!!! Now that may sound like I am telling you that... but actually, I am letting myself know! LOL Sorry, I stretched in bed this morning and told Hubby... I needed to get outside today and take some good photos today, for tomorrows Animal Crackers. He looked at me kind of funny and said, "you do realize that today is Saturday?"  "NO!" Yesterday it rained all day and somehow I lost a day, I think maybe I was hibernating, as our first really good cold front came in. LOL I say cold... it was in the 60's yesterday, and this morning it is in the low 40's. So I am sorry... my clock went deep into cave and was sorting and cleaning and getting life caught up and just lost track of time. But I have a few photos to share.... Two from a couple of weeks ago and two from this week....


We lost Valentine and Cocoa yesterday....  We needed to leave but really didn't want to until we found them... so despite running late we drove around looking.

In reality... we had driven right by them... TWICE!

This is the fence line down our drive. And due to the cold wind... that I don't think Cocoa was any happier about than me, due to the cold wind Cocoa had taken her and her grown baby son Valentine deep into the brush to stay a little warmer. Now I am thinking we need to put some glow in the dark collars or something on them for next time! LOL Seriously we drove by them twice, before we saw them!

One from a couple of weeks ago... love this one of Annie....

She is one of the little skittish girls. There are three of them that just didn't warm up with the last crew. Like their Mom's. But Annie is getting much better. She actually lets me touch her, and rub a little on her before she runs off. Gorgeous gal. And has those gorgeous eyes.... I am so excited for this last years  group of girls to get old enough to have their own kids. I also am hoping that the Mom's that are about to pop right now have kids just as stunning. This new group... I will not allow skittish, you must let me love on you!!! LOL I can say that... but the Mom's will determine that -

Now speaking of Mom's to be....

I am some high hopes and all my fingers crossed for Miss Lacey. Now you all know that we have population control still in effect here....  No babies "expected"  Well... Miss Lacey she is getting pretty wide, and when I look back at the calendar, there is a very slight chance that she may have gotten some time with Raffie before we separated them all. OH I SO HOPE SO!!! I am dying for a new little fuzz ball baby donkey around here!!!! LOL  I know we have to think business like and responsible, but I just can't help it... I love the babies and miss them so much!  Flavio is now over 5 months old, and he never would let us love on him as much as I like... I like to get down on the ground and let them climb into my lap! That was just a bit much for cautious Flavio... Lacey's babies have always been lovers of attention. So fingers crossed everyone! :0) wink wink....

Well I knew it was coming... my allergies started acting up a couple of days ago... and then so did Auties....

Little guy goes into his sad little position in the kitchen floor. Really it makes your heart just break into a million pieces doesn't it. He does not feel good at all.... well here he wasn't..... but then I pulled out his meds, and gave him a 1/2 a pill - cleared up his itchy eyes, runny nose and clogged up throat. (the throat is the part that just really bothers him the most, poor thing actually chokes trying to clear it)  Later yesterday he was playing with Tuco and running around being his normal self. Better get the other 1/2 ready for today, as I am all stuffed up and my eyes are itching like mad. So I am sure my "son" is too....


sorry I am dork and lost track of the days. LOL  But hey... I did get my cabinet in place and all my "supplies" put into it to show off tomorrow! Yea!

Now me... I am going to run and find my warmer sweats, some socks and I think some oatmeal would be yummy... see you tomorrow!

HUGS and