Monday, March 22, 2010

Finished Linen and Silk Spring Scarf

I finished the lovely crochet linen and silk scarf in light green.  It reminds me of linen clothes with so much more with the silk.  It is now for sale on my website on Make Mine Pink http://www.makeminepink.com/boutiques/beloved-blackberry-cabin.aspx?page=1

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Show and Tell Monday

Please join all of us at Make Mine Pink on the forum  http://makeminepink.com/ for "Show and Tell Monday."  Here is my "Show and Tell"

1.  This is going to be a summer crochet scarf.  It is made with a silk and linen yarn, so yummy.  Really pretty and will go with many spring and summer outfits.

2.  Here is a bunny standing gaurd over two new house plants that I bought at Lowe's. 

Friday, March 19, 2010

What a beautiful day at Blackberry Cabin

It a beautiful sunny day here at Blackberry Cabin.  I opened some of my windows to get some fresh breezes and I hear this noise on the side of the mountain next to my house.  I thought it was the horse next door because he sometimes will walk down toward the creek.  When I checked though, it was a whole mountain side of wild pheasants.  I ran to get me camera but I scared them away.  There must have been 20 or 30 birds.  Here is a pic I was able to get as they ran away.

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Crazy Tuesday

Today I had a doctor's appointment so I got ready to go to town, packed up the garbage and put it in my car,  when a tree run out in the driveway and hit my bumper.  Can you believe it? (HaHa)  I guess it was a good thing since if I hadn't hit that tree while backing out to my turning spot, I would have gone in the creek.  That would not have been fun.  I was so busy trying not to hit my porch that I forget the trees behind me.  Oh Well!

So I go to take my garbage to the dump and guess what?  It is Tuesday.  Which means it's closed.  I know this but somehow I forgot.  So now I have to go to town with a bag of garbage in my car.  When I get home -- I think -- what am I going to do with the garbage?  It is warm outside so it will smell by tomorrow.  I can't leave the window down because animals may get into my car.  So I just bring it back into the house and will take it to the dump tomorrow.















Does anyone know what this is?  What is the smoke stack for.

Saturday, March 06, 2010

Turn dangerous baby beds into home decor


I bought this baby bed at an auction for $3 and everyone thought I was nuts.  What did I need with a baby bed anyway.  You can't use them for babies, or have them around babies, because they are not safe but this is what I did with mine. 

  • First I took it apart and since I didn't need the headboard or footboard I discarded them.  You may find uses for them though.
  • I took off the hardware and cleaned the rails that I kept. 
  • I then used one to hang dish towels and doilies in my kitchen.
  • I also used the other rail to hang a quilt in my bedroom. There are so ways you could use the rails.
I also love Mother's Plates -- here are a few I have collected.



Friday, March 05, 2010

To the dump, to the dump, to the dump, dump, dump

On Monday, Wednesday, Friday and 1/2 day on Saturday our garbage collection site is open for household garbage and some recycling.  Our site is 4 miles from me over some very treacherous mountains.  I have never had to take my garbage to a dump before so it was def a new experience for me. We have an attendant and he keeps things moving and cleaned up for us.  

Free Picture of Metal Garbage Can. Click Here to Get Free Images at Clipart Guide.com

Here are my rules for going to the dump!

  • First, you have to make sure that you take your garbage out often because where do you put it if you don't.  You can't put it outside because the animals will get it and it will stew in the heat.  That would really stink up your car.

  • Second, I try to schedule my garbage visits with other errands, but sometimes, well you just have to go to the dump anyway. 

  • Third, be careful where you park at the dump.  Someone got their car hit a couple weeks ago. I can't figure out why unless someones garbage was so stinky they rushed in to get rid of it.

  • Fourth, make sure you have some tools with you for the dump: scissors or (knife see previous post and about knives and sissors), extra garbage bags, extra store plastic bags for trash in your car, odor spray, and a good attitude.
Trash can image provided by http://www.clipartguide.com/

Need to Buy a Truck

I need a truck here at Blackberry Cabin -- doesn't have to be new or fancy but by summer it will be a necessity.  Although I have a front wheel drive car, it is only a 4 cylinder and who wants to take their garbage to the dump in their car.  So, I have added a "Donate" button to my blog.  All money collected will go toward that purchase.  If donation is not your thing but buying books, electronics, and other items from Amazon are, just search from my blogsite and I will receive a small portion of the sale.  If you prefer to advertise on this blog, you can become a sponsor.  I truly will appreciate any thing you can do to help.

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Pillowcases


I love hand embroidered pillowcases.  I am fortunate enough that I also love to do the embroidery myself.  My bed always has 6 pillows on it, 2 of them with matching pillowcases to the sheet set and 4 of my own hand embroidered pillowcases.

So when I purchase a set to sell, I am also doing something I love and love bringing to you to create your own bedding style.

You can find some pillowcases for sale at http://www.makeminepink.com/boutiques/beloved-blackberry-cabin.aspx?page=1

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

I Have A Mouse

Why in the world an over-weight, out of shape 56 year old woman with mild congestive heart failure and arthritis want to live way out in the country like I do here at Blackberry Cabin?  First I have the strong pull from the Blue Ridge Mountains is all I can say.  I love it here.  I feel free here, and I feel at home here.  Second, I have to get in better shape physically, which means walking out to my mail box, walking in this big yard, gardening, and a lot of other things I have not had to do in a very long time.

So after my first week here and surviving my first big snow storm, I fry some bacon for breakfast and in runs to the kitchen a little field mouse that has come in from the cold.  Well I shoo it away but can't find where it came into the house.  So I called my rental office to let them know I was fine after the storm and told them I had a mouse -- they told me to buy a mouse trap or pellets (they laughed and said this nicely -- I love my rental co).  It was a wake up call -- that hey I need to take care this, I need to do the things to keep the house safe and myself safe and in better shape.

Why is this a big deal -- I have rented apartments for years and they took care of the maintenance, then I lived with my grandmother for a year and my uncle took care of these things, and then I rented a house with my daughter and she and my grandson took care of these things.  So here I am and it makes me happy that I can deal with my mouse problem. 

It's a start!

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Show and Tell Monday

Please join all the ladies at http://makeminepink.com/ for Show and Tell Moday.

I featured this set of pillowcases a couple weeks ago when I was working on them.  They are all finished and just waiting for their new owners.  They are very sweet with blue hearts and pink flowers.

The Eastern Continental Divide at Blackberry Cabin

Driving home from Boone, NC,  I was so surprised to see the sign that read "Eastern Continental Divide" two miles from my house.  I started researching it on-line and found North America has 3-5 continental divides according to the drainage basins.  Of course most people know about the The Great Divide in the West but there is also the Northern, the Eastern and the St Lawrence Sea Way. These divides separate the watersheds that drain into the oceans.

The Eastern Continental Divide runs south through New York down the Appalachian mountains to the watershed of the Florida Bay, which then separates into the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico. Most of the info on this subject I found on Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  There is so much more than the simplistic definition here, but I thought it so interesting.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Under Construction

I will be making changes to my blog site in the next week so don't freak out if you don't see the same blog as before.

Be sure to look for posts -- I have a mouse

Friday, February 19, 2010

Knife or Scissors

News from Blackberry Cabin -- I have always thought of scissors as tools and knives as weapons. But what do you think ---


Since I have been here, twice a man has had to let me borrow is pocket knife to use as a tool. Today at the dump I needed to break down the box I carried my other boxes in and I didn't have anything to cut through some thick tape.

So do I buy a pocket knife and if so where do I carry it? Is it really a pocket knife if I carry it in my purse? If I carry it in my purse why not just bring scissors? Should I consider my scissors as a weapon? Can I get passed the thought that a pocket knife is a weapon?

Thursday, February 18, 2010

The sun is finally shinning


We had sunshine today and no snow.  Hopefully things will continue this way for a couple of days and I can get to the garbarge dump and get some fresh food like apples and lettuce. 

I took this picture of some of the hand crochet kitchen towels I did not long ago.  On top is an apple scrubber from Avon.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Show and Tell Monday from Blackberry Cottage

Join all the ladies at Make Mine Pink for Show and Tell Monday http://www.makeminepink.com/forum/Topic201443-77-1.aspx

My show and tell is this sweet hand embroidered set of pillowcases.  I love the simplicity of the design and can sit and embroider this pattern for long stretches at a time.  This item will be for sale soon.

The other picture on my show and tell is a shawl my mother gave me in the mid-1970's.  I loved it but didn't appreciate it until now.  It is one of my prize possessions.

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

News from Blackberry Cottage -- My youngest daughter Teresa is being deployed to Iraq, so today I put a yellow ribbon on my porch post -- please pray for her safe return and for all those serving for our freedom.













When my daughters were young I never thought of them going to war -- I am very proud of her but sleep with one of her T-shirts under my
pillow to pray over.

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

I'm stuck at Blackberry Cottage

This horse lives in the field next door -- I think he is laughing at me!!
Lordy -- I decided I would brave the mountains after the snow and my car battery was dead as a door nail.  I guess I left one of the doors open a little and the overhead light stayed on from Friday till today which is Wednesday.  I got that fixed and was backing down my drive way and got 1/2 way and got myself stuck trying to turn around.  Now a tow truck has to come and get me out.  Maybe I'll stay in till Spring!

Monday, February 01, 2010

Romantic meets rustic


OMG -- I am here in Blowing Rock, NC -- It is beautiful and every other moment I think I am crazy for moving so far out it in the woods. 

We had a time getting the truck to my house and then up my drive way.  After using a tow truck with chains we were finally able to get the uhaul unloaded.

How much snow did you get?  We got about 8 inches.  But those 8 inches were on curvy mountain roads so it was really a mess.

Here are a couple of pics I took of the snow and all my stuff in the living room.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Last Post Before I Move

This is my last post before I move to Blowing Rock (near Boone) to Blackberry Cottage in the Woods.  I am excited about the move and would like the moving part to be over.  I am already tired and my back is killing me. It will be worth it in the end though.  I am already planning my spring garden and thinking about flowers.


As my move date moves closer though, the date my daughter reports for her deployment to Iraq is ever closer too.  She reports the 6th of Feb and will be gone for about a year.  I pray for her safety for what she will be doing and for all the soldiers in that whole area of the world.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

My Last Week in TN




It is 6 days until I move to Blowing Rock NC (close to Boone NC).  My last weekend in Tn has been very strange.  It is very quite -- my daughter is out of town, my grandson is staying over at a friends so I am here by myself.  I did some sorting and packing, but I couldn't shake this sadness I had all day.  Finally as the evening rolled around I remembered my mother's birthday is Sunday.  She would have been 76 years old.  Once I remembered the date, I sorted through my memories of her and was at peace.  These are pics of her when she was young.  Yes, we are from Hazard, KY.