Happy Turkey Day!!

I want to wish all my blog-land friends a Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone enjoys time with family, time to eat, and time to reflect on all the great things in your life.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Happy Labor Day!

Hoping you all have a safe and happy last of the summer BBQ days!

Enjoy,

Barb

Vacation time...Warning photo heavy!

We decided to go to the four corners area of the Southwest.

Our trip started at Mesa Verde National Park in south west Colorado.

Having lived here before I was a bit excited for my kids to see this wonderful park. 

On our way to see the Long House on the West plateau of the Mesa. 

Perfect day!  This is a 90 minute tour and the Rangers were wonderful about telling us about the people that once lived here. 

Some of the ruins.  Wonderful to get so close and see these up close. 

The ladders we needed to climb to get to the different levels. 

 It is over 8000 feet here so if you are not use to the elevation it can really drain you fast. 

Of course the traveling penguin has to come with us...better then a ceramic gnome! 

This was the group before us at Cliff Palace.  I think this is the photo that is used the most when referring to Mesa Verde.  

Beautiful day...until we got caught in a monsoon rain down pour.

We had just barely started down the steps to Balcony House when it started to just pour rain!

We were drenched in 2 seconds and it rained a good 20 minutes.

The Ranger had us get under one of the stone alcoves to wait out the storm but a clap of thunder and lighting made her rethink our safety in that location so we had to move down the trail and away from the wall just in case it gave way.

My daughter thought this was the funnest things ever!!

I was standing by a lady from France when something above gave way and next thing I know we are being pelted by mud and rocks.  We were a muddy mess.

This was the most difficult hike in the park due to the elevation, the ladders to climb up to get to the next levels and the little 18 inch tunnel we had to go through.

This gave me a new appreciation for the Native people who called this home. 

It is a beautiful and amazing place. 

But once the rain stopped we were dried out in about 30 minutes just a bit muddy--red mud!

I will never get this out of our clothes! 

This is a new section they are doing some archaeological research in and the hike to this for the people doing the research looked a bit hair raising! 

We were able to spend two plus days here and did all the hikes and were able to see all the sites.

There was so much to see, do and learn here!

One of my most favorite National Parks!!

The after rain then dried out look...I am not sure how the penguin stayed so dry!

Hope you enjoyed this little adventure in photo form!

Thanks for stopping by and seeing some of the vacation photos--20 of 643!

Enjoy,

Barb

Happy Pioneer Day!!

Happy Pioneer Day!!

A fun Utah holiday and a day for family and food!

Enjoy your day,

Barb

Celebrating Halloween in July too!

Not only do I love Christmas in July but I am all about Halloween! 

I am not sure if it is the black and orange with some purple and green, but Halloween has become colorful! 

Still having 15% off on everything in my shop to include Halloween items too!

This is for everything in the shop but excludes shipping. 

Type in CIJ2013 to redeem your coupon at check out.

Still having a fun giveaway on my business Facebook page.

This will end tomorrow so hurry over!

Click HERE to take you to the link.

Like my page and leave a comment for a chance to win the photo on my page.

Of all the Halloween tricks this box below is one of my favorites! 

We have so much fun offering people a treat only to be tricked!

The large black spider pops out at you.  

(When taking these photos I had to wait for my daughter to come home to help me because my son refused!!)

Some of the reactions are priceless! 

One last FUN Halloween surprise is the giveaway happening over at the EHAG!

Click HERE to take you to their blog and sign up for the giveaway!

They always have some of the best things to help you celebrate Halloween everyday! 

Hope you all enjoy your day!

Barb

Chickens Ahead...

 I am not sure why I have a fascination with chickens.

My grandparents had them when I was growing up. 

I remember gathering eggs occasionally but was scarred for life when my grandpa had to cut off the head of the chicken we had for dinner.  

Grandma kept telling me it was not the one that was beheaded....it was the one from the grocery. 

My son was asked to take care of our neighbor's chickens while they were on vacation.  The second day in he and his dad came home with a dead chicken.

We were not sure if it was the heat or being pecked to death....now he, the animal lover has been scarred for life.  But the asking for chickens has some to a complete stop! 

I had a friend in Vegas who loved chickens and her kitchen was decorated so nicely with all manner of chickens. 

I think this is where I notice how colorful they could be and started looking at chickens in a new light. 

Now all these chickens are 15% off at my Etsy shop for Christmas in July. 

I will be having 15% off on everything in my shop.   So if Chickens are not your thing there is plenty of other things to choose from.

This is for everything in the shop but excludes shipping. 

Type in CIJ2013 to redeem your coupon at check out. 

I had no idea I had this many chickens---does this count for owning them but not having to feed or maintain them?  This works for me!!

Now GEESE they are a complete different critter and a story for another time....

Enjoy your day!

Barb

Christmas in July on Etsy

Today is the day!! 

Etsy sponsors a site wide Christmas in July event.  

Many shops will be having specials.

Type in "CIJ" or "christmasinjuly" all one word in the search bar to see all the great creations!

I will be having 15% off on everything in my shop. 

 This is for everything in the shop but excludes shipping.  

Type in CIJ2013 to redeem your coupon at check out.

Still having a fun giveaway on my business Facebook page.

Click on the photo above to take you to the link.

Like my page and leave a comment for a chance to win the above photo.

This is a fun design by Tina Marie Ledbetter.  

It is painted on black screening and framed in green.

Now time to go shopping!

Enjoy your day,

Barb

Let the FUN begin!!

I have started to Celebrate Christmas in July…just a bit early!  

So EVERYTHING in my shop is 15% off!   

CIJ2013 is the code to use at checkout. 

 Those of you who have been following my blog know I have tried to have Christmas in my heart all year so I am trying something new.

I will be having a Christmas in July and in my heart giveaway on Facebook.  

My first giveaway on Facebook so hopefully I will not screw this up too much!

Click on the photo above to take you to my page.

Rules:

Like my Facebook page and leave a comment under the giveaway prize page.

Please share if you would like.

This will run from July 5th-July 19th

Open to USA and Canada

Thank you and Enjoy your Christmas in July!!

Barb

Happy Flag Day!!

HAPPY FLAG DAY!!!

I am not sure where the time went this last few weeks but it has come and gone in a flurry of activity!

Eagle Scout project done except for the paper work.  School out, but my daughter is taking a class to prepare for the ACT test she will be taking next year.  Then there is Scout camp, girls camp, and just trying to keep the weeds at bay in the garden.

It is a busy time of year.

Hope you are all doing well, staying busy and having a few minutes here and there to create something fun...even if it is just memories!

Enjoy,

Barb

Old Farmhouse Gatherings Americana Challenge

 The Old Farmhouse Gathering Team is sponsoring an Americana Challenge for their members.

There are so many wonderful items I wish I could vote for all!!

Click HERE to take you to the page and check out the great creations.

The winner of the vote wins a prize and one lucky person that leaves a comment will win a prize!  

I have seen the prize and it is FABULOUS!!

Voting will end June 15 with a winner announced on June 16. 

 Hurry over vote and leave your comment!!

Enjoy,

Barb

Give Away Winner and Summer Fun Celebration

It took me a bit to recover from helping the Scouts and Veterans plant the gardens...photos soon...and luckily we did not have any rain!!

I think it was a good thing for the Scouts to interact with the Veterans.

We were able to have one of them tell us about his WWII story.

Of course I was intrigued to say the least.

We are loosing these folks quick and with them goes their stories.

Also this week we could hear a rumble in the sky and over our house flies a B-17.

My son and I lost our minds!!  

We will have to go up to the secondary airport to see it today!!

OK, now for the winner of the giveaway.

I had my son pull a name out of a bowl.

The Santa Ornament winner is is

Deb of My Stitches to Treasures

I will contact you for your addresses and get this in the mail to you.

Thank you all for your support and coming to visit me on my blog.

I appreciate all of you and your sweet comments.

Starting Monday the OFG Team on Etsy will be celebrating Summer stay tuned!!

Enjoy your day,

Barb

Last Day to Sign up for my Giveaway

Last day to help me celebrate "Christmas all Year" and a Scouting project almost completed.

Click HERE to sign up.

Winner to be announced tomorrow.

More photos of our time at the VA with Scouts and residents to come.

Friday is recovery day!!

Enjoy your day,

Barb

Tax Day Giveaway!!

Happy Tax Day!!

I finally finished the last of my taxes Thursday.  Needless to say the stress this causes is almost unbearable and it probably would not be so bad if I did not procrastinate it to the very last minute!!

Then to wake up to 2 inches of snow on the ground makes this day complete.

SPRING?!?!?

So is all the snow and cold due to my New Years resolution of  trying to keep Christmas in my heart this whole year? 

In honor of all the snow I will be having a giveaway of a this snowman ornament with a cardinal on his hat and the word painted on this ornament says it all!

Rules:

Be a follower of my blog and leave a comment on this post.

New followers always welcome.

Leave a way for me to contact you if you do not have a blog.

If you would like to share this giveaway I would appreciate it! 

A winner will be picked on April 19 and announced on the 20th.

Might even be an extra little something Spring related for another follower so you have to stay tuned.

Open to all USA and Canadian friends. Good Luck to all!

I have to share what I painted for my sister.

She had this napkin holder that my dad had made for her little cub scout group years ago.  

For her birthday she told me she wanted this painted and gave me the suggestions for what she wanted on it.  This is how it turned out.  I think she likes it!

 Hope you all are having a fabulous tax day!  I am now.

Enjoy!

Barb