More June happenings....

In June....
The Granny Bees met at Patti Beck's garden.

to take a garden stroll

and buy some garden pottery (not the stuff in the pics - I took pics of this because I love that she put this big bird in a nest)

We met in memory of Beth.  And the entire evening a monarch butterfly kept flitting and fluttering about our group.  It was the first one Patti had seen this summer.

 I had asked Patti to make us Granny Bees something in Beth's memory and she made this bell....but she also made

this. 

 I L.O.V.E. them.

And I've missed Beth a lot lately.  

Tomorrow night will be the first, "First Friday" that I've attended that I did not spend it in her studio.

We went to my Sister's house for Father's Day (but we had to meet the week before Father's Day because we were going to be in St. Thomas at a wedding on Father's Day weekend) 

and I hardly took any pics! (I've been slacking)

I did get one of My Shug putting a cig behind my Mom's ear.

Silly....neither of them smoke.

And of these two playing in the decorative pond!

What is it with kids and water?

We were actually supposed to go to a Polka Boys concert that evening, but all the way there it stormed. 

Who woulda thought the weather would have turned out perfect!

This is my brother and his son acting goofy.

The next weekend,

Mom and Dad and Theresa and I went to Clowes Hall.

Only it's pronounced Klews Hall.

And I know that.

But when we stopped to ask for directions I asked for Clothes Hall.

Why?

Who knows why in thee hell I say/do what I say/do.

I do know I love the little sippy cups they gave us for our wine!

How cute!

So, can you guess by the picture below (that I wasn't supposed to take) what musical we went to see?

More june stuff.....

Cute lil' peaches on our tree!

My hives are doing well!

We all went for pedi's for Ashley's wedding.

only I didn't get a pedi.

I do not like my feet touched.

And....

I've had one pedi in my life and I ended up with a toenail fungus that lasted for years.

I got rid of it on my own by applying tea tree essential oil to the top and underneath of the nail every morning and every night.....for like two years.

It's like the one time in my life I was in a tanning bed.  I ended up with red and white stripes on my bottocks.  Don't ask.  Who in thee hell knows anyway? Not me.

Pedis are kind of gross anyway.  They took a cheese grater and shaved the dead skin off of my sister's feet.  ewww....the pile....of dead skin.....just ewwww.....

But I did get my toenails painted!

Do you like the plhower?

Okay, so, Then we all went out for Mexican food and margaritas afterwards!

And Theresa and I probably should have been home packing because we were leaving the next day for St. Thomas!

Coming up.....wedding pics and St. Thomas!

But before I go

TODAY is my Sister's Birthday!

Happy Birthday SISTER!

Cindy Bee

Handmade, Local, or Special gifts

You know I got the advent calendar this year which was pretty darn special.  One of the gifts I received in it was Peppermint sugar scrub made by my cousin Vickie.  I thought I'd share a few gifts I received this year, that were either handmade, or from local, small businesses.  

From Patti Beck, made by Patti Beck!

She happily lives with the birds, in the warmth of the sedum, amongst nature. 

My Shug got me this Santa from Patti.  She makes a different Santa every year, with a different theme.  This one has a coastal theme and is gorgeous.  And being hand made, they are all a bit different.  She has a Christmas open house the first Saturday every December and my Shug told me I could pick out something from him to me, for Christmas.  I did!  I also got an ornament but it's packed away.

 

Here are a few details, which doesn't do it justice.

We had company over the holidays and my Patti Beck "dolls" sit on a bakers rack, which is a bit wobbly.  A couple of times the bakers rack REALLY WOBBLED!

 

My Shug decided to make me some "stands" for them.  Now when the bakers rack wobbles, I worry a little less about them getting knocked over. 

 My Shug also got me this statuary tree man from Eden's Way, which was a surprise.  Eden's Way is a local store that sells a lot of garden statuary, and inside she has a lot of hand made items from the United States.  A very fun store indeed. I want to paint him and put him in the woods to live in Coral Belle land!

My Sister got me some had made necklaces.  

I was a secretary for years, and she bought the typewriter key necklace at the Farmer's Market last summer.

She got me this necklace too, which is made out of a guitar string. (Did you know I'm a struggling guitarist?  I took lessons, until my teacher quit teaching.  I haven't gotten back into it yet-maybe someday)  The artist that made this has an etsy store called seize the night designs.  And, she's from Indiana!

 I also received this hand made hot pad which I'm not sure I'm going to use!  I might have to just look at the warm, tropical birds for awhile.  It matches another hot pad I bought in Florida last year on spring break.

My Sister gave me this book, which is very interesting.  It is the history of the shows I used to watch growing up.  These were the stations we all would pick up with an antenna, no cable in those days.  My Shug and I do not have cable now.  We have an antenna.  I just don't think there is enough on tv these days to bother with....oh sure I miss HGTV and the History channel.  But then, that makes it more special when we stay in a motel and get the extra stations.  And we do still pick up these local stations, and a few more, with the antenna!

Then there was the day I went out with Mom.  She came in, we went upstairs to the garage, got in the car and left.  I came home and found a little white box with a gold bow on the table.  This was inside. 

Our Mom worked for Delco Electronics (a division of GM) for our entire growing up years (except for the years she quit and stayed home and watched kids, because my brother and I would cry when she went to work.  That's the story I was told anyway)  She had a couple of charms from working there for all those years, and she doesn't wear a charm bracelet.  So, she gave one of the charms to me, and one to my sister.  One of my plans this winter is to get the rest of my charms put on my bracelet.  When I do, I'll show it to you.  I've had it since I was in about 8th or 9th grade, and whenever I would go somewhere I would buy a charm from that place.  Kind of a history of my life.  

What about you?  Did you get any special, handmade, or locally purchased Christmas presents?  I have decided that I'm going to be on the lookout this year for such gift items.  They really are special.

Cindy Bee

Ornament Extravaganza weekend, Day 6, 7, 8

Good Monday morning!  I have got to tell you what happened to me at the Goodwill store.  It was Friday evening, dark, and raining cats and dogs. I decided after attending my friend's Mother's viewing I would go to Goodwill on the way home and cheer up.  I was in the "plastics" aisle, and I saw some melamine peeking out of the junk.  I started rooting around.  I had been wanting a blue melmac cup and plate ever since I saw

 this cute little crafty cup and tree at Horton's in Tipton a couple of years ago.

 

I bought the gingerbread cutter last year just in case I ever found the dishes. 
WELL....they were in my cart and some guy comes up to me and says, "Are those melmac?" 
I said, "Well, it says Melamine on the back.  Is that the same thing?" 
"No" he says. 
Then he says, "Does it say made in China?"
 I said, "No, it says Made in Illinois." 
He says, "People really like those, they are popular right now." 
I said, "Well I like them too, but I'm trying to decide if I really need them or not."   (they match Coral Belle!)
Then as I walked around I noticed he was hanging around....kind of stalking me.  I'd be at the end of an aisle and there he'd be!  Odd, I thought.
 I went to the check out and he had two heaping full carts waiting up front.  When I checked out, he got in the aisle beside me, and was leaning over looking in my cart!  WTH peeps!  So, I checked out and I called a friend and talked to her about the dishes.  I had decided I would only buy the four cups and plates, and put the rest back.  But they were still in my cart.  I told the sales lady I would put them back.   Well, my friend reminded me they would be half price the next day.  So I hid them! 
Then my friend told me I had better be careful in case the "stalker" was in the parking lot.  I said No, he wouldn't be there.  I hid the dishes and walked out to my car and I was still on the phone with my friend and he was parked somewhat close to me and got out of his car and yelled, "Did you buy those melmac dishes!"  Weird I thought!  I said, "yeah, some of them" and he got in his van and left.

Saturday morning I set up my booth at Ornament Extravaganz at 8:30, and took off with my cousin Vickie.  OE didn't start until 10:00.  We went to the Goodwill, grabbed the dishes!  They were right where I left them....in a basket...pushed behind a bunch of other baskets....on the bottom shelf....in the back!!!!  LOL!   Then we went to Patti Beck's open house.  My Shug told me I could buy something for me, from him for Christmas.  I know, not romantic but I get something I wouldn't buy myself. Well,  I probably would have bought this blondie for myself....

  but not one of these.  But he did!This picture does not do them justice and he has already hidden the one I bought from him for me.  They are not all exactly alike, being made by an artist.

 Here are some from years past.

And some other fun stuff.

 This life size santa is in front of her house.  She makes one every year to match the "santa of the year." 

 Then we hurried back and I spent the day at the Art Gallery for Ornament Extravaganza.
Here are some pictures from the Ornament Extravaganza weekend.
Good friends in this picture. Leslie on the left, Rebecca behind me and Debbie on the right.

 My Shug drilled the holes in my beeswax ornaments.  I was afraid I'd ruin them!

 They are made out of wax my bees drew out on the frames.  They were cappings and I had to melt them down and clean them out, then melt them again and put them in the molds.  I think they turned out pretty good.  If you are interested in them they are $5.00 for the larger ones and $3.00 for the candy canes and stars.

 More ornaments.  The lady behind me was selling kits to make these and they were very cute.  They would be great for a kid craft.

 More ornament kits....

 and ornaments that were for sale.

 The Granny Bee makes a different Santa each year

 and Linda R. was felting this Santa and tree. Very cute stuff ladies.  And so much talent.

 I bought one of these kits (below) only I decided to but small red beads on it for the holly berries.  I'll show you when I'm finished making it.  I have a tree I put up with all hand made ornaments on it.

  

Deb Working on her redwork pattern.  It's going to be a quilted tablecloth.

 Leslie working on felting, but she didn't get to work long because several of us bought the wreath kits from her and wanted her guidance.  She is so patient.

 Jeannie....well, this is funny. I said, "you look familiar to me."  "Yes, well, I'm the lady that wanted to buy your house in town really bad........"  Oh my gosh.  I knew all about her, thought she looked familiar but never placed her name with the face!  We really enjoyed getting to know each other.  She has a blog, Taking the backroad...and what was really funny (embarrassing) was when I asked her if she was on facebook and she said yes and I looked her up and we were already friends.  jeeesh....

 And on that note, and this long post, I will share with you my fun Advent calendar presents.  I got some hand cream, some socks, and an ornament that says.....

Peace!

Cindy Bee