tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12850346309874941332024-03-20T22:55:07.848-05:00The Big Black CatThe Big Black Cat will be an assortment of antiques, gardening, and two of my favorite pastimes rug hooking and country samplers.This of course will expand as time goes by.cat househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687354623032045180noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1285034630987494133.post-77773741668908186482010-01-09T12:56:00.005-06:002010-01-09T13:21:02.620-06:00Doesn't look like a Halloween Design to me!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#009900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Well it looks like a winter scene, the one outside my window this morning. Like I said, inspiration comes from all kinds of unexpected places.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#009900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#009900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">At 12 below zero this happy bird came by and deserves to be remembered - I'm not sure he would approve of being a table mat - but I'm happy.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#009900;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#009900;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvnfBPLXf14SzoH_3GgJAPpgmEjTDe7gbtZzXH3v9ujfn3FBu5D6so5AiuAZtB_9_B85nbd4grCk5QmfJfueatlldAAuUXDbhn2VTHHeyJgg4Z-3eI3fpP8RL2dQofx2PbbsLHxJdrwmE/s1600-h/P1010191.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvnfBPLXf14SzoH_3GgJAPpgmEjTDe7gbtZzXH3v9ujfn3FBu5D6so5AiuAZtB_9_B85nbd4grCk5QmfJfueatlldAAuUXDbhn2VTHHeyJgg4Z-3eI3fpP8RL2dQofx2PbbsLHxJdrwmE/s320/P1010191.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424820345208698178" /></a><br /></div>cat househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687354623032045180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1285034630987494133.post-25536663483743031322010-01-08T10:35:00.007-06:002010-01-08T10:57:45.431-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZoEEJ8v5jzN2GIeTXUnjNIli2FLcpjc1iv2TTd2-xGE2O6vhzQeD5bqzZReN4G92PVziLrDk_wOrBkkS7eFgdB9SXqjURhyphenhyphen9FysvakaaQEx7xNVdngTkLM5YQ9qbWp5Ap1rj8ohVousUb/s1600-h/P1010185.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 338px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZoEEJ8v5jzN2GIeTXUnjNIli2FLcpjc1iv2TTd2-xGE2O6vhzQeD5bqzZReN4G92PVziLrDk_wOrBkkS7eFgdB9SXqjURhyphenhyphen9FysvakaaQEx7xNVdngTkLM5YQ9qbWp5Ap1rj8ohVousUb/s400/P1010185.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424409716744538658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJQl5C00WNgmhWd9k5l3vgHx20Vwg7lVPe9o5YIkqCNEFIkA_onp-i0RPPi0-I38pLvSJjTFd0-B4eUJBDggd1pLoVfxEP-mlxnSs8yIuTHG7s5b3ttuIlreiIZgAhOIsBPpB35Mqkiyk/s1600-h/P1010184.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJQl5C00WNgmhWd9k5l3vgHx20Vwg7lVPe9o5YIkqCNEFIkA_onp-i0RPPi0-I38pLvSJjTFd0-B4eUJBDggd1pLoVfxEP-mlxnSs8yIuTHG7s5b3ttuIlreiIZgAhOIsBPpB35Mqkiyk/s400/P1010184.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424408699850250930" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">While thinking about the new designs I hope to create for 2010 I took a look at what year's past have created. I've done thousands of these samplers, rugs, pillows, pincushions, pins and I'm sure there are other things I can't remember - or don't want to.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">I believe inspiration comes from many sources, books, nature, friends, photography, within ourselves - from our history, colors, graphs, it's endless.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">All of these designs in today's post are from previous years, most are mine and a few should be attributed to others - even if I don't remember who.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">Today I'll focus on one new design. Once<span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;"></span></span></span> creativity starts, new ideas are no problem -the first one is the toughest.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>While working</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>, I'll try to open my mind up to all and not work to hard at it - just draw and see where it goes.</b></span></span></div><div><br /></div>cat househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687354623032045180noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1285034630987494133.post-30463550793742103912010-01-07T10:27:00.011-06:002010-01-07T15:31:37.180-06:00Buttons and baubles and sleeping cats - we all love Halloween<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lXl5K5QO0_63Thd7_r4c44L6GuKtQK5bIfo4PPVuVq_uV_ddPbCCkssm2VoEz3N-PHz2icm_Xo4ogPI2g0mwSpd_sfWkgTJdoYWPycaLXJru31mo_OqaBhB1U-PGkHW9iHlC54PpTvX7/s1600-h/P1010172.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 185px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lXl5K5QO0_63Thd7_r4c44L6GuKtQK5bIfo4PPVuVq_uV_ddPbCCkssm2VoEz3N-PHz2icm_Xo4ogPI2g0mwSpd_sfWkgTJdoYWPycaLXJru31mo_OqaBhB1U-PGkHW9iHlC54PpTvX7/s320/P1010172.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424108535042765490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUizoM9O54OKPP25mz-wUFI3H3C0_PIGra0zd0yzg3VFQ-GETOceeXNAPPF-zBcIviqNFchBERcO4k-J1SDYUImirK-IaFsFbYSNhkLeMLoguD4WFW7BK6D4gP-cS8NrdugEqUjFoRC-_/s1600-h/P1010181.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUizoM9O54OKPP25mz-wUFI3H3C0_PIGra0zd0yzg3VFQ-GETOceeXNAPPF-zBcIviqNFchBERcO4k-J1SDYUImirK-IaFsFbYSNhkLeMLoguD4WFW7BK6D4gP-cS8NrdugEqUjFoRC-_/s320/P1010181.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424108528172524306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLK1YJWnNWJOaBcuB5FWSSBDfpEcNRJHJA3riSZ-c7QD5_6wqZXXucM9ylNHw6tawJWZgNswmNlNdGPeHx6Va2kqia1PL83ddJ3WJf021vEhiHhmP39hVJKthpMX86PR3S15GvoQOAhyphenhypheni/s1600-h/P1010178.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLK1YJWnNWJOaBcuB5FWSSBDfpEcNRJHJA3riSZ-c7QD5_6wqZXXucM9ylNHw6tawJWZgNswmNlNdGPeHx6Va2kqia1PL83ddJ3WJf021vEhiHhmP39hVJKthpMX86PR3S15GvoQOAhyphenhypheni/s320/P1010178.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424108519112573250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NRN_rLjcyVORW5wC5b7TRBVb67Lbnow_RBbixTtN5JNT9UzOb8kdL5acXNH_SBQgVGlMK6_J_PXxEXlXmTf9TUG7IVb-mQCR9AB4jV2NkjtgvTOn8EmDhOeDAwMlnhmQx9jmVAgxbJ5n/s1600-h/P1010167.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 307px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NRN_rLjcyVORW5wC5b7TRBVb67Lbnow_RBbixTtN5JNT9UzOb8kdL5acXNH_SBQgVGlMK6_J_PXxEXlXmTf9TUG7IVb-mQCR9AB4jV2NkjtgvTOn8EmDhOeDAwMlnhmQx9jmVAgxbJ5n/s320/P1010167.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424108508380239810" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Inspiration, what inspires me on a cold and snowy winter day in Minnesota.</span></b></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Friends call, what are you doing? Oh, I'm photographing buttons - in every way I can think of. Why? I'm doing my own study of texture. At the same time I'm improving my photography, hoping to get inspiration for new design ideas and having a good time.</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Over the years in buying and selling antiques I've acquired a vast collection of buttons. Old buttons, new buttons -every color and shape. Buttons that advertise, buttons that attract attention, buttons that held up somebody's grandfather's pants. They're too perfect to throw out, they line my workroom shelves in bottles, old of course, and give joy to all who notice them.</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>cat househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687354623032045180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1285034630987494133.post-23239235225311131052010-01-05T15:23:00.019-06:002010-01-07T15:39:43.024-06:00New Years is over - on to Halloween!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ApIclmr9F5VSa-WwOeAznyOuNgg_H2by8vGK67i_0hsNs5nBpJYMOFfyAT41V7iEEgSaXmuoijumHUXM3XQL-lGrrqSA5bgExKcK8iZzTJ5KCoKInqIgUsCMNDwScEnPBRWTFU3IkUo8/s1600-h/P1010174.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 392px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ApIclmr9F5VSa-WwOeAznyOuNgg_H2by8vGK67i_0hsNs5nBpJYMOFfyAT41V7iEEgSaXmuoijumHUXM3XQL-lGrrqSA5bgExKcK8iZzTJ5KCoKInqIgUsCMNDwScEnPBRWTFU3IkUo8/s400/P1010174.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424109470578008050" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWthzufuQriTgga56o-8CriD_N_7zkmHMz4ENn5TN_DGovwAUWIBNn9xl_VZUaCoTwFVyC0o7xnR83VdoOf1XGwTjpjgO8gnKGFQfse_zMt4zdPAd1X4SrEQeBcuswxZxdcCYIeeJurTkS/s1600-h/P1010164.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWthzufuQriTgga56o-8CriD_N_7zkmHMz4ENn5TN_DGovwAUWIBNn9xl_VZUaCoTwFVyC0o7xnR83VdoOf1XGwTjpjgO8gnKGFQfse_zMt4zdPAd1X4SrEQeBcuswxZxdcCYIeeJurTkS/s400/P1010164.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424109460887243426" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAURYzDNsfEN9K9xAGQmUXrCwdvzGjOZ0THLA-F520ZdCx1dGn4CBTOJfJNOx5pbLOrIkPuacX5j0YOAmsjEbdr_u5kVmvLGeO8Ft1Jj51zRm1pixvYxMrLwk6w8lb9Y1Nuu9OAMSnnd2/s1600-h/P1010149.JPG"><span><span></span></span><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAURYzDNsfEN9K9xAGQmUXrCwdvzGjOZ0THLA-F520ZdCx1dGn4CBTOJfJNOx5pbLOrIkPuacX5j0YOAmsjEbdr_u5kVmvLGeO8Ft1Jj51zRm1pixvYxMrLwk6w8lb9Y1Nuu9OAMSnnd2/s320/P1010149.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423393953261711042" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthIqhVj8qjuIgKZJPgxVjFJCW774AnPJdDimBR2LyUJzp_pj9tp7US4b6Qm0qPzv9hXzY6khVGmZOjCTBsmhBDFkgVCPN0GtMzSAkd3AB0dcKxkubi9hslIRNdDD0eTJP3XB8RWPxcI2r/s1600-h/P1010145.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthIqhVj8qjuIgKZJPgxVjFJCW774AnPJdDimBR2LyUJzp_pj9tp7US4b6Qm0qPzv9hXzY6khVGmZOjCTBsmhBDFkgVCPN0GtMzSAkd3AB0dcKxkubi9hslIRNdDD0eTJP3XB8RWPxcI2r/s400/P1010145.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423393058160203010" /></a><br /><blockquote></blockquote><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">I've decided that my focus this year will be on Halloween. Black cats, scarecrows, witches and moons have been my best sellers for many years. So this year, Halloween will be number 1 on my list of to-dos.<br /></span></span></b><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">Many of my designs are ones that I've used for years. People still buy them, but I'm tired of them and will start fresh with new ones for this year. This, of course, is easier said than done. Anyone who designs anything knows that it takes many erasures to create a design that is popular.</span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">January in Minnesota is more likely to inspire long underwear than images of Halloween - fall foliage and harvest moons. Where to get inspiration for my new designs?</span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Look and ye shall find. Sounds simple - maybe I should follow my advice and do it. First I'll look around the house</span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></b></div><div><br /></div></div>cat househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687354623032045180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1285034630987494133.post-88616109210209197462009-10-02T14:27:00.001-05:002009-10-02T14:31:48.794-05:00This year the chicken coop will have vintage Christmas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUgWPiOiy3yXmVsqzL1imKRaFoOvb1_t2u35Fnaqd5kdXRcUBFMXLWpwEDNiK8fyxcGWdyyd1TDgKXMd2TJxTOX-8cjmJCLMc-KLGNLkLjba_p1xflO2dWbk9I1zi_OwJboNSVH5EnoHB/s1600-h/P1000900.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUgWPiOiy3yXmVsqzL1imKRaFoOvb1_t2u35Fnaqd5kdXRcUBFMXLWpwEDNiK8fyxcGWdyyd1TDgKXMd2TJxTOX-8cjmJCLMc-KLGNLkLjba_p1xflO2dWbk9I1zi_OwJboNSVH5EnoHB/s320/P1000900.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388087131444236930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8Y4dLG3UST6DDW9gxB1oxOWCQiWPB64ABNdodNm6xXN5E5Kq2I73qUFgPIXmYKHju4Y28IGtnvpG9ZoqN2EJ0V9z3Laa55WNJz6cDEvuERACY6q6AXJwcfuP4ygvivTDERHaz-5Wnxkw/s1600-h/P1000917.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8Y4dLG3UST6DDW9gxB1oxOWCQiWPB64ABNdodNm6xXN5E5Kq2I73qUFgPIXmYKHju4Y28IGtnvpG9ZoqN2EJ0V9z3Laa55WNJz6cDEvuERACY6q6AXJwcfuP4ygvivTDERHaz-5Wnxkw/s320/P1000917.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388087125189306642" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFACuoOlAO_Lm6M8RF7Sm4Mk4UEqW9XkGGRUi5Qs9pS3I5fviwbVWOi7an_q21YfCox3ww5EaTvBh_0uCr2z6h5q1nud9V5wRVarBAnF6d-2wxLZ2Dg6IriQncjBqH2zeQzai5qTf0TR3L/s1600-h/P1000893.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFACuoOlAO_Lm6M8RF7Sm4Mk4UEqW9XkGGRUi5Qs9pS3I5fviwbVWOi7an_q21YfCox3ww5EaTvBh_0uCr2z6h5q1nud9V5wRVarBAnF6d-2wxLZ2Dg6IriQncjBqH2zeQzai5qTf0TR3L/s320/P1000893.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388087115864732338" /></a>cat househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687354623032045180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1285034630987494133.post-88350239755156720662009-10-01T10:31:00.004-05:002009-10-01T11:30:44.880-05:00Red Barn Sale at Yvonne Brown's in Excelsior, Minnesota<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTQhtsYhJO2f8pJxC8RnAXk7sQExQHc_xhtOTctvfnvLfkEkoKUI48bMYZLZLEiFy9HLDjFeldaq1nCH0QXFqebxsjIms711wGY7FVwfQ4yPbYeanV26Dabg8og3buwiP1hSfId8SAcuZ/s1600-h/P1000894.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTQhtsYhJO2f8pJxC8RnAXk7sQExQHc_xhtOTctvfnvLfkEkoKUI48bMYZLZLEiFy9HLDjFeldaq1nCH0QXFqebxsjIms711wGY7FVwfQ4yPbYeanV26Dabg8og3buwiP1hSfId8SAcuZ/s320/P1000894.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387659022678843618" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNe_E3fhoPWqvdcKKe2kcjMUfj5IZEK5rvtcDHyL_HrU6C1MZ5OI2PGsGoP41HfU7hOsYazbqVKE1IhfU37zqVfQoQlmUhaLngav1Uh3qudfoEMMsEOBn_xsaimhkqQ9kC-sty8IBVLQlS/s1600-h/P1000909.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNe_E3fhoPWqvdcKKe2kcjMUfj5IZEK5rvtcDHyL_HrU6C1MZ5OI2PGsGoP41HfU7hOsYazbqVKE1IhfU37zqVfQoQlmUhaLngav1Uh3qudfoEMMsEOBn_xsaimhkqQ9kC-sty8IBVLQlS/s320/P1000909.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387659015240510930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-grx4F_lc_pVwRS9cGqhz7kyB7lMadlfxl_UZrDUVCBicaqGb8xxOMFT7m85IkHDcdUj7rbs5p-_aeX3D0PpdiQWa6zgKUDnjWZPNs5ppvXktM-4wgfdY_9DbghR7dKDIeKp5s0Wop9o/s1600-h/P1000899.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-grx4F_lc_pVwRS9cGqhz7kyB7lMadlfxl_UZrDUVCBicaqGb8xxOMFT7m85IkHDcdUj7rbs5p-_aeX3D0PpdiQWa6zgKUDnjWZPNs5ppvXktM-4wgfdY_9DbghR7dKDIeKp5s0Wop9o/s400/P1000899.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387656253428075698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWpt4OK_vHW62FWXyrxwq2OcX8aZuKufFPoKKLIs6e1nwqQ43zbH6r748fDwfyja1bsBjrGuFg9vRkYv8dw5_X9Tie8KF9nEu52KjVA6SE2G4oc4dfisAVVOmum5ee8e2Ycz2v25ZO_DA/s1600-h/P1000888.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWpt4OK_vHW62FWXyrxwq2OcX8aZuKufFPoKKLIs6e1nwqQ43zbH6r748fDwfyja1bsBjrGuFg9vRkYv8dw5_X9Tie8KF9nEu52KjVA6SE2G4oc4dfisAVVOmum5ee8e2Ycz2v25ZO_DA/s400/P1000888.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387656241155871602" /></a>The dates for the Red Barn Sale are October 7 thru 10, from 9-5 each day.<div><br /></div><div>We'd love to see you there.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZTeOm5J3g-dJPPbmp4Cw4DYwnK-uYRrmCIggwZiitHEA6Arbq57z92JX6b987B4L0fv92-UK8_I8ck2qfKhbIK9TtmiFww8hKD2jD6SzY0qgz2ZXhBXa2g8snb2QY8gfdH3HU0YsxT6x/s1600-h/P1000883.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZTeOm5J3g-dJPPbmp4Cw4DYwnK-uYRrmCIggwZiitHEA6Arbq57z92JX6b987B4L0fv92-UK8_I8ck2qfKhbIK9TtmiFww8hKD2jD6SzY0qgz2ZXhBXa2g8snb2QY8gfdH3HU0YsxT6x/s400/P1000883.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387656231043359650" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeq-YVJWjVk8ECcOFSMtUBeV8wipYvP4PbeVP76uvjl7QSAKvu0m73-YIF-qHFX99JkYJGRX5CfTZlMJrnrp1PtHGvR3LoNTovYSI-JITHYLIFRy66NmgVoTW8mvJ34R780HhAgizt8eA-/s1600-h/P1000915.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeq-YVJWjVk8ECcOFSMtUBeV8wipYvP4PbeVP76uvjl7QSAKvu0m73-YIF-qHFX99JkYJGRX5CfTZlMJrnrp1PtHGvR3LoNTovYSI-JITHYLIFRy66NmgVoTW8mvJ34R780HhAgizt8eA-/s400/P1000915.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387656230056547890" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLV-a0CiUyzl85w1VbhmvS-jiSd5Jk1vprFZnoG_7iQJEzUR-hMcnkg27T1uO_oNV8jbTV_WI0kXVbuYhOV2DwgRnUAG7kodn9zEXFDlctyaDLrHOXlvIiGa-TusVKTViYK45bQb9eQihC/s1600-h/P1000911.JPG"><span><span></span></span><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLV-a0CiUyzl85w1VbhmvS-jiSd5Jk1vprFZnoG_7iQJEzUR-hMcnkg27T1uO_oNV8jbTV_WI0kXVbuYhOV2DwgRnUAG7kodn9zEXFDlctyaDLrHOXlvIiGa-TusVKTViYK45bQb9eQihC/s400/P1000911.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387656221613177506" /></a></div>cat househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687354623032045180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1285034630987494133.post-75011042473347984512009-09-24T23:18:00.002-05:002009-09-24T23:30:24.150-05:00Pumpkins and Spiders and Big Black Cats<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtvo_cuiedoHz7q6K0jxANiLO_y6AXDRj1JIAXdLGoFaAOzLAPytsMJNwNXfo4pu5DU0HZDFqhFiigpCu47dPQVYiFChE8Sw15CiIt0WdJLmlvYjCALn2_oaQ2ewUovutABdRaR-RX0Nb/s1600-h/P1000877.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtvo_cuiedoHz7q6K0jxANiLO_y6AXDRj1JIAXdLGoFaAOzLAPytsMJNwNXfo4pu5DU0HZDFqhFiigpCu47dPQVYiFChE8Sw15CiIt0WdJLmlvYjCALn2_oaQ2ewUovutABdRaR-RX0Nb/s320/P1000877.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385257604054276994" /></a><br />Halloween is coming. I've loved Halloween since I was a little kid growing up in the country. When I was in grade school Halloween was a big deal. Every year on Halloween I was a ghost, I think everyone was a ghost, We all could round up an old bed sheet and cut holes for the eyes and we didn't care that we all looked alike. We'd run down the dirt road, in the dark, oohing and carrying on, we had a great time. We'd have pillow cases for bags, and by the time we headed for home, they'd be so full they we're hard to carry. After we got home, and before we even took our costumes off, we'd have to investigate our candy. We'd dump it all out on the floor in the living room and compare who had the best stuff. Wonderful times.<div><br /></div><div>I still love Halloween. I love costumes and trick or treats and pumpkins and big black cats and all the wonder of a dark night and a full moon. </div>cat househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687354623032045180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1285034630987494133.post-41685513037478321882009-09-23T14:13:00.003-05:002009-09-23T15:10:10.857-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpX7CNJii1AGlOA6UGeWEgHG8tpMzCGhxbmlhaEyuO7xbx97jLqTFQpcuZXK_UmbmvfTS9tAvKL-cA1pJoa-iZ2tbpk-C923YviyG_qq7F3TrZz6ChbSf4rMZVnw-jstVL2UGyNU1qomuP/s1600-h/P1000568.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpX7CNJii1AGlOA6UGeWEgHG8tpMzCGhxbmlhaEyuO7xbx97jLqTFQpcuZXK_UmbmvfTS9tAvKL-cA1pJoa-iZ2tbpk-C923YviyG_qq7F3TrZz6ChbSf4rMZVnw-jstVL2UGyNU1qomuP/s320/P1000568.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384745645935793410" /></a><br />Fall, busiest time of the year. Time to get ready for fall sales and make sure everything around the house is ready for a Minnesota winter.<div><br /></div><div>This year I'll be doing a friends sale, it's called the Red Barn sale and we'll set up the first part of October. The Red Barn has been happening every fall for many years and this year it'll be four days and offer folk art painting, floral, stitched items, lots of Halloween and Christmas and much more.</div><div><br /></div><div>Excelsior is a lovely little town on Lake Minnetonka and worth a look if you haven't been there. Nice shops, antiques, a tea shop, book store and a great view of the lake. The Red Barn sale is a short distance away off Hwy 7. The sale dates are October 7 thru the 10th from 9-5.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>cat househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687354623032045180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1285034630987494133.post-44092778721808471382009-09-21T22:01:00.004-05:002009-09-23T16:07:57.599-05:00Things are not always as simple as they first appear.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1UiWEhncs1xm1uPUPb6gaX_CTXd3Y9SViW1_LNpM-R7lvPlP_791T1WkLFeyG1b5CXz49SUAmgP69ncxmgFB664VA2574_uVqy2Vm04_MDIsS_cffxs-kHudnMvaFcxt1LbJkm1KTGcZf/s1600-h/P1000838.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1UiWEhncs1xm1uPUPb6gaX_CTXd3Y9SViW1_LNpM-R7lvPlP_791T1WkLFeyG1b5CXz49SUAmgP69ncxmgFB664VA2574_uVqy2Vm04_MDIsS_cffxs-kHudnMvaFcxt1LbJkm1KTGcZf/s320/P1000838.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384123425770712578" /></a><br />I've spent the better part of the day repairing 3 rugs that I thought would take a hour or so each. The repairs were far more extensive than I thought at first appraisal.<div><br /></div><div>When I looked at the rugs with the idea of repairing them, I wasn't careful enough to gauge how brittle some areas were. Because of this, while I would be repairing one area, the area next to it would crumble, which of course meant replacing a good deal of burlap so I could go back and rehook and rebind.</div><div><br /></div><div>Live and learn, and I did learn alot today. Make sure when repairing rugs the condition merits repair and that you want to invest the time .</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>cat househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687354623032045180noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1285034630987494133.post-26544313862781126462009-09-18T21:04:00.004-05:002009-09-23T16:08:51.831-05:00Late summer is a good time for being grateful.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7gBfok3UntscS5ogRhhG8cTGkk1rW511auwb3XhmANd2ZVlEqXHX-IpWaNYXcfgCagcF4KXySAxfcaj2MeIv93uKZc8gPagrPkJZh2vjLYhYFMXlxkNz2iYLAJimP_ugt4vJ5jBWvSk_/s1600-h/P1000273.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7gBfok3UntscS5ogRhhG8cTGkk1rW511auwb3XhmANd2ZVlEqXHX-IpWaNYXcfgCagcF4KXySAxfcaj2MeIv93uKZc8gPagrPkJZh2vjLYhYFMXlxkNz2iYLAJimP_ugt4vJ5jBWvSk_/s320/P1000273.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382996245778166642" /></a><br />As I cleaned up in the gardens yesterday a neighbor stopped to chat and I realized how grateful I am to live in an area where people are friendly, happy and go out of their way to make everyone welcome.<div><br /></div><div>Around here, you get to know the dogs first. Sometimes it takes many encounters to find out that Gus the white dog, has a walker and her name is Judy or that Lucy the poodle lives with Nora.</div><div><br /></div><div>My walking partner is Bella, a sweet little girl who lives next door. Bella loves everyone and and everyone loves Bella.</div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>cat househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687354623032045180noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1285034630987494133.post-2573830514837209292009-09-04T21:41:00.004-05:002009-09-04T21:46:50.314-05:00My First Blog<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHqXVj_JfQhYhthIwOUAkekSTZSRvPrPFILBLQUdHQflHnorohc6gJs3askUXGEWyHJi_-t7fa3T3fA7KgmqY8OPQ-hVSoh4xsRqu6BDzJ-KMrIIm7IBT9KBZy-lxPsjGg0ysTkNHKwI1/s1600-h/P1000741.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHqXVj_JfQhYhthIwOUAkekSTZSRvPrPFILBLQUdHQflHnorohc6gJs3askUXGEWyHJi_-t7fa3T3fA7KgmqY8OPQ-hVSoh4xsRqu6BDzJ-KMrIIm7IBT9KBZy-lxPsjGg0ysTkNHKwI1/s400/P1000741.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377809279240981986" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr74Msw9J2UsBh4JF6lqAa-B1jQHZt_PgM7YVg6l0EfP-lgNKKyyetnosG6Jg5YNN309RCe2X7R9txNzbZqqWQB0Y6ZUTLe6uZCv0oRQ13AFMvQH7GmEZOOW3L3QuKRLw5i2pKhVPh5-Gf/s1600-h/P1000814.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr74Msw9J2UsBh4JF6lqAa-B1jQHZt_PgM7YVg6l0EfP-lgNKKyyetnosG6Jg5YNN309RCe2X7R9txNzbZqqWQB0Y6ZUTLe6uZCv0oRQ13AFMvQH7GmEZOOW3L3QuKRLw5i2pKhVPh5-Gf/s320/P1000814.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377808985758190882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_hTF6zteYyM2E2AgH8z0cSE_N-9Bm4vFYlGoGuqQNoBbcm1lC57hpAzPa1dL_Y1HkvaGEV3_rKzSJ9p2WQYqBehfNhKqiGzi-ABD8oIf8GHhLeBOelwoChQtns-vEMs0ZMih7QOfjkQM/s1600-h/P1000239.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_hTF6zteYyM2E2AgH8z0cSE_N-9Bm4vFYlGoGuqQNoBbcm1lC57hpAzPa1dL_Y1HkvaGEV3_rKzSJ9p2WQYqBehfNhKqiGzi-ABD8oIf8GHhLeBOelwoChQtns-vEMs0ZMih7QOfjkQM/s320/P1000239.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377808704924759394" /></a><br />This is my first posting on my new blog. The reason for the blog is to pursue my favorite pastimes of antiques, gardening, rug hooking and various stitchings.cat househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03687354623032045180noreply@blogger.com1