This rainy day

finds me making a big pot of potato soup for lunch. I love it. The creamy, cheesy, taste is so delicious. When Ike gets home from church, about the time it gets done, he will be loving me for this. Men are something- aren't they? Nothing they like better than good food. My Ike, is like a bottomless pit and he sure does love my cooking.
Now if I would just bake one of my famous Coconut Cakes- I would be in his good graces forever. Not gona do that though, we are both Diabetics and neither of us need it.
I sure wish it wasn't raining- we had big plans to get productive on a little addition we are doing and the rain has sure messed up that plan.
Looks like it will be a day of watching T.V. or doing a little painting in my shop.
The picture of us was taken on Christmas at my sisters home. He has lots more gray hair than me but we were both born in Match. He's just 1 year older than me.
Have a great day everyone.
Life is good.
Bettye

As I look outside and see the beautiful sunny day

that God has so graciously given us today. I feel a renewed energy to go outside and dig in the dirt- or just do, something productive.
You don't waste days like this. Not after the long, cold, snowy winter we've just survived.
I've enclosed a picture of the day lilies from last spring outside my painting shed. When they bloom I will add a picture of them in bloom.
I raked the leaves from my flower beds and found pretty new green sprouts starting to come through the ground. The jonquils are already in full bloom. They are so refreshingly beautiful. Yellow, being my favorite color, they are the first sign that Spring is almost here.
It's the first pretty day this week -that we've had so far. I went to visit my sister in Nashville and the first 3 days of this week- thinking I would get to help her with some early spring plantings but we didn't get out it was just to cold.
Instead we cleaned silver, cleaned and arranged a utility closet, and made decorative pillows. We were productive. She had been sick and I felt needed. It's good to feel needed- and good to know when you are needed you have someone who will always be there for you. Sisters, are a special gift from God and I thank him for mine.
My sister, Faye, died in May of 2007. My twin brother, Lee Roy, died in Oct of 2009.
I miss both of them so much but I still have 2 sisters and they bring so much love into my life.
I'm going to try hard to keep my postings done on my blog. I wish I had more followers but if I don't post regular I can't expect to have many.
It's Spring in Tennessee and~~~
Life is good.
Bettye

I wanted to share with my friends

the Guardian Angel I did to place on Bubbas grave.
She will be there to watch over him and bring a sense of peace and love to everyone who see her.
Life is getting better.
Bettye

I've been busy today.

It felt good to get busy again.
I am making a Angel to place on Bubbas grave. I had made one for my sister, Faye, who died a couple of years ago and everyone liked it. I know Bubba will like it to. It will fit right up against his tombstone when I get it set. I plan to get him a single heart stone and have him and his little dog, Mickey, picture placed in the stone. I just know it will be so beautiful. He sure did love his little dog.
I listed a few things on eBay today also. I miss not having things on there and the anticipation of making a sale. It's good to have something to look forward to. I made 3 sale last week and didn't even have anything listed. I guess google is working.
I feel like a big ole mug full of hot chocolate- gona get off here and go fix it.
Hope all who reads this- is having a good evening.
Bettye

I'd like to present to you

A watercolor painting my brother, who just died, did of the little country church where we attend services every Sunday. It was painted in 2006 about the time he started having the many strokes he had. He lost his interest in painting during this time so I am thankful for this last one. His good friend and I plan to present it to the church next Sunday at the morning services.
Isn't it just so beautiful.
Please enjoy.
Bettye

I'm ready to get back in touch

with everyone and with my life at this time.
We buried my brother on Thursday, the 15th. in our community cemetery. It was a sad day- saying goodbye to the my twin brother, the other half of me. Knowing I will never be able to call him again or give him a hug. I know it will take a long time to not miss him so much but with all the pain and suffering he had to endure the last week of his life -it was best God took him home.
Life goes on. Death is just as certain as the breath we breath today. It's all a part of Gods plan for each of us.
I want to thank each and everyone of you who sent me the lovely, sweet, card of condolences through the wonderful group (Hand-crafters Cottage)that I feel so blessed to be a part of. To all the friends from Bonanzle who left a message on the forum thread started by Montrose and Nancy. To Montrose and Nancy- a special "thank you" for the warm and cuddly scarf- it meant so much to me. I will never forget how it all brought comfort to me during this time.
God bless each of you- I wish all of you the very best life has to offer.
Sincerely,
Bettye

All is well in my world today!

I was with my brother yesterday through his surgery- as well as the rest of my family members.
He came through it fine and is doing well. All the doctors say they feel he will be okay. I sure wanted to hear that. He's had a life of bad circulatory problems- he's a heavy smoker and that doesn't help the situation any either.
Thanks to all who sent me blessings.
We're over this hurtle- hopefully there want be anymore for awhile.
Bettye

I'm being lazy ----

So I am placing this post in several places:
I've been trying to get all my over 300 listings on eBay up to code. I've done and re-done so many times -I am going blind from the glare of this computer screen.
I was up last night and the night before- till after 1 P.M. working.
There's "technical troubl" there today- so I just gave up on it. I will get back to it later.
As all of you know, my Twin brother is having Vascular surgery tomorrow. So I will be up really early to go Memphis so I can be there for his surgery.
I would ask that all of you remember us in your prayers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another thing I wanted to pass along:
I was having trouble with my curser on my computer- it was jumping all over the screen- like it was possessed. I seemed to have no control over it.
I was telling my grandson about it and he suggested- I clean it, duh!. He told me to take the roller ball out and clean it with warm soapy water and dry it off really good before I replace it.I did that.
He also said take a pair of tweezers and clean off any residue you see on the internal rollers. (The internal rollers are the ones that touch the ball when it is in place) they collect dusty, sticky, -crummels (for the lack of a better word) I did that- and when I replaced the ball into the cavity of the cleaned curser, it preformed like new. I have control again! I had the most awful fear I had picked up a virus or something.
So if any of you are having that problem- try it and see if it works for you.
I gotta get up and do something productive. I am absolutely wasting this day.
I need to clean house or something.
Later friends.
Bettye

As I set here this peaceful Sunday afternoon

I am listening to the lovely sound of Christmas music coming from the new Blog Dede of (Brightest Blessings) has created for all the members of Hand Crafters Cottage.
We owe her a great big hug and thank you for her hard work. She and Nancy do so much to help us get our messages and pictures of our crafts out to the web.
These ladies are so special and I certainly appreciate what they do, as I know we all do. So let's all get behind them and this Blog and help it grow.
Bettye

It's been another rainy week-

I think it has rained every day so far. I sure hope we have a nice weekend.

I wanted to request prayers from all my friends- my twin brother has Aneurysms in the groin areas of both his legs. He is to have surgery on Thursday -of next week, for one of them. They want do both at one time- so the other leg will be scheduled for a later date. I am so worried. I was a Nurse in my younger days and I remember enough to know, this can be really serious and the danger it presents while you are waiting for the surgery. I wish it was going to be tomorrow instead of next week - but you know how it works these days, you have to wait for everything.
Just keep him, and me, in your prayers this week. He means the world to me.
I'm not ready to loose another member of my family-to death. I've lost my sister, a niece, and a special brother-in-law in the past 2 years. Just don't know that I can handle to much more.
Nothing much going on here, so this will be short.
Blessings to all of you.
Bettye

Thanks to Dede of Brightest Blessings

we now have a excellent post about the Arts and Crafts Promotion.
here's the link to her posting:
http://brightestblessingsdede.blogspot.com/
I feel so blessed to have this nice person to go to for help- when I need it.
I tried to do a link in my Blog but that one wasn't clickable- hopefully this one will be.
Everyone help us with this promotion and register your links on the thread. It's meant to help everyone. If you have a Facebook account place a announcement there.
To anyone who reads this, have a blessed day.
Bettye

It's rainy here tonoct and I have time on my hands

so I decided to do some work on my Blog.
I don't know what I will ramble on about but I will figure it out as I go along.
We have a great Promotional thread going on Bonanzle at this time. Montrose, a fellow Bona member is doing the promotion. He's great. There's been over 2,700 views last time I checked. He works hard to keep it going and keep us all informed. It will end on Saturday, the 26th.
I haven't sold anything yet, but I hope others have. I'm sure they have.
Here's the link to the posting.
http://www.bonanzle.com/forums/8/topics/74741?page=7
I'd like to ask all artists and crafters who read my Blog to come on over and join in. You can post the link to your booth and get lots of visits and if you're luck, a few sales.
What else can I talk about- Well, I'm kinda excited about a trip to the mountains with my sweet sister, Alice, that we have planned. I think we might be going sometime around the end of the month. If we go I will write about it.
We want to see all the pretty Fall foliage. It's so beautiful up there during that time of the year. We stop at all the Antique Mall we pass on the trip up there and find a few more when we get there. We both love old things. She's likes the "high end" stuff and I like the "junk" -but you can see both in some of the places where we stop.
Can you believe- I spent good money on some mouth pieces that are on old horse harnesses- Now that's "junk" and I bought all I could find. They weren't cheap either. I use things like that on my bird houses- so it was a treasure to me. I have lots of "junk" treasures.
I can't believe it's just 9:45.
Did anyone see Americas got Talent last noct. I was tickled to death when the country guy from Kentucky won that million dollars. I think his name was Jason Skinnerd. He was just so sweet and a country boy through and through. He needed that million dollars and I'm glad he won. I sure was rooting for him. Now he can give his family a better life- if money can buy a better life.
I don't think money is what make a better life myself- as long as I've got enough to live on, with just a little extra-I'm happy. It would probably just be another complication for me if I had it.
When you have a nice home, with a loving family, good friends and plenty to eat, who could ask for more. I have all those things and "life is good".
Bettye

I'm up to my knees in new things-

I sent all the Birdhouses Ike and I crafted from old barn wood last month to my nieces, she is going to take them to a big Crafts Fair at Reelfoot Lake in November and sell them for me. Ike and I had made 20. We are now doing more simpler ones to sell in our 35 mile yard sale held here each year at the end of Sept. We have 4 made for that.
I painted a rural summer scene on a old rust shovel yesterday. It turned out really nice. I plan to drill a hole and attach a real tree branch to look like a real tree and add ceramic leaves to it to give it extra touches of character. I will list it here in the blog when I get it completed.
I'm also doing a twig covered, old window frame. It would look great in a rustic country cabin or on a shed wall in the garden. Could actually be used inside or out. I am putting the twigs on with Ikes staple gun, so they are really secure.
I'm in the middle of laundry right now though-ugh! I hate house work. I want to get into my painting shed to create but sometimes you just "have to do- what you have to do"- know what I mean? Whether you want to or not.
So I better close and get to it.
Nancy, so good to see your friendly face on my blog and to have you as a follower.
You get busy and create one for yourself. I know you can do it if I can. Just follow the steps. Let me know when you get it up and running. Good luck.
Be productive- and be happy!
Life is good.
Bettye

I've been busy making unique Birdhouses

for the past few days with help from my sweet husband. I don't know what I did to deserve such a special person in my life.
We are making these Birdhouse unique by adding old collected items to them, such as Old rusty hoe, old rusty shovel, old aluminum funnels (2 of those- different styles) old horse harnesses and bridles, old ceramic electric insulators.
I will be listing them on Bonanle and Ecrater one day next week when I get the pictures made. I hope some of my friends stop by and see them. I will probably post them on Facebook also, it gets more traffic that this blog.
I wish there was a creative Birdhouse group I could join but I am not aware of one.
I've been helping Ike in the kennels this morning. He just sold one of our registered Dachshunds. I've also cleaned a flower bed. I'm sweaty and nasty right now. Need a bath but will be going back out, so no need for that yet. It's really hot here today and not raining for a change.
I got a order from eBay for 50 ceramic buttons, I need to get started on them Monday. Looks like I will not have as much free time this coming week as last.
Life is good and has been very productive.
Bettye