Crimson Passion Vine

I love my traditional white and purple passion vine. I was excited to add a crimson version to my garden. 

It has been blooming prolifically lately. I planted it on the fence outside my kitchen window, so I get to enjoy it while I am washing dishes.

Reinvented Centerpiece

 This is my current centerpiece. I loved the battery operated candles, so I bought another one while they were still 1/2 off at Hobby Lobby. As you can see, I re-used many of the items from my Christmas centerpiece. As I said, I bought the third candle and the boxwood ball. I already had the other items and pulled the moss off a tree! Hmm, I wish I had "lit" the candles for the now photo!

We actually had a sunny day on Sunday. I took advantage! I cut back my asparagus and weeded around it. It is cold, windy and wet again today. 
Y'all come back,
Lorilee

Tassel Addiction

I discovered tassels on the Nesters blog . I decided to make some for prizes for the Annual Cookie Exchange that I hose with my sister-in-law. These are my first two attempts. I was pleased and hooked!

After the Christmas rush and before school started again, I made two more. 

I have now added wire racks to my craft room for storing my ribbon. Sadly, I have not made any more tassels since school started. I have been busy crocheting and clogging in my spare time.
Y'all come back!
Lorilee

Tacky Sweater flashback and "fixing" kitties!

     Our faculty Christmas party was a "tacky sweater" party. I used a long knit shirt that I wore when I was pregnant with my youngest. He is now 18. I don't clean out my closet very often! I wore it with stirrup pants back then. I used eyelash fringe and pink rhinestones for the Christmas tree and a feather boa hair clip to top it off. I wish I had found pink rhinestone earrings  and a bracelet to go with it! 
     This weekend, I took the three newest kitties to be "fixed" at the vets office. I always hate doing this. I feel like a Mom leaving her child on the first day of school! Kitties were glad to be back home and are doing well. They are not holding it against me. 
Y'all come back,
Lorilee
 

A Bonfire, Kitty number 7 and a rat story.

I have been meaning to share this bonfire photo from the ranch this fall.  I love the way it turned out. 

 This is Oakley. He is kitty number seven. He loves to cuddle and eat! My son can't resist a kitten. 

 He was rescued by some of my son's friends who lived in an apartment. Since they didn't want to pay extra to have a cat, he needed a new home. 

Now for a rat story! It happened on the last morning before the Christmas holidays. First, I dropped the curling iron on myself. I ended up with a lovely burn down my chest. I finished getting dressed and headed to the kitchen to pack my lunch,  have breakfast, and get some ice. I noticed several kitties at the door wanting breakfast. I opened the door and let them in . I saw that Whiskey had something in his mouth. I left the door open and went to see what he had. He set it down and it moved. I screamed. LOUDLY! Whiskey ran out the door, and the rat ran under my china cabinet. I shouted for my son and then realized he was spending the night elsewhere. Scoundrel (another cat) was nearby, so I tried showing him where the rat was hiding. He wasn't interested. I knew I wasn't leaving for school with a rat in my house, so I called my teaching assistant to let her know what was going on. It turned out that Whiskey hadn't gone far. He was sitting on the patio table, so I brought him back in. I showed him the rat's hiding place. He dove under the china cabinet and came out with the rat. Thankfully, he took it back outside. I ate my cereal and packed my lunch with an ice pack on my burn. I was only 15 minutes late to school.
Y'all come back,
Lorilee

Flashback to the Halloween wreck.

More catching up! I haven't done very well at regular blogging. I had planned to head out to the Ranch for a night in the camper. Instead I stayed home because  I seem to have caught a cold.  I did get my Christmas stuff packed away and my Valentines stuff out. I also spent some time on Pinterest. I found a wreath that I want to make for spring/Easter. I also want to try some pom pom garlands! Oh wait, I also have a few tassel ideas as well. Too bad live is not all summers and weekends. Anyway, on the the "catching up" part of this post.
 On Halloween night, Brian was returning to work from his break when someone turned in front of him. He caught the back end of the other truck, lost his front tire, jumped a curb and ended up in the Discount Tire parking lot. He missed the building by about 10 feet.

This is his new set of used wheels. Yes he loves "lifted" trucks.  
Y'all come back,
Lorilee

Catching Up!

 Hmmm,  I've really neglected my blog! It was a super busy fall, full of camping, deer hunting, clogging, sewing, crocheting, embroidering and celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas. Another cat has also joined the family. (Brought home by my son, Brian) I hope to start backtracking a bit and getting this blog caught up! I guess that could be my New Year's Resolution. My brother helped me pull my camper out to the Ranch for deer season etc. It doesn't look level because of the ground.

 The cousins spent some time catching tilapia before the cold weather which will kill many of them.

 Willie is about to toss a casting net. You can see a tilapia jumping out of the water! They do this when food is tossed into the water.

Brian is throwing the casting net here. We had a successful deer season and have a freezer of meat which helps keep the grocery bill lower!
Y'all come back,
Lorilee