Not in Texas

 I was able to spend a little over a week in Colorado in June. It was great to get away from the South Texas humidity. I definitely took awhile to acclimate from sea level to the mountains. We had a great time sightseeing, hiking, taking ATV trails, cooking, sitting around the fire pit and playing dominoes. The above photo is from within an old mine. 

 We made a short climb to "Bear Caves". It was kind of scary for us flat land people!

 It was so windy up on this mountain top. The view was magnificent. 

We also found quite a bit of snow still in the mountains. We had to stop and play in it often. We almost never get snow in our neck of the woods. There were lots of snowball fights and cold hands.
Blessings,
Lorilee

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

Three Little Kitties!

The three youngest kitties are having supper. Starting on the left- Maisy, Whiskey, and Scoundrel.  Hmm,  Scoundrel was as tiny as Maisy just a few months ago.

Maisy and Whiskey really like to play together. They are great entertainment! They also nap together and groom each other. So sweet!

Y'all come back!
Lorilee

Halloween centerpiece and a busy weekend

 I thought I would share this year's Halloween table decor. It is similar to last years.

 I am so excited that we just had a cool front blow through here in South Texas.

I have a busy weekend. Stars and Stripes Cloggers are dancing at the Calhoun County Fair this evening. My oldest is turning 28. Of course there is laundry, house cleaning, and yard work as usual. I have a light fixture that needs replacing, and I am hoping to pull my camper out to the ranch next weekend.

Kitty Rescue!

I am definitely on my way to becoming a crazy cat lady! I blame my son! He keeps finding kitties that need rescuing. This is Whiskey. He rode 30 miles under the hood of a car. The young lady that owned the car is named Whiskey. Thus the kitty is now called Whiskey. He is very easy going, calm and quiet.

This is Maisy. She was crying loudly in the bushes of a Jack-in-a-Box drive through. Of course, my son had to bring her home. She has a scratch on her face above her eye. It doesn't show in the photo. (These photos are from my smartphone, and unedited. sorry) She is more of a go-getter than Whiskey. Whiskey and Maisy love to sleep and play together. I wish I could say that for the rest of my cats! They usually growl and hiss at each other! The kitty total is now six.
Y'all come back,
Lorilee

DREAM banner

I thought I would share one of my latest banners. I am hooked on banners! I love them everywhere.
I am swamped with school. After a day at work and then errands and chores at home, I haven't had much spare time for crafting. sniff sniff. My clogging group also performed with the Kolache Kloggers at the Hallettsville Kolache Festival. Hopefully, I can share some of the photos that my friend, Martha shared on Facebook! We took turns with the Kolache Kloggers and danced for an hour. It was also hot and humid. I was soaked with sweat in no time at all, but it was still so much fun!
Y'all come back,
Lorilee

New chicken!

My SIL saw this chicken at her church's rummage sale and thought of me. She knows me well. I love it!
Totally off the subject, we have been back at school for 3 weeks now. My teaching assistant and I have 24 pre-kindergarteners in our room. We are exhausted. Our campus opens at 7:00 a.m. We dismiss at 3:15 with and teachers must stay until 3:45. (can be as late as 5:30 on faculty meeting days.) Pre-kindergarten has adopted a new curriculum so I am staying until 5 most days to work on lesson plans. Often with errands or other after school business, I don't get home until 6 or 7. I am wishing for a long weekend to take the camper somewhere. Sadly, there are none for quite awhile. I was so tired that I didn't even make it to our local Master Gardener plant sale this morning!
Y'all come back, 
Lorilee

Clogging at the Port Lavaca Flip Flop Festival

 I am a member of The Stars and Stripes Cloggers. We joined our "sister" group the Kolache Kloggers and performed at the Port Lavaca Flip Flop Festival on Labor Day weekend.  We had a wonderful time clogging and visiting the booths.

Stars and Stripes performed some songs, Kolache Kloggers performed some songs, and we performed some together.

 This was a move from "All Shook Up".

 And "Rosine".

 My niece, nicknamed Bug, started clogging in June. She already has two performances to brag about. (along with going to State in swimming.)

 We are all dancing "You Can't Take the Texas Out of Me" here.

 Here we are all together. Kolache Kloggers are from Halletsville, Texas, famous for its Kolache Festival and Fiddlers Frolic. We will all be performing at the Kolache Festival at the end of September. Both groups provide free clogging lessons! The Kolache Kloggers are Lexi, Marla, Jayde and Kassie (director)

 Stars and Strips-Bug, Me, Susan (director), Martha and Skyeleigh.

Y'all come back!
Lorilee

Cat Poses!

We have now been in school for 2 weeks. I am exhausted and have a scratchy throat. Not unusual for the beginning of school! Finding time to blog isn't easy for me this time of the year. I thought I'd share some "portraits" of Rascal, my bottle-fed rescue kitty. 

When he decides he wants attention, there is no telling him not now! He is extremely insistent. 

I think he likes having his picture taken!
Y'all come back,
Lorilee

Feed bags to tote bags

I have joined the feed bag bandwagon! I have made more than just these three bags. These are the only ones that I took the time to photograph.  I love using things I get for free to create new things. 

They are tough and washable. I scrubbed them with dish detergent and the water hose before sewing them! 

The last time I was in TSC, I noticed a pretty fish feed sack! I don't feed fish, but my Dad does. I'll have to request that he use that brand!
Y'all come back,
Lorilee

Mom's needlework

My Mom was always busy. Besides gardening, cooking and baking, she also did various types of needlework, sewing, and crocheting. I recently did some re-decorating and hung some of her needlework in my dining area. 

I am trying to follow in her footsteps and hone my embroidery, sewing and crocheting skills along with gardening, cooking and baking!

She was my best friend. She has been gone 15 years now. I still miss her.

Y'all come back,
Lorilee