How did your week go?

So, how did the week go for everyone? I hope that you all had a great week, and got everything done that you wanted to!

This was a busy week for me....I finally got my soap made...still some to go, that will happen today, but thought I would show you some of the last batch I made...Blackberry Pie with Oatmeal...each weighs between 4.5oz and 5oz...I was really pleased at the color when I was done....wasn't sure how it would go! And they smell so good!!! Of course, these batches won't be ready until the middle of November or so...but, I will have some up today that will be good to go today!

Here is the soap in my small mold....

And these are a few of the bars...

Today I will be making some Mocha Latte Soap, Brown Sugar and Molasses (those are good for today....) Honey Oatmeal, Vanilla Oatmeal......whatever I can get to! I LOVE making soap...almost as much as my candles...which I will be doing soon....look for some Gift Baskets with Soaps, Matching Candles, and Powders.....hopefully they will get up in November in time for Christmas!

Speaking of Christmas....it is almost Halloween!! I simply cannot believe that! I am still in the Fall mode...but I had better get it together and head for the Winter mode!! Is everyone still in Fall? Or have you moved on?

I spent an awesome morning yesterday! So did Max....Brandi called and we spent quite a bit of the morning (afternoon for her!), on the webcam, and got to catch up on things...and to make it all the better? Our Alex was there too...and we got to see her and visit with her! I even got to see her take a nap.....she fell alseep on Mama's lap, and slept through part of it...hmmm....I am wondering....do you think that is a comment on her Grandma Jan's and PawPaws conversation? Surely not!!!! ;) Her Daddy was gone for the weekend on a fishing trip, so we missed him...but what a wonderful way to spend time! We are so far away from them...and I went to sleep last night, smiling about our visit and getting to see Alex!

Well, I see that Brenda survived the Craft Sale! I am going to get on the phone in a bit and see how she did...drove me nuts not being able to go see what she had done!

I suppose that I need to get up and get some soap started! I am not going to bed until I have a batch or two made......and I am ready for bed now by 10:00....so I need to get it together! Hope that everyone had a great week, and an even better weekend!

We were gifted with an Award!

Life has been busy here, and I was off the blog for a few days...and guess what I found when I popped on last night!! An Award!!

Sue, at Oodlekadoodle has gifted us with the Fabulous Fall Decor Award! We are so happy!! Thanks, Sue! You always brighten our day!

Now, one of the rules is that we need to pass this great award to six of our favorites.....which is hard, as there are so many! But, as Brenda is busy, it fell to me...and this is who I nominate!

Karen of My Colonial Home

Lisa of Skunk Hollow Country Store

Tanya of Tanya's Prim Thyme Desgns

Mary of Gettysburg Homestead

Tonya of Back Porch Pickins'

Karin of CountryFolk Keepsakes

So, what has been going on with us? Not much in the Oregon place....I have made some more soap, and candles and have some about ready to list...I have been staring at that YoYo table mat I started.......and staring, and staring....and I guess I will just put it away for a bit....it is not suiting me....and for the life of me, I don't know why!

Brenda is busy, busy, busy...getting ready for the craft show this weekend. She has an amazing bunch of items to sell....she just amazes me at how fast she can put things together! I keep telling her..."take pictures", and she assures me that she will, so maybe we will have some to post the first of the week!

Mom and Dad Pike showed up today....what a great surprise! And Mom made the distance from the car, up the stairs, and into the house with no walker, nor a cane. Just Dad's arm! She is doing so good! We got all caught up on the family.....brother Craig is home from SD and in CA. Lance is home for a bit, though I think he is going to Klamath Falls for a few days of work. My family doesn't seem to spend much time at home...!!

Mom F. is busy whipping out the quilt....she is over half-done, and I do believe she is making plans to start another one....!!

I have been making my Christmas list...originally all the kids were getting gift certificates...well the big kids were, the little ones were getting presents...but since we didn't get back to GA and FL....they are getting REAL presents....all handcrafted...well, we do have a little guy...and a big guy...they might get store bought.....little guys are a bit harder to do for than the girls, and big guys....well, we'll see....Shawn, if you read this? Send me a list! Anna, you can send a list, but Grandma Jan already knows what you are getting!! Lauren, Alex and Kaitlyn....Grandma Jan knows what you are getting too....and since you aren't writing yet, (are you writing Lauren?), you have to trust us! Big kids? Already know what you are getting too...but if you have a list...!!

I cannot believe that Christmas is getting so close, so fast! Halloween is just around the corner, then time seems to fly!

Well, it is late, and I am beginning to spend more time correcting my spelling, than the actual typing...so off to bed I go! Hope everyone has a wonderful rest of the week!

What a Gorgeous Day!!!!

How is everyone today? I thought that I would just get blogging...my goal is EVERY DAY!! We'll just see how that goes! I have been surfing around today, and did some window shopping....wow! There is some awesome stuff out there! I'm really sorry that I decided to behave myself and not do any shopping this month. I actually have been fairly good at that...but, I am starting to itch and twitch.......going to have to shop soon!

We went up the river this afternoon for dinner, and I got some photos of the colors. They are not nearly as beautiful as what all you lucky people back East have....the West Coast just doesn't turn as well as the East....but, it is pretty, and once we have some freezing mornings, they will get brighter. So this is what we saw as we headed out:

And this:

And to top that off...I didn't have to cook dinner!!!!

Brenda sent me a couple photos that she had taken, and I thought I would add them here too...they are good ones!
Isn't Alaska gorgeous? Max and I really wanted to get up there to visit before they left....but it doesn't look like that will happen. Every picture that she has taken is so beautiful!

Well, I had better close this..it is late, and I have to finish making the bed....clean fleece sheets...it is getting cold here at night! Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Good Afternoon, All!!

Good afternoon all!!! It has been a while since one of us Blogged...and we are feeling badly about that! But, truly, we have been busy!!

I don't know if you noticed, but there are two banners above now.....Starlight Prims and Olde Harbor Saltbox......Brenda and I opened sister sites....with her in AK, and me in OR, there was always the worry about postage! We wanted to save everyone postage, but it was a worry that we might not be able to. We will still be blogging together though...so you can keep up with us here!

Brenda is getting ready for a Craft Sale at Ft. Wainwright in AK, that will be next weekend. She has been busy! So, if you are close to Ft. Wainwright, pop in and see her goodies!

I have been busy with the new site...mine is the Starlight Prims. It is a bit empty right now, but hopefully, I will be adding things regularly! I have just finished some soap...that will hit the site the first of November...with more to follow. I will also have the powder listed...just have to print off the labels. Ornies are almost done too, for the Christmas Season, so check in regularly and see what we both have!

I have also opened a 100 Top Site list, which will be FUN! I can hardly wait to check out who all will sign up...I love checking out different sites..that might be why I don't always get much done in the day!


If you would like to sign up and advertise your site, here is the link: http://starlightprims.gotop100.com/ . Free advertising can't be beat!!


I have found several awesome sites....one of my favorites is: Skunk Hollow Country Store, which can be found here: http://www.skunkhollowcountrystore.com/ . Lisa also has Wymzee Art, which is here: http://www.wymzeeart.com/main.html . Some awesome goodies there!

Mom F. is still busy quilting.......as you can see from the photo she is just whipping those stitches in!

Mom P. is doing really well, thanks to all those who ask about her! I went with Dad and Mom on Tuesday to take her to her Dr. appt. in Eugene, and she just walked like she had never had a problem! We are so thankful!! Here is a photo from her "surprise" birthday gathering...

Fall is truly in the air here....it is my most favorite season, I think. On the way to Eugene on Tuesday, everything was bright and crisp....just can't help but make me feel good!

OH! Before I forget, we have also added a button for "Featured Artist", which needs to be changed today, now that I think of it! Last month it was Denia of handcrafted with love by Denia....this month....well, you'll just have to check....Brenda and I have both choses who we want....and I need to get busy with that! So, I will close for now, and get those changed over! Take care and have a wonderful day!!

Another Week gone...and what have I done?

Well, here it is, Saturday! And I am exhausted....but have no idea why? I am way behind in my Blog Readings, which I LOVE! It is so relaxing and fun to check in and see what all my favorites have been doing. That is on my MUST DO list for this weekend!

We have had a busy week or two here at home.....first, our Aidan, who is 2, had to be rushed to the hospital, and it was touchy for a bit...turns out he had a virus attack his tonsils, and his lymph nodes, so he spent several days in the hospital in Pensacola, but is home now, and is doing great. Good enough to say "hi grandma" and "I love you", and some other goodies, which I had a bit of a hard time translating! But, he is talking and playing!

My Mom, which as you know if you've read the earlier blogs, is doing great! I spent the afternoon with her while Dad went to town and shopped. She looks good, and we had a great visit. I even managed to get some needlefelting done! Only nailed my finger once, when I puncuated a statement....I have to use my hands less!

I also managed to get Mom F.'s quilt basted, thanks to some awesome friends, Suzanne, Marge and Pat, who gave up their Sunday afternoon to come and help! It is a big quilt, and took a while, but it was well worth it...I put it on the frame and Mom F. spent yesterday afternoon quilting! The photos above are of the quilt...the quilt was pieced by her Mom and Grandma...it is old fabric, and where it looks like folds, that is where I basted it for her, for some reason you can't see the basting really well...which is great, as I had a needle that wouldn't stitch in a straight line!

We also went to the Valley on Thursday to visit with friends before they head to AZ for the winter....(oh, I wish we were going!), and went out to Grandpa's Farm and shopped, brought some corn, squash, potatoes, onions and some peppers home. We had fresh corn for dinner last night...yummy!!! Tonight, more fresh corn on the cob, fried zucchini, and some melon....I can hardly wait!

I am busy typing and listening to this awesome music from 1963....if you have never tried this site, give it a try! I absolutely love it, and just bop some of my days away! It is:

http://www.tropicalglen.com/

All the Top 100 hits from 1950-1989....right now? It is Andy Williams, singing "Can't Get Used to Losing You".....I was 10.....and I thought he was SO CUTE!!! Had no idea he was my parent's age....LOL! And of course, there was Elvis, The Beach Boys, (and as a California Girl, I knew that they rocked!!), Ricky Nelson (long before he became Rick Nelson, and I was SURE that he was waiting for me to grow up, so we could get married....!) Ahhh, the fantasies of youth!

So, I have been drooling over all the pics of Linda's house (Behind My Red Door), and have decided that I want to look like that too, so to that end, I will be picking a corner, and redoing it, a bit at a time. I'll post the before and after photos as I go!

Well, I have to get busy....I have more plans for the website, and want to get them going! We will be doing a "Featured Artist" each month, which will be fun! And we will also be adding a "Yard Sale" page....Brenda and I both seem to have masses of stuff, patterns etc, that we haven't used, won't use and we need the room! We thought about Ebay, but decided that we would rather not do that.....it goes on the website! I am also going to be starting a "Topsite List". Once I get it going, and if you would like to be listed, check it out!

I'm off to have a cup of coffee, then get busy...the days have a way of getting away from me!

Good Saturday Morning!

Good Morning,
My husband is back. He flew in Thursday night. It is good to have him home. I have found that I need to get used to having another person around. We are heading out to Cantwell this morning so he can go Moose hunting. We will be staying in a cabin so we won't be completely roughing it. I am bringing a penny rug to work on. I signed up to do a craft show at Fort Wainwright next month so I am feeling nervous about having enough stuff made. We will be back on next Saturday. I will hopefully be able to put more primitive folk art on the website. I got busy here the last week trying to prepare for my husbands arrival. I hope everyone has a great weekend. I need to get busy or we won't be getting out of here today.

New Contest at Olde Colonial Peddler!

I love meeting new friends, and this last week, I have found several! And Shay, at Olde Colonial Peddler
is having her first Blog Giveaway! So, click on her name, and go and read her posts, then leave her a comment! What could be easier than that? AND, check out the great goodies! This is one very talented lady!! I signed up and I am hoping that I get lucky!!

Quick update on Mom....she is doing much better and may go home tomorrow! She was sitting up and had "been walked"....hmm.....kinda makes her sound like a dog...don't you think? :-) She is anxious to get home from the sounds of it...she described her lunch....and I totally understand the rush to go home!

Haven't talked to the kids, but heard that Gulf Breeze had had a tornado, so after checking, saw that they listed "tree damage". I left a message, quivery voice and all, so hopefully they will call Mom and let her hear their voice...that will make it all better!

And thankfully, it looks like Gustav was a smaller category hurricane, but still, has done major damage. I feel so badly for all those people that have been uprooted, and have no idea whether they will have a home to go home too. Prayers are still going out to them from here.

The big decision here at the moment is: "whats for dinner"? I was thinking cereal? After all, I am not hungry. However, the vote was taken and it is PIZZA from Papa Murphy's. Yippeee! I can probably find the strength to turn the oven on, and go get it. That will take ALL the energy that I have today. I am hoping that my people appreciate it!!! Have a great evening!