OH no say it isn't so !!!!!!!

Well you guessed it.... my desk top computer crashed.. I was there minding my own business when all of a sudden my desk top started making this strange sound and a screen that I did not recognize popped up and then the screen went blank. It said it can't load up because it missing part of the program... well that nasty virus got a hold of me after all.... so I am on my satellite Notebook computer.. it is very limited on my programs and resources.. so its going to be boring for my posts until I can get my desk top fixed hopefully I can get it in on my next days off. That will be next Monday...such a long time to wait to get it in there to start getting it fixed. At least I have my Notebook :)

Until then I will be lurking ;)

My Goals.. I have been working on them!! Yeah!!

Do you think working on my house one day and listing sewing patterns in my shops ... mean I can cross those two items off my wish list for self improvement????... Or does all the patterns have to be listed and the house projects have to be done.... if that is the case I might be doing my life changes into next year maybe two.. possible 3 or 4. Boy I forgot how long it takes to list items for sale in any of my shops. Took me all day to photograph and list the items I put up for sale on Sunday... then I got a darn virus on my computer when I took a break and went web surfing. It took me all day yesterday of loading virus protectors that didn't work to fix the problem. Finally I just deleted the Mozilla (Foxfire) program I was using. My computer seems to be working ok for now. Lets Keep our fingers crossed.

Everyone should be proud of me... I have started cooking myself home cooked meals ;) That was on my list of life style changes for this year....This is one of the things I am most proud of!!! I have made several crock pot meals.. since the first of the year... I have cooked food everyday and not micro food either. This is a real accomplishment for

me!! LOL I sort of forgot what home cooked meals tasted like. As I have said before its just so easy to just pop a micro meal in the micro and nuke the heck out of it. I know that has to be bad for me what with all the sodium they use in those darn things.. no wonder I am fat bloated and retain water!!! Hum maybe I am not over weight after all.. I might be just like the stay puff marshmallow man full of sweet stuffing :)

As some of you have noticed I have two new swap buttons up on my blog... these are swaps that I am hosting in Pins and Needles... I have decided to start holding my swaps in there. So if your interested in any of the swaps that I mention here

on blogger .. please run over and join in on the fun in Pins and Needles. I will always post a button on my side bar :) I will be following the rules set out in Pins for my swaps from now on. If your not a member then please join to participate. We would love to have you as a member. I am having a blast in there and would like to have others join in on the wonderful fun we're having ;) Yes... we always have Sat nite Chat there around 7 o'clock Central Time... since We have started chatting on Sat's I think I might have missed one.. I am usually there??? So drop on bye if you want to chat in real life with me :)

And as always Happy Stitching and No Ripping :)

The Opening in the Christmas Block Swap Is Filled Thank you for your help!!

If your like me your getting all you Holiday decorations down and put away. I know that once all of that is done you will be finding more time to sew.... speaking of...... All of you know life happens. Well life happened to Mary B. one of our block swappers and she unable to complete her swap do to a family illness. Mary chose to make snowmen... any of you interested in making a set of snowmen blocks to finish up that group??? Please send a post and let me know if your interested... I know Sherry... don't sign up for this one.. you are already thread poor on this swap already. LOL Snowmen can't be too hard to slap together... I am sure they would work up very fast :) I would do it but I am still working on my two sets. They are almost done..but not quit. I have to tell you a story about my blocks....

I woke up one day it was still sort of dark outside... I was taking the blocks with me to work to stitch all the parts down to the block.... well anyway they didn't smell as sweet and fresh as I wanted so I grabbed the bottle of Febreze and sprayed them heavily. I got this funny odor in my nose and looked down and you will never guess what I did..... go on try.......................................... ok your didn't guess ..........I will tell you.

For some unk reason I grabbed the flea spray out of the cabinet instead of the Febreze. Oh my goodness the blocks smelled awful. I had no time to wash them. So I took them to work smelling like flea spray. I brought them home and spread them out everywhere hoping the smell would dissipate.. no such luck after two weeks. So today I gave them a bath in Woolite... and then sprayed them... yes I double checked it was Febreze... So now I have wet blocks everywhere. I hope it didn't ruin them after washing ... If it ruined them......I will have to take the next two weeks making new blocks. That is my reason that I can't do another set of blocks. So help me out if your only making one set and would like to make another set... Please speak up to take this slot... Thanks ladies.

Ugh were are my Manners???

Please ladies lets keep Mary B's Husband in our thoughts and

prayers for good health and a quick recovery!

Christmas Photo

Here is the Pitty on Grandpas lap on Christmas day. She is looking out the windows of the glassed in porch at Grandpa's puppy Cameo :) Doesn't she look cute in her Holiday Dress :) Grandpa laughs and calls her his tail :) That's because the Big Daddy O helped me pay for her :) So he decided the part he wanted to own was the tail :) Typical Male!!!

I know these photos are late getting posted.. but I just wanted to show you the apron that I made for my Father for Christmas. If you remember right I made him a really nice pieced Jean Apron last summer. It turned out fantastic.... well I use to ask him when I would see him working in the shop how come your not wearing your apron that I made you??? His answer was.... its too hot for the summer. You made it very heavy... I love it don't get me wrong.. its just too hot for the summer. Keeping that in mind I made him this lovely apron for Christmas. Sorry I wasn't thinking I didn't get a full view of it. It is a butchers style apron. It was made reversible. I just used the opposite effects for pockets and such on the other side... turned out really cute and he loves it. Oh yes I did make it longer because he wanted it to cover his knees when he sat down ;) Of course he has it hiked up in this photo :)
Like a real nut I forgot to take a photo of the tote I made... maybe the next time I go I will remember to take my camera and snap a photo of it to share with you :)

Hello First Day of 2010 :)

I don't know about you but this is the first day for a change in my life. I have made myself some promises of things I am going to be doing differently this year. They are not resolutions like everyone calls them but they are going to be life changes for me :)

I have been some what of a slob in house work over the last couple of years. That is my main objective for all this change.. is to get my house back in order. I want to invite people over again. I want to enjoy my house and not hide out in the sewing room. My problem is....I don't like having anyone around when projects are half done.. and boy do I have a lot of those hanging around here at the OLEO Ranch. I really want to finish up some of the projects that I had in the works before my car wreck. I can no longer use that as an excuse for my life being put on hold. I am just wasting away my time... not really living my life to the fullest. Or at least as full as I can under my current health conditions.Yes your right I have made wonderful life lasting friendships on my blog.. and I have sewn wonderful Annie's, Aprons, other dolls, totes, quilt blocks, dog apparel and anything else I could think of..but that's all I have done... I have not worked on house projects. I was in the middle of doing my floors when the dastardly deed of the drunk driver running into me happened. I was going to sand all the floors in the house and paint them. I have bad allergies and carpet just sets me off in half hour sneezing fits. I pulled up the old carpet before the accident and that is where I am still at... Bad floors and no paint on them. The bad floors make everything look so dingy and dirty. I have been procrastinating on what color I want to use on my floors. Do I want it dark or do I want them light color floors. What do you girls think????
Well I have almost decided.... I am going to use the same color on the floors as I did on my kitchen cabinets. Its called mud puddle and its this really pretty sort of shimmery silver egg shell color. I love it and I know it will brighten up the house a lot. I am going to go back and repaint all the walls and ceilings. I am sort of tired of my buck skin color on the walls. I want to use a color that will make the house very bright. The buckskin sort of mutes the outside light. Yes I think... I will go back to white walls or beige in color. I want to take advantage of all the brightness that I can :) This color on the walls might be why my photos are off all the time the bleed from the paint color. Besides the white makes it look so clean and fresh :)

I am also going to toss out some of my old furniture and replace my couch with two chairs. If you live alone why take up all that space with a couch. Yes one chair will be a recliner :) I want to go with light color fabrics. I have this really cute Victorian sort of chair that is covered in the cutest yellow and white plaid. I know I will keep that chair. I also have a little chair that has been in my family since I was very young. Its this little barrel looking chair that spins and rocks. I am going to have that one upholstered to go with the yellow and white chair. I have this huge western fabric print chair that I will either toss or will have recovered. It depends on the cost factor on which choice I make. I know it will probably be cheaper to toss and purchase new. The western chair was an expensive chair and is of high quality.. it was built to last. Only I am tired of the western look in my house now. Its time for a change :) Since I live alone I want to do it my way now .. without the worry of someone else liking it!! I see so many cute things on the net that are bright and fun. That is how I want to do my house bright fun and full of character.
Next I am going to loose some weight if all I do is eat lettuce. I am sorry to say I will have to cut back on my Chocolate and Pepsi... :( I want to take weight off sensibly. I want to loose several pounds.. so that means.... I must pull out the cookbooks and start cooking again. I think?? I gained most of my weight after I started eating micro meals only. That was so easy to do when all I wanted to do was lay down all the time. Now its time to start back on my health kick. Yes ladies there are going to be changes in my life and I hope good ones this year. It all started off about one week before Christmas when I cut my hair. I wanted change, I needed change and I must have change!!!I also want to start doing a lot of de-stashing of my patterns buttons and laces.. all of these items are going to be going up on my Etsy, Ebay and blog sites for sale. If you see something please purchase so I can get it out of my house. My house is literally filled up with tubs full of patterns and lace and buttons and other fun vintage stuff. It's time to clean the house out. I am also going to be selling some other things that belong to me that I don't use either. I have nick knacks that I have had for years.. I am tired of looking at them. So its going to be a house cleaning event for the next year. So that means.. I might not be blogging and holding as many swaps as in the past. But these changes are going to be good for me ;) I just have to do this for me.. its time!!
LOL your saying what are you going to do with all that money you make from the sales?? I have a plan in mind... but its going to be expensive. I want to purchase a new sewing machine ;)
During the course of all this change...... I still want to play with you fun ladies.. I just have to do other stuff too.. not blog everyday like in the past. I hope I don't loose some of my followers.. but like some of you... I do have to make good changes in my life this year. I still want to hold a swap here and there but not as many as last year. I think I will hold it down to three swaps this year. That sounds like a good round number to me :) But I am always up for that PVT SWAP :)
WELL..... my sweet bloggy friends.. I also hope you have made some life changing choices this year too.. so you can live the fullest lives possible... who knows maybe there will be a new boyfriend in my future this year... because of all of my decisions for change. Its been more years than I can remember since I had a date :(
NEW YEAR NEW ATTITUDE!!!
Happy New Year Ladies :)

Have a wonderful and Safe New Year
Sweet Friends!!
Remember... Please don't drink and drive!!
Call a friend, take a taxi, take a bus, use the train, or even stay over ;)
See you next year :O)

Not to forget my Auzzie Friends :)

Santa is Dropping Packages Early ;)

Surprise Surprise there are packages under my little tree.. Thanks to several wonderful people.. I am having an awesome Christmas... My friend Nadine in Wa.. started out Mine and the Pitty's Holiday with an awesome package from Omaha Steaks. Yes.... I got steaks and Pitty got bones made with real meat :) Now all I need is that new George Forman Grill. My other one died last year. I guess you could say it got a TKO... technical knock out :) I had two really good looking rib eyes to cook.. my mouth was just watering thinking about those, and how yummy they would taste. I pan fried them and they were awful! I have been putting off purchasing a Forman because they have really went up in price.
Even the small ones are around 50 dollars now... OUCH!!!

I can really tell its getting close to Christmas.. You ask why???? Well because......

I started receiving gift boxes from everywhere..
They were mostly from family ;) I received a huge crate of fruit from my Aunt in FL. I have received two gift sets of Cheese and Summer Sausages from Hickory Farms, and a crate of my favorite Grape Apple Cider from my other Aunt in CA.
I've gotten the best surprise ever....
I received wrapped packages in the mail......
Yeah JUMPS UP AND DOWN!!!!
I have awesome Packages to open on Christmas Day!!!
You heard me right... I will wait until Christmas Day, with no peeking either!
I know it might be hard for some, to keep their little hands off the packages... but I don't touch until Christmas Day. Heck that's only 4 days away :)
LOL :O}}
I don't think I have the heart of the Grinch anymore.
I think it has swelled up with so much love that has been shared :)
I have to explain the photo to all of you :) The little dark blue package with Angels is a fabric gift bag made by Nadine from Tx. She has included several packages of Hot Cocoa :) I just love Cocoa.. yummy ;) Nadine is the sweet lady that I did the Christmas tote bag trade with off of Pins and Needles.
The fun blue penguin packages are for Me and the Pitty and they are from one of our great blogging friends.. Janet from FL. Both ladies have indicated that I am a giving, sharing and caring person.. LOL do I have them snowed :) I am just amazed that you ladies think so much of me.. I know I Cherish all of the great friends that I have been making through my blog. Lastly I received an email from Awtemnymf to keep and eye out.. something coming from Ca :) I have to say I think I have already had my Christmas with all of these wonderful gifts from such sweet people :) Having each of you...think enough of me to send well wishes and other special gifts really really make me very humble and want to strive to do better in the up coming year. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your sweet kindness ;) Yes it is so very very sweet to received all of these fun Packages. So my poor poor tree will not be bare Christmas day :) I am truly been blessed this year from all the awesome Blogging friends that I have made and I hope will continue to make through out the up coming years. I look forward to more Holiday fun between now and the end of this year. :) Once again.. thank you for your thoughtful gifts and thinking enough of me to call me a friend :)
I know I am really gushing and all weepy here.. but I am truly Bless..
THANK YOU!!

Annie's Holiday Day Out

Before this story begins.. I want to thank everyone for all of their wonderful comments.. for all my Holiday posts.. LOL I have been so busy I have forgotten who I have thanked and whom I haven't.. So here is a public Announcement..
" Thank you everyone for your wonderful fun comments..
and also sharing your holiday gifts of love with each of us"

I had to be gone from home a lot of hours yesterday.. first I had to work and then go to the families annual Christmas dinner and party :) I know the Pitty didn't get to go.. poor poor girl :( It's Step Monsters Family Holiday gathering for the entire family. So I didn't want to push my luck with my immediate family taking her to the gathering.... I have to tell you right off ... I love my step mom!!!!! I have called her step monster for years.. I was very very young when she came into my life.. and as any young child.. I had a chip on my shoulder having to behave more ;) She has taught me so many wonderful things in my life and I am very thankful for her presence in it :) I love her to pieces and I would be so heart broken if she wasn't able to remain a very big part in my life. I don't know what I would do without her.. she has been my rock on my dads side of the family.. There are only 4 of us in Dad's family. Dad, Step Monster, Bubba and Me... so you see she is a very important figure in my life. She is a person that I always strive to be. I can not think of any person that can beat her in grace, manners, and genuine love. She has other talents but that list is too long for this post right now ;).. I am most thankful for her gentle hand and guidance ;) She has tried to teach me to be a better human each day :)
I love you my Sweet Step Monster ;)

Now on with the story :)

Annie asked if she could go to work with me today and do that Mother... daughter at work thing today. I told her yes she could come along and then she could go to the Christmas party with me tonight. I had to keep looking around for Annie today at work. She was where I could see her one minute and the next she was gone. I kept finding her in the strangest places.. look here she is in the Patrol Station Christmas tree ;) Now how in the world did she get there the little Imp???

I finally have her corralled and now she wants to answer the phones.. and was that a mess..she got all tangled up in the phone cords and of course once again I had to come to her rescue! Besides she kept making phone calls to 911 and hanging up... then the dispatcher kept calling wanting to know if everything was ok.. well I had to have a talk with that little lady and tell her that is not the proper use for 911. She had to sit in time out after that!!

Yeah!!!!! Work is over and here we are at the party. See Annie hiding among all the White elephant gifts. The gift exchange is always fun. :) You get to pick a folded piece of paper with a number on it when your number is called you either get to steal a prior gift or pick one off the table. The gifts can be stolen twice then it has to remain with the third person. This gift exchange game gets very lively and fun :) Annie told me she wanted me to steal a package.. so we ended up with hammers and tools for the Ranch :) In fact its the tall package right behind her ;)

APP was thirsty so we stopped by the refreshment table and APP got??? Yes that's right a Pepsi :) Can you see all of those yummy looking sweet treats.. this photo was early.. this table was loaded with treats before we ate dinner ;) I got there pretty early, others were still coming ;)

Here's Annie in the kitchen.. she wanted to help but she was afraid she would get her pretty party dress messed up when it was time to wash the dishes ;) Annie did decide to stay out of the way .. it was like a stampede in that kitchen so much activity going on...

Awe isn't this sweet .....Annie getting a Christmas hug??

Ok Ladies.... do you see this naughty girl trying to steal APP's Chocolate fudge??? She is such a bad little Imp :) See that little white round looking thing in the middle of the plate??? Well they called it Reindeer Poop. Now let me tell you it was wonderful and yummy. Its very simple to make.. let me tell you how.. but I warn you its rich!!
How to make Reindeer Poop
Take one bag of Oreos.. crunch up in food processor..
Add in a package of Cream Cheese to crunched up cookies. Roll into balls and dip into white Chocolate bark...
Easy Peasy and every one will love them.. these poops were gone fast....
Santa couldn't put his finger beside his nose as quickly as they went!!!
Of course I have to lastly mention.... I love cut out sugar cookies and Step Monsters Sister makes the best ones that I have ever eaten.. they are to die for. On the sugar cookie scale 1-100 they are 1000 :) Yes they are that good... I was a lucky girl and she sent a couple of them home with me ;) Yeah!!!
Yes ladies I was a piggy wiggy..
I ate all of those tasty goodies on my plate..
Didn't your mom teach you to always clean your plate????

LOL I bet your getting tired of Annie Stories..
Christmas will be over soon.. and it will be back to what my normal is ;)
I am having fun playing along with Awtemnymf's Annie blog challenge :)

An Evening of Giving ;)

I had the worst day at work today... the girl that takes my place at night was late and the office was a mad house. I was ready to get out of that place and how!! But I stayed and worked until she arrived. I had some very important plans after work .. I didn't want to be late doing them either. I had to rush home and get the Pitty. I was going to be gone most of the night and I didn't want her home by herself :) Because I loves her so.. and I miss her when I am at work :( She had to stay home while Annie and I went shopping on Tuesday, because we went into shops the Pitty wasn't allowed in. Tisk tisk tisk they served food in some of them. I was concerned with leaving her in the Auto.. for fear someone would breakout the glass and steal her!! So she had to stay home where it was safe... but tonight she was allowed to go :) Thanks for asking why she wasn't along on the shopping trip with Annie ;) I am very careful with the safety of my little Princess :) I would hate for anything to happen to her.. I would just pine away.. as I am sure she would too!! If for some reason we lost each other!

Here is Pitty with Annie in her booster seat.. see Annie waving :) Pitty wasn't too sure about sharing her seat with Annie.. its like this is my seat and why are you in it??? Look at that sour look on Pitty's face. Pitty is trying to see what Annie was up too :) I was a good Mommie and moved Annie so the Pitty could set back and enjoy her ride in the auto :) Because we were going to be putting a lot of miles on the little farm truck.

LOoky LoOky at what Annie is doing :) Annie is spending the evening with me and the Pitty delivering turkeys to those that have fallen on hard times :) We drove all over town giving away 10 of these yummy turkeys. Everyone was very surprised and very happy to get them :) Pitty helped me pick out who would get the Turkeys. They were mostly given to retired people and persons that were laid off in the area this year. Sometimes just a small gift like this can be the best gift. I stopped by a friends house....that I know is having hard times. When I handed him the turkey he was almost in tears. I was so happy to be that one little person to provide that tad bit of help to make someone Else's Holiday Special ;) Yes... Ladies just another thing to make my 10 times too small of heart swell.... with the joy of the season. :)