Hop On In!

 Since I'm feeling pretty caught up - except for wash which is going as I write - I thought we could head into the dining room today.

I still love my picture that grand daughter #5 gifted to me two years ago. She just disappeared into my craft room for a bit and came out with this cutie for me! I just love its little face.

So that is the dining room for this year. As those of you who read about my special birthday gift know, there is not much demanding my attention outside right now and I'm pretty well caught up inside also...at least on things I want to do. And so, somehow, these pretties came into my life.

Some came via Pinterest and others came from FB...and, yes, I know I said no more Easter but, just look at those images. I'm not sure exactly what I will do with them - if anything - but they are giving me lots to think about. I have my grandson's lacrosse game this afternoon so these will go on the back burner until tomorrow. I'll let you know. Stay safe and stay tuned.

Happy Birthday to Me!!

 It is finally over! I have once again managed to stretch my birthday into an almost birth month. This past weekend was the first time our entire gang could gather since my "real" birthday so, even though my local family did that day up special for me, this weekend was far beyond anything I could have ever wished for.

I have told you before that I have a fairly large home on almost 3/4 of an acre. I have lots of HUGE oak trees that are a blessing and a curse at the same time. Their shade is definitely welcome in our Florida sun but the amount of leaves that they drop on the yard and roof/gutters is astronomical! And, the guy that cuts my lawn doesn't ever vacuum they up. He just rides his mower so that they accumulate around the base of the trees and against my fence, I try to keep them away from the fence because they rot the slats but it is a never ending battle. And then, as all home owners know, there is always a to-do list waiting. I can do most of them but, as I get older, there are beginning to be a few that require more strength than I have. And, I am pretty stubborn and don't really like to ask for help but, this year I told everyone that all I really wanted for Christmas and my birthday was a day of labor. Of course, I was kind of disappointed when no one listened to that when I received presents for both occasions...until they told me that they would all be here this weekend as well so to get my list ready!

I don't think I can really relay in words just how much 16 sets of hands can accomplish on two beautiful spring days. You really need to be here to see it but, I think every leaf on my property was raked and bagged, the field behind my 308' of fence was cleared back about 10 ', trees were taken down, the roof and all gutters were cleaned, the drive and walk ways were pressure cleaned, my new rain chain was hung, my pergola was "beefed up", new mulch was spread in every garden and every bit of my privacy fence and gates were repaired or rebuilt...and, I'm probably forgetting other things. It is truly overwhelming what was accomplished and I am humbled by the amount of time and energy everyone was willing to give to me!

And, as if that wasn't gift enough, they arranged a blow out Chinese dinner (my favorite) for us followed by the cake celebration...and, in true Ravn fashion, they brought two cakes...my favorite coconut cake from Wright's Gourmet Deli in Tampa and then a traditional cake for everyone else. The joke is that I am not a good sharer but with all the love that was shown to me this weekend, I could have been convinced. Lol

Grand daughter #5 made sure my throne and crown were both appropriately adjusted.

And then the cake that lit the world was delivered...and they didn't even put on anywhere near the right amount of candles!

And, even though everyone had been working all day they were sweet enough to know how much pictures mean to Nana. Even though we could have done more, I love the ones we got! I have one other son-in-law that wasn't here for pictures but we'll get him next time.

Can't forget my favorite irises and tulips.

Here's to the next 75!

So, the celebrating is over and I am trying to get back into my normal routine. With so many of my chores done for me, I'm not sure what I will be up to next but I will definitely be back to show you more of Easter 2022. Stay safe and stay tuned.

Hop On In

 We are finally getting a bit more of our much needed rain today so I am inside and working on getting all of the guest rooms ready for the family this weekend. When everyone gathers, we not only need all of the guest rooms but we also need every couch and floor available in my fairly large home. The girls like to re-create when they were much younger-and smaller- and all always slept together first in the dormitory and then on the family room floor when their numbers grew too large. That is probably where they will land this time as well.

In any case, while I wait for sheets to get dry, I thought we could head into the kitchen.

I'm happy to be using these molds again. Many years ago I made beeswax shapes in them...but, for some reason, I don't have them anymore. I am kind of hoping that when I get a chance to head to HL I can grab some wax or soap and maybe make a few new things this year. We shall see. And, if not, I just like the way they look on display.

This is one of the easiest crafts I have ever done...and I think it is so cute. I found the cutting board with the ears at the Target $ Spot a few years ago and just painted on the "Rae Dunn" words.

And this is where this little cutie landed.

I put the new "crackle" bunny up on the top shelf . I'm thinking that when I get a few minutes I might try to put her on some kind of a pedestal so she stands a bit straighter but for now, she has found a home.

The new decoupaged bucket holds my canna lily.

And, that would be it for the kitchen except, as those of you who know me have already probably guessed, the crackle bunny just leaning in the corner was driving me crazy. And so, cleaning the guest rooms was put on hold while I did a quick fix-it job. I used a wood block that I already had but, because it was painted with a glossy black finish, it did not take well to the antique wax coat that I added so it would match the bunny...and, consequently, the crackle isn't great. But, that being said, because it is just the base, it isn't bothering me...for now. I have already thought that if it ever starts to bother me, I could add some green straw grass...we shall see. Lol

Of course, once I got to this point...and not before I got to this point, I started to think about the new height I had just given my bunny. And, it was at this point that I realized that it would no longer fit on the top shelf where I wanted it. Yes, I can move the shelves but, that is just too much work for such a short time so I settled on a compromise. It put it on the bottom shelf and moved the other bunnies up a level. We'll see how long this lasts.

Looking at it a little closer, I actually think I like it. Yay! I am SO not easy to live with. Ha-ha!

That is the kitchen for this year. I probably won't be back until my birthday bash is officially over...finally. And when I come back, I hope to have lots of pictures to share. I am going to try to get everyone to let me take lots of pictures this time because with the way the family is changing and moving on (graduations, new jobs, new schools, etc) getting us all in one place will only get harder and harder. (insert sob!) Stay safe and stay tuned.

Hippity Hoppity

 Our weather is absolutely beautiful. It actually feels like spring. I have all of my windows open and have been doing a lot of little things around the house while I wait for daughter #3 and her handyman to arrive. This coming weekend is my "whole family" birthday bash. Everyone is coming into town and besides helping me celebrate one last time, they are offering muscle and helping hands. They have told me to make a list of everything I would like done and we will see how much of it we can get accomplished. I think I can come up with more than enough to keep everyone busy. Lol 

The number one item on the list is the repair of my large gate and a number of posts on my privacy fence. We had this fence built about 35 years ago. It was a custom fence and it has "worn" well but, eventually wood is going to succumb to the elements and I think that is what is happening. The posts won't be too bad to replace but the large gate is going to be a doozy so my daughter decided to just bring over the handyman who works for her and see if he can't get it done more quickly and efficiently leaving us all free to tackle smaller projects. We shall see what he says. In the meantime, I have a bit of free time so I thought I would start our Easter 2022 tour. Come on along. The porch is still in need of some spring color via some new plants but I just haven't made it to the garden shop yet.

I decided to just use the tin tray with the bunny, flowers and glittered eggs again this year. I like it and it kind of sets the theme for the living room which is pretty much natural elements and green and purple with just a bit of the other Easter colors scattered throughout. Even in the spring, pastels are not my favorite.

Here is where the bunny candle stick arrangement ended up.

Many years ago I made and sold scherenscnitte designs at a local craft co-op. This bunny is one of only two Easter pictures I still have left.

I love the little felted bunny gifted to me by my cousin. The egg garland is actually the first beaded garland I made. The technique was a departure for me and it still isn't the favorite thing I've ever done but I like it here.

And here is where the decoupaged bunny sign landed. I love it here because it reminds me of the bunny in the cloche that I bought many, many years ago in a favorite decor shop.

So that is it for the living room...for now. I actually haven't really been out and about looking at what's new out there so, this might be subject to change if I ever do get out. I think I'll go see what else I might add to my to-do list...don't want to disappoint my willing labor. Lol Stay safe and stay tuned.