~*Fathers*~

Hello Dear Friends! I hope you had an enjoyable weekend. Happy Father's Day (a little late) to all your Dads! Dads make the 'simple things' wonderful...

Tony and his Dad ~


My Dad ~


My step-Dad ~


My other FIL ~


I'm blessed... that is for sure!

Warm smiles to you,

Betty

~*Thank you kindly....*~

Hello my dear friends! I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all of you for your kindest thoughts and condolences. I've been so blessed to be touched by those near and far.... close to home and across the web. Many of you have posted comments here on my blog and sent me personal emails. I have read & treasured each one. Thank you. My family and I are doing well. We miss Dad immensely.... but we will be fine, we will see him again, and we will do our best to carry on. We will always hold him near to our hearts.... with lasting, loving memories.

We are home from Oklahoma. We hated to leave. It was so nice to see and share with family and friends. The ceremony was beautiful... and just as Dad would have wanted it to be ~ except for the tears that were shed by all. Dad wouldn't have wanted anyone to be sad.

Now that we are back home, it is time to get back in the swing of things. I'm planning on updating my Lemon Poppy Seeds shoppes with both finished goods and my patterns. I also have many things I'm thinking of listing on Ebay. I hope to get pictures and listing information finished by Sunday evening. I'll pop back here on my blog with an update.

Before I sign off on this post.... I HAVE to share another darling ditty with you! This if made by Chris of mysticalprimitives. She used one of my freebie patterns, ~*Halloween Cat*~.


Isn't it darling?! Thank you, Chris, for sharing!

Many warm smiles to you all...
Betty

~*Dad*~

We are not mourning a loss... we will celebrate a life. My Dad passed over night. He touched many lives during his lifetime and has left lasting, loveable memories. He had several family members with him, by his side for his last breath. He will be missed... but will always be loved.

I know my Dad will always be with me, watching over me. I know too that I will see him again.

I love you Dad.

~*Wishing You a Happy Monday*~

Hello my dear friends! I would like to wish you all a Happy Monday & a blessed week. Please find joy & love with family and friends... and treasure each moment.

We are home safely from our visit in Oklahoma. It was nice visit with Dad & see the love that surrounds him. We shared stories and smiles. We did treasure each moment..... and are wishing & praying for more. It was nice to see the family together.

Thank you for all your concerns, comments, and prayers. Dad has hope & trust in God. This cancer is not going to change that.

Many warm smiles to you....

Betty

~*Busy Wednesday*~

Hello Dear friends.... it has been one busy day. Last night I received a phone call with news that my Dad wants me to come for a visit. So today I've been trying to get everything together for the five hour drive. As you may know, he has lung cancer. He has been getting radiation treatments, but has not been improving. Last week the doctors gave him a feeding tube... but still no improvement. My darling hubby cannot get away from work ~ Trinity and I will be making the drive alone. Maybe a little sun~shiny smile from Trinity will brighten Dad's day.... and bring a little joy to my step Mom and Grandma too. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers on his behalf.... they are GREATLY appreciated.

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On a lighter note, I've been awarded ~ again.....



from Linda of Linda Pinda's Blog AND Kathy of Rugs of mine...in time. WOW! Thank you! I'm honored to have been given this award so many times.... guess I really am a prim crafter! Because I've been given and shared the award before.... I'm not going to send it along again. But thank you ever so kindly for thinking of me. It really touches my heart!

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I would also like to thank you all for you sweet comments on my blog! I don't reply to them.... well, because I haven't figured out how. But I do read each and everyone and LOVE that you are reading the little things I post!

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Also, over there on the side bar, I've added a link for you to click that goes right to all my freebie patterns. If you are looking for one, it should be there. I'm feeling it is time to offer another one & plan to do it soon. When we are back from Dad's, I'll work on putting one up.

Have a blessed weekend and many smiles to you....

Betty

~*Big Birthday Bash!*~

Hi Friends! Here are some fun family photos from our big August birthday bash yesterday. There was way too much food ~ but never too much fun! Between both sides of our family, there were five to celebrate for and with! We had a day full of food, presents, cake, go kart riding, ice cream, bike races, watermelon, laughs, pie, smiles, swimming and FOOD. Humm... did I say food more than once ~ and did I mention cake, pie, and ice cream?

My Mom turned a young 60 this month. Isn't she a beauty?


(from left to right ~ my sister Angie, Mom, and me)

Trinity turns 6 tomorrow. He was so tickled to be getting a new bike. The look on his face was priceless!! When he rides now... it is like the speed of light!



Of course he had to have a special Hotwheels cake. One thing I can't do is bake & decorate a cake. It is a good thing the grocery store girls can!



Yesterday was a lot of fun. Tomorrow will be fun too.... treats for Trinity's 1st grade class and he starts Cub Scouts too!

Thank you all for the thoughts, special words, and most importantly prayers for my Dad. He is continuing to get his treatments this week & I have all the faith in the world that he will be fine. Thank you!

On the crafting side of things. Today I have been trying to finish up my items for The Primitive Gathering. Both The Primitive Gathering and Lemon Poppy Seeds will be updating on September 1st. I've been punching & hooking every spare minute I can find.

Happy crafting! And, many smiles to you!!!!

Betty

~*Daddy*~

(this picture was taken a few years ago)

When I was little, and up through my high school years..... he was always referred to as Daddy. For some reason that changed and he bacame Dad. I'm not sure why.... guess it was just me getting older & thinking I was more mature to refer to him as Dad. It never, in a million years, would mean he meant any less to me ~ that goes without saying I suppose.

I remember long rides in his pickup, just the two of us.... driving back from Oklahoma after our weekend visits. (My parents divorced when I was only 5 & Dad was living there while my Mom & I lived in Kansas. I'm not hurt by the divorce as I was lucky to grow up with 4 remarkable parents!) On these rides Dad did everything he could to entertain his lil' girl. My favorite thing, that is a cherished memory still today.... was him singing On Top of Old Smoky. It would make me giggle nonstop....



Dad is still getting radiation for his tumor. He has 4 more treatments due. Then the doctors are going to consider surgery of the turmor, part of the lung or all of one lung. Time will tell. Please, if you will.... continue to pray for him. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

~*What a Delight!*~

Hello My Dear Friends! I just have to show this off! My buddy Beth made this from my freebie doodle, Independence Crow! She always does such delightful work. She needle punched the front of the pinkeep... but then did a lil' cross stitch on the back.....



She told me she does plan on listing it on Ebay soon.... but it isn't there yet. Her seller id is heartstringprimitives. Beth also has a very sweet blog.... and a couple of REALLY sweet kids.... The Twist Family.

It has been a weekend of playing catch up.... after our visit in Oklahoma. Dad is doing well, but still has a long road of healing ahead of him. Your continued prayers on his behalf are GREATLY appreciated. Thank you! I've started laundry and tried to clean the house (but just a little)... weeded the big flower bed in the front & have plans to bake a peach cobbler with some sweet peaches from my mother-in-law. YUMMY! My body is aching to create ~ so hopefully I can pull out a needle before the day is over. Oh... and it is getting to be time for another freebie doodle too.... watch for it in the next couple of days.... whatever it may be. ;)

Many warm smiles to you..... Betty

~*Did You Have a Wonderful Forth?*~

I'm sure hoping you did! We had a very full weekend ~ with lots of fun & sunshine & fireworks!

We had a GREAT time watching the annual parade held in my Mom's neighborhood. Apparently Trinity was too busy watching all the exciting passer~byes to smile for the camera! LOL



Oh, and did you hear? There is a new presidential candidate in the running! It is none other than my beautiful niece Emma! She would appreciate your vote! LOL



Trinity & I are headed to Oklahoma for a visit with my Dad (my beloved hubby has to work). Dad begins radiation today. I've got plans to take some cross stitch projects with me, but will be enjoying the visit with family. There is always lots to see & do on the mountain. My camera will be at hand & I'll post up some pics when we return.

Many warm & sunny smiles your way!

Betty

~* The Apple Tree*~

The Apple Tree

Way up high in the apple tree,
Four little apples hung over me.
I shook the tree as hard as I could.
Down came the apples and mmmmm!
Were they good!

Way up high in the apple tree,
Three little apples hung over me.
I shook the tree as hard as I could.
Down came the apples and mmmmm!
Were they good!

Way up high in the apple tree,
Two little apples hung over me.
I shook the tree as hard as I could.
Down came the apples and mmmmm!
Were they good!

Way up high in the apple tree,
One little apple hung over me.
I shook the tree as hard as I could.
Down came the apple and mmmmm!
Was it good!



Trinity sang this song a few years ago during a preschool 'concert'. I always thought it was so cute! Maybe if we sing to our tree..... it will be saved. Some plants seem to like the special attention. A few weeks ago, a storm broke one of the two large branches on the tree. This sickly little tree is FULL of apples! Tony is trying to save the apples...... he is really wanting some pie. He propped up the broken limb with some other broken branches from the yard. He also noticed that the other big branch of the tree is starting to split. The tree was already on the not-so-good list last year...... the bird house has been tacked on to a limb that was cut years ago.

See all the apples!



Walking around the yard tonight, I spied some other delights!

Would anyone like to stop by to make some grape jelly? We will have PLENTY of grapes for that!!



This was a big surprise! I didn't see this tree last year.... or it didn't produce any fruit. After taking the photo.... I stained my fingers & had a tasty little treat!



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Crafting update...... I've been working FUN (not hard... because it is too much fun!) on some needle punches. One is listed now on Ebay.... another should be listed tomorrow evening.... but mostly, The Primitive Gathering and Lemon Poppy Seeds will be updating on the 1st ~ I plan to have many new works to offer! There MIGHT even be a new needle punch pattern offering. ;)

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Thank you for your continued prayers for my Dad. His biopsy results came back. It is not looking good.... but the doctors are doing whatever they can to make him well and ease his pain. He will be having surgery in the next week or so (the date has not been set). My Dad is so very brave & strong willed. It goes without saying.... I love him dearly. I know though.... it is very important to share the words with those that mean the most to us.

My warm smiles to each of you..... Betty

~*Could It Really Be?*~

Could it really be? Is it really here?



Have I been sleeping that long?



Oh my goodness!



~*SUMMER IS HERE!*~

Hello to you... my sweet friends! I'm wishing you all a Sunny~Shiny Summer! :)

Yesterday was another day of rain here. Today the sun is shining and there is water in the foot~tub if I need to sprinkle a few plants later.



Days of late, I have been trying to get my 'creative' focus going. With everything that has been going on, it has been hard to catch the groove. So.... I decided to keep it....



Although, looking at the work~zone in our living room it might not appear as such....



You see.... I have out~grown my space in the spare room and haven't even started on the inside of the lil' house. Oh well.... we aren't expecting company..... even if some arrives they know how I am. LOL

I decided to take a little break from stitching. I started hooking a rug, but decided I needed a different background color. After trying to dye some myself & not getting what I wanted.... an order was placed. So, my punch needle has been dusted off. In two days, I have 4 punches almost finished! YIPPEE! One will be (if plans go as written) listed on Ebay Sunday night for the PRHG 'Hot Fun In The Summertime Launch' on Ebay.

If you notice, I have two punches on my frame at one time. When I finish my punching off (into a pinkeep, framed, or whatever) I always cut away and turn under the excess weaver's cloth. I really don't like the 'white' of the cloth. Yes, there are other cloth colors available.... but I really like to make my pieces into mini-rugs. Anyway, my frame is large enough to let me work on two at a time. This is GREAT when I am in the GROOVE! I can work with the colors on both pieces as I go. It speeds up the process some.

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I would like to express my dearest THANKS to all of you for your thoughts & prayers. My Dad did finally have his surgery yesterday (after several reschedules). We are waiting on the biopsy results, but he is feeling better & ready to get back to gardening. He was in good spirits when I spoke with him last night.

Many sunny smiles to you!

Betty

~*Sunny Father's Day Sunday!*~

Hello Friends & Folks! I do hope you are all enjoying Father's Day in the sun with your beloved families. My Dad didn't have surgery last week as planned. The hospital had to reschedule for more life~threatening patients. Dad is feeling better but getting short of breath very quickly. Thank you for all your thoughts & prayers on his behalf. It is very much appreciated.

For Tony.... 'cause he is such a GREAT Dad.... I made him some chocolate chip cookies & have a chicken bake in the oven now. He would much rather have a home-baked meal than eat out.

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I thought I would show some recent garden photos. Lately I have been so very busy that the crabgrass has been sneaking in everywhere.... so please ignore that if you see it ;) ....

The previous owner made two planters in the backyard from old feed bins..... it was easier to keep them planted than remove them.



They really are easy to plant up. Not much bending & kneeling involved.



Trinity is excited about the growing lily pads.... and says he can't wait to see a frog hop across the pond.



Tony has the porch almost finished on the lil' house. He built me a small bed in the front of it. There is a climbing rose bush, with yellow blooms, on each side. I can't wait to see them grow up the posts! Between the roses are my herbs and the pepper plants my Dad gave us last weekend. I'll post more photos as they continue to grow.... hopefully grow anyway.



Every 'olde tyme' garden MUST have a flowerBED! I started the Morning Glories by seed. They should be blooming soon.



The landscaping in the front of the house is doing very well. I'm HAPPY to have almost all the crabgrass weeded out of this garden.... and that nothing has died.



The daisies are lookin' really great!



I started hooking a rug today too. It feels GREAT to be doing something creative. I'll keep ya posted on it.

Many smiles,

Betty