A Day With Carson...

Our DIL Elizabeth had an in-service training day at school today so she and Chris asked if our grandson Carson could spend the day with us.  I of course said YES!

He arrived about 7:15 and I wasn't even dressed yet.  Wow, how did I ever get up so early to go to work all those years?

Carson likes a really structured environment so Hud and I really had to have our "A Game" on.  Yes, Hud was off today so I had reinforcements available.  (Always a good plan). 

As you can see by the picture above, we had an entire craft morning.  We first painted those little pumpkins on the table that I bought at Michaels.  Then we used scrapbooking stickers and crayons with cards and made Halloween cards for Carson's Great Nana in Tennessee and his Great Aunt Margaret Belle in Pennsylvania.  He then made a kite for his Dad which actually flew.  I was quite impressed.

I mentioned once about some of the stickers being two dimensional and most kids would have ignored that.  Not Carson.  He wanted to know what that was and why it was called that.  Oh, he's five by the way.  He can read and write and you can't spell anything in front of him cause he'll sound it out till he knows what you said.

He also helped me pick up little pine cones from our hemlock trees for he and his Mom to use for fall decorating.  I always bring them in and wash them with dish soap in a colander to be sure they are bug free.   

He and his Papa played Connect Four a bunch of times.  I even tried my luck at it.  He's really smart so you have to be on your toes.

Papa took us to Cracker Barrel for lunch and he wanted a toy from the gift shop.  He told us his Dad hadn't bought him a toy in a long time.  Of course, we laughed about that.   He ended up with a "Grabber".  It looked like something I needed, to get things up high from shelves.  I may need to go back for one.  You know I love me some Cracker Barrel.

I think this was him with his Harry Potter look on.  He and his Mom just read the first book.

Let me just say, he is the sweetest little guy.  We had a wonderful time and felt honored to keep him.  His parents don't share he or his sister a lot because they both feel like the kids should be with them because they work all day.  That's not a bad thing. 

By the way, Lauren had to go to her daycare and apparently she wanted to come to Nana's too.  Since I took a two hour nap after Carson left it was probably a good thing she went to school.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

A sign from T.J.Maxx...

I found this little sign at TJMaxx last week for $5.50.  It had the word "Laugh" on it and I forgot to take a picture of it, until I had already sanded off most of the word. 

As soon as I saw it, I knew where it would go. 

I'm going to hang it on the trim near the top of the doorway beside my chalkboard.

What will it say?  PANTRY.

This is such an inexpensive fall decorating fix-up.  I got these feathers with the pine cones on them a couple of years ago at a great little store here called Twigs.  Of course, I had to get three.  All I do is stick them in a fake plant arrangement.  They always remind me of my turkey hunting brother John who passed away about 3 1/2 years ago.

You could probably make them yourself if you can find the feathers and pine cones.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

What should I do???

I can't decide what to do with this $1.60 treasure I bought at Goodwill last week.  Obviously it's a tray but the previous owner must have had it hanging on the wall because they had a hook on the back.  It had some kind of fruit picture on this center section which I removed with water and a razor blade.

They had glued red felt to the back and I still have some of that to take off.  Again I just wet it down and used my trusty razor blade.

My question is what to do with it, after it's sanded down?  My original plan was to paint the outside and inside frame one color and then use blackboard paint in the center OR should I just paint it and leave it as a tray.  I have enough trays to serve individual tea trays to about 20 people.

Please help me decide.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

 

Dollar General Cloth Pumpkins...

I found these sweet little soft pumpkins at Dollar General for $1.00 each.  I couldn't have bought the fabric and made them for that.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

Hang it inside...

As I was cleaning yesterday, I decided I needed a little something at the end of the hallway.  Why not hang this arrangement from the doorway?

The container is from a Southern Living home show and the flowers from Michael's.

I'm having a lot of trouble with Typepad.  Is anyone else having a problem?

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

Decluttering...

What a mess!  It will be gone before noon though.  I'm in the process of decluttering the house.  I've hit every drawer, closet and cupboard.  I'm very ruthless.  We don't have an attic or a very big house, so I can't store a lot of extra stuff.  I guess Goodwill will be happy to see me today.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

Signs for the flower pots...

I made these to put in the pots by our front door.  Well actually, one is for me and the other two are for the grandchildrens houses. 

Mr. Bird Nest was helping Rick build a fence at his house yesterday so those kids already got theirs. 

I made one of these last year but I think Mr. Bird Nest tossed it out.  I'll be putting this one away myself this year.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen