born imaginative.

Doll Sleeping Bags

Remember those Amish Dolls I made (here's the girl and here's the boy)?

Well, I decided to make them little sleeping bags. I just sort of started sewing and came up with this.

They're the perfect size.

And a perfect fit.

They will be baby girl's first birthday present.

I did it. I totally can completely did it. I haggled. Did you read that? *I* haggled!!!

Okay, what's the big deal is what you're thinking. Only my husband knows what a big deal this is. That's because I always make him do the haggling. It can and should be a regular part of antiquing. I know that and I love to get a deal. Only when I think that I might attempt to haggle, my heart rate increases, my palms become sweaty and I am afraid I'm going to pass out. I just can't do it. I mean...what if they say 'no' and get so angry that I suggested they lower their price that they get a machete and decide to decapitate me? Totally could happen. Which is why I make my husband haggle for me.

Only there was a major problem. Sweet girl was sleeping in the car. He couldn't go in with me. I was all alone...well, except my sweet little boy on my back.

It was an estate sale...you could wander through the barn, house and workshop, choosing what you like best to get a price quoted by the sellers. It's sort of odd, walking through a house and sifting through stuff that was someone's who just passed away. But that's besides the point. I went room to room in this 1800s house. Oh my, the stuff! I don't think previous habitats got rid of anything! Lots of old stuff/antiques.Plus the old house was fun just to see.

Onto the haggling story. Because, you know...*I* haggled. And I'm sure you're dying to hear the story.

Well, I made my selection. I went for a quote. $45 they said. (Insert beating heart, sweaty palms and quivery voice.) I busted out my cash and said "All I have is $23." And then I waited. (You see, that's the hard part about haggling. Typical me would ask for a deal and then talk them right out of giving me a deal. Best to be silent and pray in my head that they aren't going to turn crazy on me.) They said 'Well, the cost is $45". I repeat "All I have is $23". (Which totally wasn't a lie...that is all I had). They said I could make out a check. I told them I didn't have my checkbook. (Which was also totally true). Believe it or not, I just waited. But they weren't budging. (Oh goodness....I hope they're not planning on how they're going ballistic on me is what I was thinking.) I am not sure if they heard my heartbeat...but it was thumping louder than a frat boy's boom box. Finally, I offered "You can take away whatever you want from my pile, but the fact remains is that I only have $23". He took away my buttons (Which is fine, I wasn't married to the idea of having an extra jar of buttons anyway) and said "It's a deal".

I almost did a cartwheel. Until I remembered 1) I had a 2 1/2 year old strapped to my back, 2) That wouldn't be classy and 3) I can't even do a cartwheel.

But I did it, I got a deal. Woot woot! And I can't believe you read all that.

Aren't you dying to see what I got?

A definitley not antique 12 cup muffin tin.
14 wooden hangers (we're on our way to all wooden hangers...just about there!).
A maple syrup bucket.
3 blue and white antique dishes.
A blue butter crock (that's older than the hills and is likely worth more than $23 anyway).
A hand crank for tapping trees.
6 basket cozies...isn't that fun?
Another big mixing bowl (since I have been needing more since starting our little bakery out front).
Two more loaf pans (I've been looking for these for a bit so I can make 8 loaves of bread at a time.)

Given the resale value of most everything I bought is quite high, I got a great deal. We all know how I like a deal.

But the major question is...what do I like better? A deal? My awesome finds? Or that which is on my new find in the plate below?

I'll probably still freak next time I try to haggle...but at least I have one success. Tell me, how good are you at haggling?

Sweet Tidbits

Three recent tidbits from an important 2 1/2 year old.

1) It's a dream come true when there's any type of construction vehicle that passes his house. If they stop and do work in front of the house, nothing else can be done that day.

When they cut the engine for a break, a certain 2 1/2 year old might panic that the truck has broken down. No worries, he'll come up with a solution. He may retrieve his wooden tow truck and interrupt the workers with an "Excuse me, you need a tow truck? I got one!"

2) For the one chicken who always hides/gets stuck and we have to find, this 2 1/2 year old will become very, very serious about finding her.
He will definitely help. "I'm a good farmer, mama. Adri's a really really good farmer?"

Said chicken will likely get some 1:1 attention thenafter. Perhaps a firetruck ride? A ride in a John Deere tractor? Maybe just being lugged around. A very serious little guy will say: "I take good care of my chickens, mama."

3) If you need anything at all organized, this 2 1/2 year old will organize his way. None of the blocks pictured below have been dumped. Each has been carefully selected and organized in this manner. "It's a building, mama. A very good one for tractors."

This bit of randomness makes me smile. Hopefully you too.

Quilt 86

Quilt 86 2004 Lap Size.

Ahhh.....

Sometimes that which you don't plan becomes the perfect photo op. I had set out to take pictures of our just planted apple trees...

But that turned to this:

Which warmed my heart so...

And this is most definitely my new favorite picture.

And his smile is contagious.

And those cheeks are oh so kissable.

And just like that, I forgot what I had set out to do. I laid down next to them, enjoying the view.

Goodness, we had a marvelous time in the grass.

All of us, even our Kammie.

An afternoon well spent.

Happy weekend, all!

Gardening: Take 2.

Won't you join me in my gardening journey? I talked about getting started last week here.

Sooo much progress has been made in the last week.

I have never planted so much this early. I usually wait for the Memorial Day rule to start with the non cold hearty stuff. However, I checked our forecast for frost. None, nada, zip. No frost for 10 days. In the clear? I think so.

So, I sort of went crazy. Well, to those who know me, they'd just say it's another day in Jackie's life. But really, even by my standards, I went crazy. I planted all of this by myself or with 2 kids in tow. Just sayin', I'm mighty proud of myself.

Now that it's almost all planted, watching it grow is the very best part.

Okay, so what's in? Up there is sugar pumpkins. I planted them far away from everything else to prevent cross pollination. I only plant sugar pumpkins, as they're the type that are best for eating. Sure, we may carve a couple, but the rest I puree and freeze. I planted a bunch. If we're lucky, we just may have a pick your own pumpkin party in the fall. Wouldn't that be fun?

Okay, so what else is there? From Top left, clockwise: Butternut Squash and spaghetti squash are coming. Spaghetti squash is a great alternative to pasta. Kale...lots of kale. Hoping to use it for smoothies or to dehydrate and throw in soups. 12 eggplants that I started from seed and transplanted. 30 pepper plants that I also started from seed and transplanted. We haven't had a lot of luck with peppers here, but I talked to the local farmer from the farm stand and he gave me some fertilizing hints. Strawberries are coming-our friends mentioned that to get best production you shouldn't pick the first year. We're ignoring that rule and going to eat them anyway. Broccoli-30 plants I started from seed are in right now. I cannot believe how big they are. Broccoli is so easy to cut, blanch and freeze. Garlic-we'll likely eat the scrapes soon (and the lilacs are beautiful in the background). And peas in the middle. Also, we have some sunflowers, spinach, carrots and swiss chard up (not pictured).

And tomatoes...that I started from seed. They're really quite big! I planted 28 plants.

I wasn't going to do onions, but then I decided to last minute. I planted 170 bulbs. How's that for thinking I wasn't going to do any?!

In case you're following-we still haven't located the patch of asparagus on this property. But the blueberries that I thought weren't taking are looking better.

I still need to plant all those flats of basil I started from seed. And parsley. Plus some flowers I have started inside. I also am going to do heirloom raspberries, maybe tomorrow? And I want my husband to till up an area to grow some annual cut flowers.

I've planted and am waiting on summer squash, zucchini, cucumbers,corn, green and yellow beans, potatoes and the onions. Plus rosemary, oregano and cilantro. One of my all time summer faves is herbed cream cheese-my husband chops a bunch of herbs and mixes it with cream cheese. Spread that on your morning bagel-mmm!

We have a plethora of chives. Which is good, as our free ranged chickens at them all at our other house. Baked potato with fresh chives? Yes, please.

We have rhubarb a plenty-6 plants. Wow!

It looks like not much now, but in the ground, there's lots growing-or so I hope. It will be fun to see what it will be in a few weeks.

We had a little grown up playdate this week. I got together with a friend and we chopped rhubarb and strawberries to freeze for 8 different crisps/pies. Fun times!

The wildflowers are fun to find. Here's some violets.

And bluets.

And do you see we'll have a good chuck of our field that will be all daises?! SQUEE!

And a whole hedge of lilacs, on each side of our house. Imagine how our yard smells now.

There's this beautiful rock garden in front of our house. I've spent about 4 hours cleaning it out thus far and only are about 1/2 way done. It's coming though.

It's all coming together, really. My dad reminds me that it will take years to get this farmhouse back to what it was. There's a lot of progress that's been made already. For that, I'm grateful.

Kangroo Applique Shirt (FREE Pattern)

I searched online to find a free applique for a kangaroo. Surely my child isn't the only one on the planet who loves kangaroos? Okay, so must be, as I found nada. So....I designed and made this: