WHAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON

                                                 Scarecrows              

                                                       Corn              

                                                 And more corn        
                      I've been busy sewing & finishing up a lot of goodies.                  
                       Still have snowmen & Santas to do.  Keeping hands busy.                

DITTY BAG SWAP

I was Marti of Marti's Musings  partner in the Ditty Bag swap.  I love what she sent --- a ditty bag with a doll in its pocket, a neat bee, a metal E and a wonderful vintage kitchen tool.  Thank you so much Marti and thanks to Amy of Bumble Bee Lane for organizing the swap.

CHRISTMAS IN JULY SWAP

OH!!!!  Was I spoiled by my swap partner, Linda of The Olde Homestead.    Just look and see what she made -----  a ditty bag with Santa printed in it, a cute snowman, a tree on a bobbin and great grubby candles.  But when I got to the bottom of the box, I  gasped,  what a wonderful surprise.  There was a Santa and his reindeer with an electric candle, greens and other goodies.  I absolutely love it.  Thank you so much Linda.  A thank you also to Wendy of Ravenwood Whimzies for organizing the swap.

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CANDLEWRAP SWAP & TEXTILE SWAP GOODIES

 What wonderful goodies I received from Dorothy of Paws for Stitching in the Candlewrap Swap.  She made me this great plaid candlewrap with a crow on it and a matching Dresden Plate candlemat.  Dorothy also sent fantastic smelling tarts and a piece of red check fabric which I'll use for an Annie dress.Thank you Dorothy for the goodies and to Kendra for setting up the swap.

Kendra of The Stone House Prims sent me such beautiful things: a wool flowered penny mat. a square patched patriotic mat. a handstitched tea towel and a prim angel tuck.  Thank you so much, Kendra. and a thank you to Tammy of A Primitive Place for doing the swap.

PICTURES OF MY TRIP TO NEW ORLEANS

 This post has a lot of pictures.  So many interesting subjects.  The above bar was in  the news during Katrina.  It stayed open.

 Beautiful balcony gardens.

 House with walled entrance.

Horse drawn carriages go through the French Quarter with tourists.

 Interesting Houses with doors leading to courtyards.

 Preservation Hall is down the street on the left.

 More garden balconies.

 The Blue Dog Gallery.  Very interesting.

 Another interesting house in the French Quarter.  Many different styles - Spanish, French & Victorian.

 A courtyard thru open street doors.

 More garden balconies.

 Open courtyard doors.

 Jackson Square with an Art Show.

 Old kitchen off a courtyard across from Jackson Square.

 Ursline Convent where the Casket Girls from France stayed.  Below is the courtyard off the kitchen.

The Big Muddy - the Mighty Mississippi.

Will post more pictures from my trip.

GOODIES FROM SWEET LIBERTY SWAP

My swap partner for the Sweet Liberty Swap was Michelle at Simple Pleasures.  So many goodies - a red,white & blue fabric swag -  a towel with Be Happy hand stitched on it  -  a wonderful wood bowl full of waxed bowl fillers - a heart Liberty pillow - a ceramic salt shaker that matches my kitchen dishes - a cute penny paper clip & pouch - a great penny/sheep  candlemat.  I love everything.  Can't decide what I like best.

 A special surprise were goodies for my furbaby buddy Jack.  He's wearing his new scarf and included in the ditty bag was a  doggy frame for his picture and a block with his name  and a paw print on it.  Jack and I thank you for thinking of him.

I love all the goodies, Michelle, especially the candlemat.   Thanks to Amy of Bumble Bee Lane for doing the swap and giving me Michelle for a partner.

VISIT TO BATON ROUGE

For the past week, I've been visiting my son, DIL and 22 month old grandson in their new home.  They were transferred here in March.  It's a lovely area and a beautiful new house in the French style.  My grandson is a very happy child, but misses his friends and stimulation of his daycare.  My DIL is't working yet & would like to do a home school daycare type program for him.  Does anyone have any info about this, books they have used, etc.?  I would appreciate it.  He had his first T2 incident the other day (we know about those, don't we!)  The library story hour doesn't restart until June.  We're taking him to a Mommy & Me gym glass tomorrow.  Thanks.

I walked around New Orleans for 3 hrs. last Sat.  It's quite a place.  I took lots of pictures that I will post after I get home.

Thanks again for any info.