Catching up

Sorry, my lovely peeps, I know that I have been M.I.A. for several months. And I won't give you a bunch of excuses.....well, maybe a couple. 

Mini me (on the right) and her best friend!

 Business has increased at the salon! Which means that I haven't been home a lot. I love what I do, so I'm not complaining. (But if you live in C-town, I'll warn you now....you'd better take real good care of your clients. I'm out to steal them all! I know that's not nice, but I have seen some really unhappy women come in the door this summer, and they now book their appts. with me). Just sayin'.....

View from the front porch

We'll jog back to, oh about, the end of July thru August. What?? You didn't know that we about floated away??!!  I haven't seen this much rain for a loooong time. This was the scene in front of my house several times!!

Yep! The street disappeared!

 Love that I didn't have to water the garden or the lawn though. And it made all the difference in the harvest!









 We have been bottling everything we could ever since! I have a wonderful friend who shared her orchard with us.  We have cherries in the freezer, peaches on the shelf and corn in the freezer from this good friend. We'll also be making applesauce soon!

Crab Apple and Choke Cherry Jelly

The Elderberries and Choke Cherries on the mountain were plentiful this year. And majorly juicy!!  We spent Labor Day foraging for these goodies.

my boys

bad pic of me!!

 They are now on the shelf in the form of jelly. Yummy!! We spent today making spaghetti sauce...with my BROTHER! I can't believe that he actually shared his secrets with me. Don't ask, he'll kill me if I share. I'm hoping one day to get the Rum Cake secrets!!!

We have spent some time camping and having picnics on our beloved mountain also.  Not as much as we'd like, but they don't pay us to take the entire summer off. (Idiots! Don't they understand the importance of relaxing???)

Mr. Elliot loving Jade.

Cook out with the fam!

I'm keeping this post as short as I can. I have also had to deal with some very rough stuff. Thus the other reason I haven't been blogging....

My Brother's Boots

 The man that these boots belong to has come home, well sort of. He was sent back to the USA in March??? with some serious injuries, etc. But has yet  to be home for good. They are treating him on a base in another state and trying to fix the mess they have made of him.  He's not the same man who left...... In fact, I'm to the point that I would give back everything he brought home, if I could relieve him of the physical pain and rid him of the nightmares. I just really want my brother back.

 It has been so hard to see someone younger than me walk with a cane, and deal with all of the crap that he has too.  I would really like to have the power to fix him and all of the others who came home damaged.
Do me a favor?? Don't approach a vet when you see him/her. Some of them are having a hard time with total strangers thanking them in person. But pray for them continually and get involved with an organization that helps to rehab these individuals. I would truly appreciate it.

Rose hips on the wild roses

I promise the next post will come sooner, and will contain some fabulous projects that I have been working on. Until then.....

Party on Peeps.
Connie

So, apparently while I've been playing on Polyvore, it was all being posted on here. Let me just say, "I am so sorry!! I had no idea."  It's all been deleted!

Whew, but while I've been gone, playing, I discovered that there was an actual name for some of the things that I love............STEAMPUNK! I about passed out! Who knew that there were more than just a couple of us in the world??

Steampunk

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Necklace

Necklace

Steampunk Love

Steampunk Love

Steampunk Love

So my SIL and I have been going nuts creating things and finding the patterns for some of them. When I have one worth a picture I'll post it.  In the mean time, I'll share some of my favs with you that others have created.

Yes, my mother thinks it's strange. And my husband thinks that I've really lost it this time. But you have to admit just a little love for Steampunk.

Party on Peeps!
Connie

Working Hard!

Haven't been posting much, but I have been keeping up with all of you. Late at night mind you, but I am still keeping track of you. 

I have let two new men into my life and they are kicking my fanny, literally! Yes the hubs is aware of them and he's not jealous at all. In fact, he's has welcomed them with open arms! Crazy huh??

 Let me introduce you to them......

Shaun T

Bob  Harper

 They have been with me since before Thanksgiving and will probably be here for quite a while. I won't lie, there are some mornings I don't want them to talk to me, much less make me move like that. But I have dropped one size already and I'm excited for more to leave.

It's exciting to see and feel the changes. I have more energy and the winter blues are not as bad this year. Must keep going....Jillian has joined the group this week!!

Jillian Michaels

What slave drivers!!! Who'd have thunk they'd be my new besties?


Keepin the blues away and partin' on!
Connie

Jello Popcorn

All right my loveys, here is one of our favorite treats!

Can't get enough! And it's super simple to make!

 

Jello Popcorn

3 bags microwave popcorn or the equivalent in air popped popcorn

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup light corn syrup

1 large pkg. Jello any flavor

1 cube butter

1/4 tsp baking soda

large paper grocery bag

In a sauce pan, melt butter then add sugar, corn syrup, and Jello. Stir until mixture boils. Remove from heat and add baking soda.

Put popped corn in paper bag and pour syrup over the popcorn. Stir; then roll top of the bag down and put in microwave. Cook on high for 1 min 15 sec.

Remove bag and stir. Put back in microwave and cook for 1 min.

Remove bag and stir. Put back in microwave and cook for 45 sec.

Remove bag and stir to make sure it's all coated. Pour out on a cookie sheet and let cool.  When cool, break popcorn apart and store in an air tight container. 

It's fun to make 2 or 3 flavors and mix together when they are cool.

Raspberry  and Lime for Christmas....obviously....  

Cherry, Pineapple,  Berry Blue for July  4th.

Grape and Orange for Halloween...

the possibilities are endless! 

Looks Yummy!!!

You still have time to make yourself a batch.

Merry Christmas from the Button Box

Party on you party animals!!

Connie 

Parties I'm liking to:
          

Ready for Thanksgiving

Autumn is the hush before winter.....

With our last autumn holiday just around the corner, I have changed the decor once again here at the button box. 
  Lots of things are used over and over again from September until Thanksgiving, just grouped different and moved to other rooms. So sit back, grab a warm mug of mulled cider and enjoy!  We'll start in the living room, you know, the place where the company gets to sit.                                            

I only decorated it once this time!!

Love the beaded corn I bought last year.

Pumpkin lantern from Celebrating Home

Spent an entire Saturday morning , a couple of years ago looking for this. I wanted a dough bowl , but...

Kind of like how this turned out.

Here's a little of the kitchen. I bought this wash stand a while back, still haven't decided how to finish it. 

 I didn't take a picture of the table, it would have shown the dirty carpet. {They are being cleaned tonight!!!}

And finally, the entry way. See, the lantern moved to it's new home by the front door.

The sucker turkey is a fav of the kids!

Please ignore the unorganized books.

some of my favorite pieces

Across from the table with the lantern

over the stairs

Sorry about the light, we are enjoying an all day snow event today!! So now I really need some warm cider! 

We are hosting Thanksgiving this year for the entire Huntington Clan! It's a good thing that my sisters-in-law and Ron's mom all know how to cook. I'll need many hands to feed this wonderful family. 

How are your holiday plans going?

Gobble 'til ya wobble peeps!

Connie

Join me at these parties: