The holiday, an earthquake, some gifts and a labor of love

 

 

Hope everyone had a nice holiday weekend and had time to reflect on what  Memorial Day means. We had a nice barbeque today with the family. We also were able to share the day with a couple that  are friends with our children. He works with our son-in-laws and they have 2 little boys. Both of them have served in the military and they have lots in common with our kids.

 

Here are a few pictures of our humble home. Hubby put this together for me over the weekend. I needed something to hold flags and this one came out awesome.

 

 

Hubby went out to get a few things this morning and he came home with these beautiful flowers  for me. AAAWWW he is so sweet!

Here is my adorable little grandson. He is wearing his dad’s hat from when he was in the Navy.

Everyone that came today brought food to share. We had Guy Fieri’s bacon wrapped chicken on the grill, kielbasa, potatoes cooked in foil on the grill; with garlic, green onions and olive oil. We also had corn on the cob, baked beans, pasta salad, tossed salad, skewers with angel food cake, strawberries and blackberries served with chocolate whipped cream,  chocolate chip cookies, and peach sangria’s. And my son and his girlfriend brought me these wonderful flowers as well.

The weather wasn’t the best here today. We had rain off and on, but we soooo need the rain. There have been several small fires in this area already this year. The rain was very welcomed! The kids were quite content to play outside with their rain boots.

 

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We had a little excitement this past week. On Thursday evening I was sitting at the computer and started feeling my chair shake. I looked around thinking it was my hubby or son shaking my chair. I turned and the room was empty. I looked up and my hanging lantern was swaying back and forth. I went to check on the guys and they had felt it as well. We went and looked and the water in the swimming pool was moving. We looked at each other and said, YUP, we are having an earthquake. We checked the computer link for daily earthquakes and found that it was a 5.7 and was around 100 miles away. That was the largest that has been in this area sine 1973. In the next few hours their continued to be about 20 more after quakes. We didn’t have any damage here, but we sure had a little shaking up. I guess we will have to get used to those since we are living in California.

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I was so blessed to be the one of the winners of Shirlee’s wonderful giveaways. This package came this week. There was a nice little card inside that read~ “ I knew this was something that you had admired last year and I wanted you to have it”.

Inside was this beautiful winter pin keep. Thank you Shirlee from the bottom of my heart. I just love it and will think of you when I display it. Shirlee does amazing work! You can find her blog HERE.

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Learn how to carry a friendship greatly, whether or not it is returned. Why should one regret if the receiver is not equally generous? It never troubles the sun that some of his rays fall wide and vain into ungrateful space, and only a small part on the reflecting planet. Let your greatness educate the crude and cold companion. If he is unequal, he will presently pass away; but thou art enlarged by thy own shining.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

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I had ordered a small pewter pitcher from Heather’s ebay store this past week. When I received my package on Saturday there were a few extra items inside. Heather had sent me a little candle nub, a cute little clothespin doll as well as a basket of strawberries!!!!

Thank you so much Heather I love them all. I was so surprised to find all of the extra goodies. You can find Heather’s Blog HERE.

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This picture below is a labor of love!

This is a sign that I designed for our church. The length of the sign is about 17 feet. This took several weeks to pull to completion.

Hubby was the one to figure all of the measurements, and also to get on that  tall ladder to get it centered, and hung level while stretching on a ladder. Thank you Craig for all of your help!!

A labor of love~

 

~Sara

God Bless America~

 

If ever this country needed a blessing, it is now!

 

Wishing you all a wonderful Day with family and friends.  ~Sara

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer ~

Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
You’ll wish that summer could always be here

 

It is that time again!

Time to switch things up to a little summer time!

What do you have planned for the weekend? We are planning on taking some time for family this weekend. We are off to the Farmer’s Market in the morning and then to the Strawberry Festival in Happy Valley.

And then on Monday, we will take time to visit, relax, barbeque and remember. Remember all of those that have given their all for us.

 

 

You’ll wish that summer could always be here~

~Sara

Keeping It Real~

 

So much sadness!!! It can overwhelm you. I have always tried to use circumstances like this to put things in perspective in my own life. To hug my children more and not take things for granted. To concentrate on the important things and not sweat the small stuff. Praying for those that have been devastated! And thankful for what I have.

 

I was so happy to have been able to share the day with my little kiddos . Give your children an extra hug today after watching the horrific news.

Blessings~Sara

I’m a little bit country~

 

This has been kind of a country week. We attended our first Rodeo on Friday evening and then we finished off the week watching the Celebrity Apprentice and seeing Trace Adkins win!

Say what ever you want about The Donald, but he has helped raise soooo much money for soooooo many charities!!! Over that past 13 seasons he has raised over 13 million for charities. Unbelievable!!! The show finale was between 2 men that respected each other and cheered each other on as well. It was so nice to see a reality show that has done so much for so many. Towards the end of the show, Donald Trump gave $100,000 to the American Diabetes Association. During the show that was the charity that Lil Jon had been playing for in honor of his Mom that had diabetes and had had a stroke. Tonight we found out that his mom had passed away because of it. It was a moving show, to see all of the lives that are touched and so many people coming together for their charities.

Below are pictures of the Redding Rodeo. This was our first time at a rodeo and we didn’t really know what to expect.

This is a list of the sporting events  that involve horses and other livestock, designed to test the skill and speed of the human cowboy and cowgirl athletes who participate. Professional rodeos generally comprise the following events: tie-down roping, team roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, bareback bronc riding, bull riding and barrel racing. We were also introduced to Mutton Bustin! lol. Young children riding sheep and competing to see how long they can stay on.

Some of the best in the country were here competing.This rodeo was being filmed for CMT. Some parts may be seen on TV in the near future.

Everyone has their own opinion on rodeos. Around here these events are not for competing but how some people live. Our son in laws grandparents own a ranch and activities like this are just everyday life. They need to know how to control the animals and it takes lots of muscle power. Our son in law was  out to help Gramps on the ranch a few weeks back. It is the time of year to brand and castrate all the young'uns. He came over later in the day and he was pretty beaten up with a few bruises. It isn’t a job for the faint of heart, but something that has to be done to earn a living.

Below is barrel racing, which is what our son’s girlfriend does.(not this time though) She and our son are in the picture above. We are so thankful that they brought us and shared something new with us. Thank you Micah and Breanne.

Can you imagine wrestling a steer??!!!

(these last pics are from the web. It was too dark for my camera)

This is Mutton Bustin~

Have a blessed day~Sara

Weekend Auction~ lots of Americana

 

 

I am having a weekend auction on some of our creations on Facebook. I know many of you have said that you don’t have  Facebook, so I will list a few items here as well. If you see something that you would like send me an email  (saracocarus@gmail.com ) and I will get your bid in for you. Auction ends Sunday 12:00 midnight(eastern)

I will have some of these items listed on my etsy as well, and I am always doing custom items.

Thank you for taking a look. Blessings~Sara

Olde and Early sign~ 6 x 18
opening bid $18

The Keeping Room sign~
large sign measures approx 26 x 10
opening bid~ $28

Olde Glory Flag~ measures 18 x 11
opening bid~$22

Americana Door Box Gathering~ includes the door box, pepper grass, 2 Betsy Ross Flags and the crow pick.
opening bid~ $48

Gettysburg~ 4 x21

Opening Bid~ $16

 

America sign with hand painted flag~
measures approx 4 x 14
opening bid $12

 

Prim red cupboard~
measures approx 16 x 14 1/2 x 5
opening bid $55

God Bless America sign~ 6 x 24
opening bid $18

God Bless America~ 11 x 7
Opening Bid~ $12

One Nation Under God~ 12 x 6
Opening Bid~ $12

1776  8 x 4
opening bid~ $5

Olde Glory~ 11 x 4
Opening Bid~ $8

Alphabet print~10 x 8
Opening Bid~ $8

Pantry~ 8 x 4
Opening Bid~ $5

The Good Ole Days~ 12 x 3
Opening Bid~$5

Red America~ 12 x 4
opening bid~$8

Cream America~ 12 x 4
opening bid~$8

God Bless America Banner~
opening bid~ $34

Backyard BBQ's 17 x 6
Opening Bid ~$10

Garden blessings~
measures 6 x 17                                                                                                           Opening Bid~ $12        

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I am linking up with The Creative Home Acre Blog Hop~ Go on over and see the other creative items ~ Sara