Its Looking A lot Like Christmas here in Ohio & My Trailer Too!

Merry Christmas Everyone....the Christmas Spirit has finally arrived here in Ohio. Old man winter showed up last night dropping off a Beautiful Blanket of snow to make Hailey's Christmas wish come true...Its beautiful & if it must come Christmas is the best time of year but Hailey she was so excited that she texted me as soon as I got home tonight to ask if I wanted to build a Snowman tomorrow and go sleding with her....Oh to have the energy of a 10 yr old little girl who loves snow!! I agreed we should build a snowman but not sure my old body can take the sleding ...hehe! 

The Trailer is decorated, gifts are wrapped, the baking is done and I'm ready for Santa to arrive! As I mentioned in my last post I found so many great gifts at the Salvation Army for the kids so I'm really excited for Christmas to come!

I finally got the trailer decorated...Decided to hang different Stockings all around with Snowmen. Of course they all came from GW for 50 cents so it made it fun finding cute ones to use.

I love this one it is made of all wood with stuffed Reindeer and snowman!

This one is made of felt. I found it to be quite usefull for stuffing all my plastic bags down in..makes it look filled and hids my bags great!

Here I hung a simple one next to my Snowmen!

I used a Santa Hat as my Tree Topped...My Tree is full of Snowmen Stockings and Santa's this year..they didn't show up to well in my picture.

On my little shelf I sat Snowmen and a Santa with my bears and hung some of my cards on the edge!
Thanks for all the cards from my Blog friends it was so fun getting Christmas hugs in the mail!

Isat two of my Snowmen on my CD tower and right behind it is a Pocket Snowman Wall hanging..Its supposed to hold cards but I like to hang them so I can see them... I hug an old pair of mittens above the Wall pocket hanger.

Another Santa in the corner..I meant to move the other santa head beside it oops..but did have a giggle at how funny it looks sitting there in the candle Box....

I sat my Hallmark Snowmen on the other side..for some reason I can't find my other hallmark Snowman playing the piano...If you look under the tree you can see a Christmas Dog I found at GW for 50 cents...He is so funny he barks Jingle Bells...Hailey likes to come out and push the button to hear him sing!

I bought myself a Christmas gift this year well actually 3. I bought myself a long over due new Coat. I actually went to a real store and by shear accident found the perfect coat  or at least perfect for me..You see I hate heavy coats so never can find anything I like... I count this as a lucky find it is light weight, fuzzy lined with a hood. Perfect gift to myself!

Then I bought myself a new TV & a VCR/CD player so Hailey and I can watch movies together. Plus I can use it to turn my VCR tapes into CD's. I have several old home movies of Carmen when she was little on VCR tapes I want to copy and give them to Carmen & her Dad.. Plus I have over 500 VCR movies that I want to turn into CD's.

Its been 15 years since I bought a new TV..mostly because I never watch TV but it was getting harder and harder to find TV's with a VCR player in them at GW so decided it was time to gift myself something that would work for TV, VCR tapes and CD's. Now to figure outhow it all works and get them all changed over to CD's. I will have tons of storage space in the trailer and shop once the tapes are switched over... 500 tapes take up a lot of room!

I'll be having Christmas Eve with the Family here at my brothers and then Christmas Day I'm going to my daughter Aprils house for Christmas and Wednesday I'm having Christmas with John and Laura.. Busy days ahead and I'm totally excited this year!

May you all Have a Very Merry Christmas filled with warm moments spent with family filled with love and laughter!

Christmas Blessings

Tonya

Oh the Fun in Thrift Store Christmas Shopping I hit the Jackpot!

Happy Saturday evening everyone......Christmas is just around the corner & I thought I was all done shopping since I shop all year round and stash my gifts. But then along comes a moment when you realize you have just hit the jackpot! You can make some kids really happy and while doing it help out there parents too.
I started out with 11 large totes filled with my year long Christmas gift stash. Then I went to the Salvation Army last Thursday..

All the kids clothing & I mean all, from new born up..Shoes, Coats, Jackets everything 49 cents each. Now were talkin some serious shopping here.
Two carts full of kids clothing & jackets last Thursday 99% New with tags $53.00.
Then this morning my niece Hailey my thrift store buddy wanted to go thrifting ..so of course I said sure why not......
We arrive only to find out they were still having the 49 cents kids sale..... One cart full later, 99% new with tags $23.00.

Every single kid on my christmas list is getting no less then 20 new outfits for Christmas. Plus each one is getting a new Coat or Jacket. My luck is going to really help out there parents!!!!
The best part is I didn't even have to buy wrapping paper.
Last summer I bought an extra large tote it was new orginal cost would have been $20, filled with over 250 new gift bags, tissue paper, 50 plus new gift boxes & new wrapping paper for $12.00. Best thrift bargin I ever found.

I'll take a wild guess and say I got about $2000.00 worth of clothing, coats, wrapping paper, & Gift Bags for $88.00. Damn I'm one hell of a Thrift store shopper!!

Some kids are going to be very happy come Christmas morning... I can't wait!

When we got home I washed up everything...then Hailey and I wrapped & bagged all my bargins...
Boy does gift wrapping go fast when you have bags & tissue paper!!
If you don't thrift shop for kids clothing you ought to give it a shot...you never know the New stuff you will find if you just look!

I wish I would have thought to take pictures of all my goodies.. You wouldn't have believed the really beautiful things I found for all the kids...I was amazed myself!
I bought more gifts then ever before and spent less then ever before!!
Sure Makes the old heart race with joy.
I can't wait to see there parents faces when they see all the new clothes the kids got... it will be such a relief to them to know there kids will be well dressed.
Yes they all know I do most all my shopping at the thrift store they grew up on Thrift store clothing and they were the best dressed kids in school!

I'm happy it is all wrapped/bagged and now I can work on making my Chex Mix & I can sit back and quietly wait for Christmas day!

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend & if your shopping you find the best bargins ever!

Christmas Hugs
Tonya

A Little Sneak Peek & Puddles new hair do

Happy Monday Everyone.. Just look at my best little Buddy Puddles. Doesn't he just look so Handsome?
Last Thrusday I did something I've never done before in Puddles 16 years.
I'm so glad I did because my Best Buddy got some extra special Loving treatment at Delaware Pet Grooming. Even though my hands are healing nicely and I'm getting my strength back slowly I found I still couldn't brush Puddles...
Being the Fur Ball that he is, he was a T-total matted mess & I felt awful I couldn't brush him.
I was really nervous about taking him to a groomer with all the horor stories I've read or heard about but I finally relented and made an appointment.
They took such good care of him. He was happy as a pea in Pod when I picked him up. He was as soft as silk, his coat all shinny & he smelled so fresh and clean. they put a little Teal Bandana around his neck. It was as cute as could be!
Come to find out the owner had lost her sheltie two weeks ago and so having a Sheltie to groom and snuggle was a welcome delight for her, she said.
I'm thinking I may just make it a regular part of Puddles life to get him groomed every couple of months even after my hands are totally workable again.

He wasn't too excited about laying beside the Christmas Tree but finally relaxed long enough to snap a few pictures...

I finally got my house all decorated for Christmas..Everything looks great! Snowmen and Santa's everywhere.
Not much else happening here, other then the chilly rain we've been having for the last week. Thank god is hasn't covered us in snow...We've actually been experiencing rain the past 3 or 4 days so everything its muddy everywhere one goes..So I'm sure Snow is soon to follow!
I've been busy wrapping Christmas packages for the last week,but not near done yet. Seems that too requires two good hands...I'll just keep plugging along so they are all wrapped by Christmas eve.
Last Friday afternoon I drove up North to check on my house and then Saturday night I went to the KI Christmas party with all my boater friends. It was great to see everyone and we had a such a great time.
Discovered that gripping the steering wheel still hurts my hands to drive long distances so didn't really enjoy the long trip home..Soon though I think my hands will be back to as normal as they will ever be & I can't wait...

Going to work in the shop today primming a set of Candle Sconces I sold over the weekend. I've been spending a little time each day creating and it feels so good to be back in the shop working even if it takes me hours to do the simplest task.
last week I created this beautiful Kitchen Gathering.
~Primitive Pantry Gathering~

Filled with Enamelware & Stoneware





Thanks for stopping by..Until we meet again May your days be filled with Sunshine and Smiles!

Christmas Holiday Hugs
Tonya

A Little Christmas Spirit & a Unique Christmas Video

Hi Everyone...just thought I would stop in and share a little Christmas Spirit with you this morning! Just look at Miss Tasha all curled up on the chiar under the tree!

My winter schedule is all messed up..normally I would be going to bed around the time everyone else is getting up. But since I'm not in the shop as much I've found myself totally unable to get on a schedule. So I went to bed at midnight and woke up at 4:00..ugggg..couldn't got back to sleep.  I have a therapy appointment at 11:30 and now all I want to do is go back to sleep...

I wanted to share this wonderful Christmas Video with you. Its nothing like you've ever seen before and will totally surprise you...

Brought me to tears

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=457420397658168

 

I invite you to copy and paste the link in your browser and take a few minutes to watch it. It will give you goosebumps and leave you filled with the Christmas Spirit.

Christmas Hugs
Tonya

Creating challange for my healing Thumb & fingers this week..

The holiday Season has arrived just in time to challange my nearly healed Thumb & Fingers!
I sold 5 Rag Garlands, 1 regular set of Rag Balls & 8 dozen which is 96 handmade Rag Ball ornaments Monday night on Ebay...... so I had to put my right hand to the test this week. As you can see my Thumb is nearly healed and it looks and works perfectly.
I'm happy to say the surgery was a total success. Yee Haa! Yes Still slower then a 7 yr itch but I managed to create 200 Rag Balls since Monday night. Decided to get as many created as my hand allow me.
I spent all day today tieing 100  with twine so they can be hung on the tree. 
I met the challange and they can ship Monday.

These are Primitive Rag Ball Ornaments. Created from strips of old rags & twine.
the real challange was holding them as I wrapped them into a ball with my first finger and my thumb.... it was a huge challange for me.
Something I haven't been able to do for almost a year. Even tho it still hurts a little because my muscles aren't totally healed I did it without pain killers. So Happy!!!!

Only dropped a few & had to stop to rest my thumb & fingers every half hour or so.
The Next challange was to tie each one with twine for hanging on a tree. I started tieing them with twine this morning around noon and Finally finished them around 11 tonight...

My Thumb, fingers and hand aren't happy with me at all but I'm sure happy with them for working properly..
Honestly there were few times today I wasn't sure and was ready to give up..
I finished all of my Rag Garlands too..now all that's left is to pack all my sales for the week and get them shipped out Monday..

It was Beautiful here in good ole Ohio today so I decided to do my laundry and hang it out on the line...One last time before winter hits us...it was great..... when my hands got tired or really hurting I'd work on the laundry.

It was a good week indeed!!

have a great weekend every one!

Holiday Blessings
Tonya

Meet My New Great GrandSon Jordan Jr & Family

Happy Holiday thoughts to Everyone! Meet my new Great Grandson Jordan Jr. Is this not the most adorable precious picture ever! He was one week old when this was taken. I got to meet him for the 1st time Thanksgiving day! His Grandma April is my daughter. You may have seen her picture on my post about my left hand surgery.
This little guy is so cute ..looks just like his Daddy Jordan. While holding him and looking at him I took a trip down memory lane to when Jordan was born..they looks exactly the same..
A friend Nikki who went to school with Carmen and April is a photographer along with her husband and they took this picture along with many others of the family!

Baby Jordans Mommy is holding him and hsi Daddy is standing behind her. Grandma April is on the far left of Baby Jordan's mommy.

Jordans mommy and Daddy!

I love this picture of Daddy and Baby Jordan!

Grandma April and Baby Jordan right after he came home. I love this one too!

Then of course Great Grandma Tonya....

Isn't his little thanksgiving outfit cute?
What a great week, wonderful Thanksgiving with April, Brian, the kids and of course snuggling Baby Jordan.
Then I got to snuggle my new niece Lilly..she is two weeks old..OOps forgot to take pictures to busy snuggling her...
I worked in the shop on a couple special orders.. I was loving creating..still slower then a 7 year itch but at least I'm out there again.

Yesterday got the daylights scared out of me..SIL Peg texted me she needed help right away... I was still asleep when I got the text & so not grounded so to speak ..jumped out of bed & ran in the house thinking something awful happened to her... She got a great laugh at me all pillow head in my PJ'S running in yelling what's wrong Peg.where are you!
Well she was in the family room putting up Christmas decorations and wanted my help...My yelling for her brought the kids running only to laugh t me too when Peg told them why I was yelling for her and still in my Pj's...
After our augh and 2 cups of tea we went to work decorating the family room... Never did go out to the trailer and change...lol... Pure comfort all day long! with pillow head cause I didn't bother to comb my hair either...WE had a blast and the room looks awesome!

Hung out with my niece Angel, her two kids Hailey & Savana last night wrapping Christmas gifts.

Today I rounded off the weekend going to the grocery store, Pharmacy and finishing up my Christmas shopping. Yehaa..now the fun part wrapping it all but I got a month so it will be fun...

Hope you all had a great weekend too!

Hugs
Tonya

 

 

Thanksgiving Thoughts & Blessings to one and all.....
It was a beautiful Thanksgiving Day today here in Ohio...High 60's... It was a busy day too.....first to my daughter April's for Thanksgiving get together with there family & then with my Brother Jim, SIL Peg & family. Two feast with every trimming immaginable.

No one went hungry today...so many yummy dishes, Turkey, Ham, Pies, Cakes, Fruit, veggies, Stuffing, Sweet Potato's, mashed taters, gravey..Yum-Yum-Yum!

 

As I sat with my family and friends today, listening to all the laughter as the kids played, the girls giggling in the kitchen while preparing the feast & eating to much, everyone feasting on all the yummy food everyone prepared, complaining about being to full and finally holding the two new baby's, I realized just how much I really have to be thankful for...
My Blessings are plenty...... yes even when life isn't perfect!

My wish is that you too had the chance to realize all your Blessings today and that you gathered many warm memories that will pop in your mind sometime in the future and make you smile!

Happy Thanksgiving

Hugs
Tonya

Aww Kitty Love~A funny tale to make you laugh!

Good Morning Peeps...Just look at those two snuggle kitty's! Since Tasha's return from her 16 day adventure she's softened her heart and is more loving then ever...she even decided to love her sissy Mama kitty..
Time to use your imagination if you will as there are no cmeras handy when Tasha decides to be funny or sneaky!!
We are now home on the farm for the winter so I have been letting Tasha outside daily...well actually Tasha has been letting herself out. She knows how to bite the tape off the slider on the screen door. She pushes it back and jumps threw the hole..
She so loves it outside & I'm glad we are home so she can be outside enjoying herself.
I have to share her latest tale with you butyou will need to close your eyes and picture this in your mind to get the rel feel for how funny it was.
I love hanging clothes on the line so had tea stained a big basket of fabric for my creations and hung them out.
The Clothes line sits beside two huge pine trees and this is where Tasha likes to sit in waiting so to speak...It was around dusk when I decided to take down my fabric.
I was enjoying myself as I took down each piece, folded it and laid it in the basket...
I had just bent down to lay a folded piece in the basket when all of sudden I hear a russel under the tree and then there was a Tasha kitty running up the middle of my back
down over my head and across the yard. she stops gives me her meow meow...and just sits there watching me as I say "what are you doing you simple cat?"
I stand back up and take down another piece, fold it and lean down to put it in the basket and shzammm here she comes again running up over my head, over my back and back down and under the tree with her once again giving me her meow meow...
By now I am laughing at my silly cat...As the story goes she did this evey time I would lean down to lay a folded piece in the basket...
she was having a ball & my back was beginning to feel the sting of those little claws by the time I was done... she wasn't done tho and quickly let me know she wanted to play more...LOL....so she jumps in the basket nd lays down, rolls on her back waiting for me to give her some kitty rubs... Just as I reached down to rub her belly she puts her paws around my neck and let me know she wasn't letting go...licking my face with that tounge of hers till it hurt...This isn't a picture of that moment but it would have looked like that only I would have been laughing at her...

Since her adventure she doesn't let me very far from her sight..When I'm outside she follows me wherever I go...Then for no reason at all she will jump in my arms to give me one of her huge Kitty hugs..then jump down and go about her yard wondering..and mommy following...Its so comical watching her bounce around the yard!

I bought her a new collar yesterday at the dollar store. It is bright red with a little red Bell hanging on it.
Decided that little bell would give me warning when she is getting ready to pounce on me....!
Being outside seems to sharpen those claws daily...ouch..so she got her nails trimmed last night... Oh how she hates that with a passion...

The sun is shinning again today..... think I'll go find a good reason to be outside enjoying it!

Until we meet again may your day be filled with warm sunshine and happy moments!

Fall Blessings
Tonya

Sneak Peek at New Prim Gatherings from My Primitive Creations

Good Evening everyone..What a wonderful weekend we had here in Ohio. True Indian summer filled with sunshine and laughter.

Even tho its a bit early for decorating, Peggy & I took advantage of the beautiful weather and decided to do all the oustide Christmas decorating. We had so much fun!

Pictures to come soon!

As I mentioned on my last visit it's been a real challange after two hand surgeries, but I'm finally back working in my shop Creating my Primitive decor again. Although it's taken me two months to create my latest creations, I can't begin to tell you how happy it makes me to finally be able to create again.

I'm still limited as to what I can do but each day it gets a little easier.

So with out further ado... I'm happy to share the newest creations from
My Primitive Creations by Tonya.
If you're interested in purchasing any of my gatherings before they're listed in my Ebay Store Please contact me ASAP for details.
Otherwise Please visit My Primitive Creations by Tonya Ebay Store where you will find all of my latest creations.

~PRIMITIVE NECESSARY ROOM GATHERING~

$39.95

Free Shipping in USA

~PRIMITIVE PANTRY GATHERING~

$69.95

Free Shipping in USA

~PRIMITIVE NECESSSARY ROOM GATHERING~

$49.95

Free Shipping in USA

~PRIMITIVE PARLOR ROOM SAMPLER GATHERING~

$59.95

Free Shipping in USA

~PRIMITIVE NECESSARY ROOM GATHERING~

$39.95

Free Shipping in USA

~PRIMITIVE MINI BENCH GATHERING~

$21.95

Free Shipping in USA

~PRIMITIVE NECESSARY ROOM GATHERING~

$29.95

Free Shipping in USA

~PRIMITIVE CAST IRON STAR CANDLE SCONCES~

$34.95

Free Shipping in USA

Thanks for stopping in and taking a little peek at all of my latest creations.

With all of your prayers and encouragement my recovery is going smoothly which has allowed me to get back to doing what I love best...My Creating!

A special thanks to all of you for your support!

Prim Blessings 

Tonya

Happy Fall guess who's been in the Shop Painting? Hand Update

Happy Day to one and all...Ms. Tonya has some really great news to share with you all today! She has been working in the shop for the past three nights. No nothing spectacular was created but being able to actually hold a paint brush in my right hand and paint wood pieces was better then awesome!
The first night my niece Hailey, my crafting buddy decided she wnted to spend the evening in the shop painting with aunt Tonya...We had the best time..
Things started off a little shaky as I couldn't get the paint jar open at first or the large paint can so Hailey had to help me & together we prepared our work area with paint bowl & paint brushes.
I wasn't really sure if I was going to be able to actually hold the paint brush and paint nice even strokes and when I found I could I guess tears just strated running down my cheeks I was so happy...I said a little prayer of thanks..but I must have done it out loud....Hailey heard me and gave me a big hug and said I knew you would be able to paint again someday Aunt Tonya..
We painted for hours..Hailey has gotten very good at painting the wood pieces. I finally took her in the house around 11 and tucked her in and called it a night.

The next two nights I was on my own and I painted pieces all night long just soaking up the peacfulness of being in my shop once again and actually working on something. It was slow going and I had to rest every 10 to 15 minutes but regardless I'm creating again and nothing could make me happier.
Soon I will be turning those 37 pieces into gatherings and I can't wait so look out cause I'm back in business again!

This is my thumb 11 days after surgery! You all have no idea how excited I am about my thumb. It hasn't bent in more then 20 years and has been in constant 24/7 pain all that time. something I learned to live with. But I'm happy to say that Dr. Awan changed that.


There is basically no real pain other then after surgery being cut pain and pain when I bump the stitches. I can actually bend my thumb. Before surgery my thumb measuered
2 1/2"plus round now it measuers 1 1/2" around and as soon as the rest of the swelling goes down it will be normal looking and even smaller. It used to curve to the left like a hitch hicker thumb and just look at this it is actually straight..After 20 plus years of pain and deformity I am just amazed that it is a normal working thumb that's pain free. Never dreamed in a million years I would ever get it fixed... Very happy lady!

Five days after surgery. Look at the improvment in just a few days.

I'm a bit surprised at how much faster my right hand healed compared to my left hand. The incisions in my palm where he fixed the trigger fingers is healed and basically pain free. the area in my wrist where he did the carpel tunnel surgery is also healed and basically pain free. This surgery was a breeze and successful in every imaginable way!
My left hand on the other hand is still giving me fits of pain down by the wrist and in the middle finger.. I almost decided not to get the right hand done because the left hand still hurt so much ...I'm so Thankful I decided to go threw with it and simply work with the doctor to make the left hand pain free in those two areas. I may have to go to therapy for a bit to resolve the issues in the left hand but I'm ok with that...

In the middle of all my happiness with my hands I had blood work done to test my thyroid levels and sad to say that the blood test came back with my levels high so the doc had to up my Thyroid medication in hopes of dropping it back down... Go figure just my luck that something would go and bust my happy bubble...
Otherwise things are looking up for me... I'm getting in to see the right doctors and finally feel as if they are all working together to get me back on the right track health wise... that's a nice feeling for sure..

Hope all is well with you and yours and you have enjoyed the coming of fall and all the beautiful colors this year. They were just beautiful here in Ohio but sadly Sandy winds have blown the beautiful colors away for this year..
Speaking of Sandy my prayers go out to all of you who were affected by that horrible storm and my hope is that you are all safe and warm..

Happy Fall Blessings
Tonya