Christmas Memories

It's been one year since my Mom went to her Heavenly home. Upon some reflection today, I decided instead of being sad, I would honor my loved ones that have gone on ahead with a bit about our Christmas celebration. Christmas Eve was HUGE at my parents home. We were 4 sisters, when we were all married off and our children were young, we all gathered at my parent's for Christmas Eve. My Mom and Gram would spend the entire week, baking, cooking, preparing for this night. We would begin the evening by all attending church, the very same church we all grew up in. After the service, everyone would gather at Mom & Dads. There was family, friends, friends of friends, folks from church, neighbors, just tons of people. The spreads of good and goodies on the tables were huge. Being italians, there was of course, the seven fishes, none of which I liked.....lol, but there was PLENTY of food and treats. We'd spend the rest of the evening, eating, opening presents and just being together. My Dad always sat in the middle of it all in their living room, acting as if all the commotion was such a bother.....we knew he loved it! We'd all get our Dad some sort of joke gift, he really liked those things to my Mom's dismay. At the end of the evening, we'd depart and go home to tuck in our kiddies for santa's arrival. We ALL fondly remember those Christmas Eve festivities and talk of them often. I love and miss you Mom & Dad, Gram, Mary Ann(my sis),Tom, and Aunt Mary Ann, may you all enjoy the birthday of our Saviour as you sit at his feet! Have a Blessed Christmas everyone!!!!!!

Maureen

Cyber-Monday Epattern sale, buy one get one free!

For one day only, tomorrow Monday, Nov.26 I am having a cyber Monday sale.
This is ONLY for E-patterns.  Buy one and get the second one of equal or lesser value for free.  The sale will begin at 6:00 a.m. EST and end at midnight EST.
Simply email your choice of epatterns to me and your paypal email address and I will send an invoice.
NO mailed patterns are included in this sale.
You mail view my list of available E-patterns here:  http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/23739202

I'm thankful for.....

.......Happy Thanksgiving day after! I am so thankful for my family, my health, my home. I'm thankful that I have heat, food, a nice soft bed to sleep in at night. I am thankful that I always feel safe, that I have a wonderful hubby. I am thankful for the loving grandparents and parents that helped me become the person I am today. I am thankful for a christian upbringing and values. I am thankful for our awesome military, I am thankful that I live in America, I am thankful that I have a God that I CAN depend upon who loves me unconditionally.  I am thankful for so much, I could be here all day typing if I didn't have to finish dinner. I remember complaining when we didn't have power for 2 days due to hurricane Sandy. When I look back, I am ashamed. I still have my home. I made up my mind this week to Thank God for all the good in my life, and to never dwell on the tiny bit of negative.
Hope everyone had a Blessed Thanksgiving!!!!!

I shall spend the next week getting ready for our Christmas Open House next weekend.  Hope the weather holds so we can decorate outside!

Maureen

Christmas Open House

Hope to see you!  We are busy filling the shop and decking the halls!

Our shop is located in northeast PA, just south of the NY state border. 

We are easily accessible from I-81 and Rt. 17

Email for more info, our phone number,  or directions:

sweetmeadowsfarm@yahoo.com

Now that it's done........

Just a reminder

This is the day that the Lord hath made
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

REGARDLESS of what else is happening..............................................
:)

Sharing some pictures

I did post most of these on my facebook but I want to share them here as well.  I haven't been able to post alot on my blog recently, I have been busy getting my wholesale orders made up and shipped off to shops.  Here are some pics that I took around our gardens and outside our shop.  Enjoy!!

Two of my best dollies, my grandies!

Red Sunflowers

Path into the garden, beans to the left and right!

This sunflower is HUGE.  My hubby is 6"3" tall and it is about 5 feet taller than he is!

This is one sweet annie plant or I should say bush.  It is as tall as my husband.

What a difference a couple months and great soil makes!  I can't take credit though,

my hubby is the great gardener around here!

Remembering.....

My memory of the events of 9/11.
I lived most of my life in the Hudson Valley Region of NY, just up the river from the city.  However, I moved to PA prior ot 9/11.  My sister(#4) called to inform me that a plane had flown into one of the twin towers.  While on the phone, we both watched the t.v.  I contacted my hubby at work, all the while staring at the t.v. and holding the phone with my sister.  My other sister(#3), called on my other phone line so I now had eyes glued to the t.v. while a phone was glued to each ear.  We all 3 watched in horror as the second plane flew into the second tower.  Needless to say, we sat all day in front of our televisions as the events unfolded.  Pure shock.
In the days after the horrible events took place, the 4th sister(#1) in our family of 4 sisters, still living in the Hudson Valley, would spend her days with others, cooking literally TONS of food, and then she would go into the city each evening with her son, husband, and others to feed the policemen, firemen, and other volunteers.......My sister is gone now, taken from us a few years ago by cancer.  She would have given the shirt off her back, that is just how she was.....  So much has happened since then, however, it's left such a mark it feels so recent.
Never, never, take our freedoms for granted.
There is so much fighting and such leading up to the elections.  Just get down on your knees and pray for God to give you wisdom when voting, wisdom to pick the right leader of our nation.
And regardless of who gets in office, they will need our prayers as well.
I love my country!

Off for an adventure

Well my hubby is taking me out of this house for several days.  We plan to wander the backroads of PA, visit our fave "junk" places and eateries.  We'll loll around in Lancaster county for a day or two and who knows..........I love these trips with no itinerary.  Our life seems so routine sometimes and stressful, gotta stop and smell the roses.
I'll be back to report and hopefully with a pic or two or three to share with you.

Fall Stuff!

I know, it's been too slow coming.  I deal with health issues on a daily basis anymore it seems.
Today's was a migraine.  Trying to get things done and caught up but I have decided to accept the fact that I am not super human.  Yep, sorry to disappoint....LOL
Summer's been hot (yay!) but dry (BOO).  The garden is trying it's best but we are having to water to keep it alive.  There is some promise in there, however. 
I've enjoyed some time outdoors with my grandies, just sitting in the swing while they play is good enough for me.
Here's the first of my fall offerings so far,  I simply call this one, "Fall Stuff".  That just about covers it.
In this pattern you will see a variety of items.  First we have this banner, I measured it at 39" long not including the tie strings.

 Each of those cats and pumpkins would make good bowl fillers or ornies as well.

Then we have the trio.

These are easy to make.  The candy corn and the pumpkin are 10" tall,  the cats are 7" tall and the widest point, their heads, are about 5" across.  They will stand freely when you

attach the cat to the front.  You can also just make a bunch of

cats, or just a bunch of the big pumpkins or candy corns

At any rate, you should be able to have ALOT of fun with this pattern.  It is $10.00 plus shipping but mention you saw it on my blog and I will ship for free!
As always, hope your day is filled with God's blessings!!!
Maureen

. 

The great zucchini debacle

Zucchini, Oh Zucchini,
Wherefore art thou zucchini.

First year we had a real garden we were gung-ho about everything and knew nothing.
No fence (another story for another day)
When buying our plants (pre-greenhouse era!) we had a little conversation, it went something like this:

Hubby: "I want some zucchini"
Me: "Okay, I like zucchini a bit....."
Hubby: "Well, let's make sure we get enough plants"
Me: Okay, 9 plants should be enough, don't ya think?"
Hubby: "Uh-huh"


If you've ever grown zucchini, you know what happened next. The plants got hugh, we were pleased. Then they started spitting out zucchini by the truckload. We picked and picked and I swear they just grew more overnight. We were giving them away to everyone we knew, cooking and eating as fast as we could, even went as far as to put boxes on the side of the road with a “FREE” sign. We brought them to church, hubby took them the work, we fed them to our chickens. We composted them.
We learned a lesson.

This year we planted 2 zucchini plants. We KNEW that was sufficient. We didn’t know there would be heat with no rain, NO rain. And pests, never had these pests but they destroyed one of the plants. We now have one plant left.

Next year we will go back to 9 plants. I want my zucchini and we have the land so we shall plant in excess. If there are too many, we will simply donate them to the food bank in town!

I'm back

I didn't really go anywhere.
Yesterday I made this post on facebook, so I will share it with you in case you didn't see it.  BTW, if you are on facebook, look me up!


Yesterday I had a cleansing of the soul AND the craft room. My (mental) life has been in such disarray latel, I've been praying for peace. It's affected my work and most importantly my family, my life. Just ask my family but they better NOT tell! My creativity had come to a standstill. In the morning in my craft room I felt as if God was saying, "If you clean it, it will come"......!


So, yesterday I literally attacked my craft room, pulled stuff out of everywhere, there were piles on piles and I even spilled it out into my hall and kitchen. But, I actually parted with things. I organized, reorganized and gained so much space and even burned boxes of junk I'd been hanging on to for years. Late last night I stood back and admired my room. I had the most peaceful sleep. Today I could not wait to get to work.

Thank God, Maureen is back!

All dressed up and ready to go.

I finally got this pattern all done.  Not only did I have to have all those bodies, etc. in 10 sizes but then there were bloomers and dresses and aprons for 10 as well...WHEW!
I'm loving them.  You can pair the different sizes up and they sure look cute.
They range in size from a wee 4" dolly to the largest that is 16-1/2 inches.  I measured her today.
This is a big pattern and I don't have an epattern yet, just the mailed version.  It is $11.50 and shipping is free in the U.S. and Canada if you order via email or Patternmart ony.  I will discount the shipping for international.  If you order from ebay, you will pay shipping, those ebay fees eat me alive!
For now here are the pictures, all of these dollies are in this pattern.

And then there were TEN.

I little recap first on my life.  We've been busy trying to get our gardens in line, our shop in line and well, I've just plain old had the migraines again.
BUT, I'm feeling better now, thank the Lord!

So I started working on these dolls.  Originally they were going to be just 3 dolls in 3 sizes and I was going to offer the finished dolls for sale.  Then I added a 4th.......and a 5th.  So then I thought, well let's make 8 and offer it as a pattern and call it Eight is Enough.  But then I wanted a tiny one for the end of the row.    That little doll is only 4" tall!!!
But, that made it an odd amount.  So I made a larger one and it became 10.  I considered 2 more to make it a dozen but ran out of hair.....and patience!
  So they are what they are!
This is just a sneak peek, they are awaiting their dresses which I am working on and then a couple other things to make it interesting and then they will be my newest pattern.  Which I did not plan on as I am currently trying to do up fall patterns.....alas, my mind does wander a bit.........!
So, enjoy this photo, comments are appreciated as I do like to know what you all think! 
Enjoy your day, ours is warm but breezy, actually very nice!

My shop.

Well, in case you haven't figured it out yet, we have a small seasonal prim shop, here in northeast PA.  Tomorrow I will take some pics of the outside of it as I have been working on it....or should I say hubby....well, both of us!   We have been collecting old wooden ladders in our junk travels, much to Mr. SweetMeadows dismay.  I love junk, I want every piece I see as I can see a future plan for most of it.  Mr. SweetMeadows - not so much. 
With dismay he often asks, "Maureen, WHAT are you going to do with that and do we really need to bring home more stuff?"  Well.....yes.  Afterall, isn't that why we bought a truck?!  And isn't that why we still have "some" space in our little barn?!  Not much mind you.  For a time I had an obsession with old shutters.  I had to have them all, and if they were cheap there was no way we were passing them up.
AND, for over 2 years we have driven by this BIG old rusty mailbox, just lying in a ditch on the side of the road thru all seasons.  It would be lost in the summer grasses and weeds but come spring, I could see it.....calling out to me.  When I would mention it to the Mr. as we drove down the road, he would hit the gas!  FINALLY, one day the car was stopped and someone pulled that big ol' rusty thing out of the ditch and it now resides on the little deck in front of my shop.  This thing is huge.  It also has a wooden bottom, a true antique.  I cannot imagine how old it is but I could receive packages in this thing if it were useable. It  the The Mr.looks at it and shakes his head.He was not a part of the ditch rescue.
Back to the ladders.  I had the Mr. make an arbor of sorts for the bottom of the steps to the shop.  It sure is the coolest thing ever....you will see and surely agree!
I  promise, photos tomorrow of my ugly old junk, much of which is adorned with flowers!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder afterall.

Oh. God.

Got your attention!
Recently someone told me, "you should not discuss God or your religious beliefs on your blog, you might offend someone"........SAY WHAT????

I'm blown away by that remark.  I want to, need to share with everyone what a wonderful and loving God I serve.  I am instructed to do so in the Bible. 
As a Christian, my Bible is my guidebook for life.  It is the same yesterday, today and forever.  There are no substitutions, it does not come with options.  You either take it as a whole or reject it.  Period.

Sadly, in today's society, anything "Christian" is often deemed offensive :(
 I turn on the T.V. and I am constantly offended by programs, the news, politicians and our leaders, etc.  So I turn off the T.V.  It's that simple.

I thank God that I live in America, where we still have the freedom to express ourselves.

So if my speaking of my God on my blog offends you, simply do not read it.  But please let me know first.......so I can pray for you!

May God bless you this fine day!!

Here I am

I've been struggling with illness again.  I always try to avoid going to the Dr. as long as possible but after a week (ok, maybe a bit longer than a week) I had to give in and go.  So I came home with three different meds. to take, one of which was Veeeerrrrrryyyy strong and wreaked havoc upon my stomach/intestines.

Now you see why I try to avoid the Dr.?!!

On a serious note, I am finally feeling better, not complete but better and I'll take that any day. 

I got sooooo behind on shipping, working, etc.  Let's not forget the poor neglected flower beds......
But tomorrow is another day!

Hope everyone is well.  Hope to do more creating real soon.

Maureen

Hooray for the USA pattern.

I have been struggling to get my creativity back.....it's lost somewhere.  I did have these girls started a bit ago however, so I decided to bring them to life.  This is an EASY pattern, you just need to have basic sewing skills.  It will NOT teach you to sew but it is easy for a novice.

The dolls are about 16" tall made up.  You will recieved instructions for making the dolls, their clothing, and the flag pillow, stars, and USA letters as well.  You can also make the garland pictured or even make the garland and add a flag pillow or two to it!  This one is $9.50 + shipping.

We've been working hard to get rid of weeds, mow the lawns, plant flowers and veggies, etc.  So much to do this time of the year :( there's not alot of time left for sewing.  I'll snap some pics of my shop this weekend to post.  The outside looks pretty with all the flowers.

A big thank you!

For all the Military Men and Women, past and present, who made this great nation what it is today.  Let's not take our freedom for granted.

I share with you a flag I painted and my hubby attached to the front of our shop this weekend.  Made from two pallets!

I LOVE AMERICA!!!!!!!!

Epattern sale extended

Oh boy, I put in the wrong date!!  Stinks getting old.  So I have extended the sale by one day, it will now end on 5/14 at midnight EST.
Sorry for the inconvenience,
Maureen

A special for Mother's Day

In honor of Mother's Day, all E-Patterns are buy one, get one free from now until Midnight EST on 5/12.
So hurry now before it's over.  Etsy patterns are not part of this, you will need to order them via email.  Just go to my picturetrail site to see the available epatterns:  http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/23739202
Free pattern will be the pattern of equal or less value.

Mother's Day is bittersweet for me this year.  In 2011, I lost both my Mom and my Grandmom.  While I know they are together with other family members in Heaven, not a day goes by that I don't think about or miss them.

So, hug your Mom today, we are not promised tomorrow!

Birds of Feather.......

.......well, we all know how that saying goes.
Meet Chicken Florentine (Flo) and Rooster Stu (Stu) and the Chicken nuggets too.
They are about 24 or 25" long each. 

I originally planned to make just Flo in time for Mother's Day.  You could add an egg for each child!

But where would Flo be without Rooster Stu!  Probably he's a good one for Father's day!

Well, neither holiday would be complete without the Chicken Nuggets! 

Cute lil buggers, aren't they?!

Pattern by Tuesday, 4/17!

Meet Chicken Florentine

She goes by "Flo" most of the time.  You will only get this sneak peek for now as there is more to this story.
Mary, you have won as you first posted Chicken Florentine.

I'm not done, there's more soon.............................................

Don't know what to say here.....

.....I've removed a post from my blog.  If you don't know what it was, we'll just leave it at that.  If you do, well, I'm moving on, moving forward.  I thank everyone for the nice words of encouragement and the emails. I didn't start my blog to be a place for negativity, who needs that, eh?  We can turn on the news and get enough of that.

So, on to better things!   Keep the Chicken dish names coming.  I do have a couple I  like but I'm looking for more.

There is a new design in the works and I will once again, begin to sell my patterns.


I want to share with you a picture that was sent to me by Lynn.  She made these cuties using my "Bitty Critters" pattern and I LOVE them!

I need the name of a chicken dish......

...there will be a prize for  a winner if I choose it.
It has to start with chicken, as in chicken parm, etc.
Shoot those dishes and recipe names at me!

Oh NOOOO!

My hubby dumped my stash of Black Walnuts.  Gathered these up from our tree in the fall to make stain.   Guess he figured I didn't act fast enough or whatever and I found these dumped down by the barn this morning........well, I have a nice lot of them on the stove right now, simmering to make a good shade of stain. 

Jokes on him...HAHA

He Lives!

I serve a risen Saviour,


He's in the world today;

I know that He is living,

Whatever men may say;

I see His hand of mercy,

I hear His voice of cheer,

And just the time I need Him

He's always near.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives

today!

He walks with me and He talks with me

Along life's narrow way.

He lives, He live, salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives:

He lives within my heart.

In all the world around me

I see His loving care,

And tho my heart grows weary

I never will despair;

I know that He is leading

Thro' all the stormy blast,

The day of His appearing

Will come at last.


Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian,

Lift up your voice and sing

Eternal hallelujahs

To Jesus Christ the King!

The hope of all who seek Him,

The help of all who find,

None other is so loving,

So good and kind.

What?

Have I been doing....
Well, we had our spring open house and I was so excited to see everyone that came!  Picked clean again, my shop is!
I've been getting orders done and out and  babysitting the grandbabies too.
I have a new design in the works for Mother's Day.  Something different but it'll be next week probably before that is done.

Me and the Mr. are going on a little adventure in a few weeks, a much needed time of rest and more rest!
More on that later.

Hope someone is enjoying spring.  We started out with a bang in March with temps in the 70's but it seems we've regressed here.  It's been chilly and windy.....brrrrrrrrrrrrr.  I'm not a cold weather girl, I hate winter and thought it was gone.
Shoooooo, go away cold!!

Lancaster bound...

....so much wonderful shopping to be had!  I always come home with the best fabric and then there's ALL the other stuff!  Wish me luck on my treasure hunting.
See you in a few,
Maureen

Oh boy, new stuff!!

I hit highs and lows when it comes to creativity.  I know it's getting late for spring but I am one that cannot create and design ahead of a season.  I have to "live" in the moment to be inspired.  However, I'm quite pleased with these designs that I have to share with you.

First, we have Dancing Rabbits.  These garlands came out better than I had hoped.  You can make them any length you like by simply adding more eggs or more rabbits.  The eggs are about 4" high, the rabbits are about 7" high each.  Just to give you an idea of size, the top garland measures 28" across not including the ties.  AND, the rabbits garland measures a whopping 42" across not including the ties!! WOW!    This is an easy pattern.  Pattern is $9.50 + ship.

Next,  we have the daffodils.  I started out by making these for my spring open house but decided they were too nice not to share.  These are really easy to make and are life size.  I have them arranged in a basket but you can do most anything you like with them.  Put them in a vase, or a dolls hand, probably a rabbit would be kewl!  This pattern is $8.50 + ship.

And, finally, we have Bitty Critters.   These little guys are so cute, you'll want to make tons.  And you can as they are also easy.  They measure in at a mere 7" tall, not including ears.  You can make bears and bunnies.  The bears can be made with a round-ball-like head or a flat round head.

You can embellish them any way you like with buttons, patches, etc.

And, then there's the rabbits.  You can make the rabbit head shaped, or the flat, round head as well.   And then there's always that bear, wearing a rabbit suit!  He's not fooling anyone!

This pattern is $9.50 + ship.


I will be selling the finished goods in a few days on http://www.primnest.com/ and ebay also if you just don't feel like making your own.
Have a great day, we're having spring weather here in the northeast and it sure feels good!!

New stuff and our Spring Open House.

Well, it's almost time for Spring Open House here at SweetMeadowsFarm.  We are located in northeast PA, so if you are in the area, stop in and say hello. 
If you would like directions, shoot me an email. 
I have 3 new patterns almost ready to release.  Of course, the daffodils pictured is one of the patterns so you are getting a sneak peek!  The others will be ready tomorrow so stay tuned!!

Still at it....

....that diet.  Lost officially now 20 lbs. since Jan. 1.
I'm eating now almost all raw, subbing meals for those green smoothies most days.  I do still need to have an occasional cooking "something" though.
The other night I remarked to hubby that I actually do NOT miss potato chips and the like.  Can't believe I said that!

In other news, I've been up to my eyeballs in wholesale doll orders and just getting out from under that now.  I do have a few quick and easy spring patterns to finish and release this weekend. 

The weather is getting nicer and nicer, not that we really had a winter but who's complaining! LOL!!

Enjoy your day,
Maureen

Going Green?

Not how you think.
I debated on whether or not to blog about this.  I want to lose weight but I WANT TO BE HEALTHY. 
Losing weight is a struggle for me, not for lack of trying.  I've been at it since the first day of Jan. this year.  So far I've lost maybe 11 lbs.  Seems for all the "deprivation" I should be a stick by now! HA!  Just kidding.

I've been a vegetarian most of my life, deciding at the age of 9, I no longer wanted to eat anything that had been living.  My mother, thinking it was best, tried to force me to eat meat.  I would sit at the table long after the dinner was over, only to spit all of the meat into napkins which I tucked into my clothing and promptly flushed down the toilet after dinner.

My sister hated vegetables, many times she joined me at the table.  When everyone left the room, we happily switched plates and gobbled up what was left before anyone was the wiser.

Now to the present,  last week I thought I'd try the raw food route.  How hard could that be, I'm already a vegetarian, right?!  NOT.  I found out soon enough that I want at least a few of my veggies to be warm and pliable....

I have seen all over the internet, people raving over kale chips.  Kale chips, right, I know it sounds gross but they all swear they are delicious.  So one evening, I washed and cut up my kale, tossed with a bit of olive oil and salt and baked them.  These are before and after photos, they just seemed to change color.

They are weirdly crispy, I was thinking they were gonna be soggy. My daughter and I, with trepidation, popped one in our mouths.  Cross the kale chips off the snack list here!
YUCK.  Sorry, but I don't know what the rave is about.  They STILL taste like kale, they are oddly crisp as they are so thin, they leave this powdery/crispy residue at the back of your throat and we won't even talk about the teeth.  You'll need to scrub your teeth before going out! LOL
Sorry folks that love 'em, we hated them.

I do however, drink green smoothies.  This is nothing new and it's really helpful when I don't have or want to take the time to make a meal and sit and eat it.  This is part of the weight problem, I would always grab something quick that I could eat while working or doing whatever without stopping.
This one below is a combination of Kale, Mango, Banana and plain non-fat greek yogurt.  YUM!
It's a pretty shade of green too.  It might sound gross but it's actually quite tasty and just think of how good this is for you.   Full of fiber and vitamins too.

Just perfect for the girl on the go!!!!

Oh boy....

...have I ever been busy.  Sorry to have neglected my blog...ugh.
I'm backed up with orders and loving on the grandbabies too!  We will be having our Spring Open House in March at our little shop here in Northeast Pennsylvania.  More on that to come this week with times, dates, etc!
For now, stay warm!

Dirty Rabbits and new patterns

Okay, so far there are  3 new patterns with more rabbits to come next week hopefully.  I am extremely busy with doll orders and shipping patterns so who knows!
Here we have Easter Bunny Girls

This pattern contains both the sitting style rabbit and the standing rabbit.  Standing rabbit, stands at about 17" tall.  Pattern includes complete instructions for making the dolls, their clothing as well as the eggs and a tutorial for the cute eyes.    This pattern is $11.00 + shipping.

Next we have "All U Need Is Love".   This pattern is for these little 9" raggedies, they make up quickly.  It also includes suggestions for finding some cute tags for your little dollies and instructions for their hairstyle as well.
This pattern is $8.50 + shipping.

And finally, we have "Dirty Rabbits" pattern.

This pattern includes instructions for making these rabbits and staining and "dirty" techniques as well.

These rabbits make up to 9" sitting and were designed to sit.

You can make them from fur or make them from muslin that you can paint and grunge.

I even made one with a vintage sugar sack body!

The ears will be poseable.

Pattern is $9.50 + shipping

Simply email to order, thanks for looking and hope your day is a great one!