Catchin up at THE FUNKY FARMHOUSE!!

Come on in and have a cuppa coffee with me and catch up!!! I have been havin a lot of coffee lately. Just trying to stay warm!! LOL My regular in the morning and then in the afternoon for a treat Sim and I have been cleanin out the hot chocolate from the cupboard and adding it to the coffee. My fav was the cocoa with the cherry in it!! And I had some whipped cream in the fridge. Oh my goodness!! Winter loveliness in a cup!!!

 

And no kiddin once a week I have been makin chili!! Brooke asked me why I have been makin chili so much (she hates tomatoes and doesn't eat it)!! LOL I told her it is keepin me n Sim healthy!! It's warm n good!! Got anther batch in the fridge right now for tomorrow nights dinner!!

 

 

Isn't this the cutest pig? I got it from my Secret Sister at church for Valentine's Day!! Oh my gosh I just Love it!!! It's a piggy bank!!!

 

Sim and I went to the Tractor Supply Store the other day for suet cakes for our birds. When we saw these suet cake holders we just had to have them!! They are so perfect for our porch!! The one is a tractor and as you can see the other one is a Rooster. I just love them!! And look the sun was shining today!!

Woo Hoo!!



 

 

And I can't believe I forgot to show my new vintage Farm table!! I got this back around the time Kaitlin left for Connecticut. Right now I am using wooden folding chairs at it til we get a new (old) one for Sim. He is gonna paint the legs a different color later on. I was so excited as most of my vintage tablecloths I have fit it!! I love changing them around.

 

 



 

This is my chair we got on the yard sale trial back in August. I am just waiting til Sim finds his and we get all the stuff together. We have to get our roof fixed before we can re-do the kitchen dining room. Til then I am just gonna use the wooden ones. I want to keep my chair yellow. I am still workin on the living room but hope to share soon!! I finally got new rugs for the living room.

 

And I also can't believe I forgot to share my Squirrel I made with you guys!! This one is for me!! I am keepin her!! I just LOVE how she turned out!! I don't make to many things for myself. But this is a keeper. And I LOVE the squirrels as you know!! LOL 



 







 

Here are a few things I have been workin on around the funky farmhouse!!

 

 

 

A gathering I put together for staging a pic.

 

 

A cool "Farm Chick" heart shaped vintage pin cushion I put together. It's already in the thebagglady76 etsy shoppe. It turned out so cute!!

 

 

Another "Farm Chick" pin cushion from a cutter quilt heart shaped piece. I put a muslin piece on the back. On it's way to the shoppe.

 

Well that is alittle bit of what I have been up to!! Keepin busy and then sometimes just layin low to keep warm. I sure have been watchin a lot of cable re runs. But I love it. Sim got the flu last week and he has only called into work 2 times since we got married in the last 14 years. One was last week. SO I knew he was very sick. As soon as he got sick I went and slept in the living room. It was a good call as I didn't get it. My immune system isn't to good. LOL

 

And last time Danielle and Nick went to the doc they couldn't find out what the baby was. But they have an appt tomorrow and we are hopin to find out!! The baby is healthy though so far and that is the important thing!! And Nick got the job he interviewed for at Menard's. Things are goin good!!

Take care and stay warm n cozy!!

XOXO Love Fran.

A new Farm Animal and "NESTING"!!

Meet "ROXIE LOU HICKS". Oh how I am digging making these little beauties!! This one is named after my grand baby sorta the Roxie comes from her middle name Roxanne and the Lou is from my Kaitlin's middle name which is Louisa. They will all be from the Hicks family!! LOL I decided not to grunge this one up as the blue was so pretty. But I think I still like the grunge better. Right now I am working on finishing up one of my Prim DOG dolls as I can't wait to use that cute material on it!!

 

I have also been "NESTING"!! I made these pretty nest spoons for my Esty Shoppe. I have been watching the birds return slowly and I found some Downing Woodpecker feathers and added them to the nest. I love their feathers sometimes they look like polka dots on them. Oh how I love nature!! I have been takin little tiny walks outside. I had a cold for about a week it was driving me so darn crazy!! But it is gone now but I am still havin a flare up with my bladder disease. I am praying and praying as what the direction God has for me. I don't want to have a pity party as no one comes to them. AND I LOVE PARTIES!! Just not ones where no comes!! So I am kickin my own butt and trying to listen to HIM!! Hmmm.. as I just typed this the sun perked up!! I did a craft show this weekend and I have come to the realization that I am probably not gonna be able to do them much longer. I am praying for direction as I love to be with people and I love to create and sell what I make.

Thanks for listening. I have been praying all morning and watching the birds. I know God has a plan.

XOXO Luv ya all to the moon n back!!

Fran. 



Have you voted yet?

These are the new Lay's Potato Chips made up by real people!! LOL You vote on them for the ones you like!! Just let me say the Sriracha ones are super-duper HOT!! The Chicken & Waffle ones taste like Maple Syrup. And my favorite is the Cheesy Garlic Bread. They really taste like it. I gave the Sriracha to my cuzin who LOVES hot things!! She LOVED them. Me not so much!!

 

This is what I woke up to this morning!! I looked out my bedroom window and these little sweeties were on my porch. I LOVE the mourning doves.

(yes that is a trap we are having troubles with raccoons!! Can you believe it!! In the Winter Thyme!! I thought they slept!!!)

 

 

Can you see how big n fat my favorite squirrel is getting!! He is probably getting like that from ripping off the birds!!! But I still love him!!!

 

 

I couldn't stand it any longer. I want Spring so bad. So I made this cake!! It is strawberry with Spring frosting but I also added green and red m&m's. I got the cake mix at the Dollar Tree and the frosting at the Dollar General and the m&m's after Christmas clearance. So I guess this is my frugal Spring cake!! LOL But really have you seen how much the cake mixes are at the grocery store!! When I saw Pillsbury at the Dollar Tree I snapped it up!!! Guess Spring better get here cuz I am going crazy!!  I am making some new things but haven't quite finished them up yet. Today I actually cleaned up the kitchen n dining room and took down my Valentine's decorations. Tomorrow I plan on working in my studio/office/computer/craft/room!!! Shame on me for letting it get so messy!!

Peace out!!!! XOXO Love Fran.





 



HELLOOOOOO!!!!!

 

Just stoppin in to say Hello!!

 

This is a Bird House Sim made for the Craft Show this weekend that I am Co-Chair of at our church!! OMG I LOVE this one and he won't let me keep it!! Darn it!! Our Stupid car insurance is due and we must make some money!! This use to be my red phone I used in the kitchen til it broke!! I think it would look so cool in our kitchen after we remodel it!!

I have been sewing like a crazy woman!! And trying to get everything done for the craft show too! It is alot of work!! Sim has kicked out some other cool birdhouses too. But I wanted to share this one with you guys! and tell you what I've been up to. I am trying to dance as fast as I can but I feel more like a train wreck!! LOL I will post pics after Saturday of the show!! Til then take care!!

XOXO Love ya, Fran.  



HIS eye is on the sparrow and you!!!

 

PRAYING FOR MY BBF's!!!

(my very best blogging friends)

 

 

PRAYING FOR THE SAFETY OF MY BLOGGING FRIENDS ON THE EAST COAST AND EVERYWHERE!!! PLEEZ BE SAFE AND KNOW GOD LOVES YOU!!!

  I LOVE YOU GUYS TOO!!!

XOXOXOXO FRAN.



My new make-do bird feeder, and meet "Acorn"

 

This is my make-do bird feeder Sim made for me. Last Friday I had surgery. He said to me I'm gonna go feed the birds. The next thing I knew he was sitting this feeder up outside the livingroom window. He took an old ladder some wood an old rusty pan hooks and my suet cake feeders to make it. It didn't take the birds long to find it!!

 

I love it and I am enjoying it so much!!

 

I get pretty bored laying on the couch so I whipped up another Raggedy Prim Pigg doll. This is "Acorn". I found this material at JoAnn's before my surgery. I am also making a Raggedy Fran Farmgirl with the same material. I had these acorns and thought what a cool ideal to put one on her head. I am listing her in  my Etsy Shoppe. She smells real yummy and looks very grubby! I love the way each one turns out so different.

 

I have been watching alot of reruns of The Mentalist and NCIS! LOL Thank God for cable TV!! We got a new internet provider and I am loving my cable! LOL Today I started watching Castle! it's a marathon! LOL Sewing and watching TV and the birds.

 

 





 

I have also been taking little walks outside. I couldn't believe it when I saw that my clematis had blooms! This is always one of my first flowers to bloom in the Spring!! So I'm wondering is it Fall or Spring!! LOL

 

 My pain is getting better so I will be getting out n about more and I can't wait!! As you can see I am going crazy! LOL But at least I have Gods world to look at!!

XOXO Love Fran.

Been chillin on a Dirt Road!!

Hi there! I've sorta just been chillin with this heat wave going on!!

These are pics of me and Danny and Brooke at our favorite Veterans Park we go to when we spend our time together. I was chillin by the lavender and then I gathered some of the dried that was there. Danny and Brooke were my spotters !! LOL I'm sure no one cared. I am going to put it in to alittle ditty bag I have.

This is what I have been eating alot of!! As many fresh veges as I can get from my garden and sun-dried tomato basil wraps and chicken with Caesar dressing. I just keep the chicken cooked and ready to go in zip locks in the freezer!! And they are so good!!



Kaitlin and I have been making this pie we found on pinterest! It is so yummy and so easy to make!!

One graham cracker crust pre-made pie crust

One package of cool whip 8 ozs.

One can Sweetened Condensed Milk

Any flavor package Kool Aid!!

We used Pink Lemonade

Mix all together with a whisk and then use a spatula to put into the pie crust. Refrigerate until firm!!

That's it!! Does not last to long!! We really like the Pink Lemonade. That is the only kind we have been making so far. I want to try Lime to see if it taste like a Key Lime pie.



And here is the view from my window!! Don't cha just love the beauty of the animals and birds!! I can't believe I 've been having crows coming to eat!! I LOVE crows!! My most favorite bird. There has been 5 of them coming in by my pine trees! And the squirell was so cute down in my lillies eating the seeds the others were dropping. I talk to them all the time!! LOL Must be the heat!!!

Just wanted to share alittle of my corner of the world with you! Hope everyone is staying cool and got to have alittle break today as the weather was alot better!! Now if it would just rain!!! Oh and I live on a dirt road!!! LOL

XOXO Love ya, Fran.



Roses, Upcycling,and Bluebirds!!!

MY ROSES ARE BLOOMING!!!

This is a very special garden to me! Sim made this in memory of my Mom. Her name was Rose Marie. Sim took a rusty foot board to a bed and made a raised garden bed for them and then bought the angel for me. I couldn't believe it when I saw the beautiful blooms!! This has been only planted for about two weeks!! These roses will get alot bigger and fill in more. For now my soul is filled with love!!

BLUEBIRD OF HAPPINESS!!



Here is my newest Bird Nest I am adding to my Etsy Shoppe! I hand stitched the whole thing! The bluebird sits a atop old grubby chenille I upcycled from an old bedspread!! I used moss and silk faux forget-me-nots with gold and white string of beads for the nest. Her breast is a rusty orange color and her body is blue felt with a little black button from my button jar for the eye!! This is my own design and I love the way it turned out!! Bluebirds were very special to me and my Mom!!

I have been so busy in the garden I haven't had alot of creating thyme!! Torn today as it is raining!! Should I clean the house or create!! LOL If I get busy with it I could do both!! Right? I am thanking God for the rain though!! HE is watering my gardens for me!!!

GOD has made me fruitful in this land of suffering!!

Genesis 41:52

Have a great weekend and God bless you!!!

XOXO Love, Fran.

I've got the Spring Fever!!!

I am so excited about this awesome weather we are having!! Everyone is talking about seeing the Robins back! And I am too! I saw my first one yesterday in the backyard!! This is my new Spring Bird Nest going in to my Etsy Shoppe. I did a Spring Craft Show this weekend and sold one of these. I have decided I like doing Fall Craft Shows better than Spring. Saturday was a beautiful day here in Mich and I think people were busy outside.  It seemed like it was really slow. But not an entire bust.

Here is another Birds Nests I made from alittle baby girls shoe. This is so darn adorable!! I love it! and had so much fun making it!! Sometimes it's hard to let these things go. LOL  I made this one two sided. It has a vintage button on one side and one of my little grubby tags that says "Nest" on the other side. This will also be available in my Esty Shoppe.

I love this little cutey too!! So Springy!!! Also heading to My Esty Shoppe! I am in a Spring Creative mood!! And that's good thing!!! LOL I am going to be making some more nests in spoons and in these sweet little girl shoes.

This is Papa Sim and Caylee Roxanne! Last Thursday we down to see Caylee and Ryan. In this pic they are both saying cheese!! She is so adorable! She'll be two next month! Hard to believe. We had pizza and she showed off for us and gave us lot's of hugs and kisses!! Notice how Papa and Caylee both have the Boggs blue eyes! I was hoping she would! I love being a Grandma and guess what! She called me Grannie Frannie! she put both together!! I was in heaven!!

Well I hope everyone is enjoying the Spring weather and getting the fever to get things done! I know I am. But now for me it's gonna be to create inside or go outside and work in the yard!! LOL

Love ya, XO Fran. 

Mother Nature's Beauty!!

JUNE ARTFUL BAG CHALLENGE

For our June challenge we were to recycle something in to a bag/purse.

I had this old Sears hat box that was damaged. I kept looking at it and thinking I could make it into a "nest purse"!! When we were on our vacation we walked alot on the beach. I always pick up things. With this ideal in mind I picked up things I knew would make a cool nest. The only thing I added was some Spanish moss and a little egg that can removed. And I got some black trim from JoAnn's that kinda reminded me of feathers. 

I love how this turned out and I am calling it my "nest purse" as I can carry it and pick up more treasures!!

XO Fran.



Hello and Happy Spring!!!

I was pretty sure Spring was here. I saw my first Bluebird!! and my first Robin last week. In the first pic there is a bluebird on top of the feeder and down in the right corner a Robin!! BUT I do live in Michigan and there is a Winter Storm watch for tomorrow with snow, sleet, and freezing rain. I hope it stays up north of here!! I am dreaming of gardening and being outside!!!!

I thought I'd share with you what Kaitlin and I have been doing. I know so many people are having tough times right now and we are no different. So as one of our ways to cut back and try to get ahead we are couponing!! We work together. Cutting and sorting, and matching sales is a job. But we figure we are making money by doing this. We are planning meals too and eating much more healthier. Here is a picture of the last two receipts from when we did our shopping.

We call this our extreme couponing!! On March 4th we saved a total of $105.49 with a savings of 50%, and on March 18th we saved a total $104.57 with a savings of 53%. That makes a total savings of $210.06 in two weeks!! We shop at Kroger's, Sim is a grocery manager for them. It helps with our gas too. Now that our family and friends know we are doing this, we are getting alot of coupons given to us. I appreciate it so much! I have also been using coupons for eating out. It's kinda funny cuz I'll say, wait I think I have a coupon for there! Sometimes it makes the decision alot easier as where we are going!

With having more stuff in the house we were able to make this really good Greek pizza last night! Our church ladies make soup-to-go once a month and yesterday at church they realized the refrigerator wasn't working.So the bread dough started thawing. They were selling little baggies of it for a donation so they didn't have to throw it out. So for a $1.00 donation we made this yummy pizza! We had everything we needed and this kind of pizza doesn't need sauce. Kaitlin is a very good cook, and does alot of our cooking. I'm pretty good at washing the dishes!! LOL I love to bake more than cook. I am really looking forward to more couponing and saving. I am also looking forward to being able to get out and garden and ride my bike.

XO Fran.