ADDITION

I tried to edit the post below but blogger would only bring up posts from last Sept. back. I give up.

Just wanted to say that the collar on Marie my Mannequin and the collar on the 3rd. pic were only 5.00 for both. All the other lace pieces were 2 or 3 for 5.00 and the trims similar. I really have to cut down as I will never use all of this in my lifetime. It is still the cheapest therapy around.

I have a piece of pink and cream toile fabric that will go great with the pink and cream ribbon trim. Will make a great summer boho bag. I also bought a lot more bits and pieces but didn't take pics of all.

BUSY BEE

I can't believe it has been over 3 weeks since I last blogged. Life has been pretty hectic around here but all by my own making. I entered a Christmas swap where you swap with 3 other women and you make 3 different Christmas ornaments or items for each. I also signed up for a Secret Santa with one gal and you just fill a box with items you think she would like from the info you are given with a $20.00
limit. It can all be spent on one item or a bunch of smaller gifts - which is what I have done.

I cannot show you the swap items until I have sent them but they are being mailed tomorrow or Tues. and then next week I can show them.

I have also been looking for small bits and pieces for the kids and grandkids. At this point we are usually sending money for the parents to either buy what the kids want or to put the money towards a larger priced item they want like IPods, etc. but I still like to send a box of small items up to each family just from Mom. I do enjoy doing this but it takes a little time.

Our weather down here in Florida has been beautiful. Mainly high 70's - low 80's. I know that will not continue all through our stay but Nov. is certainly one of the nicest months all winter. We are staying down for Christmas again and I am having our usual open house potluck dinner for anyone who is not leaving or having family. So far there are 8 of us but a lot of folks I haven't talked to yet. I started decorating yesterday and have the living room area done but will do the sun room today.

Last weekend was the Renninger's Antique Extravaganza weekend. They have 3 a year. Nov. Jan. and Feb. It is the only time you pay to get in and then only at the antique end where you get hundreds of dealers. I did not go to that end but just to the flea market end which also attracts many dealers you would not normally see. I manage to buy enough stuff at this end that I don't feel I need to go to the other. I am scared of what I would see and want to buy at the other and have no will power when I see something I really like. I will post some pics of what I found.

I am starting a new venture tomorrow afternoon. I am going to learn how to play Mah Jong with a few neighbour ladies. 2 play already and they are going to try and teach a few more of us. I said I would play for 3 weeks or so and that should give me an idea if I like it or not. I don't play bridge so other then bunco which I sub for occasionally this is a game they say they have fun at. We will see. Will let you know how I make out.

GOOD IDEA MADE BETTER WITH RIGHT PICTURE

Here is the picture of the book that should have been included below. I apparently hit the same pic twice.

GOOD IDEA

I saw this book made into a holder on line somewhere and I wish I could give the gal credit but cannot remember where I saw it.

It is very easy to do and just great for holding tags, atc's, etc. that we receive from our talented blogger friends.

I used an old Reader's Digest book - the kind with 3-4 different stories in it.
You just sit watching tv and fold each page in half all in the one direction. When you are finished the weight of it holds the book flat.

Took maybe an hour or so. I actually made one and then thought that was dumb as now I have to carry this larger item to Florida so gave it to Sue my daughter and made another one when I got down here. I had these books in the basement but they should be available at library sales, house sales, flea markets, etc.

BEARS IN FLORIDA

Before we moved down here I would not have believed there would be bears in our area of Florida. At least not until 2 years ago when the Florida black bear started leaving their usual home grounds near the Wekiva River area in search of food. We had multiple sitings last year here in the Country Club and had the pictures posted in our local newsletter to prove it. One pic had a large bear sitting on the ground atop a bird feeder he had pulled down to the ground looking for bird seed. This was a large metal pole in cement and he pulled it down flat to the ground as if it was a twig.

Last winter Harv went outside one day in the front and a man was walking his dog. He mentioned the large prints on the driveway and they both looked and they were huge bear prints. There is a conservation area with a pond and that is where they think they are living. It must have been muddy becase the prints started at the grass and came right up the driveway then swerved at the side of our house and went between ours and the house next door. We have a large pond on the golf course at the end of our lot and we assume that is where he was going. We had a lot of visitors coming around bringing friends and/or grandkids to see the paw prints which stayed until the next big rain. We were all advised that to get rid of them we had to get rid of any food. No dog food, bird food, garbage cans out at night, etc.

Well we thought that when we came down this year they wold be gone. Think again. My next door neighbour sold her house and people we know who used to live here and moved to Georgia moved back and bought her house. Sandie is an early riser as was my old neighbor Monica and she always threw our paper up to the front door for us.
Sandie has continued the tradition as she gets up at 5 when I am just rolling over for the first time. Last week at 5 she stooped to pick up our paper and heard a large growl and looked over and there was a bear. She dropped the paper and ran home. He also took off apparently when she ran. According to the local wildlife people that unless the bears attack either a pet or a human they will not try and catch them. Last winter they said a mother with cubs was here and now I believe it.
Bear sightings this summer have been for both small and 1 very large bear.

I think I will stay in after dark and stay in bed until it is light out. No problem there.

BEARS IN FLORIDA