Cottage Pet Story Giveaway

FUNNY PET STORY 
PET TOY GIVEAWAY
Deadline: Saturday, October 15, 2011 at Midnight

Where is your pet's comfort hideaway?
Coziness in a cottage makes a family feel comfortable. But the family pets fit into that coziness somewhere. How do you make your pets comfortable in and around your cottage? Pets are funny. We teach them tricks, and they learn tricks from each other. We had a cat once that taught our dog, Bongo, tricks. He never figured out until she came along that it was possible to jump up on top of the back of the sofa - a not so lovely trick to deal with. But he managed to try it out himself. He must have liked that trick, though, because when my husband came home for R&R once from Iraq, Bongo tried that trick out in a different way. I had rented a beach house near Galveston, Texas for the family. One day my husband and I got in the car for a drive down the beach and took Bongo with us. My husband was driving, and I was sitting in the middle. Bongo was in the back seat. Suddenly, he jumped up in the front seat with us then decided that wasn't good enough. He jumped higher to the dashboard and plopped himself right in front of the steering wheel so he could have all my husband's attention. We were riding on the sandy beach with no traffic around, so it was safe.
A more recent incident happened this week. I had walked into the restroom and noticed a couple of my shoes knocked onto the floor from the rack. This four-shelf rack was outside. My husband and I painted it, and he moved it into the restroom for more storage. Shoes line the bottom two shelves. I thought my husband must have knocked the shoes onto the floor accidentally and thought nothing of it and put the shoes back. Two or three days later I heard a noise like someone putting on shoes. I thought it must be my husband but looked over and noticed he was in the living room. I couldn't figure it out, so I looked in the restroom. There was Bongo...moving my shoes from the rack onto the floor. He was making a cozy place to make himself comfy. Then I remembered another time he snuggled up to boots (see photo below). At least he isn't one to chew the shoes. For that I am most grateful. Now what about you? What pet stories do you have to share?

Another of Bongo's Comfort Hideaways



Have pet stories from your cottage? I'd love to hear them. Join this contest for funniest story, and you win a pet toy purchased at Petco. The stories will be judged by a panel of three people: my husband, one of my friends, and me.

Contest Rules:

1. There is no limit to how many funny pet stories are told per person.
2. Be sure to get your stories listed here before midnight on Saturday, October 15, 2011.
3. You must be a follower of Southwest Cottage Designs to win this contest.
4. There will only be one winner. Winner will be chosen by a three-person panel.
5. Winner will be announced on Sunday, October 16, 2011 at Southwest Cottage Designs.

I'm linking to:

• It's A Blog Party
• For Blogs...Current Giveaways

Baskets for Writers

What do you use baskets for in your home? I like to use them for fruit, candy, magazines and books, and lately, for bringing my tomatoes in from the garden. On the first Saturday of this month, however, I saw some baskets filled with a variety of goodies for writers. I attended the Howl At The Moon Writers Conference in Apple Valley, CA. As I walked in the door, I noticed beautiful big baskets filled to the brim with items a writer would use and a few snacks tucked in, too. Thinking it would be nice to win one of the baskets, I purchased a few tickets. Each person attending the conference was given one ticket. The conference lasted from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm. Toward the end of the conference, the president of the writers' group asked everyone to fill out a little survey. I began to fill out the form. In the meantime, I heard him talking but had my mind on filling out that important survey when I heard him say, "No one is coming forward. Let me call the number out one more time." That got my attention quickly. I grabbed my handbag, looked in my wallet where I had put the tickets and pulled them out. At that time the number was read aloud for the last time..."344892. " I raised my hand and excitedly called out, "It's mine, it's mine, it's mine!" I couldn't believe I had almost passed up the chance to win one of those huge baskets. They even let me choose whichever one I wanted. One writer walked over to me while I was pondering on which basket to take. "Get this one. My book is in here." Her book is a marketing book called "How to" Market Your Book, and I had heard it's a very good marketing book. Since the first edition of my book, Phantom Seven, has been published this summer, I was interested in reading this new marketing book. Not only that, but there were a couple of other books of interest in the basket, journals, pretty folders, and more. Even a package of M&Ms were tucked inside. Just look at this pretty basket:

It's Mine, It's Mine, It's Mine

Basket Contents

Look at the size of those pretty filled baskets!

The number "344892" added a touch of delight to me October 1st. Now I have another basket to add to my home collection.
I'm linking to:

• Wow Us Wednesdays

Autumn Joy Gardening

Beautify your autumn garden with Autumn Joy Sedum.

My garden Autumn Joy

This succulent perennial is drought tolerant and is wonderful for the late summer and fall garden. The Autumn Joy turns from green to a light pink to burgundy or cranberry color. This is one of my favorite perennials, and I love the color that it adds to my garden.

Pink Office

Search your office for pink, and see how many things you can come up with. This morning I went on a mission in my office and found five pink items to take a picture of. I love pink but didn't realize how much I liked it until I found out about the Pink Saturday party. Colors inspire us and affect our moods in various ways. These are the fun pink things I found on my pink picture stroll this morning:

Makes you want to drink water!

A recent gift from a friend.

I love my little camera case and pink note pad.

And last, my "Angela" notes that remind me not to be impatient and not to waste time while waiting.

 I hope you've enjoyed this pink office tour and would love to have you visit again soon. Have a happy day!

I'll see you over at Pink Saturday party!

Painting a Shutter on a Shoestring

Something about Friday, September 23rd being the official day of fall made me want to paint. I had three or four cans of spray paint - one white, one dark red, one primer white, and one gray. Also in my paint supply were three craft acrylic paint bottles - a dark red, a copper glitter, and a cream. The interesting thing about all of these paint cans and bottles is they were all either half full or almost empty. I decided to use them all except the gray spray can. Supplies I used amounted to two sponges, one foam brush, and a Styrofoam plate to mix the acrylics. After all, it's fall, and that is my favorite season of the year. The holidays are around the corner. This time of year is enjoyable and exciting, and it's a time to get creative! I had picked up this hinged shutter that looked pathetically drab, but I knew I'd find a place for it. After I brought it home, I spray painted one side of it, though it needed another coat. I lost the inspiration for finishing it because I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it yet. So I set it aside - until Saturday. Out came all the containers of paint and supplies. I had no idea what the outcome would be. When my hubby walked over to view the funny-looking multi-colors of paint on the shutter, I think he thought I'd gone a little crazy. He was cool about it, though, and didn't dare say much.
The outcome:

Weathered Painted Look

...with a "WELCOME the season of wonder" sign added...

and perfect for my patio garden theme in this kitchen corner!

 Allow me to leave you with this interesting note about the WELCOME sign. I found this vintage tin sign at an antique shop for $5. Since we've been slowly working on our cottage cabin fixer upper, I tried not to add much on the walls. That's why this little sign got tucked inside the little corner cabinet. Now the funny thing is that it's been there for months. After I brought the painted shutter in the kitchen, situated it, and pushed the cabinet back against it, I placed the tin sign back into its original position seen in this picture. My husband walked into the kitchen and started laughing at the sign's words, especially the second line "the season of wonder." Our experience with this fixer upper has turned into just that - a season of wonder as in: "Wonder what we will do with this?" or "Wonder how we will get through this?" The way I tend to respond to wanting to do, fix, or buy something that is difficult or costs more than what is available is not "I can't" but "How can I?" I don't give up easily but am persistent when I see potential in an idea, item, writing a book, or in this case - a fixer upper.

I'm linking up to these parties:

• It's Party Time
• Southern Hospitality's Today's Thrifty Treasures
• Nothing But Country
•  
• 
  

How to Make Rag, Braided, and Hooked Rugs

Look for braided, rag, or hooked rugs in your antique and second-hand shops. I've found a variety of inexpensive colorful vintage rag rugs at antique shops. A trend you may see in the fall is hooked rugs. If you've never made a hooked rug, it is fun and easy. I've made one long ago, though I think making a rag rug could be even easier. Since I posted about rag rugs, other bloggers have mentioned how they would like to learn to make a rag rug. Rag rugs or hooked rugs can be fun to make to add to your own home or give as a holiday gift.
My mother and aunt made braided rugs years ago out of sheets. They would find old white sheets and dye them the colors they liked. Then they tore the sheets into long strips and braided the strips. I especially favor the heart-shaped braided rug in the Jack and Jill bath of my parents' country home. The braided rug can also be used like the rag rug for alternative uses such as these:

• Wall Art
• Table Decor 
• Pet Beds 

Can't find the colors you're looking for? Get creative, and make your own. Use this easy tutorial:

Hooked Rug Tutorial:

 I'm linking up with:

1. Wow Us Wednesdays

Happy Hump-Day! The middle of the week. Halfway to the weekend. A favorite day of many, yet every day we can think of something good. One of my favorite Bible verses since I was a teen is:

Philippians 4:8

Viewing the 1769 King James Version. 

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.

Rugs, Rag Rugs, Red Rugs and Pink

Rag rugs add color to a room. I like pinks and reds in a rag rug. Last weekend I stopped by Linda Marie's Enchanted Treasures, definitely an enchanting place. When I go there, it makes me feel like a little girl walking into her huge playhouse. The shop is filled with treasures in each room. Walk out the back door, and step outside to another enchanting world of vintage. It's like a house set up outdoors. I found a red-and-multi-colored rag rug runner for less than $10.00 in the outdoor vintage area on this last visit. It didn't take me long to find just the spot for it:

Newest Rag Rug from Linda Marie's

 Notice all the rugs happen to have pink...

Rag Rug with Pink

 ...and the black fringe I so love on this little rug...

Love this Pink and Black with an Array of Other Colors

 Join me at Fabulous Friday Hop where I'm honored to be a guest! You know how you experience days when you need an extra boost of inspiration? I found that extra boost when I met this sweet hostess of Fabulous Friday Hop. She has a blog full of interesting and helpful insights that anyone can benefit from. And Happy Friday to you.
Saturday, I hope you'll join me over at Pink Saturday also. This is another inspiring site each week with pink ideas and lovelies.

Five Home Cash Flow Ideas

How can homeowners struggling to meet high mortgage payments in this economy turn their homes into cash flow?
Have you ever considered this idea? When thousands or more Americans are struggling, seeking jobs, facing foreclosure, are there any options other than the typical loan modification that a homeowner might not even qualify for?
Most women want a home of their own. We like to decorate our homes to make our families feel cozy and cook delicious, healthy meals to satisfy our families. But what happens when a financial crisis hits? What happens if there isn't enough money saved for a crisis like losing a job? It happens. Usually when it does, most Americans are not prepared for it because they live from paycheck to paycheck.
Here are a few cash flow ideas that I've read of homeowners creating:

• Sell plants if you're a green thumb.
• Teach a class on what you know how to do.
• Write articles and submit them online.
• Blog for money.
• Start a tutoring business in your home.

Have more ideas? Add to the list. It may inspire someone who reads this. 

Remembering on September 11

God bless America! God bless the families of American heroes, those whom we shall always remember from that never-to-be-forgotten day of September 11, 2001.

Where were you that day? What were you doing when you heard the news? My husband, daughter, and I were staying in our RV in Wisconsin at a church where my husband was speaking. The pastor's wife came over to the church and told us what had just happened. I felt shock. It didn't seem real. The attack shattered American families and friends of loved ones never to be seen again. America was forever to be affected by the horror of such evil. 

Mickey Mangun... 

Today, Honor the Creator!

Today, Honor America!

Wildfire Clouds

A southern California wildfire filled the sky with smoke one afternoon recently. It was Friday afternoon, work traffic mixed with holiday traffic to Las Vegas on the busy freeway. Mr. Fun and I took a back way through the other side of the mountain where our little cottage lies and stopped at a mountain restaurant for dinner. We figured it would be crowded with the extra traffic of people like us taking the different route home. The restaurant was nearly empty. Nice and relaxing.
A friend commented that wildfires can have a good effect on the land, that it's nature's way of bringing new growth again. With this thought I'm also reminded of how my grandmother would put iron skillets in the fire to purify them. When we go through the fire in situations of life, as the Bible describes with "fiery darts" that come, we are tried for our good. Even gold and silver are refined and purified in fire.

Although wildfires are the cause of these sunset photos I took that day of the wildfires, I'm amazed at the beauty, the magnificent color. And for Pink Saturday that I'm linking to, I've included the last three photos with the pretty pink hues.

Garden Comfort

I feel like I have a tomato plant jungle growing just outside my kitchen window. Yesterday afternoon when I came home I eagerly picked out a few red tomatoes and - finally - my yellow summer squash. I was quite excited. It seems like my life has been a whirlwind whirlwinds slamming against me for the last month. When things get difficult in life, rejoice! It works! I don't know about you, but reaping vegetables from my garden simply makes me feel giddy with joy. I needed that boost of joy yesterday evening. Let me share some of the photos I took:

May you enjoy a wonderful day and a wonderful weekend, my blogging friends.When Fridays come, I rejoice. I love every day, 

but I especially love the weekends. 

Happy Friday to you! 

I'm joining these fun linking parties:

• Weekend Wander 
• Fabulous Deals and Steals 

Jump Rope Fun at the Cottage

Jump rope fun is my kind of fun.

 Take a moment away from your cottage decorating and designing for a laugh...

Every cottage needs a jump rope for the children. When I was a young girl, I loved playing with my jump rope. I was either swinging, jump roping, or riding my bicycle. A friend of my brothers came by to visit my brothers one day. The story goes that they needed a rope to fix something. That was the last I saw of my jump rope. My memory is that I became immediately extremely upset with my brothers allowing their friend to use my jump rope. You'd think they would have bought me a new one! :)
Speaking of jump ropes, last night my husband showed me this funny You Tube video of a couple pretending to have a rope. I laughed and laughed. Enjoy:

Go buy you a jump rope, and have some fun!
I'm joining these blog parties:

• Twitter Party Thursdays

Labor Day Weekend Vintage Finds

Rug decorating intrigues me. Do you notice rugs when you shop at antique stores? What can you do with a rug? How do you decorate with rugs? I'd be interested in knowing your uses for rugs.  

This is my Labor Day weekend vintage rug find 

- and a magazine to boot:

A RUG FOR DECORATING THE COTTAGE

When I brought the cutesy little rug home, I placed it on a shelf on my baker's rack under a rose painting. The sweet thing about this rug is that it is handmade and even has the handmade tag. The back of the rug looks as nice as the front side. 
RUGS RUGS RUGS
Rugs are fun. Another small rug I purchased awhile back I'm currently using in the center of a kitchen table. Naturally, of course, other rugs I like for the floor. 

I'm joining the following blog parties:

• House of Grace
• Wow Us Wednesdays
•  

Cottage Contentment

September 1st at Southwest Cottage Designs

Latest news at the cottage:

Sometimes it's not the time to decorate but to be content with the way things are. That is how life is at my cottage currently. Content is enjoying watching the two new kittens the mama cat produced awhile back. I'm surprised she didn't take them to another home somewhere across the street or to the empty field to hide them like she usually does. I love to watch them chase each other, grab their mother's tail, curiously sneak up to the food bowl as their mother devours the food.
There is the square foot garden and the kitchen tomato and pepper garden. This is my first square foot garden, and it has been a learning experience. The best thing about it is that three yellow summer squash are growing, one is almost ready to eat, and a small eggplant is growing. My tomatoes are growing tall and out and anywhere they can get to, and there are many. No peppers yet, and no cucumbers yet.
And then there are the flowers, looking beat from the heat of the summer. Let's not forget the ants. Every time I water the flowers, ants won't leave me alone. One good thing - they aren't fire ants! My favorite flowers right now are the ones growing in the big concrete planter near my porch. They're the first flowers I see when I walk out the door and the last ones I see when going inside - white, pink, and so refreshing to see.

Kitten Peeking Out

Kitchen Tomato Garden

Pink and White Mixed Flowers
Porch Planter

I'm looking forward to the long Labor Day weekend. Be safe!

I'm joining:

• Weekend Wander
• Pink Saturday

Miracle Joy

"  Your joy is going to come in January!"

In December 1978 my husband and I were married just after Christmas and right before my birthday. We talked about having children and waited...waited...and waited. The first two or three years I didn't mind the wait as I was so young. After several years, however, I felt sad that I had not conceived. One year we went on a Holy Land tour with fellow ministers and their wives and my family, also ministers. One early morning before the excursion of the day began, my oldest brother called our room and asked if he could come over for a few minutes. He had dreamed the night before of a room full of ladies wearing maternity clothes. I was one of them. He asked my husband and me to join hands with him as he prayed for us. That same day, we went by Rachel's well, and members of the group were teasing some of the young ladies about drinking from Rachel's well, saying that if we drank of the well we would become pregnant. Later, the same day, an older minister friend of my family came to me while we were in the commonly known Upper Room. We were having a prayer meeting, and this minister felt impressed that I should go through the prayer line to receive prayer to conceive a child. What a day! That was in June. On one October day, I knelt in my bedroom and prayed, "God, I believe you're going to give me a baby, but I just want to know when." Almost before I could finish that sentence, certain words flashed through my mind: YOUR JOY IS GOING TO COME IN JANUARY! I thought, was that me? Where did those words come from? "God, was that from you?"
At the time I worked for State Department of Texas Highways and Public Transportation. In the years I had worked there, never had I had to work on a weekend. Never had I been required to lift boxes - until approximately January 19, 1988 on a Saturday. Soon after that workday, I began feeling sick - a sickness unlike what I had ever experienced. I had visited a fertility doctor for awhile. One day I went to begin the next fertility procedure. They took tests, and the doctor came in to announce: "You don't have to begin fertility tests. You are pregnant!" It was January!
My husband and I always said if we had a girl, we would name her middle name Joy. October 6, 1988, our "Joy" was born. My mother would make a comment about her miracle (me) having a miracle. When I was born, the doctor had said I wouldn't make it through the night. My dad was a pastor of a church. Dad tells the story about the doctor saying I wasn't going to live through the night. The church was in a revival. That night the people did not leave when the service ended. They stayed and prayed for hours. Finally, that night, the doctor gave my dad good news:  "She's going to live." I believe in miracles!

Here's my "Joy" that just got married July 30th:

 

Ask, believing, and it shall be done!

I am posting* these true stories of my life as inspiration to join in with the up-coming Miracle Makeover Party. It's about a little boy named Charlie, and this will help raise money for another Miracle Makeover for someone in need. If you are interested in participating in the Makeover Reveal Party, visit:

• Pink Saturday
• *Spiritual Sunday
• Metamorphosis Monday
• Country Wings in Phoenix

Small Places

What's it like living in small places? I could tell you many stories of what it's like. I've lived the home-is-where-you-park-it RV lifestyle, mobile-home style, apartment style, and cabin style. How? By adapting. It seems like that's what I do best - adapt. I'm in another adapting mode right now with this cottage cabin I live in. These are a few things I did today to enable me to adapt:

1. Vacuum
2. Move a side table and two end tables
3. Tie my new 15% off-$6-a-piece-chair pillows to chairs
4. Arrange side table setting
5. Arrange table setting
6. Take photos of nature

Those are a few small get-me-through-change tasks I enjoyed today. It's one of those days...weekends...seasons of change.

When I tired of in-house tasks, I took mini nature breaks by watering the kitchen tomato and pepper garden, square foot garden, and the rock garden of arid plants that I haven't watered in awhile. Another mini break I spent capturing the little bird nest in my cactus with my camera. The cactus reminded me of the leaning tower of Pisa. The cactus intrigues me with its spikes and delicate pink flowers. How beautiful and serene nature is.

Today I'm sharing with:

• Pink Saturday

Wedding Idea Winner

Greetings! I've been away from my blog since a week before my daughter's wedding in Texas. As I promised, here are the photos...and... the winner for outside wedding ideas for my Wedding Ring Quilt Giveaway contest is:   Gail who said... Another idea.....quilts for table cloths...on the food table, gift table, cake table (this one might be an all white one). 

Honorable mention is: Tammy@Beatrice Banks who said...

Sparklers for the send off! My daughter, Chrissie, was married to her sweetheart on July 30 in Kemah, TX in a friend's back yard by the bay. It was beautiful! They chose to decorate their outside wedding with nature's natural color: trees, flowers, the bay, grass. Chrissie used a quilt top for the table with the guest book and picture of her and her new husband. (Note: My mom passed away three years ago. Since then I gave each of her granddaughters one of the quilt tops she had made. Chrissie used hers for the table. Another sentimental note is that Chrissie, her sister, one of her matrons of honor, and I made the bouquets, boutonnieres, and corsages and used ribbon and lace from a huge box I had saved that was Mother's. These special mementos made me feel like she was a part of the wedding.) Chrissie loved the sparklers idea! Due to the drought, there was a ban on buying fireworks. On the eve of her wedding after the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, the city held their last Friday night fireworks display on the bay - right where we were. So Chrissie got to have her sparklers after all - lots of sparkle! 

Beautiful Wedding Setting on Chrissie's and Elvin's Wedding Day by the Bay!

The Bride's Cake and Groom's Cake Combined! Bottom layers are the white cake, and top layers are the delicious chocolate with raspberry filling cake - made by the groom's professional cake decorator father!

Quilt Guest Book and Photo Table

Me, Mom signing the guest book.

Mrs. Chrissie

Happy Bride

Mr. & Mrs.

Mr. Fun, Chrissie's dad, taking a photo of the person taking his pic.

The makeover vintage dress. Now Chrissie's (shorter length)...was mine (when it was long).

The bottom layer of ruffles on mine was added to the back of hers.

 I hope you've enjoyed the photos of the bride and groom and their summer wedding on the bay photos!