Really Kinda Random--Great Finds Edition

I'm linking of with Cindy of Live a Colorful Life and Really Random Thursday.  Check out Cindy's blog today for more wonderful randomness.

We've had some great finds lately:

We get a lot of snakes on our property this time of year.  Last year was so dry we never saw many.

A great, snakey find:

The sun came out for a little bit on Sunday.  Sweet Pea went out to play.  She came running inside and told me to come out and see what she caught.  She caught these two garter snakes in our back yard.  Papa Pea helped a little.  He used a rake and held the snakes down.  Then, he picked up the snakes and put them in Sweet Pea's snake catcher cage.

Spidey is a curious cat.  So, he came and looked at the snake and when Sweet Pea didn't want him making a hole in the screen, she put the snakes up on a table.  Spidey jumped up on a chair next to the table and then onto the table.  Spidey took out his claws and clawed at the glass on the front of the cage.  Sweet Pea had to pick Spidey up.  P.S.  Spidey is sort of a fat cat, his rear end is heavier than his front.  Sweet Pea put Spidey back down.  Then he hopped back up on the chair and table again, so Sweet Pea put the snakes back on the ground.

Finally, Spidey did not want to claw at the cage any more, so Sweet Pea and Mama Pea gave him a pet.  Mama Pea wanted to take some photos.  When Sweet Pea was done playing with the snakes (and so was Spidey), she let them out in the grassy grassy woods up near the road.

{All of the above was dictated to me by Sweet Pea.  She wanted to tell you all about it.}

A great wooly find:

A while back, I said to Papa Pea, "I feel like I haven't seen your mother in forever.  Let's go visit her."  So, we took a weekend and traveled to Wisconsin.  While we were there, I visited with SisLH, and we did a little shopping day.  (I really enjoyed my day with SisLH.  We had a lot of fun together.  It's fun to have a wonderful SIL.)  We went to the Knitty Gritty Shop.  (I blogged a review of the shop here.  I love going there!)  I found this pattern and really wanted to make it.

I found the yarn that was called for in the pattern, but there weren't enough skeins of it.  So, I picked something else.  This is yarn that was made from wool from the shop owner's own sheep.  She has it professionally spun.  I thought it would be fun to use that!

It's pretty neat that she names the wool after the sheep it came from.  The wool above was called "Brownie."  I got to meet Brownie outside as we went back to the car.  (Knitty Gritty Shop is located on their farm.)  Brownie is the darkest sheep toward the back of the pack in this photo.  She is the only one with a pink tag on her ear.  Cindy, the shop's owner, said that Brownie is the worst mother, but she has great wool (the color is fantastic).  That's the only reason they keep her, I think!

I still haven't started the shawl.  Surprise!

A great greenish blue find:

Next, we went to an Amish quilt shop.  I didn't take any photos of it.  I was afraid it would be disrespectful.  It was also located on the family farm.  Half of the shop was quilt supplies and supplies for making dresses and hats.  The other side of the shop was a tack and harness shop.  The whole place smelled like leather.  I found these wonderful antique jars.  The are twice the size of regular quart jars.  Wish I had a quart jar sitting next to them so you could get a sense of size.

They were such a great price, I could not pass them up.

So many great finds:

We also went to Nancy's Notions in Beaver Dam.  I don't think I've ever shown you photos of the inside when it's not the big sewing weekend.  Here is the store to the left when you first walk in.

Here is the store straight ahead.  There are two more rooms other than these rooms as well.  It is really a fun place to shop.  I can poke around in here for hours.  It's fun to see the catalog samples in real life.  I can walk through once, then a second time and see all new stuff, there is so much.  You just can't focus enough in one pass through!

As I was up at the counter paying for this book (which was on sale for a great price),

I saw this black pin fabric on the shelf.  (Mind you, I hadn't seen it in my first two trips through the store at all!)  My friend, Jackie, had been using some of this at retreat, and I loved it.  I had never seen it anywhere before.  So, I grabbed it up.  Then, I couldn't resist this measuring tape fabric that was right next to it. I  had to get out of that store before I found more!

A doggie find:

As I was digging through my photos looking for random stuff today (I have been so busy this week, I haven't had time to collect good randomness....but I'm so far behind on my blogging, I had a stash of photos), I found this one from our Christmas trip to Florida.  I love this drinking fountain for doggies that I saw at one of the outdoor shopping areas.  Another great find.

How about you?  Got any great finds lately?

Tonight is my last night of class for the semester.  Yay!  (Yes, it's very early...we started very early in January.)  Next week is finals week and graduation.

For the record:  It's still cold.  And it has rained all week.  We had thunderstorms almost all through the night last night.

Happy Thursday.

Until next time,

 

Comments

[Sally]

You have sheep in your post!!!! You are awesome!!! What fun randomness! And you are braver than me---no snake handling for me or my girls!!!!eeeeek!! Hugs!!

[Maggie Szafranski]

Snakes, cats, sheep, and dogs! It's a real menagerie! We had some of those size Ball jars back home on the farm.

[Maureen]

I hate snakes. I hope I never see one at your house!

When we plan a WI trip, I will have to put Nancy's Notions on my list of places to stop!

WOOT WOOT to the end of the semester!!!

[Shelly]

It's storming here, too. I wish it would stop. I wish the rain would space itself out, because I know we'll be needing it later. Tell Sweet Pea I like her Spidey and the Snakes story . . .

[Jana]

You Thursday posts are my favorite.

[Doris]

LOVE E's story, but I'm glad our yard isn't like your's--really hate snakes. The only good thing about them is that they eat rodents. Which I also loathe.

[Caroll]

Oh, no, I hate snakes. Even hate seeing pictures. But the cute on of Sweet Pea and Spidy made it all better. Looks like you've been having a great time!

[Carla]

Like Caroll, above, I hate snakes! Sometimes I get one in my garden pond and that is the worst because I'm afraid to piddle around the pond much! I'm kind of surprised yours are awake with it still being cold! I"m glad to hear that your semester is almost at end!

[terriaw]

Yes, I hate snakes too. And that one looked kinda long. Aah, quickly, scroll down!

Love those blue mason jars, which you don't see too often. Great find.

[Melissa]

Yikes! Snakes! Never had been one to catch them-we always had cottonmouths and copperheads in our yard. See snake-grab shovel! Now we have rattlers in this neighborhood!

[Sherri]

Snakes...no thank you! But those blue canning jars...love them! I now have 6...and 3 were my grandmothers...I never tire of finding them!!!

[Jackie W.]

Your other friend Jackie sure seems to see alot more of you than I do=)
I don't like snakes! but I do like your gloves. I won't write on every single post, the way 'some' people do=)
I made earrings for Amanda, cause I am a suck up. They are on my blog.

[Thimbleanna]

Another great random round-up! I LOVE the shawl pattern and yarn -- looking forward to seeing that knit up. Loved SweetPea's story about the snake -- did NOT love the snakes however. Must put Warning: Snake Ahead label on blog posts LOL! (LOVED those pin and tape measure fabrics too!)

[Linda in Calif.]

I bet those jars come in handy. I would love to visit Nancy's store. Maybe some day.