Primitive Finger Lickin' Good...

I'm talkin' about all the fantastic and unique offerins' we have on The Humble Arts for May 1st!

Here's a peek at what's in the coop:

Don't forget, there's still time to grab those feathers and increase your chances to win any of our Wing Ding Chick Fling giveaways!
:> )

I Don't Know How Fred Flintstone Did It...

After we had our 19th century dairy barn dismantled, I made a promise to whomever built it.
I promised to remove the fieldstone foundation they laid by hand and landscape with it around our property.

Since I don't have a dinosaur, Babe came to the rescue and knocked one of the walls loose.
Tom is in the tree cuttin' business, hence the Paul Bunyan humor.
(Thanks for bringin' her over Tom!)

That was the easy part. But since Babe couldn't stick around for long, I had the hard part of tryin' to move those stones by hand.

I wonder if a Terradactyl could help me lift this one?

I have a long way to go but with a lot of sweat and back pain, I will fulfill my promise.

I was thrilled when I found this lil' gem buried in the dirt.
She's not that old, but I'm happy knowin' she brought happiness to a wee one somewhere along the line.

Isn't she some kind of wonderful?

"Yabba-Dabba-Doo!"
:> )

A Sneak Peek At My Wing Ding Chicken Fling Offerin'...

on The Humble Arts.

I'm pleased with the way my folksy chicken centerpiece turned out. For now, she'll stay nestled on my table.

But I may have to blindfold her durin' supper later.
We're havin' grilled chicken breast. Shhhhhhhh....

See everyone on May 1st!

UPDATE: Okay, I guess I hid that feather so good no one could find it!! So I moved it. Now if anyone can't see it this time, I'm takin' everyone to Lenscrafters.
Good luck!!
:> )

Happy Arbor Day Folks...

TREES
Joyce Kilmer 1886–1918

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.



A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;



A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;



A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;



Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.



Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.



Woo-hoo! Today is Arbor Day here in New York State!



If you'd like to find out when Arbor Day is in your area, check out The National Arbor Day Foundation map and plant a tree.

Uh-oh... I vaguely remember sayin' I was goin' to start my New Year's resolution of exercisin' more and healthier eatin' on Arbor Day. Sigh.

The next time I open my trap about New Year's resolutions, will someone please cram a pinecone in it?

:> )

Here's What's New...

Some Countryfolk Keepsakes dollies!

Oh! And happy Earth Day too.
But I'm more of an Arbor Day gal.
:> )

Don't Get Mad...

Get even.

He, err I mean she will be available on my Countryfolk Keepsakes website soon.

(My hubs better get crackin' on diggin' those holes for the blueberry bushes or he's next.)

:> )

Goin' Berry Crazy...

I am on a mission. First, I'm determined to clean up around all the blackberry briars on our property. Then I need to plant the blueberry bushes and strawberry plants I purchased over the weekend. If anyone has any growin' tips you'd like to share, please do. I could use all the help I can get.

Now let me ask you... Have you ever tried to weed around blackberry briars??!! Holy smokes! I spent most of the time pullin' off the prickers snagged to my clothin' and tendin' to the thousands of scratches I now have. I'm carved up almost as bad as the I time I took Gracie to the vet. Truthfully, I'd rather sleep on blackberry briars than go through that again.

Of course the whole time I'm workin' like a dog, I had an audience.

Not one of them lent a fiberfil stuffed hand to help me either.

Then this one hid in the bushes to get out of helpin' me with chores.
He thought he would blend right in and I wouldn't spot him. Nice try.

Little does he know I plan on puttin' him in a dress later today. That'll teach him.
:> )

I Got A Makeover...

Woo-hoo!!! And I must say, I look terrific!!
Nope, I didn't meet with that Dr. 90210 feller either.

Eleasa from Designs By Eleasa gave me my makeover. A website makeover that is!

Not only is Eleasa extremely talented, she's a real sweetheart and the nicest gal.

So if you are lookin' for graphics, auction templates, "About Me" templates or websets; check out her site.

Heck while you're at it, check out the new graphics on my Countryfolk Keepsakes site. They are perfectly patriotic and just what I was lookin' for!

Best of all, the barns in my banner were the dairy barns that once stood on the ol' Countryfolk Keepsakes homestead. How cool is that?
:> )

Are You In The 7%...

A man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, "Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like."

The Lord led the man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table.
In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the man's mouth water.

The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful.

But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.
The man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. The Lord said, "You have seen Hell."

They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the man's mouth water.

The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The man said, "I don't understand."

"It is simple," said the Lord. "It requires but one skill. You see they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves."

When Jesus died on the cross, he was thinking of you. It's estimated 93% won't pass this story along.

If you are one of the 7% who will, tell others.

I'm in the 7%.

Remember... I will always share my spoon with you.
God bless.
:> )

Hot Dog! Get Your Hot Dog Here...

I bet you thought I was talkin' about the kind you put on a bun. Nope. Although he could fit in a hot dog bun but he wouldn't be as tasty as a Hofmann.

This lil' feller will soon be in the arms of one of my dollies I've been workin' on.

I made him in memory of my beloved Hans, the coolest miniature Daschund ever.

Yeah, I know... If you have a mini Doxie, yours is the coolest ever too.
:> )

Hello, Hello, Hello...

As I was workin' on my dollies I couldn't help but think of The Three Stooges.

Oh man, I could sit and watch them all day. Silly slapstick is one of my favorite forms of comedy.

Of course Curly was my favorite character. I can't help but giggle every time I watch Hoi Polloi.

(If you watch it, be sure to scroll down to the bottom of my blog and turn off my music first.)

Wouldn't it be a blast to have those kind of sound effects follow you around throughout the day?

Like every time you bend over to tie your sneaker laces you hear the boom of a kettledrum. Or when you pluck an eyebrow or (if you're well over 40 like me) a chin hair, you hear the plink of a violin string. It sure would make a mundane day much more fun.

Nyuck, nyuck, nyuck, nyuck.
:> )

Good Monday Mornin'...

I thought I'd start out the week with a toe tappin' tune and a really "cool" sunflower from my garden last year.
This pic has given me the incentive to get crackin' and start my indoor seeds today.

Then, I need to put my nose to the grindstone...

and crank out some new creations. I've got lots of ideas swirlin' around this noggin of mine.

I'll keep ya posted.
:> )

Remembering Easter Past...

A Wing Ding Chicken Fling...

Is what The Humble Arts is crowin' about for May!

So if you love roosters, hens and chicks, or just lookin' for some finger lickin' good fun; be sure to check us out next month.

I'll keep ya posted...
:> )

Time To Celebrate...

Last week was my very dear friend and favorite Goober's birthday! (Since he arrived today, I can post his photo.)
Cookie of Curds-and-Whey celebrated double nickels so I made this lil' feller to help celebrate with her.

The only problem was he arrived too late, due only to my stupidity! (I'm sorry Goob!)

So if there's no cake left, I'm sure he'll be happy with some dead flies off the window sill. Enjoy!
:> )

You Know It's Cold...

When you walk outside and see this.

Try and stay warm folks!
:> )

Since Its Dreary And Cold...

I figured I'd share with you some sunshiny photos I took the other day of the fruits of our labor.
We cleared out some of brush down near our lock.
It's comin' along nicely.

I love that ol' tree stump! It reminds me of driftwood.

I even managed to whip up a rustic platform birdfeeder from antique barnsidin' without losin' a finger.
The birds are happier than a tick on a hound dog and so am I.

Shhhh... But don't tell my hubs I was usin' his power tools. It will be our lil' secret!
The birdies promised not to say anythin' either.

:> )

Baranek Wielkanocny...

In Polish that means "Easter lamb."

As we come upon Easter Sunday it is a Polish tradition to have an Easter butter lamb or "baranek" on the dinner table.

The lamb symbolizes Christ, the lamb of God.

I can't help but giggle every time when my sweet, Irish hubs lovin'ly refers to it as the "bionic" lamb.

Heck, you don't have to be Polish to have one on your Easter table.
So if you have a lamb mold you can make your own. If not, I found this how-to from A Taste of Home.
Its so daggum cute, I'm goin' to makin' one next year!
:> )

Like Sands Through The Hourglass...

So are the "Dogs of Our Lives."

I live in a doggy soap opera on a daily basis and it's based around one thing.
This favorite toy.

As you can see, its been chewed, pulled, torn, shredded, ripped and drooled on. I believe at one time it had a lil' porcupine face but its been so long I can't remember.
Like any good soap opera, there is rivalry between two sisters as to who gets control of this orange, nubby blob.

It always starts out with Gracie prancin' around, showin' off what she has. She parades in front of her other two sisters growlin' at them if they dare glance in her general direction.

But lil' does Gracie know, one sister lurks in the distance waitin' for just the right moment...

She sneaks in like a stealth aircraft, grabs it and runs.

The theft of her prized possession has left Gracie in shock and devastated.

Darla strikes her "Butt In The Air Victory Pose" to rub it in Gracie's face.

Meanwhile, middle sister Hannah is off in her own lil' world thinkin' the grass is talkin' to her.

Man, I feel like Bill Murray in "Groundhog Day". But this repeated scenerio takes place every 20 minutes.
Have a great weekend folks!
:> )

What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger...

I love old books. But I am not a reader.
I know... It makes no sense to me either.

One of my favorites is "The Compendium Of Cookery and Reliable Recipes" book published in 1890.

Man, how I wish I had the other book mentioned above, "The Book Of Knowledge, or 1,000 Ways Of Getting Rich." I could be sittin' pretty right about now.
Hmmm... I wonder if Bernie Madoff has a copy?

This book has hundreds of recipes. Some are easy as "Eggs Upon Toast" while others like "Calf's Head Cheese" leaves much to be desired.
Which reminds me, I know what my nightmare will be about after I hit the hay tonight.

But the best part is towards the back of the book. The chapter reads "Miscellaneous." Here you'll find the wildest remedies like:

I reckon a whiff of ammonia would give ya a lil' giggle before you speedily and delightfully hit the floor. Your concussion will make you forget all about that toothache.

So if the lightnin' strike didn't do the trick, drown 'em in a shower of salt water. Better yet, toss 'em right in the ocean and call it a day.

Unless I'm chokin' on a nightcrawler; the only hook I want to see is in a fish's mouth, not mine.
I'll stick with the Heimlich Maneuver.

Geez, I didn't realize irons were so unhappy. Isn't there a pill for that now?

Just don't reach over the campfire for that last S'more.

Yep, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
:> )