The Fabulous Farmhouse

We did!

A few weeks ago, I married my best friend. I found one of the nice guys. He adores me, everything about me. I feel the exact same way about him. My heart leaps every time I see him. We are loving every minute of it. It's a fabulous life I have right now, and we are feeling pretty blessed. That is one thing I wanted to post about even if ever so briefly. Love. I will post again as soon as possible about some miniatures. I've been super busy with non miniature tasks and details such as changing my name:) Here's wishing everyone a most happy week! Cathy Kredell    

Wishing You A Very Merry Christmas!

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I also wanted to share about how excited I was to see my little packages so happily sitting amongst Caroline McFarlane-Watts beautiful blog photos click here to see! Mixed among her fabulous Christmas goodies! I can't say that I made many minis this year but I was quite happy to see what I did manage in a happy place! I am still taking special requests. For today, I'm off to spend time with my love, enjoying our holiday time together. May God Bless you and yours. Love, Cathy McGhee

This Is The Time Of My Life

 

  Michigan's First Warrior Dash was held this past weekend in Mt. Morris and was the second largest attended 5K race sponsored by Red Frog Events read more about it here....

Months of training, and preparing for amazing good messy fun was well worth the skinned knee, bruised elbow, and blister on my pinky toe. My cousin and myself along with literally thousands of other fearless warriors ran through disgusting mucky water, leapt over fire, scaled 12 foot walls, and tasted victory (mud) as we were cheered on by my sweetheart, friends and family. Music pumped, beer flowed, costumes were outrageous, and we were warriors!

   The most thrilling part of the course for me was after I scaled a knobbed wall, and was sitting on top looking over the other side as the man below is telling me to grab onto the rope and swing out and jump. Oh yeaaaa right! Hahaha! I shimmied down that rope instead. The grossest part of the course was the tar pit of really gross creek water mud pit (more like black dinasaur and leech pit) followed immediately by very gooey mud with many shoes stuck in it and about 4 very slippery hills. 

   Those were some of the highlights of the 12 course obstacles we took on, my absolute favorite was jumping into the cool mud and barbed wire just before the finish line :) That, and of course finishing. Participating in a fabulous life with amazing loving people. We win!

 
 Life is so big, so full, I am loving this summer!!!

God Bless, I'll be back, Cathy

   

 

 

 

Happy Father's Day Wishes

I want to wish a very Happy Father's Day to all of the Dad's today. My dad and my son included. Both of these guys live in other states than I do but our hearts are close. These guys are the best family anyone could hope for. My Dad tells me he is proud to have me for a daughter and thanks me for being me. Priceless.

My son is walking and expected to be discharged from in hospital rehabilitation next week. He keeps getting stronger every day, and we know who to thank for this blessing and gift of grace.Thank you all for your prayers and kindness and support.

again, Priceless.

On the airplane ride home from being with my son through his recovery in North Carolina a thought crossed my mind. I finally felt more heart ache in this recent experience than I had for grieving my Mozi cat I rescued and had adopted out when I moved last year to a place I could not keep him. I know he went to a good home, but my heart broke when I gave him up and I have had many times crying missing him since.

I am smiling like the sun this Father's Day, I hope you are too. Wanna see who else is smiling?

My new kitty that I was not planning on having. Kitty rescue. Farm drop kitty. I went to visit a friend yesterday and there in her driveway is this little sweetie meowing at me. Someone dropped him off and she found him in her barn with his nose layed open, something tried to have him for a meal. Then she accidentally ran it over so he limps a little. How could I resist? Even after protesting, several times, my heart was not going to let me leave him there and wonder what would become of him, so here he is, sleeping. A lot. He is a good boy, and happy to eat and be loved. My new little nameless furry baby.  Maybe he won't be meant to stay with me long either, regardless, I know I did the right thing and he is safe now.

Have a very loving and happy Father's Day.

God Bless, Cathy

Thankful for what blessings we have....

Me and my beautiful grandbaby Naomi

I am writing from home in Michigan today, and with the most grattitude and heartache I've ever felt in my whole life. The hardest thing I've ever had to do to leave my son's side. I know he's in the very best care from the Dr's and Nurses and his wife Jess there by his side in North Carolina. Grateful I got to be with him for the past week, and will be there again soon. God has been so good putting the USMC, friends, and family in the place we all need them during this time in our lives. Thank you all. We continue to need you.

I recieved the phone call on Memorial Day, Brent was in a diving accident and had broken his neck and was being rushed to surgery. I have never had a phone call like this in my life. He was life flighted to the best trauma hospitals in the world. Again, God was putting these things in place along the way. My baby has broken 5 bones in his neck, c7 completely removed, two surgeries, metal plates, titanium rods implanted. Much pain. So much fear. Everything put in place for me to be there with him this past week. The past days have been a whirl. God with us. So much support from family, friends, the Marines, his buddies, the institution as well. So many prayers, thank you.

Here are more of our blessings. Brent can talk, he has use of both arms and hands. He can move his left leg. He can feel his right leg but not moving it just yet. Wow. just wow. Thank you God. We are learning about spinal cord injuries. We are learning we cannot know the extent of damage for many weeks. At this point the surgeons have said he appears to have a very rare diagnosis of Brown-Sequard syndrome and his physical recovery is hopeful, and yet to be determined. At this point, he is doing pretty good (amazing) a miracle considering all he's been through, and the extent of his injury. He is afraid, he is a fighter, and I believe God is pulling him closer and showing him just how much he is loved. If you all would please include my son and his family in your prayers, we need you. God hears prayers and answers, and is so good.

PS: I got a few orders while I was gone and I will get these shipped out to you in the next couple days. I'm home, and staying strong for my boy. He's 22, yea, but he'll always be my baby. I am doing today, thats all any of us can do.

Love and thanks, Cathy

 

Throwing Hands Way Way Up and Smiling

Ok so, news. What's new, everything. Where do I start? Things are good. Real Good. I have been thinking, discussing with some fabulous women, praying on what to do about my miniatures store. This quote I came across pretty much sums up the situation.

The challenge is not to manage time, but to manage ourselves || Steven Covey

 

Miniatures have a new priority in my life. I still love them, and they still fascinate me, and they are still a passion, but there's more. I'm working outside of the house now, sometimes 8,10,12 hours. I have some incredible friends that I love spending time with, road trips are planned, family reunions, 5K races, and whatever else I can fit in! I intend to live my life as it's bursting at the seams with excitement and love. And romance ;) Oh yes.

 If you've never seen this video or heard this song, it's worth a look. It's what it's all about.

My world is incredibly different than it was when I opened the store in 2007, so it's only natural I have to make some adjustments. I've been putting it off as long as I could, but you'll soon see my inventory shrinking. This won't necessarily be a bad thing. The positive side of this is you won't see SOLD OUT throughout the store while shopping. When the item is gone, it's gone. Sure I might make it again, and surely many things I do keep as a regular item, but for a long while now I've missed out on the fun part of making new miniatures.

I would much rather be making the new cake and cupcakes, than responding to an email with regrets an item is no longer in stock. Lately I haven't even been able to respond it's so discouraging. So, time for change. Good things are coming, both in the store as well as my personal life. I need the freedom of expression back, and this is how I'll get it. I need to feel satisfied that I've done the very best I can for you. While you're shopping the store, you may still see some sold out items, I just haven't had the opportunity to turn off the already existing sold out stock. I'll get to it....so sick of saying that:) So....with all that said.....

I'm not accepting requests for out of stock items because I have no idea when they'll ever be back in stock. That's pretty honest. This change will benefit everyone shopping in my store, as well as everyone in my life, as well as me. I feel like a brand new person!

Well, I am a brand new person. I run every day, I eat healthy, and I laugh often with people I love.  I love you all, and am grateful for your support as not only customers, but as truly great friends, mentors, and people that care. All of yous:)

And as usual, lots to do here so I am wrapping this up and saying come shop the store, keep an eye out for recently restocked miniatures in the featured items area listed on the left, and new items too (when I get that chance!) I will also give a shout out on facebook when there is news. All of these links are here on the blog. 

Hugs! Cathy McGhee

Smiling. Freezing but Smiling.

I sure did climb these stairs to get  to work a couple days ago, many folks couldn't get out of their driveways, so this was a minor challenge. If you are snowed in, I empathize, if you've got beautiful warm weather, I am jealous.  I will keep smiling and know that Spring is just around the corner. Meanwhile I am working on a couple of special requests, and adding miniatures as I can. This morning includes dancing around to Justin Bieber because I love that little guy, and getting a run in before I leave for work.  Sharing with you now.  Warm hugs, Cathy

 

 

Snowmen, Angels, and Santa Clauses

Snowmen

I made a snowman cupcake today so I feel like I accomplished something because it's new:) I love making new things and this one is especially fun to me because it is my first cupcake in a foil wrapper. The way this photo was taken you can't see it but you can in the next.

See the foil peeking out? Any more sideways and my gingerbread would look like a brick so that's as low as we get! I just absolutely love Christmas sweets! I do plan on continuing adding to the new Christmas items all year round as I hadn't anticipated how busy I'd be this year. This little mini tree is sitting in a pink striped tray I sell in the store. The reason I wanted to share this with you is because though I haven't changed all of the photos, all of the trays and displays with a hole to hold items like lollipops and cookies on a stick have been expanded by about 1/16 of an inch. That measurement isn't much but I also recently changed sticks I place my candy on and the new one's were too crowded to be happy. Their very comfy now. If you've purchased these from me in the past year and would like the size increased on yours please email me so I can keep record. Let's see Angels now.

Angels

 

The one wrapped up on the left is the angel, not the one on the right (wink wink) The one on the right is my son Brent, the proud daddy and US Marine (I'm so proud of him and grateful he's serving our country have to throw that in there when I can)

This angels name is Naomi Kay Madere and she was born 12/3 at 11:39am. Naomi weighed 9lbs & .28 oz, she's 22 inches long and healthy and happy. Look at her cheeks! Little sweetie muffin. I always name kidlets nicknames and I'll pick one for her when I know it:) Her daddy loves his first baby girl, and I love my first grand baby. We are going to spoil her!!! I've not seen her yet, they're in North Carolina and I hope to get there as soon as I can. Family issues here prevent me from going too far from home at this time, but I'll sneak away as soon as I possibly can and hold this girl:) Looking at this angel makes me want to collect babies like Angelina Jolie. How could you not? So sweet! Ok Santa Claus time...

Santa Clauses

We so hit the thrift store today! I loved everything I bought while browsing and discussing that show about hoarders. What? Most of it is LITTLE, and CHRISTMAS! And 25cents each! I love Christmas:) I found a mini dollhouse, and some funky retro santas and some old Hallmark ornaments oh and a Rudolph (but someone nabbed his nose so I'll have to fix that...) You know, just stuff... I think if you read this far I will just go ahead and add one more photo of the first snow we had this year oh and it sure would be nice if it were the last:)

The Fairy house out on the farm

Remember when I posted this last Spring? Nice and warm and sunny and beautiful? Now I think our fairy is on vacation in Florida because her front yard is a wreck and I didn't see any glitter anywhere. So I'm guessing I'm not the only one who doesn't care for snow. I've said enough I think, so thank you for following my blog, thank you for reading, and I do hope I see you again, and you'll stop and post a hello!

Thanks! Cathy McGhee

Happy 234th Birthday USMC

I borrowed my son and daughter in law's photo from their myspace of them before the Marine's Ball last weekend. Jess is due to deliver around December 6th but if she had it any other way, it would be yesterday:) Poor girl. I can't wait to see my grandbaby, but meanwhile I wanted to share the photo of the handsome couple.

The other bits of news I have is I am expecting the home internet to be up and running by tommorrow midnight, thank God! I've been borrowing the library, the Subway sandwich, and the Seven Services wireless internet locations in the meantime. It will be nice to be back to business as usual from the comfort of my workshop.

Lastly, and I apologize for this delay, the winner of the October miniature giveaway is Gisela. Congrats Gisela, and I will also say if you haven't seen her blog, to stop over there and check it out because she has some adorable miniatures to see! There is a fabulous witch named Mary over there!

wasistlosinwuselhausen

I'll be back as soon as I can, meanwhile stay warm and cozy and happy:) Hugs, Cathy
 

A Few Good Companions

Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion- Some of What Mary Says
(click the link above to read the full story)

We WILL find a way - this miserable economy can't last forever. Anyway, even if times are tough, we still need to see magical things, right? We still need to know there are people out there producing fantastic things, creating warm and cozy places to live and providing us with the inspiration we need to keep going, for crying out loud! I mean, I love House Beautiful, but I can't make one magazine last all month - we need more! We need variety! We need Home Companion!

We hope you’ll keep up with us! Mary’s e-newsletter is definitely the best way to get the latest news on events, new products, ideas and free recipes, desktop backgrounds and more. You can sign up to receive the newsletter or update your subscription information on our website.

We also hope to have a brand new website and blog up and running in 2009 to keep you even more informed!

A Prairie Home Companion-  Program Overview
A Prairie Home Companion started production in 1974. Live every Saturday night from 5—7 p.m. CT, A Prairie Home Companion features comedy sketches, music, and Garrison Keillor's signature monologue, "The News from Lake Wobegon."

The Children's Companion- One of many miniature children's books available for sale at the Fabulous Farmhouse. (Click on the above link to see this listing in our store.)