Pysanka - Ukrainian Easter egg

This Saturday I attended a class on how to make Ukrainian Easter eggs, also known as Psyanka. The eggs arent painted, they are actually written on with beeswax. Here are some some pics from the class

These are some traditional Pysanka eggs. Mine, look nothing like this!

These are the tools that we started out with: a raw egg, candle, beeswax and a kistka (a wooden stick with a metal funnel-like tool attached).  You start out with a raw egg because if you boil the egg first then the shell is different. You could always blow out your egg first, but then the egg will float in the dye and have to be held down.

      The first step (for beginners anyway) is to divide your egg for the design you are doing.

I was working off a template, not that you can tell....but you draw out  the first part of your design, whatever needs to stay white on your design.

Once your white design has been drawn on with a pencil you start to draw it on with beeswax

Scrape a small amount of bees wax into the top of the kistka and melt it with the candle. 

Trace your design with the wax

Once you have the wax design on your egg it is time for your first dye.  We used a special egg dye, but I dont  see why food coloring or paint wouldn't work just as well. 

After you have dyed your egg wait for it to dry before adding more to your design.

Next, you are going to add to your design, anything that I drew with wax on the yellow  egg will stay yellow. I outlined the flower/bee, whatever you want to call it...the you are ready for your next color

Now whatever you want to stay red should be written with the beeswax and your egg dyed again

after your final color has dried its time to remove the wax and look at your final product. Hold the egg over  the candle and melt all of the wax and wipe it away with a tissue.

Here is my final product. The colors come out so rich! This was my first egg, If I could draw a strait line it would have looked  alot better

While I was waiting for my first egg to dry, I started on my second design. I decided I wasnt going to use a template for this one, I was just going to wing it.

I think this one turned out better than the first one.

My eggs turned out ok, considering this was my first attempt.


I think I'm going to blow out the eggs that I made and put modge podge on them so they will have a nice shine.


I definitely had a good time at the class and would go back. I'm going to look online and see where I can buy a kistka and make some of these at home. 

Trash Nazi!

Every Saturday since I moved is trash day for me. I clean the house and I take the trash, first thing in the morning. Every Saturday since I moved in I have also gotten the stink-eye from several people at the Surry County dump! Yes, I realize that I still ride on Virginia tags (I really need to get on that - mental note!), but still. I guess everybody thinks I'm just overlooking the massive "SURRY COUNTY RESIDENTS ONLY" sign, well I'm not, I see it. and even though I have VA plates I am indeed a SURRY COUNTY RESIDENT!

If I wants a county resident would it really be that big of a deal for someone outside of the county to bring trash to the dump? I mean, at least I'm not throwing it out in a ditch somewhere, or at least I don't have a big ole burn barrel in my back yard. I recycle....

I know that the rules are probably set so that one dump doesn't have a massive overflow of trash. But even if it does, yay! people are bringing trash where it belongs! I know from experience that some neighboring states (Virginia I'm talking to you) make you pay to bring your trash to the dump, that's why most people don't do it! 

So please Surry County trash Nazis, please stop giving me the stink-eye, I do live here, but even If I didnt, its really a good thing that I bring you my magazines, plastic, cardboard, paper, glass bottles and cans (all separated of course).

Here is a link to the Recyclo-pedia, it tells you how to recycle pretty much anything!

How to survive a ZOMBIE apocalypse

If you haven't been watching The Walking Dead you should be. The second season has just ended so if you get on the ball now you can be caught up before the new season begins!

Here are some useful tips I have learned through The Walking Dead on how to survive a zombie apocalypse!

1. If you are a child, wear a sheriff's hat, carry a knife (that you will never use, instead you throw rocks), and talk your parents into letting you carry around a gun. It really doesn't matter that your 10 years old...there are ZOMBIES!  On another note, you have free reign of going wherever you want by yourself. Feel free to go play in the woods, down by the creek, or wherever you want to go. There will be rocks in reach!

2. Be any other race than Caucasian and you will never die. You may only one sentence the rest of the time your being run down by zombies, but you'll never die. Either that or you'll be the errand boy, but its all good...your wicked fast!

3. Sleep around with several men. This way all of them are trying to protect you. This works especially well if you get knocked up by one of them. This means extra protection!

side note...I'm really hoping that her baby is already a zombie and rips its way out of her stomach next season! fingers crossed!!!

4. Invest in one of these...an AK47 with a chainsaw attachment


5. Have stringy-ass long hair. And NEVER pull it back. Even though you have your errand boy grab a preggers test and other stuff from the drugstore, there's no need for a hair tie. No really, it may be 110 degrees outside, but leave your hair down. Maybe its some sort of camouflage...the zombies cant see you!

6. Have several guns, but no ammo. The guns work without ammo! Its crazy I know, but It'll work! When your being run off your farm and standing infront of a wall of zombies, your rifle will continuously fire without needing to be reloaded

7. Be cool with your slutty wife sleeping with your best friend and being knocked up by one of you...but which one?? It also helps to whine about everything and say stuff like "We dont kill the living" then shoot several people. Or "Im doing the best I can to keep everyone safe" and so on and so on...
Cry like a big baby when you have to stab your best friend. I mean, yes, he did knock up your wife, try to raise your kid, and try to kill everyone else, and leave you to die in the hospital that had been run over by zombies, but dang man...all that doesn't matter, hes your best friend. Oh, and this is a must!! You have to carry a holster!

8. Hang out with this guy...youll never go anywhere. Why?? Because hes a badass! and pretty nice eye candy!

The House - Before and After

Ok, so as you know I bought a house. When I first walked into house I  saw the potential and loved it! Not to say that I havnt changed almost everything about it. The guy I bought the house from would probably freak out...when I came over after we had finished all the final paperwork he said "this place is ready for you to move in...youll be all moved in by the end of the week" my response (of course...) was "yep! I pretty much just need my cloths, pillow and dog".

This was the first time I brought Harley over to the house, before I started the demolition phase!

This is my house. It was built in 1927. Ive recently painted the doors bright red and have painting several rocking chairs on the agenda next!

The kitchen....pretty much everything has stayed the same in the kitchen. Except the butchers block is gone and the appliances are all black. To be honest, the kitchen is really what sold me the house..I like to cook and I have always wanted a big open kitchen. I've still got to get some blinds and I really want a different

 door for the laundry room, I'm not sure what yet...

Before

After

 First Bedroom/Office...This was the old master bedroom, i wasnt a big fan of it being in this location. The main reason is because the door to the attic and spare room (which i made the spare bedroom) is in this room. Ive recently decided that I hate the color i chose for the room and the curtains...Eventually I'll finish hanging my pictures and stuff and probably repaint and maybe It'll grow on me. And yes...that is a cow head :)

                                                                          Before

After

                                     

Additional Bedroom/New Master...I love the color green I chose. My dad never would let any wall in our house be painted anything other than antique white...I said I would never have a white wall in my house and I don't! And yes, my bed is ridiculously high!

Before

                                     

After

Bathroom... I've recently had tile put down and other than painting, everything is pretty much the same.

Before

                                                                               After

Dining Room...I pulled the carpet up, and painted. I loved his original picnic table an betried to negotiate for  it, but it he said it had sentimental value.  I still want to see whats behind the fireplace that has been closed up and put some decorative tile down around it.

Notice the bear in the tree in the corner of the dining room/living room!

Before

After

                                     

Living Room...We pulled the carpet up and repainted a darker color. Im not crazy about the curtains here either. I wasn't sure about putting the TV over the fireplace, but its starting to grow on me. I've got some nice tile to put around the fireplace in here too once I get around to it. The dogs couch matches the other, they just tend to lay on this one all the time so I keep it covered.

Notice the coyote...clearly the guy I bought the house from was a hunter!

                                                                          Before

After 

                  I think they are starting to like it, except Harley is giving me the stink eye in this one...

                                     I've still got a lot to do, but I feel like I'm off to a good start.

Every Mile a Memory

On my drive home from work this afternoon I heard a couple songs that always make me look back and smile! Sooo I thought I'd share a few of my favorite songs/memories with you.

The first concert I remember going to was in Dollywood where we seen The Charlie Daniels band (yea, they used to have a lot of awesome concerts like that out there). I loved it and my first concert experience pretty much created a Monster. As you know I love love love concerts! Sticking with the same band, me and stacey used to listen to  the Charlie Daniels band greatest hits while we were heading to and from school everyday. The Legend of Wooley Swamp is one of my all time favorite songs. Ever! Yes, I know, I'm a hick but I love it!
Stacey and I pretty much rotated between The Charlie Daniels Band, Prince, the best of Queen and the Mullets Rock Cassette tapes. Not to mention the non stop Reba that we still listen to pretty much every time were together. I love Reba. We could definitely be BFFs for life!

I used to go feeding with my daddy and he would always sing Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On and El Paso and one of my all time favorites Pig in a Pen (this clip is one of the best versions by the once skinny now fat Ricky Scaggs - who I have also seen live at Dollywood).

The first rock concert I ever went to was HooHaa. It was in some big field in Winston years ago. Julie took me and of course we told Daddy that we were going to some classical music concert that Wake Forest was sponsoring - otherwise we wouldn't have been able to go. Sister Hazel was there as was Eve 6 and a bunch of other bands. I was a big Eve 6 fan back in the day and this concert only fueled my fire! Later that night mom was watching the news and low and behold...who did she see on WXII in the middle of all those half naked and drunk people? Her two girls. Daddy had dozed off and woke up right as the camera panned away from us. His exact words were "Who in God's name would allow their children to go to something like that??" Mom's response? "I have no idea!" Anyhew...that was my first mosh pit! The song was called Sunset Strip Bitch. It has a nice ring to it dont you think?
I remember in June of 1999 Julie got her jeep and was sooo excited. We piled in it and grabbed the closest CD to us, which happened to be Destiny's Child and went riding around the big city of Mount Airy. Windows rolled down, sun roof open, shades on, music blaring! We were pulling out beside KFC onto 601 and Jumpin' Jumpin' was cranked up and there was a hispanic guy sitting (yes sitting, in the grass) on the pay phone in the KFC parking lot. In a silly mood I yelled "Hola Baby! Como estas?!?" out the window as we pulled away and immediately broke out into my giddy giggle.
We used to walk around the house singing "War! huh! what is it good for? absolutely nothing!" I still love that!!
Don't even get me started on 50 cent! We LOVE 50 cent!!

Garth's The Dance and Travis Tritt's Tell Me I Was Dreaming always makes me think of Susan, well, and a humiliating video a few people have seen. 2 words. bibs shorts. karaoke. T-TOTALLY TERRIBLE! And I cant leave out I Think We're Alone Now. I remember sitting on the front porch at Aunt Lynn's trailer in the middle of an apple orchard (no kiddin. the trailer was surrounded by apple trees!) when I was about 5 watching Susan and her friend listen to that song over and over again trying to get some dance right.

Ok, so this got way out of hand. But I was on a roll it is really fun thinkin about all the good memories that these songs brought back.

can i borrow those shoes for a minute?

So I've been thinking about the lyrics to the old Elvis song "Walk a Mile In My Shoes" a lot lately, its something we should all do more of.

Walk a mile in my shoes
just walk a mile in my shoes
Before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Then walk a mile in my shoes


We should all think about our actions more often. What we say and do to people has an effect on them whether we think it does or not. Ill be the first to admit that I have said some of the meanest things to people when I've been mad or upset. After I have calmed down I always have a major feeling of guilt. OMG....did I really just say that?? As usual, yes, I did. I should really think before I open my mouth, especially if i'm upset.

I have also been on the other side of this fence...we all have. I've been the person that everybody picks on and let me tell you, its not fun. There is nothing worse than being the one that everybody makes fun of. Its something that can stick with you, and can have major effects on us.

Its just something to think about, something that's been on my mind lately. We should all think before we speak, especially in the heat of the moment. Take a minute and think how what you are about to say might make the other person feel.

"Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine."

There is a lot of change heading my way, most of it in the next few weeks.  I close on my house next Friday. NEXT FRIDAY - which means I've got to get on the ball, get organized and start packing!! I'm really excited about the new house - painting, floors, decorating, fixing everything up the way I want it. Its gonna be a lot of fun. It also makes me want to throw up a little...

A few weeks later my sister will have had the baby.I'm pretty excited about meeting my niece!! Aunt Cookie! When Lizzy gets here there are gonna be a lot of trips to Roanoke in my future.

"Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts."
...story of my life!