Day To Day News

Hello all, I just wanted to jump on here to wish everyone "Happy Holidays" for what ever faith or walk of life you are at right now in your life. It's these times of the year where we feel the most stressed.  It's also due to the longer darkness and cold.  It's in the dark and cold where we feel lost, unloved, alone.  I'm here to say you're not.  Keep your family and friends close during this season of the year.  Keep your fur babies close to cuddle.  Even online friends are a help for the winter blues.  I'm even here if you need an ear to talk to or a shoulder to cry on.  I'm sure we've got more in common than you realize. Take care and stay warm and safe. No Worries, SKO!

Good morning my friends and family, I hope this chilly day finds you warm and in bed with lots of fuzzy blankets, a cup of hot chocolate and a good book.  I'm in my shop right now with a jacket on and cold brewed coffee.  I have found out that it has more of a kick than hot.  The extra bonus is I can down twice as much in a shorter time.  LOL  I have to be careful or I start to act like a humming bird. Recently I have purchased one of those holiday projectors for my store window.  Much to my joyous surprise it can also use it as a laptop projector.   Not only that but it uses SD cars which I have three blanks and a mini with an SD converter cover.  I bet you can guess what I'm going to do. ;)  I'm not going to purchase the "Extra" SD cards from the company.  I'm going to find free videos online and record and convert them.  This will save me a tone of money.  Yes, they may not be the most awesomest quality, but they will be free.  I can also do videos for

Good afternoon all,  I'm just fine tuning my store today and it looks great.  Once I get the crafting area more organized it will be perfect.  Even though life tossed rocks on your path we have many choices to make.  You can either trip over them, walk around them, pick them up and move them or my option use a stick of dynamite on them. Get out of my way cause I'm coming through!  I don't have time to mess around.  I've got bills to pay, babies to look after and a store to run.  lol I hope to post some of my creations on here to show you what I love to make. Just keep your head up, your heart guarded, your nickers pulled up and keep the wind at your back. As always "No worries."  and "S.K.O.!"

Hello all,  I hope you are doing well.  We recently just opened up our second generation shop "S.K.O.'s Bitts & Bobs" in Rockwood.  As soon as I find my camera we will do a vlog from our new shop.  Just a few more trips from the house and we are totally out of the old and into the new.  I just have to find a way to get my antique upright piano here.  I'm fifth generation owning it.  New craft ideas.  Finishing up old ones.  Getting my books in order so I can save for a motor home to be able to meet you guys at the cons. Everything is slowing working out. As always, No worries and SKO!

We've been working hard on the new shop.  We are getting it mudded tomorrow then I can paint.  Also painted my living room, dining room and part of the kitchen before I ran out of paint.  I can say this as a fact, moving is great exercise.  Cleaning the new house, packing your stuff, moving your stuff to the new house, unpacking it and then cleaning the old house.  If all goes well we will open up on Oct. 31. No Worries  and SKO!

Welcome back!  For those of my loyal readers my Dr. and medication is helping.  We are working on the depression, but I fear I'm also looking at type 2 Diabetes.  I'm going to adjust my diet as best as I can with my Laytex, Glutten alergies and Kosher guide lines.  Also, exciting news...... we are opening a new store October 31st  in Rockwood, TN.  This will be ran by myself and daughter.  Second generation for Steampunk Kollectic Oddities.   The store's name will be:  S.K.O.'s Bits & Bobs.    A fraction of the previous size, but this will allow for better control.  We are also hoping once all is settled that we can start traveling to all the Cons in America.  We are going to gear our new shop with an old British feel like Harry Potter.  Now, It wont be over night.  It will be a work in progress.  We will get it there and it will be awesome!  

Just wanted to touch base with everyone to let you know that I haven't fallen off the Earth. :D  I'm just dealing with my health right now and getting that straightened out.  I've got my blood pressure under control now and now I'm just working with the doctor on getting the right medication to help me with my depression.  I will be working on daily blogs, vlogs and posts soon.  Until then, I will do my best to do at least two a week. Love you all and take care. No worries, SKO!

Hello everyone from the Maner cave.  It feels that way at least with all this cold weather.  We had decided to re-hibernate till the sign of frost is gone.  We are trying to wrap up on school work so I can concentrate more on the online store and get more items listed on our Pinterest page.  We are also working on four goals. 1) Pay off all our personal debt 2) Get the garage/downstairs bedroom/ house organized and painted 3) Get the rest of the items listed on Pinterest and occasionally post on other sites for sale and keep       up on the store's sites better 4) Save and implement our 3 part mobile shop I have two new half mannequins that I am going to use to start sewing clothing for cos play sale.  So, keep a look out in future for outfits for sale. :) Well, I just wanted to drop a quick note to let you know we were ok, still here and still plugin' away at the store. :) No Worries! S.K.O.

Growing up in Ohio I was so lucky to have a dad that knew all the water ways. We always went conoeing on the Mad River.  I loved it.  There was a tractor pass that created a mini water fall that was safe for me to stay in the canoe and have my dad guide us over. I loved stopping along the way in little coves to look for rocks and shells.  One time we stopped at a bank that had holes in it.  I used one for a foot hold and heard a grunting noise.  It was then my dad suggested I move my foot unless I wanted a muskrat tearing my foot and leg apart. lol We passed near areas we couldn't get out due to the processing plant dumping "clean" water back into the river.  (still smelled. YUCK!)  In the spring it was dangerous due to the flooding.  I remember one time I wasn't allowed to go because I was so small.  But, one of the other parents in the group took their child.  He fell out of the canoe and got caught on a tree under the water.  The current was so strong they almo

Today is so bright and happy.  I've taken my vitamins and started the dishwasher.  I'm ready to concur home school now. ;)  I have been feeling so much better since I've started my new vitamin pack.  I take: 1 Dong Quai, 2 Red Clover, 1 Sea Kelp, 1 Biotin, 1 Blackstrap Molasses and 1 Saw Palmetto Extract.  Best I've felt in years.  Do you remember waking up around when you were 13 during the end of Spring beginning of Summer months and you had slept all night with the windows open.  Yeah, that's how I feel now after taking these fellas. I will also be video taping a "DIY" on the ever loved T-shirt bag. :)  I might also do a silent film later tonight.  We shall see. :D Did I ever tell you guys that my cat Turkey loves ice chips from the fridge?  If you get water or ice from the fridge he is right there pawing the door begging for small ice chips. He loves to like them. He is so cute.  I also found out he was the thief who had been letting the water out

Here is today's thoughts.  Second hand news and holding your tongue.   One is hard to ignore and one is hard to do.  But, both can hurt and upset your world in more ways than an army of soldiers at war. It is so easy to slip into that listening ear of gossip.  Gossip comes in all forms.  It could be news about something or someone.   It could be complaints about something or someone. It is also easy to slip into the "let the hate words fly out of your mouth" gear.  When we are angry, it takes all we can control not to say hurtful things.  I know there are moments of when rage just flares and all you see is white.  It's at these moments we need to run from the source of our anger.  Leave the room, go for a walk to even talk it out to ourselves.  We just need to calm down. I have let myself slip on my yoga and meditation.  I have let my personal self slip from prayer.  I have let in jealousy, hate, resentment, hurt.  I have turned myself at times into a cowering a

I have found that we all handle situations differently.  Not really a surprise to me, but I have to constantly remind myself this.  I've also noticed that if you try and kill your self to keep total peace you will end up physically sick.  Strife has to happen.  Its talked about in all religions.  It's talked about in all cultures.  If you study, whenever a problem arises the people are faced with two ways of handling it.  Divide and crush the community or bind together and strengthen the community.  There are many sayings like, "the stronger you leave the tea bag in hot water the stronger the tea gets." and "when you put and egg and a potato in hot water the egg will get hard and the potato will get soft."  It's all in how you let the situation effect your life. Now there are times where you have to temporarily remove your self from the situation.  To ground yourself and either prepare for battle or prepare for peace.  Either way it's a time wher

We all have those days where good intentions are had, work is done and sleep falls fast.  lol  I love my school time with my kids.  They always have the most awesome questions.  Some that floor me, some that split my sides.  We have days were the wiggles just wont go away.  Days when eyes just can't be kept open.  Then there are those days where there is so much to do you can't see straight.  As the sun is rising earlier, air is getting warmer and birds are hopping in the yard my mind does it's normal thing and starts to plan all of these projects.  I don't intend on doing all of them, but it would be nice if I could get a few under my belt.   Painting inside and out.  Landscaping the yard with "flags" and herbs.  Organizing the garage and sealing the walls.  And the list goes on.  I would like to visit a few of my friends from where I grew up this summer, so we will have to see how that goes as well. As for work, I want to finish that sign and get a new

Hello Everyone, I hope this rainy day is finding you cozy and dry.  We got a lot done here at our little nest.  It's surprising how much you really accomplish when you write a "To Do List" and then a "What I've Done List".  I've found out that I do more than what's on the to do list and usually leave a few to dos for tomorrow. :)  I hope to write another story of my childhood tomorrow and then on Friday write a little more about my book I'm getting together to publish.  Take Care All. No Worries SKO

Life as a stay at home mom is never boring.  Most of my day is filled up with home school and house cleaning with a dash of crafting and online business.  We have the opportunities to visit relatives during the week and visit museums during hours that they are open.  We can make a split decision to pack a picnic and head to the mountains to do some nature discoveries.  Or on rainy or snowy days just decide to curl up with good books and educational movies knowing we can easily make up the work another day.  Yes, there are times when house cleaning and school work get forgotten.  Yes, there are times when online business is not even looked at.  Crafting is of no use as the spark has left it.  Those are my dark days.  I will admit that I have them.  I don't even feel like getting out of bed.  I feel like I could curl up and just cry.  People on the outside don't seem to notice I'm not my happy peppy self.  They just chalk it up to me being a worn out house wife and mom.  Th

Good evening all, I hope this blog finds you healthy and happy.  Today after home schooling I will be working on the final pictures for my book I'm going to be printing soon.  I can't wait!  Once they are perfect and colored I will scan the into my work and send it off. :)   I'm excited about this set of books. The sunshine was a great revitalizer today. I think I over did it. lol  But, I did get the dishes done and the laundry done as well as the kids school work completed and two meals completed.  I'm proud of myself and I deserve a good rest.    It's always a good feeling when you get things done no matter how tired you may feel afterwards.  I was going to video some crafts today but will have to post pone that until Friday because I had to make laundry soap.  I love the smell of fresh made laundry soap. :)  I want to work on some more mice which I will sell with my books and I want to finish up my Krampus even though he will be a bit out of season and I wa

Good afternoon all, I hope February is finding you well.  I know  a lot of people are either snowed in or fighting this flue going around.  Stay warm, safe and healthy.  Well, do we know if our prisimmons fruit will tell the truth or not?  I know they said they saw a lot of spoons in the seeds which usually means tons of snow, but so far we have been lucky with only just two days of really bad weather.  On to another subject I find house cleaning funny.  I keep picturing that puppet from the Muppet show that sang the song about windmills in his mind.  lol  Some days just feels like that.  You start in one area cleaning and just as you move along thinking you've compleated it all.....you turn around and find that the rest of your family has decided to leave their mark. :)  You have to love family.  I'm thankful I have one to care for and teach.  Speaking of teaching, we took multiple kitty play breaks today as they just couldn't seem to keep their mind on their work.  Th

I loved summer in Ohio growing up as a kid.  We lived right by a park and I could walk across the street and play any time I wanted.  The fondest memories I have of the park are of the "big slide".  We use to climb all over that thing on top and under.  It stood about 10 feet high.  When it got really slow my mom use to give us kids (neighbors included) sheets of wax paper. You know were I'm going with this.  lol  We would take turns and slide down that monster with wax on our butts.  I think only two kids ended up with scrapes on their elbows.  We use to get that thing so slicked up little kids couldn't slide on it for fear of real damage to them.  We also had one of those low wooden merry go rounds.  My friends and I use to kneel on it and use one leg to kick push it fast.  Then we'd turn around and use our butts to drag stop it. Needless to say our neighbor's mom wasn't too happy her kids were ruining their jeans in the dirt and gravel.  Me, my mom re

I have fond memories of being in the kitchen with my mother.  We loved to cook together all the time.  One of the things we make often was home made bread.  I don't know if any of you have used one but there is a device that you can put a piece of bread in hold it tight and slice it into two thin slices.  Makes the best crispy toast if you are using regular bread.  However, home made bread is usually cut a little thicker.  So, loving thin bread my mom always cut my dad's bread very thin.  I can tell you we went through about three toasters that I know of due to either the bread catching on fire (dad liked it black), or the grease/butter from the home made bread (one of the ingredients).  My mom made it an art.  She mastered the knack of opening the door and chucking the toaster out in one smooth movement.  I think I also need to mention that she had to put an ark in the pitch due to the fact that our station wagon was parked on the cement patio/driveway.  The first time ever

Hello all my friends.  I'm getting ready to wrap up today.  I took today to do some crafting and play Roblox with my children online. I did manage to finish the weather skeltons.  I'll post a picture of them on the "In stock for sale" page on pinterest.  I am so worn out.  I can't seem to get a full nights sleep any more. I've tried teas, food, watching boring shows, playing boring games and nothing that use to work does anymore.  It's wearing thin on the kids as it's making me cranky and snappish.  I have a dream that if I win a lottery (yeah right lol) I want to build this.   I want to have a building that has six to eight rooms.  Each room has a circular kiddie wading pool.  The pools would also each have a wave machine that would cause the water to move.  They would give you a circular float to lay on in this pool.  You could change in the changing room and place your towels on a teak bench for safe keeping.  No windows are in these rooms.  (or i

Saturdays I will start to post fond memories from my childhood.  I hope you enjoy walking back in time with me. One of my memories was of our 1950's gas stove.  It looked like a 57 Chevy with it's sleek curves and red Bakelite rims on the knobs.  I loved that thing.  It made the best oven toast.  It came in very handy too during winter power outs as the gas remained on.  We would use it to heat the kitchen and we'd all bundle up around it.  Of course we kept the kitchen door cracked as not to asphyxiate ourselves. lol One memory of this stove was when I was just old enough to watch my mom relight the pilot light under neath.  She rolled up a news paper and touch a lit match to it and gently relight it.  There were times when it didn't light at first and then it would Poof light  (mild explosion).  Anyway, curious as I was, I rolled up a news paper and touched it to the pilot light.  In doing so I set the news paper on fire.  What did I do?  I just sat there and watc

Well another week has passed.  I have all that I need to paint the porch, trim and my living room/ dining room walls.  Yeah!  How is this weather keeping your spirits?  I find it hard to keep mine up.  I love drinking my tea and lighting incense, but some days.....sigh.  I wish it would just get it over with and snow.  As the old saying goes "Poop or get off the pot".   Tonight I will edit my videos and get them loaded up, and post a few more items onto pinterest and Ebay.  Yes, I have that up and running again.  These past few days the air has been very dry.  I've dug out my milk and honey lotion and my skin just soaked it up.  I have the link to the lady if you ever want to order any of her goat milk lotion or soap.  The only thin is, when I do crafts or work online I have to use either Udderly Smooth or another off brand as they are not a greasy.  I've also had to use my lip scrub.  Not as much this year as I totally switched over to coconut oil toothpaste and it

I hope this new day and new year finds you all well and happy. We kind of slept in today since we all stayed up well past midnight to usher in the Gregorian New Year.   Hubby worked until 2 AM so he didn't arrive home till after 3 AM.  It was fun this morning trying to keep a 6 year old, 8 year old and a teenager along with a dog and two cats (who had a brother spat) quiet so he could sleep. LOL  We did and quite well after a few fussings at.  So with all the home work done, lunch in to cook (turkey meatballs, potatoes, onions and gorp (a sauce I make from old sauce packets, I made a video on it and will post it soon).  I've also made wheat bread rolls and rice.  My goal for the rest of the day will be to work on crafts and steam clean that carpet.  In the long run look at life.  I still need to get the other side of the garage cleaned, the store items better organized and photographed for the online store, my laptop and desk top photos organized and burnt to cds.  I love c