Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Whippy Wednesday

 Progress for this past month
on my stitching.


Jeny Brimer first,
When you have finished one row and then
you get to to the final letters of the row
underneath...and realize you made a mistake.
Do you frog it out? 
Cut the floss out and re-stitch?
Or just move on?
Do you see my error?
I stitched the teal blue letter "W" wrong.
I am leaving it.
I dont' care.


Added in my grandfather's names/ dates.
Glad I decided to do this pattern for 
my grandfathers as there are lots of the browns and blues.
The motifs will have more color though.
Almost Finished with the letters now.
I do not understand any of these.
They must have had some meaning to 
Jeny though.


While most of the samplers I chose
for my heritage wall had alphabets included
in the patterns...
Jeny Briner does not have an entire alphabet.
Therefore I used my resource book for
 the perfect alphabet to add in my grandparents names.
I went to the alphabets and chose one that 
was seven stitches high like the others in the pattern.
This book also has various sized numbers and lots
of motifs. A great resource book for stitchers. 



Made more progress on Elizabeth Manners 1843.
Finished stitching the quote/ saying. 


Although you cannot tell from this pic,
am stitching this on 35 count Angel Hair linen,
which has a yellow tone to it.
Also I am loving the rich colors in this piece.


Progress on Faith 1831.
Finished the second swag plus 
the final half swag and border on the right.


Now I need Faith to finish the one over one
saying in the middle.
Either that or I just need to put my big girl panties
on and plug along.
I detest one over one can you tell?


Finally Floral Motif Sampler.
Managed to only get one more motif stitched.


Am loving this pattern though.
Hope to get more stitchy time on this one 
this month....then again I want to stitch
more patriotic...so who knows what will win out.

In other news,
my brother and I met my friend Monday
at my mom's house to discuss her doing
the estate sale for us.
She said it was a lot of stuff...but not the worst
house to set up for an estate sale.
I told her I could help her out 3 days a work...
so that made her feel better.

Bob got out our Blackstone grill and made
chicken kabobs also on Monday for us.
I made potato salad to go with on Sunday.
We had so much leftover we had kabobs for dinner
again on Tuesday and made a rice pilaf.

Also Tuesday, our friend Ed and doggie sitter
came by to see us and his granddog.
We affectionately call him Grandpa Ed.
He and his wife snowbird to Florida in the Winter.
He returned Sunday .
When Tundra saw him get out of his car
he started whining so loud and started
pawing the window.
When he approached the door, he was waiting
for him and was so excited.   
It was a wonderful reunion.

Tonight we are going on a buying pick for our store
 around dinner time.
I received a gift certificate to one of
our fav restaurants nearby, so that will be dinner.
An Italian restaurant....cannot wait.

Hope everyone is enjoying your week thus far.

May Blessings To All!
Janice





Saturday, May 2, 2026

Spring Mantles

 

These are my Spring mantles for 2026. 


Am trying to keep things more simple.


Our living room one.
We actually had a fire to curb the dampness
from the rainy day we had.


Next is our Keeping room mantle.


With textiles, bowls, document box and one bunny.


Plus my two canning crocks.


Finished the Spring Saltbox patterns
last year.


Had them framed and saved for this year.
Now working on the Summer ones.


Found me a German rabbit.
Ain't he cute!


Loving this other simple look.

In other news,
Took mom to get her weigh in and bloodwork 
done again the other day. She is losing weight again.
Went from 110.6 to 107.4.
Her doctor wants to see her every 2 weeks now.
Mom complained and I told her
"well if you keep eating sweets and no protein
then you will have to continue going every 2 weeks."
Not to mention your teeth are horrible now. 
She needs 2 teeth pilled and a partial
completed on 2 others.

After our 1 1/2 hour trip to the doctor,
I took her to lunch.
She ate walleye and fries with a dinner roll.
I had a 2 slices of personal deep dish 
pepperoni and ham pizza with a side salad.
Both were lunch specials.

I then had to go to our local cable company
to find out why my bill went up.
Was told in February when I signed up
for a new plan that I was locked in for 3 years.
The young lady told me it was because
the cable rates went up in January,
I again told her I signed up in February,
Then again she tells me the rate went up in January.
I politely said I understand what you are trying
to say, but January comes before February
and the rate hike would have already happened.
She had no answer then...she then
put my rate back down.

Once again we were under a freeze warning.
Wish Mother Nature would make up her mind.
It was another cold chilly day yesterday,
so I made a Mexican pork chili to warm us up.
Paired with a cold beer it was great I must say.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.
Hope in your neck of the woods the weather
is cooperating.

Will you be watching the Kentucky Derby?
I realize it is the longest running sport in Louisville.
I also realize it helps the town with all of the
festivities, food and fireworks.
However most of you know I am not a fan of it,
because about 10 minutes from me is a farm
that brings in horses from Kentucky for slaughter.
It's the ugly truth with horses that DONT win.
They are trucked in up here and sent to Canada.
Just remember not every horse is a winner.
Most owners wont keep them if they dont produce.
The sad truth about horse racing.

Spring Mantle Blessings To All!
Janice

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Look What The Cat Dragged In

 
With the cat being Bob.
Lauren already knows this, 
but weeks ago a few folks came
into our antique store to sell Bob some items.
Some he kept for the store...
others he brought home for me.


This wonderful Windsor chair 
with claw arms.


See that detail. A real beauty.
Maker name is Duckloe Bros.
This is a finely crafted reproduction chair.
He paid $25.00.
I paid $100 for the last Windsor chair I bought.


This sweet teddy.


Which was straw filled and an antique.


He also paid $25.00 for this one.
I placed him on top of my prim chair.


Three little bowls for my collection.


Also this spongeware pitcher.


I added all of these to my kitchen cabinet display.
Bob paid $12.00 for the four pieces.


Finally this fabulous crock jug,
with an imprint of a swan swimming 
in a lake.


Bob thought I would like this one because
we have the swans that swim here in our river.
 Bob only paid $3.00.
What a steal.
$65.00 for all of these fine pieces.
I love them all!
The benefits of owning an antique store.

In other news,
had a few lunch dates 
with friends and my co-worker who
went to another bank last year.
It was nice catching up with him.
He said now that I am retired,
we should meet for lunch quarterly.
Fine with me I said.

I still cannot find my fully stitched Little Liberties.
I even prayed to St Anthony 
for help in locating them.
Guess I am not meant to display them 
this year, but still makes me mad
as a wet hen I cannot find them.

Cannot believe May is just around the corner.
Where has this year gone too?
Spring has not been a good one here
in my opinion.
The tulips and daffodils are now just blooming.
 Weather temps have been like 
a rollercoaster.
Sure wish Mother Nature would make up her mind.

Tuesday Blessings To All!
Janice


Friday, April 24, 2026

Friday Finish


My latest finish for my
heritage wall. 


Feniscowles Hall all framed up...
and I love it!


I chose this frame because the design at
the top to me mimicked the red leaves a bit.
This pic looks a bit funky and not straight,
but it must have been me taking the pic.


Here it is up on the wall now. 


Am loving my progress thus far.
Cannot believe I started this journey 
of cross stitching a record of 
my family tree way back in
September of 2023.

In other news,
to answer Carla's question.


The bunny planter from my previous post
is a cement one.
It could be used outside and has a drip pan.
I chose to add a faux plant and keep it
on my kitchen counter year round.

Yesterday our internet went down around noon.
All day it was down.
Tried everything from turning off and on the modem.
Checking our Wi-fi connection.
Re-starting my computer.
Nothing worked.
It finally started working again after dinner.

So with the internet down, 
Tundra and I spent time outside
just enjoying the sunshine.
He actually wanted to go in before me.
He is a snow dog for sure.

Then I decided to turn my
Little Liberties finished stitches into pillows.
I could not find them anywhere.
GRRR 

Well it is suppose to rain today so I will
be tucked inside stitching.
I will be making a crab corn chowder soup
for dinner with a hint of jalapenos in it.
We both love it.

I hope everyone enjoys their weekend.
Also hope everyone in both FL and GA
are safe from the devastating wildfires.
 
Weekend Blessings To All!
Janice 





Monday, April 20, 2026

Monday Mish Mash

Hello friends.
Today I just wanted to share some
previous year's Spring photos.
Hope you enjoy.
 









Tundra says:
"Thanks for stopping by."

In other news,
Thursday was a rainy day which was 
good for me to catch up on my tv shows,
and stitch a bit.
The only other sound was the deep bellows
of the freighters in the river.
Each time they reached a buoy,
they would announce their presence
by sounding off their horns.
I can hear this for miles each way.

Friday I met my grandson for lunch.
Unfortunately when I saw him,
he had his hand in a sling.
He broke his hand at work. UGH
Waiting to see the hand surgeon now.

Saturday met my sister at my mom's.
Her first time being there after my
brother and I cleaned everything out.
She said this is overwhelming.
"Ya think?"
She did not even do the worst part of it.
We spent 2 hours there and she only
took a few things.
She did not have time.
I told her it would take a few days for her
to go through things.
Guess she did not believe me.
However she still thinks my mom will
be able to go back home.
She is still in denial.
Now she thinks my mom is only depressed
and still does not have dementia.

Sunday I caught up on cleaning and laundry.
Stitched a bit.

Today am taking Bob to get his new eyeglasses.
We might go to lunch or come back home to eat.

Hope everyone enjoys their new week.
Mine looks to be a busy one again.
I thought I was retired. LOL

Monday Mish Mash Blessings To All!
Janice







Thursday, April 16, 2026

April CupboardScape

I realize Easter is over already,
however this was my April CupbordScape for Easter.
Better late than never and hope you enjoy.
Filled with eggs and bunnies.
 



The pillows were both from Scattered Seed Samplers.
Love how they turned out.



Dressed up my prim tree with fabric eggs I made.




Added in all of my bunny molds to complete.



In other news,
It has been a crazy week thus far,
Sunday we were at the store when 
an active shooter report came in.
The incident was 4 blocks to the West
and then another 4 blocks south of our store.
They brought in police from various towns
along with border patrol and two drones.
What was thought to be a hostage situation
using an AR-15 was a swatting incident.
Now the FBI is involved to try and find out
who placed the call.

Monday Bob and I decided to go clothes shopping.
On our way we travel at this area where 
the road turns into a divided one 
which is one way only each way.
Well going up this lady was going the wrong way.
I was laying on my horn at her and she still
past me going the wrong way.
Then that same road going back home,
an elderly man was going the wrong way.
Bob immediately said, "Get me home.
There are too many crazies out here." 

Yesterday I had to take my mom to her dentist.
Left my house at 8:30am.
First stop though was to her doctor's office
to get her monthly blood work done and weigh her.
Figured I would do it at the same time 
so a second trip was not needed.
Dentist was bad news.
My mom needs two teeth extracted,
and a partial done on two more teeth.
So more dental appts needed.
My siblings should be glad I am retired now.
My cousin is her dental hygienist,
so it was nice catching up on family news.

While at the dentist, I received this call from
a realtor saying she got my number 
from another cousin that we were selling
my mom's house and she has a buyer for it.
NO we are not selling her house...
and I had already told this cousin we
were not selling. My cousin has a buyer and is
hoping we sell to her.
The nerve of some folks...and this is family.
EGAD 
I called the realtor back 
when I got home at 3:00pm,
and before she got her spiel out,
told her the house was not for sale.
She thanked me and hung up.

The plan is my brother is going to move in
once he sells his house.
We are unable to sell or rent my mom's house
or she loses the government money for her
to stay in her apartment.
So my brother is just going to live there
rent free and just pay the utilities and taxes.
He is helping us all out.

Well hopefully the rest of the week I can relax
and get some stitching and tv watching in. LOL

So much flooding in our state, so hopefully
things calm down.
Tornadoes came through early
Wednesday morning.
I hate this time of year. 

Hope all is good in your neck of the woods.

Thursday Blessings To All!
Janice