Friday Finish

 My first framed piece for 2026.

The pattern was called Margaret Beattie.

I apologize for the somewhat blurry pics.

I just got this back from the framer and did

not want to take out of its plastic.

Not really my style nor colors,

but thought this would be perfect

for Valentine's to bring out yearly.

Plus it had two rabbits in the design.

Getting out of my comfort zone.

Here it is in its full glory.

I did not get back in time for my

Valentine decor displays, but will surely

come out next year.

In other news,

Monday morning driving up to my mom's,

Lake Huron was wicked.

There was a storm in the lake.

The sky was purplish black.

My brother and I could see white caps

out in the middle of the lake...

which means the waves were

severely high.

Was hoping I could get a photo

when we reached one of the parks...

however the storm was gone once we reached it.

My sister has finally realized my mom

is getting dementia.

My sister is also still upset that my mom

wont take her phone calls.

I think it is just because my mom

sleeps a lot...most of the day.

When I visit my mom she is sleeping,

but I wake her up.

She does talk to me, but does

not remember things.

For instance she usually

has roast beef for lunch most

every day...which is not the case.

My brother saw my mom the day

before I did and mom told me she had

not seen him in awhile.

So sad, but I have to remember

my mom has lived a good life.

Being able to be independent for 90 years

was awesome.

She is 91 now and still going...

just not on her own now.

I did go with her to an ice cream social

the other day as well.

I want her to meet the other residents.

She does not talk to anyone,

nor does she sit with anyone at meals.

My mom had always been an extrovert,

however since her fall has become

an introvert.

Well I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Let me know what your plans are.

Mine are to get out some of my Spring decor.

Change things up a bit around here for

a fresh look.

Get my laundry done.

Catch up on some tv shows I taped.

Stitch a bit in between.

February's Last Days Blessings To All!

Janice 

Monday Mish Mash

 Hello friends,

Today I am featuring a mish mash

of Valentine pics over the years.

Some I do not even remember. LOL

Hope you enjoy the picture show.

  

In other news,

When my brother and I took my mom out

last Thursday, she was being a grouch.

She would not answer my brother

with any questions he had.

He finally said are you ignoring me?

She said yes.

She did not want to wait for lunch,

nor see her nephew or niece....

even though she was the one who wanted 

to meet them for lunch.

However afterwards on the way back

to her studio, she said it was nice seeing them.

UGH

I went back to see her on Friday,

and at least she talked to me.

Then again on Saturday, my sister went

to visit her and she ignored my sister.

What gives?

My mom will not answer my phone calls,

so I flat out told her I would not call her anymore.

Maybe my brother and sister should also

tell her they wont visit if she continues to ignore them.

I know she is mad at us for moving her

to assisted living, but it was not an easy decision.

Hope she gets over her childish attitude.

Today my brother and I are headed back

to my mom's house.

She agreed to sell her car to Michael my grandson.

Since his accident, he had been driving

Mikayla's ( his sister) car...well now hers died.

Michele asked me what we were going to

do with gramma's car, so I asked my

brother and sister if they had a problem

selling mom's car to him.

Then my brother and I asked my mom.

Mom will no longer be driving,

and her car has been sitting in her garage now 

for 7 months. We start it up when we go there...

but it needs tires.

Michael will pay for new tires and the car.

It is snowing again. UGH

 Wish me luck since I need to drive 

the car to the tire shop before getting it

to Michael.

Monday Blessings To All!

Janice 

Love Was In The Air

You Make My Heart Smile.

Hello friends.

Here were my Valentine displays

in our living room this year.

Hope you enjoy although late in the game.

 

In other news,

the other day while taking Tundra outside,

I spotted this cute bird.

It is part of the Finch family called

a House Finch.

This is the male.

 I do not see them very often like the other birds.

It has been hanging out with the Sparrows.

Yesterday I had a dentist appt. and driving through

 the marsh I noticed in spots there was a lot of mud

where water should be.

Water level is really down this time of year.

Speaking of the dentist,

I have to have a crown down. UGH

It will be scheduled soon before I retire.

Today my brother and I will be taking my mom

out of her studio to go get blood work done.

Then she needs to do some banking 

at her bank in town.

After that we are meeting my cousins

for lunch in her hometown.

She will be surprised when she sees them. 

Well my first week of sabbatical has been 

mostly appts and just relaxing.

Not a lot of stitching or much of anything.

Hopefully next week I can be more productive.

Love Blessings To All!

Janice 

Sunday Starts

 Hello friends!

Today I want to show you a few

new cross stitch starts.

First is Sweetheart Pears.

Doing these on a Rose linen with 

gray flosses.

My next start is 1776

Finished Liberty.

Finished Justice.

My start on 1776.

This should not take very long at all.

My favorite of the three.

Finally I decided to start a new sampler.

This one is called Faith by

Samplers Not Forgotten.

I chose the called for linen

which is 36ct Pewter and the called

for overdyed flosses. 

The saying is what drew me to this sampler.

"The best and most beautiful things

in the world cannot be seen or even

touched. They must be felt 

with the heart."

In other news,

well tomorrow starts by 6 week sabbatical.

I cleaned out my desk.

Brought all of my trophies throughout

the years home with me.

Brought my name tag home too.

Shredded all the paperwork

I would no longer need.

When I go back to work that final week...

it will be just to sit around and talk...

not something I am use to doing at work.

Tomorrow we are taking my brother

 out for dinner.

He seems to be handling things pretty well.

I call  him every other day just to chat

He will be going back to work soon, so that

will be good for him.

Before dinner,

Bob and I are headed out to visit

with our CPA to have our taxes done.

Then headed to the meat market to stock

up on meat for the month.

Then need to go to our township

to pay both our Winter house taxes

plus the water bill.

It will be nice spending time with Bob now

when he does not work the store.

Dinner tonight will be roast beef au jus

sub sandwiches with melted provolone,

along with twice baked potato.

Last night I made bbq chicken tacos.

We had margaritas with those.

A Valentine dinner just for the two of us.

We did not want to go out with all of the crowds.

Hope everyone enjoyed their Valentine's Day.

Post V Day Blessings To all!

Janice

Whippy Wednesday

 Hello friends!

Here is my February Whippy progress.

Am almost to the finish line 

with Sarah Casey Unwin.

Just this final corner of the border and one motif

to be completed and then off to the framer.

A year of stitching thus far but well worth it.

Next up is the mini version of

Prairie Schooler February.

Last year I ended up with just two blocks done.

Glad I did the groundhog last year...

cause am not a fan of him this year. 

Already finished the third block.

Am hoping to get this finish by month end.

My lunch stitch is Winter Quaker.

Last month this was where I was at.

Currently almost complete....

however I only have two work 

lunches left. WOOHOO!

So this may have to get finished at night. 

Feniscowles Hall in January.

Stitched in now the fence, 

deer and a few flowers.

Plus more of the house.

Plugging along on my tribute piece

for my paternal grandparents

and their parents.

Finally Two Hearts.

This was a start from 2024.

I never touched it last year.

Have gotten much farther along now.

I did change this snowman 

from pink to turquoise.

In  other news,

thank you to all the heartfelt comments

regarding the death of my SIL.

My brother seems to be in good spirits...

at least when I am talking to him.

It is so hard losing a spouse.

He has lost two wives now.

We had a heat wave yesterday.

It reached 45.

Bob said time to get out the shorts. LOL

Only three days left of work.

WOOHOO.

My portfolio has been taken 

out of my name now...so not much to do.

I do have meetings the rest of the week

just to discuss my clients 

with those taking over.

I just hope they take care of them

as good as I did.  

Well off to work I go now.

Getting up early will not be something I miss.

Neither will my hour drive each way.

Looking forward to getting up when

I feel like it...and just doing whatever

I want daily.

Mid Week Blessings To All!

Janice