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

February CupboardScape

My February CupboardScape

shaped up better than I imagined.

Added in some red including these

child's red shoes.

Then one day I was at our store looking

for more antique Valentine's when Bob

pulled out this box of antique postcards.

Perfect I said.

He wondered how I was going to display them.

Told him I was going to purchase some

small wood clothespins and hang

them from my antique tree.

Don't they look wonderful!

The red/ cream coverlet is hanging in the back.

Also wrapped the base of the tree in another 

small red coverlet piece.

So glad Bob did not know how to display them

in the store...otherwise they would not be 

featured in our home now. 

In other news,

I saw an old friend Sandy the other day.

We met through our store.

It was nice catching up with her.

Sandy when I retire, we need to go to lunch.

Last night I could not tell you how many

trucks I saw out on the bay near us.

Was told the ice there is 20 inches thick,

You would NEVER catch me out in

a vehicle at night or even the day

on any ice.

Today we will be headed out soon

for my SIL's funeral.

Not a fun time for my brother.

One full week of work left 

then off for my 6 week sabbatical.

Then 1 week back and its off 

to the sunset.

Cannot believe I have been talking retirement

for a year now...and it is finally almost here.

WOOHOO!

Well my friends, I hope you have

a blessed weekend.

February Blessings To All!

Janice

 

Winter Blues

January is over...

but the snow is not.

These are my 2026 Winter displays.

My mom sewed this pillow up for me 

years ago...and I will treasure forever.

Here in the North, most of the horses will

be sporting their outdoor blankets.

I decided to give mine a wool blanket too.

I kept the tree up and just took down

all of the mittens.

I like to keep up my living room tree

through January.

We spend our evenings here with

a fire in the fireplace most nights.

It is very cozy in the long Winter nights.

This snow fella my dad made and I bring

him out each Winter too.

Once again I took off all of the ornaments.

Just left the icicles on.

So simple and magical at night.

I adore this lil pillow too...but not handmade.

Brought out my Beemis Snowman.

I had a pair of socks I was going to throw away.

They had holes in them...

but decided to wash one and it fit perfectly

on his head. 

Back in 2024 I crocheted him a hat 

out of brown yarn.

Which one do you like?

In other news,

We went back to the grocery store

for more food.

I inquired about the cashier.

Was told she is alright and was actually

working that night later on.

She passed out because she had not eaten.

I sure hope she takes care of herself.

Yesterday we had more snow.

Phil the PA groundhog saw his shadow...

but the Canadian groundhog 

Wiarton Willie predicted

an early Spring.

I am going with his prediction

Am taking Bob in this morning

for an MRI.

He has been having daily headaches.

Hoping nothing major is going on.

The county we live in is running out

of salt for the roads. EGAD

I hope we dont get much more snow....

however it snowed again yesterday.

Snowing right now too. UGH

Winter Blue Blessings To All!

Janie

 

Friday Finish

 Hello friends!

I have two finishes to show you today.

When I first showed you all my blessings sampler,

this is where I was.

The pattern was a freebie from La D Da

 called Letters & Leaves.

Here is my finish.

I chose this striped fabric for my back.

Sewed this into my first sampler pillow.

If you notice the letter "W" is missing.

It was not on the pattern.

I was debating whether to add it in or not,

but chose to leave it off. 

For now it will reside here.

Need to stitch more now.

I would like to make lots more to go 

into a bowl.

As always it is rag stuffed.

 

www.samplers-and-santas.blogspot.com

 

Marly from Sampler and Santas

 places her pillows on shelves.

I do not have wall space for that

 which is a great idea, so a bowl it is for me. 

My second finish was my Blessing Sampler

from last year.

I only finished stitching it and tucked it away.

This was Robert Burns Sampler, Auld Lang Syne

by The Sampler Girl.

I backed this wee pillow with a piece

of red fabric from stash which I coffee stained.

Now I have 2 sampler pillows to display.

WOOHOO!

In other news,

our main road sucked Monday morning.

We had Dr. appts. to get to.

Plus our snowblower would not work.

Bob shoveled before we left.

I had errands to do for my mom.

Needed to get minutes on her phone.

Also needed to purchase a few more things

for her studio.

Right after I got home,

my sister texted me saying she already

got a few things.

Am ticked at her because she knew I was

getting these items,

We went over the list last Saturday...

and it was agreed I would get everything....

but thats my sister the controlling one. UGH

My stores are not just around the corner,

like hers are. 

Will be glad when my mom is moved in.

My stress level will go down.

Even the doctor said he could hear 

my heart murmur more pronounced this time.

I told him it was the cold weather... but it is stress.

Bob and I decided to go to dinner 

afterwards that day.

There was a little boy who told the waitress

it was his birthday and he was 7.

He and his parents and sister were sitting 

in the booth behind us.

I asked Bob for a couple of dollars.

When we were leaving I stopped at 

their booth and said, "I heard it was somebody's

birthday today. He smiled and said it was him.

I handed him a dollar and said Happy Birthday

to him. I then handed another dollar bill

to his smaller sister and told her I was giving

her this just because.

Their mom said how sweet and told them

to thank me.

I just smiled and we walked away.

I love seeing kiddos smile.

It makes my day!

Bad news now.

My SIL passed away early this morning.

Her heart gave out.

My brother could use some prayers.

This new year has not been good for my family.

 Blessings To All!

Janice

Monday Mish Mash

 

Hello my friends.

Since Winter is in full swing

now here in Michigan,

today I decided to show

some previous pics of Winter.

Our keeping room electric heater

keeps us warm at night.

I don't remember when I hooked 

this snow fella.

His nose is aged orange fabric

just fold up and stitched down a bit.

His scarf is also some fabric that

I wrapped around from back to front,

then tied a lil bow.

Added three rusty bells.

One year I made paper Winter ornaments.

I love keeping out candles and greens

out for my Winter displays.

Warm mittens my aunt knitted for me.

I could wear these, but I choose

to use them in my displays each year.

In other news,

Bob and I decided to go to the grocery store

the night before the cold temps hit.

Our cashier was checking us out.

She made a comment

"I don't think I can do this anymore."

Then she fell to the floor and hit someone

else's cart in the head.

She had passed out.

It was horrible. 

They called for an ambulance right away.

We waited for another cashier to come

finish checking us out.

Was told that she was diabetic and pregnant.

By the time we were leaving the parking lot,

the ambulance was coming in.

I sure hope she is alright. 

Saturday morning our actual temp was -18.

It was even so cold that our snow dog

Tundra even whimpered when he went outside.

These past few day have been putting him

on leash to just do his business and then

get him inside.

It is too brutal out there for man and beast.

Also on Saturday us kids went to mom's house.

We took everything she will need for her studio.

She came with us and we let her pick out

 small end and side tables, lamps and such.

Once we were finished, we all went to lunch

 at her fav restaurant in town.

Today I have the day off, so I will purchase things

she still needs.

Her newly purchased furniture and tv

arrives on Wednesday.

My sister and brother are 

going there to set her room all up.

My sister leaves for North Carolina Friday,

so Thursday night mom will stay with us.

I will work from home Friday and afterwards,

my brother and I will take her to dinner...

then take her to her new studio where

she will stay from now on.

Yesterday it snowed from the time I woke up,

until I went to bed.

Bob did not open the store.

Instead he stayed home with me.

He put a fire in our fireplace...

we watched a few old monster movies...

then we watched the football games.

I sure hope everyone is safe with all of the 

bad weather across the country.

Monday Mish Mash Blessings To All!

Janice

January CupbordScape

 

Hello my friends.

This is my first cupboardScape

of the new year.

This is a real simple one...

will explain along the way why

I did this.

Hope you enjoy my story.

This Winter display reminded  me

of an actual event that I did.

Growing up my family spent

Christmas week at my maternal grandparents.

Then we spent the next week at my Paternal ones.

Both had dairy farms.

One year as a teen, I decided that

I wanted to give a gift to the barn animals

on my maternal grandparents farm.

Got out my red/ white sled and headed

on out to the back of their property.

They owned 80 acres, and the back

is where all of the woods and pine trees were.

Lots of birch trees and sugar maples too.

Took me an axe and cut down a wee

pine tree.

Went back to the barn.

Filled a wood bucket up with water,

and stuck that lil tree in the bucket.

I figured the cows and horses

needed their own Christmas tree,

although I did not decorate it.

They had a tree nonetheless.

After we left, I never knew

 what happened to that tree.

Either my grandpa or uncle

surely must have gotten rid of it.

I never asked.

They never asked me.

Am sure though the one who found it

knew I had done it.

It was a great memory I will never forget.

My display has a sled, a small tree 

in an old worn bucket and lots of greens.

Also added in a Winter scene and of  course

my favorite bunny.

Back then I loved looking for bunny tracks

in the snow...even today I still do.

In other news,

on Monday my brother and I looked at

 two studio apartments for mom.

The  one faced the parking lot,

the other faced the woods.

This one had its very own little patio,

We knew my mom would like this one.

Their pamphlet read:

we are professional caregivers who are here

for someone who needs care,

so that all of the sons, daughters, 

and family members are able to love

their family members once again.

The good news is my mom and my sister

liked the studio too when they saw it.

We plan on having my mom moved in

by month end.

With her house...we do not plan on doing

anything until Spring.

Hoping once mom is moved in

that the texts and phone calls from my sister stop.

She constantly calls and texts both my brother and I.

My SIL was moved to a therapy facility.

She remains the same..so prayers for her

would be appreciated.

Yesterday we saw our first bald eagle sightings for the year.

The ice came down fast and furious Sunday.

The river ice always brings the eagles in...

and we love seeing them.

Again I was long winded. LOL

January Blessings To All!

Janice