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

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 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 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

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

Sunday Starts

 Now that I am retired I decided

to start two more samplers.

First one is Jeny Brimer

by Milady's Needle.

I will be adding in my grandparents names

for this one for my heritage wall.

The next one I chose was

Elizabeth Manners 1843.

I wanted to do this one to place next 

to  Sarah Casey Unwin which is  below.

With the biblical sayings on each,

this will be my mini blessings wall.

My first day start I stitched 

a little bit of the border and the angel.

The angel was suppose to be this pink color.

I chose DMC 3779 which is the peach.

Did not want a pink angel.

I may work on this one more than the others,

as I want to make sure they have

 the same frame color like the other one.

Will see though...I may change my mind. LOL

In other news,

Well one full week of retirement under my belt.

Bob asked me how it felt to be retired now.

I told him right now it just feels like

I am on vacation.

It may take a bit to sink in for me.

Tomorrow Bob and I are meeting my brother

at my mom's house.

We are finished cleaning and now we

want Bob to see if he can sell anything

in our store before we contact

my friend to do the estate sale.

She knows we own an antique store,

so there will be no hard feelings.

She also knows we need to get as much money

as we can for my mom's care.

Hopefully it will be a nice day today so 

Tundra and I can spend some time outside.

Unfortunately he found a bunny nest yesterday,

and proceeded to grab the only one left.

Bob told me it had all of its fur, but died.

He also put some pallets around the area,

so Tundra can no longer snoop,

but he thinks he was too late.

Happy stitching, crafting or Hooking Blessings To All!

Janice

Whippy Wednesday

 

I don't have much to show this month.

Well by my standards anyways. LOL

Let's start off with Parade Sammy.

This is where I left you last month.

This has been my nightly stitch when I can.

I am almost to the finish line.

Floral Sampler has been another one 

I pick up now and then.

Am loving all of the flowers I have stitched thus far.

Even the purple ones.

I am a third of the way from completing 

this beauty now.

Next up is Faith 1831.

Almost finished with the second swag.

Finally I once again picked up the Summer Saltbox.

This is where I was last year when I put it away.

I started working on this when I was working

from home with nothing to do.

My boss knew I was doing nothing and did not care.

In other news,

I will miss my boss.

she was the BEST one I had ever had 

in my 50 year banking career.

20 years with First National Bank.

Then 30 years with Bank of America.

When I gave her my resignation letter,

the entire week she kept telling me

that she was not accepting it because

she did not want me to leave.

I was her top sales performer. 

So I made an announcement at my 

retirement party that if she was not

going to accept my letter, I was going AWOL.

Everyone laughed including her.

Easter was low key.

I went to lunch with my mom.

For lunch we had salad, deviled egg,

multi grain roll, 2 slices of ham with 

pineapple and cherry on top, stuffing,

mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole,

 peas and strawberry cheesecake for dessert.

That was a lot of food for lunch.

Later that evening Bob and I

had ham, green bean casserole and sweet potatoes.

Apple pie for dessert.

Every day thus far at least one of my co-workers

has texted me saying they miss me.

Guess I was really liked...well I know 

I was everyone's go to person.

Mid Week Blessings To All!

Janice