Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Some New Arrivals

 
Hello friends.


A few Sunday's ago Bob asked me~
"Do you want to go with me on a prim pick?"
He did not have to ask me twice.
These are the items I brought home.
Bob also bought some for the store.



Anytime you find a brown crock with
an iridescence to it...you know it is old.
Civil War era.


The beauty in this one is a canning crock.
I already know what I am going to put into it 
for a Spring display.


Next always looking for leather books.


This one is about President Grant.



Could not pass up a pantry box.


Especially when it has been engraved.


The top one also  came home.


When I saw this rug was not exactly sure
where it would go...


Finds out it fits perfectly here on my mule chest.


Next this black piece.


It is a butter stamp mold.


Finally the cream of the crop.
A fine antique flat wood bowl.


Look at those details on the sides.


Not sure if you can tell, but it is
out of round which means it was hand carved.

I scored on this prim pick for sure!

In other news,
my brother and I continue to go to my mom's
twice a week to go through things for
an estate sale.
I hate to say this but my mom was a hoarder.
I found 9 school locks without the combinations.
20 bottles of 50+ vitamins.
Empty Polident tubes everywhere from my dad.
Empty boxes in one closet....don't even
remember how many because there were
boxes inside boxes.
Lots of stuff you would never keep.
More than I can say.
My brother was cleaning her kitchen table
and this is the first time we have seen
the top since my dad passed away.
It's a disease my mom had.
When they built this new house,
my dad told my mom it was not going to
look like their old house...it was kept clean
until my dad passed.

Bob makes dinner for us the days we go to mom's.
It is so nice of him to do this for us.
Last night he made us sweet Italian sausage
with onions and peppers on sub buns,
For a side he made rice.
It was delish.

Lake Huron's ice is coming down towards us now.
You can start to see open water in the big lake now.

Well have to get ready as my brother will be here soon.

New Arrival Blessings To All!
Janice 













Friday, February 27, 2026

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, February 23, 2026

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 




Thursday, February 19, 2026

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, February 15, 2026

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