Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Lover's Leap

 Good evening everyone!
Today's post is the next stop of our recent trip.
After Bob and I left Kansas City,
we stopped in Hannibal, MO.

Today I am going to feature 
Lover's Leap.
Before I begin, I need to say that
Hannibal was the boyhood home of 
Samuel Clemens
known as Mark Twain.
The locals say that Orion Clemens,
Sam's older brother started this claim (legend). 


(You may double click on the pics to enlarge)


This high bluff which of exposed limestone
was where Orion
told the story in his newspaper.
His legend was of the Indian maiden 
who committed suicide
with her lover in order not to marry
the buck her father the chief wanted her to marry.


Its panoramic view is amazing!
Left of the river is Missouri and to the right Illinois.
But I have to admit, as Bob was driving up
I was yelling for him to stop all the way...
really YELLING
as I am deeply afraid of heights and
not knowing how we were going to get down the winding road to the top...made it even worse.
Did I mention I was yelling while holding 
on to my seat for dear life
all at the same time. Its true.
However once at the top, there was a very huge
parking lot and we were able to turn our cargo van
around with no problem.
My yelling was for naught as I was amazed once
at the top...
so sorry Bob for almost causing you a heart attack.


The city of Hannibal.
So sorry about my finger is getting in the way. 
The fence was there so you could not go off the cliff.
While up there, the beauty of it all surpassed my fear.


One of three islands near Hannibal.
Again I apologize for my fat fingers getting in the way.

Now I know there are several states that feature
a Lover's Leap legend,
however if you choose to visit Lover's Leap
in Hannibal, MO it is off of MO-79,
about 1 mile south of Hannibal.
Just don't be a scared-y-cat like I was.

Lover's Leap Blessings To All!
Janice



Sunday, October 16, 2016

Take A Stroll

Hello friends. 
Hope your Weekend is going good for you.
Last Monday morning Bob and I headed out for
Kansas City, Missouri.
I won an award at my job for exceeding my goals
mid year for our region and the ceremony
was held at the Kansas City Westin hotel.

Bob and I decided to take the opportunity and turn
it into a mini vacation.
Our hotel was on the 6th floor,
but when you opened the sliding glass door,
there was grass and trees.
It felt like you were on the ground level.
We were also greeted by a German Shepard puppy
outside our door.

We stopped for lunch Monday at a quaint diner
in Diamond, IL.

It took us about 13 hours to get to Kansas City.

Our route was through Michigan, Indiana,
Illinois and then Missouri.

Illinois was mostly farmland and windmills.
We could see the old Sears Tower (Willis Tower)
in the far distance at one point as it was a nice day
and the Chicago skyline was in view.

Going over the Illinois River was nice.
We drove through some hills and the river was below
in the valley.

Missouri has lots of creeks on the route we drove. 
This was also my first time crossing the 
Mississippi River...and I was so excited
to see the Big Muddy!!!

Monday night we ate at 54th Street.
Wish they had these restaurants here in Michigan.
Bob and I dined on appetizers.
Hot wings, Spinach dip and
 Chicken/ Black Bean Mexican Rolls.
I had a couple margaritas and Bob tried some new beers.

Lunch on Tuesday was at Jacks Freight BBQ...
and it did not disappoint. Their KC brisket was awesome!

After lunch we went to the Kansas City zoo.
The zoo is on a 200 acre park.
I really wanted to see the Koalas, however they were sleeping.
It was 82 degrees that day..
and by 3:00 pm we were dragging.
Stayed until 4:00 pm and walked the entire park.

If you would like to see all the animals Bob and I saw,
please look under the list of animals with the link below.

https://www.kansascityzoo.org/ouranimals/

For now lets take a stroll of some of the animals
I was able to catch on camera before it died on me.


Siberian Tigers


Macaws


Red Capped Mangabey (side view)


Red Kangaroos


Emu


Side View


Singing Dog


Wallaby


Tree Kangaroo


Saddleback Stork

We left Kansas City on Wednesday morning.
More on our trip later.
Glad to be back now and just trying to get myself
into creating some Christmas goodies for an upcoming show
in November.

Take A Stroll Blessings To All!
Janice

Sunday, October 9, 2016

Witchy Store Displays


Happy Sunday morning all!
Today I would like to show you our
recent Halloween Witchy store display.


Its all about the witch.
Bob purchased this 1950's costume
in the Summer and it set the tone
 for the display this year.
I tried to show the day time look for each pic...


followed by the night time one.
But not all.


Do you think she looks like a hag who could
put a spell on you?


I made the witch feet by sewing up some
black & orange fabric tubes; stuffing them.
then putting the tubes inside my black
Victorian boots.


Bob worked his magic by attaching to the fireplace.



Don't you think he did an awesome job!


Our funky candelabra.


With tiny black bats at each tip of the candle.
(we used children's plastic bat rings for this)
The dollar store had spider ones too....


Bob hung the witch hats from the ceiling,
and since he used fishing line...
they look like they are floating in air.


He then hung three brooms the same way
up against our window, and I put the sign up.


At the corner of our window,
he put more brooms inside a nail keg.


Then I added more signs for towns.
The miles are actual miles from our store.
Thank you Mapquest.

Witch Lake, MI 513 miles
Salem, MA 702 miles
Hell, MI 97 miles
and yes we do have both a Witch Lake
and Hell Michigan town in our state.


Night time view of our witch cauldron.


A mouse peeking out of a table drawer.


EEK


The two skulls that look like they are floating,
are actually on a glass scale.
A third is on the black dresser.


The window display from the street view.
Bob decided to add a spider web to the middle.
Hope you enjoyed peeking into our bit of Halloween.

Witchy Store Displays Blessings To All!
Janice 

















Thursday, October 6, 2016

Throwback THursday

Happy Thursday everyone.
Please pray for those affected by
Hurricane Matthew.
Friends of ours have left their home
in Daytona Sh0res, Florida and Bob's
sister is in the Tropical Storm Warning.
Hopefully everyone will take heed and leave,
so no one will lose their lives.
You can replace things...but not lives.

Today I am doing a Throwback Thursday
of past prim crafts that I have sold over the years.
Hope you enjoy.





















Throwback Thursday Blessings To All!
Janice








Monday, October 3, 2016

Saying Goodbye To An Old Friend

Saying hello to a new one.


Good evening friends.
It was a foggy drive into work this morning.
Looks to be getting foggy again.

Saturday on our way home from visiting with my mom,
we stopped at an antique store.
Then it happened.
 I said goodbye to an old friend.


My old friend being this 
Whitney Reed rocking horse.


For those who do not know the story of this horse...
I had to pass it up one year at a sale.
The following year I went back to the same sale,
and it was still there.
I purchased it and took it home.


However Saturday I had to let it go.
Goodbye dear old friend.
But hello new friend!


My new Whitney Reed rocking horse.


A fine dapple one.


With the mane and tail intact.
Saddle and stirrups intact.
A stunning example of one.


It looks amazing don't you think?


Although I would have loved to have kept
both of them....
my house is not big enough for both.
So my old friend went to the store,
for someone else to enjoy.

Do you like my new friend?
This one will be my forever one
since I paid full price.

Goodbye Old Friend Blessings To All!
Janice




Sunday, October 2, 2016

Giveaway Winner



Good afternoon friends.
It has been a stormy rainy week last week.
More on the way I hear too...
so for now I am enjoying the partly cloudy 
65 degree weather today.

The kitties are outside sunning themselves
in their enclosed Catio.

After I announce my giveaway,
I am off to take a nap.
Bob and I changed up our store for Halloween last night.
Stayed until 11:pm last night.
It's a witchy window this year,
but unfortunately I dropped a heavy glass insulator
on the same toe I broke last year.
OUCH
I could not sleep last night and now am dragging
my butt as we spent another 5 hours 
this morning finishing up.



So without further ado,
Cathy from 
Acorn Hollow 
is the winner.
Please send me your address,
so I can mail out your goodies this week.

Thank you to everyone for your wonderful comments.
I enjoyed each and every one of them!

Hope everyone enjoys their Sunday afternoon...
I am off to cat nap now. :-)

Giveaway Winner Blessings To All!
Janice