Happy New Year.....

It's that time of year again......resolutions, diets, decluttering, etc.!  I've been giving this a lot of thought.  I have so many changes ahead of me that it sometimes makes me dizzy.  My goal is to take it one day at a time.  Today will be the day I take the rest of my Christmas decorations down and hopefully, get to the grocery store (I'm getting hungry).

This was on one of the blogs I read this morning and loved it.

It's been sort of a strange week for me.  In so many ways I feel such a relief and then there's also a sadness to be leaving something that's been such a huge part of my life for the last 8 years.  We closed Leola's.  There were multiple reasons but when it came right down to it it was just time.  There was little said about it but I still feel bad about not giving proper "thanks" to all those who worked beside us for all that time.  Kenda and Kristi had been with us since the beginning and Brenda came shortly thereafter.  We were a good group for a long time and I'll miss all of them.  Not certain what I will do now but, first and foremost, will be looking for a new house.

How about this one?

I had a wonderful Christmas.  Kind of low-key but that's the way I like it.  I realized several years ago that it was the season and the meaning of the day that brought the true joy.....not necessarily the actual day.  Takes a lot of pressure off and makes it so much more enjoyable.  Christmas brunch.....

Stella got a selfie stick for Christmas so Zoe put my big iphone in it.  Not the greatest but we still have a record.

I couldn't let the season go by without posting a few photos from my sister, Judy's, beautiful home.  She does such a wonderful job of both decorating and sharing it during the holidays.  She has a large family and many friends and she loves to entertain..... 

Well, guess I'd better get serious about this day.  Hoping that all who read this know that I am wishing all of us a wonderful 2016.  With everything going on in this crazy world today it will truly be a difficult thing but I sincerely pray that God will see us through this terrible period and help us to find PEACE.

Spring is popping out all over......

My sage....

The garden is going crazy.  I don't remember such a beautiful spring....that might explain all the pollen.  I've never seen so much "stuff" falling from the trees and my head definitely feels it.

This is the first time for this peony to bloom since I transplanted this from the old cemetery where most of my family is buried.....

I'm still planning on putting my house on the market.  I just hope that whomever buys it appreciates the work I've put into the yard.

We had such a nice Mother's Day at my daughter and son-in-law's house.  We had a big rain earlier but it cleared long enough to get in a few pictures.

We had such a wonderful day.....I so love the time I spend with them.

It's been a busy spring so far.  It seems there are just so many weeks to get so much done.  This week we have cousins visiting from California and they're coming to my house tomorrow night for dinner..
My sisters will be here and hopefully, my brother, who's not doing very well right now, and sister-in-law and my two cousins who we've been so close to even though they live far away.  We'll all sit around the table that our great grandfather made many, many years ago and enjoy talking about old and new times.  I feel so blessed to have such a big, loving family.

Feel so bad for all of you in the midst of the bad storms.....my thoughts and prayers are certainly with you.

Have a wonderful week!

Wonderful Easter weekend.....

We were so blessed to have a wonderful holiday weekend.  We started Thursday with a birthday dinner at Galloway Grill for my 2 grandgirls who turned 10 then off to Maundy Thursday services at church.  Saturday was the egg drop where they send a helicopter and drop 16,000 eggs in the field next to church.

G'daughter Phoebe and daughter Allison.....

 My kids.....

A good time was had by all.  The pictures were all taken by my phone because after packing up my new camera & all the gear, I realized I had left my card at home in the computer......bummer.

We always like to go to sunrise service on Easter and it was beautiful.....so meaningful!  Then everyone came to my house for lunch and a cake for the girls birthday.....do we drag birthdays out or what!!!!  The weather could not have been more perfect and it was a wonderful day.

Stella and Phoebe opening more presents.  Then we had cheesecake and strawberry shortcake for dessert.

Sisters.....

Brother and sister-in-law....

The other gramma (SIL John's mom, Pam) and all the grandchildren.....

 

I loved this picture of Phoebe.....she just is a great subject for my camera.  As a matter of fact, they all are!

Phoebe and her grandmother, Pam....

 

Sister, Judy, and some of her family came over in time for cake.  These cousins don't get to see each other very often anymore but when they do, they have such a good time.

 

 

It was a wonderful day and I feel so blessed to have this wonderful family.  I also am so grateful that spring is finally here and we can enjoy all this outside.....yea!!!!

 

Also, I told you that I would share my placemats and napkins with you when I was finished.  They turned out really well, I thought, and the napkins really coordinate well.  The ticking seems to go with almost all the fabric I have.  These are the ones that are now at Leola's....

 

 

Basically, there can be six placemats (front & back) made from 2 yds. of fabric and the least expensive fabric I found to use is $7.99 per yd., it takes most of one day to make them so I marked them $9.00 ea.  The ticking was $12.99 per yd. & I brought it home and laundered it so the napkins would be softer.  It was possible to get 6 napkins out of  one yard of fabric but the rolled hem took more time then was expected.  I've never liked the rolled hem that my serger makes which would be a lot faster.  I marked the napkins $4.00 each.  We'll see how they do.

 

Hope everyone has a good week and are able to enjoy the beautiful weather that we are in Missouri.







Christmas week......

It was a wonderful Christmas at my house.  It was perfect weather (cold but no wet stuff), food turned out delicious, and kiddoes were all happy and contented.  We went to Christmas Eve services with lots of family and it was wonderful.  That's always my favorite thing.  The only way I can describe it is it "fills me up"!  I know that when my g'kids are my age and I'm long gone, they will remember all of us being in church on Christmas Eve.

After the kids open presents at their house, they come to mine (in their p.j.'s) and we have the same egg dish, cinnamon rolls and fruit that I've fixed for years.  The g'kids search for the pickle that hangs somewhere on my tree and the one who sees it first gets a little gift, then the others get one, too (of course).

This is the wonderful painting that Phoebe made for me. 

.....and here is the scarf that Stella made for me and the bread board and wood tool that Allison made with her new wood-burning set.  I love the things they make for me.

The girls with all their new doll equipment....

Sage with his Legos......

I'm so thankful for this little family of mine and for my big extended one.  It's harder now for all of us to be together like we used to do.  We're just all so blessed to have this family and are so grateful that we are today all healthy and doing well.....thank you, God.

Worked for awhile yesterday at Leola's and couldn't help myself, had to have these.....

I seem to have collected quite a few vintage glass bells so my plan next year is to do a small bell tree.

Hope all of you had a wonderful holiday season and that our new year will be one of much peace and happiness.

Check us out in Vintage Style magazine.....

So excited to see the magazine that my sisters (Judy & Linda), niece Kelli and myself are in.  We've waited since last fall to see it actually in print.  We're so excited about it and couldn't be happier with the way it turned out. 

It was a wonderful 4th of July this year.  The weather was incredible....warm enough for the pool during the day but needed a light jacket in the evenings.  Just went to Judy's in the country and ate ribs, baked beans and slaw.....almost sick when I came home.  We set and visited with Judy's grandkids and sons and then looked at pictures and scrapbooks that Judy has of our mom's.  Mom saved every card she ever received and if she were still living, she would be 105.  She had Christmas cards from during WW2 and they are very patriotic.  Judy assured us that lots of people sent that kind of a card during wartime.

Judy and I made a quick trip to St. Louis this weekend to bring her grandson home from his uncle's house.  We had so much fun even though it was only for a very short time.  It was great seeing Shad's and Rob's house and their wonderful landscaping.  Their whole neighborhood is beautifully landscaped and well maintained.  Why is it that some areas take such pride in their homes and maintaining them while so many let their lawns grow, never pull a weed or set out a flower.  It doesn't have much to do with how expensive the homes are either.....seems to have more to do with the soul of the neighborhood.  Every neighbor that walked past their house while we were sitting on the porch looked up and spoke.  I was shocked!  So many in my neighborhood act like they're afraid of speaking.  Rob had watched the neighbor's house while they were out-of-town so we enjoyed a strawberry-rhubarb pie for desert as their "thank-you".  Wish I could find a neighborhood like that!

We did a little antiquing but didn't find many bargains.  Ate at some wonderful restaurants and headed back home the next morning.  Whew!!!!

I've had company the last couple of days and stayed really busy trying to keep everything watered.  Sooooo hot during the day but nice on the back porch this morning after a little shower. 

Think I'll go check that one zucchini and see if I can pick it yet.

Have a great "rest of the week".

It's snowing and blowing......

It's a cold and blustery day with snow flurries.  Great day for staying in and getting some baking and wrapping done.                                                                              

 Yesterday was music program day.  In the morning was their school program and the evening was filled with more children's voices at church.  This is the best thing about Christmas for me but this year I couldn't get all those families in Connecticut out of my mind.  When those little first graders walked out, it was very difficult.  What kind of evil can do such a thing?  I also thought about everyone who blamed it on God being taken from public schools.  Anyone who thinks God is not in our schools should have been at our program.  One thing of which I am certain is that anywhere my grandchildren go, God is there.

There's much to do and so little time.....guess I'd better get to it.  Think I'll light a fire and do a little baking.  Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas, and that our new year will be filled with peace.

Cousins.....

Cousins......

Cousins.....

Cousins....

Cousins.....

Cousins....

We had a great family weekend.  These cousins don't get to spend much time together but they have a bond that I hope is never broken.......family.