A Week from Now...

A week from now, the hoopla will be over (for the most part).

I have always left my patriotic up until Labor Day anyway but, this year especially, I think the celebration should continue all year long.

(I won't keep my decor out that long because...well, you know, Halloween!)

I said I might try to post more photos of Americana decor and, since it's hotter than blazes outside, I'm wasting time inside and decided to share more.

There are a LOT of photos here so be forewarned. I'll keep the commentary minimal...with just a brief description under the photo if I think it helpful. If you have questions on anything, let me know. I'll be happy to try to respond if not in a direct email or in a reply comment, in a follow-up post.

Not all are the best as the windows and design of my home make photographing entire rooms/areas difficult.  

First off, Janice (Prims By The Water) mentioned she thought she saw a "Chessie and Me" cross stitch pattern. Yes, Janice you did.

It was done several years back and is called 1864 House Sampler.

Back to "other photos" - in no particular order.

{Vintage blue and red transferware nestled among excavated English meat pots and lids}

{"Centennial Eagles" - a design by Tina Woltman - also stitched years ago}

{Old chicken cage hung on my entry wall. I have a very large, funky, folk art Uncle Sam that I replace the Red Robin Farm barn with and sports and add a red, white and blue bunting or banner along the top, but I didn't make that far this year.}

The next two photos are close-ups from the cage:

{My vintage sparkler collection}

{Sculpted clay Uncle Sam on stretcher board with flag (by Folk For All Seasons), Vintage cross-stitched flag in the background and antique betty lamp on the side}

{Saltglaze Uncle Sam in a little niche of my kitchen counter...and, yes, I know the word "coffee" is upside down on the little canister. You know I love misfits.}

{More misfits: Excavated broken bisque dolls and figurines from Germany...well, I added the hat and flag...}

{Another of my folkart Santo-type angels...this one wearing a vintage (WWII era) "We Support Our Sailors" sash}

{Little wagon filled with vintage ammunition caps, poppers, tops, etc.}

{Vintage eagle snow catcher - used to catch snow from falling off roofs - on top of my mom's kraut cutter}

{Vintage Turtle Creek Pottery Plate}

{One of my only two patriotic hooked pieces...so as to not disappoint Saundra}

I'm leaving it at that.

I promise.

T-14 Days...

...and counting.

Or not.

Fourteen days until our country's sesquicentennial.

Like everything else these days, it seems to have snuck up quickly.

Or is it just me?

I have no plans for the 4th and I'm not necessarily sad about that.

Most years, I have tried to spend the holiday at the lake.

However, given that one whole level of the house is uninhabitable (and said level contains the laundry area as well as the main closet where all manner of necessary things (batteries, toolbox, spare paper towel, etc.) are kept and said closet no longer exists), it's not going to happen this year.

It would have been nice to sneak one last holiday in up there with the kids before the new "little" arrives, but it is what it is. Besides, I am certain that the entire area will be a complete and utter zoo.

Even on normal years, fireworks (and other ruckusing) start many days ahead of the actual holiday and continue many days after (with essentially no break).

It is also extremely over-peopley.

In addition to the many resorts and cabin rentals, there are several "residences" in the area that have been built soley as rentals and they are overflowing with tourists.  And those people who are actually residents there most usually have their own parties...and guests.

Consequently, the lake is full of pontoons, speed boats pulling giant tubes, jets skis, water skiers, and the shores are full of other people's music and squealing children.

At dusk, the fireworks will begin and the adult parties and music kick in.

That's on a normal year. On this auspicious Independence Day (that just happens to land on a Saturday, go figure?) I don't care to know what it will be like.

In other words, it's no place for the likes of me.

So, instead, I have decided to "over-decorate" for the occasion and, since no one else will be seeing it, I thought I would share a few snippets of it with you.

{A few of my vintage and antique parade horns on the cabinet in the front entry.}

{Fresh peonies nestled in an old crock in the drysink...guarded by a vintage eagle cookie cutter and drinking straws.}

{An out-of-print Blackbird Designs pattern "Home of the Brave" stitched last year and finally fully finished atop the mantel.}

{Stitched on 40-ct "Old Linen" by xJu Designs}

{Top of the pie safe.}

{Poor photo, but this is an old child's/youth's woolen naval jacket, with greens and flag tucked in a very large gourd container}

There's more...perhaps I'll manage another post within the next couple of weeks and share more.

Among all the dressings and hoopla, however, there is one particular treasure.

{Teresa Kogut's "250th Celebration" with modifications}

Beautifully stitched and beautifully finished onto a little wood shaker box.

An amazing gift from a dear friend.

At a time when my spirit - and heart - desperately needed a lift, it arrived with a fanfare all its own...sweet handmade paper birds, wonderfully packaged...and some of the best chocolates I've ever had.

I intended to photograph the wrappings, paper birds, chocolates, etc. but the latter disappeared too quickly and missed the photo shoot...and then, of course, I felt guilty.

My heart will hold the joy this brought for many, many, seasons to come.

Thank you

𓏲ּꪆ

Blizzards and Bunnies

...and after the flood came the blizzard. 

We are no strangers to cold or snow here in Nod, but this last storm, the weekend before last, was a doozy even by our standards.

I knew we were in trouble when, on Thursday night/early Friday morning, the forecast was for 3-5" of snow and we woke up to go 13."

We had a brief reprieve during the day on Friday and Saturday, but the new system (i.e., the blizzard) moved in late Saturday night.

By Sunday morning I was unable to get out the door.

{That's all the further I could push the door open before it hit the massive drift.)

In addition to the previous 13" of snow we had just gotten, we got 31" more in less than 24 hours.

{This is not a black and white photo...}

New records were set in our area and schools and roads were closed for several days (unheard of here generally).

My son managed to get over and plow for me (he lives a ways away) after the township roads were finally plowed but he could not shovel through the drifts to the house, so I was stranded for 3 days (one more disadvantage of a detached garage).

Most of that s*#t stuff has since melted and, thankfully, even though the temps were above freezing (actually well above freezing one day), the nights were still below freezing so there wasn't horrendous flooding.

Well...I've not been back to the lake since so, perhaps, I should not speak too soon.

We've since turned cold again...with snow squalls during the days and dropping into the (very) low teens at night. As the forecast stands now, we won't be above freezing for Easter day.

Weather notwithstanding, I have started pulling some of my chicks and bunnies and such.

The light that comes through my kitchen window makes it difficult to get decent photos (no, it's not the state of cleanliness of the window), but I tried to photograph the little vignette I started on the top of the butter churn above the sink.   

As I played with the focus, my attention was drawn to something in the background

Yup...the real ones are back.

Oh, wait...they didn't ever leave. (What's left of) my shrubs and the cords on my Christmas lights will attest to that.

Anyhow. 

Not much is being accomplished in the handcraft realm for many reasons.

I don't think, however, that I ever shared the "final" finish of this piece: "imagine*dream*believe" by Artful Offerings. 

It was stitched years ago and I posted about struggling with its floss colors. It came as a kit and, once I started stitching, the colors seemed very country-ish/baby-ish...especially when the "Woodrose" floss I had was way to the pink side vs. the peach side.

But I sucked it up and finished it and, many years later, finally got it fully finished.

Ok...that's it for now folks.

I have another week of nonsense ahead, but I will try to pop back in in the next few days and share a few more bunnies and such (hopefully not of the real variety). 

{Thank you to all who commented on my prior post and for the good wishes, hopes, and prayers. I am sorry that I didn't manage to respond individually to everyone. Life, once again, got ahead of my good intentions. Please know, however, that each and every comment was appreciated and brought me a measure of comfort.}

Happy St. Valentine's Day 2026

 

{Adaptation of one of the designs in the Primitive Trio of Hearts Reproduction Motif Pillow Tucks" pattern by Jenny Hoffman ("Country Rustic Primitives"). I believe it is stitched on 40-ct Raw Wichelt linen, but it might not be. 😶}

I hope you found some small joys in the day.

The Long Season

 

{The first full moon of 2026: A rare "Wolf" supermoon. It was very overcast here in Nod but it still lit up the night. Believe it or not, this was around 10 p.m.}

{Awful photo but, unbelievably, Jupiter was visible!!}

{"Winter 1839" design by Jenny Hoffman of Country Rustic Primitives}