MY BOYS AND THE TURKEY TROT

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving day! I know I am over stuffed and pooped! It's fun to have everyone over, but it sure is a lot of work getting everything done so we can all sit down together and eat! Every year I say "Next year, I'm going to a restaurant"...I know I won't after all, it wouldn't be Thanksgiving if I couldn't be with my family.

Anyway.. three of my four sons ran in the Ann Arbor Turkey Trot this morning. It is a 5K run and they did really well. Pictured is Nathan, Shane, and Jeff. Shane is a marathon runner, Nate is a 1/2 marathoner, and this was Jeff's first race. I would love to be able to run in just one race..but I'm too old and way too out of shape. I would probably be one of the people laying on the side of the road gasping for air after the 1st 20 feet! Oh well...in my next life! Have a great night everyone!

Brady's Birthday

Today we celebrated Brady's 3rd birthday. That's him in front of the cake, along with his mom, his older sister Karsyn, and then his little little brother Parker with my daughter, Renee. It was at a place called "Jungle Java" and personally...I hope to NEVER go there again it was packed wall to wall with people. I soon as we walked in my son said, "Mom..we are having the cake now and we are getting the heck out of here..it's terrible!" I think it was the fastest birthday party in history...thank God! I don't think my brain could have taken two hours of it!! Here's some more pics...just have to show the grandchildren every once in a while!
This is Sebastian and Gabriel..sitting waiting anxiously for cake and ice cream..thankfully they didn't have to wait too long!

This is little Miss Olivia...as you can see by her face..she is really enjoying herself!

Last, but not least...is my youngest son, Jeff, holding the youngest of the 9 grandbabies..Charlotte. She is so sweet..always smiling and always looking to grab whatever she can with those lightening fast hands! I was unable to get a picture of my little grandson Jacob...he was too busy playing and his little sister, Isabel was home recovering from a fever. It's never dull when these cousins get together!

SOME MUCH NEEDED REDECORATING..

I have had the pleasure of having a 4 day weekend this past weekend, with virtually no plans...so I have been sewing, hooking, and lastly rearranging and cleaning. I'm never in the mood to do it after work so I thought I would take advantage of my small and far between bursts of energy!

First, is my entryway. It is a difficult area to decorate due to the long wall, but I have to make the most of it:


This poor little high back dry sink I have had for about 15 years. I tried and tried to sell....even give it away, but there were no takers. I figured out it was a bit to shiney...so I left it on my back porch a couple years, let it peel and crack. Then brought it in yesterday...sanded it and added a thin coat of Tudor Brown Briwax. I took off the porcelain knobs and some other trim. I can't decide it I want to slap a coat of paint on it or leave it be.


This is one little corner in living room...another difficult area to decorate because my furniture is in the center of the room, so no matter what...there is always a chair or couch back to it. This pie safe, I purchased at Malabar this fall rather inexpensively. It was golden pine color with really shiny copper tin panels. I brought it home and sanded it, and then applied my favorite Briwax all over, including the punched copper. I think it looks pretty good.

I found a permanent home for my Annie doll and I found a way to darken her white eyeballs...again...did I mention Tudor Brown Briwax?
This was the "before"...again....one word...Briwax...

MAKING DOLLS...

I was so fortunate, after not being able to attend the Simple Goods Show, that I was able to purchase one of Jackie Schmidt's dolls from her picture trail this past week. I just love Jackie's dolls! They are so simplistic in appearance, yet their little faces say a thousand words. I love this little angel tree topper. I think she will look wonderful on my twig tree this Christmas. The larger one on the left, is Annie. I had purchased a pattern from Jackie about two months ago and finally had enough time yesterday morning to actually make her. Now Annie's face doesn't look near as good as the pattern...it looks like she has no mouth (she does....it's just dark), and her eyes look as though she has seen a ghost (I had to redo them three times)..but her dress turned out splendid..I added some little antique shoe buttons at the top. I stuffed her with cotton batting. I have Annie holding a little cross stitch sampler that I stitched about 25 years ago it says:

"LET'S ALWAYS TAKE THE TIME TO SAY A PRAYER FOR EACH OTHER"

So...this was my second attempt at making a doll from a pattern and it was quite enjoyable! I am hoping I can improve on the the facial features of my next one,so she doesn't look so scary,but for now, Annie will sit with pride next to my small but growing collection of black rag dolls!

SHOPPING IN SEVILLE AND MEDINA OHIO

Last Friday, my husband and I were heading down to the Simple Goods Show so we decided to make our way through Medina and Seville Ohio first. Here are a couple of pictures of things I picked up along the way:

First..I would like to share a couple of photos of the beautiful sampler I purchased at Seville Antiques in Seville Ohio. I love this primitive, antique shop! They have the best antiques. Every dealer has a little room set up, displaying their wares in the most beautiful, primitive way...it makes you feel like you are in an early New England Saltbox home...


It's dated 1939 with the initials W.T.B. at the top. I love the poem about friendship.



We also stopped at Three Brothers Antique Annex just south of downtown Medina. They have such a large selection of primitives!! I spotted this set of pantry boxes and of course just had to have them! They were my splurge for the trip...



Well...we never did make it to the Simple Goods show...that Friday afternoon we had to return home due to a family emergency. But all seems to be a little better now...so we are shooting for next year. I know we missed a great show and really missed seeing a lot of good friends....but when it comes to family...you have to follow your heart. Take care and have a good week.....