Collections ... Day #1

Good Morning Bloggers!! I just read on Facebook that Primitive Place Magazine is asking their readers to post pictures of their collections ... hehe since I have a few collections (people who know me are hysterical by now) I thought I would take a few days and post them. Today is my newest passion, Civil War Quilts! Especially doll quilts. So, sit back with a cup of warm cocoa and join me on my journey of quilting!





Underground Railroad (think I was there)

Have you ever had a de ja vu moment?? Well I have, the Civil War is one of them. I feel so strongly attached to this period in history, truly believe I was there - I know, it sounds crazy, but I bet you all have a moment in time that you feel you have lived in the past. OK, moving on. I love the quilt hanging on the wall. It's an Underground Railroad pattern. My dear friend Penny coordinated a monthly sewing day for the two of us to created this wonderful, historical piece. Each block tells a story of the journey the slave made to acquire freedom during the Civil War. In this shot alone I have pillows, doll quilts and throw size. A small sampling of my ever growing collection!!





Quilt Dough??

No of course not, there is no such thing. But, with the holidays over it was time for a fresh look so I folded and stacked some of my favorite quilts into my dough bowl. Along with Longaberger, wooden bowls, rolls of twine and a scoop ... I loved the finished look.




A Cupboard of Quilts

I have stacked mostly lap and throw quilts in this little pie safe. Hanging on the door is a "Friendship" quilt made by my special friend Penny for my birthday. You will get to know her quite well!!





Hang um and Roll um! 

I love variety! Here are a few different ideas for displaying quilts. Hang them from a peg rack or roll them on antique mill spools or simply tuck them in an antique water bucket!! Just love these little quilts - you can create so much variety in color and design!





Pewter, Pewter, Pewter!

My newest addition to my pewter collection is the plate on top of the cabinet that says "The Great American Revolution" and a ceramic picture of the drum and fife corp marching into battle. Another sweet and special friend, Amy gave me this for Christmas and I LOVE it!! This is a preview to a few of my other "collections" pewter and Longaberger Baskets! More on those collections in a few days.

2012 Transformation

Holy cow I'm tired! I spent the entire day transforming my home back into what I call "normal."  All my beautiful Christmas decorations have been taken down and stored away for yet another long 10 plus months ... so much work for such a small amount of time, so sad.

However, it does feel nice having every surface polished and shiny, and for the most part everything back in it's place. I still have a few places I'm working on but I hope to have it all completed tomorrow! Wish me luck. I have posted a few pics for ya'll to see!

The fire place is lit and shiny!

Longaberger is stacked back in their place.

The girls have gathered for story time ....

Love my new quilted tray ...

Decided to leave the wreaths up for a while longer, love how they look.

The boss, she's glad all is back in order!

May you all have a very Happy New Years Eve. Stay safe in what ever it is you do!!

Oh!! P.S. If you haven't already, go and see War Horse the movie. Fabulous, take a box of tissues.

Looking in the Rearview Mirror ...

Well here we are looking at another year in the rear view mirror. The older I get the faster they fly by, there is something not quite right about this phenomenon. As I reflect back on 2011 overall it has been a wonderful year. My family remains healthy and inspite of a turbulent economy my husband and I are financially sound ... however, we are a bit more frugal these days!

Looking to the future I hope to see a bit more of the United States. Since I joined the ranks of the unemployed this past August I would like to take advantage of this time off work and see the states!

I would love to take a road trip to Iowa to visit long time friends Eileen and John in Lake City. From there I would like to visit Country Threads Quilt Shop and over the Anamosa to visit Gatherings, a prim shop where I bought my awesome reindeer!!

Another trip will be to Ohio at the end of April, I will be taking  a group of Longaberger Collectors Club ladies to attend a gathering at the Homestead. And finally, I hope to visit Virginia in late spring. We will fly in and stay with Joe's son in Harrisonburg. From there we will drive all over the state and see the historical sites I have longed to see! Mt. Vernon, Monticello, Williamsburg, civil war battlefields, antique stores and Notforgotten Farm, another favorite blogspot of mine! And if there is time up to Gettysburg in PA.

Staying in the Golden State of California I hope to visit my son and his beautiful family in Northern Calif. and off to the north eastern part of the state to Quincy to visit a very dear friend.

So, if I mange to get to all of these places I should have a very busy year traveling the states. If you're anywhere along the way and would like me to stop in just let me know!!

Happy New Year to everyone, may 2012 bring you happiness and joy.

Days After Christmas sale!!

Holiday Blahs

It's the day after Christmas ... the tree is bare of the beautifully wrapped gifts, dishes are done and put away and I'm pooped. I never have liked the day after Christmas, it's such a let down. I enjoy the preparations, the baking, the wrapping, shopping, decorating the whole shabang. Then poof, in a matter of hours it's over. The only thing left is undecorating my home, packing it all up and storing it away again for another 11 months. As I sit here on the couch I feel an emptiness, my eyelids are heavy, feel like I could lay down and take a long nap ... like a bear. But .... that would mean a long sleepless night. So as fatigued as I am I will push through the next few days until a sense of "normal" comes over me again ... what ever normal might be!

Perhaps if I focus on this happy little face of my granddaughter Karlee with her new American Girl Doll I will begin to focus on the beauty of Spring!

Last Batch!

Between cookie dough and visits with my grandchildren I've been buried!! The kids were in for a few days last week then down to the dunes to ride their quads for 5 days. They returned Monday afternoon and after a few mishaps they finally got on the road to head home this morning. I'm sure the adults are stressed as they have a 12 hour drive ahead of them and their Christmas shopping is NOT done! EEKS, glad it's not me.



Now I'm baking my final batch of snowball cookies, once the kitchen is cleaned up I can finish my wrapping and settle down and enjoy the beauty of the season.







Recipe for Snow Balls





Sheet 1 of 4!  Almost done.
Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas



He's here, he's here and he is sooo cute!!

While paroosing cyber space last week I found the most adorable reindeer on Gatherings Blog. I emailed Wanda and asked if he was still available ... he was!! I never dreamed he would make it for Christmas but he arrived today! I should have remembered how fast reindeer can travel. I have attached a few pics from his journey out of the box to his new home.

Here he is! All they way from Iowa, he's going to love warm California!

Let me out, let me out, Can you hear him hollering??

Hang on Rudolph, you're almost out

OOPS, no red nose! He must be Dasher!! Yikes, no antlers either!

Found um!

He's in good shape now.

And here he is, settled in the Living Room with the Christmas Tree!

Thank you Wanda for getting him here so quick, I just love how he looks. I'm heading out soon to get some more pine to scatter around his feet. Merry Christmas!