A SPECIAL DAY...

The 11th month, the 11th day, the 11th hour - Veteran's Day. Above is the entrance to the Great Lakes National Cemetery that we are honored to have in Holly township. It is the final resting place to veterans and their spouses. It is so unbelievable to drive in to the flag lined streets and see row after row of white markers, very sobering. I am proud to say that my father is a WWII vet and my husband is a Viet Nam vet - thank you from the bottom of my heart to both of them and everyone else that has served in our military.
These pictures were taken at a ceremony honoring our POW's.
Don Austin is the speaker above and has been a lifelong friend to my husband. They grew up as neighbors and went into the army at the same time. They went all the way through until they were shipped to Viet Nam and then separated. Don is a very special person that does speaking engagements and gives back so much to our country.
This table was in honor of the missing POW's.
When you hear someone was a prisoner of war, just think of what they went through prisoned in a cage like the one in the above picture. Again, thank you to our veterans and to our troops.
DONE! Sewing for awhile that is. I have piles to take to the shop and to the Christmas Tradition show in Angola.
There are snowmen, angels, santas, shutters, and all kinds of other prims.
You can't see it, but the chair behind the snowmen is LOADED!
Baskets and boxes are ready to be loaded into my car tomorrow morning.
I think I'm going to save this big old guy for the show. Whew! It has been one heck of a week. Thank goodness Bonnie tended the shop today and Debbie came out to help me finish up these projects. I feel good about Ladie's Nite Out and the show now, so maybe I can take a breather for a couple of days. NOT! The front window still has to be done, supplies and food for Ladie's Nite Out has to be bought and made, and everything dug out and packed for the show. Oh well, there's always next week!
Now it's jammie time and a little CMU Awards.
Until next time...

MARATHON (SEWING THAT IS) WEEK...

Good morning from my home to yours! What a crazy week this is. Thank goodness for good friends! Bonnie graciously agreed to fill in at the shop tomorrow so I could keep sewing for this weekend. My sitting area is filled with snowmen, dolls and every kind of "part" to all of them. I hope to have to unique items for both Ladie's Nite Out and the Christmas Tradition show.
My Gannon came to the shop Saturday afternoon to "help" me out. The sleigh is a big hit! Seems that it might be our Santa spot for the shop this year.
Jack and Ellie couldn't wait to get their picture taken in it.
I've had a darn cold for a couple weeks now, and I finally went to the after-hours clinic last night. THANK GOODNESS! I have bronchitis and the doctor told me that in one more day it would have been pneumonia. Fortunately, she said that I'll be feeling LOTS better within 72 hours. Just wish I had time to "crash" on the couch for the day. Oh well, the perils of readying for the holidays...
I hope to have more pictures for you by tomorrow. Hope all of you have a great day and that you are creating great keepsakes for this holiday season.
Until next time...

UPCOMING EVENTS...

Wow! What a week! Finally got the shop all finished up, the window is almost done and the UPS man is making daily stops. Lots more to sew, but that might wait until another day. I'm ready for a little R&R tonight with my hubby.
Just wanted to pop in and let you know about some of the upcoming events coming to our quaint little village. Tomorrow (Nov. 6) is the Holly Holiday Craft Show at the Holly High School, next Friday night (Nov. 12 - 5-9p.m.) is Ladie's Nite Out for the whole village, and starting the Saturday after Thanksgiving and the following three will be our annual Dicken's Festival - which is fun for the whole family.
Also, don't forget A Christmas Tradition presented by The Pig In The Poke on November 13 from 10-4. It will be held behind the Homestead Antique Mall at 225 Hetzler Court, Angola, IN. If you've never been to a Pig In The Poke show you are truly missing something special. It is ALL primitives including antiques, folk art and needful necessaries. Hope to see you there! (Our booth will be really FULL!)
Well pals, time to put on some p.j.s, wait for Dick to bring home a yummy take-out, and just do a little stitching.
Until next time...

CHRISTMAS SHOP TOUR - PART I...

Oh, hello. Come on in! Did you come to see the shop? Well the lights are all up, the trees are decorated and I'm ready for you!
There are good smells everywhere - the smells of Christmas.
The main tree is in the front window.
Have a seat. I'll just run next door and get you a cup of coffee or cocoa.
Right there, I saved this seat for you.
Let's remember what this season is all about before we get to the snowmen and Santas.
This vintage nativity is ready to go to your house.
These old boxes are made into shelves with a stitchery and an attached battery candle.
I love the snowmen!
This old Santa is done on an old oil can.
Would you rather sit at the table?
HERE SHE IS!!! Yup, we got the old sleigh in the shop (with much maneuvering from Dick and Don) and I just LOVE it! It's so much fun to sit in and dream.
Wanna give it a try?
The snowmen are taking over. We have every shape and size for your enjoyment.
There are even snowman rugs!
(Something happened to the computer and I had to finish the tour on the following post.)
Hope you enjoy and come see me very soon!
Until next time...

CHRISTMAS SHOP TOUR - PART II...

Are you ready for part 2? Let's keep moving through the shop. Sharon painted the minnow bucket with snowmen and it is filled with white lights! Even the chicken feeder looks great filled with greens.
I have candy cane striped letters that spell out Holly Hills over my counter.
This feedsack pillow case is one of my absolute favorites!
One tree is filled with handmade tags, gloves and other gift goodies.
The old wheelboro has handpainted tubs ready for your trees or greens.
Our nesting box is filled with all kinds of stocking stuffers, battery candles, and so much more.
Snowmen bulbs and gourds and wax candy canes - so cute.
Love this old tree stand with a candle in the middle and greens all around.
Christmas is just peeking out everywhere!
There are crocks, towels, chargers, cupboards...
Every little cubby is full.
Dolls are waiting for someone nice to adopt them for the holidays.
Is there anything prettier than a candle in a window?
This old kraut cutter has a holiday stitchery and battery candle attached.
Another old kraut cutter with a stitchery.
Our kitchen area is ready for the gingerbread to arrive in a few days. This little chair (another by Sharon) is as cute as it can be.
Our log cabin is full of some great prims!
Love these little stone houses.
One of the trees is in an old trunk and decorated with vintage ornaments.

The old sleds are waiting for another day to go in the front window. I ran out of steam for a few more days! Hope you enjoyed the tour.
Until next time...

WE GOT THE SLEIGH...

WOO HOO! We got the sleigh, but now how do we get it in??? Dick and Don ended up having to take the runners off to get it in the door, but it is now in place and I love it!
I have worked on the shop for two days and hope to finish up today before the doors open tomorrow. I am so lucky to have had such good elves help me! Dick has helped drag trees and garlands out of the basement, pick up and put the sleigh in place, drag stuff back down to the basement, run to buy more lights... Don't know what I'd do without his help. Sharon has been at the shop for two days and has worked so hard. Then yesterday Faye came to help too. What would I do without good friends? I hope to get pictures when it's finished up later today.
Then there's my son-in-law! Have you ever seen such a big cookie monster??? He dressed up to hand out candy while Ashley went out the the little ones. Gotta love it!
Well friends, going to vote and then back to the shop to finish up!
Until next time...