HAPPY MOTHERS DAY...

STRONG WOMEN

LET US KNOW ONE

LET US BE ONE

LET US RAISE ONE

Strong women is a very important part of our family. My mom has never waivered from the things she believes in, no matter what. She taught me so many valuable lessons throughout my life. I've tried to live up to her expectations and strength and pass it on to my Ashley. Now I watch Ashley doing the same thing for her Abbey and it makes me so proud. It is always easier to say "yes" as a mother, but sometimes it is way more important to say "no". Sometimes your children are so angry at you - for that moment - but they also will always know that you care enough to say "no".

(The sign in the picture above is very dear to me. Just before my friend Connie moved to TN, we went on one of our fun day trips. We ended up at an antique shop in Bay City and they had TWO of these signs. We both bought one and it is a constant reminder of my wonderful friend. Happy Mother's Day Connie!)
I've spent a lot of time on the computer for the last couple of days reading all the tributes to mothers, and they are so beautiful. My own mom will be 86 this month and is still VERY active. I love her dearly and look forward to spending time with her today.
On the other side of the coin is YOU! You are the mothers now. I look at my two children and thank GOD for the joy and happiness they have brought into my own life as a mom. My son Chad is now 40 years old and just a wonderful person. He is caring, sentimental, hard working, and strong. I used to have to get after Chad sometimes when he was little and I would ask him why I was doing it. His answer was always, "Because you love me and you want everyone else to love me too." Yes Chad, and they all do. Ashley is 29 and we get closer and closer. She is a beautiful young woman - inside and out. I am so proud of the mother she has become, the homemaker and the daughter. Isn't it funny how, in the end, you can really see yourself in your children? Both Chad and Ashley live in old houses, have antiques, are very creative... They are both very passionate about the things they care about - especially family. They both make me very proud to celebrate this Mother's Day as one of the lucky mother's out there in this world. I love you both!
As the family circle grows, we now have Kim and Tony as daughter and son-in-law. Kim has been with us for over 20 years and it's hard to remember this family without her. What a very special young woman! Tony is the newest member and he is settling in and getting used to the closeness of our family. Welcome both of you.
(Thank you, Dick, for the beautiful lilacs that you brought to me for our Ladies Night out.)
Now on to other things.
Our Terri, the newest artist at the shop, brought this wonderful doll to Ashley the other night. She is "Real Live Lucy", made in 1959. She has her original clothes and will have a place of honor in our Lucy's new room. What a wonderful gift.

Another mouse design by Terri in an antique sugar bowl. How adorable! $19.95

How about this mouse peeking over the star? $19.95

Louisa Mae can't wait to bite into this big old piece of watermelon. She is a big girl running around barefoot for summer.

Closeup view of her angel vine hair! $49.95

Another new member of the shop is the cute little dolly with button hair, needle-felt heart, doily collar and painted on shoes.

Closeup of her button hair. Her tag reads: Angels are mothers in disguise. $39.95

I love this sampler. The name of the verse if Grandma's Garden and it reminds me of my own grandma so much! It is done on an old feedsack and framed in a window. $59.95

Wool felt pillow for you Americana gals. $19.95

This is a verse I got for Ashley when she was a little girl - still love it! $29.95

How true it is! $29.95

Well girls, I hope you all have a very Happy Mother's Day, wherever you are and whoever you spend it with. Thank God for your own mother and for having the chance to be one yourself. Let the people around you pamper you, enjoy your handmade cards (they are priceless), and give yourself a pat on the back for doing the best job you can.

It has been an honor to "get to know you" through these blogs and being able to read the beautiful Mother's Day posts that you have all done. If you get a chance, go to http://thespicecupboard.blogspot.com and watch the video in one of Judy's last posts. It is one of the most inspiring things I've ever seen on the computer.

Enjoy YOUR day...

THE DAY AFTER...

What a busy day (and night)! Good busy though. I spent most of the day, yesterday, tweeking the shop and getting it ready for our big event. I planned on taking more pictures, but things got pretty hectic (hooray) and I honestly forgot! Wish I would have taken pictures of all the pink balloons, the band, etc. This is our new little sign out front. I still want to wrap some vine around it and add the finishing touches.

Our Kim made these window/planter boxes and I just love them!We also got two noodle boards, one natural and one black. They are such nice quality.

This was our food table before it started. (I "borrowed" Judy's chalkboard idea from The Spice Cupboard - thanks Judy.) My Ashley made all the food and it was delish! Everyone seemed to really enjoy it all - including me.

Aren't these little brownies adorable with the edible flowers? What a hit!

The highlight of the evening was when blogging buddy Terri (on the right) and Julie (on the left) came to shop. Debbie (another blogging buddy) came also, but she didn't want her picture taken! I just love these gals, they are so much fun.

And then it was over.

Thank goodness the rain held off until this morning and everyone could be out in the streets and have fun. Ashley and Abbey came to help me and then Dick showed up to help too! My son-in-law Tony lent a good hand too, he did a lot of running and leg work. Our Kim was so excited to come and then she ended up with the flu, what a disappointment. Abbey loved the music outside. She did a little dancing and made a new friend to share her blanket with.

I couldn't believe how many women were out and about. The shop was packed most of the evening. I did notice that with Michigan's economy, most of the things we sold were smaller items. These times are so uncertain and so many people have lost their jobs. I'm just proud that our little village gave these women a chance to get out, have some fun, and do a little shopping.

Time to get back to it this morning. Terri brought some new things yesterday and I have a couple new dolls in the shop. I'll take pics today to share in my next post.

Most important, I hope all of you have a wonderful Mother's Day. Give yourselves a break, let the people that love you do a little pampering. Hug all of those children that made you a Mother and those little grandchildren that made you a Grandmother. Don't take this day for granted, there isn't anything more special than being a Mother.

Until a little later...

THE DAY BEFORE...

Yes, it's almost here. Ladies Night Out! What a busy day it was today! I went to pick up our herbs this morning, then to get the paper products and then back to the shop to replant the herbs for sale. Whew! We have this old vintage flower cart and I filled it with all different containers with herbs for Mother's Day gifts. It looks so cute all done up.

I used this old chicken feeder for a display for more herbs, now I don't know if I want to sell it!

My daughter brought me this little, old wagon and I love it with some picnic goodies tucked inside. Thanks Ashley!

Now all I have to do is sew into the wee hours to finish up some dolls! My dear, sweet, wonderful Ashley is going to do all of the baking and cooking for me!!! That sure takes a load off, and I appreciate it SOOOO much! Our shop is going to offer a pasta salad with edible flowers, cheeseball and crackers, brownies with edible flowers, pink lemonade and coffee. Each shop will have their own offerings of treats. Some will have chocolate fountains and many other goodies. There will be psychic readers in some shops, chair massages, free wax hand dips at the spa, free entry to the Holly Hotel Comedy Club, pampered chef demonstrations, live music in the street, a d.j. on another street... Should be so much fun! The town will be glowing with pink lights and pink balloons too! The best part is, my two girls (Ashley and Kim) are going to come help me out and I know we'll have lots of laughs throughout the evening. I am offering 15% off one item (excluding furniture) and for everyone that spends over $50, I'm sending them around the corner for free ice cream. Carrie's Delights has the best ice cream and other food too! (Terri, Deb and Julie - don't eat before you come!)

I hope to have some fun pictures to share with you after our event. I'm so looking forward to seeing my blogging buddies again!

Well girls, it's off to sewing land. We'll talk again - well probably on Saturday! Have a great day and enjoy the sunshine...

SUNNY (YES, I SAID SUNNY) TUESDAY...

What a beautiful day! Just about perfect, in fact. But, look out, more rain tomorrow and Thursday. Oh well, if it quits for Friday - that's all that matters. It was calm enough today (no big winds) to be able to put some things outside. I got that old flower cart and hope to load it up with herbs for our Ladies Night Out. What mother wouldn't like herbs planted in old containers for Mother's Day?

Yesterday Dick put up my old spindles and board across my counter. The board reads "If the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise". I just love it and hope to have more goodies hung on it in a few days.

Hooray, Debbie brought the vintage patio set and it looks so cute on our "porch". Wouldn't this be so cute on a covered porch or summer room?

Another stitchery on old barn wood. I'm getting hooked on these stitcheries. They look so old and primitive! $29.95

Well, this was "work" day at the shop. I got floor all mopped, painted a sign to put out front, punched holes in our bags and tied the ripped strips on, and worked on a big stitchery. Trying to get everything ready for Friday night. I'm going to sew up some dolls tonight and Ashley is going to turn and stuff them for me tomorrow - hooray - I hate that part!

My Abbey wants me to pick her up and go "junking" tonight. She just loves to go see what we can find on the curb, and sometimes there are some treasures! We hit the jackpot last night! I really don't have time tonight, but we'll go for a few blocks and see what we find.

Well girls, lots to get done! Have a great evening and we'll talk more tomorrow...

BABY SHOWER DAY...

Sunday was such a fun day! We had Ashley's baby shower and did she get some beautiful things!!! It was a combined shower for Tony's family and our family. It worked out so nice, we used the Holly VFW Hall and could have the kitchen, tables and chairs, bathrooms... Just perfect. Hope you enjoy the pictures of our happy day. The cake was just adorable. Ashley's friend, Jamie, had it done for her. I just loved the little pregnant girl on the top.

Another view!

Ashley and I at the end of the day. It was also her 29th birthday! It seems like just yesterday that I was holding MY new baby!

These are my girls. Ashley and Kim. Kim has been with my Chad for 23 years and I hardly remember our family before she was part of it.

My mom and Ashley. "Great" grandma is so excited to see this new baby!

My dad had been "helping" Dick run the shop, but decided he should come check out the shower. My folks are such an important part in all of our lives.

Ashley and Abbey getting the food line started. We had just WONDERFUL food, lots of salads and much more... (Too much!)

Ashley had lots of little helpers when it came time to open the gifts!

This was the hit of the shower. My friend Connie (from Tennessee) sent matching bathing suits for Abbey and Lucy! They are so adorable!!!

Abbey got some gifts too, which made her feel more a part of the whole affair.

Tony got his "man bag" from my sister and brother-in-law (Hersch and Jan). He had told Ash that he didn't want to carry around a flowery diaper bag when he had the baby! (He was thrilled.)

More cute outfits.

As you can see, there were LOTS of presents to open. She had already received the travel system, the pack and play, her crib mattress and more before the shower.

Now the waiting is on. Lucy (Lucianna) is due at the end of June and I can't wait for that quiet time to just rock her, sing silly songs and get acquainted. Although Abbey has informed me that I have to come up with Lucy's own songs, not the ones I sing to her!

I am SO lucky to have such a great relationship with my son and daughter. Chad was on his way to a seminar in Connecticut yesterday, had a layover in New York (he was doing a little site seeing) and called his sister while she was opening gifts. They are 11 years apart and have always been very close. Ashley was the mascot cheerleader when she was about 3 years old and Chad was playing football. He would finish the game, put her on his shoulders and run her all around the field. Then our Kim is just the icing on the cake!

Thanks for sharing in our special day.

Dick is off work today and the store is also closed. He is going to help me get some things done at the shop so that it is ready for our Ladies Night Out. Better get moving while I have the help!

Talk to you soon...

HAPPY MAY DAY...

Happy May Day Prim Pals! One of these years I'm actually going to get some baskets ready and go hang them on my friend's doors. I've always wanted to do that, but time always slips away by the time May 1 rolls around. It would just be so much fun!
Today started out chilly, but sunny. As the day went on, guess what? Rain again!!! This darn rain is getting on my last nerve! Oh well, not a darn thing we can do about it. I just putzed around the shop and gathered some Mother's Day things together and played for most of the day. See what you think. This is our newest angel. She is a BIG girl with wooden wings and OLD baby shoes on her feet. Her little hands are together in prayer for her children. The tag reads "Mothers are angels in disguise." $59.95

All of our 8 x 10 stitcheries are $29.95, but I am running a 20% off special.

I've sold SO many of this one! It's one of my favorite verses.

We also have a couple new "Libertys" in. This one has old square nails for her crown, an old quilt piece star, a crow on her shoulder, and a flag. Her tag reads "Sweet Land Of Liberty". $34.95

Another PRIM Liberty. She is painted oransburg with twine hair, cheesecloth top, stick arms, painted crown, and a wool star with rusty pin and rusty bells. Her tag reads "Oh say can you see..." $29.95

I took my Rosie dog over to spend the day with my folks today, they love her company and when I picked her up tonight, my mom had found the best surprise! My son, Chad, is now 40 and she had found two of his little bathing suits from when he was about 2 or 3. They are so darned cute and they look so old! I'm going to take them up to the Little House and put them with my antique wool swimming suit. (Unless Kim and Chad want them back!)

Next week will be a busy week around Holly! Everyone will be getting ready for Ladies Night Out and I have lots to do! I'm trying to gather up lots of old pails, pans, lunch boxes, etc. to plant herbs in for Mother's Day. I have an old flower cart in the shop and they would look so cute displayed on that. Still trying to decide what to do for treats though. Got lots of sewing to finish up and more painting and stitching to do too. Whew! There just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day! Oh well, guess it keeps us young!

Have a great evening and enjoy your weekend. Until another time...