February

The new month has been here for days and I haven't posted anything!

LaVonne and Kristen will be here for their Tasha Valentine's visit and break from their winter weather in less than a week! So much to do to prepare.

My theme for this year of JOY is the Joy of Family and Friends which I think is perfect for February. Now I have to enjoy my preparations and my company and not get too caught up in the planning and cleaning.

I mailed off all my Tasha Tudor Valentine exchange items on Monday and have begun to receive some here already. Thirteen ladies are participating this year and it is just so much fun. I will post pictures of my creations later as I don't want to give away the surprise.

Yesterday was spent with dad. We had a nice afternoon chatting as I caught up his laundry. He is so pleasant. Jim came over and we had dinner together. Chicken pot pie...yummy.

I am also planning out the Valentine tea for my friends. Clarice and her girls will be coming too. I am a bit nervous as Clarice is the most wonderful cook I know. I know she will enjoy my efforts and time spent with friends. I need to start collecting the tea cups, tea pots and all the tea party accessories that I will need for this pretty tea.

The weather has improved and Duane will take out some very overgrown box woods today. We will be able to see our charming storage units! I prefer to call them my storage cottages.

I finished hand quilting a small quilt that I had found at the bins. Oh my, hand quilting is hard. I would love to find someone to mentor me. I must work on that as it is such a desire to learn it well. Practice practice.

Goodbye January!

A few more minutes and January will be gone! It has been a long and rather hard month and I am happy to say goodbye! The East wind returned and it was cold and felt like winter again. I really can't complain as my friends in MT and MA as well as our family in IL are just getting dumped on with below freezing temps.

Finished all my Valentines for the Tasha Tudor exchange and will post them tomorrow. The evening was spent getting Lady Linda back in shape...tax info collected, deposits ready for the bank, new folders made,etc. Business business! Time for bed.

Primrose

"The snowdrop and primrose our woodlands adorn, and violets bathe in the wet o' the morn." Robert Burns

The long month of January will soon be gone!

By and by, spring will arrive!

MORNING SUNSHINE

The sunrise was just amazing this morning and the sun is out! So many of my friends across the US are stuck inside with snow and freezing rain.I'm hoping to work outside a bit today and maybe finish my Valentines for my Tasha Tudor exchange.

Jim is struggling with a nasty head cold. I hope he stays in bed and gets well today.

FRIENDSHIP

I came home from being with my dad yesterday afternoon, to find a package from Montana addressed to Jim and Linda. My dad was really sad and down about many things and it made me a bit glum. So, I was excited to find the parcel from my friend. We opened it immediately to find an entire box of JOY and SUNSHINE from a very caring and funny friend! LaVonne is a delight and a true friend, along with being a nuthead! The package was filled with yellow sunshiny things, comfort food, cheerful items, silly things, sunny gifts, and very clever items for JOY...an Almond Joy candy bar, Joy dish washing soap, Laughy Taffy-even a sunshine light bulb to chase the gray days away here in dull Oregon. Unfortunately, Jim ripped open a wonderful chocolate bar (we're dieting) and gobbled it down so it's not in the picture.

So, my question it, how do you thank someone so dear for her friendship? I guess we'll just have to spoil her rotten again when she comes to visit....which is only a few weeks away.

THANK YOU ♡ THANK YOU ♡ THANK YOU ♡ my most fantastic wonderful friend.

Antique show treasures!

Well, I when I went to help Jimmy with his booth on Sunday and help him pack up, I found a few items for our home. I WAS NOT going to buy anything, but Jim has scoped out a few things.

I'm being careful and need to have a home for things when I buy them.

I love this yarn winder.....a beautiful wooden base that is weighted. The booth owner gave me a deal. We have purchased many things from him over the years. My girls will remember the turkey plates and the Lake Oswego lady ahead of me who wanted them but wouldn't accept the offer. When I bought the winder, Bob the owner recognized me and said he had just told someone the story about the turkey plate a half hour before. We both had a good laugh over that one!

I am fond of Joan Walsh Anglund. Jim had some credit from the booth owner across from him, so yet another deal for Linda. A great set of 12 prints, in mint conditions!

Jim had a great sale and he had so much fun. This is a good retirement hobby for him...esp when he can make some extra bucks!

A nice phone call

What a nice phone call from my Gina tonight. It's a JOY to hear her happy and doing well in New Mexico. I know she misses the North West, but I 'm so proud of her for staying in Las Cruces and working hard at her teaching.

It's good to be able to talk to your daughter woman to woman. It's even better when she can offer advise to the mama. Ah, life....the circle goes on.