Stalled . . .

I have always loved coleus. My Mom grew them when I was younger. 

So I found it very rewarding when my daughter Sarah picked them out for her wedding bouquet. Better yet she didn't even know the history behind them.

So this year in honor of her first wedding anniversary I planted them in the front bed. Despite record breaking high temperatures, and lack of rain, they seem to be doing well.

They almost remind me of a heart.

I show you flowers because I can't sew. My Elna was taken to the hospital last Wednesday. Gosh do I miss that gal. Maybe they will call tomorrow and tell me she is well. Unfortunately I have to work all day. The hospital is about 30 miles away, not like it's a lunch hour trip.


I have sewing to do, a quilt to finish machine quilting, and then binding. I have two or more pot holders to make for my quilt guild exchange next Tuesday. There's at least one pair of jeans to be repaired for the blacksmith. I'm hoping for a quick recovery!

My "hot" blacksmith

Isn't he cute?  He's so hot!  He got even hotter when at noon, the outside temperatures reached 101.  After that I quit checking the thermometer. 


Yesterday he was demonstrating blacksmithing at the LePage steam engine show. This was our 5th year to participate there. 


You can see 2011 here,  2010 here, 2009 here, and  2008 here.


Because the pictures all look alike, I took very few this year. 

But this one of Paul driving off I couldn't resist.

The blacksmith's helper, Terry, apparently didn't work too hard, I don't even see a sweat.  

Hello OLD new friend!!

Look what came in the mail today!  I found it on Etsy and it was only $10.99, I'm pretty sure I couldn't buy a brand new toaster for that price. Even so, I'm a positive it wouldn't be a heavy duty one like this beauty.

This is the old one. You can't even tell the difference. In case you are wondering why I need a new toaster you can read about it here.


Welcome home old new friend.

Congratulations Branden and Aubrey

What a better way to celebrate the 4th . . .  a wedding!!!

 My nephew Branden awaits his bride . . . 

 Let the ceremony begin . . . 

 The combining of families.  Like sands in an hour glass.

Sealed with a kiss!

The gift cart.  An antique that belonged to my parents (his Grandparents).

Congratulations you two!

Showing my Red, White, and Blue

Just a little something I made many years ago. 

Happy 4th!

A bit of history

I am really proud of this purchase. The quarter sawn oak is just beautiful!  The blacksmith (aka furniture re-finisher) has decided he really wants to remove the shiny varnish. It will eventually be sanded and sealed with a satin polyurethane finish.

When we got it home and unloaded, look what we found on the back of it!!


I then sent an email to a friend (Hi Esther!) who is on the historical committee in Fulton. She referred me to Barb who is  the curator at the historical society.  


So I sent Barb an email with photos of the chiffrobe. Here is her reply: "You have a beautiful piece of furniture. I find the Martin-Herndon-Taylor business listed in the 1919 Atlas. It had been the Dutton-Herndon firm in 1913. In 1926, Martin was out of the group and the name was changed with another partner Blattner. It was located at 9 West 5th. The building is still standing."


That makes this piece real close to being a hundred years old!  Amazing to find the tag on it. This week on the Antique Roadshow on PBS, the Keno twins talked about how much more valuable a piece is with the original tag. 


I sure hope the seller didn't see that show. She might just want to come back for more money!

Goodbye old friend

Goodbye my favorite toaster.  

You served me well for over 42 years.

 You became my friend as a wedding gift from my aunt Betty and uncle Wimpy (god rest their souls). 

But today as much as I'd like to blame you for the loss, I can only blame myself. 

Note to self - do not leave the toaster on and leave the house for 45 minutes! 

The wires are toasted. Pun intended.

 It was so hot when I came in the paint was bubbling off. The toast inside was in ashes. 

As much as I hate parting with my toaster, I hate it even more parting with my beautiful counter top.

It was then that we had no choice but to open windows and blow the inside 73.9 degree, smoky air out, and pull some 104.1 degree air inside.

Excuse me now, I need to finish toasting my bread using my camper toaster. 

Baked chicken wouldn't be good without made from scratch dressing.