BIG BIRTHDAY ~ ~ ~

Last week, Sonny turned 70 years old ~ how'd that happen? On the previous Saturday night, all the kids, grands and greats gathered for dinner at the Oak Park Tavern for wonderful food and celebration! Seattle son Chris was in Ohio on business so he could join us ~ a happy coincidence!


This past Thursday night was our Homebuilders meeting and Sonny is the President for the coming year!! His son, Brian and my son, Ted were instrumental in getting a large turnout there to wish the old guy a happy birthday! The cake is decorated with the logo from his first business card and it was very tasty! Sonny was president back in the 80'a and here he is again! It was such a fun evening and a surprise to both of us! We're becoming the patriarch and matriarch of our organization ~ that is scary!!!


The settee in our keeping room is sporting a new cover! After twenty years of being used every day, it was showing wear.


I found this great fabric at The Added Touch ~ a local primitive store and they gave me the name of a local fellow who did a great job of reupholstering. And he only had it one week!!

It is -14 degrees this morning ~ pretty frosty out! Lots to do here ~ getting ready to go away for a whole month! Woo hoo!!

Stay warm everybody ~ this has been quite a winter for lots of the country. I see many of my fellow bloggers and Facebook friends are hooking up a storm while weathering the storms ~ not me ~ I've been up to my ears in year end reports, w2's and 1099's!! But soon ~ very soon ~ there is sun and fun in our future!!

Talk to you soon!!



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THE ART OF THE BRICK ~ ~ ~

This was the title of a Lego exhibit at our Mansfield Art Center in November and December! We went on the last day ~ so glad we made the effort! Enjoy



































This is a traveling show and we were told that 14,000 people saw it here in Mansfield ~ that was a wonderful revenue building event for them ~ unbelievable what you can do with Legos!




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PUTTING CHRISTMAS AWAY ~ ~ ~

Time to pack them away for the year ~ the house will look so bare.


The Santas in this cupboard and the one above were all made by the same artist. I never met her ~ she would send her things with a friend that I did shows with years ago and I was always happy to have the first opportunity to buy! They're sewn figures then the faces and hands were coated with wax ~ very unusual. The clothing is very detailed and you can tell made with love.


These are vintage and artist's Santas acquires thru the years.


Salt glaze Santas all purchased from a potter that did Yankee Peddler a long time ago.


This is appliquéd wool on an antique quilt background stitched by an artist named Joyce (I can't remember her last name) that I did shows with when I was a doll maker. I ran into her in the last couple of years and now she hooks rugs, too. Maybe she reads my blog and will make herself known!!

We kept the house decorated since we had Sonny's brothers and wives last night for our annual gathering. Sonny is the oldest of eight boys ~ there are six remaining. It was bitter cold last night so one couple opted out and SIL Pam was under the weather ~ but we ate and talked and it gives the brothers a chance to bond!! Sonny will be 70 in a couple of weeks and the youngest is 15 years younger. Their mom and dad ran a tight ship ~ can you imagine 8 boys in 15 years?

I've set a goal of cleaning a closet or a cupboard every day in January ~ so far I'm 3 for 3!! Today's plate is full ~ have a good day wherever you are!!

Alice


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SMALL FRAMES MULTIPLIED ~ ~ ~

My little FrameMaker went frame crazy! We have an abundance of these ready to go! There are two dark wood frames and the rest are a variety of maple, oak and sassafras!


They are $95 each plus shipping and tax. They can go out immediately!!



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HAPPY NEW YEAR ~ ~ ~

We had a fun evening with our friends Margo & Cliff and their daughter and husband, Lynne and Mike! Very festive dinner party!!






This was the first year in 16 years that we weren't at our lake place ~ part of our lake group are on Florida and we were supposed to get a big snowstorm ~ do we opted to stay home. We called our friends to see if they wanted to go out for dinner ~ since they already had this planned, they graciously invited us to join them!! Beautiful evening with good friends! Lobster ~ tenderloin ~ champagne ~ fabulous!! And we stopped at son Ted's on the way home to wish them a Happy New Year! Today they had us for dinner ~ so thankful for our family and friends!

Looking forward to 2014 ~ hoping it's as good or better than last year! We and all our family were healthy and business was good and no crises ~ what could be better!!

For those who couldn't wait for 2013 to pass, I wish you a happier, healthier 2014!!! And fun ~ lots of fun to be had in this new year!!





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