UPDATE: Bitty Baby and her outfits still has $40.00 as the high bid!
Bitty Baby and all her outfits ends this evening (Saturday) at midnight, (Central Time Zone) IL. The bidding is still at $40 for the doll and her outfits. If you missed seeing the auction, you can view it HERE and email me your bid if you like…
I was working on an aisle runner for a young couple that’s getting married at our church tomorrow. I worked and worked and at the end, I just walked out the door, forgetting to take a picture of my finished work… All I took was the “before” picture… you’ll have to imagine the “after!” It was a little tricky as the altar comes to a point on the platform and the first step. I had to put my “pattern drafting skills” to work! :o)
Update: A dear friend who reads my blog, just sent me this “after” picture…Thanks Leann!
It took more time than I thought it would, so I had to change my blog post to show something I already had pictures of… My hubby’s handiwork… hence his garden. He really does have a green thumb, and it’s a good thing, because he REALLY loves tomatoes. I don’t know if this is the case anywhere else, but here in Illinois, the goal is to have your first home grown tomatoes before July 4th. He picked his first one July 3rd along with these 7 little cherry tomatoes! You should have seen him smiling…
This is about what he averages every day! :o)
He loves BLT’s and I make a BLT salad that he likes in the summer.
Almost nothing makes him as happy as a big, ripe, juicy tomato to slice and have on his sandwich… or just eat a plateful of cherry tomatoes!
My Hibiscus flowers are in full bloom and I had to show them to you. I’ve shown the picture before but I’ll share it again. This particular variety is called a Dinner Plate Hibiscus and here’s why… that’s not a luncheon plate, but a full size dinner plate.
I don’t think my flowers have ever been so pretty…
…and one more bit of Saturday news… My dear friend, Bithar, from Haiti, had her 6th baby last week. A boy, this time… they have 4 girls and now 2 boys. David is his name and he is BEAUTIFUL.
It was Esther’s birthday and I took her a cake and made the family a double batch of corn casserole. They were getting ready to celebrate Esther’s 6th birthday and had decorated the house. Bithar sent me these pictures later that evening… Such a sweet family! :o) :o)
Don’t forget about the Bitty Baby auction ending this evening!
Well, I hope that’s enough to keep you interested till Monday!
See you then,
Blessings, Jeanne
That is really elegant fabric for a runner! I’ve only seen plain white ones for weddings, and we didn’t have a runner at ours, as the aisles were carpeted. (I think the original purpose of the runner was to protect the bride’s and bridesmaids’ gowns from any dirt that might have been on the floor.)
Those tomatoes look wonderful! I can practically smell them!! And your hibiscus…just have never seen anything quite like that!!
Congrats to Bithar and family on the birth of little David. Esther is starting to look quite grown up now, and so happy to be 6, I’m sure!! Beautiful family, for sure!!
Referring to yesterday’s blog replies: Barbara, you might call Coats & Clark, and let them know what happened to your spool. They might have suggestions for a “fix,” and they might even send you a coupon for a new spool! (it’s worth a shot!) At the very least, they need to know about the problem, in case it’s happening to others, too. Any time I’ve called a company with a complaint, I’ve usually gotten at the least an attentive ear–and, yes, sometimes a coupon for a new whatever!
Hi Charlotte,
I’m back from the wedding…it was simply elegant and the aisle runner stayed in place!! Of course with all those 75 or so pins, it should have! :o)
Now, it’s time to think of something for dinner…something with tomatoes!! :o)
Thanks Charlotte,
Blessings, Jeanne
And so, life goes on as usual in Carbondale, as I guess everywhere else, people marrying, having babies and celebrating birthdays! And I might say, growing their gardens and flowers too! It was so nice to see some positive happenings in this tentative time!
Wow, al those tomatoes! George certainly is the Tomato Man! I love tomatoes, and could eat all of what he gets everyday, just about every day! Funny though, my friend had so many tomatoes when I was pregnant with my son, and brought me several big bags of them, so I ate tomatoes morning, noon and night for a while. Now my son will not eat them! Wonder what happened there!
Your hibiscus bush is just beautiful! Wow! It certainly does look like you live in a botanical garden there with your photography!
And little David! What a sweet surprise for us! He is just a beautiful as his brother and sisters are, and Bithar looks wonderful and very happy! Esther is looking so grown up now, and I love her pretty birthday dress! It’s as sparkly as she is!
Thank you Jeanne, for such an uplifting blog today!
Thanks Linda,
Several ladies have emailed that my blog gives them some sense of normalcy in this crazy world right now!! :o)
There must have been too much tomato juice in your system for your son. He had his fill of tomatoes before he was ever born. I guess!!
I’m glad you enjoyed my pictures today…I love my hibiscus too. It’s probably my favorite flowering bush on our property.
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
Love the garden pics. Thank you so much for sharing. Seeing George’s tomatoes makes me quite envious, but at least we have flowers now, so hopefully some will be forthcoming. Other person planted the tomatoes after I placed the cages at a good distance, but upon my return found the cages tied together and way too close. 🙁 I just left them. Didn’t want to have to replant. Day before yesterday, I asked other person if he might tie the cherry tomato plant up to keep it off the ground. I was busy doing something else. Next thing, there were these huge wooden boards across the bottom of the bed propped up with a small 2X4 piece. What the?? Tomato plant now sprawled across my lovely vintage pumpkin plant and tiny zinnias. Grrr. So yesterday, I put in a couple of stakes myself and tied a nylon barrier across. Pulled the tomatoes back up and off of the other plants. As they say, just do it yourself. Doesn’t look like George has any horn worms. About time to start looking here. They are so icky. My mother in law was the best spotter. Miss her help.
The hibiscus are absolutely amazing. What a beautiful photo with the fountain behind. What a draw for the birds. We just have a plant saucer on a pedestal, but the birds like it. I think I’m going to order one of those solar fountain sprayers. They work great and are very inexpensive. Son in laws parents have one. The water noise really attracts the birds and you can adjust the spray as you like.
Hope your weekend is lovely.
Thanks Joy,
My hubby certainly does have that tomato touch!!
I don’t know if horn worms are the same as what we call cabbage worms, but he did have several but got rid of them. Ours are big and fat and as you say. Icky!!
I do love my hibiscus…it’s so pretty!
Hope your tomatoes are doing okay being tied up!
Blessings, Jeanne
That was a funpost😊. George’s tomatoes are amazing….we have a few cherry tomatoes and the other ones have small green ones…wish they would get bigger and red !
Holy hibiscus…those are totally amazing! Awesome size and beautiful color!
The baby is the sweetest thing and littleEsther is quite the model…they sure catch on about how to pose. Just darling!
Hi Kathie,
I’m glad my pictures made you smile today!
I hope your tomatoes turned soon…
Yes, Little Esther is quite the ham, isn’t she?
Have a great weekend,
Blessings ,Jeanne
I showed the Hibiscus to my daughter who has really developed a love for planting in her yard this year. She loved it and said she was getting one! She grew some huge sunflowers from seeds. Pink is my favorite color and your Hibiscus is gorgeous!
Hi Msrsha,
I’m glad your daughter liked the hibiscus. I have no idea how old mine is…it was here when we bought the house…16 years ago. I hope your daughter finds one for her yard.
Thanks Marsha,
Blessings, Jeanne
I must admit I’m stuck on the beauty of your Hibiscus. I never heard of a Dinner Plate Hibiscus only Dinner Plate Dahlias. I have two Hibiscus bushes. One barely blooms and the other a few at a time. We have people in town whose bushes are covered. Not sure exactly what our problem is. The foliage is healthy and the plants are growing, but they just don’t bloom like they should. Anyone have any ideas? I thought they might need to be cut back, but some in town have bushes much larger than ours and they bloom profusely.
Bithar’s little David is totally adorable, as are all her children. Happy Birthday to Esther on her wonderful sixth birthday. She is so precious. And I love her outfit. Very au courant. I’m so glad you shared this with us. I wasn’t sure if you were able to see her these days. Is your church open totally? We still can’t get ours open, and it’s not the government. Some of the denominations are open but our diocese is keeping us closed. We have online services, but I can tell you that people are tiring of that. They miss the fellowship of in-person services. Yesterday I saw an article where 3500 COVID cases in the San Antonio area of Texas are illegitimate and they’re having to take them off the rolls, but they are being very quiet about it. I think the same is happening in Houston. People are starting to call for audits now. The hospitals get a premium for COVID cases and are padding the numbers. This is not helping businesses and churches, and especially schools, to reopen.
As for George’s tomatoes, they are beautiful and scrumptious looking. But I pretty much just have to look but don’t touch. If I eat too many I break out. Unfortunately I love them. One year my son was growing tomatoes and he had a bumper crop. We had to give most of them away because we couldn’t eat them fast enough. I wasn’t much help in that.
Hi Barbara,
I “dead head my bushes (pull the old and dead blooms off) that makes them bloom more…at least it does mine…you might try that.
Yes, our church is open for up to 60 people…we are doing online services too, for those who still want to be st home.
My hubby just announced that he’s making his own dinner tonight…something with tomatoes I’m sure!!
Thanks Barbara,
Blessings, Jeanne
Work before play, but I’m here now. Had to make a grocery store run this morning and then all the disinfecting, putting away, and freezing produce that I freeze immediately. It all takes longer than usual now it seems.
What an elegant altar runner. I’m sure the lucky couple appreciated your efforts to make their special day extra special.
Wow, what a large tomato crop George has going already. Her in Ohio, we like tomatoes by July 4th as well, but there was NO way to make that happen this year. First, it was cold and rainy late and with the COVID and needing to stock up with store groceries I got a super late start. Now it’s been so hot that they were slow to set flowers. They have to be watered twice a day or they look so wilted. I love having homegrown tomatoes, taste so much better than store bought IMO.
Your hibiscus is just beautiful My grandmother had dinner plate dahlias like Barbara mentioned.
Congratulations to Bithar on sweet, little David and Esther looks like she had a wonderful birthday. I think she’s the second oldest girl. Bithar will certainly be busy, but I’m sure the girls are a lot of help.
Hi Laura,
The aisle runner stayed in place and the mother of the bride said it was perfect! Yay!!
Our tomatoes are asking for water a lot these days too… I hope you get some homegrown soon.
Yes, Esther is the 2nd girl and Bithar told me they are very good helpers! Samuel is thrilled to have a new little brother!
Thanks Laura,
Blessings, Jeanne
I love tomatoes too and try to grow them each year, they don’t look as good as George’s though. Unfortunately they are too expensive at the moment, roll on spring. My garden is looking very shabby, it has been so wet all the time. Could you send just a little of your sun over we desperately need it lol.
Have you heard of the Famosa doll? There is one on our auction site that I am tempted to bid for. She was made in Spain in 1983. I don’t know how big she is, I asked the seller and she won’t be home till today to measure her. I am also looking at a ‘Misty’ fashion doll, she is 12 inches high, bigger than Barbie. I have never heard of either. They are both a good price currently.
Hi Anne,
I wish I could send you some sunshine for your tomatoes!! Maybe they’ll take off soon and start doing better!!
I’ve never heard of the Famosa or the Misty doll.
I say if a doll tugs at your heart strings, she was meant to come live with you… I hope it works out…
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Anne,
I didn’t see your comment on the Famosa doll until right now because I wondered who had won the Bitty. Famosa dolls are very sweet. I bought my daughter her “Mary Ellen” (named from Mary Ellen of The Waltons tv show) for her third birthday. The doll is 18 inches with brown hair and brown sleep eyes. Here’s the first one I could find as a BIN on eBay (she’s in rough shape). The dolls have rooted hair that is really soft and I have washes Mary Ellen’s hair a few times. Because it’s rooted in can be washed much better than the PC/AG wigs. My daughter got a PC German Kirsten a couple of years later. Kirsten is still is superb condition, but poor ME has been super loved and has no eyelashes left. As you will see from the last two photos on the link, the dolls are soft- bodied down much further than an AG. They cannot stand alone. You would either have her sitting or ina doll stand. They are well made dolls though. my daughter also has a Spain made Berenguer 15 inch baby doll ( I got her her for her third birthday as well). She’s still in perfect condition.