Hi everyone,
Just a few comments from me…
Yes, Sissy, we sometimes stand over our sink and look out the kitchen window while our sandwiches drip. Actually, we stand over the sink when we are nibbling on watermelon, or an egg sandwich that is a bit drippy! I’ve never heard them called “Sink Sandwiches” though. I’ll have to tell my hubby that one… :o)
I know what everyone means about the tomatoes being tasteless or pale pink on the inside or even HARD! That’s about all you can find at the stores here in town. There is a little store in town called Fresh Foods and my hubby was buying tomatoes from them before his started ripening. My hubby LOVES LOVES LOVES tomatoes and it’s been a bit hard for him to “cut back” on his portions since this kidney issue. He would slice a whole plate of them and eat them all himself. He LOVES it when he slices into one of HIS and it’s solid red with lots of “meat” inside.
Marilyn, Thank you for that History Lesson… I remembered the Declaration of Independence wasn’t TOTALLY finished on July 4th, but I had forgotten when it was signed by. I think we should celebrate again on August 2nd by having another Red White and Blue dress for someone and give that little history lesson with the listing! (I better start working on something RIGHT AWAY and hope nothing gets in my way!) :o)
Thanks for all the thumbs up on the Pinner Cap for Felicity! I told her everyone loved it and she smiled! Really, she did! Unfortunately, I never made it to my sewing room. My hubby had a follow up doctor’s appointment this morning, then I wanted to watch the Colombia vs. Switzerland World Cup Soccer game because we were chatting with Alba and Edgar in Bogata about it. She said she was biting her nails! It was too bad that even playing the 90 minutes, then the 30 minutes overtime and there was still no winner. So, they did the Penalty Shoot Out and they lost 4 to 3. I know Alba and Edgar were sad! (I wasn’t a total slug… I got up during commercials and half time and did some housework. We are having company on Thursday!)
Then we had some company stop by in the evening and visited for a while. I never made it into my sewing room to get started on a new petticoat/slip. MAYBE tomorrow?
Oh and something else. Joy sent me a picture of her Ruby Red Jolli Kids, Uma and Benjamin. I commented on them when she sent them to me but forgot to post them so YOU could see. They are VERY cute and I think they were a great price too. ($47?)
…and just one more tidbit… I saw this on a post Sissy had made on facebook just a day or two ago. It was SO cute, I just HAVE to show it… (Well, I’ve looked for it Sissy, and can’t find it.) It was a 4th of July picture with Mae sitting down in a blue dress with “I think white stars” I think and was just so adorable. Someone commented on it and Sissy said, something like “I’m not making them anymore.” Sissy, If you know the picture I am talking about and can send it to me, I’ll show it.
Okay, so let’s get started on the pictures and email Elizabeth sent me. (Elizabeth’s pictures came to me in a smaller size than the 700 pixels I usually post them at, but if you click on them, they will enlarge a little bit.)
Hi Jeanne…I’m sending my 4th of July photos of pool fun, and the paintings and 2 cards I managed to complete.
The Sunflower went to my Great Granddaughter, and the baby portrait is for another Great Granddaughter …her baby daughter Chloe.
The napping, bulldog puppy is for my Son-in-law who is a big fan of Georgia University. For many Birthdays I painted the Georgia Bulldog mascot in different poses or wearing a Georgia tee-shirt…and this year it’s the bulldog puppy in “The early years…”!
I am out of wrapping paper so made sewn cloth gift bags with French seams and a ribbon tie…I figured the cloth bags would also make shoe tote bags when traveling!
(Hope the photos go thru…I checked off on the ones I wanted to send and they are “grouped” together)
Elizabeth in Texas
Thank you, Elizabeth, you have certainly given us plenty to look at and oooohhhh and ahhhh over! You are SO VERY talented and I about croaked when you said you made the cloth bags to put the presents in! I thought “I” was thrifty, but you beat all!!! :o)
See everyone tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
What a lot of interesting things on the blog tonight! (I’m still up–it’s only 1 a.m.–so it’s still Tuesday to me!) Jeanne, I forgot to comment on your tomatoes yesterday; they just look so scrumptious. Maybe next year I should try a tomato plant in a container out on the deck. I guess I am having tomato envy!! 😂🤣😂
From yesterday, I’ll add my thanks to Marilyn for the history lesson; some things I knew, but there was much that was new to me. So interesting!
In the chatter about visiting former homes, even years down the line, I would like to add my own. Most of you may know, I am a PK (preacher’s kid), so my parents didn’t own a home until after daddy retired; they lived in whatever parsonage was provided by the church he pastored. My favorite, and most fondly remembered, was the parsonage in Stephenson, MI, where I grew up (grade 1 thru the start of grade 9). And I DID get to go in it, years later!! My dear friend Joyce and I had taken the train back, along with my son, who was 5 at the time, and then rented a car. We visited my old church, and afterwards, the pastor and his wife invited us all to the house! He fed the kids (theirs and my son) hot dogs, while she took Joyce and me thru the house. Oh, what fun! I was able to give her some history of how it was when we lived there (“I always wondered why the light switch was way over there”–the door had been moved–for instance), and I got to see Every room, and even the basement!! It is among my most treasured memories. And….indeed, the rooms Were as HUGE as I remembered!! (I practiced my baton twirling in the living room!)
Okay, on to today’s posts and many wonderful pictures.
Joy, your Uma and Benjamin are just as cute as can be. I am going to have to go back and take another look at them. I may feel “dolly fever” coming on again!!
Elizabeth, it looks like everyone had a wonderful time in the pool!! It has been so many years since I last went swimming…I might have to buy or make a new suit, as my old one is probably not very stretchy any more.
I so enjoyed your artwork. All are lovely but I am especially taken by the sunflower. It is really wonderful!
And your cards are so nice. I enjoy seeing what others have done–sometimes it inspires new ideas for me to try. I like the idea of including poetry, too. Emily Dickenson is my favorite American poet, and I think I have a book of her poems here somewhere; I will have to look. I haven’t read thru it in quite a long while.
Did you write the verse inside that last birthday card? Just wondering.
Thanks, everyone, for sharing!
Charlotte, years ago Peyton and I visited some doll friends and they lived near where my dad grew up in Lancaster, Ohio. The house was a large Georgian brick house and they had a huge farm. We went there many summers. There were 2 huge horses that pulled the equipment, cows that we took to the “crick” for water, a big barn where the cats were, a spring house where the milk containers were kept cool, and I would get the eggs every morning.
We found the house and the owner was so kind to let us go in. The barn was still there but the spring was then a pond. There was no farm anymore, but I still have wonderful memories.
Lancaster Pennsylvania is a beautiful area.
This is a lovely memory Sissy
What nice memories, Sissy! Thanks for sharing. (I remember when I was a kid, wondering why it was spelled c-r-e-e-k and pronounced “crick”!! Even up in Michigan we pronounced it that way!
incredible memory, Charlotte. My hubbs is from Mason Michigan. I love Michigan.
My good friend in High School was a PK 🥰
I love Michigan, too, especially the Upper Peninsula, where I lived. I’ve been back a number of times, but usually to the Lower Peninsula, where my best friend and her husband live, and I also have several cousins. (Last June I was there and got to see 9 of my 16 remaining cousins!) I haven’t been to the U.P., though, since 2014, when June and I went to our 50 year class reunion, and we also visited the church where my dad had been pastor.
Yes, the Jolli kids are cute. Thanks on my pic. 🙂
Elizabeth, your photos of the pool make me want to be in the Y pool
again, but we won’t go until Friday. The cards are so lovely and I know those who receive them will really enjoy them. Thank you for sharing!
Joy’s dolls are just too adorable. I do wish I were still collecting, I would want them.
I am going to try to get my FL photos to Jeanne today. We did have a great time.
Happy Wednesday Jeanne and sisters. Yes, the sink sandwiches I had never heard of… but I have to admit, I have gobbled many things over the sink. …. none of us grew up in a BARN!!
Sink sandwiches like the tomato kind, I have to admit, I have never had. I have been deprived of really good tomatoes. I am hoping to hit up a farmers market here this week-end.
You are correct about grocery store tomatoes. They are “not good”
I buy the roma tomatoes – my Walmart has pretty good bulk ones to choose from. (Lidl was a complete waste of $, horrible selection, I was desperate, and hastily bought three – “not good”) I like to slice the roma tomatoes and lay them on triscuits. I could gobble those all day! That is healthy… right?
Joy, your dollies are so so cute. I want them. Are they 10 inches or 12? Super adorable silly cuties. Look at them, what a team of fun playtime! You need to take a lot of photos of all of your babies to we can see all of them.
Elizabeth, wow, I wish I had a pool. How sweet to see a little floating baby. Adorable kiddos!
Well, your painting is exceptional, WOW just wowww. All three paintings are impressive and so beautiful! Your cards are lovely too. You are really really good! Both cards are beautiful!
I have 4 new mosquito bites on my hands!, and I kind of over extended or slightly crushed my knee cap tendons against the hatch of my car loading 6 huge pieces of slate yesterday afternoon. I still feel it and must remember to baby my knee for a few days, or be mindful of it.
…. oldness is so annoying. Why are we bringing home the slate – in short, the HOA says we were supposed to apply for the installation of slate on our property…. 22 years ago.
So, we are removing it because they claim it must be removed. ….. okay.
The house and property look beautiful. This is not the perfect time to sell a house, but here we are. There is always competition here in Northern Virginia. Our property is very competitive because it is beautiful. We are pricing it $50K below the competition.
I just want a happy family to live there.
I have a lot of nice beautiful slate slabs here now at my new place…. I could just make a slate garden hahaha I am happy to have it.
Yesterday I sewed three cute “table mats” 14×14 each of woven star block. They are cute.
I am giving two to the neighbor across the street.
Today is going to be the “coolest” day at 81º but it is super humid.
I hope all of you have a superb day. I found a Boynton cartoon of a cow: it says “Just Moo It”
Dearest Jeanne, Just Moo It, what ever works. You and George are always in my prayers.
Thanks on my Jolli kids. They are 12 1/2 inches.
Can’t believe that you had to move slate installed so long ago. Guess that HOA wants every cent they can get. How did they find it? Did they come and look around? Interesting.
yes, hahahaha I honestly can not stop laughing about that.
Our HOA has never ever sent us a warning letter about our very shabby ugly 24 year old fence that looked … crumbling and even had termites!
Meantime they used to send punishing letters to our neighbor with 5 kids for having a “dirty porch” and for their kids putting the trash cans out too early. Just nuts. We have a concrete pavers pad on the side of the house for our trashcans (a no no x2 cans need to be in the garage) so we have a lot of concrete pavers. I am offering them to the neighbor across the street.
Some people evidently don’t have enough to do that they go around checking out people’s property looking for things wrong. When we lived in Houston we had a neighbor who went around measuring people’s grass and if it was over an inch she reported you to the HOA. And we were once cited for not edging our property properly in February when we weren’t doing yard work at all. So when we moved to Sealy we were delighted to not have an HOA. However within five years our city became home rule and became worse than an HOA. At least they’ve finally backed off on us when we said the next time we were going to plead not guilty and demand a trial.
When Dad and I were looking to buy a property after the earthquakes we looked at a couple of new developments. One of them had a printed booklet and in it was a list of the “no-no’s”. Grass was one of the things on the list. It couldn’t be more than 10cms high (4 inches) and men were not allowed to mow the lawns topless! They are the two rules I remember, there were lots more. I’m not sure who was designated to police it, we don’t have HOA’s, but we decided against it anyway.
Elizabeth’s pool party looks like great fun. And her cards are so creative. What a treat for her family and friends to receive one for their special day. The talent genes did not arrive here for things like that unfortunately. But fortunately, they have a good selection at Trader Joe’s, for me. Wish I was more creative.
Yesterday, we made it to the other house fairly early and did some clean up in front. I spent a lot of time on the ladder trimming an out of control bush. We filled the big yard can and put it out for pick up today. We’re still trying to figure out how we want to landscape the front yard. It involves a lot. Putting in gravel for a five foot clearance space around the house. Fire protection. A new metal fence to replace the wood one by the driveway, and then a new decorative fence across the front and around the corner. Can’t block the corner because of setback regulations although, when you drive around, it appears everyone does that. And then the tree placement and what kind we decide on. It’s not easy to decide either. Other person pulled up some of the old plastic decorative bark underlining. He wanted to put it in garbage can, but I told him that we needed to put something in the bottom first or it wouldn’t shake out of the can. He wanted to throw bricks in the bottom, and I had a fit. I have plans for the bricks and it is not throwing them into the garbage. We have lots of bricks here too that I plan to move to the other house at some point. I sound like Rosemary, moving the slate. 🙂 I’ll bet that hers is a lovely feature in the garden at her new home. Anyway, that done, I ended up later on filling a yard can here as I’m trying to clear another patch on the slope in the backyard. Maybe today, I can stay away from the clippers and weeds. We’ll see.
I am having fun with the Jolli dolls. In the pic I sent Jeanne, Uma was actually sprawled in a mini Target basket. Benjamin was pushing her around. Kids! I made the flags when I discovered that I didn’t have any of the newer ones with 2026 on them. Just paper, but I would love to make some little fabric ones at some point. Thanks Jeanne, for sharing my pic today.
If anyone wants to see all of the Jolli dolls, here’s the link. https://rubyreddolls.com/collections/jolli-buddies-dolls
Second time to have lost my text to you.
Uma and Benjamin are adorable. Uma looks mischievous!
Thank you for sharing the other Jolli dolls. I’ve not seen them before. I hope to get some down the road but my doll collection is too large already. I tend to stay with the 18” AMGs.
Thanks Jeanne and Joy.
So sorry about losing a post. So frustrating. Thanks on Uma and Benjamin. They do look pretty cute with the larger kids too. I’m sure that they would be cute with your AG’s too. Just an enabler here. 🙂
I love your pictures of the adorable Jolli Buddies Uma and Benjamin. They look like they are enjoying their new home and having a good time. Uma arrived here a couple days ago and now I’m trying to decide who should join the family next. The Jollis are so cute and you can’t beat the price. They remind me a lot of my Paola Reina dolls. And yes, I do think we may have drain flies. I ordered some special drain cleaner from Amazon and in the meantime I did the apple cider vinegar/dish soap routine but haven’t found that all that effective. You are supposed to put the solution in a bowl, cover it with cling wrap and poke holes in the top. Problem is the fools walk around on the top of the cling wrap but never seem to find the holes that are supposed to trap them so they drown.
Oh, I think that you must have “smart” flies! That kind are very difficult. 🙂
I am late to the party again, but here I finally am! I just wanted to get some things done ojtside before it really get too uncomfortable. So humid out there!
Oh Joy, those Jolli dolls are so cute! I especially love Dorothy, with her red hair and Wizard of Oz connection! Your two look like twins! They have such sweet faces too!
Elizabeth, your painting of the sunflower is beautiful! What is the medium, oil or ? It takes a special person to capture human face the way it really is, and I am sure your great granddaughter will always cherish the picture of baby Chloe!
The cards are a work of art! Good for you that you take the time to make them, which makes them very special indeed!
Tks on my Jolli pic. They are a lot of fun and easy to dress too. 🙂
Thank you Jeanne for sharing my photos of family, artwork and greeting cards! And a huge thank you for the nicest comments ever from the “sofa sisters!”
My artwork this year has been smaller pieces than what I usually do, partly due to time spent in the art room and I happened to have small canvases on hand! And the art of the bulldog and the baby portrait will go back to Indiana and I am hoping my daughter who is flying down to Texas today will be able to take them back for me, since postage and mailing has become rather expensive for me. I need to make an appt. with an Austin ophthalmologist to see about having my cataracts taken care of. I have put if off and gotten by with lens upgrades in frames but have been told they can only do so much with lens at some point. I am somewhat afraid of the surgery since they don’t put you asleep for it, but my daughter has had Lasik surgery and she said it is quick and you don’t feel anything…and other folks have said the same thing regarding cataract surgery. I can see to sew and still thread a needle if it isn’t too small, and read and paint artwork, but I can no longer completely read the scrolling menu of TV channels…which is small white print on a black background. And it’s a good thing that I no longer drive!
Charlotte, when it comes to printing out the word inserts for my greeting cards, I google for limericks, or I use a poem or saying from one of my books on Greeting Card Sayings…”Thinking of You–A Card greeting for Every Occasion” is a book I found from Better world Books. A used book, so the cost was small, and the books are always in good shape when I order from them. Another book I have is “Just the Right Words” by Judith Wibberley….the book is an older one and I don’t even remember where I found it. BWB might also have this one or some different ones by now. Plus, I have a tiny book titled “Wisdom for the New Millennium” selected for Hallmark by Helen Exley, printed in 1999….beautiful artwork and poems.
Loved seeing the Jolli Dolls! Thank you Joy, for sharing the photo. I’ve had my eye on the Ruby Red online site…Jolli dolls, and am seriously thinking of ordering one in the near future…maybe after I pay off my tooth crown! This would give me plenty of time to leisurely sew a wardrobe of outfits for a future Great Granddaughter gift! The little girl, Abagail, 1 yr., is the little one in the swimming pool photo. And the mother of the baby portrait of Chloe, is expecting another little girl this coming September. So….two more little girls who just might love dolls someday!
Rosemary….I just can’t get over the HOA requesting that you remove the slate slabs from the home…. an issue that is 22 years old! Maybe we should look at our HOA “rules” to see if they care about the pea gravel we totally covered our tiny back yard in…and we changed our house numbers to larger ones (so package deliveries might make it to OUR address instead of a neighbors home). My daughter and son-in-law who have the swimming pool had their HOA send them a letter that the three trees at the front of the property (they have a corner lot) needed to be trimmed all around…it ran them $600. to have it done. But as we drive thru the neighborhood, we spot other homes that need their trees trimmed and they remain the same…not trimmed. I would expect HOA’s to be consistent. They also require all property wood fences to be coated in about the same redwood color, and not everyone adheres to that rule and many haven’t coated them at all to prevent the gray color they become.
Well, all the talk about red tasty tomatoes have me hankering for tomatoes! I could be tempted to try growing some next year in a huge patio container!
You are so multi-talented. I love your pictures. And making such personal cards I’m sure is very appreciated. Nice swimming pool. Sure do wish I had one. I have room for one or at least a large above ground pool but hubby does not want to have to deal with the upkeep. We once had a pool and it had a filter set up but our neighbor had a cottonwood tree that shed like crazy right into our pool and polluted it so we kept having to empty and refill it. Then we moved and never put it up again. Wonderful pictures of your great-granddaughters. I’m sure they were having a great time.
Thank you on the pic. It would be lots of fun to sew a wardrobe for the smaller girls for your great grands, I think. It is fun to look at the Ruby Red archive too. It has photos of most of the dolls listed by the year that they were first made. 🙂
Elizabeth, your artwork is phenomenal! Oh the baby Chloe is beautiful. You are such an artist with your many talents! Cards, paintings, sewing!!
Thank you and Jeanne showing us all your wonderful creations.
I just got in from two kitty checkups this morning, so running behind and will have to be quick.
The pool party looks like so much fun.
Joy, your new dolls are very cute. Love the 250th flags. I hadn’t seen those.
Absolutely gorgeous paintings, Elizabeth, The sunflowers are so pretty and baby Chloe is adorable.
Tks on my Jolli kids. They aren’t as posable as their larger cousins, but can still do a lot, just like the dolls I had as a kid. 🙂
Lovely paintings! Very talented! Thankyou for sharing:)
Elizabeth’s mentioning of fire ants reminded me of my first experience with them when I moved to Texas. We were living in Pasadena (east of Houston) and when my then husband went to play golf I went with him. While I was waiting for him to finish up on a hole I sat down on the ground, right in a fire ant pile. New experience for me. Another time I was standing talking to a neighbor and felt something biting my legs. I thought it was mosquitos but when I looked down my legs were covered with fire ants. My neighbor grabbed her garden hose and sprayed them off and I left to go camping for the weekend. By the time we got home Sunday my legs were swollen and I was really concerned so I went to the doctor the next day and got a shot and was told to drink a baking soda solution three times a day because their bites are so acidic. There is a lawn treatment that also includes something that kills fire ants. For several years we used that and it works well because when you kill a mound there are some that form another somewhere else. With the lawn treatment there is nowhere for them to go. It also kept the roaches, etc., out of my house.
Tks on my Jolli kids pic. I can’t wait to see yours and find out if they can wear Paola Rena clothes? I’ve heard that they can, but didn’t want to look for a pattern until I was sure. And I ordered another one yesterday and that cute pink pleated skirt that you mentioned. Bad me. 🙂
Elizabeth your paintings and cards are lovely, you are so talented. It is my biggest regret that I have no talent for painting. Sam got that gene which I think came from my maternal grandfather. It certainly by-passed my mother. Still both Mum and I had other talents. Mum’s was knitting and embroidery. I am one of those people who are ‘a Jack of all trades, master of none’. Whatever I do my best is never world class, even though I try really hard.
I have 3 birthdays in July and 4 in August, 3 granddaughters, one great grandson, 1 DIL, one grandson and one son so I am keeping Sam busy as two of the cards have to go to Australia. I will take a photo of the ones Sam has made and send them to Jeanne along with photo’s the quilt that is finished.
We had to buy another clothes horse yesterday. We have had a week of cold wet weather. Fortunately we didn’t get the really heavy rain that they have had in other areas. Lots of people are flooded out many for the second and third time. Lots of small communities have been cut off again. Kaikoura was cut off for a year when they had a big earthquake about 3 years ago and the main road into the town has been badly damaged this time. There is only one way in now and it is a 6 hour detour. It is the main route to the ferry and the North Island. Lots of snow as well, thankfully not here. “It is an ill wind that blows nobody any good” my mother used to say, and the ski field operators are really happy. It is supposed to improve over today and be warmer from Sunday.
I am missing my World Cup fix lol! No games today. I keep wishing I had paid the $45 so I could watch the games then I think about all the work I wouldn’t have done if I had been glued to the TV all day. The game I really want to watch is the England /Norway match but the one TVOne is showing is the Argentina/Switzerland one which, in my humble opinion, will be a walkover for Argentina. I’ll be at church for most of the England match as well so won’t even be able to follow it on line. I desperately want England to win but not sure if they will.
Have a lovely day everyone. Do my messages about how cold it is here help to cool you down? I am reading a book about Quebec in winter and it is making me feel colder but glad it is not like that here.
Have a great day
Joy I forgot to say how cute your new dolls were. Thank you for sending the photos
Oh, thank you Anne. I am having fun with them. 🙂