The days fly by and here it is Monday again. I attended a tea on Saturday morning at Connie’s church which was presented beautifully – Connie’s touch, I’m sure. We were encouraged to wear hats and gloves so I got out Mom’s hatbox and picked out a hat that matched my dress. No gloves however – my hands have so much arthritis that I couldn’t get her gloves on! Remember when all women wore hats to church? I sure do and I’m glad we don’t wear them today. I also took a little leather clutch bag shown here.
On Friday afternoon Becky and I played music at Concord for the monthly birthday party. Reed’s great grandma is toward the back of the room in this picture – I wish I could draw on my screen! Pearl is straight back wearing a white sweater.
It’s cantata time again which I’m not playing for this year. I’m having some back issues requiring physical therapy so have had to give up anything that requires long periods of sitting. You guys just think I do so much – I have lots of aches and pains that keep me from doing more.
When I wrote the blog last week I forgot to show you my latest treasure from the thrift store. I collect vintage embroidery and have quite a collection which I’m going to show you. This crossstitch piece is framed in a tray and dated 1929. Original cost was $3 but it was half price day so this beautiful piece of needlework cost me only $1.50!! I’m not always this lucky but that day was a jackpot.
I feel like I need to rescue these gems – because I so appreciate the work involved. Here are some pictures of other needlework that I have hanging in my office and sewing room. I’ve decided I can entertain you guys for a long time just showing you all my collections – ha ha! I have more that are waiting to be framed but I’m running out of wall space.
And here is a slogan on a dresser scarf that I think you’ll enjoy.
Isn’t that funny?
And some goat news. I don’t know how this happened but Alfalfa’s horn got broken and it looks like it’s barely hanging on. He’s too wild for me to get close enough to examine it but I hope he doesn’t get infection in it. I did not realize the hard shell of the horn would separate from the inner part. Anybody know anything about this?
And some chicken pictures – it’s going to be a long winter with all these roosters.
This is Daddio with his hens – he was that FREE chick that I didn’t want and now I have 7 roosters! Every night at dark I find Daddio roosting outside in the hay bunk because the young upstart roosters run him out of the barn. I hate this – and one of those same hens has another single chick. Grrrrrr! What am I going to do with these beautiful but mean roosters. Rick says they could be Sunday dinner – NO!!!!
I had a reader’s quilt to show you. I can’t get it to download so I’ll do it next time.
We still haven’t had a freeze – unbelievable!
You have lots of wonderful collections. Love looking at all your stuff. Thanks for sharing.
I made a cross stitch piece about 45 years ago from a Family Circle or Woman’s Day magazine. It was a picture of a woman, man, a house, a border and it said, Every day, a happy day. I loved it and wish I had it now. Sold it for next to nothing because we were moving.
What treasures you have found and display in your home. I agree that it is hard to turn something like that down when you see it as it could, otherwise, be thrown away. My, all those roosters, should be an interesting winter. They say a hard freeze is coming a bit later this week. I suppose it’s time!
I once rescued a quilt. The seams were not straight the binding a bit off but hand stitched and I wanted the store to call the people that someone has bought the quilt and I use it on the table and LOVE it. We need to save these masterpieces and LOVE them as the needleworker loved them. Thank you for doing this.
Weather here in my altitude of Idaho was light rain all day which turned the little snow to slush. The tiny chipmunks kept Pepper entertained as they were gnawing on old mineral block pieces just out of her reach. Guess the older fat chipmunks were some critters’ meals as we haven’t seen them lately.
Enjoyed seeing your handwork collection, Mary. Thanks for sharing. Certainly hope Alfalfa’s broken horn isn’t painful.
Mary, first of all I have to say that I love that you rescue, display and enjoy your treasures. Secondly, I was just telling a friend this morning about how much I enjoy your chicken pictures. Thanks
HI Mary–I do love all of those beautiful hand work items:) I have lots of handwork pillowcases, and my friend had one of hers framed. It looks great. I, too, rescue old quilts; I feel like someone put a lot of work into them. Roosters–no clue what to do with them. You look adorable in your mom’s hat and purse. Sorry about your back troubles; unfortunately it does happen. Good luck with PT; they work wonders!!
Oh, my, what a great post! I loved ALL the samplers but “Let me live in the house by the side of the road, And, be a friend to man” stands out for me. Love the roosters, so colorful. Just makes my day–your posts! Thank you, Mary. No frost here yet either!!!! Nice long autumn season this year.
Had a Rhode Island Red rooster my son named Booger Red (son was 4)..mean as a junkyard dog…couldn’t imagine him as Sunday supper either..that is until he chased me all over yard and talons cut my leg..needed 6 stitches…I have a wonderful recipe I named Revenge Roasted Rooster…I assure you it is VERY good. You do have some beautiful roosters owever.
Got to love it! Revenge Roasted Rooster!! This one really made me laugh out loud. The chickens can be really mean and hateful. Sunday dinner is just the facts of life. We would have starved if all the animals had been pets. My dog, Brownie, saved me many times from a nasty rooster who finally became dinner.
It sounds like we will get a hard frost Thursday night — 23 degrees.
About another subject in your always interesting email: I am also a (once upon a time) musician, a singer. Over the years I have rescued sheet music from estate sales and such and probably have a comparatively small stash of 200+ pieces. Anyone have any suggestions what to do with it? I have seriously downsized and think it needs a new home. Thanks.
Oh my gosh, such a fabulous collection of needle work, WOW. The best part is you have them out where you can see them. I have one my mother did but sadly she didn’t date it or put her initials on it. These really are treasures. Your blogs brighten the day which these days needs some cheer. Thanks for all the work you do for us.
I love the needlework pictures also. My grandmother had the same “Let me live in the house by the side of the road and be a friend to man” as you do. It was always my favorite. I often wonder what happened to it.
Glad you are rescuing those lovely stitchery’s. I especially like the 2 dogs at the door and the saying on another about mans best friend. We have 5 dogs.
I agree with your husband. Enjoy some chicken broth. Sounds bad but I know how mean those roosters can be and a bunch of them, in a barn for the winter, is not a happy thought. Your hens will be worn out!!
Love your blog. Patty Mc
I recognized one of the embroidered wall hangings. I have the one my mom did before she was married hanging in my bedroom. I have to tell you I have a small scarecrow stuffed with kitty litter that I got YEARS ago when you and Connie had a fall sale. I have had to re-sew various parts but refuse to throw it out!! It sits on my hearth every fall.
I remember as a young girl doing cross stitch. I don’t think I ever finished one. I am not a patient person. I see a lot of love in those pieces of art. Poor Alfalfa. You need a goat whisperer, Mary. Is there a vet that will come to you home that would have a look at him? Too bad you can’t neuter those roosters , instead of what you husband suggested! You have some beautiful chickens. You have been sending Ohio some beautiful October weather. We finally got some rain today.
Roosters can be neutered – they are called capons.
Holy Moly you have rescued a lot of embroidery pieces! I feel lucky I have about 5 samplers. I am also a sucker for table linens and dresser scarves knowing someone spent a lot of evenings finishing them. My idea is to take an old plain white linen tablecloth and start hand sewing them all on it to look like a crazy quilt! That way I can see them all. No frost here yet in upstate NY. Take care of your back and hope you feel better with the physical therapy. No fun to have something slow us down from all we want to do in our days.
I remember the mean roosters we had when I was a little girl. I had a length of steel cable I carried to fend them off. Then Grandma had a really mean rooster, too. I don’t remember what happened to him. You certainly brought back memories. I enjoy seeing your samplers. A “collector” always finds something to collect. I also try salvage old linens and sewing tools. A compulsion.
I love the rooster that looks like a “bad hair day”! LOL Sorry to say this, but on my grandparents farm the mean roosters WOULD have been Sunday dinner!
My aunt had a tea cart and on it was a tray very like your new find, it fit perfectly on top
Interesting about the goat horn, since I have no knowledge of goats 🐐 seeing him like that would mean a call to the vet or loading up the goat to visit the vet. I have no idea how it goes with middle sized animals. We had the vet visit us for horses and cows and we take our dogs 🐶 and cats 🐱 in to them.
Don’t worry about running out of blog material…..just let TV we don’t mind reruns
PS. I forgot to tell you I saw a buck with a broken antler about 3 weeks ago. I have seen him lately and he seems fine. The piece of antler just hangs there. Not sure if it is the same for goats.
Deer antlers are different from horns. Deer shed their antlers every year and don’t seem bothered by broken ones – we have several deer for pets. We have goats too and I would think that horn might need to be cut off, but as always check with the vet.
A nice collection of handwork filling your wall space. Paula in KY
Do goats loose their horns like deer? I wonder if that horn dangling there is painful for him, like a broken tooth? Poor guy.
Maybe you could advertise the roosters at the feed store. I once put a note on the board at our feed store for 2 free hens and it was a success. Of course, they were hens, but still very mean to the other hens.
I love your embroidery pictures. Makes me want to collect them too.
You have a wonderful collection of embroidery. You don’t see much of this in this modern electronic world. I can remember when I was 12 years old and had a baby sitting job and would take my money and get DMC thread for a nickel and a bureau scarf for 29 cents. I gave some away for gifts and later learned to crochet an edge around these embroidery pieces.
this evening are are experiencing lots of wind here in the Shenandoah Valley VA.
Hi Mary
I don’t know a thing about goat horns but it sure is weird! Do you think he got it stuck in the fence?
I think you have a sign on your forehead that says “Come to me, I save all cats and roosters”!!! Lol.
Both my neighbors have chickens and sometimes they let them hatch their chicks. Sometimes I hear crowing and I know there is a young rooster that is growing. Then all of a sudden I don’t hear them anymore, so for me it’s a mystery where they go. Is like now you see them now you don’t! No matter what roosters are beautiful and I love to hear them crow.
Be ever so careful with that back of yours🐩
My late husband’s niece belongs to an on-line chicken group, much like a buy, sell, trade group. People exchange tips, advertise, ask for advise on their chickens. Often see them posting free roosters. Maybe there’s one near you.
Hi Mary, have you ever thought of chiropractic treatment for your arthritis? And-or physical therapy? Why suffer when non medicine is available? Keeps me moving, sewing, yard work. And staying as young as I can. Lois in Omaha
Lois – guess what! I’ve been seeing my chiropractor twice a week since April. September I switched to physical therapy twice a week. Today I saw my MD who is going to refer me.
The only embroidered item I remember my mother made was: you can write in my dust, but kindly do not date it!
I am the pottery freak! Red Wing crocks were my thing. Many trips home from Green Bay, I’d stop at the antique shop in Bonduel and bring home another huge jug, strapped into my front seat. Sadly I need to find homes for them, but told my movers that if I can’t sell them, they are coming with me!!!
Love, love all you pictures. I’m going to start searching harder when I go junking for needle work. Yours are all so neat. Thanks for sharing.
My one rooster, I couldn’t stand the crowing so another farm has an ad that says they will take any animal. Bye bye rooster enjoy your new farm. He was grabbing all the food also, which torked me off, chasing away the other girls.
We had our first frost here in WA state about three weeks ago. So long to the garden. Frost on the ground every morning and breaking the frozen chicken water.
By the way, you still produce so much more quilts etc. then I ever could!!!
Love your blog, stories and pictures…..
Connie, I started out making a small embroidered picture as a child. As a newly married woman I got a free “Home Sweet Home” piece as a prize for purchasing vitamins by mail. That has hung in our homes ever since I completed it. I also did a counted cross stitch sampler on that perforated paper. Then I got my Grandmother’s samplers and over the years I’ve collected any I’ve seen that have a house on them. Or relate to a house. To a friend’s house the road is never long, for example, has a horse and carriage but it was the first of my Grandmother’s that I have. I had a guest room with all the samplers and embroidered pictures hung in it but then my daughter needed to move back in and I had to take all my samplers down to make a room for her and her expected child. Sad to store them again, but . . . if I see any forlorn house embroideries, I’ll probably rescue them! Wish I had more wall space but an open floor plan means not that many walls! Loved seeing your needlework pieces!
I know what you mean about the roosters. They are so pretty, but can be ornery. They flop my grandchildren so we usually harvest them for soup or give them away. Love all your embroideries. I am blessed to have a sampler that my husband’s grandmother did in Italy in 1897 – on cloth she wove herself – amazing!
Thanks for all the farm news – love it!
Love everything you post, Mary. I too can’t pass up “Grandma’s” sewing tools, sewing boxes or stitchery. One sale included her sewing stool. It fits me and I think of the the woman I never met and obviously loved to sew. How can people get rid of family members cherished objects?
On another note, I love to find oddball item in their sewing boxes. My mom’s kit includes firecrackers, spitball tubes and BBs (I have 2 older brothers who loved shock value of sneaking up and scaring me!)