Mercer Courthouse and sale date

in PA not NJ.  I was chosen for the first group of jurors, walked in the icy frigid temps, and today in the freezing rain (now just rain).  After all that, the accused settled for a plea bargain and I'm home and done.  I am grateful.  I am not a social person, lack confidence in all areas, and as I age it has only gotten worse.  So being with strangers and deciding someone's fate was not something I was looking forward to.  But if the case involved animal or child abuse, I would have jumped up and screamed for the death penalty.

 

The interior of our old courthouse is wonderful and I would love to wander and gaze, but there was no doubt I would be lost and end up where I was not welcome.  So I took a few photos on my $5 phone and this is its history.

History of The Mercer County Courthouse

The First Courthouse was built on the current site in 1807 from the proceeds of the sales of lots in Mercer at a cost of $7,116. The courthouse was a square structure of brick, two stories high, with wings on the east and west sides of the first story. The lower story was occupied by the court room. The upper story was divided into jury rooms and the wings housed the county offices. In 1840 the wings were taken down and large additions were made at a cost of $1,500. The building was then destroyed by fire in 1866, but all official records were saved from the fire.

The Second Courthouse was built immediately after the first Courthouse burned down at a cost of $100,000. It was made of red brick with stone trimmings and was surmounted by a belfry to which was later added a town clock. This Courthouse then burned down in December 1907. All official records were saved from the fire.

The Present Courthouse was erected in 1909 at a cost of approximately $500,000. The contractor suffered a huge loss since he had bid it at $324,000. The architect was Charles F. Owsley.

 

The very wide marble stairs have the most gorgeous bronze? brass? railings and wood throughout.   After my initial gasp at the workmanship, I wondered who dusts them.  I chose to not take the elevator because climbing these steps and the second series was a treat.  Sort of a breathless treat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doors are original and even the old windows have their original hardware and hinges on the push out casement windows.

 

I was not allowed to photograph the jury and court rooms on the second floor, all with stained glass ceilings and magnificent light pendants.  There is a third floor with additional modern court rooms above the glass but with lights between the floors, their colors shine brightly.

 

This is the rotunda ceiling.  Not really a round room, but close enough.

 

The balconies and courtrooms that surround the rotunda.  There are large wooden pews in the second floor court rooms and they also line the halls outside of them.  All the wood appears to be walnut but I'm not a pro at identifying wood species.  The wainscot and elaborate door casings throughout are perfectly aged and matched.  There are other court houses in PA that are just as nice or even more so, but for this small area it is very nice.  Mercer was one of PA's "dry towns" where no bars/alcohol exist.  Not sure if it has changed.  The population is less than 2000.

 



There was something that sort of shocked me.  For some reason, maybe because I don't have a phone filled with selfies and photos, I picture myself in my head as I looked many years ago.  Well the shock came when I saw myself passing in a large beautifully ornate mirror and thought …. who the hell is that?  Holy crap.  That's the old woman that couldn't get off the restroom's standard height commode and afraid of breaking the toilet paper holder in the giddy-up process.

OK.  I am listing the for sale items tomorrow at 7pm est.  I will send another post at that time but for those of you that only get updates at night, I wanted to let you know ahead of time.

 

Terri sent me an email and recommended KrudKutter (Home Depot) for any type of stain without ruining your fabric.  Will definitely look for it.

 

I bought a Rubbermaid FreshWorks container and it worked for my lettuce.  I open the salad bags and lay the contents on a dish towel, pick out any bad pieces, and let it dry a little.  Then I put it all into the FreshWorks with a half piece of paper towel on top and it stays nice and fresh for days.  That never happens when kept in the bag.

 

Hope your week is going well!

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Because of ...

 

I had to do this to my sweatshirt.

 

 

His claws are like razors!  Missy has damaged clothing too, but this is the first time for Budman.  I sort of miss doing this to clothing.  So quick, so easy, and Mom got so excited when she saw her "new" items.  She didn't realize they were her clothes that she stained, and I covered up.  I painted some but she really liked the fabric pieces with buttons.  Instead of machine zig zag, I did a straight stitch a fraction in from the edge so it will (hopefully) fray a little during washings.  Easily attached with the fusible web to a piece of fabric, cut out the shape, remove the paper backing, and press onto whatever you'd like.

 

Here's the …. copied from a photo sampler.  Don't know what else to call it.  I have a leather lace for hanging and will probably pin to the back since it may not hang, or it will, and I can easily remove the hanger when needed.

 

She and my sweet Dorothy Allen are getting along nicely.  Still one of my favorites on the piece of gifted R&R 18th Century Rook.  The old one, the stiff one, the brownish bronzy greenish one.  Never to be found again.  I have two pieces in 35 count that are nice, but not the same color or feel.

 

Heading out to the courthouse and feeling miserable.  I don't know if I have a bladder infection or a huge piece of chocolate wedged in my abdomen, but I've been very uncomfortable for several days.  Hoping now that I am not chosen and I can come home and lie down. 

 

Have a good day!

 

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Coming up....

These items will be for sale at the end of this week.  I didn't realize that many of you get email updates rather than checking blogs and they are delivered late at night after the sale has begun.  So I will post the sale date the day before, rather than the same day.

 

This sampler was displayed around a large box and the margins were folded to the back about a 1/2" from the stitching.  That left a crease in the linen which would be hidden by matting or a frame.  Not noticeable but of course it is to me.  There is also an unexplained darker line in the right edge margin. ????  No idea. 

 

From Elizabeth's Garden, Lydia C. Durgin.  This chart was gifted to me by Frances and I in turn passed it on to another.  She deserves a nice frame which I don't do, black would be perfect.  This was 30 count SL linen that I dyed.  The stitched area is 6" x 11" with a 1-3/4" to 2" margin for mounting.  Black and taupe thread.

The ponies.  Ah.  The ponies. Two Horses design by The Primitive Needle, 4-1/4" x 8-1/4"

Homespun Elegance design, Simply Red stitched on 35 count Tin Roof in my color choices, 4-1/4" x 5-1/2".

The lined linen pouch with heart.  Closed it is 6-1/2" x 3-1/2".

 

More photos and prices will be posted for the sale.

 

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Snowmageddon

It started bad

and ended worse.

 

So I did a little hand sewing. 

These sweet pouches were made from linen banding  and never really finished.  I hand sewed muslin lining inside and then the side seams for the finish.  

Both will be included in the next sale which I hope will be this week.  Jury duty leaves the entire week in limbo, or jail, depending on my mouth.

 

Will need to find the week's location of the pacemaker testing because Carole is wanting her rate changed back to static.  Normal rates are around 65 for resting which increases during movement.  Since hers starts at 80, she is going well over one hundred when moving which makes her breathless.  Her walking rate is my exercising rate and that's not going to work.  I'm thinking her weight may cause more vibration and falsely indicate she is moving faster than she actually is, causing the device to increase even more.  They need to lower the base to 70 if she can handle that or set her back to constant 80.  We shall see!  Mark will be driving me to the duty which is about a half hour away, the parking is a distance from the courthouse and with two feet of snow, not good.  So hopefully this will be done with and we'll both be free to take her wherever we need to.

 

Hope your weekend is going well.

Thanks for visiting!

 

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The first,

and the last project bag I will ever attempt.

 

I used the Moda sampler fabric but because this color's pattern was somewhat skewed, it was indeed frustrating. 

 

I did three pieces rather than a single length of fabric so the sampler would be upright on front, back, and flap.   Lining is the coordinating ticking.

Trying my best to line up the flap's pattern with the front's (because I am … you know) and I should have chosen the blue fabric.  Regardless, between the stiff interfacing and the light fleece lining and the sides and the seams and the everything with this project, it has soured me for a second attempt.  Besides, I like my clear zip pockets better.  I can see the contents at a glance and several fit nicely into a larger tote like Peg was making (I can't find the link to her totes!)

 

We took Carole for her pacemaker checkup and this time worked with the guy that saw her immediately after the surgery.  After I asked why it is set at 80 and does not increase with activity, he replied that he just made that change.  Finally!  I've been asking for 4 years!  Since the AV node ablation which disconnected the chambers, she cannot beat on her own and has 4 leads to her device.  This amazing thing can actually increase her heart rate based on her body's vibration, such as her foot hitting the floor.  The more she moves, the more the device increases her beats to compensate.  It will be interesting to see if this helps since walking around a store drains to the point of extreme weakness.  It may not help, it may help.  Right now she has to walk so slowly to prevent this feeling and can't walk any distance.  She wanted the Dove chocolate that Walgreens had on sale but we didn't go there, I just gave her a bag of mine.  She called last night and asked why there are nuts in it.  There aren't.  It was her tooth that broke off at the root.  Here we go again!

 

They said the snow will start at 11 am today and it's right on the money.  Mark will be home from breakfast at the Italian Home soon and make sure the snow blower works.  My previous office hired snow removals and they used leaf blowers except for the heavy wet snowfalls.  Worked like a dream. 

 

 Have a good weekend!  Stay safe and warm. 

Please help any stray and lost critters in the cold.

 

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Fabric

  ALL  SOLD
Thank you!

Here are the Moda Blackbird fabric sizes and options.  One pattern is called Beach House which is not the current Moda Beach House.  These are from a number of years ago so don't go by that.  They are already washed and dried, ready to stitch.  Those green stickies were to show size but that didn't work out real well now did it?

The blue

The green

 

The brown
This sampler pattern was printed a little wonky, slightly off edge, it will go for free with the brown ticking stripe.

If you are interested in any, please state color and either "sampler" or "print/stripe" (blue sampler, green print ...).  If you want both coordinates ask for the color set.  Shipping in a plain 10 x 13 envelope.  Two piece postage will be around $4.  Each piece is $3 except for the brown sampler, I'll add it to the brown stripe for free.

 

Let me know at samplersandsantas@gmail.com, hoping to mail before the postal increase end of next week.  I am on jury duty all week, God help them all.

 

 

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