Mums the word

 From our fall Amish greenhouse, the biggest mums around.  My size 9 for reference.

For $10.

Chris asked me to find nice ones for Carole's October b-day, he wanted tri-color if possible.  They were all mauve, white, yellow, not ours or her favorite mum color mix.  So solid yellow and rust with one bronze filled the car.

One last note about the china (and crystal).  It's mine, not from family.  Mom had a set that was offered through a local grocery.  Each week, depending on total spent, a piece could be purchased for a few cents or free.  No idea how long it took, but she had the complete set from cups to platter.  It wasn't what she liked, but in those days you got what you could and were grateful. She did not want to bring them here and told my brother to put it all out for the garage sale.  So I don't have an inherited set to donate, just mine, but my friend has three!

Very close to requiring a decision on completing the entire sampler or ending with two drums.

Last week of September.  Damn.

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The box

I am liking the idea of a stitchery displayed on the inside of an opened lid with other goodies in the box.  I have a smaller one from HL that is hinged, perfect for a small sampler or other work.  Changing the box contents and stitchery for each season would be a fun project.

The large box I showed was from Mom's stainless flatware that we use daily, my sister has my older set.  This is Mom's silverplate exactly as she stored it.  Bagged with pieces of polishing cloth in each and it prevented tarnishing for decades.  I don't remember when she last used it.

My friend has had such a difficult time with her mom's house and contents after she passed.  I asked her ... if your mom came into extra funds, would she have kept these items?  Or would she have had no problem selling house, furniture, tchotchkes and getting new.  I could see the tension release in her face.  Except for the sentimental items, she knew her mom would have left most behind.  It helped her resolve the guilt of donating so much.  Our parents would have been over 100 now, and that generation went through a lot.  They held on to everything except when offering to someone else needing help.  It wasn't the dishes or tablecloths that were important to Mom, it was the pearl collar and necklace that was her mother's treasure, now mine. Personal things.

My friend is finally selling that house, and is realizing her mom would be happy with helping a young family fill their home with her things.  But it's not an easy task for some items.  No one wants china!  Every family is different.  Mementoes are so important to some, and others empty houses a week after a funeral and leave with nothing or only one keepsake.  Personally, I had originally kept more, and as time passed, realized all would end up in trash one day.  Finding someone to care for and enjoy items now, for me, is better.

Hawaiian sliders with turkey and swiss today.  Good grief do I love these babies.  Ham and swiss just as good, so many options.

 Enjoy your weekend friends.  Be safe!

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Another bad idea?

 I've seen the zippered boxes for hundreds of dollars, the small flat one with removble inserts for almost two hundred, and many other niceities that for me would not be functional.  The Stella in me requires usability along with visuality for purchases that pricey.   

Speaking of Stella, this box was one of two from her flatware.  I removed the dividers and holders, thought keeping it open and filled  with a display of needlework smalls and vintage sewing items would be sweet set on a side table.  Adding a sampler displayed on the open lid would be great.  Another option to keep in mind.  Or make note of since my memory fails me often.

The silver plated flatware is unwanted by thrift stores or elsewhere, just like china and crystal.  Not dishwasher safe, too much upkeep from tarnish.  I was told to discard the dinnerware in the trash, the crystal also since it cannot be recycled (crystal items have lead).  I read that the colored Pyrex bowl sets do also, but it's the outside only, no way to ingest, and extremely minimal.  We all grew up with those mixing bowls, used continually.  I still use them and have no concerns at all since I don't nibble the color off.  Pretty much impossible to do.  

Nice day today, on my way to the swing for a little warmth from the sun.

Enjoy your day!

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Where will it end?

 Once the next wide colorful band is stitched, a drum finish?

Stitch the bottom section which is similar in size to the top section, construct a second drum?

Complete the sampler and wrap a large vase?  Possibly but not probably.  But I did see a very tall mache box that could work.  Lid could be a fat pincushion or berries.

I just don't want framed pieces and prefer the display options of mobile finishes.  Hanging bags, drums, pillows.

The next band will take some time to stitch.  I thought I could decide during that time but not if I split it between the two drums.  

I'll make an apple pie first.  Sure.  That will help.

Enjoy your day.

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Late but lovely

 I babied, fed, protected these Mini Famous calibrachoa all summer.  And now, after fertilizer ended, they are finally becoming the glorious plants they could have been during summer. 

 Loads of summer blooms have been pitched and replaced with mums throughout neighborhoods.  Even baskets like mine and  larger are discarded for the fall flowers that are offered way too early.   I plan to keep these alive as long as possible, purchase one mum for the front, and attempt a door arrangement similar to what I've shown previously.

My ferns were great all summer and again this year, too large to bring indoors.  That span being filled by three is thirteen feet.

I completed the top border and the next band.  Tonight hope to complete the last two.  Motifs follow and then a wide band.

Be safe!

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Better

 Instead of the charted double two color balls, or my change to a single color blob,

I'm liking the simple blue cap change for this border.  

 End of season pepper surplus leads to frozen sausage/peppers in sauce with onions and garlic for sandwiches.

This mom lost a few babes, one left, from a very late hatch.  She and one other hen with late young are outcasts from the flock.  They follow, but eat alone and keep their distance.

Enjoy your weekend!

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