Wishing Hal A Speedy Recovery!

Over the weekend, we received some bad news from cousins in Maidens.  Hal was working on a gutter problem on his house, misjudged his assent from a ladder, fell, and broke his left elbow in multiple pieces. Ouch!!!  He is in Henrico's Doctors' Hospital recovering from surgery as well as battling a lung problem that occurred during surgery. Hopefully, he can start some rehabilitation on his arm soon.  We wish him a very speedy recovery.

Get well soon!. 

Fishing season is just around the corner!

Blue Hobnail Monday

It's Blue Monday again at Applejack Lane.   Last week, I started to do some cleaning in a bachelor's desk, and I shared some blue Bristol glass.  Today,  I have a few pieces of blue hobnail to show from that same desktop.

 

A round vase with a fluted collar...

 

A skinny hobnail vase...

Two very similar flat vases...

All these were collected by my MIL.  I didn't know how much I liked blue until I met her.

Happy Blue Monday.  Thanks to Smiling Sally for hosting this party.

February 2010 Rudolph Day

Today, I am celebrating Rudolph Day a little late since it was really Thursday, February 25, and I was busy at the shop.  Rudolph Day  you ask.  What is Rudolph Day???  Rudolph Day is  always on the 25th of each month leading up to Christmas Day, and one sets aside some time to work on something Christmas related.  To learn more about Rudolph Day, click here.  Since we own a Hallmark shop, we are extremely busy during the fall and holiday season.  I  try to be organized to get things accomplished for family Christmas, and this little day just helps out a lot.

I have a notebook that contains all kinds of information-calendars, Rudoph Day ideas, Christmas card lists/addresses, meal planning, budget, stocking stuffers, party ideas, gift ideas, gift closet inventory, recipes, etc. You name it.  Some people keep dish inventories and well as decorating ideas and inventories. You make your notebook to suit your needs.  Some people have created  notebooks on their home computer. 

Last month, I worked on creating forms for my notebook for the new year.  I also updated our Christmas card list

This month I am trying to accomplish four goals:

1.  Continue to set aside money for Christmas and birthday gifts...

2.  Buy at least four stocking stuffers...

3.  Purchase 2 gifts for 24 Days of Christmas...

4.  Work on a holiday recipe book of party and meal favorites...

Until next Rudolph Day, good bye from Applejack Lane.

Lost!

Lost:  One fuzzy pink, slightly soiled and tattered pink glove.  Last worn on a shopping trip on Monday evening.  Very versatile. Can be worn on either the right or left hand.  Great warmth value.  Looks identical to this photo.

If found, please contact Applejack Lane.

Join Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for more Pink Saturday fun. 

Outdoor Wednesday-Burt

Welcome to Applejack Lane.  I am joining Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for this week's Outdoor Wednesday.

This has been the Mother of Winters.  Even the dogs have their troubles during these storms.  My son just sent me this photo of One Stuck Burt.  He took the wrong path back to the house and got stranded in a two foot snow area.  He finally dug himself out with a little coaching!

Thanks for visiting.

White Pitchers For A White Wednesday

It's White Wednesday time at Applejack Lane.  This is a relatively new event for me.  Today, I'll share an ironstone pitcher collection that I have.  All were acquired through various auctions.  The tall pitcher on the left is marked Wedgewood and Co., England, the short one i is marked Homer Laughlin, and the one on the right is just marked Warrented.  They make great flower and dried arrangement containers.  Everybody needs at least one!

Thanks for stopping by.  Join Kathleen at  Faded Charm for more White Wednesday participants.

A Visit With The Grands!

Today, I went to Crozet and had a visit with the grands-grand nephew and grand niece, that is...

Grand nephew had just finished his lunch.  I understand he had a difficult morning.  Therefore, he did not have dessert for lunch!

Our brand new grand niece was ready for lunch soon after I arrived...

She is just so tiny, and she keeps those little legs curled up under her tummy!  Of course she wasn't suppose to arrive until the first part of March, but she decided that she wanted to create some excitement after the blizzard the first weekend in February.  There were times when Mom had to wake her while she ate, but by and by she finished her bottle and snuggled up to Mom...

Grand nephew is becoming quite the joker.  He had to share a few from his book his dad had gotten him...

He also had to show me his Thomas the Train set as well...

It was great to visit the grands!

Somebody likes to have his picture taken!

Collecting Blue Bristol Glass Vases

Welcome to Applejack Lane!  I opened a cabinet to do some spring cleaning and realized I had a collection of B for  blue Bristol glass vases.  I added a hand vase to the mix.

Lady's hand vase...

Come back soon!

              

A Winter Cloche Party

Welcome to Applejack Lane.  I am joining Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for her Winter Cloche Party.  I found my new cloche one day while shopping with my friend.  Sadly, it came from one of my favorite shops that was closing in downtown Staunton.

It's not quite six inches high so I thought I would add a miniature tea set in it...

 How about a little St. Patrick's Day cloche?  This is a hand painted necklace made by a friend that I used to wear in my teaching days. 

Thanks for stopping by Applejack Lane.  Marty at A Stroll Thru Life has more cloche party ideas.

Look What The Blizzard Brought!

Neither blizzards nor drifts could stop the arrival of Miss Emma!  She arrived three weeks early on  Sunday, February 7.  After  leaving Augusta Medical Center and UVA, she is now at home with her brother Stuart.

Not a care in the world ...

Three new buddies...Dad, Stuart, and Emma ...

Nana likes to hold Emma, too...

We hope to visit soon!

Silver For Valentine Flowers

It's time for Silver Sunday again, and I must say this party has helped me keep my silver looking just spiffy!  For that, I thank at Gypsy Fish Journal for the cleaning inspiration. Since Valentine's Day is equated with love and flowers,  I thought I would share a few silver vases that are in my possession.



The first vase has a fluted collar...

The next vase was my MIL's favorite.  For years on the first Sunday in March, she placed a dozen of red roses in it on the church altar in memory of her husband...

The bud vase was a wedding  gift from a dear friend who became a florist...

Happy Valentine's Day from Applejack Lane!

A Vintage Valentine Greeting

Happy Valentine's Day from Applejack Lane! Of all the things I collect, I have only one vintage Valentine, and it is not really mine.  My brother settled an uncle's estate a few years back, and he gave our daughter a Valentine he found in my uncle's belongings.  It was addressed to my uncle and sent to him at school.  I am presuming it was grade school since I do not believe he had more than a sixth or seventh grade education.  I imagine this card was sent about 1920 or so. It is marked USA and has a divided back..

From one country cousin to another...

Thanks for dropping by Applejack Lane.  Please join The Potting Shed-Anything Goes Here for more Valentine fun.

A Napkin Ring Mosaic

Welcome to Applejack Lane! Recently, I wrote a post  about my napkin ring collection.  Here is a mosaic of some of my pieces.  Most are sterling although some are silver plated and pewter.  My favorite is the one in the middle.

Please join Mary at  Little Red House and  Tam at The Gypsy's Corner for more event posts.

If...

If I put these away inside...

will this go away outside?

It doesn't hurt to ask.

The North Wind Doth Blow...

The north wind doth blow and we shall have snow,

And what will poor robin do then, poor thing?

He'll sit in the barn and keep himself warm,

And hide his head under his wing, poor thing!

--16 century nursery rhyme 

Today the sun is shining after a two day battle with the elements.  We feel like the robin hiding in our abode for the past 48 hours and probably again today.  We never lost power which was a blessing.  A farmer in the area plowed out the lane with a snow blower attached to his tractor.  Slick job-no sod to put back in place! Everyone is working on digging out so no Hallmark business today.

Applejack Lane...

I am so glad we put on a new roof last year...

We had about 12  inches this time, but we have 16 or so inches of snow on the ground.

Poor little succulents in the birdbath...

The trunks of our dogwood trees are hidden...

A butterfly garden stake tries to peek through the snow...

Looking through the orchard...

Snowflakes on the nandina bush...

A study in snowflakes on the blacktop...

Snowflakes on the gazing ball...

 

Snowblowers everywhere!

 

To friends and family...

Stay tuned.  There is a baby to be born today!!!