Red Geranium Cottage

Shipshewanna here I come!!

This might have been the most exciting trip I've been on and I've been on a lot of trips.  I have always admired the Amish people.  In today's time all of the "things" we have around us and they still chose to live in the simple way they do.  The buggy's the bicycles they use to get around,  hanging the clothes on the line everyday they have wash day, and on and on.  I really do admire them as I sleep until 10a.m. everyday.  

As we were driving into town you see all these clothesline's full of colorful dresses hanging on the line.  Solid colors.  I even saw underwear in the same colors.  That surprised me. Not that they  have to wear white I just thought they would.  I gotta say I was happy to see some color.  I used to love hanging my clothes outside when I first lived in St. Louis years ago and my children were little.  But they I assume do it all the time.  It's sort of nice to have that choice don't ya think?

Can you see the clothes hanging?? They probably saw me and that camera and said, OHLORDTHECRAZYONESINTOWN!!!!    And she's taking pictures of our underwear!!

And this..........I never get tired of seeing this.    When hunka spotted the first one, he said, "don't have a seizure but look to your right".  OMGGGGGG  I was hyperventilating.  I've been waiting for this trip forever!!!!  And there it was!!!  A horse,  a buggy and people riding inside!!    Give me just a minute to compose myself.  I'm reliving it just talking about the excitement.  

Check out this one!!!  Looks like my truck after I've been to Costco.  Only my coolers aren't going to fall onto the road.  Can you even imagine?  What about the winter??  brrrrr   the rain.......  can you see why I admire them so much??  

FYI!!!  You might get tired of buggy's before I'm through.  Me,  I want one for my own!!! 

Our first stop was at Yoder's Department store.  Loved this gazebo that was there.  But do you see what I see in the background??? BUGGY'SSSSS.  My heart was beating on overdrive I swear.  

Yessssss  I know!!!!  BUGGY'SSSSS!!!!  Lots of buggy's.  

I forgot I was there to go shopping in the store.  I kept turning around and around seeing more buggy's.   Usually I'd be all over the flora and fauna but I have other things to see this trip. 

LOOK they're shopping inside too. I better get in there!  I respected them and did not take photo's of the people.  Well not when they were looking at me that is.  I KNOW!! I couldn't help it. 

This was on the outside of the store.  How cute is that?  Look at those little overalls.  T

STOP IT!!!  Stop it now!!!!   Look at all of those bonnets and black hats.  You know I had to try on one of those bonnets.  Well not there, don't be silly!!!  

Here!!!  Well.............what do ya think????    I need a buggy huh?   

My sexy bonnet look.  Hunka kinda liked it.  Just sayin.

Ok, where was I?  Back to Yoder's.

This quilt was hanging in the hallway going into the department store. On the opposite side was the market I guess. I didn't go in there but probably should have just o see what was in there.  I wasn't crazy about this quilt but it is nice. And lord knows I'd never make it.  It's nice don't get me wrong. Just not me.  

I thought this was an adorable display for the rick rack and the 1930's fabs.  Look at all that color.  So happy isn't it? 

LOOK what I found.  I knew there would be a buggy inside somewhere.  It's a wool mat.  How cute huh?    I should have bought the pattern but I know I'd never make it.  Even though I love it. 

I did take some pics of the flora.  It was all very pretty and taken care of. But I would expect nothing less really.

There'sssssss    HUNKAAAA!!!!!!   I love that man!!!  He's so patient with me on these trips.  He never complains about them, he just takes his book along and he's a happy hunka. 

Next we went here.  Nothing much inside.  They do alot of machine quilting I guess.  A few machine's were in there and a little fabric. Before hunka could get his book out to read I was hopping back in the car.  But I did like the block on the top of the building. 

That's part of my day.  More to come.  Lots more!!!  Please excuse any spelling errors.  I'm not proofing this, just hitting the PUBLISH button.  :)

Thanks for stopping by my little blog.  I'm happy you did.  Thanks for your comments too.  

 

 

 

 

Green Lake, Wisconsin 2011

Back from a wonderful vacation. I love hunka's cousins.  They are part of my family and if truth be told they are a big part of my family.  I don't have much to do with my own family other than my little sister and my cousins.    I love these people so much.  We started going to Green Lake, Wisconsin two years ago and now we are going to make it a tradition every year.  Next year Nancy, hunka's cousin will join us. She couldn't make it this year but next year she best be there.  

First Hunka and I went to Shipshewanna, Indiana.  OMYWORD!!!!!!!!!!!!  I love Amish people, and have been intrigued forever.  First I'll show you our Wisconsin trip though.  It is so pretty there and very little humidity. I HATE humidity.  Beth said she's trying to talk her hubby into moving to Missouri. He's worried about the snow. I'd be worried about the HUMIDITY!!!  

This is Julie, and Doug. Brother and sister.  Doug is the one that lost his wonderful wife Linda last year to breast cancer. Bless his heart.  I'm so glad he had a wonderful time on our trip.  He deserved it. Julie moved to Missouri almost the same time we did but she moved from Washington state. 

We picked Julie and Doug up at the airport in Wisconsin and our first stop was at Brandon's Meat in Wisconsin. We bought brats, ground beef, beef sticks, cheese and on and on.  These brats are like no others you've ever tasted. 

There's our house.  We love this place.  We're booking it for next year already.  

This is Julie.  Isn't that view pretty?

The second day there we rented a pontoon boat. That was so much fun.

Ready to set sail.

Captain Hunka!!!  

The three of them went for a swim. No I did NOT!! 

I love Julie. She is hysterical!!!!!   

Here are the guys cooking up those brats.  Hunka and Doug were BFF's forever.  They used to go to Green Lake every summer for ever when they were kids. That's what got us back to the lake.  

Our house from the dock.

The houses on the lake are beautiful.

I have many more photos.  But I'll stop here. Next I'll show you my trip to Shipshewanna. The highlight of my summer I've got to say.

 

 

 

 

Relaxation

If you need me, I'll be here relaxing by the lake.

Looking at this.

While sitting in this.

While they do this.

And hopefully a lot of this.

Be back soon with more pictures.  

 

 

 

Still Visiting.

It's been a long week and it's only Tuesday.  The last part of last week we were trying to figure out what was wrong with my brother in law. Thanks for all the prayers for Nick. I've never felt so sorry for him like I did this past week. He was in some awful pain and we had no idea what it was from.  Turned out to be a big kidney stone that he could not pass. So he had surgery to remove it which in turn caused even more pain for him.  He's doing well now and the whole family plus my Boo are in Florida on a much needed vacation.  

I have to show you these dishes Nancy and I found when she was here.  I of course bought the RED ones.  We have a store here in Missouri called Gordman's.  They were cheap, cheap, cheap.  

We stopped at a fruit/vegetable stand.  Nancy had to get a peach. I guess they don't have them in Ca.  :)

After more shopping we headed home for some sewing.  

I made a few pillow cases.  I love the Sew Cherry fabric by Lori Holt. I made the two with Cherry's for my king sized pillows.  

While we were sewing this giant thing landed on the sliding doors.  It was the biggest moth I have ever seen.  It stayed there all night long. 

Here's some of the things we made while Nancy was visiting. The three little quilts that are alike are for me, Beth and Nancy.  I did the blocks and Nancy did the mitered corners. We made a lot of other tops too but not sure if I got a picture of them.   

Miss Madeline loving her some attention.  She loved hanging out with the girls.  

Another shopping break. This is a cute shop called Three French Hens.  It's real close to my house so we ran down there so I could show Nancy. I love this shop.

Let's go inside. I'd love to have these doors on my house.

Time to go back to sewing again. How about a snack first??  We had to have a snack table. That was a must.   

More of what we were working on.

I made this from Elizabeth of Late Bloomer's pattern.  I still need to add the borders. 

Loved this so I had to make one.  Nancy made one too.  It's a mini.  Really mini. Those were some small triangles.  

We made this,  three of them.  This is a kit on the website.  It's so fast and easy to make.  

She's digging for some fabric so we can make this cute little thing from the new Primitive magazine. 

I think she's finding something good.  Maybe I could fold the fabric then it would be easier?   Oh why do that? She's enjoying the search.  

This is what we made.  Beth your kit is on the way to you.  I still need to add borders to mine. I think Nancy has already added hers and done her stitching. Me, not so much.  But they are cute aren't they?  

The last two days have been so much cooler here thank goodness. I am so sick of the heat.  Does this mean maybe Fall is coming soon??  Please tell me yes.  Humor me.  

Next, I'll show you what I got at the antique shop when we went antiquing.  Got some good things.  

Thanks for stopping by!!

 

 

 

 

 

It's Halloween Time!!

Do you love Halloween as much as I do? I think it might be my favorite time of the year. Probably because it is COOL outside.  I can't wait to see the pumpkins in the store, and all the Halloween stuff in stores. I don't care if it was July when they started putting it out. It makes me happy.  

This is the Halloween room at the Cobblestone Cottage. We spent a little cash in here can I just say?  I even went back the day we dropped Nancy off at the airport to see what was new.  

We bought a few things off this shelf.  

I bought that Halloween banner that was hanging there in the back.  It is so cute. 

We got several of those little pumpkin head hangers that are wrapped around that wooden bowl.  

I need him!!!  

Since I have my very own Boo I think I should have this too.  

Wouldn't this be adorable at a kids party? Fill that mouth full of candy!!  Or on the front porch for trick or treaters?    Ok I might have to get this too. Maybe I should get a job there.

There she is again! I'm pretty sure she's hungry by now.  I know I am!!!  

Love this!! And that lamp.  NEEDTHIS!!

Love the Autumn picture and the pumpkin but that doll has got to go.  I am so not into primitive dolls.  They scare me.  My good friend Ter'e loves them and used to have alot of them.  That's where she and I differ.  Ter'e you know you do!!!!  

Isn't this door funny? It was upstairs in a popcorn shop.   

See, I told you she was hungry!!!  

After grabbing some popcorn to go, we went down the street to the Quilt Shop. Bought what else, some Halloween fabric and a cute pattern for a quilt we're making. 

Then we went next door to this awesome cross stitch shop. I used to do tons of cross stitch but gave it all away years ago. Well, now I have more. I couldn't resist doing it again. There are so many cute patterns. 

I love this place. Right down to the original cobblestone street.

I hope you enjoyed the shopping trip so far. But wait!! There's more.  

 

 

 

 

Part two!!

Ok so pardon my fat swollen face and my big old fat body.  I swear I have to stop eating or stop with the menopause. Not sure which will come first but something's gotta give if I'm going to pose anymore with these two!!!   If they would have told me I would have at least wore pink and maybe, just maybe, I would have blended in more.

First we picked up Linda Pooh, and dropped of Boo Boo.  HEY that rhymes.  Boo was staying at his dad's which is right by my sisters.  So here are the girls posing on Boo's toys.  Boys and their toys!!  Boo had his honking trailer and on that he had an ATV, a golf cart, and in the back of his big old truck he had two motorcycles.  Seriously?? He needs a woman to spend all that money on. Orrrr how about good old mom??   :)  No, I can't complain cause he does spend it on me.  But what about those two babes on the bike??? 

Next we went to St.Charles. My home away from home.  We had lunch at my favorite place, The Magpie, which I forgot to take pictures of.Trust me it was good. Google,  Magpie Baked Potato Cheese soup and give it a whirl. It will knock your socks off.  It's their own recipe and to die for.  Trust me, I won't steer you wrong.  If you think I don't know my food, scroll back up to the top and take a look at me!!!!  

So don't you just want everything in this room?  

Nancy stopping to smell the flowers.  They are almost as big as her head.   And again, what's up with all the pink today?  I did not get that memo I swear.

Next up, the Country House.  Wanna go inside?  Linda doesn't really look thrilled does she?  Maybe she needs some FOOD!!  Look how skinny she is.  That is just wrong!!!  

I seriously want that checkerboard for my dining room table. I might go back tomorrow and get that bad boy. It was so neat and would look great on my dining room table.  It was big too. You can't tell from that photo but it was a nice size.  I want it!!

This is inside the Cobblestone Cottage.  My all time favorite shop in St. Charles.

Look who's over at the register.  She had quite the pile O goodies.   

Does she look happy or what?  

There's the skinny one!!!  She's not much into all the clutter in her house. But she likes to go look.  She was a good sport hanging out with us all day.  Of course I spoiled her and got her some goodies.  But then I love spoiling her.  

Next post is the Halloween section. OHMYGOODNESS!!!!! You'll wanna come back for that. I may start decorating tonight.