Mom's Crewel

This is another piece of my Mom's needlework that I have hanging in my "multi-purpose" room. Mom had sent this piece home with me one time to give to my friend, Willa. Mom and Willa never met face to face, but did visit each other on the phone occasionally. They felt like they knew each other with me being close to both of them. When I gave the needlework piece to Willa, she immediately had it framed and had a brass name tag with Mom's name made for it. It hung in her bedroom for quite a few years. When Willa's health started going downhill, she asked me to take it as she thought I should have it rather than someone in her family. Mom was so very accomplished with her needlework and seamstress abilities. I am always in awe when I look upon her work !!

Yanni

Last night, I attended a long awaited concert !! Yanni Voices was all and more than I imagined it would be. My seat was front row and nearly center. I purchased my ticket through PBS, so it had an added perk of meeting the vocalists before the show. I now have an autographed program !! My only regret is that I wasn't able to see Yanni's last appearance in Las Vegas before he cut his hair and shaved his mustache !!

A Fun Gift

Look at that big grin on your Dad's face !! This stuffed toy Wiley Coyote was one of his most favorite things you ever gave him. That Wiley went everywhere with him. It was the first of many Wiley Coyote items through the years. The time was the Chrismas of '83 at G'ma and G'pa Schultz's house and one of very, very few times the entire family was together.

Tied to the Chair

Here I am at a few months old tied into a chair with a dishtowel !! Mom told me that I always wanted to be where there was something going on in the house, so this was her solution to keep me happy and still be able to get all of her chores done !! I think I still like to be "where the action is" !! Better not try to tie me down, though !!

Vintage Rifles

Your Dad brought these two rifles home from your G'ma and G'pa J.'s home when G'ma Ruth moved to the Eastern Star Home. They hung above the fireplace in their basement family room for as long as I can remember. They moved into that newly built home in 1956, the year I started dating your Dad. The only history I have is on a piece of paper I wrote on as your Dad told me about the things he had brought back. The rifle (according to my notes), is a Winchester 22 that G'pa J. purchased for $12.50 shortly after he and G'ma were married in 1934. I made no notes about the double-barreled shotgun. It was likely something G'pa had gotten at a farm sale, as he had quite of collection of vintage things on shelves in that family room. They now hang on a bit of wall space above my computer niche.

Sweet Snookums

I love this piece of art that I put together about three years ago - I was inspired by another artist's creation, although it is a totally different theme. It started with a $1, unfinished wood frame from Micheal's. The photo is my Mom and Dad on their wedding day in 1933. The hangar is part of a three strand necklace - ephemera includes vintage lace and buttons and a World War II ration stamp. When us kids were going through Mom and Dad's personal things after Dad passed away, we found letters they had written to each other before they were married. Dad was working for a farmer in Iowa while Mom was still in South Dakota... I was scanning through, reading bits and pieces of a few letters when I came on one that Dad had closed with "from your daffy-doodled, swan-eyed, sweet snookums". It brought us a good-natured giggle and the recollection of hearing my Dad call Mom "Snooks" now and then. This endearment was undoubtedly something special between the two of them. And then, there was the first dog I remember us having on the farm. He was called "Snooky" -- I like to think there was a loving reason for that !!! I have included a copy of that part of that letter on the back of this creation.

Wiley's and Bears

Your Dad's collection of Wiley Coyotes are all sitting in this old piece of luggage along with some of my bears in a corner in my bedroom. Whenever your Dad traveled in his truck, some of the Wiley's always went with him. I think he especially liked the one that has the suction cups on his paws and could be stuck to the back window. The old suitcase is circa 1930's, I think. Willa was going to throw it out and of course, I couldn't let that happen !! It has made a perfect home for all these stuffed animals !!