More May Day!

 Saturday I had an errand to run in town so I took the town kids their May Baskets...they were not home but luckily I had a bag to put the baskets in and I tied them to the railing by the front door.   I am sure they got me on their security camera!

Then I was off further South.

These two were home, their Mom was running an errand. 

I asked if they knew what yesterday was?   Of course they said "May Day!"  I asked  if they thought I had forgotten them?  They said "No we thought you were maybe too busy but we thought you would show up sooner or later!"  I asked how many May Baskets did you get?  They said "None...we only get them from you. "  Vivian shared that she liked the Fox May Day Basket the best from a few years ago:)

Fun stuff these May Baskets!

Far Side

May Day!

 We were traveling on May Day...we managed to get a few May Baskets to the neighbors and to a little guy for his first May Day.   More baskets will be delivered on May 2nd....not quite as special but better than a kick in the butt.

We did May Day one day early with our "Greats" 

Baby K finally has some teeth and instead of Candy she got soft baby treats. 

Hope you all had a wonderful May Day!

Far Side

May Baskets

 The May Baskets are pretty much set for delivery...they may be one day late for most folks..it all depends how I feel.  

They are supposed to be Hedgehogs...but might look more like Porcupines.

This pattern is the last of the Sack It creatures...I will have to start over again next year or find a new design.  I have seven different animals over the years...dog, pig, sheep, owl, fox, raccoon and hedgehog. 

May Day 1954 that was my dog Frosty in the background...he was a gift from my Maternal Grandparents.  They always saw that I had a dog when I was little. 

Far Side

May Baskets

 It is about time to make May Baskets. 

I have the basket part made...working on the decorations....they will be an animal. 

They can be as simple as a cup filled with candy...or flowers...whatever you like to surprise someone. 

It is a tradition that I have been able to participate in for over 70 years. 

My first May baskets May 2 1953.  Photo of me and my Mom at the farm where I grew up.

We made it to Duluth and back again to visit with our daughter for her 54th birthday.  It was a good day. 

Far Side

Happy May Day!

 I hope that something brings a smile to your face today!

The May Baskets are finished.  I made 20 this year.  The racoons are filled with candy... the baskets themselves are made out of paper...the pattern requires 17 pieces to be glued together.  I like playing with paper almost as much as I like playing with yarn.   All the paper for this project came from the stash in my desk:)

I put a bit of tissue paper in them for a pop of color!

And they are in a cake pan ready for deliveries!  (When I was growing up we always put our homemade baskets in a cake pan or muffin tin to make deliveries easier...my baby brother and I would hold them in the car).   Let the smiles commence:)

If you took a May Basket to a friend...young or old..tell me about it!  

Far Side

Getting along

 I finished the green blanket that I have been working on.  Here it is folded.

 It is a good size.  I used four skeins of Bernat Blanket Mist-ical the color is spearmint. 

So it was off to the Yarn Store upstairs...for a different color yarn. 

Nothing much new here.  Far Guy continues to rest, take his meds and do his nebulizer treatments.  I am making headway on the May Baskets...GWATCDR I will finish them today...I am cutting it close this year!

Far Side

Heads Up

 May Day is on Thursday, you have time to make a May Basket and give it to a small child, a neighbor or a friend.   It doesn't have to be fancy just a cup or paper folded with a treat inside.  Here is a link to one of the simple May Baskets that I have made.

Mine are in process hopefully I will have them done by Thursday.  Yesterday afternoon was spent with my die cutting machine making all the parts.  The candy was purchased last week. 

I have been celebrating May Day for about 72 years. 

My  Mom and I in 1953.

Far Guy is holding his own for now. Must be the excellent care from the day and night nurse!

Far Side

All about May Day

 I have been celebrating May Day for about 71 years.  

It is very simple, you make a small basket out of rolled up paper or a paper cup, decorate it how ever you wish, make a handle, tuck candy or flowers inside the basket.  Take them to a neighbor or friends home, hang them on the door or set them by the door, knock on the door and say Happy May Day!  Then run away so they cannot catch you and kiss you! 

My Mother used to help us make May Baskets and then we would get in the car and drive to all the neighbors delivering baskets.  The baskets were held in muffin tins or cake pans for easy transport...it was us kids job to hold the tins and pans steady while she drove.  We would deliver the May Baskets and run back to the car. 

A neighbor by the name of Jim Mack told me that when he was a little boy...in the 1930's after evening chores his Mom Mary had treats ready (usually cookies) to put in baskets that they made.  He would walk down to Far Guy's Grandparents farm, trying to be sneaky and leave the basket unnoticed.  He said  Far Guy's Grandmother Meade would come out of the house her apron flying running after him.  He told me he would never forget that image of her running after him! 

It is a great way to celebrate Spring!  Far Guy says" No matter how many times he tripped and fell down running away from a girls house...they never caught him with a kiss." 

Me and my May Baskets in 1954, that was my dog Frosty in the background.  Yes we can still have snow here in Minnesota in May.

Happy Kids that we delivered May Baskets to yesterday...one day late but the kids still smiled! 

These are my niece Stacey's children. 

This is Lola's second May Day...looks like it made her smile too! 

So that is May Day in a nutshell.  I know not many people celebrate May Day anymore...but I do!  Such a simple way to make a few people smile:)

Far Side

May basket delivery

 Last night we went for a Ranger Blue ride to deliver May Baskets to neighbors.  We have some to deliver to in town children today.  It was a nice evening for a ride. 

Only one May Basket had to be hung on a bag from the door. 

Opie and Teeter barked at us ...the horses paid no attention. 

Fun to see that our area is greening up after the rains. 

Hope you all had a fun May Day! 

Far Side

May Baskets 2024

 I finished the May Baskets last night most will get delivered today and a few tomorrow. 

Most everyone guessed correctly!  Sheep!

They turned out pretty cute! 

 I got Far Guy out of the hospital in the afternoon and we got home just in time for the delivery of our new stove.  The delivery people do not connect anything.  The HVAC guy will be here today to see if he can make the connections for the vent work...if not I will call the store and have them come for an undelivery. 

Far Guy is doing so so...he felt great in the hospital...coming home he is up and about a bit more so he doesn't feel so great.  The goal is to keep a fluid level without shortness of breath and swelling feet. Sounds simple enough but it is a fine balancing act.  He lost six pounds overnight in the hospital. 

One day at a time.  Hopefully we will get the stove situation taken care of and then perhaps we can be quiet and calm for a couple of weeks. 

Far Side

Paper mess

 I have taken over the dining room table with my May Basket project.  It is a real putzy project. 

We had a quiet day, Far Guy had two naps.  I made scalloped potatoes to take over to my baby brothers, he was smoking a brisket...it cooked for 14 hours and then 2 hours resting. It was delicious!  We also had veggies and gluten free banana bread to go with ice cream with a chokecherry syrup topping! 

It rained in the afternoon and evening and I did a little laundry besides making the paper mess.

Can you guess which animal will be featured on my May Basket this year?

Far Side

More smiles and June

 Maddie sent photos of our Great Grands with their May Baskets! 

Auntie Jen must have delivered them as I left them at her place when I had my dental work done. 

BTW my stitches finally dissolved and are no longer driving me partially nuts! 

June is still hanging around. 

Far Side

May Baskets!

 I have been celebrating May Day with May Baskets for many years...since 1952...it is so easy you make a basket and put some candy inside it and deliver it to friends and family! 

This years baskets were pretty pink pigs:) Filled with chocolate candy and some had Tootsie Pops.

I made 25 baskets. 

My Mom with her May basket.  I left her a couple of baskets to share with who ever she would like. 

She had a lengthy day at the Clinic and is doing okay...she has swelling in her legs and needs to keep walking and putting her feet up and wearing her compression socks.  She has been struggling with swollen legs for many months.  I try to attend her Doctors appointments when possible. 

Far Side

Paper Project: May Baskets

 I have been playing with paper.   The weather has been cloudy/rainy and cool...so time is best spent doing something inside.  I made good use of my die cutter to cut out everything!

Pink parts of May Baskets

They are pretty little pig May baskets.  I finished them last night...they just need some candy and they will be all set to go on May Day! 

Perhaps this is the reminder you need to make a basket or two.  I made 25.  I will take some into my Mom at Assisted Living and she can share some with the residents there. They should certainly make someone smile!

Far Side

Thinkin about

 May Baskets!  I decided on a pattern and began cutting out parts. 

I got quite a bit done yesterday ...all the basket parts are cut out and will be assembled at home.   I was making good progress and then had a mechanical failure that Far Guy helped me with...I needed someone with stronger fingers to wrench on an allen wrench.  In the meantime I lost/misplaced/threw away the smallest round die that cut out the shiny do hickies in the upper left...simple circles...I probably have a similar die at home so I put this project away for now. 

Far Side

May Day

 Happy May Day!

My parents and their May baskets.

Far Side

Making May Baskets

 Making May Baskets has begun.  May Day happens in six days...so you better get crackin' with the making of the baskets. 

The dining table was a flurry of activity over the weekend.  I rather like playing with paper.  I can be in my own little world,  minding my own business.

 I happened onto half price Easter Candy at Wally World...love it when Easter and May Day are close together.  

I have 28 baskets completed.  I need to get a bright piece of tissue paper to stuff inside before they are stuffed with candy. 

Far Side

May Day!

 Happy May Day! 

We will deliver a few baskets today.   Some will go to my other baby brothers house for some of his grands that will be visiting on Sunday. 

Far Guy delivered some on Thursday to the Infusion Nurse's children. 

I put bits of tissue paper inside the owl baskets and then the candy.  The glasses turned out really cute! 

Delivered May Baskets to my parents on Thursday night before Bingo.

Hope you all have a wonderful May Day! 

Far Side

Glasses

 I have a prescription for new reading glasses...not sure that I will get it filled as I am doing okay with the reading glasses I have ...the change was minor...and probably just because they want to sell glasses. 

In the mail was an envelope with glasses...all colors. 

They are from Jen and they are for the owl May baskets! ( Jen has a Cricut and can cut all kinds of neat stuff out!)

I am going to use some sparkle on them...glitter...and maybe some jewels...before I glue them on the owls...putzy fun stuff. 

I was working on the baby blanket when Far Guys new computer arrived...his old computer was on its last legs...he needed help...so I helped him as much as I could....and by George I think we have most of it!  

It snowed a bit more and it is cold.  The car made it into the Dealership for an oil change and tire rotation.  Cross something else off our list!

  Far Side

May Day

I had doubts about  May Baskets getting done this year...and I had such a cute pattern too!

Jen came to the rescue...she got out the die cut machine and began to make pieces.
It was just the push I needed to make more baskets.

The body of the Fox is a small sack...the die is called Sack it.  The tail sits at the back of the sack, the head is glued to the front of the sack.

A few will be delivered later today and some more tomorrow. 
Happy May Day!
Far Side