02/21/2026
All good things must come to an end …
It’s official. Cropping Daze will be closing at the end of the year.
It’s been a crazy few months here. I was terrified to turn the page on the calendar in January for 2026 and I have personally dubbed this year as the “year of uncertainty”. There is so much going on in my life right now and so many changes on the horizon. While talking to my niece today she summed it up perfectly … it’s like being on a roller coaster and I’m in that slow mo click — click — click right before you crest the top of the hill and drop, twist, turn and drop again. It’s terrifying and exciting all at the same time … and you want to puke.
We opened Cropping Daze in 2004 when we adopted Grace. I had been working a full time job at GM and the thought of working 50-60 hours a week plus commuting over 2 hours a day was not how I wanted to raise this sweet baby we were blessed with. So, my mom invested her retirement into purchasing a quaint house in Chesaning that we lovingly turned into a “home” we affectionately call “The Daze” where my dream of ministering to women through love, care, creativity and rest came to fruition. It also allowed me to be able to stay home during the week and raise my babies. How blessed I was to be able to do that! That sweet baby girl is now graduating college in April and that adorable baby boy we added to our nest a few years later is graduating high school and heading off to college. Grace is in the process of trying to get a job as a residential director at Grand Canyon University a pursue a masters degree. Mac will be off to who knows what college for engineering and playing hockey. Everything is up in the air for them both! I started a full time job that God dropped in my lap in August. It was impossible to say no to and I really enjoy it. I know a lot of people will question if this is the “why” of us closing, but I assure you it is not. Phyllis turned 90 in May. We are so blessed that she is healthy - and still sassy! However, living alone (45 minutes away from me) has become too much. She’s lonely and I miss spending time with her. The “not having anyone close by” is scary (for us both) incase she needs help of any kind and it was time to make the decision for her to move in with me. So, it’s time to sell the house so she can enjoy her retirement! Who can live on $1500 a month social security these days?!? Also, It’s completely unfair for me to move her in, work a full time job and expect my husband to fill in the gap every weekend while I’m away having fun with you all!
We will be selling the house (hopefully along with the business) in January of 2027. When we made the decision to close, I told my mom I needed the year to say goodbye. I wanted to finish well and honor all the reservations we had on the books. I wanted to run two last “new menus”. I wanted to hug whoever would let me hug them one last time. I was suppose to make this post January 1st, but I just couldn’t do it. My husband keeps saying “it’s like a bandaid, Holly … just rip it off and make the announcement!” I told him it was more like an amputation and truthfully I’d still be putting it off but people are hearing rumors and I want to be completely transparent.
Please know this was the second hardest decision I have ever had to make in my life. I cry every single weekend knowing it may be the last time I’ll see people. I grew up here. Literally, I have lived here 3 days a week for 22 years of my life. I have been so blessed to meet the most amazing women with the most amazing stories. I feel like I’ve been part of your lives … I’ve seen your families grow up in pictures … weddings, babies, dance competitions, Halloween costumes, soccer, baseball, cheer, hockey (yeah, baby!), vacations, becoming grandparents, etc. I’ve even been to some of your homes, weddings and funerals. You may have come to the Daze a stranger, but you left as a friend in my book.
So, a new journey begins. I’m not sure who I even am without Cropping Daze. All I know is everyday God sends me a sign that this is the right thing and although it really hurts, I have peace. I’m so looking forward to “Fun with Phyllis” and being able to have a late night bowl of ice cream with my best friend/mom, coffee on a random Saturday morning and country road golf cart rides. We have big plans of crafting on weekends and getting into mischief!
I pray every day that someone will buy the Daze and love it as much as I do. We’ve been blessed with the best guests who all need someplace to craft, hint-hint! It’s so crazy, this has been our best year since before Covid! If you are at all interested let me know - we haven’t even discussed this part of this new season yet but we will be soon.
We do still have some availability this year. I’ll be going through our calendar in the next two weeks and I’ll post what dates (and number of spots) we still have left. Please know your reservations are safe - we aren’t going anywhere until January 2027! Our website is currently down (but being fixed) so don’t panic about that. And, the next two weeks are going to be a blur for me (Mac has state championship playoff hockey games - Go Powers!) so if you email me, I may take longer than usual to respond.
THANK YOU for being part of my story!!!! Not many people are fortunate enough to live their dream job … but I was. One of the hardest things about this is that I still love it and it’s been one of the most rewarding parts of my life. If any of you are worried about “the book” I always joke about writing you can take a deep breath … there will be no time to do that … but, then again, you never know!!! I love you all …
