I survived my 70th birthday!

When I awoke January 1st I was grateful I made it to 2019 and when I awoke yesterday morning I was grateful I made it to my 70th birthday....lol! I had planned on sewing since I have been itching to get back to my machine after all the Christmas making but alas.......that didn't happen.....too many calls and well wishers which was much better and I'm not complaining!
The night before I got a BIG surprise when a package arrived and it was from my son Ben.........an Amazon  Fire HD tablet with 16 mgb of storage!  I was blown away!  In my favorite color too.....yellow!

He also got me the easel cover so it can stand on it's own and is protected when closed.  I love it!  Now I can Skype with my grandchildren!!!
I also received this lovely card from Betsy from  A Queen's Life on my sidebar...............thank you so much Betsy especially for the sweet sentiments you wrote inside.  It meant a lot to me.

Ben's significant other sent me this beautiful Yankee candle in Autumn Wreath scent............it smells so good.........I may save it for next Fall................

I did make my cherry dump cake and although the picture isn't great...I had it warm with ice cream and it was delicious...............

here's the recipe.....easy peasy...........

I cut mine in half to make an 8 " square pan but you can double it to make a 9 X 11 pan which was the original recipe.
heat oven to 375 degrees F
put 1 can of pie filling of your choice in the bottom of the pan (I use just a can of unsweetened cherries as I think it is sweet enough).  Sprinkle 1/2 box of yellow cake mix on top.  Cut 1 stick of butter into 16 pats and arrange on top then sprinkle with 1/2 cup of chopped nuts (I use pecans)
Bake at 375 for 45 minutes but check when it gets close depending on your oven.  Mine is more like 35 minutes.  Definitely have over ice cream while still warm!

Remember this 'flimsy' little quilt top?  Well, I found my batting and got some fabrics together for piecing the backing but I never got a chance to sew yesterday with all the birthday calls.  That was my first FNWF but I'll publish over there anyway to let them know I did something! LOL!

Here's my fabrics for backing..............

I took the day off from blogging as I simply ran out of day!  I'm trying to blog earlier so I hope that helps.  Thank you for all your good wishes!
Happy Trails!!!

Getting ready for THE BIG DAY!!!

Ha! Ha!  It will most probably be a day like most which is fine as I do enjoy my life every day as much as possible.  It will be Friday Craft Day and Friday Night Sewing with Friends and I will make the dump cake to have with ice cream so it will be a good day!
Today was good although I got a late start...I slept in until 6:00 a.m. and I've felt behind all day.  I baked off my bread last night...........

Today I got the ornaments finished and packed up to mail.............

I had some leftover cream cheese so before it spoiled I whipped up some cocktail sauce and poured it over the cream cheese to have with crackers.....it looks like 'the blob'...............but it tastes good! 

 I fixed a side dish of organic brown rice to go with the chicken..............I am amazed at how many  organic products that Walmart is carrying...more and more each time I go.

I didn't get much else done except some laundry and dishes......I worked on this C2C blanket on breaks and finally used a progress marker so YOP people can see how much I've done from week to week and me too! LOL!

Now it's time for the girl's meds and my supper and then recline!  I need to be rested for 'the big day' tomorrow! LOL!
Happy Trails!!!

 

Makin' and Bakin' Day!!!

I'm trying to get back on schedule AND remember what day it is! LOL!  Our garbage day is Tuesday but it was a holiday so it was today and I remembered..... PTL!  Relaxing over the holidays was nice although with 2 cats and 2 invalid dogs there wasn't THAT much relaxing.  I was behind on 'vittles' so I hard boiled some eggs and made some egg salad to have on hand.  It's different every time I make it but this time it was eggs, Hellman's Mayonnaise, curry powder, some cayenne pepper, celery, onions. salt, pepper and dill relish.  Yummo!
Aren't they gorgeous eggs?  Organic my friends!  Beautiful color, no green or sick yellow and they peel easily....just sayin'..............

  I also have bread rising...just the easy peasy no-knead bread...........

I was going to make a dump cake today too (not organic...leftover holiday menu food).....I try to eat healthy but I let myself eat whatever on the holidays.  I've been up since 4:00 a.m. and I'm starting to slow down so the dump cake may have to wait until tomorrow.  I made the roast chicken with carrots and onions yesterday.....very good for what felt like a Sunday dinner.  I was going to make some rice or potatoes to go with it but again.....it didn't get done.
But I am back on schedule with my cross stitch...it is Witchy Wednesday so I worked on The Button-Eyed Cat.....I did several rows of the black and the eyes are now in the picture...sort of.....I would say I'm about 1/3 done.....I hope I finish by Halloween 2019!

I need a new cross stitch for Merry Monday and I need to order one..........
Remember when I said I wanted to get into punch needle?  Well, I remember I had done it years ago and so I went 'digging' to see if I had the punch needle and what size...............I found it!  I guess I am going to have to order the pattern I want in order to know what  size needle punch to use and also what fabric.  I know I have a finished version of this pumpkin somewhere....I think the one below was my first attempt.  It looks like it is on muslin but I've heard to use weaver's cloth but that may depend on what cloth and punching material you are using such as floss or yarn.  Another learning experience!  If anyone knows about this please tell me in the comments...I am a novice here.

 Here's a funny for you.............Miss Peeps took this wool duster off the door it was hanging on and put it next to Annie while she was sleeping.....she must have thought she was cold....too cute these girls!
You can't see her in the picture but she was off to the side.  To be truthful, Annie doesn't really trust Miss Peeps since she used to 'ride' her when she was a kitten.

That's all for today folks.....it's cold and rainy here 37 F but at least it held off until I got the mail and the garbage can back in.....we're toasty now!
Happy Trails!!!

Happy New Year's Day!!!

I wish the best of everything to all my blog friends near and far!  Here' s to a wonderful , happy, healthy, productive and laugh filled 2019!
I think the postcard below is before they had laws about underage drinking.......

Happy New Year and Happy Trails!!!

Happy New Year's Eve!!!

I am running really late tonight...........phone calls and then there was football games to watch etc.  I did manage to get the dishes washed and some laundry done.  It poured here last night and this morning but then it finally stopped and the sun came out for just a bit.  I needed to get other things done today but I always run out of 'day'! LOL!
I have made quite a few scrubbies.....8 to be exact............and still going.....

I finished the cowl but need to weave ends in on it and the scrubbies..........

I'm back to my cross stitch schedule and here's Stars and Stripes Saturday..........

and Santa Sunday which there is a problem with...in cutting out the other ornaments it looks like I wasn't paying attention and cut into the Santa area............uh oh!  Not sure what to do but I'll think of something........any suggestions are welcome............

I did defrost a chicken to roast tomorrow with potatoes and carrots and onions.  I need to make bread tomorrow too and a cherry dump cake for dessert with ice cream.......Happy New Years!!!
Happy Trails too!!!

YOP Week #27

Finishes:
1)  I'm working on refilling my gift basket with dish cloths and scrubbies so these were done this week....it feels so good to get back to my regular 'makes'........

WIPs (works in progress):
1)  C2C Blanket - After  untangling 2 skeins of yarn not much progress has been made.......

2)  2018 Collectible Christmas ornaments - still not done...they're stuffed and sewn together but need the trim and hanger sewn on.......

3)  I still haven't finished this cowl but it should be done this week...so close.........I have truly enjoyed making these and they may join my 'regulars' for the gift basket.....this was a free pattern from Fiber Flux................

Acquisitions:  I have purchased a few things. I will be 70 years old on January 4th and I feel I deserve it! LOL!  I am getting into a new hobby this year....punch needle so I need the supplies for it.  I bought a 7" and 10" standing hoop and I still need to order a pattern, punch needle and fabric.  You use embroidery floss to punch with and I have plenty!  I also ordered yarn for a Chicago Bear's hat to make for my son, Ben, who's birthday is the 18th.  While I was at Knit Picks (they were having a sale by the way) I picked up some speckled sock yarn and some more needles.  Today I plan on ordering some  cross stitch supplies.  I've been putting away a little money for my birthday and I'm glad I did because ordinarily there is nothing left after Christmas! LOL!  So, I might have some things to show you next week along with a list of plans and projects for the next half of YOP!


 Finishes so far in 2018-19: 
1.  4th of July cross stitch pillow/ornie
2.  Hitchhiker shawl
3.  Felici Hibiscus self-striping socks
4.  Felted wool loafer slippers with leather soles for me Sam
5.  washcloth (extra large) and back scrubber for Christmas or birthday for SIL
6.   Iowa Hawkeye hats for Sam and Grayson
7.  Techniques learned so far this year: a) knit cast on, b) reading a knitting chart, c) lace work, d) inserting and using a lifeline e) charting a graphghan
8.   dishcloth(s)...I need to count them
9. Cubs hat for Uriah
10. 12 days of Christmas Advent gifts
11. Cowl for Ben
12. Cowl for Tracy
13. Cowl for Natalie
14.  Scrubbies....5 so far

 Please stop by and see all the other fantastic projects that other  YOP'ers are working on.  Happy New Year and this coming year may we all have wonderful projects to work on and the money to buy more! LOL!
Happy Trails!!!