A little walk down Memory Lane...........

Many of the people who were the dearest to me are now gone but not the wonderful memories they gave me......this is a little post to honor them at this time of year........if you can hear me.....thank you all....I will always love you.............
My Mother is in the middle row 3rd from the left......my Aunt Alice is the first one on the left in the top row......... this was their graduation picture from High School 1933

 Below is my Aunt Alice and Uncle Ben who had this little restaurant called The Coffee Cup.......they lived upstairs and they owned the building and lived there all their life. 

 Below are my Uncle Homer and Aunt Bernice who I spent every summer with until I went to college.  My Uncle Homer was famous for his homemade bologna and rightly so!  They owned the meat market and grocery store in town.

 My Uncle Buck  is the tallest one in the picture below.  He had his own gas station and also drove a school bus for years.  He was a bachelor until he was 60 years old.....I still can't get over that one. 

 The man on the left is my Uncle Chuck with his business partner Mr. McCormick...they had the insurance business in town.

 I had the gentlest and kindest relatives and I learned so much from them.....the best role models a child could have.
Below are the only ones left alive today....me with the eyes looking up (probably in trouble for something lol!).  My cousin Allen is in the middle and my cousin Ellen Kay is on the right.  We have no idea where the "Creepy Santa Claus" came from but we're all glad he's not around anymore!

 And my wonderful hometown that I miss so much especially at this time of year.........

 

I better stop now or I'll be shedding tears all night..........Merry Christmas everyone!

Happy Trails too............

Wrapping is all done!

Whew!  It was a marathon day today.  but I "got 'er done".  Tonight I will pack it all in the boxes and take it to the post office in the morning.  One day late according to the post office but I'll just have to take my chances now.

 A bed full of presents......lol!

I got some Pinterest presents made too...............
The 2014 ornament...........

and some potpourri...........

and the Christmas cactus was blooming all through my wrapping and carole singing.............

I still have Christmas baking to do and a tree to put up but the presents for the grands were the most
important. 
It was so funny that before Thanksgiving Sam, my grandson who's 7, kept asking my daughter if there was anything in the mail and she finally said why are you so interested in the mail every day?  Sam said "because I'm sure Grandma will be sending a box for Thanksgiving!"  LOL!  I've spoiled them I guess.  I sent one at  Halloween and so Sam thought for sure there would be one for Thanksgiving too and every holiday after that I guess! LOL!  I sort of felt bad but it really made me feel good that they really like Grandma's "boxes".  I was going to send a book and homemade cookies each month but I couldn't afford the shipping costs.
I hope your holidays are  coming together for you just as you wanted.  Happy Trails!

Santa's Workshop is in full swing!

Instead of an advent calendar I need a calendar with all the Christmas deadlines on it!  Yesterday was grocery and the last of the Christmas shopping and I took Nitty to get her allergy shot.  Then it was unload them all and put away.  There was supper and clean the litter box and then I plopped into bed with my crochet and watched Christmas Light Fight where they compete for the best outside decorations for Christmas.
I feel most days like I'm running from pillar to post and not getting very far but God whispered in my ear the other night while I was sleeping and now I have a plan.  There are areas that need to take precedence so each day I am trying to do something in that area first before just the regular chores.
So, today the plan is to label a plastic container (big one) for Fall and wrap and pack all the Fall and Thanksgiving decorations away in it.  I bought a big container yesterday.  I also need to make one for garage sale items for Spring, clean the bathrooms, make some cookies and crochet #1 of 10-12 bookmarks.
I did buy myself a cast iron skillet yesterday as I lost mine in the move here and I can't make my Aunt Bernice's fried potatoes without one.  It's been long enough.  What's nice is now they come pre-seasoned....Merry Christmas to me!

 

The last of the Christmas shopping.  Just some little items to tuck in...stocking stuffers without the stocking. LOL!

 There's some last minute crafting going on too......can you guess what this might be?

but wait...there's more.............

and then of course it all needs to be wrapped...........boxes and tissue paper for all those handmade gifts!  The ones that got finished that is....

 Before I blogged I told myself I had to get one of those "plan" items done and here it is.......

I created a nice BIG label for my plastic bin...........

and labeled it.......I used packing tape as regular tape just falls off after awhile.

It's down in the basement now waiting to be filled.  I figured it was better to fill it down there than upstairs and then try and carry it down. My Mother didn't raise any dummies...Ha! Ha!

I have the last "S" done in "JESUS" for the first bookmark and a total of 9 rows finished of bookmark #1.  There are 37 rows for each bookmark......it's not looking good.  Maybe Easter?

It's cotton thread and really stretches so they will have to be blocked for sure.  It doesn't look good but I've counted each stitch and if I pull it straight it looks fine....really, it does.  I hope you're enjoying the season however and whatever you celebrate.

Happy Trails!

Worrying makes you tired!

Not that I really worry much as most everything is out of my hands but I was tired this week.  The family was having a few troubles...2 were having car problems, 1 phone problems and Grayson my littlest grand baby was in the hospital.  He had stomach flu which triggered his bronchial/asthmatic/allergic reactions of not being able to get his breath.  How scary for a little one.  But he's home now and doing better and has today and the weekend to recover before he goes back to daycare.

 This is yesterday morning before he was released later that day.  They put him on steroids which was all this little guy needed! LOL!  My daughter thought they should give some to the Mom too as you don't require as much sleep and they give you all kinds of extra energy.  Just what a toddler does not need! LOL!   His Uncle Ben (my son) stopped by to see him and brought him a present from Grandma......a jeep with a soldier?  His Mother and I don't do guns or war toys.....Ben knows that but he loves to tease.  It was funny because Grayson said he got a farmer on a tractor! LOL!   Can you tell he's from Iowa?
So, things have settled down and all is good but the phone lines were humming between here and Iowa!  I did manage to get a little knitting in on Ben's scarf for Christmas.....61 inches long?   I'd better hurry it up!  This is the linen stitch if I remember correctly and is nice and close woven for a scarf for the North.

 

I spent some time on my little doll quilt and now the top is finally done.  There's no yellow it is just laying on a little yellow quilt.  This was all from scraps.  Next I need to find material for the back.  I wanted to get the top done so I could put my walking foot back on my machine to finish Uriah's quilt.  He'll be in college before I finish it if I don't get a move on! LOL!

 

 The pentagon is almost done...just need to close up the top there and I can start on another one.  EPP (English Paper Piecing) is great handwork for evenings watching t.v.

Connie suggested putting it into a teacup but I don't have one of those either! LOL!  I'll find something!  Although I really do like the idea of the little jello molds...so cute.

Have a great Friday, it's FNWF's tonight, it's 55 degrees F here but raining.  I'm going to make a pizza for tonight and some cookies after I finish sewing that quilt!

Outside decorations are up and another present finished.....

I'm so sorry I haven't been visiting but we had 2 days of 72 degrees and I had to get out and take advantage of it!  Mostly putting up Christmas decorations but also taking down some "harvest" decorations I had up from Thanksgiving.  I also got more windows washed!  My bedroom, my bathroom, front door and the kitchen!  YAY!  I didn't think I would even get to them at all this year.  Hallelujah!

 I have 2 of these little "fake" pines sitting on either side of my garage in the pots that held the tomatoes this summer.  Below is the front porch and I have lots of burned out bulbs and I went to the Dollar Store but nada so it is what it is!   But it still looked cozy the next day when the temperature dropped and it rained.....ahhhhhh.

This picture was taken when it was still 72 outside! LOL!

I finally finished the Hawkeye hat for my SIL but I'm afraid it won't fit him as I couldn't get it on my head although I did not try real hard.  But I will explain the "magic" behind the hat and Fibonacci sequence and promise to make him one that fits his head.  Am I really going to make another one?  This was the 13th try at this hat.....what's the "magic" in that?

But that's next year, meanwhile, I got this in the mail, from me, for me...........a tin pinkeep by Pam Buda who is the designer behind Heartspun Quilts.  Pam has a blog too and I was inspired by a post from Kindred Quilts not too long ago where she was making these pentagon balls and having too much fun!  I love sitting in the evening and doing these as they are relaxing and you can watch t.v. while doing it.  The vintage jello mold does not come with it; just the pattern and the cardboard templates to make the pentagons.  I did see lots of jello molds out on Ebay though so I don't think they're hard to find and of course you wouldn't have to use a vintage jello mold at all.

Here's one I almost finished last night.

I hope your holidays are coming together just like you want them too! Happy Trails!

I'm still full! LOL!

And so blessed to have more than enough on my plate.....I would have shared it if I knew anyone that wanted to.  Maybe I should take in a foster child...I've been thinking about that lately.  Maybe after I move up North.  My Aunt and Uncle raised 9 foster children besides one of their own and me! LOL!
They were wonderful people and I miss them. 
I cooked for most of the day and watched football...the Bears yesterday (they lost) and Iowa Hawkeyes today!  I'm quilting and watching the game and later I'll "debone" the bird.

Go Hawks!!!!

I found some hexie templates in different sizes on the internet for future projects.......

and I'm working on the 9 patch doll quilt............

What a fun day.....lots of good food, football and crafting and maybe a walk later as it's in the 50's and sunny!  No black Friday here! LOL!  Happy Trails!

Happy Thanksgiving Eve! Are you cooking?

I spent Monday at the doctors (and Tuesday at Wal-Mart)...good news and bad news.....good news is my labs were all great and I am really healthy.  The bad news is my blood pressure has been creeping up and he put me on medication.  Not a lot, a low dose, but definitely blood pressure medicine.  I was so disappointed as I have tried so hard to eat healthy, exercise etc, but it's in my genes!  It's probably why I was feeling more energetic too.  High blood pressure means higher energy and low blood pressure makes for low energy.  Dang, I hate taking pills or medicine of any kind but I must admit my doctor is very sharp and keeps up on things but he also isn't a pill pusher so I know he has my best interests in mind. He was right about the dairy products too!  I've lost a few pounds and my cholesterol is excellent now!  He said, "See, I do know what I'm talking about."  and I said "That's what we pay you the big bucks for!" LOL!
 So, after all that, I went shopping for SUPPLIES in the big city.  Here's some of what I got.........Some self-sticking thimbles that are also reusable.  A scalloped cutting blade for my rotary cutter.

 some towels to embroider and a few panels to hand quilt.

 I was looking for something like this but wasn't expecting one with a grid on it...very nice!

 The quilt shop was very disappointing for the most part and had the same material as when I was in there 6 months ago.   Then I went to the Truck Patch, mostly organic, store and I am never disappointed with it!

 I got my shampoo and soaps....

 I got several boxes of these for Christmas presents......they are so good and I couldn't replicate these or trust me....I would!  The reason the imported cookies are so good is that they are still using the best ingredients....like butter and farm fresh eggs, etc. In the U.S.  it's all over processed and as artificial as possible....no pride in what they make just greed....lots and lots of greed.  Greed tastes terrible!  But these Almond thins are made in heaven!

 

 These are specifically for my SIL as he spent time in Spain when he was in college and probably had a lot of these.  They are also very good!  The are fried in olive oil and they are similar to the leftover pie dough that used to get rolled out and sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon....except these are orange....my favorite!

 Good old Bob's great products.............

 and who can do without apple cider vinegar?

 and Annie's 25th anniversary mac and cheese.....yummmm!

 While I was gone these came in the mail for me..........a small quilt pattern

 and wool felt squares that were such a deal I couldn't pass them up!

 This was the sky this morning....rain on the way but I'm all tucked in and have all I need.  I just have to cook it now!  Oh, I got my organic turkey too.  I had my first one last year and it was the best  turkey I ever made so it was a no-brainer this year.  Happy Thanksgiving and I am so grateful for all of you!

Happy Trails!

YOP Week #21

I missed last week for a number of reasons....I was sick.  Sick of a lot of things.  I was sick of starting over all the time, I was sick of following directions exactly and it still not turning out and I was sick of  working on presents for others and yes I had a fever and a cold too.
But sometimes when a door closes a window opens or is it vice versa?  Anyway, it all worked out wonderfully and I have a new plan, a new attitude, a new lease on life and all is right with the world again. 
So, I am going to bore you with my epiphany.  I believe that when you get sick either mentally, physically or things are just not going right for you that you need to examine why....so I did and I came up with the conclusion that things were out of balance.  Too much giving to others and not enough to myself  (it's always one extreme or the other isn't it).  Too much emphasis on one craft and not balancing it out with the other things I love to do.  Having a bucket list and dreams but not doing a single thing towards them for weeks or months. Don't get me wrong, I love my life and I am enjoying each moment but I really think I am attention deficit.   Therefore, I have all these things I love to do and make and create but I flit from one to the next to the next and nothing really ever gets accomplished.  But on the other hand I can be very self-disciplined if I have a plan.....keyword....PLAN!
So, here it is....THE PLAN:

1.  List all the crafts you enjoy doing
 For me it was quilting, sewing, cross stitch, embroidery, punch needle, paper crafts, rug hooking, knitting, crocheting and miscellaneous crafts.

2.  I have Outlook on my PC but you can use a notebook or a piece of notebook paper.  Under each of the craft categories, I listed what I was currently working on and what was the next step I needed to do,such as:
Knitting - finish Tracy's hat.  The rule is I have to finish Tracy's hat before I can start any other "knitting" project.  And I also have to do some work on Tracy's hat before I can move on to the next craft on the list.  Being ATDD (if I am?) means I cannot really sit and work on something for hours and hours.  Now I can if there is a difficult problem to solve like when I worked on computer systems but although I'm not that good at some of these crafts it's still not the level of complexity that really grabs my attention for hours at a time.  So, after I work on Tracy's hat, let's say the next category is sewing....I don't have a project in sewing at the moment so I get to pick one!  Yay!  After choosing a sewing project, I move on to the next category and when I come around to sewing again it will probably be to gather materials for the project.  So you see,  it satisfies my need to have lots of projects going on but also keeps me from getting too confused by having so many projects going on! LOL!  In my dream world, I would get to work on each of these categories every day but then there would be no clean clothes or food to eat etc.  So, they just rotate as time allows but as you can see when time does allow, I don't waste it floundering around wondering what I should work on.

3.  No deadlines!  Self-imposed or otherwise.  It takes the joy out of making things.  When I work on things for myself or others I want to be injecting the love and wonderful feelings I have for that person or animal or plant.  I don't want to be resentful in any way.  If water can absorb emotions then fiber can too!  I only want healing and loving thoughts to go into the hat that will sit on my SIL's head or the scarf that will be around my daughter's neck or the stuffed animal that my grandson will hold next to him.  So, there will be gifts bought and the handmade will arrive whenever chock full of nurturing feelings!  No extra shipping charges for all those good feelings either.

4.  No jumping the line on projects unless something awful happens and you need a purchase or a new project to soothe yourself or someone else.
Okay...so that's the plan for now and I just came up with it so there will be refinements along the way and you will be witnesses to how well it works for me but it's worked in other areas so I'm hoping this will go swimmingly!  Feel free to call me on the carpet too if you see me breaking my own rules.

Okay..............now for the YOP's which will be current projects only (according to the rules! LOL!)
This hat doesn't look much farther along than last week but actually it was frogged and restarted again......effort #13...I'm thinking this might be my lucky number!   Long story but let's just say that not all You Tube video techniques are compatible with each other.  But I have definitely learned a lot...several times over it seems.

Remember this book I couldn't wait to delve into and make those doilies on the cover?   

well........what's wrong with this picture?  Part of the reason for The Plan....I counted every stitch, I consider myself a well versed crocheter so did I have a fever when I crocheted this?  You be the judge.  BTW, I do love me some Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino!  Oh yeah!

 

The doilie will stay this way and maybe that's why we see those antique doilies with the ruffles?  Like me maybe they just weren't about to tear it out and start over! LOL!  I also used the exact yarn required and hook size but it turned out pretty small so I'll be going up in hook size next time.

I turned away from the yarn projects for a few days (can you blame me?????) and got back into quilting....just some scraps for a little doll quilt........

But then I ran across so many other projects I wanted to do and "that old feeling" for quilting started to come back so...I ordered some material..........on Ebay....Historical Blender's fat quarters....Oh, I love me some polka dots....not too dull, not too bright....just right! Notice there was nothing in THE PLAN that stated you couldn't order supplies.....I made sure of that! LOL!

I did have a wild thought of making crochet blocks like the quilt blocks and we'll see how that turns out.

I hope you had a wonderful week and that you will have a wonderful Thanksgiving here in the U.S. although you never need an excuse for getting together with friends and family and sharing good food......but Thanksgiving does take it to a new level.  Don't forget to donate to your local food bank so everyone can partake and it goes without saying to "spread that attitude of gratitude"!

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Trails!