Work accomplished

A few projects done already in January. And one apron in December for Christmas Carol Flirty Apron Swap. I made this for my assigned swapper in December.

Then, there was another apron in Cheap Hot Mama Apron Swap. I made and sent this one: We had to use what ever was in our stash with out buying any fabric or anything. I added a classic monogram for the recipient. It came out cute, but cheap.

And a Christmas ornament for A Year of Enchantment. It had to be a pine cone or an acorn handmade ornament. I painted a pinecone with glitter paint from a pattern from a clip art print onto an acrylic picture frame that I cut out with a Dremel tool and then drilled a tiny hole in the top to thread a Christmas ribbon for hanging. Very creative if I do say so myself!

And a pine cone "snow girl chorus line" garland that I made for the same Year of Enchantment.

I kind of got carried away I know.

In return, I received this cute fantastic pine cone ornament. It's soft, very detailed, really cute. And she included a pretty flowered handmade cloth bag to keep things in, like maybe jewelry, sewing items, etc.

FYI, YEAR OF ENCHANTMENT is a  swap for the year 2010. Each month is a theme, partners are given, you make the ornament themed item, and mail to your assigned partner. It goes on for 12 months of 2010. In December 2010 each participant will have 12 enchanted themed ornaments for a special Christmas tree.

I have several more projects for January. I have 2 bed size quilts to start quilting. I will start them in January for you (you know who you are). I will be finished before you know it. 

gin

O-ke-doo-kie

So you're tired of looking at my dog's Christmas pictures? Can't say that I blame you!

We had an uneventful New Year's Eve. Just the 2 of us. Our children had their own friends and parties to attend, and probably slept late New Year's Day. So we did our traditional New Year's Eve thing, which  consisted of a few movies on the flat screen until midnight, eating and drinking. I must have drank a whole 6-pack (of coke) by myself from about 6pm to midnight. And that Blue Moon thing was going on, too.  The Blue Moon thing took the place of fire works for us. It was a bright pretty moon here in the wilderness, with just a wide open sky with no city lights to interfere. I kept saying it really did look blue. (that could have been the 6-pack talking).

Time for back to work, getting the house back in order, and me waiting for summer to hit!

gin

Pictures without Santa

Traditions of your children's picture with Santa is always loads of fun.  Especially with babies and very young children who are afraid of Santa and are screaming and kicking while Santa is trying to hold them.  I have had my share of those fun memories.  It's like you really expect and have to have a picture of a child not liking Santa. 

I don't have any small children anymore to get pictures sitting on Santa's lap. Even though I am sure my adult kids would be more than happy to sit on Santa's lap if they would be guaranteed the gift they asked for!

But, I did have fun taking pictures of our "child-like" "house-pet" dog.  But, without Santa. Sorry they are blurry. But I'm holding cell phone camera with one hand and holding her down with the other.

This one she is barking at me.

  This one I was bribing her with a treat.

Here she is finally getting use to the idea. But she wouldn't look at me.

Merry Christmas!

gin

Happy Thanksgiving

God is good. God is great. Thank You for the food you give. Thank You for the birds that sing. Thank you God for everything. Amen.
This is the blessing we said as children at our table every meal. And we said the same blessing with our children as they were growing up.

Another blessing I repeat occasionally is:

Bless my little kitchen Lord, I love it's every nook.
Bless me as I do my work, wash pots and pans and cook.
May  the meals that I prepare be seasoned from above,
with Thy blessing and Thy grace, but most of all Thy love.
As we partake of earthly food, The table before us spread,
We’ll not forget to thank Thee, Lord, Who gives us daily bread.
Bless my little kitchen Lord, and those who enter in,.
May they find nought but joy and peace,
and happiness therein.

This blessing is one I memorized at a very early age. It was written on a plaque hanging in my grandma's kitchen.  I can't count the number of times I read it over and over and over. And it has been embedded in my memory. I even say it sometimes as the blessing at our table.

Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

gin

I must

..move on to fall. Have I ever told you that I love summer the best! Well, I must give it up, because Thanksgiving is here. I love Thanksgiving, so that"s when I start my fall.

I've said goodbye to my roses (even though they are still blooming) and saying hello to all the leaves that have fallen and to the cooler temperature. Not much has changed with the seasons, because there is still plenty of yard work to do.

The Thanksgiving Holiday - where you have family and friends over, and your go visit family and friends. Four days of travel for everyone to and fro.

A week to spend some time relaxing, playing, doing what you like to do best.

 

It's gonna be a good week!

gin

Giveaway

Like the best of both worlds --  dine and/or shop?  Go here and visit her awesome blog and sign up for her giveaway!!

gin

Enchanted Friends

These are my little enchanted forest friends Christmas ornaments that I made for an Enchanted Forest Christmas Ornament Swap. Can you quess what they are?

Notice the cute little ornamanet hangers they are hanging from. I made them for her too.

Even my wild holly trees in my enchanted forest were beginning to show their berries and made a cute place to hang them for their picture while they sport their little Santa hats.

gin

True Story

My exercise regimen consists of walking 3 miles a a day every morning or afternoon in this wilderness where the houses are few and far between.  There is a little country church down the road with 1 house between our house and the church. I walk past the church, turn around, and walk back to our house to make my 3 miles.

On one particular evening, I spotted something green lying on top of the tall weeds along the roadside. I am a fast walker. I made a quick turn around and went back and there was a 100 dollar bill laying on top of the grass/weeds. It was a crisp, un-folded, no creases in it bill. Of course I swiped it up, looked around, and put it in my pocket.  I began breathing harder, thoughts racing through my head "did any one see me?" " is this a counterfeit?" "could there be more?" O course there is no one around for miles, and no sound of any vehicles coming my way.  It could well be counterfeit. And hopefully there is a lot more.

Undoubtedly it had to have blown out of a car window as some one was counting their money as they were speeding down the road.  I just knew there should be more laying around. I enlarged my walk/search area to over in the ditch, thinking, rather knowing, some bills could have, must have blown a little further over.  I even went a little further down each way than my normal walk, trying to find MORE.

It was getting dusk, so I walked on home. I went in the kitchen door and locked it behind me. And began to whisper the story to husband.  I didn't know if someone had followed me and I surely didn't want any one else to know where my treasure spot is.

Husband was surprised that I even found one $100 bill. And just told me I was lucky. And there was probably no more laying around.  But, this could lead to my new job -- being a money finder.

Just think if I could find one of these every day or even one a week! That would be a pleasureable job to have.

gin

Some people are so sweet

There are so many wonderful people we meet thru blogs. And they all are so sweet. Their blogs are so interesting. If you are like me, you just can't wait to see what they are up to next. And some are so giving. They love to share and have giveaways. And Doris is all of this at crocheting in georgia.

Also check out her etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/SturmDM

I won this book on Doris' giveaway recently.

.

I enjoyed looking thru it and see so many things I can't wait to make. Like this:

This is roses and flowers out of lace.  How pretty.  And this:

Dainty tissue holders, pj holders, and soft pretty hangers.

There are also chirstening gown with lace for babies and other cute little things for children. And pretty other  pieces with lace. And last but not least, she sent a crocheted snowflake bookmark. Very pretty.

What great gifts I received.  Thank you so much Doris. I'm loving it.

gin

Remember when

We celebrated our 35 wedding anniversary last week. No picture because husband does not want his picture plastered all over www.

Just to pharaphase:
Remember when we were young. Thought all we needed ws love.
We lived and learned. There was joy and there was hurt.
Loved ones died and new ones born. Life was changed, dissasembled, rearranged.
The sound of little feet were music we danced to week to week.
Thirty seemed so old. Now lookin' back it was just a stepping stone to where we are, where we've been. We said we'd do it all again.
When the children grow up and mve away, we won't be sad, we'll be glad for all the life we've had.
Remember when.

I love this Allen Jackson's song Remember When. It's on my music playlist on my side bar.
It tells the story of us.  Even tho the words sound good, I still miss the good ole'days.  But these days are just as good, but in a different way.

gin