SAINTS

24 Hour Non-Stop

It's been raining now for 24 hours straight. No rain storm, no thunder, no lightning. Just slow, steady rain. I hate it. Can't do anything outside, it's raining. Don't want to do anything outside, it's raining. Don't even want to go anywhere, it's raining.

So besides doing this day and night:

I've also done a little of this:

Of course a few hours in the kitchen helps to forget the rain.

I am patiently waiting for a bright sunshiny day. 
gin

Is it spring yet

I'll say it again, "I LOVE SUMMER". But spring will do right now.
Some mornings lately I have been hearing a lot of birds singing (like it was spring). It was a nice warm spell there for a few days.

I had a challenge in Year of Enchantment Swap to feed the birds during the cold winter month of January. I didn't do anything different than we normally do. We always keep bird feed out year round for the birds.

So enjoy a few pics of a few birds enjoying a winter meal.The birds were all around eating on the ground and in the feeder. Until I walked out to take their picture and they scattered.

So I hid behind a tree and waited for some to come back. I even took a video of them, but I cannot upload it to this post. By the way, ignore the poopy dirty bird feeder. It has not been cleaned all winter. Come spring we will spring clean for the birds. That should make them even more happier.

gin

Late night snack

One almost perfectly peeked lemon meringue pie. Made from Jello Lemon Pudding and Pie Filling Cook and serve. I love to do meringue. The art is knowing when to put the sugar in while you are beating the egg whites. And knowing the perfect timing while it is in the oven.

One plate of french fried, crispy, salty, fries. Nothing to it!!

Dinner for two. Manwich topped with pickle, fries, condiments, Coca-Cola and pie for desert.
Candle light would have been a nice touch!

One un-invited quest!

gin

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