Wednesday, November 18, 2020

ticking away . . .

Time, that is. It's just been so busy!

Last Thursday I headed to Nashville (or thereabouts) for a two-day women's leadership forum.  
It was terrific, but they'd condensed it from a three-day event, without cutting anything.  So it was two 12-hour days of conference in 36 hours ... and bookended by a 2.5 hour drive!  I think I'm finally able to actually *think* about some of the things I heard.

Also, I came home to a finish . . . 
Our screened porch! Todd even got the carpet laid.  I'm so thrilled! They really did a great job on it, and our weather has been so stinking pleasant, I'm going to get to enjoy it through the end of the month!  

I was only able to show the binding of the quilt I shared last week, because it was going to a dear friend who's battling cancer.  It was delivered to her last week, and I wanted to show it off here  . . .
The ladies in our stitcher's group are so super talented!  I love the camaraderie and friendship we share!

I had some fun happies in the mail, from my favorite Californians . . .
Isn't that sweet?  It made my Veteran's Day all the happier.

Ellie and Evey are working hard on their Christmas ornament project.  
Each year for the last four, the girls have made ornaments and then sold them. They use the proceeds to shop from the catalog of Food for the Hungry, to purchase things like seeds, animals, tools, medication, water purification, shoes, Bibles, and more! I love that they get so excited about picking out their gifts.  I'm very grateful their parents facilitate this for them!  I've already ordered mine.  *wink*

The camp hit peak color, and then it was gusty and rainy, and easy come, easy go!
But I have to say, this is one of my favorite sights!

:)

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

ebb and flow . . .

So do you ever get in a place where you've been sticking to a good blogging regiment, and it's time to blog and you think, "I just can't." Not because of some emotional duress or physical stress. It's just not there.  That was me this weekend. I've been trying to post at least once a week—because I enjoy going back and reading my posts and seeing what I was doing—and any posts beyond that are just a bonus.  The months (and the years) when blog post offerings are slim make me sad (in retrospect), so I try and be diligent about it. And I love Saturday/Sunday posting because of Kathy's "slow stitching" link-up posts. It gives me the extra push to get 'er done, you know?! Anyway, this weekend my "umphh" was lacking.  C'est la vie.

Last week we started a project on our deck . . .
Turning it into a screened room! We're grateful for the help of a dear friend.  Hoping to have it finished by the end of this week.  So exciting!! It'll be nice to be outside but preserved from the mosquitoes.  :)

On Friday the weather was so glorious, Todd and I got out on the boat for a day on the lake.  That's a rare treat in November! 
Really, it was a stunning day.  By late afternoon the clouds started to slowly creep in, which made for a fantastically beautiful sunset.
I couldn't take my eyes (or my camera) off of it . . . I didn't want to miss a single change of hue! 
My captivation paid off.  Check out this cloud formation . . .
Do you see the eagle, flying over the lake?  I was amazed at how long it stayed in that shape ... until it was dark and it couldn't be seen!

Saturday I got up and spent the majority of the day working on the binding of a special quilt . . .
I got to put my new magnifying floor lamp to the test.  I *love* this thing!  I can wear readers, but they bother my nose/sinuses and give me headaches, so I much prefer this new lamp!  It was a big happy!
Got the binding finished up late Sunday afternoon.  Now it's been delivered.  Whew! But I do enjoy stitching up a good length of binding!

After all that pink though, I was seeing pink spots!  It was time to change things up a bit . . .
That'll do it! 

I continue to prep for the season (winter) that I'll be working on my Hospital Sketches blocks in wool.  I'm really looking forward to it.  Even more so with this sweet bundle of wool that just arrived . . .
Aren't those soft, yummy colors?  Hand dyed wool is so pretty!  I got these from a shop called Quilting Acres. Her bundles are terrific!

And finally, who would I be if I didn't include the current Christmas countdown?!
But this time, I'm also going to share a link that came to me via email today.  Lots of fun, hand-crafted ornaments and easy-to-stitch-up things to be found. Now's the time I start thinking about hostess gifts and little things for stitching pals and granddears!  It's from All People Quilt.  Enjoy!

See you Sunday?  LOL!  Your guess is as good as mine.  

:)

Sunday, November 01, 2020

rabbit, rabbit . . .

And just like that, it's November.  WOW!

Thursday evening after work I headed to visit the grandgirls and spend the night.  On Friday we made our annual visit to Tate Farms . . .
It was hard to get a photo of everyone together!  We were full out in motion for our three hours there! But it was a fun day.  :)

Saturday was bright and beautiful!  What a fabulous day for Halloween ... and June Madelyn's birthday!
We got to facetime with her and sing her "Happy Birthday" and watch her open her presents!  June is eight!  I miss them all SO much! ♥

I also took some time to make another apple bundt cake.  We've got a social thing (outdoors) this afternoon, and this is my offering.
The cake smells so GOOD!  And of course, topped with fall sprinkles! *wink*

I spent some (most) of my birthday Etsy money and my 'gifts' came in this week.  I'm so excited!
I got a number of assorted bundles of wool.  I'm going to get working on my Hospital Sketches in wool, soon, and I wanted a nice variety of wool to pull from.

I also got this really sweet Piglet ornament kit.
I think I'll make it and let Joc give it to Evey.  She will be so excited (I hope)!

One last purchase . . .
Pictured with my Give Thanks stitchery!  I adore themed "accessories"! So it came late, but the needle minder is so darling, I was happy to stitch with it yesterday (and will continue to stitch with it this evening, with some slow Sunday stitching).  I also got the most darling pair of owl embroidery scissors, and those I'll use year-long!

Linking up with Kathy's Quilts today and her slow stitching post.  I leave you with one last look at October . . . 
Spooky and beautiful; the blue, full moon!  Have a great day!

:)