doing life . . .

I feel like my stitching has slowed down a little.  Okay, okay, I *know* it's slowed down!  The Nook is a total mess right now, and I have no desire to do anything about it.  I do have handwork on hand ... the big hexie project is still in the works and I'm still working on the Hospital Sketches BOM in wool and some fall monogram work for the girls!

I had a couple of my stitching buddies over one day and we watching movies, drank tea and did handwork.  That was so fun--so fun I forgot to snap any pics! Todd went fishing that day! ;)

I also went through my quilting books and patterns and weeded out a significant number of both.  I gifted 'weeds' to pals who wanted them and put the rest on the "free to a good home" table at guild. I feel lighter now!  I also made a spreadsheet of the books I had, to make it easier to find them (and so I didn't purchase duplicates...again)!

Spent an afternoon at Scott's Orchard picking apples with Joc and the girls: 

We had such a fun time! I got sweet potatoes (right?!), apples, apple cider (which is YUMMY and contains nothing but apples and if you freeze for 90 minutes, makes a great slushy) and apple cider vinegar.  

Jackpot, right?

And look at this . . .

My Liv lost her first tooth!  Such a sweet girl...I miss her--all of them--so much!

Also big in my world right now is diet.  Not a "diet" so much as elimination.  My autoimmune meds quit working and the next step was a (self-injecting) drug that I'm afraid to try.  So I decided to do at least thirty days of AIP (autoimmune protocol), which I started Monday.  I did some prep work over the weekend . . . I made applesauce from scratch, "nomato" sauce, bone broth (can I tell you how much I love my Instant Pot?!) and riced a lot of cauliflower. Most of those things I got pics of . . . 

And we're off to a good start with meals (which I also grabbed photos of) . . .

Orange Beef with Broccoli over Riced Cauliflower--it was yummy!

Lasagna Casserole--to which the nomato sauce was put to good use, along with zucchini noodles--it was also (surprisingly) yummy!

So AIP is where my focus is ... especially since Todd volunteered to do it with me. Wow! It takes a little more planning . . .

And to wrap it all up . . . it's finally autumn (both on the calendar and meteorological), so Happy Fall, Y'all!

We like to celebrate Fall in theory here in the South.

Sweaters, autumn colors, pumpkins, spiced lattes and teas, colored leaves and all the works.  Even though temps are still in the 90's.  Ah well.  

:)

insert clever title here . . .

It was another busy week, but different in several ways. Todd and I started Weight Watchers on Monday, and of course I had lunches scheduled for each of the working days and dinners for two of the nights! Yikes, right off the bat I was facing hurdles, but I handled it like a pro (and no cheating), though tomorrow morning's weigh in will determine just how well I handled it! At Judy's recommendation, I looked up Dr. Michael Vanderschleden's The Scientific Approach to Intermittent Fasting. The book is available for free on kindleunlimited, so I went ahead and borrowed it.  It's a fascinating read and debunks most of the food myths I've embraced for years. This week I've played around with fasting times and I think I've found a system that works.  Again, tomorrow's weigh in will tell!

We had Thursday off because we are closed on Friday, but we still get the Veteran's Day holiday.  I'll take it! Anyway, Miss Ellie came home with me Wednesday night for a sleepover. She loved her scarf of sparkly red, but informed me that it should have tassels . . .

Good enough!  Sawyer's did not have tassels, but since "he's a boy, he shouldn't have tassels." Ha! Thanks for that word of scarf fashion wisdom, Elle. She also had fun creating her breakfast masterpiece:

Though she was a little disappointed that I didn't have any blueberries (like I did last time). Note taken.

Friday was too windy to take the pontoon out, so Todd and I bummed around and ran errands. We went to PF Changs for lunch (where I'd looked up the entrees and knew we would be okay with points). Plus, veterans got a free entree when an additional entree was purchased, so I ate free! 

I got some fun squishies in the mail this week, too.  The first was from a "mug rug" swap I participated in. Dana doesn't blog, but we have enjoyed getting to know each other through emails. She sent me this pretty little mug rug:

Along with a parcel of fun goodies . . .

What a sweetheart Dana is!  Her package has been received, too, so I can show you the 'out-of-the-box' mug rug I sent her:

Very seasonal, I know, but I like changing out my mug rugs as much as I like changing out my hanging quilts for the seasons!

My second squishy came from Sarah and contained my 'houses' from the Hexie Birthday Swap!

Plus a couple of 'kites' from last year's swap -- and some happies from Sarah (who knows me so well)!! I will have fun playing with these! :)

My stash is silent . . . nothing in and nothing out.

Ugh. I know it's a matter of making time . . . perhaps as the days grow colder (if they do) and darker (which they are), I'll be able to sneak away more quilting time!

I did a quick inventory of my ornaments . . .

So far I've got sixteen, which is a little off course (I should have twenty-two), but it's a sight better than what I had last year at this time, which was ZERO! Today I'll do up a couple more poinsettias, both in the tiny size and the brooch size.

These are my go-to stitch-ups because they're so easy and I can make them so diverse with a change of color or button or size. Variety is the spice of life, right? These will be my sloooooow stitching this afternoon!

Aaaaah . . . and before I forget, last week I issued a challenge!  My favorite quote for this picture:

was Janet's, "Hands back in your pockets, guys!"  It made me LOL! Especially since Marilyn and I both look like we've been goosed!

And only a handful of folks got it right.  Jocelyn got us all together for a group picture on Evey's second birthday.  She then said, "Everybody say, "Evey's going to be a big sister!'" It took a couple of seconds for it to register, but Marilyn and I must have worked it out before the men, judging by the picture! I let the random number picker do the work and Mary's "You're pregnant?????" won the prize!  I'll send a happy little something to both Mary and Janet!

Linking up today to Patchwork Times and Kathy's Quilts!  Enjoy a beautiful day -- regardless of the weather!

:)

winner, winner . . .

But before I share the winner, may I ask a favor?  I have a local quilting/blogging friend -- Melissa, at I Am Beautiful Bee.  She's a relatively new quilter and blogger, but she's jumped in wholeheartedly with both feet!  She fell head-over-heels in love with quilting and is waiting for her new long arm to arrive so she can start up her new business.  Give her a look-see and share some blogger love with her!!

So . . . 

Late last night I met a random generator about a number.  I plugged in my numbers and waited to see what he had to say.  It didn't take long before I had my number . . . 

And thus, my winner:

Yay!  Shari, you won!  I've contacted Shari by e-mail to let her know she's my *big* winner!

Since I'll be getting books from Bethany on a regular basis (I hope!), I'll be passing them along to my bloggy friends as I finish them!  And who knows what else might end up in those packages, right?!?

Today I'm off for my monthly weigh-in ... still going strong, still pressing on!

At least I hope that's what the scales reflect.  My doc's scale is a little more high-tech than mine.  Still, I'm encouraged by the fact that I didn't gain a single pound on vacation.  Of course, I didn't lose a single pound, either!  LOL!

And tonight is our guild's annual potluck social and officer election.  Along with a covered dish and our own place setting (which can be quite fun), we're also to "bring some scissors, bright colored buttons (1/2" to 3/4") and thread to share."  

Hmmm . . . that sounds intriguing!  Eat, sew and chat; it doesn't get any better than that! 

Happy Thursday!

:)

*sigh* . . .

Just a quick update so no one thinks I've fallen off the face of the earth:

Sewing machine - all better and home where it belongs!

Computer - another sad, sad story.  If you're wondering *why* I haven't posted anything since last Friday, my crashed and burned laptop is the reason.  Hopefully by sometime next week I'll be back in the swing of things.  I do not enjoy blog posting, reading, or commenting from my phone, though I'll try not to get too far behind.  My blogging friends are so wonderful!!

Diet - I started South Beach on Sunday.  This morning I weighed in 13 pounds lighter than I did last Thursday at the doctor's office.  I'm too happy and excited about that to be too upset about the computer.  Hey, you gotta take it where you can get it, right?!!

Grandbabies - are still a sweet, sweet joy.  Ellie gets bigger everyday (in fact, Jocelyn was lamenting this week that she's grown out of most of her 0-3 month clothes) and Sawyer is incredibly sweet and all-boy at the same time.  And they are both the chattiest children ... I love it!

My darling husband - celebrated his 50th birthday on Tuesday!!  Happy birthday to the love of my life!   

:)

granddaughters, doll quilts, and diets . . .

Oh my!

I had a lovely, lovely day with my darling little Miss Ellie Pearl yesterday.  She just keeps getting more and more personable!  I swear I could just sit there and chat and coo and smile and grin with her for hours!  Yesterday, between naps, she showed me how she plays on her mat with her toys (especially Jacque le Peacock).

And then she gave me that Mona Lisa smile that usually precipitates the full blown grin . . . 

Gracious but I could eat her UP!

Today, after Todd made the run to the post office, I had a lovely treat!

I had forgotten Barbara (from Cat Patches), my swap partner this month, had told me it was on the way!  Isn't it darling!!  I love the mixers and beaters!  And I love the quilting on this too.  And the back view  . . .

And the tag (and the postcard greeting she included)!

I love, LOVE it Barbara:  thank you *so* much!!!

I had a good--and encouraging--visit with my doc yesterday.  Sunday is the start day.  We're celebrating Todd's birthday (the big five-oh) on Saturday (it's actually on the 17th) and didn't want to start a diet before then -- his birthday cake-of-choice is a Carvel's ice cream cake.  Definitely not on the Phase 1 food list.  LOL!

On my way home last night I noticed that one of the small grocery stores was advertising split chicken breasts for a dollar a pound.  Since we're going to be doing a lot of chicken for the next several months, I decided to pull in and get some.  I got four, four pound plus packs of chicken breasts (four breasts per package).  That's a LOT of chicken!  I knew I didn't want to stick it all in the freezer like it was, so this is what I did.

I opened up each package, pulled out the breasts, pulled back the skin, and filleted off a 4-6 ounce portion.

 

I then pulled the skin back over what was left.

I laid the fillets out and covered them with press and seal to freeze them individually.

 

I put the rib pieces in a casserole dish to bake (I mean there was still 10-12 ounces on each breast). 

Covered them with a little garlic and onion powders, a little rosemary, and a little salt and pepper.  When they finish baking I'll pick them -- portion out the cooked meat into 1-1/2 cup portions -- and then boil the rest down for stock.

I feel like the frugal housewife!  Yay for me!

Tonight we have campers coming in, and the weather will be glorious for them!  I'm so looking forward to it!

HAPPY Friday!

:)

the road of life . . .

Today's the day . . . 

Wow!  It's actually the "day" for several things!  First off, my good ol' Janome DC3050 is headed off to the shop.  

Todd loaded 'er up for me and I'll drop 'er off at Huntsville Sew & Vac on my way to big stop number two . . .

My follow-up doctor's appointment where we made BIG life changing decisions.  *sigh*  Is it awful to admit that in anticipation of these big lifestyle diet changes, Todd and I have indulged just a bit?!  LOL!  Not too terribly, mind you, but we have nonetheless. 

I'm pretty sure, based on the research that I've done, that we're going to end up going with The South Beach Diet.  It's fairly straightforward.  The big thing (and the one thing that's probably most important to me) is the elimination of sugar.  I *know* I'm a sugar addict!!  I've read the book cover-to-cover and looked at the phases and correlating food lists.  Should be interesting.  I'm *so* grateful that Todd's agreed to do it with me -- especially phase one, which is the most limiting (and intimidating)!  Changes like this work better when you've got a partner walking through it with you, don't you think?

From there I'll head to Jocelyn's and spend the day with her and my Ellie!!  Yay!!  Then I'm headed to Fayetteville to attend their local guild meeting.  One of the women I am in Sunday school with is co-delivering the night's program on using orphan/boo-boo blocks.  Her co-partner is Cindy, my friend and the owner of Hooked on Quilting!  Should be a fun night.

So, that's it for me today ... I better get my show on the road.  Keep in mind that a joyful heart makes a cheerful face!

:)

creative outlets . . .

While I wait for my machine to be able to go in to get fixed up, I'm finding other means by which to be creative.  Of course, I'm working on getting our women's ministry up and rolling.  This will be the insert for this Sunday's bulletin:

I'm having such fun coming up with ideas and putting together a program -- it's exciting to see what God's doing and going to do!!

I also took this opportunity to go back to my Moda prize and really appreciate the fabrics that had been included in it.  One of the sweet comments on that prize post (from Kris) had shared a little more information on the collection, which is the Friendship Collection by Howard Morris Collections:

Collections for a Cause - Friendship by Howard Marcus - This 1850’s friendship quilt from Philadelphia is the Ninth in a Series of reproduction quilts featuring the Howard Marcus Collection. The series includes antique quilts from across America. This friendship quilt is believed to be a wedding or anniversary quilt. With a cheerful red and cream color palette and fine applique work, this quilt was made with love and friendship for a happy occasion. The center of each block is signed in a beautiful script further indicating the quilter’s desire to create her very finest work. Many of the signatures are from members of the same family. It is our hope that you, too, will create a friendship quilt for the special loved ones in your life. Supporting the Cause…Feeding America “Whose mission is to feed America’s hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger.”

How fine is that?  Further indication to me that I need to use these fabrics to 'pay it forward' as it were.  Anyway, I took the fat quarter bundle apart and laid all the pretties out on the table . . . 

And pulled some out that really caught my attention.

These are just such sweet, sweet prints . . . oh yes, I'll have a lovely time playing with these!

And my doctor's visit went fairly well on Monday.  He told me that there is noticeable bone growth around the fusion, which is terrific news, and that the screws are solid and there's good bone growth around them as well.  He said there is a large bone spur that's developed in the front and a lot of bone fragments on the side where the donor bone was packed, which may be causing my pain.  He said the process and healing is very slow and he wants to give it another six months (which is when I'll go back next).  He also put me on an anti-inflammatory, to see if that helps with swelling and pain.  I've noticed a positive difference since then, which is very encouraging to me.

I asked him (mind you, he did not bring this up) if losing a significant amount of weight would be helpful.  LOL!  He took that and ran with it!  Although he was quick to tell me that it's got to be strictly lifestyle changes in diet -- no exercise.  I guess I wouldn't be a good candidate for The Biggest Loser, then.  Haha! 

I happened to have an appointment with my GP that day, as well, and I told him what Dr. DeOrio had said and told him I needed input, guidance and HELP!  Really what I wanted was for him to give me a magic pill (or something) but he was far more practical.  He told me to not change anything for the next three days and to just record what I ate and to track the grams of carbs and sugars.  Then (and not until those three days have passed, which is tomorrow) I am to get online and thoroughly research the South Beach Diet and the 17-Day Diet.  Then I'm to compare those diets to my three days of notes and make some decisions and draw some conclusions.  Then I'll bring it all back to him next week, and he will help me chart out a course of action.  

So that's where I am ... looking forward to seeing where I end up!

:)

whatever works . . .

These are all photos of food or drink . . .

Taken with my phone . . .

And then texted to my daughter . . .

No matter how small . . .

Or time of day . . .

If I put it in my mouth (and subsequently swallow it) . . .

I send a picture of it to Joc.

Pretty odd, huh? Well, I can't knock it! She suggested instead of writing down everything I eat, to take a PICTURE of everything I eat instead. I suggested that I needed a lot of accountability and encouragement, and asked if she were up to it. She said as long as I sent her *everything* she would be there for me, so I did. Don't knock it, though . . . I've lost 10.8 pounds this first week! Isn't technology fun? And fyi...the pink glass with the 8 oz. marked on it is my water glass. Yes, I even send her a photo every time I get a new glass of water. Haha--good thing we have an unlimited text plan!

On a much more primitive level, here's a couple of fun things we've pulled out of the creek recently:

This old snapping turtle did NOT want to let go of the cage. Mind you, he wasn't stuck, he was hanging on! He was trying dearly to get to the minnows and crawdads that were on the inside! Do you see his tail? It's wicked long.


And speaking of crawdads, this is about the biggest I'll fool with 'em. Any bigger than that and Todd can deal with 'em! I can't wait until Sawyer is big enough to go down to the creek and do a little crawdad catching!

:)