late out of the gate . . .

So.  Obviously my resolution for 2021 wasn't to spend more time on the blog.  Ha!

In fact, I didn't make resolutions (I haven't done that for the past several years, actually).  I took stock of 2020 (for what it's worth, am I right?), and instead made a couple of goals. Really, I just made a goal.  I finished my complete read of the Bible on December 24, but decided it was a lot of reading (the Bible in a year) without a lot of study.  So this year I decided to start over again, read just a chapter a day (which actually spans out to three years), and give some good study time to each chapter.  So I guess I made a goal for 2021, 2022, and 2023.  Heh.

That being done, I moved on to my word of 2021.  And instead of reinventing the wheel, I just went where I'd already gone.  So here's my word . . .

Isn't that pretty? It's on my desk at work. The word art was done by an apprentice of a local artist, Caroline Taylor.  She does beautiful work!

I wanted a quilted piece, too, to commemorate my word, so I drew it out and stitched it up pretty quick.

Tah-dah!  It's hanging in the alcove where I sit and read/study.  Just a pretty reminder of what my goal is.

I pulled out my Hospital Sketches BOM in wool and have made some good progress.  I still have the stitching to do on the majority of the blocks, but I love where this is going . . .

This piece deserves a blog post all of its own to cover the story behind it, so I won't say any more right now.  Except to say (of course), that this was a lesson in counting it all joy, for sure!  :)

Also, I made Ewenice . . .

Whom I'm completely in love with.  ♥  Isn't that a sweet pattern?  It's available here for free.  You're welcome!

Ellie turned NINE last month.  Holy guacamole!

She's such a beautiful girl, inside and out!  She also had a very Harry Potter birthday.  Fun times!

My nook is a hot mess and needs a lot of attention in it before I can be as productive as I'd like to be.  I've found ways around it (or rather, I've burrowed out a place to sit/iron/cut/sew).  Maybe when the days are longer.  And warmer.  Or maybe not?  Those days are typically reserved for the lake, but I got a little sneaky bonus day last week . . .

Todd had pulled the pontoon out to have its annual maintenance performed.  They finished up and we needed to get it back into the slip, so we drove out last Friday and launched it and drove it back to its spot.  It was easier for me to manage the boat and Todd to maneuver the truck/trailer, so I had the helm.  It was a lovely ten minutes of sunshine, clear skies, and no breeze. Doesn't that look inviting?  The water was a nippy 40 degrees that day.  That'll take your breath away!

This morning's sunset was also stunning (though no warmer) . . .

Just stunning!

That's it for now.  Peace be with you!

:)

where i've been . . .

So, evidently not only did I leave my voice at Grand Oak Retreat, but I brought home a case of walking pneumonia, as well.  Which, in a weird way, makes me feel a little better about my lackluster performance (what I worked on) while I was there.  I was so tired the entire time . . . now I know why!

I also realized I hadn't shared hardly any fun pics from my time with Ellie, the three days prior to retreat! We had such fun together!  She was very intrigued with my bin of *embellishments* . . .

So much so that I had to pull some BIG buttons together for her to play with while I stitched with bitty beads. It was so darling to watch/listen to her play with them.  

She'd pour them on the table and say, "Clean up, clean up!" Scoop them back into her cup and pour them out again.  I got a good sixty minutes of stitching in while she played the button game!

We also made teacup cupcakes!  Oh my gosh, these silicone teacup holders are so precious.  Kim had gotten them for me for my birthday . . .

Ellie enjoyed helping make them, but she *really* enjoyed eating them!  They were a big hit -- I need to get another set of four, I think!

We also spent some time on the playground . . . girlfriend can swing all day!

I loved the way she'd throw her little head back and shout, "Wheeeeeeeeee!!!"

And we watched a movie together . . .

This was during a particularly suspenseful part of the Little Mermaid.  Look how grown up she looks!

I did get a few things put together on retreat, but not nearly as much as I'd wanted or hoped to.  First thing out of the box, I did up the two starstruck blocks for our guild swap . . .

The theme for this month was red and white.  Sweet!

Then I stitched up this little table topper . . .

Recognize the fabrics?  I wanted to get it sandwiched and quilted, too . . . I'll save that for another day.

I did get a Grandmother's Choice block pieced . . .

I like the "T's" in this one!

And I did a lot of handwork, both on my Celtic Garden and on my secret little project (of which I'll share just a tiny corner):

Actually, I spent a LOT of time on the little mug rug project.  Hand work was my favorite!  I've spent a lot of time this week working on my Celtic Garden.  The Colonial knots are finished and I'm almost finished knotting the light green French knots in the center hedges.  Then on to the flower gardens!

And of course, what's a retreat without a tee-shirt?!  

This year's offering -- great colors!

And I enjoyed some spectacular sunrises.  I took one panorama photo.  Simply stunning!

It's not compressed, so when you click on it, it'll be full sized.

We had a total of fifteen women . . . all chit-chatting and oooohing and aaaahing over each other's work.  I love this group of gals . . . 

And of course, the "can't-do-without" gag shot.  Some of us are better at this than others!

I hope to be back in full swing by next week, but I admit, I'm still dragging a bit.  I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired!!  I'm ready to usher in health *and* Spring!!

Happy Friday!!

:)

packing it in . . .

Yup.  That's what I'm doing this morning.  Packing it up and getting things situated so I can work, work, work right up until retreat ends and load up the car!  The goodbye sunrise this morning was *spectacular*!

Just gorgeous, right?  It's really nice to have this very incredible reminder of God's goodness on this particular day -- Everett would have been three.  It's amazing how fast the time has gone by.

I had no trouble getting in my 15 minutes this week, even while I was with Ellie!

I'll share more about what I've worked on these last five days later on in the week!

My stash took a bit of a hit . . . in the wrong direction! I got a lovely package from Jean (Jean Creates) and we hit Hammer's yesterday.  Here's what I grabbed from Hammers:

It's so funny ... it's almost a repeat of what I got last year at Hammer's!  What I received from Jean deserves a post of its own (which I'll do later).  Anyway, I packed away some yardage, without enough to go out . . .

But it's still running on a pretty even keel, so I won't sweat it!

There will be some last minute frantic work going on this morning, but I will eventually settle into my slow Sunday stitching.  Still plugging along on my Celtic Garden:

The hedge outlines are really starting to take shape!  One they're finished, the French knots to fill it in will go relatively quickly.  I'll be happy to be finished with the colonial knots!

Linking up today with the stash report at Patchwork Times and also with Kathy's Quilts!

Oh yeah--the current book review and giveaway is HERE.

Be *blessed* today!

:)

loaded . . .

With pictures, that is.  With so much going on over the past couple of days I've found I've taken loads of pics ... and since a picture's worth a thousand words (or so they say), I figure I can recap in pictures and leave the words  most some of the words out.  Makes scrolling a little faster, anyway!  I'll get to the Color Theory course, soon, I promise.  Just not today (and obviously not yesterday)!

Had a lovely visit with Ellie and Jocelyn on Wednesday.  

Such a sweet little face and smile.  Ellie just grows more darling each week!

And she grows more agile, too, evidently.  Get it, Ellie!  Nosh that foot!

I picked Sawyer up for a visit yesterday morning.  We finally figured out a good place for him to sit and eat.

The bench seats are too low (or the table is too high, one) to make dining comfortable for him. The wicker ottoman and little bench stool are just right, though!

I've been playing with a couple of different things . . . 

I so liked playing with leftover pieces of Joc's wedding quilt for Jane's doll swap quilt, that I played around with some for me, too.

Perhaps I need to finish Joc's quilt, first?  LOL!

And Janet, from Rogue Quilter, had posted a sweet little piece she'd done -- a mini-rail fence -- that just captivated me.

I already had 2-1/2 inch strips cut of some fabric that I ended up not using and so I cut it down some more and laid it out.  Yes.  This is a definite yes.

Inspiration comes from all sorts of places.  This is a poster hanging on the wall of my Sunday School classroom.

I think it would make a darling mini or topper.  Yes, that one's in the near future, too!

Last night we had a Ladies' Movie Night.  We watched The Women.  

Oh.My.Gosh.  It's a hilarious movie!!  It's an oldie -- and a black & white to boot -- but funny as all get out and pretty relevant for today's women, too.  And not a single man in the whole cast.  Fun, fun stuff.

Todd and his dad took off *very* early this morning to get in a little father-son fishing time.  So early that they were already on the lake when the sun finally made an appearance . . .

And what an appearance, right?  Just lovely -- the kind of loveliness that makes you aware of the goodness of God's good creation and handiwork!

And finally, what would a Friday be without a little feline in it?  Compliments of Leia (and her dresser, Jocelyn):

You may have noticed that this is what Ellie was wearing in her first picture.

I don't think Leia appreciates the hand-me-downs.

But it is good to know she's a size 6-9 months ... just in case.  Nice mane action there, Leia!

Linking up with Sarah Did It! and Feline Friday!  Y'all have a GREAT one -- I'm getting ready for our first Camp MACOBA wedding!!

:)