excuses, excuses . . .

Do you remember me?

I was a little shocked to realize I hadn't posted since January 7th.  I mean, I knew it had been a while, I just hadn't realized it had been quite that LONG of a while!  And I do have a ton of good (and passable) excuses, but no point in putting you through all that, eh?

Weather here in North Alabama has been crazy.  After serving up record high temps (we're talking upper 70's, right at 80's) in January and February, we woke up this morning to snow.

By noon it was gone, but there's snow in the forecast for Tuesday, too.  Must be the "coming in a like a lion" deal.  I'm ready for the lamb. And boat weather.  :)

I was able, at practically the last minute, to get in on the annual quilting retreat our stitcher's group does at Grand Oak Retreat. Last year I'd been unable to go and so I lost my place. This year the gal who'd taken my spot found herself with a conflicting commitment and was unable to go to retreat. So two weeks prior, I got a call saying there was a spot available. Yay! 

Of course I didn't have a lot of prep time, and I ended up not taking my machine, instead taking a lot of hand work projects I wanted to either wrap up or spend some time on. I finished up this cute hexie snowman runner . . . 

I really love this fun little piece! And I did some much overdue work on the wool strawberry mat I started in ... July.

It's coming along, though I still have some work to do on it. I hadn't figured out Steam-A-Seam when I first drafted this/cut it out, which has made it kind of tricky to work with. ;)

In my last post we had just celebrated Ellie's 5th birthday. In February we celebrated my mom's birthday (her first birthday in Alabama). 

And then we turned around and celebrated Joc's birthday!

Yesterday was Kim's birthday and today is Sawyer's, and I hate having to celebrate those from a distance. But we did get to sing happy birthday via FaceTime (again, technology for which I'm oh-so-grateful)!

You probably don't realize this, but as a little experiment, last year Todd and I left Christmas (from 2015) up in the RV for the entire year.  Ellie and Evey just loved it (and so did Todd and I), but I have to admit that by the year's end, I was ready to take it all down.  I missed putting up my *other* seasonal things during the year.  Like Valentine's . . .

And it gave me an excuse to whip up this sweet little Valentine hearts candle mat in wool:

Hahaha! Last weekend I was thinking about putting out Spring/Easter decor, but I'm so hard pressed to do that when it reverts back to cold and grey.  So this was as far as I got . . .

It's there and ready, when the weather cooperates a tad! I also went through my quilt pieces and was surprised to realize I don't have ANYthing springish for the mini stand.  Hmmmm.

So yesterday I finally made it out to the Nook. It was in desperate need of 'organization/cleaning' and I spent the morning doing just that. After lunch it was respectable and I was ready to roll and put together a quick and easy piece that makes me smile . . .

The applique was one I'd done as a sample for my faux applique lecture at our guild's applique round robin a couple of years ago. I whipped up some pinwheels, bordered it, quilted it, and put the binding on it.  Easy peasy! And Spring-y!

I've been enjoying this season of Lent, walking through a new devotion, 40 Days of Decrease: A Different Kind of Hunger. A Different Kind of Fast, by Alicia Britt Chole.  So far it's been absolutely marvelous and I'm really enjoying it. I hope to have some concrete news on where we've been re-assigned, soon, too!  And that about catches y'all up with me!  Have a splendiferous week ahead!

:)

wishy washy weather . . .

Can you believe the above?  That was from Wednesday. The official high that day was 77 degrees.  The official low was 27 degrees. Today is March 6th and there is ice all over the place. Tomorrow our high is 55 degrees. Aye yi yi! How is it that this is the deep south??

Speaking of early in March . . . Tuesday was Bibliophile Files day and I missed it. I am doing some reading this month, along with my morning quiet time reading that's a yearly goal.  This month I'm reading a Bethany Publishers book for review.  Beverly Lewis's The Love Letters, to be specific.  I've actually started that one and so far it's quite intriguing!

I've also checked out a library book to read. It's the second novel of the Mrs. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children series, Hollow City by Ransom Riggs.  The first book of the series was fascinating -- kind of fantasy/intrigue/historical fiction -- so I'm looking forward to reading the second.

And the third book is How Sweet the Sound, by Amy K. Sorrells.  I actually downloaded this as a freebie on Amazon for my kindle. It's free through today, I believe, if you want to check it out on Amazon.

UPDATED:  I just saw on my favorite tea blog, Tea with Friends that Amazon is offering another Kindle freebie:  Jesus, Me, & Afternoon Tea, by D. L. Stalnaker. I don't know how long it will be available, but *I'm* sure going to add it to my reading list for the month!! Doesn't the cover just appeal to you all that are tea drinkers?? I can't wait to download it and 'flip' through the pages. I think I've got a little bit of Earl Grey and lavender tea that would be the perfect brew accompaniment to an afternoon read.  :)

The positive side of ice storms in March is an unexpected day off . . . which meant I got in some more nook time!  I printed off the photo for the back of my Kentucky Crossroads block and got it bordered . . .

And then sandwiched the front and back together and choose a quilting design (at least for the center of the block). 

You probably can't quite make out the markings on the piece, so I'll make it easier . . .

I liked this design because the points traveled nicely up the length of the 'crossroads'.  I'll do something scrolly in the red portions, and then probably outline stitch all the way around in the light border, just off the red.  The binding will be the darker blue.  Should be a pretty little finish to put in the mini quilt stand!

So that's it for me. Tomorrow we're headed out to spend the evening with the collective families, celebrating the first of our family's March birthdays . . . my Jocey! Happy Friday, Happy weekend!!

:)

mid-week musings . . .

What *CRAZY* weather we've been having!!  It was six degrees here this morning.  Saturday it's supposed to hit sixty.  Who can function with swings like that?!?

We got a bit of snow here yesterday.  I had an Ellie day, and here's what we saw at that end of the county:

Really, nothing to speak of.  It was dry and powdery snow and the wind just blew it hither and yon. Todd and I live in the northern end of the county, and we got a little bit more ... enough that it's still around this morning:

And then there's Sawyer, who got to enjoy the snow day thoroughly . . .

A true snow angel!

I finished up my second crochet project just in time for the bitter cold . . .

It's a cowled scarf.  It double-wraps around my neck very nicely and I got several compliments when I wore it out and about yesterday!  It's not perfect, but I love, love the colors -- it's blue with hints of purple, turquoise and green.  My favorites!

Ellie was willing to model it for me, but she really didn't care to wear it beyond the picture. Isn't she cute? Like a little Babushka doll!

June, on the other hand, fell in love with it before it was even finished!  (If you look to the top, you'll see me, holding the ball of yarn it's still attached to!) Sweet little girl -- she thought she was the stuff and was a little put out with me when it was time to take it back!

Sawyer informed me that *he* needed a scarf made by Neesey, so I readily agreed.  I asked him what color he'd like and he said . . .

Yellow!  I'll probably have this finished just in time for our summer-like Saturday. LOL!

I also finished up my CQ Heart . . .

I'm really pleased with how this turned out!  I probably didn't do as much embroidery seam treatment as I should have, but I think with the beading and other embellishments, it's good enough.  

Since it was a standalone piece, I did include the traditional spider and web, down at the bottom, but I tried to work them so they blended and weren't "obvious".

I think my favorite addition is the sparkly cross with John 3:16 embroidered underneath it. 

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

That's the ultimate love, right there--the very best! When I'd finished I told Todd that Crazy Heart was my Valentine to him. He laughed and corrected me, "No, that's your Valentine to YOU!"  Haha!  He's right.  ;)

Today the snowflake project calls -- I need to finish piecing it so I can decide what to do with it next!!

Stay warm - stay safe - be content!

:)

trucking along . . .

I'm getting more and more excited . . . to the point where I'm not sure I can work on anything else, I'm so excited about getting My Orange Crush finally finished!!

Yesterday I took advantage of Ellie's nap time, our Stitchers' group, and Todd wanting to play 'one more game' after I got home last night, to get these two blocks quilted:

Those are blocks 13 and 14.  THIRTEEN AND FOURTEEN!!!!!

And I also got these two blocks marked and ready:

Y'all . . . these are the LAST TWO BLOCKS!  Haha!  I feel like I'm gaining big momentum!  Once I've finished all my hand-quilting, I'll square all of the blocks up and start working on attaching them.

Several folks have asked about that process and so I thought I'd do an explanatory post when I get to that point.  It's very simple and once you see it, you'll understand why this is such a great method for me to put a large-ish quilt together in my small working space.

Ellie and I had such a fun day together - I do love my Ellie days!

I'd gotten The Jungle Book for Christmas (yes, I asked for it) and so we watched it together.  It was certainly too cold to go outside!  She was totally captivated by it and so we spent the afternoon singing the song 'Bare (Bear?!) Necessities'!

Yep, it's cold.  This is only the second time since we've lived at the camp that I've seen the ponds freeze.

Of course, it's certainly not ready for ice skating (and never will be), but it's pretty to see.  We started the week sub-zero and we'll end the week in the high sixties.  Bizarre, isn't it?  Winter in Alabama!

Stay warm!

:)

march comes roaring in!

Well, it wasn't completely unexpected . . . March certainly does enjoy playing at all ends of the weather spectrum! We woke up to this snowy weather, and it's not let up yet! I think "Nick" the cardinal looks so pretty in his wintry white backdrop!

It truly would have been the perfect day to stay warm and cozy up at the campsite, and work on quilts and bake cookies, or something, but no, it's off to work I go!

Yesterday, I had a great opportunity to get a couple of shots of the red bellied woodpecker who's been visiting our suet and bird feeders. He really is one of the most handsome birds we have visiting. And Todd's favorite!


I think he was posing for me! I love that I can be sitting on the couch, look out my window, and take this shot.

In a desperate attempt to both hold onto the promise of Spring and keep as long as possible the flowers Todd sent me for Valentine's Day, I salvaged this small handful of pretty blooms . . .

And finally, as promised, I did continue to play around with my new-found Star Puzzle pattern and the wedding quilt fabrics! I wasn't really happy with the neutral fabric, though. It was fine when it was the backdrop for a guest's signature and sentiment, but not so much in the particular block. I was going through my stash, and found a beautiful white piece of fabric with lavender and gray leafy accents . . . it's PERFECT!!! I love this fabric and it just makes the star POP! I may have to do the back of the wedding quilt in this fabric!! :) The photos simply do not do it justice.

I also tried it using a starker white fabric in the center. It looks dimensional here because, well, it was! I've not cut anything . . . I'm just folding and playing for now . . .

I may have to do a whole 'nother quilt with this!

On another note, Todd's dad is not feeling too good. He was ill enough to call Todd yesterday morning and ask him to bring him some medicine and agreed to a doctor's visit. Today he called Todd and said he thought a trip to the ER was in order. He was right; he's got pneumonia and they've admitted him. He's in good hands now, and is starting to feel some relief. God is good!

:)

on frozen ponds . . .

It's a bit chilly here in the deep south. It was twelve degrees when I got in my car to go to work this morning. Not quite the temps Alabamians are used to! It's been several (five, to be exact) days since the temperatures ventured above freezing. I had to laugh when the weatherman reported this morning that we would be experiencing 'bitter cold' temperatures by the end of the week. Buddy, we're there!

Driving down from Acorn Hill over the last few days, we've noticed that slowly, but surely, the ponds are freezing over! It's been an interesting progression to watch. Neither of them are ready for ice skating, by any means, but another week of these temps and they most likely will be! Thinking of frozen ponds and ice skating brings with it a wave of childhood nostalgia. I have fond memories of trekking through Severndale (our community) to Oakhill Elementary School (up hill, both ways), to the pond behind the school. We'd skate and play for hours and hours. When there was snow on the ground we'd take our sleds and go down the hill from the road to the school. What fun! When the sun started to set we'd head for home, shivering and worn, but happy and rosey-cheeked, too. Hot chocolate was always ready for us, and the smells of a home-cooked meal promised our bellies would be warm and full in no time.

I remember one particular trip to the Oakhill pond (which was probably more like a big swamp) during Christmas vacation. I'd gotten a really cool pair of boots that were Eskimo-ish and fur lined. I believe that may have been one of my favorite gifts under the tree that year. Anyway, a group of us trekked up to the pond, me wearing my new boots. It was cold, and I think I remember there being snow on the ground, but evidently it hadn't been cold long enough; there were some thin spots on the ice, and it didn't take long for me to find one! The water wasn't deep, so it wasn't like I fell in and got sucked under the ice or anything dramatic; I merely stepped *through* the ice and down into about twelve inches of water and muck. Cold, cold, COLD! That was my first thought. Pull foot up! That was my second thought. Unfortunately, when I did, the boot stayed down below, caught in the muck. I was so heartbroken! I remember getting down on my knees and fishing around in that cold water until I found the boot and pulled it back through the hole I'd made. I remembering walking back home (maybe about a mile) with one boot off, totally dejected. But thinking back on it makes me smile. I cleaned the boot as best as I could, but it was never quite the same. It didn't stop me from wearing them, but they were certainly no longer my prize.

Isn't it funny how a simply thing like driving past a pond that's icing over can bring back such a vivid childhood memory? I haven't thought of that boot/ice incident in years and years. But it's a part of who I am.

To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heavens.

I'm looking forward to Saturday and the opportunity to 'test the ice' on frozen ponds . . .

:)