It's done! It's done!

I don't think I have been working on it all that long but at the same time, it's been a long time!
I bought the fabric in October....so not that long. Two months. I think the stress came because I missed a deadline.

Just started with some blocks..

I knew I wanted one bigger than the other.

And I knew I'd need a filler block or two....

With a sash and a scrappy border, we have a quilt. 

Thanks to my sibling for the backing fabric. 

It's yummy in color and texture.

Merry belated Christmas Blueman. 

When you need a little smile

Life has been stressful and filled with changes.
So sometimes you just need to seek out things that make you smile.

Charlie likes his Christmas tree!

The skeleton caught MY eye, the plate caught my passenger's

The little blue tree was the lynchpin for secret Santa gifts. 

Several folks had a hand in decorating.

May your stress be short lived.

Frost on, y'all

extraneous vacation pics

Small tables for checkers or chess ringed a life size checkers and chess set (shown set up for chess)

The tennis courts, racquetball courts and mini golf were all empty this time of the morning.

A funky sculpture just outside the game area.

Four feet tall, maybe? Cool.

While at lunch there was this beautiful glass flower display. The rock "vase" was over five feet tall, and these blooms rose up in a glorious display.  I wonder how many people walked around never looking up. What a sight to miss!

Let's vow to look around today.

Because I like a good hotel room...

skip this post if you like. I just enjoy pics of the room when it's in its pristine state.

I thought this bench was the best part of the room. Since the bed came to the top of my thigh, the bench was necessary for putting on shoes. My feet dangled a foot above the floor while seated on the bed!

Beautiful print in the bedroom.

Dining area and another good print on the wall. The suite was a mini apartment. Quite nice for a relaxing getaway.

French doors overlooking a patio. 

I walked the ring around the resort.

Was about a half mile but as we were top of the hill, the last half was up hill.

If we'd stayed longer, I'd have enjoyed doing that walk each morning.

A trip beginning to end

It seems a lot of our trips start this way!

We like to get a drink for the road, maybe a nibbly.

We took a break midway where I snapped a landscaping shot (above)

And Santa on a break (below)!

And then the after trip picture...

A cuddle with my boys.

They make coming home better!

Totes m'goats

gift exchanges can go well, or they can go terribly awry.
This year two of them went crazy well.
I got totes which just happens to be one of my addictions!

The top one will be used on an upcoming trip. The bottom one....well, maybe the same trip!

And lest you think I don't use them, the birthday bag I bought myself, I used to carry goody bags to work.  I should have taken a picture for proof!

Wishing you a tote-ally good day and a bagful of happiness!

Anniversary update

I was quite happy with my flowers.
In case you forgot, they looked like this.

Pretty roses and all the Carnations and greenery was quite pretty.

Then this happened:

Ta-da!

The sleepers woke up and joined the party!

10 days in and the flowers still look pretty, though this pic was taken at day 7.

This plus that

Start with this:

Add some of this:

Then you'll see this:

My version of holiday baking!

28 dozen pretzels, check!

Happy holidays!

Anniversary

blueman is pretty awesome. We had a holiday party at my work the day before our big day so we stayed in on the actual 4 year anniversary.

He made Mahi Mahi, cous cous, veggies and rolls. Chocolate cake for dessert. I regret no pics but it was yummy!

This surprised me at work

Pretty!

Love the vase even more!

This surprised me at home.

I'd asked for a fun clock for the craft room.

Blueman is pretty awesome. I look forward to many more years together.

Sunday slow down with only one tree.

I went to church with a friend today.  The sermon started out with a story about a two year old. How for most little ones, it's not going from point a to point b that is the thrill. It's the fact that there was a journey at all. The wonder, thrill, fear and excitement about every small thing seemingly is what children are all about.

Do we sense wonder in our daily lives? Do we find things to be excited about? Outside of the holiday season which already carries some bit of wonder, excitement, etc, on its own, do we see through the eyes of a child anymore?

I'm going to be taking on more responsibility soon. There will be a new sense of purpose and also a possibility of getting overwhelmed. I'm going to try and keep up with the need to see the wonder in every day life.

Even if it's a seven inch Christmas tree powered by a computer,

Trees are a wonder to me.

Where is your wonder?

Who am I?

Sometimes the only person you can be is yourself.
In a world of labels, wife, mom, friend, employee, it can be hard to figure out who you are.

I love these calendar quotes.

Who I am is someone who appreciates a good custard filled donut.

Sometimes I'm complex.

Sometimes I just want a donut.

Stitching update #437

It does sort of feel like I've updated on this 436 times. We are nearing the end but ding dang it's taking its sweet time!

Just some holes in the cello, the rest of the chair. 

 I could skip the table and flowers but that feels like not completing the challenge.

Speaking of holes, I had to magnify the cloth on my phone to decide if there were unstitched areas near the dark brown at the top.  Sure enough three little spots to fill in. 

Here's hoping you meet all your deadlines!

Happy stitching.

More trees

so I think I'm driving the maternal unit crazy with my tree pictures. I will ask her to back up and put her window down so I can get one. Then I snap the pic, put the window up and then go about our merry way.

I park in front of this tree every day. I just love the shape.

This one was almost down, but not to be counted out. Tree arthritis?

Zooming in on this picture , those lumps look like tree eggs to me. 

Is this where wood sprites come from? 

Can't you just feel a story begin?

Happy tree dreaming.

Snippets of wisdom

I like my calendar pictures. There are comments and quotes that speak to me. I was blessed to get the same calendar from two different folks so I shared one with a friend.

Sometimes it's just silly.

Sometimes it's just true.

Sometimes I just like them.

And surrounded by books? That's my nirvana!

Enjoy your day!

And more like Christmas

Seemingly between one day and the next, the neighborhood lit up. 

You work late and this is your view coming home.

Pretty.

Then for the first time, we are lit up also.

I'm still a child inside and I like driving around looking at lights. 

Some folks wait til late so a week before Christmas is a good time to go.

Get lit, y'all!

Oh wait! I think that means something else!

Ha ha!

It's beginning to look a bit like Christmas....

This morning as I pull out of the garage, this was looking at me across the street.  Frosty bid me a fond good day, which I must admit made me smile!

Hello inflatable friends!

The view inside was much different.

Christmas decorations sort of "appeared" in the living room.

Batteries need to be replaced as Blueman likes lights, bells and whistles!

Will this be the year for a tree?

Mmmm, who knows?!

Happy decorating.

So close you can baste it...

The second craft thing I am working on for Blueman is coming along.  If the cello finishes first, then I get another week to finish the tv watching quilt.

A little bit...

Added to a little bit....

Becomes a little more!

I stared at this for quite some time trying to figure out what was wrong,

Then I decided, it was upside down. I was pooped and didn't want to rehang it just for a picture.

I need to fix one small thing and add borders.

And then quilt it.

And then bind it.

And wash it.

Monday Stitchin' update

so it's coming along....

Last week was a hint of the left side of the cello.

Now more of it is getting filled in.

The first deadline is the 13th of December. That means 16 more days... 

Can I make it?

Secondary deadline is 1 week after that.

How do the elves do it with all this pressure?!

Happy stitching