My Word for 2013

CELEBRATE

I've thought and thought about my word for this New Year!  It needed to be a really good one...it needed to be one that made me think of all of the things in my life that I have to be thankful for, but I didn't want to use the word thankful...and then Celebrate came into my head and I knew it was the one.  I checked online for some definitions and synonyms...

Part of Speech:	verb
Definition:	commemorate occasion, achievement
Synonyms:	beat the drum, ceremonialize, commend, exalt, glorify, hallow, honor, jubilate,  laud,  mark with a red letter, memorialize, praise, rejoice, revere, solemnize

Yup, that was exactly what I wanted...that was my word...how could I go wrong with "mark with a red letter"?   2012 was not one of the better years of my life, but it sure wasn't all bad...I learned so, so much from the events of this past year.  I learned about "true" friends...friends that will stick with you even when you're not very pleasant to be around.  Friends that just call or drop a note to say "thinking about you", "are you doing OK?"  Friends that you know it's OK to pick up the phone and just cry if that's what you need to do.  I learned that "true" friends are really the angels in our lives.

I will CELEBRATE friends this year!

I learned that people come into our lives, some stay for a really long time and some stay for just a short time, some leave for a while and come back...they all come for a reason...but where I made my mistake for all of these years was beating myself up trying to figure out what I did to make them not stay for a long time.  I learned to accept the fact that they were in my life...and not dwell...I learned that there are NO coincidences in this life.
I will CELEBRATE always learning!

I learned (well I really knew it all along) that Andy (aka Mr. Quilt Holder/ Mr. Brown Quilts) is the BEST!  He listened to me, he pushed and guided me when I wasn't sure I could go one more step, he made me laugh when I wasn't sure there was a thing to laugh at and then he made me laugh again.

I will CELEBRATE Andy this year!

I learned (well really because I started paying attention) the beauty in the simple things around us every day...I see this camellia bush

every single day when I come in the driveway...I really see it this year.  I see these bougainvillaeas

in our side yard, but they seem so much prettier this year. I see sunsets out my back window everyday

...but it seems so much more magnificent. Or the beautiful full moon off my front porch with that wonderful contrail

...seems brighter!

I will CELEBRATE the simple beauties this year!

I learned that this Howie of mine

is a funny, sweet boy...very full of personality.  He always had been the more "stay to himself" dog...Zack was always the one that needed to know what was going on and where everyone was..well in the past 4 weeks Howie has become very social, wants to know what's going on and where everyone is...and he always knows when there just might be some food around.

I will CELEBRATE Howie this year!

I guess I've probably gone on long enough here, you get the idea...this is going to be a happy year, this is going to be a good year...and it all goes back to that day last month when I had that light bulb moment.  Now there's no doubt in my mind that there will be things that happen this year that will not be all that wonderful, but how I let those events affect me, how I respond, how I accept those events, my attitude and my behavior are all my choice...I learned from that dark time last month that I don't want that to happen again, I don't want to be angry and bitter...I want to CELEBRATE!  And CELEBRATE I will...Happy 2013 to all of you!

YUMMERS!

Another Christmas Eve and Christmas Day have come and gone...I was reading someone's blog this morning and she mentioned that it comes and goes faster every year...I don't think I've ever heard a truer statement.  We were invited to our neighbor's for dinner Christmas Eve...they just couldn't have us being home by ourselves for Christmas Eve...it was wonderful.  The meal was out of this world and the company was better.  We had such a good time...it was an evening I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy...first Christmas Eve without Mom, but our neighbors made it a great evening.

I have to share the most yummy dessert recipe...when our neighbors invited us I said we'd love to come but that I really wanted to bring something...Joy asked me to bring dessert...so off to Pinterest I went...yes I am the one that wasn't going to Pinterest, but we've already had that discussion..LOL!  Back in October Sherri over at A Quilting Life was taking part in the MODA Sweet Celebrations Blog Hop...part of her blogpost was a dessert recipe...I had pinned the recipe and when Joy said dessert I knew exactly what I was going to take...Angel Food Ice Cream Cake

...OH MY GOODNESS!  This is positively "lick the plate clean" yummy...and it was easy to do. Everyone at dinner just raved about it...I will surely do this again...thank you Sherri! 

Just have to share this second picture of the cake...Andy held it down a little further to see if I could get a better picture and there came Howie...

...he needed a better look! 

I Think We're Ready

Like everyone else we've been shopping (mostly online for the kid's stuff), wrapping, hustling and bustling (whatever that really means) and making treats for our neighbors.  We've been making this every Christmas for our neighbors since we moved here in 2005...

and the neighbors all get very excited when we ring their doorbells with these cans full of yumminess in hand.

If you haven't known me since then I'll post the recipe for this treat for you so you don't have to go searching for it...

Here you go...Santa's White Christmas

3 cups Cheerios
3 cups Rice Chex
3 cups Corn Chex
2 cups Lightly Salted Dry Roasted Peanuts
2 cups pretzel sticks
16 oz. bag M&M's
24 oz. White Chocolate (the Wilton white candy coating at Joann's works perfectly)
Sprinkles (We love the little red, green and white balls)

Mix all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

Melt the white chocolate, pour over the dry mixture, stir well until the mix is well coated.

Spread onto wax paper lined cookie sheets and add your favorite sprinkles...let it harden. (I put it in the refrigerator for about 5 minutes)

Break into small pieces. Store in an airtight container.

It's easy to do and I promise you'll be the hit of your neighborhood!

Our Christmas will be a little different this year...well a lot different I guess.  Andy and I will be celebrating Christmas quietly together with Howie.  We aren't getting caught up in all the craziness of a huge meal and lots of presents.  We both decided that we truly have everything we need or want...health, happiness, a wonderful family and friends...how can we top that?  So we will focus on the true meaning of Christmas...and then on the 30th the kids will be arriving...we've decided we're going to have a big WELCOME 2013 celebration.  We have banners, and hats, horns and table decorations...we're going to say Goodbye to 2012 and Welcome 2013...we are looking so forward to this New Year...new opportunities, new memories...I've been thinking about my word for 2013 and I think I have it...I'm really excited about it.
So for today, Merry Christmas to all of you...make the time to ENJOY every minute of it...don't stress...no stress here, I'm still stitching binding

on my Countdown to Christmas quilt (don't you just love the strip of white fabric I had to add to the backing fabric...that's what happens when I order fabric, don't really know what I'm doing with it and then wait a year to use it...LOL!  It worked), maybe I'll finish just as the countdown comes to it's end...I'll be just in time...remember why we celebrate this day!

I've Been Staying Busy

Keeping my hands busy, playing with fabric and listening to my machine whir is good for my spirit...each day this week has gotten better and we're getting used to our "new normal"...Howie's doing well...as we've gotten better, he's gotten better.

I finished my ornament quilt this week and I'm lovin' it...

it's a combination of Twelve Days of Christmas and Joy both by Kate Spain and the pattern is a Thimbleblossoms pattern by Camille.  It was so fun to do...enjoyed every minute of sewing this one.  Yes that's Mr. Brown Quilts holding up the top...he loves doing his Wilson pose.

My Sweet Man

My Sweet Man went to heaven today...Zack we love you and we'll miss you...

Thank You My Friends

My heart is full...you all sure know how to make a girl feel soooooooooooo much better.  As I was writing my last post I kept thinking "Well, I just hope they don't think I've gone off the rails"...you know I was also thinking "I wonder if I'm the only one that ever does this to themselves and feels this way"...and you all were so wonderful and made me realize that I'm not alone...there is much comfort in that.  So thank you all from the bottom of my heart...I was truly humbled by your comments and so very thankful.  I've saved every single comment and will be writing each one of you a note...you have touched my heart and just have no idea how much you have helped me.  Blogland friends are amazing!

I've been sewing this week and having lots of fun...playing with Christmas fabric...this won't be ready for this year but I'll have a new quilt for next year.  I've used pieces of Twelve Days of Chritmas (Kate Spain's group from 3 Christmas' ago...I had a ton of it) and this year's group Joy...These ornaments

that Camille designed are just so darn much fun to do.  I'm going to be sad when I don't have anymore to do...I have one more to put together tomorrow and then the sashings and borders.  So much FUN!

I have to share this little cleaning tip with you...pipe cleaners or as they call them now...chenille stems...they bend

and get into those nooks and crannies that we can't get to...I use them when I do a real clean of my machine or just a little touch up like I'm doing today

...they work great...the dust bunnies stick right to them, they're cheap and when the get icky, just toss them in the trash and start over.

And just have to share this pic of my boys...

they were waiting for their Sunday scrambled eggs...Zack is doing pretty well...he's still eating great, loves his walks, is happy as he can be and getting around without problems.  He's so sweet...we go back to the vet on Wednesday so we'll see what she says.  Fingers and toes crossed for me little old man.

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Not At All Quilt Related...

WARNING!  This post is not at all quilt related...it's about me...and not a very pretty side of me, but me none the less...I think I'm writing this as the final chapter of a very sad couple of weeks...but the ending is good and for that I am so very, very thankful...and I wasn't feeling very thankful for quite a few days.

There was an event that happened right after my last blog post...and the actual event isn't really what I'm writing about...it's the way I reacted to the event.  The event pretty much pulled the rug out from under me emotionally, I had been beyond excited about what was going to happen and then the timing of everything changed...POOF! nothing was the way it was "supposed to be"...I think that on top of my first birthday and first Thanksgiving without Mom, the kids weren't coming this year for Thanksgiving, it was just going to be Andy and I (and the boys of course) I just got sad...so sad that I was almost paralyzed...I didn't want to do anything...cried and cried...went to bed...I was in a great big depression.  Then my sweet Zack had a small stroke...I almost couldn't bear it.  But it did give me something else to think about besides ME!  Bless his heart!  He's such a trooper...he was pretty weak on his right side but he kept at it...he would slip and slide on our hardwood floors so we put some rugs down until he got sturdy...the rugs are now gone and he's getting around just fine.  The steps to go outside were a major challenge, but he's got that all worked out too.  With the stroke came some paralysis in the side of his face.  Not being able to feel his lip, if it got flapped into his mouth when he was chomping down on something he bit right into it...so off to the vet we went, his lip was swollen and ugly...she gave him antibiotics and referred us to the doggie dentist up at the specialist vet clinic...he's only there one day a month and that happened to be yesterday.  He decided that the best thing to do would be to remove those 2 big teeth on that side so he could do no further damage...so that's what they did...he spent the night there and we pick him up at 11 this morning.  The dentist said that because he has no feeling there he'll never miss them.  My sweet old man...

Sorry, I got a bit ahead of myself there but I wanted you to have the whole story on Zack, in case you wanted to stop reading this epistle now...So back to me...Thanksgiving was nice, bless Andy's heart, I was less than thankful for anything but he just hung in there with me, supporting and getting me through the day...Friday he got up and went to the gym and I was here, no one to chat with, the boys were sound asleep...the biggest A-Ha moment...not sure where it came from, was it the things that Andy had been saying for days that finally clicked, was it Darlene who had called and e-mailed daily to check on me and give me words of wisdom, was it Mom, was it ...  I have no idea where it came from, but like a door opening and the light shining in I got all of my answers...it was about me, but not the way I was thinking it was.  It was about my expectations...I was expecting people to do what I would do...I was expecting them to react the way I would...after 8 days of being a miserable human being, the light came on...it's NOT about my expectations...it's not about the way I would deal with it...the light is back on in my life.  I have much to be thankful for...I have amazing people in my life...I have my wonderful family, right here in my house and extended out to our son and his precious family...Andy and I both have very good health, a few twitches here and there but nothing of any concern, I had my mom for 60+ years of my life, while I would have loved to have had more, I am so very, very fortunate.  So all that said, I am very grateful for everything and everyone I have in my life and I hope that I will always remember the day the big Light came on...no more expectations...I will take each day as it comes and for that I will be thankful.

I am also so thankful for all of you who have stuck with me through the years...the good times, the bad times, the sad times and the happy times...the grandkid posts, the nature posts, the dog posts and the occasional quilt post...Thank you my friends!

I can't possibly have this long winded post without a picture...I have to share the birthday gift I got in the mail on Friday, the "Lightbulb" day...from my dear, dear friend Darlene...

charms for my bracelet that are HER...the Arizona sun and her Wabbit...even though we have never met in person, we've been friends for over 6 years...we "click"...she's gotten me through some very dark times...and now I have a little bit of her with me all the time.  Thank you Darlene...not just for the wonderful birthday gift but for the gift of your friendship.

Thank you for allowing me to share my life with you...the good and the not so good...next post, something quilty...I promise!

Caught up in Rehab and More

I'm happy to say that this has been a good week...all caught up with my Fat Quarter Shop BOM...thank you Sinta for

Here's the most recent block...it was a fun one to do...

And for a tool endorsement...I don't think I've ever liked a tool better than this one...it's the little rotating Fiskars cutting mat.

It's so little that it will sit on the small spot right next to my machine but large enough to do the little trimming I need to do.  I've had other ones, too big, too small, don't rotate...this one is just right.  I LOVE it...so if you want to give yourself a treat, this is a perfect one.  Thank you Darlene for sending this little gem to me.

I resisted and resisted and resisted Lori Holt's Row Along...and then Sherri posted her row of cups and I couldn't resist any longer...I was chatting with Darlene and she said the same thing, she loved the cups but the row of apples sent her over the edge...so yes, we've both jumped in...I got Row 1 done today

and I love it...tomorrow I'll cut Row 2...I'm making myself do these in order...I want to do the cups right now...but I'm going to be disciplined and do them in the correct order.  Thanks Lori, thanks Sherri and thanks Darlene for going on this journey with me...we're going to have some fun!

Countdown to Christmas

I am so excited I can hardly contain myself...I finished my Countdown to Christmas top...

well it's really called Starry Eyed (from the MODA Bakeshop)...but I can never remember it's name and the fabric is Countdown to Christmas so that's what I've been calling it.  This is by far my favorite Christmas quilt for a couple of reasons...I loved the pattern as soon as Darlene brought it to my attention...I had the fabric and she showed me the pattern and it was love at first sight...but what really makes it my favorite is the fun Darlene and I had sharing fabric so that we each had enough to do it.  Thank you my friend...this just couldn't have been more fun!

Birthdays

We're getting ready for birthdays in our family...Hampton will be 6 on the 25th...someone please tell me how that happened.  They won't be with us this year for Thanksgiving so we won't get to celebrate Hampton's Big 6th birthday...so today I got his gifts all packed up and in the mail...

The kids will be coming after Christmas for a visit...so Peyton will be here to celebrate his first birthday with us...a year already...weren't we just waiting for him to arrive?  I "had" to make him a quilt to celebrate his big day...the fabric is Scoot by Riley Blake
the big kids got quilts for their first birthday's too.

The boys had a very busy day today....the groomer came...it was bath day.  Howie waited very patiently for Zack to get done and come back in the house...

this is what they did the rest of the afternoon...

getting a bath and nails clipped just plain wear these boys out.

Happy weekend...I plan to be back tomorrow with a flimsy if Mr. Quilt Holder is available...

Dear Santa

I loved this fabric the moment I saw it...it just reminded me of the wrapping paper on Christmas gifts when I was a kid.  Lots of memories...when I finished it

this afternoon and brought it down for my Mr. QuiltHolder to help me get a photo, he immediately said, "Who is this one for?" and just as immediately I responded "It's for me".  I don't do that very often...my quilts usually go to someone else, not this one...I'm going to curl up in the memories.

And Everyone Was Happy!

Dad's home...so the boys spent the afternoon downstairs watching football with him...in between taking naps...

I spent the afternoon in my Happy Place...at my sewing machine.  I worked on a bunch of blocks for a new Christmas quilt,

using Dear Mr. Claus fabric by MODA and a Sweet Jane pattern, Picnic in the Park.  I hope to get the sashings finished tomorrow.
I also worked on some blocks to send to Erin up in Virginia...

she's putting together quilts for people who were affected by Hurricane Sandy.  I saw her post this morning, was directed there through a friend's blog and knew immediately that I was going to get some blocks done today.  I was thinking last night as we got into bed..."Sure we can send money to organizations and I know that's wonderful but I need to DO something"...and there it was this morning...my answer...I love when that happens.

Don't forget to turn your clocks back tonight when you go to bed...I'm so excited, we get back that hour they took away from us in the spring...YIPPEE!

Now My Machine is Telling Me What To Do...

And here's the proof...when I sat down at my machine today, this is what I saw...

hasn't she gotten a little bossy since she spent her time at the spa while we were away.
OK, I confess, it was really me...when I finished my Bounce top yesterday I was playing "beat the sunset" so I could get the picture taken outside before the sun went completely away....so I didn't want to take the time to get the lint out and change the needle...so I left myself a note.  I decided that since she's all nice and clean that I'm going to be really, really good and give her a nice clean out after each project.  Guess I better hang on to my reminder!

WHEW!!!

Just in the nick of time!
With no time to spare!
By the skin of my teeth!
Got in under the wire!

I finished...my Bounce is done and I love it!  Thanks Carrie for a very fun pattern!  And oh how I love that Ruby fabric by Camille and Bonnie.  I've been hoarding that fabric for a while now, just waiting for the right project...and I'm so happy I did.

Once again...thank you so much Sinta and Sherri for Another Wonderful Schnibble Month!

I Usually Do What I'm Asked...

And it's almost always by my 4-legged kids...let me explain.  Andy was out of town last weekend...he took a quick trip up to Pennsylvania to see some old friends from high school that were gathering in Mercersburg, PA...he left Thursday morning (before the storm set its sights on the east coast) and thankfully got home Sunday late afternoon...(flying out of Baltimore ahead of the storm...he was only an hour late getting home)...OK sorry, back to my story.  Well, you all know that when Andy's out of town I spend hours and hours and hours sewing, except for the last time he went away and I had that horrible cold or whatever it was and I spent the whole time he was gone on the couch...OK back on track again...I started out Thursday after he left wanting to work on my Bounce quilt...I headed upstairs and worked for about 1/2 an hour and Howie started "chatting" at me from the bottom of the stairs...he had a lot to say.  Since they're getting up in years, they don't like to come upstairs so much like they used to.  They used to follow me up and down a dozen times a day, but not anymore.  They still want to be with me, but I'm the one that needs to make the adjustments.  So I gave it a bit of thought and came up with the solution...I'd set up a sewing station at the kitchen table with my small Janome

and work on something else...upstairs machine, Bounce...downstairs machine, other stuff.  As it turned out, I spent most of my time downstairs sewing on "something else"...I'd sew for a bit, they'd be sound asleep, I'd leave the TV on in the kitchen and tiptoe upstairs...I'd be there just long enough to get going good and Howie would start "chatting"...just pitiful...so down I'd come.  I did get my Fat Quarter Shop Mystery block done, some Farmer's Wife blocks, started a Christmas quilt, got binding on Peyton's 1st Birthday quilt, but sure didn't get much done on my Bounce.  So dad's home, I have one more pieced border to do and then the solid outside border...I'll be in the upstairs sewing room, sewing like a wild woman if you need me!
Have a wonderful Halloween!
Thoughts and Prayers going out to all those affected by the storm...take care

It All Began With Pinterest

You know I said from the time Pinterest started that I wasn't going there...I wasn't looking...I knew what would happen...then you know if you've read my blog for a while that I had lunch with a friend back in July and she convinced me that I was missing out on way too much stuff...so I caved and the rest is history.  I have enough quilts and recipes (not to mention all the other stuff) pinned to keep me busy until I reach the ripe old age of 320.  It really is fun and I have made some wonderful recipes...yes, that's where this is going.
I have always loved granola but am not a real fan of what I can get in the grocery store...so I have about 20 granola recipes pinned and yesterday was the day to give one a try...Autumn Granola..

it is really, really good...I didn't make any changes,

did it just the way the recipe says.  I had some this morning with yogurt and all I can say is YUMMERS!
Then since I had a yummy treat I thought the boys needed a treat too...so back to my Boards this morning and there it was Pumpkin Biscuits...just what the boys needed...they love pumpkin and it is pumpkin season so, out came my trusty Kitchen Aide,

dough hook in place and before too long I had a nice ball of dough.  Well the recipe said to roll out the dough and cut it with cookie cutters...so being the rule follower that I am, I started cutting out biscuits...

what in the world was I thinking, the boys would never know whether they were getting bones and fire hydrants or squares, so I stopped right where I was, rerolled my dough and proceeded to just cut...

done in no time...baked and taste tested by the boys...sorry no pics...they ate them too fast to even click the camera...2 Paws up!
Now lest you think that all I've done is play on Pinterest and try new recipes I did do some sewing yesterday.  I made 7 dog beds for the shelter...

a good friend of mine from South Florida is a long arm quilter and she gave me many large bags of scraps and the edges of quilts from when she trims...I was thrilled...the bags have been in the garage for about a month now and I decided today was the day...they are easy to do, ultimate recycling, great use of stash and such a good cause.  The ladies at the shelter just squeal when I come in with new beds...I haven't come in with this many at one time since I had the shop.  Timing is good too...the weather is going to be changing a bit and next week the nights will be going down to the low 50's...these will make their nights a bit cozier.  

This is Becoming a Food Blog

This is just a quick post from my IPad...I'll be back later with another post from my laptop with more pictures. Just had to share this little tidbit with you. While we were in Montreal we went on a bus tour of the city. Saw lots of amazing buildings..very old, magnificent churches, beautiful brick houses, structures built for the World Expo and The Olympic Village...one of the buildings we saw was the Dare Bakery...home of


The bus driver described these yummy treats...I knew there was an IGA grocery store right down the street from our hotel...you guessed it...got back from our tour and off to the grocery store I went...oh my goodness...these are little pillows of wonderfulness...here's hoping they don't come to a grocery store near me!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

We're Headed to see Fall

As you all know, I live in Florida...we don't have fall here...and my favorite season of the year is fall.  Well, my sweet husband decided that he was going to take me on a fall cruise.  Not too long after Mom passed away he and our friend John (we travel with he and his wife Nancy often) started planning a trip.  We're flying to Montreal in the morning, going to spend a couple of days there seeing the sights...we'll get on our ship on Saturday afternoon and begin cruising down the St. Lawrence, with stops in Quebec City, Prince Edward Island, Halifax, Sydney and Bar Harbor, Maine...docking in Boston on the 20th and home that afternoon.

The boys will be well taken care of...we have an awesome pet sitter...they won't even miss us!  Better go finish packing.  I'm taking my iPad and hoping that I'll find connections along the way...hope to chat this week!  I had a picture to put in here but for some reason it's telling me I'm out of space...I have no clue...I'll figure it out when I get back.  Sorry!

Bouncing Along

Well I'm finally Bouncing along...it's taken me all week but I finally have all of my Bounce stars done.

I don't think I've ever sewn so slowly in 30 years...those germs I came back from Birmingham with really, really knocked me for a loop.  There were days I never even attempted to go upstairs...and then there were days that I went up, worked for half and hour and was pooped.  Finally this past Friday I really started feeling better...much more energy...over a week out of commission.  But things are looking up here!  And I'm a very happy girl!

I have another Halloween treat from Target to share with you...Candy Corn Oreos...

OH MY!  The cookie is the vanilla Oreo and the cream is a candy corn cream...these are out of this world.  I had heard about these and that they were exclusively in Target.  I went to our Target several times before I headed to Birmingham, but no Candy Corn Oreos...Katie and I had to run to her Target one night while I was there and Bonanza...and entire display!  I jumped for joy and ran to the display...Katie laughed so hard...she said she wasn't sure she'd ever seen me move that fast.  I bought several bags, Josh, Hampton and I ate them while I was there and I brought one bag home.  I've been rationing them since I've been home.  It's the little things in life that make me happy!

We Have A Winner!

And the winner is Comment #1 Sue...

Sue said...

I think you should take it easy. I'm all in favor of afternoon naps! I never used to take them, but now I love every minute I get...even if they only amount to 20 minutes :D

I would love a chance to win that very neat organizer! I love that you can carry it in your purse too as I always go big on purses! You just never know who you might have to bean in the head with it! hahaha

Glad you're home and that you had a great time :D

Friday, September 28, 2012

Andy just got home from Birmingham and since he's my official number generator, that was his first task...after greeting the dogs of course.  I asked him why he said #1 and he said because he'd never picked that one before...so there you have it...Congratulations Sue...I'll get your planner out to you!

Bouncing Along

I finished my Speck, the September Schnibble very, very early in the month...September 8th to be exact...now I new what the October Schnibble was going to be, either Bounce or Hubble, our choice, and I decided right then that I wanted to do Bounce...now the 24 thousand dollar question would be...did I start cutting and sewing Bounce then...NO of course not...I started yesterday...
...cut all of my Ruby fabric yesterday and the white today.

Unfortunately I'm still not back to 100% so it was pretty slow going and I don't think I have the energy to sew tonight.

Andy flew up to Birmingham on Friday for the weekend...a surprise for Camden and Hampton...Camden so wanted her Grandy to see her play soccer...so how could he say no.  He called this afternoon, everyone was sad...it started raining this morning and all of the games were cancelled for the day...best laid plans...but he's had a blast with the kids and helped Josh and Katie with some things in the new house.  And a bonus...today is Josh's birthday...our boy is 35 today...how in the world did that happen?  So Andy got to celebrate with him for the first time in a while.  Life is good!

See you tomorrow for the organizer winner!

Home Again...And a Giveaway

I'm home...left these cuties...big brother and little brother...

and our soccer player...

I had the BEST time...time spent with the family is beyond amazing.  Katie and I got tons and tons done in the new house...lots of boxes unpacked, lots of stuff put away.  My plan is to head back again in November to do some projects.  Katie has an idea for a reading corner in the playroom that will need my sewing skills and several other projects.  Can't wait!

Since I got home I've been a bit under the weather...guess I just tried to do way to much...mom would say I need to learn to act my age...LOL!  I think I can still go like I did when I was 30 but it catches up with me.  Staying up way to late at night, up early with the kids in the morning, and then up and down stairs carrying boxes and stuff all day, not to mention the 8 hour and 45 minute drive both ways...I was pooped when I got home, but still wouldn't give in.  Well yesterday I had no choice, my body said..."You're old...you're not 30 anymore" and I just gave out.  I think I slept the better part of 24 hours...oh my!  Today was much better, but I decided to take it easy, sit on the couch and do some binding.  I haven't even gone upstairs to the sewing room...there's always tomorrow.

So since I have no sewing to share with you I'm going to share a great calendar/organizer with you...

I won a giveaway a few weeks ago over at A Bright Corner I love it...I love it so much that I ordered another one from the developer of it...Picket Fence Publications 
It runs from August 2012 to August 2013... I love that it has 3 columns one for my schedule, one for Andy's and one for our joint activities or whatever else...

I love that it has a dinner planner and grocery list on the opposite page...

I love that it has these planning sheets for Thanksgiving dinner and a Christmas list right next to it so when you're with the family for Thanksgiving you can start your list...

There's also a Christmas dinner planner and final Christmas list...

I love that I can keep it in my purse (yes I carry a very large purse) and it doesn't weigh a ton...I just love everything about it.  So if you'd like one of your very own, just leave me a comment...I'll pick a winner on Monday at 11a.m. EDT...please make sure if you are a no reply commenter that you leave me an e-mail address.

Hopefully I'll be back this weekend with something sewing related.