A BIG Finish!

Good Morning!!!!  I'm sitting here thinking I should be doing something...anything...but decided to write a post...that's something isn't it?  😆

I spent a little time in the sewing area the other day.  We are getting to the end of our Birthday Block Club year (thank goodness!!!!).  My friends daughter is involved and I had made her a cowgirl boot for one of her blocks (they are horse people).  She has a sweet daughter who was in the last kindergarten class I worked in......so I made her a smaller version of her Mom's block and made it into a little pillow.  I hope she will be surprised!  

This little monkey had a two night sleepover last weekend....it was just us girls!  She's a goof (but I LOVE her!)  I think she is coming for a visit today as she told her Mom she missed her Papa....Papa was away working when she came and stayed with me.

While Hubby was up north I had a vision for a shelf at our entry way and asked my dad if he would whip one up....well, he did and Hubby brought it home with him.  I LOVE it and can't wait to decorate it when I decorate for Christmas!!!

Folks...it's done!!!  The Santa, The Tree, The Turkey & Me by Hatched and Patched!!!!!  A TON of work but I truly did enjoy every step along the way!  I will hand quilt it, like Ani Downs has done to hers, and hope to get it sandwiched this week.  I showed Hubby and he said "that looks like alot of work!"....every time I would be stitching on a block he would ask if it was done yet!  I know just where it will hang in the livingroom.

Can you believe we are coming up to only a month until Christmas???  I am bringing out the color this year for decor......I will use my Jim Shore things which have been in hiding since we moved here.  It feels like a year of over-the-top rather than minimal like I did last Christmas.  We will see........I have to get to my decorations first!!!!  (my garage is a MESS!)  I even bought Christmas cards yesterday....but I have a bit of shopping left to do (and a quilt to quilt for Son2!)  Time for a to-do list!!  

I'd best get a start on my day....enjoy yours!!!!!!!  

 

Hello.....Where Did October Go?

Geez.....I missed another month!  Not sure why I am being a bad blogger....I have all the time in the world....I guess nothing much to post about.  But since I missed a month, this post will be picture heavy!!!!  

There is a quilt shop in Innisfail.  It's not very big but nice and close by and I follow them on Facebook. Wawa's Quilts.  They posted that they had just got in the Simple Sampler book by Kim Diehl and the Ornament Extravaganza book by Buttermilk Basin.  Well........I came home with a couple more books too!! 

One of the quilt shops in Olds was having a "sidewalk sale" the same week and I found these homespuns (and more):

It was a great time to stop as a gal I knew from Grande Prairie was there helping out and we planned a road trip to another quilt shop....that was a fun day!

I have to show you some of my birthday gifts from friends.  Kim sent me some yummy stuff!  I can't wait to try the appliqué circle things (bag in front) and the thread wax smells delicious!!! (and it works great!!!!)   I love it all!!!!

These canisters were from my kids....I have since bought the cookie jar that matches:

These next two gifts show how diverse my friends are....is that the right word???  

My friend Diane gave me this necklace with this sweet note:

My friend Sue made this sign for me:

HAHAHAHAHA😆😂😁 

My Dad and Son2 came down one weekend so we had everyone here for a visit.  We spent a lot of time outside...it was great!

Then came Thanksgiving....Dad and Son2 were not here...this is the crew!  It went well as I had pre-made a bunch of stuff.  The turkey even turned out well (I am not a poultry cook!!)  

Then came Halloween.....of course we don't get trick or treaters out here in the country but I always have to have candy just incase!  I always buy the mini chocolate bars but these were for me!

I LOVE them but they are hard to find and once they are gone they are gone. 😒  I knew I should have bought 2 bags when I saw them!

Lyla was here a little while ago, before Halloween, and drew Frankenstein and a witch....pretty good for a 4 year old!  

My Spiderman💙:

My Dinosaur and Bowser💚💜:

Here's a cute pic of Brody that his Mommy sent me.....he's growing up so fast and changes every time we see him!!!!!!!  Soon he will be eight months old (can you believe this COVID sh*t has been happening for 8 months????)

Some of my recent sewing:

These are blocks from Hatched and Patched "The Santa, The Tree, The Turkey and Me"  I am LOVING them and am waiting for kits for the next three blocks....there are only 7 in total.  The blocks are ready for the wool appliqué as I have done the embroidery stitching.  They are coming from Out of Hand in Calgary.

Not much more to report.  I guess I had better post more often so I don't have so many pictures to share!!!!  Once again, I will try!  

We have had snow but lately the weather has been gorgeous!  No snow left (but lots in the forecast for the weekend)....I may have to wash the windows in this sunroom today......maybe. 

I see on Instagram, etc that many people are already starting to decorate for Christmas.  The attitude is because of the way 2020 has been, do what you enjoy and play that Christmas music, decorate and be happy!!!!  We will see..........😙

Enjoy your day!!!

 

This Is 57

Another 365 days around the earth!!  At least my hair is different than the past two years!  LOL

  

I was actually alone for this birthday.  Hubby is up north doing some work.  The whole family will be here next weekend so I wasn't expecting them to come this weekend.  My friend Diane came with Timmies this afternoon once she found out I was alone.  LOL  What a sweetheart!  I have had so many text messages and Facebook birthday wishes.....I didn't feel alone at all!!!  It was a wonderful day!!!!!

But what a wild past six months!!!!!!  Half a year of insanity!  Am I good?  Some days.  I have bad days too.  I have been stress eating, gaining (alot) of weight, being inactive.  I have no desire to sew.  But there are good days too.  When the grandkids come to visit with their parents. 😍 I have wonderful friends near and far!!  💕  I truly am blessed and I will get through this!

I have started walking.  I LOVE fall and it seems to inspire me to do that!  I am starting small (only 30 minutes for now) but I feel good when I do it!!!!  I put my earbuds in and get moving!  Now to concentrate on eating better.....much better!  It's easy to do all this while Hubby is away (he would not want to eat my taco salad with ground turkey) but we will make it work!  

So even though there isn't an end in sight with this Covid, I sure hope the end comes sooner rather than later...........and I will continue working on me and on having more good days than bad.  😊 (can you tell I LOVE fall!  LOL And we have had beautiful fall weather!)  

Here's to the next 365 days....praying it's better!!!!  😜

 

A Missing Month

I guess I skipped a month......one day/week/month just seems like the next!

But August brings my annual mammogram and this year I went a day beforehand and stayed with my friend Sue and her husband in their new house in Nanton.  It's so cute and cozy!!  Like us, they downsized quite a bit when they moved there from High River.  We had a FANTASTIC visit and the next morning I was off to Okotoks for the big squeeze and ultrasound.

Of course it's all about wearing masks right now......

Everything came back A-Ok!

We had our game cam set to face the front of the house because our cats were always growling and hissing at something....well it turned out to be another cat (and I haven't seen it again for awhile now) but we also discovered this visitor strolling through in the middle of the night!!!!!

That little bugger better stay away.......I believe skunks are nocturnal so hopefully it was passing through and no one (a dog!) wakes it up during the day!!

Our girls came out one Saturday and I convinced DIL Jenna to bring Jude for a visit and overnight......these two goofs......LOVE them to pieces!💗💙

And this handsome guy is growing and changing every time I see him, which is fairly often. I've even "babysat" overnight now twice!:

Alice and Archie still leave us "gifts" so Jude was the disposer of this one!!!!  (hands were immediately washed afterwards!!)

This is my most favourite picture of these two yet. 😍😍  Their Mommy sent it to me the other day:

Hubby has been up north doing some odd jobs for a few days so I have had some quiet time.  I have been visiting and shopping 😳 and visiting some more.  It's been wonderful!!!!  Before he left, another bid went in for a job and he hasn't heard about the one from a couple of weeks ago.  Two more due next week.  Fingers crossed, praying every night, that something comes along.  I know it will...it has to.  

🙏🤞

Not much to report even after not posting for a whole month!!!  I have lost my sewing/stitching mojo (AGAIN or did I ever find it????) and need something to kick start myself again.  But I am loving this wonderful fall weather and will enjoy it while it is here.  🍁🍂🌻

A wiener roast for supper tonight:

 

July Happenings

Well, another month is almost over.  With this virus and stuff it feels like each day is the same and I really have to stop and think what day of the week it is!  I guess it wouldn't matter if the virus was upsetting the normal of the world....I'd still be confused!  😂

This Dude turned 4 on the 8th.  He didn't really have a party but his Mommy makes sure the day is recognized.  He is really into Ninja Turtles....and all other action figures!  They were here this past weekend......we had a GREAT visit!

This lovely lady brings us a gift almost daily (yes that's a mouse in her mouth!)...............😳

I had Miss Lyla a couple of weekends ago and we went out to my friend Diane's for a visit.  Lyla got to ride a horse for the first time and feed the chickens and collect eggs!  She had a blast!!

Exciting update...we put a window in our front door!  HAHAHA  Whoop dee do really but I love the sunshine it lets in!

I had an online Thirty One party (a gal I know from the school I worked at sells it) and the party was so successful I got $320 in free product and some other free gifts!  What a haul.....all of this and all I paid was $50!  (including shipping and taxes)

Hubby is finding a few small jobs here and there.  Another bid goes in today for a bigger job in a town close by.  Fingers crossed he gets one finally!  My friend Pam is coming for a visit next week and I am so excited!!!!!!  I can have a conversation that isn't about Covid or our corrupt government!!!!!!!!  I think Hubby will be heading up north to do one of these small jobs while Pam is here.  Just girl time!!!!  

It's been super hot the past couple of days.  Today is to be hot too (not quite as hot but still hot!!!)  I spent most of the day yesterday in my nice cool sewing area in the basement but last night I didn't sleep well and had the ceiling fan above the bed going full blast and a smaller fan blowing on me too!  The house didn't feel as cool this morning as I would have liked.  We have Lyla and Brody this weekend for a couple of nights so a bit cooler would be nice.  

Off to do computer work for Hubby!!!  Enjoy your day!

Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head.....

Oh rain....please go away!  I really can't complain as we haven't been getting near as much as they have up north.  This bout started yesterday afternoon when I was at my friend Diane's.  Oh it was a great visit.......I really needed that.  I popped out there after I had my hair cut  💇.......feels so much better than before!  It was "long" and heavy!  Now it's more layered.

Last post I put a pic of our shack in the woods shortly after we moved in.  We really really really need to re-side it and I am hoping that will be the first thing to happen when Hubby gets working again and we can get ahead (that will never happen but we have to do the siding sooner rather than later).  Things looked okay on this dated siding when we moved here but we discovered the previous owner had slapped paint on and now it is peeling in places (lipstick on a pig!).

Our outside "improvements" have been with the deck.  New railing and stairs going down the south side.  I also tamed the flowerbed and added new perennials.

                                                                             Before:

Now:

When I had the kiddos on Saturday for a sleepover, it was nice enough in the morning to enjoy some outside time.  Brody is asleep after going for a walk in the stroller.  Lyla could swing for days!!!!

She came dressed as a princess!

Computer work with Hubby today I think.  Job searching.......we need groceries but I don't want to go out in this weather......maybe it will stop later.  🙏

Enjoy the day!

Time Flies!

Three years ago today we had everything packed up in High River to move to where we are now.  It was a bittersweet day....exciting and sad....and SCORCHING hot!  I really, really, really miss our HR home and neighbourhood but I do love the quiet of country living here.....I can go out in my pjs and no one will see!  😄I am thankful we have great neighbours here too.

This shack has undergone several changes both outside and inside.  It still has alot of things that still need to be done.  The perfect size for Hubby and I but it gets a little squishy when everyone is here.

This pic was taken shortly after we moved in:

My friend Liz and her husband flying over the other day: 

We are definitely in the woods!  😁

But it is home and home is where the heart is.  I am thankful.  

Hubby has gone up north and I have Lyla and Brody for overnight today.  It's to start raining/storming this afternoon.  Ugh.  I was hoping we could be outside.  Oh well, it will be a fun day nonetheless.  

July, Fluff and a Funk

Happy July!  Oh I pray the weather starts improving.......we need sunshine and heat for more than a day here and there although they have it much worse up north.  I think they are over saturated up there!!!  Come on summer weather!!!

Here's a picture of all our outside furniture around the fire-pit after putting the gravel down....nothing exciting!  

This year the fluff from the trees has been sooooooooo bad!  It hasn't been this bad since we moved here......July 4th will be 3 years and we haven't seen the white stuff so horrible....or the mosquitoes!  ARGH!  Do you see this tree covered?  We don't have many of these trees around but enough to make things annoying!

These two came to visit Tuesday for a sleepover with their Mommy and Auntie......Brody is getting so alert and bright eyed! He is a good baby!  They are back Saturday for a sleepover...just the two of them!  

I did some cleaning. organizing and rearranging in my sewing area recently (I honestly can't remember what day it was!  the weekend maybe??)  It didn't need much but nice to have a refresh.  

Then I tackled these:

Scraps from my scrap bin......I looked up Bonnie Hunters method and got the idea to cut 1.5", 2", 2.5", and 3.5" inch strips if the scrap was 12" or longer.  If it wasn't then I cut squares the same as the above mentioned sizes. (she also cut 'bricks' but I didn't bother with those) I had better use them now!!!!!!

Alot of back breaking work!  LOL  I needed an anti fatigue mat (I now have some of those foam blocks at my cutting table and ironing station)  It sure doesn't look like much compared to what I started with but I did throw some out....Christmas, flannel, fleece and of course there were scraps from the too small pieces!  I've added more as I found a few more pieces I had pulled out for a different project. I will try and keep up! 

Here is a small stitching project from Jenny at Elephantz.  I am not sure what it will be made into but I am also working on another one with the lettering she uses....I changed this one to "tea" and "cuppa time"

Then, here's another project from my favorite FB group!  I used scraps for the borders......not sure I am loving this one......I might try making another as I love the embroidery!  But then again, there are so many, many others to try!

I've had back pain for a few days....it's the weirdest thing....an ache.  Sometimes in a particular spot, sometimes running up and down my back....to my neck, under my arm.  It's annoying because it can sometimes make me feel sick to my stomach.....I slept better last night and this morning it seems to be concentrated in one spot.  I hope it goes away soon.  Maybe it's a psychological consequence of the funk I seem to be in.  I pride myself on being a very strong minded person; I can deal with hardships and loss without losing my mind; I don't let things bother me much; I like to be common sense and look for the good and not dwell on the bad.  But the stress of the news surrounding this Covid (going on for MONTHS! even though my views are not those of main stream media), things our idiot Prime Minister is doing, Hubby talking about it all the time (because he reads news stuff on his phone); our financial situation right now (Hubby not working); loving being at home but feeling trapped at the same time, well, it feels a bit much.  Stupid things like my weight and my hair(!!!!) are depressing too!  haha  ALL THINGS I CAN CONTROL AND CHANGE  (except the work situation).  I know things will get better and I will pull myself together and make a plan....for my weight, my hair 😂 AND my happiness!  😊 Onward and upward!!!!!!!

Have a great day everyone!!!!!  I am going to get this house spic and span....that will make me happy!!