Gravel!

Happy Summer!!!  It's started off okay......it's been warm but not scorching hot which is okay by me.  We've had a bit of rain too.  Hoping that now we can really get into summer weather!

We had been talking about putting gravel at our fire-pit area......it is a big PAIN to mow the grass and have to move all the chairs and fire pit and the grass doesn't really grow great there (but enough that it needs to be mowed)  There's a gravel pit right down the road from us so we did it!  Bit the bullet and got some gravel!

I didn't take a picture of the furniture back in place....I will!  It has rained enough now that the gravel is washed off and looks more like the driveway! We will enjoy the maintenance free zone even more now!

I love pottery!!!!!  So when a friend was doing a FB live visit and showed us her new mug I had to order one for myself...and another one of course!  This pottery shop is fairly close to us (maybe an hour and a half drive) and I would love to visit it sometime this summer.  I love these and the little free gift (star)!!

Last weekend we moved some of Son2s vehicles around (we are his storage area!!!!).  I think Hubby would drive this car all the time if it was reliable!!!  LOL

This peanut was here too....a hillbilly in her rubber boots!  A cute sunhat made by my friend Pam (she also made one for Brody and another Frozen fabric one for Lyla)

The next birthday blocks for Diana which I will deliver today.  Her birthday is on Sunday.  I can't wait to have a visit with her and Diane!  

Stitchery is done!  Now to put borders on and quilt it!!!!

Oh Hubby is home from coffee/breakfast/gab session.  Best get going and enjoy the day!!!!  I hope all of you reading this will as well!!!!!!!!!!  

Flowers and Bees and Babies

Sitting outside after house cleaning, laundry (not quite done) and having my lunch.  It's sunny (now) but a little breezy.  Still very comfortable.  😁

Here is a busy little bee on our apple tree blossom......the blossoms are almost gone now (after all the rain!) but it was just buzzing with activity.

I'm coming along on this (year long!!) project.  Seems weird stitching on a Christmas themed project during the spring/summer but I really would like to get it done for Christmas this year.  I think I will.

This little guy turned 3 months on the 10th.  He's really a content fella!  

We had visitors on the weekend and they brought me two bunches of beautiful peonies!!!!!!  I LOVE peonies! 

 I bought this dude some old/vintage Ninja Turtles at the children's consignment place in town.  He LOVED them and played with them the whole time he was here.  I joked that he had to leave them at our place and wasn't able to take them home!  (yeah right!)

Out in the Gator but he wanted to ride.....then the battery died so he had to walk!  HAHAHA  This belonged to his Mommy (the driver) when she was little!!

I dug out my ice cream maker and first off made some strawberry ice cream (it was good) and yesterday made vanilla ice cream and remembered some frozen raspberries I had.....I think it turned out the best!  I may have over churned the strawberry ice cream.  It's still tasty of course but a different consistency.  This is a picture of the vanilla raspberry:

I really, really don't need to be eating ice cream or anything with calories!  My middle is likely the biggest it's ever been...well except pregnant!  Wish I was in the right frame of mind to do something about it!  I was texting with Kim this morning and I told her I have too many worries and no "excitement".....hum drum kinda life and do not feel motivated to track points (WW) or start walking every day.  Don't get me wrong...I am NOT complaining and I know that only I can change things because, let's face it, it is all in my head (for the most part)!!!!  Sooooooo many people have things going on in their worlds that are not good.  I just need to decide to change what's going on in my mental "place".  Hopefully soon.  😊

Still Shopping and a Pet Peeve

This darn pandemic isn't keeping me from shopping!!!!!  Here are a few quilty books I've received lately.  I also bought the new Art To Heart book....no pic.  ARGH I'm weak!!!  My friend Pam went to Fabricland in Grande Prairie yesterday and was told she had to wear a mask......I will not be shopping in a mask so it's a good thing I don't NEED anything and IF I do, it can be ordered online!  😝

I may have to breakdown soon and see how my hairdresser and their shop is working things.....my greys are taking over and even though I don't mind my hair longer, it needs to be thinned a bit! Looks like I have a hair helmet on my head!!!!!

We bought this swing/chair and these two enjoyed it last weekend!  I love sitting in it too but Hubby put it a bit high so getting out of it is interesting!  😂 Good thing it's tucked away in the woods!

Great Grandpa meeting Brody for the first time:

And this thief!!!!  I was in the basement picking thread colors for a stitchery.  I went to put them together in a bag and realized one was missing....well this guy, who is always down there "helping" me, went running off upstairs with it in his mouth!!!!!!  We had quite the chase happening before I got it back!!!!!!

Have you ever watch Hoarders on tv?  Did it make you feel like cleaning your house and maybe do a bit of decluttering??  Well, realty listings do that to me!  Now, maybe realtors can't talk to people about hiding their clutter before taking pictures.....maybe they aren't allowed to touch a towel hanging askew on a towel rack.....I was looking at a listing for a property close to me...just out of curiosity....I don't know how much land but it was listed for $799,000 (see? only looking because I was curious!)  Well, I couldn't continue "looking" inside the house!  For one, the pictures were grainy (a BIG pet peeve of mine.....use a professional photographer OR good camera at the very least!) and the clutter EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!  Not sure why it's a pet peeve of mine but it drives me nuts...like looking at listings in the middle of summer that show winter pictures!  Update your pictures!  Really, realtors make good money.....make them work for it!  My hubby has always said I should have been a realtor....not sure about that!  LOL  Maybe I could be a stager.....anyway, now you know a pet peeve of mine (and why, when I cleaned yesterday, I made a few de-cluttering changes!)!!!!

Sunny day here today....but we had frost warnings again last night!  Argh....I can't wait for a day when it's warm enough to sit and have my morning coffee outside!  I'm sure it will happen eventually 😁🤞

Oops...Missed a Month!

 Hello June!!!!!!!!  I noticed I didn't do one single post in May!!!!!  Wowza!  Well, ya didn't miss much!  LOLOL  (obviously)  So here we are, June 1st and a quick post.

Remember in my last post that I mentioned the cats were turning one in May?  May 12th.  My friend Pam, whom I got these cuties from, sent them a handmade birthday card in the mail.....even addressed to them!  I had a giggle.......what a neat thing to do!

I started and finished this book (in a day!!)....the first in a series of three.  I swear I was a midwife in a past life....I find it all so interesting! 😄 Like Call the Midwife on tv.  The season is done for now (I missed the season finale 😒).  I wanted to start the next one but I had book keeping to do first......now that that is finished, I can start it any time!

         

I have been getting some stitching/sewing/quilting done!  Here are my finished placemats:

A birthday gift for a friend whose birthday is the end of June (I have to get her Birthday blocks done now!!)

A wallhanging from a kit I bought at the Red Deer quilt show last year:

A challenge from my favorite Facebook group.  Of course it was initially American so not only was it a challenge to figure out what to put in the area below the flag (that was everyones challenge) but for me, it was also how to make it Canadian!

My latest finish is another birthday gift for a friend's June birthday:

                                             

It's been great stitching away, finishing some things (like the kit) but also starting other small projects using only stash fabrics and supplies!  (unfortunately I can see NO difference in the amount of 'stuff' I still have!)

This past weekend the whole family was down as well as my Dad.  He hadn't seen Brody yet!  Friday Dad and I went to a couple of local greenhouses and I bought a few things....for the flowerbeds and my two small planters...and got them planted when we got home.  The kids from north arrived Friday night and the girls came on Saturday.  Saturday was gorgeous and we spent the entire day outside.  Yesterday started off okay but ended up with a lot of rain but thankfully we didn't get the thunderstorm or crazy winds (or tornado warnings) some areas south-east of us did.  Dad is still here and will leave this morning...everyone else made it home okay yesterday.  My granddaughter can go to daycare today so Daughter1 is excited about that!  LOL  I'm sure Lyla is too.....she can see her friends!!!!  (I hope they are all there!)  This craziness has been hard on even the young ones......

My EA friends are done work for the school year, a month early.  They were lucky they remained employed for the extra two months (almost) after the school closures.  Now they can relax and enjoy their free time.  😊

It's my cleaning day today and I have a whack of laundry to do as well.  I can start that while Dad is still sleeping.  Sunshiny day here today!!  The sun gives me energy!!!!!!

Off I go......wishing you all a happy day!!

Hello To Another Week

Hello......Monday afternoon and I am sitting out on the deck with my laptop writing this post.  It was a weird day...sunny/warm, cloudy/wind/cool and now sunny/warmish/windy.  I do have a sweater on.  

Here's a pic of the cuddling cats.  These guys will be a year old soon.  Alice (calico) loves being outside but Archie is a scaredy cat!  😹 (pun intended)

Got an early Mothers Day gift from Daughter2.  I was admiring her new one she posted on her instagram and then a couple of days later in my mail came this one!  I've been using it for my water...it holds 30 oz!!  Almost need two hands to hold it!  😃

This little dude.....he's growing and changing every day!  Look at that chin!  😍  Look at those cheeks!  😘

Today's mail....ordered from Along Came Quilting in Calgary.....gets here so fast!!  Darn Lori Holt keeps pumping new stuff out ALL THE TIME!!!

Hubby is on his way home from work (already) and wants to go for a walk 🏃......today was my cleaning day and I also washed/dried and put away four loads of laundry plus a load of towels.  My back is killing me because I had two dogs stuck up to me all night and I couldn't move!  I know I will go and it will feel good but I feel like a nap would be a nicer thing to do!  😴  HAHAHA!  He is home tomorrow looking at bidding a couple more projects....so I will make myself scarce...until he needs help with something on the computer.  😬  Oh I do love him but wish I could go on a trip north to visit friends and my dad....just to get away for a bit.......one day.....maybe.  

Happy Day all!

Bored

 Good Morning!  I am sitting in the sunroom watching the snow melt even though it's cloudy.  We are to get rain today....typical spring weather.  It can melt this mess we got Wednesday!

I think it snowed at least 6 inches that day (this picture was taken early).  Enough already please.  It's bad enough we are banished to our homes but can we have a little sunshine and warmth at least?????  I'd love to sit outside on the deck and breathe fresh air!!!!

So I finished this:

Called Jane's Baskets (no really....I didn't make that up!) and it was another challenge, awhile ago, on my favorite Facebook group!  I had the top done ages ago and wanted to hand quilt it.  It's hanging up in our basement now.

Random picture of our Pixie....she is represented on the bottom of that hanging because she is actually smaller than the cats!

Yesterday was our 32nd wedding anniversary.  Time flies when you are having fun!! 💕

Got these two pics this morning from Daughter1:

Smiles!!!!  😍😘😘😍

Okay, short post.....as the boredom of the day sets in.....I have a ton of things to do but no motivation. We will see what the day brings.

Happy self isolation to all!  😂

Stitching Along.....and Easter

Hey All!  Well day "one million" in this crazy pandemic(or so it feels)!  I have been finishing up some projects as I have a few Cheri quilts that were done (tops) but needed quilting and I am LOVING hand quilting these small projects.  I showed you this top last post but now it is complete.....I love this one and need to make a label for it to document when it was made and why the word "Hope".

This top was done for a bit and needed to be finished so more hand quilting and voila!

I am almost done another one...it's ready for binding....so that will have to wait for my next post.

I painted (the chair tops) and recovered my chairs to better suit the farmhouse table my Dad made for me.  I think I will get a thin piece of plexiglass for the top......it will make it smoother and more even and easier to clean up when the grand kids paint or color and if there are spills from eating.  I did put a finish on it but it needs something more.

ONE day last week I was able to enjoy some time soaking up the suns rays on the deck........it is snowing lightly today.  😩

Hubby has gone to work today........the house is soooooooo quiet!!!!!!!!!!!  He was winning electrical bidder on a small project.  Yesterday another bid had to go out and Thursday another one......praying he is successful for at least one of those too as this one he is starting today will only last a month.

My post wouldn't be complete without grand baby pictures!!!!!  Little Brody was a month old on the 10th.  Jude and his Easter pancakes....Lyla had some at her house too but I don't know where that picture is that Mommy sent.  

Those cheeks!!!!!  😘

Laying on the quilt his Gammy made.  💓

Easter pancakes!  💗

The Easter Bunny hopped by his house earlier in the week.🐰

Lyla Bean💖

Just wishing life would return to normal.......and we can all get together again.  In the meantime, I have a ton of projects to keep me busy and bookwork is one of them.  UGH!  Once I start it won't be so bad but it's hard getting started because here are so many other things I'd rather do!!!!! 😄LOL

Take care...be safe....and I hope you can find some sort of "normal" (I wonder what that word will mean one day??)