Carrying On...

How does that saying go: "Keep Calm and Carry On"? I believe that to be good advice and wouldn't it be even better if it involved a cookie? You know it would! I have another recipe to share from the Pioneer Woman. As I mentioned in the previous post I've been watching a LOT of cooking shows while sewing in the past few weeks. If I'm not stitching it seems that I'm either at the grocery store or in the kitchen anymore- it's hard to keep up! So, these aren't just any old cookies- they're Breakfast Cookies and they are simply WONDERFUL! 

I baked a batch, have wrapped them up individually and frozen them. You cannot believe how handy these are to have ready and available on a busy morning! Grab one (or two) to eat with your favorite morning beverage and you're good to go, they're full of good, nutritious grains, nuts and fruit. This will definitely be a staple around here from now on. My husband can be a little skeptical when it comes to trying new things. Think of that old Life cereal commercial with Mikey: "What's this stuff? Some cereal... it's supposed to be good for you... he likes it!!" 

Sew, what have I been stitching? This is block #6 in the 'Aspiring Stars' BOM. The blocks all measure 15"; I'm using a wide assortment of Lori Holt fabrics from different collections. I have absolutely no idea how I am going to set them together yet. 

 

I finally managed to get the borders on my Scrappy, Strippy Diamonds. It's currently loaded on the longarm. I found a low volume backing fabric with an allover tea bag print on the shelf, I had to do some finagling to make it work, size-wise, but I persevered; it's going to be a really a cute quilt.

More oversize blocks for the Cream and Sugar BOM. These took a LOT of time. Whew. This class is a challenge to to stay current with as far as the homework goes but I love it!

 One more thing...speaking of homework... this one will start Basic Obedience classes next week, I sure hope he's ready! 😉 Augie is 25 weeks old today; what joy he has brought into our lives! He's growing fast, just over seven pounds now. He's all about keeping calm (well maybe not), carrying on, and is definitely all about some cookies! 

What's capturing your time and attention, how are you carrying on these days?

Life is Good!

   

Playing Catch-Up

No, I haven't dropped off the planet.  We've been gone though; we traveled to New England to visit family the week before last and it seems as though I have been playing "catch-up" ever since. We happened to be gone during the time of the return to standard time; this was Hannes' reaction, he fell asleep while waiting at his dinner dish, at 3:30 PM! We had a good time being away, although the weather was cold and rainy almost the entire time we visited in New Hampshire. That was okay, though, I helped out with inside chores such as cleaning out, sorting and organizing old photographs for Mom and Dad. We unearthed some treasures.

My paternal grandmother (oldest) and her siblings, circa 1910. 

My paternal great grandmother (far left) holding my baby sister. I am in red, sitting with my Dad, my mother is seated behind him. My paternal grandmother, standing, (same person pictured above, as a child) in the light blue floral dress and my paternal grandfather seated on the chaise lounge with his aunt beside him and uncle standing behind, this was taken at their home in Dorchester, Massachusetts. I absolutely love so many things about this photo. We surmised it must have been Mother's Day, as my great grandmother is wearing a corsage. I love the fact that everyone DRESSED (pearls!) to go visiting; and, the fact that they carried in the porch furniture to accommodate the overflow crowd!

I found this one of yours truly too; it's a gem. Eighth grade science class-- such focus. 😂😉

While in New England we took in another Home Free concert. I believe this is the sixth time that we've heard this A Capella country group live and in person; they never disappoint, it was a great show. 

The one place we didn't go this trip was to Keepsake. I told my Mom and Dad that there wasn't anything I needed right now-- thinking I had all the time in the world to shop there again next time. Little did I know, until the announcement yesterday, that Keepsake Quilting's Center Harbor location is closing its doors for once and for all at the end of February next year. Another bricks and mortar store going away. I am heartbroken over this announcement, this flagship store has always been a treat to visit. Mr. Goodneedle and I may just need to make another trip up north before it closes for one last  goodbye.

Back on the homefront. This is a picture of our brick patio from this past April. We have been waiting on a contractor to cover part of this space with a screened-in porch; at long last we finally learned of a start date in late fall.

In an effort to get ready for construction, Mr. Goodneedle took apart the columns that supported the handrails, brick by brick. This was a dirty and exhausting job but he persevered.

Here's how things stand today. The construction crew's slated to be here at noon today to begin (and it's a balmy 30 degrees!!) Stay tuned for updates, I have lots more to report from my time away too.

Life is Good!

Up next: photos weren't the only things that I carried home from my parents home. 

I also brought a quilt...

Week At A Glance

I had all sorts of good intentions to keep up with this blog. Really. But, then, life has a way of interfering. It's okay, it's all good! And so, a random post detailing the week at a glance. Our two youngest grandchildren have returned from Florida, their precious little family is reunited once again. They're all staying here until their major home renovation becomes a habitable home once again. It won't be long now. This was the scene in their kitchen yesterday:


And, I hear that as of today they now have running water and functional bathrooms again -- progress all around! In the meantime, we're all adapting to extended-family living just fine. Lynnleigh loved her new sundress, as you can see in this photo, she and her doll are both enjoying them. She discovered her personalized stepping stone in the garden, I believe that she was thrilled!

The new perennial garden has begun to show more color as it becomes established. Lynnleigh is my constant companion out there this week, usually asking as soon as breakfast is over if we need to go outside and deadhead the flowers. She is an eager helper and learner; she knows the names of all the flowers and plants and keeps an eye on the bird feeders, too-- reminding me when they need refilling. 

Speaking of the garden: Lynnleigh placed the little copper "windmill" right beside this low birdbath yesterday, she thought that it would be perfect placement so that the birds could have a "bath and a blow dry!"😉

I've baked a few tomato pies this week; using up generous tomato donations from friends, which just so happen to make a delicious summertime lunch! The recipe follows here:

Cada's Commemorative Tomato Pie

1- 9" pie shell, unbaked

3-4 large tomatoes, sliced (I let mine sit on paper towels to "dry" for about 30 minutes)

salt and pepper to taste

sweet fresh basil

chives

2 or 3 green onions, chopped

1 C. mayonnaise

1 C. sharp cheddar cheese, grated

Fill pie shell with sliced tomatoes. Sprinkle w/salt and pepper, basil and chives and green onions. Mix mayonnaise and cheese, spread evenly over the tomatoes. Bake @ 350 for 35 mins. Serves: 6 

We had a few visitors from the Capital City who enjoyed some cousin time and discovered their own special garden stepping stones while they were here! 

I did manage to get this fella (Penguin Party by Elizabeth Hartman, pattern here) pieced this week. This will be a quilted pillow for our oldest grandson whose favorite animal is the penguin; Mason will turn ELEVEN in a little over a week-- how is that even possible? 

I had to run a few errands yesterday. This is a common sight in the back seat these days.  

And a finish-- albeit a small one, but sweet nonetheless; a porch quilt for the summer: from Kim Schaefer's "Calendar Quilts".

Thanks to all who entered the drawing for the "By Wisdom" patterns; 

there's still time if you would like to leave a comment, click here-- a winner will be chosen on Monday.

Life is Good! 

A Smattering

I swear, I try to keep up with posting, I honestly do; what takes me so much longer than it used to? I don't know. But, in a continuing effort to be more timely, let me entertain you this morning with a smattering of various and sundry events in my life over the past week. There was this-- Theodore the chipmunk who decided to jump in the watering can just prior to my filling it! I heard a telltale scratching, amplified by the galvanized metal, and look who was inside! I jumped-- you bet I did, and my glasses flew off and landed, lenses DOWN (of course!) on the bricks.  The left lens was chipped; smack-dab in the center of my line of vision! Take my word for it, I tried to get a shot of the offensive area (above) but it's hard to tell. I called the eye doctor's office the next morning and was advised to bring them in. I really wanted the lens to be replaced if possible. I was informed, after the glasses were inspected that my lenses were going to be replaced, both of them; and that my warranty expired that VERY DAY! 😲 One day later and it would have cost me, dearly. As they say, timing is everything. Oh, Theodore was released to scamper back under a shrub! If it's not one thing it's something else; remember that toad that hid in my tennis shoe?

My favorite first cup of the morning tea; has been for years. Stash, Christmas Morning, a blend of black and green teas with a hint of jasmine. It is perfect. Why do they have to mess with the packaging and even the tag? It's bad enough that the box sizes are smaller now but I have a whole new item to search for when shopping, the new branding doesn't resemble the original in the least. I liked the tag to read "Cup of Joy", it made me happy. A dear friend once told me that "change is life" and if one doesn't adapt to change we know what the alternative to life is-- but change for the sake of change?
I took Lynnleigh shopping the other afternoon for fabric to make a sundress. Here's the pattern:

I told her that she would need to choose something to make a dress for herself and and also a contrast fabric. (Yes, of course, there will be a doll dress too!)  She was very serious about the entire selection process, no greater decision has ever taken longer. The hardest part for her? Finding the "contract fabric"!😉 I believe that she had a fun time and was pleased with her ultimate selections. 

She had a performance with her singing friends the following evening, it couldn't have been cuter!

Some quilting has been going on. I quilted this for a friend last week. Her desire was for parallel wavy lines; it turned out nicely, I really liked this pattern. She made it in a mystery block of the month class. 

I have another QOV on the rails now, these are always different, inspiring, and so much fun to work on!

The Hydrangea are spectacular this year! These are around back, adjacent to our patio space. I have inadvertently cut them back at the wrong time of year, more than once, only to be left bloomless the next summer. Now my plan is one of benign neglect and they're rewarding me. We still have no 'start date' from the contractor for our screened-in porch project back here; we know that we're on the list, hopefully we're getting near the top. Sadly, it looks to me like we'll be enjoying it in the fall instead of the summer this year; but there are many summers to come, it's all good. 

The new perennial garden is coming along; blooming is beginning! We have, at long last completed the making of all the stepping stones and are still in the process of installing them.

Another viewpoint. The beaten-up large stone in the foreground has since been replaced. 

As I posted earlier, we made four personalized stones and placed them randomly for the grandchildren to discover, each one bearing their initials. Gregory was first one to stop by and discover his on Sunday afternoon. I think he liked it!

Today is the last day of school in public schools here; remember how that felt?

Forty eight years ago today my husband and I graduated from high school together. We were the last class to graduate in front of the school, outside in the driveway, squinting into the setting sun. (Since then, graduations have been moved indoors, into a field house that wasn't quite ready in 1971.)

SUMMER!! It seemed like it lasted forever back then. 

Life is Good!

A Long Winter's Nap

You may think that I have settled myself down for a long winter's nap, with as infrequently as I have posted lately; but, the truth is anything but that. Busy times, as I am sure yours are right now, have dominated each and every day. The snowstorm that we had early in the month was responsible for lots of events being postponed, which placed many of them back-to-back and only added to the hectic pace. This post will serve as a random and abbreviated wrap-up of things that I wanted to share here before Christmas. Our oldest grandson, Mason, performed with his school's Chorus in the Capital City. That sweet face smiling from the center of the photo is now in the fourth grade. 💗

Last week we squeezed in one more dance recital of Lynnleigh's and  attended a Cub Scout awards banquet for Gregory and his school's performance of The Nutcracker. 

From the Cub Scout banquet it was a quick hop, skip and jump to our annual Bee Christmas party and Dirty Santa gift exchange. As always, we had a wonderful time together.

I was lucky enough to come home with (as in: no one stole them!) these terrific gifts from Bonnie.

I also came home with this great pattern that Quiltkeemosabe gave me. I had seen the table topper (red and white one, pictured on the top) online and made the bold declaration to Quiltkeemosabe that I was going to have that table topper on my kitchen table by next Christmas. She's thrown down the challenge now, I have no excuses!

This is currently residing on our kitchen table, in all of its resplendent glory! 

Last Sunday our church took part by having a float in a local, hometown, Christmas parade. It was a beautiful day and hardly seemed possible that we had been under over a foot of snow only a week earlier! The crowd lining the sides of the roads was sizable, everyone was seeking a cure for cabin fever!

Gregory's quilt came off the frame, and binding was attached, taming the fuzz "fall-out" from the luxuriantly soft Minkee backing. 

Yesterday, after the last cookie had been baked, the last gift wrapped and the last card stamped and sent we did settle ourselves down for a hand stitching session, whipping that binding into place. Hannes decided that it was, finally, time for that long awaited "long winter's nap"! He snuggled in deep and tight beside me on the sofa while I watched Hallmark Christmas movies and finished that one last homemade gift! It was blissfully peaceful afternoon. Gregory's quilt is wrapped now and under the tree. From my house to yours: I wish you all blessed peace and contentment in these last  few days before Christmas.

Life is Good!