2025 Holiday Wrap-Up

Consider this a post-Christmas, end of year, holiday wrap-up post. You might remember my initial foray into needlepoint, my birthday plaid. Our daughter took it back for finishing and surprised me by attaching it to the lid of this sweet little basket. I absolutely love it! It will hold my treasures and be a constant reminder of a wonderful weekend that we shared together. 

I don't know how many of you work the daily Wordle puzzles, I've been doing them for years. Imagine what a big surprise two of last week's puzzles were for me: QUILT was the answer a week ago on Sunday, and a few days later the word SPOOL solved the puzzle. A needleworker's delight!

Cocoa Quaker by Primrose Cottage was a Christmas cross-stitch start for me. 

This tea, from Metropolitan Tea Company, a brand that is new to me, was included in a Christmas gift basket from friends. It is absolutely wonderful! The tag reads : "Good Tea tastes better", that's certainly the truth! I can highly recommend this one. It's the perfect accompaniment for cold winter evenings as I work on my stitching. 

These were four of my favorite movies watched while I was hand-stitching binding on the Christmas quilts this year. The first three were movies that I hadn't seen before but the last one shown here, Emmett Otter's Jug Band Christmas is one that I must watch each and every year; I adore it and probably can recite the entire dialog of each Muppet by heart! I will never tire of the sweet story, the songs and the precious characters.

I finished this book earlier in December, it was one of those that I couldn't put down. 

The character development and the historical references were rich additions to this one,   definitely a story to remember!

I'm back to piecing a scrap quilt that had been set aside temporarily while working on the Santa's Puzzle quilts. I have my sidekick perched in a chair right alongside of me as I am piecing. It's always great to have company in the sewing room. 

And I'll finish up today's wrap-up post with the birthday boy (and Augie again, he's Mr. G's companion too!) My sweet husband, today is his birthday. Since we have been married 50+ years and we each have a birthday, that makes 100 birthdays that we've celebrated together!

Holy Cow!! How can that be? 😮

Life is Good!

'Tis The Season

It's summer, and you know what that means-- it's peach milkshake season at Chick Fil A! I was treated to one the other evening, (Mr. G knows the way to my heart!) following the latest dental procedure I really didn't want to bite down or chew on anything too hard. That was my excuse then; I don't really have an excuse for the second one that I had yesterday, except for the fact that they're only around seasonally-- yep, that works! Speaking of summer, and seasons, I realized yesterday when I was putting away laundry that I have a summer "uniform" of sorts. Every day, it seems, I wear a short sleeved T-shirt and Bermuda shorts, they're all Life is Good T-shirts, too (of course!). I never really counted how many I have, I just get out a clean one and grab one of three pairs of shorts that I rotate. I have twelve, 12!, T-shirts with one LIG motif or another on the front! Seriously? I had no idea. Some of them are truly vintage, too. I didn't pay any attention to the fact that when I get new ones I never get rid of the old ones, they're still in great shape!   And these are just my short sleeved ones-- I have long sleeved ones too. Apparently I have a problem collection 😉.  If I go out anywhere (I did wear 'real clothes', something more respectable, to the dentist's office this week); but, with the stay-at-home business, it seems I hardly ever go anywhere anymore! Do you have a summer uniform, or "quarantine clothes", for these lazy, hazy, crazy days?

We watched this the other night on Netflix, I highly recommend it; two thumbs up-- way up!

I'm quilting up a couple of quilts right now for a friend, this was the first one up and it's a perfect bright and breezy summertime quilt for a little girl; the simple design begged for loopy flowers quilted with mint green thread; it looks great on the white backing too. Yes, it's summertime and the livin' is easy!

'tis the season ~ stay cool!

Life is Good!

And Sew It Goes

I've finished the quilting on this little one, "Sister Bear"; I have the binding all ready to apply, and wouldn't you know it, it's a batik and there's enough left over to make more masks! Yay! 

This is the batch from last week, thirteen adult sized and one child's mask; they've already been distributed to their new families and I have nine all ready to go this week! I thought that my batiks were dwindling away.  Nope, think again! One family member that received masks was so kind as to repay me with a generous cut of beautiful blue batik from her own stash! This kindness reminds me of a line from my favorite-of-all-time Christmas movie: "Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas". 

There's a scene in the movie when Emmet and his mother, Alice Otter, are rowing on the river and he teases her "you trade socks that you've knitted for pumpkins so that you can bake them into pies which you sell for money to buy more wool to knit more socks..." and so on! Yes, I'm trading masks for fabric to make more masks, and SEW it goes!

In other news, phase three of the dental implant saga happened yesterday with the placement of the abutment. I feel a little like I was kicked in the jaw by a mule today; basically just sore but there's no pain at the site. I'm sure glad to have gotten to this point, and have all the rest behind me. In three weeks the plan is to move ahead with the crown made and that's the final step. It's been a long haul since that blasted tooth cracked down to the root last October. 😬

Today, July 1, is both National Postage Stamp day and National Letter Carrier day. Do you remember this stamp? I sure do, it was one of my favorites. A 13-cent stamp is almost impossible to believe today, but not in 1987. 😉

Hannes and I would like to wish you a happy July and a wonderful summer ahead. This picture is a couple of years old, here he's resting his head on "Red Hot Summer", a Stack and Whack quilt. 

Life is Good!

Beauty Shots, Life Here at Home and a Prayer Request

I've got a new spot for quilt beauty shots, the porch; it's perfect, I can set up the stand without dealing with wind, weather and other outdoor hazards. If you've ever tried to set up a quilt for outside photography you know that even the slightest breeze will turn your quilt into a giant sail!

The location is perfect but the time of day wasn't-- I'll need to be careful in the future to make sure the sun is directly overhead and not back-lighting the subject (but, I have to admit that the stained-glass effect with the sun coming in from behind is pretty!). 

This might be one of my very favorite scrappy quilts of all time. The porch was a beehive of activity over the weekend. 

Not only was it the site for meals but for another another Chinese Checkers challenge (with yet another grandson!)...

...but it was also a bedroom for the night! Ever since the porch construction began, Gregory has been begging for a chance to sleep out there! Saturday night was his first chance, he told us that the birds were his alarm clock! So sweet. 

We watched this movie together on Friday night, I was unaware of the Brandon Burlsworth story until seeing this; what an inspiring story! I can recommend it, just know that you'll need Kleenex nearby. 

Sweet Sixteen ~ completely finished at last, measuring 65" X 80". 

Adapting in an upside-down🙃 world: I got my hair cut; (that was cause for celebration!) my dear stylist had advised me to wait in my car when I arrived, I sent her a text and she texted back when it was okay to enter. She met me at the salon door to take my temperature before I was granted entry! Life goes on~ one step at a time; and it's good, it's all good. I've seen plenty of blog posts and social media entries commenting on the state of the world, political and racial unrest, so many that I cannot even count them. You're not going to find that here; I do truly believe that there is good in the world, love and grace exist in abundance and that we have a faithful and loving God who's in control. This blog will continue to chronicle what goes on here, from our little corner of the world, a day at a time; without judgement, bias or political opinion from me-- not now, not ever. Now, a personal favor from me: would you please remember my mother in prayer as she recovers, in the hospital, from pneumonia? Her name is Harriett. She's doing well, praise God, but this is such a difficult time to be hospitalized and to be separated from loved ones, especially from my Dad. Thank you! In the meantime... 

...I'm working on a sundress for Lynnleigh from some super-cute Riley Blake Girl Scout fabric that her Mom  had sent to me; I'm using this pattern. I have made this for her before, this year I've had to go up a size, to a 7-- she's growing (they all are-- much too quickly!).

 I've found a wonderful chocolate chip cookie recipe! Here's the link, it's from Joanna Gaines' Magnolia Table cookbook; it meets my desire for a cookie that doesn't spread too much while baking. It just so happens to be delicious, too; pass the milk! 

  "...so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless." Titus 3:7-9

Life is Good!

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Small Group

We had a terrific opportunity to watch a great movie last evening. "Small Group - the movie" stars the son of fellow church members of ours. It is currently playing at select theaters nation-wide; but, we learned, it wasn't going to be playing here! Undaunted, efforts were made to get it here. Through Gathr Films, arrangements were made to schedule a screening at a local theater right here in town; a one-night showing. Many church members and family and friends showed up to enjoy an evening out together and to cheer on this hometown actor. Here is the trailer to entice you: 

Look for this one! If you can't find it, promote it and see if you can get your own Small Group (or better yet, LARGE group) for a screening of your own. It's worth the effort, believe me!

Life is Good!

See The Light... While You Can

Mr. Goodneedle and I did something on Sunday afternoon that we don't do very often: we went to the movies! This movie is on a limited showing, you might need to search to find a theater and do it quickly, I am unsure how much longer it is being shown; believe me, it's worth the effort. You will be moved, you will cry, your heart will swell. You won't forget it. 

Life is Good!

Three Somethings

Something New:

I registered up for a class, my supplies are all ready to go. I bought a Quick Curve Ruler back in February when I was at Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival. I fell in love with the Metro Rings quilt that was on display, made with the ruler. I never opened the package; after returning back home I put the ruler away and never looked back. Then, in April, when I attended MQX I visited an entire "Sew Kind Of Wonderful" exhibit; a great number of quilts made using the Quick Curve Ruler, I was inspired! I vowed to get my ruler out as soon as I got home again. And yet, the ruler remained in its packaging. Then, I noticed on a local quilt shop's calendar, the Metro Rings class. I signed up, it became clear to me that I needed a teacher and fellow students, plus a deadline to jump start this effort...tomorrow's the day: my Quick Curve will be set free at long last! I feel like a kid on her first day of school, I'm eager to learn something new!

Something New Again:

When Lucy Ann visited last month we picked out fabric for Nana too make her a dress. I haven't smocked in a long time... I don't really know why. Luckily, I fell right back into the rhythm. I have set myself up a little space to work on the smocking for a few hours a day, I watch a movie on Netflix at the same time and find it an enjoyable afternoon activity. The movies that I had selected over the last few days were not worth recommending... to anyone. That pattern of so-so viewing ended today, which brings me to the third something...

Something Not To Miss:

Truth. Redemption. Forgiveness. Love. This film has it all.

Life is Good!

Under The Needle

TMX2 is under the needle today, this has been a fun quilt to see through to this stage.  I never expected to do this quilt, it wasn't in my plans. It grew as a result of a challenge and was completed as a
bonus while piecing other tops! It came about almost as a gift, appearing before my eyes and then begging to be quilted, pushing itself to the front of the queue. This one was the perfect canvas to try out a new (to me) pantograph:

~Banana Swirls by Urban Elementz~
 I like the overall effect on the scrappy tumbler shapes.

I watched a really cute movie on Netflix while I was prepping and loading the quilt, if you haven't seen "Leap Year" with Amy Adams I can recommend it. The plot was predictable but the story is a sweet one and the scenery in the Irish countryside and along the Irish coast is completely stunning.

Life is Good!

Have You Seen This?

Check it out.
We did, last night, from Redbox.
Based on a true story, it is the film adaptation
of Geeta Anand's book: The Cure.

Life is Good!
...and so is this movie...

Fireproof

Don't miss this one if you have the chance.
It's one of those movies that will stay with you,
long after you've left the theater.
It will stay with you in a good way, a very good way.

Life is Good!

A Gem

We watched a wonderfully inspiring, spirit-lifting, movie on DVD this week. "Knights of the South Bronx" is a gem; it's worth searching for, and guaranteed to leave you and the whole family smiling for some time to come.

Life is Good!

The Kite Runner

We spent Father's Day evening watching a movie, The Kite Runner. It's a memorable, thought-provoking film; brutal and honest. It deals with courage, honesty, betrayal and reconciliation from Kabul, Afghanistan to Pakistan to America and back. Not for the whole family, it's violent and raw in spots. This is one story that will stay with you, guaranteed!

After weeks upon weeks of crammed-full days of commitments, appointments and outside responsibilities I'm spending the best part of today with soft flannels and a humming sewing machine, nothing brings greater joy. No photos just yet, there are some things best left to the element of surprise! I'll post some here soon, fear not. I'll bet you can just guess what I'm up to! Oh, a tip for these flannel, pinked-edge, jelly rolls: when you're sewing/cutting/handling them, you might reconsider wearing black knit clothing!

Life is Good!