Round After Relaxing Round

 Completed circles for November 2016 ~ (Nov. 10 - Nov. 30)

This is a catch-up post, literally and figuratively. I posted here last month about joining in the Quilty 365 challenge and my progress, or lack of it, in November. I began the challenge on November 10, 2016 and plan to continue through that date this year. Well, I decided to put myself back on track by doubling and tripling up on my appliqué circles to bring myself current. I am now preparing all the circles for the past month of December by going through my stash of collected (over the decades) Christmas fabrics and basting them into postion so that I can do the hand work in the evenings. It is truly relaxing.

Speaking of relaxing: these are some of the Christmas gifts that my daughter and I made together last month. We combined forces; she made up a few large batches of homemade bath salts and I made loads of faced washcloths. We bundled them up and traded with each other to make these cute gifts of relaxation for our friends: cute washcloths and bath salts given as sets for tranquil time-out.  Ahhhhh.

Life is Good!

Relaxing Glimpses

After cleaning the house yesterday I actually took some time to sit and relax, a Christmas miracle in itself! Back in early November, after admiring the progress of many bloggers on the Quilty 365 challenge, I made up my mind to begin my own applique quilt. Well, as you know, life happened (and ended up in the ditch for awhile) and the project came to a screeching halt. Yesterday I resumed the handwork on this one, stitching down the circles from collected fabrics representing the month of November. I sipped a cup of tea and watched a movie while I stitched, one recommended by Quiltkeemosabe, if you can find it I believe that you will enjoy it too. Wishing you moments of relaxation today, whatever it is you choose to do on Christmas eve.

Life is Good!

Sparkle!

When I visited my daughter last month she was making these sparkle/time-out/relax bottles for her two children, they love them; in fact, so do I! I came home and gathered the few supplies (she graciously provided me with her left-over glitter) and made one to take to Gregory. This first photo was taken after thoroughly shaking the bottle to distribute the contents the night before, and this photo, below is how it looked when it had settled out the next morning. I had Mr. Goodneedle super-glue the lid on good and tight.

As I suspected, he was captivated and shook it up right away!

He loved it; who wouldn't?

Here's the surprising part... he actually sat, still, and watched it settle;
it does so ever-so-slowly due the viscosity provided by the clear glue solution.
That's a tall order for any active three year old boy!
This relaxation bottle truly is a wondrous thing;
I'll bet you know someone who could use a little sparkle in their life!
Life is Good!

The Basics

It's an Air Plant; it was presented as a hostess gift to me on Thursday by my sister-in-law. "What does it need?" was my question to her. "The basics" came her reply, "light, an occasional misting, that's all."  Wow. It is elegant in it's simplicity and mystifying at the same time. I have sat, over the last few days, at our kitchen table and contemplated the basics while studying this very terrarium. Aren't we all a little bit like this plant-in-a-bottle? We truly need so very little.  I had become, admittedly, a news junkie over the last few years, it was taking an emotional toll on me too; I am happy to report that I am one no longer. I do watch the local news before 7 AM, after that the television is shut off for the remainder of the day. I listen to music now when I am at home or in the car; I have become especially fond of dulcimer music and have a little collection amassed, it is just as refreshing to me as a misting of water might be this Air Plant. I don't have my head in the sand, (but my feet are firmly planted!) I can look around in every direction, the way is well lit. I know now what I need to survive, to thrive: the basics. It really is just that simple! My sister-in-law told me that she has a plant like this and that hers blooms; I like thinking about that.

Life is Good!

Las Vegas Bound!

I'm on a short-term break. We've taken a brief trip to Las Vegas for a few shows and some R&R; taking advantage of airline miles. I would ordinarily promise you a post as soon as I return; and yet there is that motto regarding whatever happens there staying there! We'll see...

Life is Good!