Day 365 of 2019

This is the best way to share a pint of ice cream. 

On this Eve of the New Year and the New Decade, 

Fireball and I opted for the ice cream over the wine we had planned. 

Thanks to M for planting the idea. 

Thanks to all of you for joining me on this photo journey.

Wishing you all a happy and safe new year. 

I'll see you tomorrow as I begin my eighth year of pictures. 

Day 364 of 2019

The goal was to replace the elastic

 in these pajamas I made for Fireball several years ago. 

All was going well until I noticed 

that the casing was in much worse condition than I had realized. 

I've decided it's worth my time to remove the casing

 and add a new one to extend the life of the aforementioned pajamas.

Day 363 of 2019

This Christmas included abbreviated versions of my normal decorating. 

In the case of my village, I put up the houses and their lights 

but gave the responsibility of placing the accessories 

such as people, animals, trees and more

 to GB#1 who was the first little one to arrive at the house

 a few days before we had our celebration. 

Observing, that some of the trees had wire trunks, 

she asked me if she could bend them to look like the wind was blowing them.  

Of course, I said yes. 

I saw them again today and it cracked me up.

Day 362 of 2019

Tomorrow is departure day. 

GB#1 didn't want to say goodbye. 

I will miss her.

Day 361 of 2019

GB#1 and GB#3 had one last fun play day before GB#1 leaves to go home soon. 

Today's preferred activity was making videos on a variety of subjects 

including stress relief and yoga.

Day 360 of 2019

Evidence of imagination.

Day 359 of 2019

Merry Christmas!

It was a hang out and chill day since we had our large gathering last week. 

Some of us worked on this puzzle which was surprisingly very difficult. 

In the end it did get finished and is quite beautiful.

Day 358 of 2019

This momma bought herself some new Hannas.

Day 357 of 2019

Frito Chicken

(So easy, so good)

Trim chicken breasts into strips.

Coat with GF flour.

Dip in whisked eggs.

Coat with Fritos Flavor Twists, Honey BBQ crumbs. (I use my food processor)

Place on baking sheet covered with parchment paper.

Spray chicken lightly with Pam.

Bake at 400 degrees until done, approximately 15-20 minutes. 

I test for doneness by cutting through the thickest piece

 and checking for a no-pink center.

Tonight I served it with roasted cauliflower.

Day 356 of 2019

This what 3:27 looks like. 

Yes, that's 3:27 a.m. 

It's off to the airport and home again for these two. 

The visits never seem to be long enough.

Day 355 of 2019

Some family members couldn't make it down to our Christmas celebration yesterday, 

so today some of us brought the celebration to them.

Note:  This is the first time since 2012 when I started this blog 

that I have broken my own rules 

and used a picture that I did not take. 

The very helpful nurse on duty did the honors.

Day 354 of 2019

We celebrated Christmas today. 

The gang was all here. 

I'm featuring all the not so little GBs.

Day 353 of 2019

Winterlights at Newfields.

Day 352 of 2019

Holiday activities.

Day 351 of 2019

It's been a very long time since I attended a kindergarten holiday luncheon

 and program at school. 

I forgot about the rows of heads in front of you as you try to get pictures.  

I forgot that the one really tall student

 will inevitably get placed in front of the child you are watching. 

I forgot that some children sing with all their might, 

some sing standing like statues and some don't sing at all. 

I will always remember how sweet and precious these moments are.

(GB#3, dead center)

Day 350 of 2019

Now that the pieces are all unboxed, 

let's put them where they belong and accessorize.

Day 349 of 2019

I'm a little late, but I am moving in the right direction.

Day 348 of 2019

Date night.

Day 347 of 2019

Back when the kids were little

 a sign on the door would have said, "Elves at Work." 

There is no need for a sign these days, but the elves certainly have been busy.

Day 346 of 2019

Now that I have crossed the foot stool off my list, 

it's time to get busy on some sewing projects.  

Up next are the stockings that I have been trying to get done for several years.  

This combo is for me.  

The edges are all serged and ready to wash.

Day 345 of 2019

I finally reupholstered the footstool that my mom used to call the "toe breaker."

(click here to see the sad shape it was in)   

It used to be in her childhood home and has a cast iron base.

Day 344 of 2019

Tonight is my quilt group's annual Christmas party. 

We always have a fat quarter exchange in White Elephant style. 

These fat quarters must be wrapped so I made good use of Mom's paper cutter 

as I made a couple little bags for mine.

Day 343 of 2019

Four ingredients.

Butter, marshmallows, Rice Chex, peppermint candies. 

Regular Rice Krispie Treats are not gluten free. 

This is my solution. 

Crushed peppermint candies are my festive touch for a party tomorrow night.

Day 342 of 2019

I have decided that of the two closets in this room, 

one will hold gift wrapping supplies and arts and crafts, 

and the other closet will hold games, puzzles and toys. 

What I keep will need to fit into these two closets. 

Today I am working through the crayons, markers, pens and pencils. 

I may need to pare down a little.

Day 341 of 2019

I am looking forward to the pink winter skies.

Day 340 of 2019

Making things also makes scraps.

Day 339 of 2019

GB#3 is learning important life skills.

Day 338 of 2019

Once a year I update the sign up sheet for my quilt group. 

Once a year I get really frustrated trying to figure out how to do it. 

I'm hoping this year will be different.

Day 337 of 2019

This cross stitch blanket has seventeen sweet motifs on it, 

 all sewing related 

and all looking as beautiful on the back as they are on the front. 

This is not my work. 

It was given tonight to a friend in my quilting group by another friend in the group. 

It was given to this second friend by her friend who found it at Goodwill. 

Isn't it funny how things come around? 

Day 336 of 2019

This is going well.

Day 335 of 2019

It was a disappointing day at the stadium today. 

Through the rain spotted window, 

the scene matched the mood - gray and gloomy. 

Note:  I have posted a link on yesterday's post 

if you are interested in knowing more about the item in the picture.

Day 334 of 2019

I went downtown today to support my local quilt shop on Small Business Saturday. 

I had to park more than two blocks away and then walk in the pouring rain.

On the way back I encountered this sign. As I approached, it said, "care." 

Just as I got close enough to take a photo, my umbrella turned inside out, 

I struggled with my camera, and the sign changed to "don't care."

I didn't notice the button and instructions until I loaded up my pictures 

or I would definitely have found a way to hit the button.

Edit:  Here is a link that tells about this art piece.

Day 333 of 2019

The contents of our kids' (all adults now, of course) buckets of little things

are being sorted. 

I anticipate at least seventy-five percent of these to be gone when I am done. 

The rest will remain for the GBs to play with. 

Or maybe they won't.

Day 332 of 2019

As we close out another Thanksgiving 

and get ready to get into the Christmas season full swing, 

I just want to let you know that I am so grateful for you, my blog readers.  

Whether you are a family member, a friend or a reader I don't know, 

I am full of appreciation for your support. 

Day 331 of 2019

Where am I? 

Yes, one shoe is off. 

The other followed shortly thereafter.

It occurs to me also that I forgot to answer the question I asked back in October. 

I was at the theater and asked if anyone knew what I was seeing. 

The scene shown is set up for the second half of Fiddler on the Roof. 

It was good.

Day 330 of 2019

Happy Mail arrived over the weekend. 

I won this lovely book in an Instagram giveaway. 

I am over the moon about it. 

The quilts are lovely as all the patterns from Vanessa Goertzen. 

I can't wait to get started.

Day 329 of 2019

For a multitude of reasons 

Fireball and I hired a team to do our leaf clean-up this year, 

but the real story about this picture is that it was a collaborative effort. 

While I was taking pictures of the final few minutes of the clean up, 

GB#3, who was at the house at the time of the clean up, 

wanted to take a picture. 

When this happens, I hold the camera on the bottom to save it from dropping, 

GB#3 looks through the viewfinder, 

and we press the button together 

because he can't seem to get his finger all the way on the top of the camera

 to get it to work. 

Our pictures look similar 

but he was lucky enough to get one of the team members 

standing on top the gear in the back of the truck.

Did I mention that he is only five years old?

Day 328 of 2019

Today was early Thanksgiving at our house. 

It was a good day.

Day 327 of 2019

It's birthday party day for GB#2.

Day 326 of 2019

When in Houston earlier this month, 

we had a discussion about Seven Sisters blocks and quilts. 

I mentioned that I had seen and taken a picture of a fabulous Seven Sisters quilt

 in Paducah many years ago.  

I had begun my own version of it and would send evidence when I found it.  

Well, here is the photo and my one almost finished block. 

According to the information I wrote on the back of the photo, 

it was taken in 1998. 

 It was one of the first, if not the very first, 

years I made the trip to attend the quilt show. 

All the merchants downtown had decorated their store windows with quilts.  

This quilt top was in the window of a shoe store and I was quite taken by it.  

We went inside to get a better look and to ask if it was okay to take a picture.  

They said yes and even offered to get the top down so we could really look at it, 

which they did. 

This block was to be the beginnings of my own quilt in the pattern

 and a nice take-along hand project.  

It turns out I do not enjoy the EPP (English paper piecing) process 

so it remains unfinished.  

Maybe I will find that last piece and finish it 

so I can put it with my other orphan blocks 

and eventually find a home for it.

Day 325 of 2019

I am making more birthday pillowcases. 

While I was at the store picking out fabric for the final one, 

(not shown here)

I spied this fabric and decided Fireball and I needed new pillowcases 

for the upcoming season.

Day 324 of 2019

We're planning an early Thanksgiving this weekend at our house. 

Today I did some of the grocery shopping. 

It appears I am more focused on the baking than anything else.

Day 323 of 2019

Oh, hey. 

It's been a while.

It's me in the mirror with the rooster and my sticks.

Day 322 of 2019

I've changed the room around a little since the carpet got cleaned. 

It's always a good time for something new, 

but this remains my favorite spot.

Day 321 of 2019

I think they might be talking about me. 

Maybe. 

Yeah, probably. 

Definitely.

Day 320 of 2019

A few weeks ago I helped a girl out with some fabric that I had in my stash 

that she needed for a quilt she is making.  

In return she sent me these lovelies.  

The fabrics are so good. 

The card and pin are such unexpected extras.  Thank you, Elisabeth.

Day 319 of 2019

Our carpet cleaning company gave us a three hour window 

in which our technician would arrive.  

Of course, he arrived just as that window was closing. 

Not sure what to do with the waiting time, 

I found myself drawing doodles on the chalkboard. 

Day 318 of 2019

We're getting some carpets cleaned tomorrow. 

All but the very big stuff has to go.

Day 317 of 2019

Tonight I babysat and snuggled with a cat.

Day 316 of 2019

I have recently found three scarf projects I still haven't finished. 

This one found its way with me to my quilting meeting since it is hard to mess up

 when talking and listening. 

I had lost the instructions for a long time and although it is a simple 1x1 rib 

there is an edge treatment that I couldn't remember so it got put on hold. 

I have since made several copies of the instructions 

and put them in several places in case I lose the original again.