Our Weekend...And a Winner

 

 

 I heard it was in the 70's in St. Louis, but 6 hours away here in West Lafayette, it was cold, windy, and gloomy. We spent most of the Saturday inside drinking hot tea, playing Scrabble, and watching movies. I finished my hexagon afgan. ( Did I tell you how heavy it is? It's like a rug!) I also quilted up this little wall quilt. Binding will go on tomorrow.

But about 4:00 we decided we needed to get outside. So, of course, we went tromping through the woods to find the bald eagle nest on the Wabash River. It was so cold! But we found it and spotted a couple of eagles. (By then it was too dark to get a good picture of the birds.) We were very excited. We are so weird!

Today the sun finally came out for while, so I spent some time straightening the greenhouse and found some crocuses just about ready to bloom. Then we had dinner with Eric: homemade bread, vegetable soup and chocolate cake. It was so good, but I'm ready for some warm weather food, aren't you?

I had Rick choose a number for the drawing. So the winner is commenter #6 Stacy. Congratulations! Please send me you address and I'll mail the bag out to you soon. Thanks for all who entered and your kind comments on my shop opening. 

                                                                  

Finally Feeling Better

Wow, it has taken me two weeks to get over this cold. It really knocked me down. But I had heard from several people that it would be like this. Thanks so much for all the well wishes. It made me feel that much better.  So, glad it's over and I can finish up some projects and get started on some new ones.

  One of the things I finished  last week was this pillow. I added lots of floss quilting and an embroidered flower.  I have one more pillow to make for the kitchen sofa. I'm thinking a simple nine patch for that one.

I also picked out the yarn colors for a new afgan. I love these little hexagons and they are so easy and fast to make up. Which is good because I will need a lot of them!

I started sewing them together over the weekend and I realized how many I would need to make a good sized blanket. Lots! So a trip to Joann's is in order. It will end up being very warm and heavy. But it will get used for sure, we like to keep our house temps pretty low.

I hope everyone is staying warm and cozy during this weird winter weather. But the groundhog said spring is just around the corner and I have faith in him:)

Sick Weekend

This will be my world today. Comfy jammies, hot tea, cough drops, tissues, and a book or some embroidery.  I had the weekend off and asked for today off since Rick would be home. So many plans for these three days. I was going to sweep the basement in anticipation for turning on the plant lights. Working on a granny square quilt, and making some soap. Oh well, those things will get done eventually.
Rick is painting cabinets, baking herb bread, and running some errands for me. (He can't sweep the basement. He's very allergic to the dust and mold down there.) He doesn't mind taking care of me, I do it for him when he's sick.

Before this cold hit me, I was trying to make a crocheted heart from an online tutorial. Actually tried several pretty patterns, but just could not follow them. I got so frustrated, it couldn't be this hard! So I just made my own pattern, which was a first for me.

I was very happy with how they turned out. Rick suggested starching them. So here is my little heart banner ready for Valentine's Day.
Stay well and warm!

A Pinterest Christmas

Uncle Eric and Tad

We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. Time spent with family is my favorite. We missed having Justin and Lizzie here, but we will have them for Christmas. Can't wait! 

With Thanksgiving behind us, we are getting the house decorated and treats made for Christmas. Such a busy time! Why do I always wait for the last minute to start the gifts and decorations I've had in mind for months? Maybe I just need to be in the season to get motivated. Well, I'm motivated now and Pinterest is helping - probably too much! I'll never be able to make everything I've pinned. Not this Christmas, not ever:)

Here is one of the Santas that I pinned and got the pattern here. Isn't he cute? Very easy to make while watching TV.  I even have a die to cut out the tiny holly. I just need to add a ribbon or twine, and then hang on the tree, or add to a wrapped gift.

This is another project that I pinned awhile ago, but thought it might be too complicated for me. But I paid the $2.00 for the Ravelry pattern, looked it over and decided I could do it. And now, after making a zillion of them, I could do this square in my sleep!

So, has Pinterest been helpful for you this holiday season, or is it driving you crazy? (Spending too much time looking, or trying to make everything on it:) I'd love to hear your comments. Have a great and productive weekend. I have to work, dang it!

Happy Birthday, Rick!

Last Saturday was my wonderful husband's birthday.

 We had dinner at home with the kids. I made him a favorite, chicken pot pie.

 

I found a chocolate cake recipe on Food Gawkers and had to try it. It's called Triple Chocolate Truffle Cake and it took me forever. (I messed up on 2 of the layers and had to start over!) But it was really good, though I think we decided the top layer should just be whipped cream instead of white chocolate- it was a little too sweet.

Rick got some great presents, including this chess set:

And we admired Tad's newest accomplishment, standing up and trying to balance on his own.

 I have been sick with a bug  for the last few days. Laying around, drinking tea, and watching TV. I don't feel like doing much, but I have done a little crocheting for an afgan (closed granny squares) and some quilting.

The quilting is almost done. Then the binding and I'm ready to start another one. I already have fabrics and an idea in mind. I'll show it soon.

It feels so much like spring out. Is there anything better than hearing birds singing in the morning? Well, I'm sure there is, but I'm loving it right now:)