Saturday, December 30, 2017

Very Very Cold And Snowy Christmas

Snow was in the forecast for Christmas day so my daughter and son in law invited us to stay overnight Christmas eve. We are an hour from them on mostly back roads so we were happy to stay.
We got to hear the night before christmas read before bed. We hadn't heard that since my daughter was living home. And the best part is we got to see sweet B on Christmas morning! 
 
As you can see behind husband the snow is coming down pretty hard( we got 9 inches on top of what we had). He is modeling his new wooden sunglasses. The frames are all beautiful stained woods. 

I took a couple of extra days off from work to relax and enjoy
I am so glad I did. 
***
We have been below zero most nights for about 4-5 days and the days only gets to low single numbers..the wind is brutal so we haven't gotten out a lot. We had snow squalls come through yesterday. David has kept the wood stove humming in the basement to help the furnace. We tried to get out to dinner with friends they made it but had to leave in a hurry for furnace and frozen pipe issues. I am sure many are dealing with the same thing. Our highest mountain broke records with the cold and hurricane force winds. I think they were -34 with the wind chill of -89 not fit for man nor beast
This is much colder than we are use to in December so maybe a short winter????PLEASE
***
We are trying to avoid sickness it hits David so hard. I have pretty much lost my voice but I am not sick, no sore throat, etc. I think the dryness of the cold air has done me in. I could use a vat of lotion to jump in! I swear husband will wake up one morning to find a pile of dust where I use to be! My skin is so dry. Hell getting old.!
***
Happy New Year to my sweet blog friends 
Do you made resolutions? Or just say a prayer of thanks for getting through another year? It was a hard one for us. We lost a very long time friend. I miss her so much. And husband had more health issues but hopefully he is going to have a very healthy year!
Happy New Year!!

Sunday, December 24, 2017

Snow Snow Snow

Merry Christmas! 
We are waiting for the 3rd snowstorm in 4 days.
Today will be nicer and then Christmas day we are in for it again.
So we are headed to Sweet B's house for overnight tonight.
We usually go to their house by noon christmas day,that gives them some family time together before both sides of the family lands. But I am afraid we would not make it if we waited. Part of me is very happy we will see her little face on Christmas morning.
This afternoon we are having our sweet friends in for football and lobster stew. Now for cleaning up yesterday's storm that put us without power for 3 hours. I am thankful it was only 3 hours.
Merry Christmas my sweet blog friends.

Sunday, December 17, 2017

Everything's Fuzzy!!!!

Cleaning the snow off my car, the lenses kept getting snow on them. I put them in my pocket....


My backup glasses are so scratched it doesn't help.
Ok I am not leaving the house in these but if I want to watch tv and hook I had to do it. I will order new ones after Christmas. (I did try to order a pair at wal-mart to hold me over until I get a good pair. The girl had such an attitude problem, so I left!)
Still working on this piece. I have my Christmas cards sent....




And the baking done. We drop off goodies to the local 
highway crew they work long hard hours and we appreciate it.
So time to just enjoy...

On Wed my sweet friend Cathy and I went out for a couple of 
apps and drinks. this place is on the lake and just amazing!


It is beautiful inside and out..

Not a bad place to hang out...


Or to look at the lake.
We enjoyed ourselves so much!
*****
My daughter is really great at teaching sweet B 
to write thank you notes and her own cards to family and friends.
This goes with the gifts that she baked her teacher. She loves her teaching, so sweet.
***
Christmas is around the corner, I would like to wish you
a season of Peace and Joy.







Sunday, December 10, 2017

A Charmed Life

This year I have been reading Simple Abundance by Sara Breathnatch. It is daily thoughts on life.
This was about reading the glossy magazines and seeing the charmed lives that people are leading. She feels we should all take a good look at our own lives and see that a charmed life can be many things.

I belong to a wonderful women's group. We are a diverse group but what we have in common is really caring about each other and supporting each other through life. They have done wonderful things for me when my husband was going through his transplant.

These three have my heart. My sweet B with Santa, my daughter and son in law. I am so proud of those two,what wonderful parents they are!
****
Sat morning
 I ran errands around town. I bumped into people I knew every where. Some I hadn't seen in awhile lots of catching up, smiles, and hugs, small town
living at it's best.


We did get snow like most of the east coast. Besides being pretty we are safe and toasty. I went out to help husband with clean up shoveling walkways and cleaning cars. I was walking down our steep driveway and did a split! I haven't done a split in NEVER!
I sat in the snow for a bit taking stock of what was hurting or broken. Husband came running but really I am pretty good!! 
Not bad for an Gramie.


I spent the afternoon decorating, my feather tree with antique ornaments

I bought this hand carved santa this year at a church sale for .50 I put a little dark wax on him and he looks wonderful!

My little village, all vintage paper houses.



We are tucked in while the woodstove is doing it's job in the basement, We are enjoying a cup of tea..


I should be writing christmas cards but hooking calls.
While life has not been easy the past 6 years, I am leading a charmed life with many blessings that I am very thankful for.
*****
Have a wonderful week, take time to make memories with loved ones and enjoy a hot cup of tea.
















Sunday, December 3, 2017

Christmas In Kennebunkport Maine


Merry Christmas!!!!

We are blessed with great friends who share their amazing beach house with us. The 4 of us headed to Maine for the weekend.
For the annual Christmas in Kennebunkport.
We got up early and toasted the sun rise!
On the beach so beautiful and chilly but really not to bad. Not a bad view while drinking your first coffee of the day.
The beach is so wonderful this time of year.

Then we were off to church sales, craft fairs, and...


Who could go to Maine and not visit Cushings and Camp Wool????

Liseanne was so wonderful and helpful at Cushings, helping me figure out some ideas for....

This applicated quilt! I am going to try to do a block a month with the on line facebook group. Settler's Pride by Maggie Bonanomi.
I have no idea why I get myself involved with these large projects and to top it off I have never quilted before! So I will need help with the finishing. The owner of Camp Wool had hers done and displayed in her window so she had lots of great tips and ideas.


We are back home and continuing to decorate. I saw this idea at 
Camp Wool's entrance and loved it. I gathered greens, I need more but it was getting dark and being in the woods after dark not my favorite thing.


I have lots more to share but wanted to end with this!
The moon setting this morning behind their beach house.
The whole house was sleeping so I quietly tip toed out on the top deck and took pictures. 
****
Have a great week take time to enjoy!


Sunday, November 26, 2017

Before And After

I rescued this from a thrift store. It is a little hand hooked ornament
I just couldn't let it stay lonely in the box of glittery things.

I have been hooking, I started out with this....
And ended with this. The worst photo in the world but I changed to a plaid and did his beard in roving much better. Now to bind!

It snowed pretty hard today but didn't last long. It left high winds and cold. So I spent the day...

Decorating 

bubble lights and all. I am hosting my women's group this Wed. not 
sure what I was thinking as my house is not in the best condition for company, stuff everywhere, but like me as I am I guess.
****
Husband is much better thank you for all the thoughts and prayers I know they helped.
I worked 11plus hours Friday so we kept the weekend very low key. I did buy some things online but really not much at this point.
We try to keep Christmas spending in control 
Have a wonderful week!


Sunday, November 19, 2017

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

It seemed like one long week last week.
But the weekend came! I went berry picking for my Decorating with my sweet friend.


I bought a couple of very bad wreaths from
walmart and tried to give them a makeover.

I fell in love with this sweet little crooked tree at a little primitive shop I visited this week.

I have been hooking and it feels great to be back at it.
and in case you think I forgot about Thanksgiving....



For some reason I couldn't turn this around.
but it is my little turkey rug!
****
We got to see Miss B in her fall concert she was so good she had to get up in front of the parents with another little girl and read a part.
and it is always a great to see her.
***
Husband is again fighting pneumonia again. He gets it so easily since his transplant. He is on meds and we are laying low for awhile.
Thanksgiving is very low key for us.
I want to wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving 
we all have much to be thankful for.

Sunday, November 12, 2017

A WHOLE LOT OF BAKING GOING ON.

I work 40 plus hours most weeks so I never have much time to volunteer. But I am always happy to help bake.
Our little food pantry is giving out Thanksgiving baskets and this will be the third year I have baked pumpkin and banana breads to tuck into the baskets. (They are the little loaves)
It feels good to bake I have stopped baking for us as we needed to change our diet.



This is a pork pie a favorite of my French Canadian husband.
I have changed it around a little bit to help cut fat and it still tastes great! He was complaining that he has been so good he needed a treat. Yumm he was so happy to have a nice big slice and didn't notice the changes.
****
In a couple of weeks I am baking for a cookie walk that is a fund raiser. So the baking will go on.

We went into the cold this week yikes what a shock we have had such a warm fall. The wind blew and the temps dropped and the tiny snowflakes came.
The woodstove and the fireplace hummed happily keeping us warm so it was good to tuck in at the end of the day. 
*****
On my way out of work I pass a homeless woman who insists on sleeping outside. For a lot of reasons, all not good, she refuses any help. ( she does get meals from the senior center, and people in town make sure she has food in the evening.) When I got out of work on Monday I could have cried seeing her sitting near the park with all her bags.
But it is her choice. I know the homeless shelter people come by to see her often. She will not go with them. She is a stronger woman than I am I could not do it.


Today Miss B and my daughter came for the day. 
We hit a couple of thrifts and our local dump.
I got these two working solar tops on the canning jars.
FREE
I have plans with Miss B for these.
We also found an american girl doll canopy bed free,it has a small break that husband can fix and Miss B's American girl doll can sleep in style. ( She has the doll that we bought for her mom at her age) I love passing down those crazy expensive dolls.
***
I hope your week was a good one and you were nice and warm.

Sunday, November 5, 2017

STILL FALL

It may still be fall but I went to my first Christmas open house
this is one sweet shop. It is in a barn and her focus is stitching
but they do have some rug hooking. Her wool is lovely.

I bought a couple of books,red dot and this wreath/ candle holder
I know it is hard to see. I just love it I have kept it on the inside door so I can enjoy it. 

I got a chance to attend my rug hooking guild meeting and it was quillies
day!

I had never made them before it was fun except when I burned my thumb so badly putting them on the tree form, it has bubbled up. 

Ok I know I have been talking about Christmas but really
I decorate for thanksgiving. 

These are old they are made from paper ribbon. My aunt gave them to me years ago. (the turkey is a candle)
*****
What a week we had Last Sunday Oct 29th we had a northeaster
but with rain instead of snow. It took trees and light poles down by the dozens. We lost power about midnight. By Thursday I was desperate for power. And luckily we got it back! I feel for those who have been out a month or more in a Puerto Rico God bless them.
***
We also drove to Boston this week for husband's yearly which he did great. 
Have a great week everyone!!!