Keeping Busy

We got snow last night 5 inches, when we were suppose to have a dusting to 3. Made for a pretty day and a stand out visitor.

Can you see him now? Yes a cardinal! He was surveying the land before he made his trip to the feeder. He was so red in all the white he glowed. We went into warmish weather so the snow melted a bit. We are going into a warm week, can spring be around the corner?

I had a customer pop in last week to give me this bag she made for me. I work in a used bookstore and she is one of our long time customers. It made my day she was so sweet to think of me.

We got to see sweet B on Sat, on the way home I got husband to stop at a shop I love and treated myself to this large pin cushion. that thimble is normal size so you can tell how large it is.

 

My daughter gave me back a couple of pieces to fix that I had made for them. They have pets! At first I was put out that they were not better taken care of but my daughter had a point she said " I want them to be out to show them off not hidden away." So I will fix them and pray for the best.

I have transferred 3 of my stair risers but now I have to decide what the background should be because that is what I think ties them together.

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I have been growing sprouts that will go on my sandwiches,

they grow fast this was in just one week! I will eat these and then regrow some more until I can plant a garden again.

Have a great week everyone.

A Great Guy

My husband took me away for a romantic overnight to this Inn.

While the driveway was close to a mile long up and up and the weather was not the best it was beautiful Inn. It was built to be an inn about 15 years ago. You can see mountains past mountains just amazing. And probably the best place I have ever been in. The breakfast was amazing. He also made reservations for us to go out to dinner to this amazing place that was a spurge but so worth it!!! I felt very pampered. What a wonderful guy to surprise me, I guess I will keep him.💕💕💕

We also shopped a bit I bought myself a tibetan prayer flag that I will put on the porch when better weather comes. When the wind blows the flags your prayers are sent to heaven. I also have a dump find....

This record cracked me up it is from my grandparents time, I am sure you have heard of them.you can hear them sing here.

And last but surely not least I have bound my rugs I finished at rug retreat yahoo!! and I am going to start the stair risers. I got the first one on to red dot but I need to buy some nice new markers, mine are dry and would never bleed through. I am so happy to be able to get these started. 

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We have had snow and rain, cold and warm, ok warmish.

I am so ready for Spring but I have to be patient and also when the ground thaws I will have to work in my gardens, so for right now except for shoveling I get to hook most days.

Have a great week!!!

I've Been Busy!

We had a super blue moon at the end of January.

I love the moon.

This time of year it looks like daytime with the moon reflecting off the snow which makes it very hard to sleep.

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I recently picked up an second hand ice cream maker. So with low fat yogurt and some strawberries I gave it a whirl. Very good and we kept the fat and the sugar low so a good treat.  

We have been toying with getting a single serve coffee maker.

It kills me the price of coffee in those little cups.

I make a small pot in the morning but sometimes in the afternoon we would like a cup.

Then I remembered the french press I have. A small scoop of coffee, some boiling water,wait for a few minutes, voila!  really great coffee for much less than the single cups.

Beth at Parris house wool works in Paris Maine had a little giveaway on her facebook page around the first of the year. She sent me these wonderful things. Her pattern of a bee. (We call our granddaughter sweet B) so perfect, wool, and wonderful handmade soap. So very generous. If you are on facebook find her she always has wonderful things on her page.

I can not say enough wonderful things about these stair risers that a 

 rug hooker friend drew for me! This is a very small sneak peek. They are amazing and I can't wait to start on them. 

I met her on my retreat to Star Island. 

I love meeting other rug hookers they are usually open, wonderful, sharing, and kind. And usually up for a good laugh!! 

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Well my Patriots lost so sad but there is always next year.  Then I stayed up to watch "This Is Us" Ok I knew Jack was dead but I didn't know how he died. I was sobbing with his TV wife Rebecca. So crazy but sign of a good show. 

We are in for another snow storm on Wed 10 plus inches. It has been so icy if  you take a walk you're taking your life in your hands. You'll break a hip!!!

Can't wait for spring!

Have a great week!!!

Weekend With Sweet B...

Miss B's birthday is very close to christmas so we try to do something very special with her later after the holidays.

We went to Montshire Science Museum for children.

Learning about bubbles and catching one is even more special.

She loved this one on pulleys they had a table you could change things around and make things move very hands on.

there were so many kinds of hands on things for the kids, and little programs throughout the day, hiking and snowshoeing trails, really a fun and amazing place for kids.

If you are going to Montshire you need to go to King Arthur flour just around the corner. A great lunch and yes she was queen of the weekend.

We stayed in a hotel with a pool her favorite! She can swim so well.

She is a little fish. She got some hands on toys and craft things..

And now Pepe and I are home feet up!

This was a busy week at work getting caught up from 

being gone a few days. This is a sun rise they never get old.

Have a wonderful week!

A Hook In- Kennebunkport

I was lucky enough to attend a hook in, in Kennebunkport Maine.

I was suppose to leave Wed but snow. So early Thur morning down I went for 4 days. I took 3 unfinished pieces that have been a thorn in my side, some for years, to finish. The first one is what I worked on,on Star Island this past fall. I know it looks funny at the top by the light house,but truly it is nice and straight.

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This rug is very special to me. I was lucky enough a few years ago to spent some time with a friend from Canada I met on my blog.

We met in Maine at my other sweet friend's (who is also my husband's cousin) for a fun weekend.

Kim gifted us with this rug depicting the three of us that Deanne Fitzpatrick designed for us and only us!!! 

I am so close to being done so I can hang this is a special place. 

And this a free rug from Cushings at Christmas time.

Donna also got to finish her rug that is the same. I wish I had taken a picture of it. It is kind of fun seeing the same pattern done by different people.

I am showing only small bits of a very large rug that a woman who was at the hook in designs herself. Look at this woodpecker!!!

This is turned but so amazing.

Even her ferns are amazing.

We didn't have the big throw down so not a lot of other rugs to show. 

Time away is always so wonderful with other hookers.

Lots of laughs and some wine, oh and margarita night that were yummy. And lots and lots of food..

I am home feet up watching my Patriots.

Have a wonderful week.

Crazy Weather

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In one week we went from minus 25 to this! with Rain, lots and lots of rain! we lost about 15 inches of snow in a 24 hour period. So there was flooding. Not near us, but in our town roads were closed. Then it all froze what a mess! it was 1 degree this morning.

I stayed in and dyed some wool. light is before, dark after,  I love how it came out. I have a lot of straight colored wool that I would not probably use. I like the mottled wool better. I am not confident dying wool but I need to do more of it so that I will use my wool and not keep buying and buying.

I got up early and out in 1 degree weather to go to guided meditation this morning. I was horrid at it my mind kept running away with me. I just could not settle! so I am going to try a little on my own before I go back next month. I found a youtube that may work for me.

Sweet B visited today, that always makes it a great day! 

We baked, played games and she helped me sort out the pile of books I have for when she comes. Her reading level is jumping up by leaps and bounds and as she said she doesn't need baby books any more. Her mom was always a wonderful reader too,so happy to see B love reading.

(Do you see the hand hanging on the frig by her head? That is her mom's hand when she was in first grade. B always puts her hand to measure against her mom's so sweet.)

When the weather gets cold I get cooking not really sure why except we love to eat and it feels cozy to have a warm oven going.

I made scones Sat morning a half batch with blueberries. Then I was watching cooks country and saw the pizza recipe. I made that Sat night and it was wonderful! A  keeper for sure.

Tonight pork loin with roasted veggies.

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I have been getting ready for my 5 day rug hooking retreat in Kennebunk Me. I am looking forward to seeing everyone and relaxing. I just pray for good weather to get there and back.

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Have a great week everyone!

Oh The Cold!

We have been in the deep freeze for longer than I can to to think about and if we are not super cold it is snowing. We have gotten more snow that most full winters already. Because it has been so cold most of us have been housebound no skiing, walks, or snowshoeing. 

Saturday we never got above zero we were minus -6  at noon.

I decided to do the bake along with King Arthur Flour, it came out wonderful. I also sorted out my craft room to get things together for my rug hooking retreat in Maine this month. I have realized that I have 3 on going projects. I hit a rough spot and I set it aside and start something else. Well my resolution is to finish up what I have going before I can start another project. Most of the three pieces are at least half done and not to large.

We are warming up this week (yahoo) my daughter and grand daughter will be skiing this week with school so it is good it is warming up, but they are calling for an ice storm by weeks end ugh!

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I finally got new glasses this week but they are going to take some getting use to. They are a bit different than I had. They do seem to fit my face better and are comfortable. It is sure nice to see again.

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My sister in law retired this past Thursday. Lucky her! I hope she enjoys every minute of it she earned it as an ER nurse for years.

But I can not wait for my turn! 

Have a great week!