I like Thursdays: December 29, 2022

 

Today is "I like Thursdays" and time to post what is positive in life.  For more happy energy, visit Lee Anna at Not Afraid of Color to see what bloggers have posted!

This week's likes:

Katie is engaged!  We are very close with our neighbors and learning that Katie got engaged is thrilling.  We've loved her grow since the day she was born and she often was over her playing with our granddaughter or doing crafts when they were kids.

Katie got engaged the Sunday before Christmas.  We are thrilled for her!  She met her fiancee in college.  He was ROTC and is now doing his time in the U.S. Army.  He's a very nice young man and we always know when he's come to visit because of the huge smile on Katie's face.  Congratulations Katie!

Well no one came home for Christmas (just like the rest of the population) because of the weather.  But we did chat with everyone and my husband, mom, and I had a nice dinner together.  The highlight is the new baby in the family, my great-niece Remi.

This year we didn't know what to get her or her big brother Owen (now 5).  Owen was diagnosed with severe allergies earlier this year and he can't have any kind of pet.  Remi loves cats (she sees her grandmother's cat) and we decided to get the kids robotic pets.  These are the kinds that are often given to dementia patients but it is a good substitute for Owen.

Owen loves dog!

Remi loves her kitty!

And then...Maggie sent me a video with the message:  "Good thing we don't have pets!"

Remi was sitting in between the cat and the dog.  When the cat meowed, she began yelling at the dog and even walloped the poor toy a few times.  She was a wild child!  But then the puppy toy barked---and Remi attacked the kitten toy.  She's hysterical and no one really knows what was going on in her head.

So the kids as usual made the holiday complete and gave us all something to laugh at!

Wishing you a safe and happy New Year's!

Merry Christmas 2022

 

Scout and I wish you the happiest of holidays!

We also wish you warmth and electricity!

Have a safe and happy holiday!

I like Thursdays: December 22, 2022

 

Happy Thursday!

It's "I like Thursdays" and time to celebrate the good in life by posting what we like!  You can visit LeeAnna's website and see all the bloggers participating.  It's a good pick-me-up this week!

I like good books.  This past week, I finished Jennifer Ryan's The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle and Jojo Moyes, The Giver of Stars.  Both were interesting and satisfying books to read.

It's the time of year when hearty food is welcome and I enjoyed making Lasagna with Barilla's No Boil Lasagna noodles.  I'll never go back to using the boiled noodles again.  The recipe we used is here in case you want to try it!

Last week, my hubby and I went to visit my aunt and uncle.  My uncle is just a few years older than me and was more of a big brother throughout my life.  I gave them Brett's cat quilt I had made for him (they are his grandparents).  They will see him over the holidays and make sure it gets delivered.  I might have mentioned Brett's quilt before.  He's 10 and loves cats, stating that he'll not marry but buy a house and fill it with cats!😂😂😂  

I don't have a good photo of the quilt because it's so dark these days but here's what I could photograph:

Today's prompt is about holiday traditions.  I had already written a piece for today about this on my Pennsylvania Piecemaker blog.  You can read it here.

I am so blessed to be a part of the blogging community and am so grateful for that today as well.  I love reading friends' blogs and getting to know the reader of my blogs.

Wishing you a safe and happy holiday!

Merry Christmas!

I Like Thursdays: December 15, 2022

 

It's "I like Thursday" and time to share some positive thoughts!

This week our prompt is to share favorite holiday music.  My favorite song this time of year is "Silent Night" and I love the way the Manhattan Transfer do this song because there are children singing with them.  You can hear it here.  Hearing children this time of year really just makes my heart sing.   I love all different kinds of holiday music but this old standard still means the most to me.

What is good and happy this week?  Well today we are getting some snow but are not expecting a lot of accumulation (supposed to change to rain by later today).

I like pierogies!

Last week, Brad and I found sauerkraut pierogies at our Farmers Market.  My first MIL used to make pierogies at home and also for the Ukrainian church (the church sold them).  The ones we bought were superb and Brad and I are going to stock up on them.  Most people are used to the potato/cheese version of these but believe me, the sauerkraut ones are fantastic!

Speaking of food, last week I mentioned that I love gingerbread cookies.  I can't do cut-out cookies with my hand yet but I have found Archway's gingerbread cookies and they are wonderful!

For the hubby, I made chocolate chip cookies on Wednesday.  He cracks me up.  On Tuesday I set butter on the counter to soften.  He asked me what they were for and I told him Toll House cookies.  When we went to the store, he declined to get any sweets, "I'm getting cookies."  Later on Tuesday, he asked me quizzically when I would start the baking.  He tried to play it cool but was clearly disappointed when I said the dough wouldn't be ready until the following day.  

On Wednesday, his patience seemed thin.  "What are you doing?" he asked as I sewed in the attic.  "I'm sewing."  "Oh I was just wondering," he said nonchalantly (oh yeh right).  I figured I best start the cookies and took a sewing break.  Even as the oven was pre-heating, he came into the kitchen.  "Where are the cookies?"  I guess I could have been annoyed by all this but I just found it amusing as all heck.  At least he loves my baking!

On the sewing front, I'm still whittling down scraps.  I'm finding this very satisfying.  I finished all my square in a square blocks for kids' quilts--264 blocks which will make 8 or 9 kids' quilts (and a good thing to judging by the number of kids I'm sewing for!). 

Now I'm working on Christmas scraps--2.5 inch squares from Christmas quilts of long ago.  I thought it was mostly scraps from 2 holiday quilts I made recently but I'm finding I have scraps that go back to the 1980s!  I want to make 16 patches with them eventually. 

The scrap table that I set up before surgery is getting clearer.  Last week I showed you this photo.  Now some of those containers are completely empty!  Whoo-hoo!  Good thing too because I need the space for the holiday scraps!

Scout is really funny these days and I wrote about her antics on my other blog last Friday.  You can read it here.

So that is our quiet life.  Wishing you a safe and peaceful weekend!

I Like Thursdays: December 8, 2022

 

Happy Thursday!  On Thursdays, many of us bloggers celebrate the good in life by posting "I Like Thursdays" and expressing gratitude, merriment, or just good vibes.  If you need more of that in your life, be sure to visit our hostess LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color for more posts!

I like laughing!

My husband and I often make each other laugh.  He recently sent me this meme.  I'm so guilty of this:

We don't often drive at night anymore but during the day, we often talk about the deflated inflatable holiday decorations on people's lawns.  Then I found this hilarious meme:

Miss Scout makes me giggle because she is so transparent.  Whenever I bind a quilt, I always have a little companion vying for my attention.  She even leaves gifts on my quilt:

And if I continue to bind the quilt, she shows me how loud her gift can squeak!

Tuesday evening, our quilt guild had our yearly pot luck dinner.  It had been planned that we would play bingo as the program but a last minute change occurred and instead a group of 10 women from the Lehigh Valley Chorus came in and sang holiday songs for us, it was...magical.  

I do like the programs that are offered at guild but I love most of all the comradery of the members; it was a perfect evening!

This week's prompt is on our favorite holiday cookies!  It doesn't matter the wide variety of cookies I've made, the first one folks in my family reach for are chocolate chips.  I long ago realized that all men love this flavor cookie and it's the recipe I've memorized the most.  My personal favorite is gingerbread cookies--using Mrs. Field's Cookie Book recipe.  I haven't made them in years because I'm the one who ends up eating them :D

I started physical therapy Monday for my hand.  It's healing but I still can't make a fist and it is often uncomfortable.  The therapist assured me this is normal.  Still I like having something I can do right now and I'm working away on quilt blocks for children's quilts.  I especially like making progress on scraps! 

 I've gone from this:

To this:

And have over 200 blocks done!

Wishing you a safe and happy weekend!

Stay warm!

I like Thursdays: December 1, 2022

I can't believe it is December already!

Today is "I like Thursdays" and time to share positive things on the internet!  Hosted by Lee Anna at Not Afraid of Color, please visit her website and fill your happiness cup with all the blogs that participate!

I love my baby.  She's been very patient during my hand recovery.  Fortunately hubby's doing some walks but not as many as she and I normally take.  I do take her to visit her friend Tinkerbell each evening.  Both picky eaters, the dogs actually eat when they are together; I'm sure it's some sort of competitive thing.  Scout and I headed home one evening and Scout stopped at a tree.  The squirrels were screeching and I looked up and saw a cat in the tree.  The cat seemed quite content as it annoyed the squirrels. But eventually it tired of Scout sniffing the bottom of the tree and arched it's back so we retreated.  I didn't need Scout getting attacked by a feral cat.

I'm so grateful my hand surgery went well.  It's going to take a little longer to heal than I expected and I do need physical therapy (still can't make a fist).  

Happily, my husband is home to help.  I am grateful that I was warned about some of the challenges of the surgery by my friend who underwent the surgery in September.  

I cut tons of fabric for projects beforehand (I knew that would be one task I wasn't capable of afterwards).  Whenever the spirit moves me, I head up to the sewing room and assemble some square in a square blocks for kids' quilts down the line.  

Our prompt for this week's post is favorite holiday movies.  I don't really have a favorite but I enjoyed watching my Dad watch "A Christmas Story" written and narrated by Jean Shepherd.  I can still hear him laugh while he watched the movie.  My Dad was a big Jean Shepherd fan from way back when Shepherd did radio shows.  

In a weird twist of fate, one of the older vets and I got in a discussion of favorite books while he was caring for Scout.  He recommended I read Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden of Golden Memories: And Other Disasters.  He too remembers how much his Dad loved Jean Shepherd and recommended Shepherd's book.

Wishing you a safe and happy weekend!

I like Thursdays: November 24, 2022

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is "I like Thursday" and time to express all that we are grateful for--and especially on Thanksgiving!  Please check out more happy posts at our hostess LeeAnna's blog!

My hand surgery went well.  In pre-op, the doctor decided that two fingers needed to be done.  The recovery has been okay and it will take a while before I can actually use the hand (it can't even be wet right now).  Funny how the little thing become important so  I find myself grateful for: sweat pants, my husband being home this week, and actually I'm grateful not to have to worry about Thanksgiving.

This holiday season the kids' made alternative plans and it's just me, Brad, and Mom.  Mom is baking a turkey breast and Brad is taking care of the other fixings.  I'll report later on his recipes he tried.  Still as the person that everyone turns to, I'm grateful for the break.

I'm grateful for my niece Maggie.  She and I text regularly and she always sends me photos of my great niece Remi who is now 7 months old.  So many blessings!

I'm so grateful for all of our family and our friends and yes, Scout's friends too!

And you, my online friends are so dear to me!  I wish you all a safe and happy holiday!

I Like Thursday: November 17, 2022

 Happy Thursday!

It's time to share gratitude and joy for "I like Thursdays" sponsored by LeeAnna!

Things I loved this week:  

The PBS Nature program on Woodpeckers!  It was fascinating and I can't recommend it enough!  I have always been fond of these birds but I never realized the diversity of the breed!

Winter is around the corner and we even had some snowflakes Tuesday night.  I find this time of year restful after a season of working the garden.  I've got my provisions set up for the next few months:  lots of sewing projects and a stack of books.

LeeAnna asked us about Thanksgiving--prep for this year and Thanksgiving pasts as our prompt this week.  I'm happily out of the loop for the holiday.  I'm having hand surgery on Monday and I won't be cooking or cleaning for 10 days.  I've told my mom and husband it's on them right now and to work it out (the ignore me and continue conversing about other things).  It's true:  they are both used to me managing everything.  

My husband does like to cook and once about 22 years ago, he decided that we should host Thanksgiving in our wee 1000 square foot house.  He wanted to be the chef.  He bought a big turkey and planned his menu.  It sounded fine and I just baked pies the day before.  But there was another factor that my husband didn't consider--oh yeh, the size of everything in our home (his dream home he told me before we bought it).

How small is our house?  Well we have such a small kitchen that small appliances have to be ordered when something needs to be replaced.  To make a long story short--our range/oven is only 24 inches wide (and that's the exterior).  Although I questioned hubby about the size of the turkey he was baking, he dismissed me.  

As you might guess, the turkey never got done.  Our guests waited and waited and waited FOR HOURS.  Each time he checked the temperature of the turkey, it was still not done.  Eventually, we ate everything but turkey and I'm not sure what we did with the bird (I'm certain it never did get quite done).  My family--who were the guests--never teased hubby about it but no one would ever bring up having dinner at our home again.  From then on, I cooked the holiday meals and we hosted Christmas and Easter brunch which was much more do-able.  

Wishing you a safe and happy weekend!

I like Thursdays: November 10, 2022

 Happy Thursday!

Time to share things we like!

I like pizza for breakfast.  I never thought I would come round to this idea, but about 3 years ago, my husband finally convinced me to try it.  We get a very thin crust pizza at our farmer's market on Thursdays or Fridays.  Scout loves the crust (referred to as pizza bones) and it is just a fun and weird way to start the day!

LeeAnna, our hostess with the mostess, suggested we weigh in on our thoughts about apple cider.  I like it.  I don't care for the spiced variety much anymore (or rather, the variety doesn't like me).  The cider never gets completely drunk here.  To be honest, I just as soon heat a mug of apple juice with a cinnamon stick in it these days. 

I love poodles!  I love my vintage poodle pin cushions too!

 

I'm enjoying the new mystery series, Magpie Murders!  It's a lot of fun and I really love the actress, Lesley Manville!

The days have been lovely and now that I'm recovering from the flu, I'm appreciating the beauty outdoors!

Hope you are having a wonderful day!

Stay safe!

I Like Thursdays: October 27, 2022

 Happy Halloween!

It's "I like Thursday" and time to celebrate the good things in life!

The Phillies won the division championship and now they're on to the World Series!  Who would have imagined it would happen this year but we are delighted and ready to watch the series against the Astros!  Go Phils!

Well the weather got warmer--but also rainy so I've been in the sewing room!  I finished 8 tops for the kids and now am working on square in a square blocks that I found while cleaning out the sewing room!  Cleaning Bonus--finding some finished quilts I made during the pandemic that I can give gift (forgot all about them).

The leaves are falling at a terrific rate these days.  I love passing by my neighbor's house.  His maple leaves are always red and burgundy and as they lay in the green grass, remind me of Christmas.  

Another Christmas reminder was up the street.  Sometimes what the garbage men leave behind amuses the heck out of Karen (next door) and I.    Simply put-- "Christmas Coffee."

Our prompt this week was to discuss a Halloween costume that we remember fondly.  I think my favorite thing was wearing a gown that had been my great-grandmother's.  I think it was made of moire and through the years of dress-ups and costumes, the gown really took a beating.  I'm rather sad now that it is gone (my mother probably threw it out).  When I think about it now, it was probably one of the factors that made me love old things.

Wishing you a safe and happy weekend!

I Like Thursdays: October 20, 2022

 Happy Thursday!  Today bloggers share things we are grateful for as part of "I like Thursdays!"  The event is hosted by Lee Anna at Not Afraid of Color.  Go visit her and other bloggers!!!

Well the Phils beat the Braves (sorry Libby) and are now taking on the Padres (we lost one, won one so far).  It's exciting baseball watching for sure!  I was worried about what I would do without baseball to watch at night but I've already got a nice stack of books to read this winter.  The one I'm looking forward to the most is The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle by Jennifer Ryan. 

I read her book Kitchen Front last summer and a bunch of my friends have read it now and love it as well!  These books are fiction but illustrate the challenges that British women faced during World War 2.  Well researched and well written!

We had the first real frost this week and it's time to cut back plants.  Hopefully it will be warmer tomorrow and I'll get some outdoors work done!  In the meantime, I'm working away on quilts for the kids and using up tons of novelty fabric I've had for years.

Scout's back on her medication for allergies but hopefully the frost will relieve her seasonal allergies!  The cool weather has her really frisky and she loves being outdoors right now!

Our prompt this week from LeeAnna is what kind of Halloween candy we liked as kids and like now.  I liked all kinds of candy when I was a kid but this time of year I get a hankering for candy corn (I don't buy it because I will eat it).  My favorite candy over the summer was fruit Mambas that my neighbors and I snacked on as we played board games.

Wishing you a safe and happy weekend!

I Like Thursdays: October 13, 2022

 Greetings and welcome to this week's version of "I like Thursdays"!!!

Every week we post things we like or are grateful for and our hostess LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color shares our blog addresses.  Visit her here to read more uplifting posts! 

We came home Tuesday evening to some excitement in the neighborhood.  There was a fire truck behind my neighbor's home.  Calvin the cat had climbed a tree and couldn't get down!

Scout is friends with the two cats that live next door and the felines are only allowed outdoors with human supervision.  Apparently Andy the young man next door who is the "cat whisperer" of the family had climbed the tree to get Calvin down but Calvin kept climbing higher and higher until the fire department had to be called.  

By the time we got home, it was really dark and there was a full rescue underway  (no easy feat to even see him as Calvin is black).  Happily, the firemen allowed Andy to climb their super big ladder and get Calvin.  We applauded Andy.  We applauded the firemen and thanked them repeatedly.   As the one neighbor said, this was so much better than watching tv!

Apparently there will be no more outings of the cat, per Andy.  Better safe than sorry!  We are just happy Calvin is safe!

Autumn is here and the geese are passing through and visiting the lake.  I love watching the seasons change in my garden and at the park:

It's been a rather uneventful week (except for Calvin's adventure) but I'm grateful for a week of peace as well.

This week Lee Anna's prompt is what kind of snacks we feast on--particularly at night.  During the day I'm just too busy but at night when I finally sit down, I do like an apple.  My secret snack is Wrigley's Doublemint gum.  I've been watching the Phillies and the gum chewing seems to alleviate the tension of the game.  It's not glamourous but there it is.  I never chew gum any other time.

Wishing you a safe and happy weekend!