Hammered

I am not exaggerating, the snow storm walloped us worse than the two hurricanes we endured this year.  There are trees down everywhere in our valley (pretty dangerous to even walk dogs right now because of the wires down), news said 200,000 without electricity; about 1/2 of those (including our home) have been restored.  Other towns outside the city have to wait for power possibly until Wednesday.  Unfortunately, we also lost the food in our freezers. 

It got so cold that we could see our breath when we or the dogs exhaled while we were in our house. I'm grateful we have power now and have said some prayers for the poor people who still don't.  It's going down to 25 F tonight.  You can see some stuff on this website of our local tv channel.

 I've set the temp up because we could actually lose power again.  So if i'm not on, you'll know that we lost our phone line which is hanging pretty low:

If we can actually keep our power, I'm going to stay home anyway.  There are so many accidents because so many of the traffic lights are broken and the towns and electric company just can't keep up with it.

Fortunately, it's going to get warm.  It should be interesting to see how my plants faired:

Have a happy week and be safe!

October 29, 3:00 p.m.

The thing is...

that our trees are still green and just turning autumn colors. 

And the weather people have just increased the snow fall predictions for tomorrow from 1-3 inches to 3-6 inches.  Hang on to your hats, when winter arrives this early, we are in for a heck of a lot of snow!

Today's moment of beauty...

My girlfriends had an impromptu birthday party for me about 10 days ago.  One of the gifts was this wee book of quotations and I love it (yes, I am a quote nut, just find them sooo inspiring sometimes).  Anyway each day you open up the little book and it gives you something to think about.  I decided to post some of the moments of beauty since we all can use a reminder to appreciate the gifts in our life. 



Today's moment? 

"Life is sometimes made of the small moments of contentment you find in the corners of your day."

I already had a moment of contentment this morning when I picked some bouquets of roses.  We are about to have three days of rain and I wanted to enjoy the blossoms while I can.  Also, how do you like my new lamps?  I bought the bases for $4.00 total at a garage sale and then made the lampshades (whole project total:  $19).  I just love this little corner of my dining room now!

"Easy Does It" is the name of these beauties which are easily the most fragrant roses in my garden:

 I've learned a new appreciation of coral and even orange this year and when these roses bloom, the whole bed pops with cheerfulness.  The perfume from fills the entire upper yard; for the first time I enjoyed hanging wash because I could inhale the scent these emit. 

I'm off to sew.  I hope you have some special moments of beauty and contentment today too!

Polly's Pumpkin

Here's a blog I really love!  Sarah's "Gingerbread Cottage" is a wonderful blog to visit for inspiration.  This past week Sarah posted a drawing of Polly's Pumpkin with the hopes that one of us would use it since Sarah is a bit busy these days.

Honestly, Halloween is my least favorite holiday of the year.  Then there is the little chair from the one room school house...for years I've been hankering to put a pillow on it for each season and holiday (so far I only have two).  Obviously,  I had nothing for Halloween.  Polly and her pumpkin were so endearing I had to embroider a wee pillow for my tiny chair. 

Thank you Sarah!!!

It was an easy little project, done in just two nights during tv watching and I think it is really sweet.  I think Sarah still has her drawing posted so if you want one, go visit her and tell her Mickie sent you!

Scrap UFO finished

Last summer I started to put together blocks using up all my odd scraps.  Anyway, I have enough leftovers for three quilts..this is the first one done.  It has mostly boy images on the middle blocks.  These are wild and loud quilts but I think (hope) kids like them.  The next one is for girls and the last will have animals on it.  Sorry the photo is so bad but the wind was terrible that day :)

Have a great day

had i the heaven's embroidered cloths...

I love love love LOVE embroidery and guess what I got?   Gifts from friends!!!  Here are two recent pieces I received from friends as birthday presents!

I have a real weakness for coverlets from the 30s and 40s made for kids.  Pam got me this beauty:

which included Molly and May of course:

Another weakness?  Yes BUNNIES!!! Love them!  Even named my son Peter after Peter Rabbit!  Kim gave me this towel which she knew I would adore:

I'm so fortunate to have such wonderful friends.  They are a true blessing and make my heart sing with gratitude.  As if all this wasn't enough, I received a redwork baby quilt yesterday which I have to photograph today and will post.  Off to write thank you notes now.......

Another Ray of Sunshine

My son Peter came home last weekend to help with the Craft Fair.  Unfortunately, we didn't have many kids there and we had lots of the wall hangings left.   I had made about 50 of them and there were about 40 left.  I donated all the craft stuff to Peter's after school program.  I got this in my email Tuesday evening and it sooooo made my day!

Thanks son, you made my week! :)  Your kids are awesome and I am so pleased they are enjoying them. Hugs and kisses, Mom

Color me Happy!

Katie is going to be a crayon for Halloween this year.  She and her mom made this awesome costume yesterday, isn't it great?  It seem so apt since the Crayola Crayon factory is in our valley.

Hey Katie this is my favorite color too! :)

The pups like it too, here are Greta and Seamus (slightly hidden to the left of Greta) peering over the wall to check out the activities:

Have a great day ya'all :)

fair days

Our annual craft fair at the Quaker Meeting is happening this Saturday.  Yesterday I spent the day pricing everything.   I haven't even gotten there yet and I'm sold out of a lot of things!

Last week my girlfriend spotted this wall hanging and purchased it on the spot:

Then there is my mother, who has a bit of a hoarder mentality at times.  She walked off with all my mug rugs yesterday before I even priced them.  I really loved the mug rug portion of my table (not shown because I was wiped out) so I'm madly making more.  Finished these two last night (fortunately I had the hand embroidered squares already done):

Next year I'll know not to show things to people before the fair!  Meanwhile I'm also off to another venue today to support a guild in Quakertown.  If you are free and are in Eastern Pennsylvania, check out the Keystone Quilters Show today or tomorrow!

autumn in the garden

"Ya'all come back now, hear?"

Happy Thanksgiving Canada!

Ted says "Happy Thanksgiving" to all our Canadian friends!

From our gang to yours, have a happy and restful day of thanks!  We are grateful for you, our wonderful neighbors!

wordless wednesday

Blogger

First, I can't seem to post on other people's blogs. :(  And then....When I try to change the photos on my blog template, blogger says I've exceeded to quota for photographs.  Anyone else having this problem?