2013: Best year ever!

It's true, 2013 brought me more happiness than I ever had anticipated.  Two big reasons:

Peter and Jessica!

I remember listening to an interview of Cokie Roberts years ago.  She was asked if all her professional accomplishments had helped her gain more confidence and poise.  She said it wasn't that at all, but had more to do with her children growing up.  As a mother, we never stop worrying about our children, she said, but there comes a point when you know that they are not only grown-up but are solid in their values.  Then, she said, we can relax and feel confident.

I completely concur with Cokie.  Peter and Jessica respect each other, are kind and active in their community and make wise financial decisions.  I think their marriage will continue to be a happy one.  This realization has brought me more joy and peace than I ever expected.  I couldn't ask for a better daughter than Jessica and I'm proud to have her in our family.  And Peter?  Well he's relaxed and happy and calls me all the time for ADVICE (can you believe it?).  It's wonderful!

Another thing that helped this year be the best ever:   Most productive sewing year in almost a decade!  Sandra and I had a UFO challenge going and it REALLY really helped keep me focused on finishing.  I completed 22 UFOs in additional to my regular sewing and am now also doing a UFO challenge for my guild.  

I'm already prepared for 2014 and I think it will be another good year for sewing.  I'll talk about my goals tomorrow.

December 26

 

Christmas was wonderful, all our children were home and even the nieces made it here!

Christina loved her quilt! I've given myself a deadline of March to finish Maggie's (other niece).  This pattern is from the book, Wonder Blocks, by Terry Martin.

We can tell the dogs are getting older.  They were both well behaved during all the holiday madness.   Teddy is now 7 and Seamus turned 6 on Christmas Eve.

This is Teddy this morning.  He's exhausted after his long Christmas day and cuddling with one of his (many) new toys people brought him.  I think we are all going to take it easy today!  Hope you are getting so much needed post-holiday rest too!

Merry Christmas

It's Christmas time in the city...

Our snow is melting quickly as we have had a two day warm-up.  The fog yesterday made walking the dogs and taking photographs a fun activity.  The thaw is temporary, already the weather people are saying we shall have cold temperatures tomorrow again, possibly a light snow shower.  

Hope you are all done with holiday preparations and relaxing before Christmas!

Fish Fun!

 Another donation/UFO quilt finished last night.  I think this fish fabric is a fabric we may have picked up when we were planning my (now 35 year old) son's nursery.  The rainbow fabric someone gave me in the last 10 years.  When I saw it, I knew it would work with the fish fabric and put the border on the last piece of fish fabric that I had.  I think it works perfectly!  I only had to buy the yellow border which I thought was really fun and is currently on the market.  This will be donated to the pediatric oncology ward.  I think it is very cheerful!

We've still got a lot of snow here but the weather people are saying mild weather is on the way.  We can only hope!  Have a great day!

Baby it's cold outside...

21 degrees outside and still snowing.  First day of winter hasn't arrived and yet this autumn we've had over a third of what we normally get in snowfall.  Snow this early usually means a tough winter for all of us.  I'm going to stock up on thread the next time I'm at the store and make sure I have all the sewing supplies I need!

Stay warm and safe!

Oh the weather outside is frightful...

We got some more snow yesterday.  But the real news is the cold so there is a lot of ice outside.  We salted our pavements and our streets are passable but the dogs are still bored.  Unfortunately a lot of people don't clear their sidewalks so walking is very problematic yet.   No temperatures above freezing until Saturday when the high will be 34--and unfortunately that day we will get more snow and ice.   So this is winter...if the weather outside is frightful, the sewing room is delightful so I have two more finishes:  the dog house quilt and a donation quilt for the premie ward at the local hospital.

Today I am hoping to quilt my fish quilt and I have enough dog house blocks for another quilt which I am changing a little.  Hope you are all staying safe and warm!

Too long away...

We've been fairly busy here which is why I haven't been around.  My husband is rarely home and to have him not only stateside but off from work for over a month is a pretty unusual experience.  So here have been the latest updates:

Thanksgiving at the newlyweds!

 "The Beards" All the men at the feast.  

Perfect turkey again from Peter and Jessica!  The food was all from scratch and wonderful!

My husband was supposed to be hunting but he got sick with a heck of a cold/flu thing (which he graciously shared with me) and so he has been home.  Before I got sick, I was just holding down the fort.  Here is Seamus doing some dog therapy work this past week.  More updates later this week!