I'm Sooo Excited!

Did I tell you that I sent off my camera to be fixed? Yep... I sent it off a week ago this past Monday... yesterday I got an email saying that it is fixed.... (at no charge to me!) and is now being FedEx'd back.... last I just checked.... it was in Tennessee! Which is rather strange, cause it's coming from Illinois! What do I care how it gets here.... I suppose it's taking the scenic route! But, it is coming and that means....... yes!!!! I can take pictures again! And even post one or two!
Hope all is well with every one's Thanksgiving plans... we had an early Thanksgiving dinner sorta with one of our daughters..... (we ate pie! and she sent home potato's, etc...) DH had a few appointments so we were on a time crunch! It was good though!
I got the binding sewn onto a quilt that I'm working on for our Church. I just need to hand sew it now! I figure that I can do this while'st tending the little grands....
More later.... Make sure your needles are sharp!

40 Days and Counting Before Christmas

I was just thinking that as a child it took foreverrrrrr for Christmas to come. I suppose that it's still that way for children. At least I hope so! This world gets a bit hard sometimes, and I like to think that children are still innocent and sweet. Our oldest grandson showed us a letter he is going to send to Santa. Since he is 4 he has glued pictures onto the letter. We asked him where Santa lives and he had no idea.... (simpler time of life... innocent, sweet) and when we told him that Santa lives at the North Pole he just gave us a silly look and agreed. We asked if he would mail it to Santa? He laughed and said no! I probably should have asked if maybe we should just e-mail Santa. He probably would have figured that was right, because we allll know, that everyone including Santa has a computer!
I of course am no where's near being ready for Christmas... but, ready or not it will come. And I will enjoy it! My thinking is that it's more important to be ready Spiritually than any other way. Sure giving presents to those we love is nice... but it's more important to know why we celebrate and to be thankful for the person whom we celebrate the birth of. Just like the Who's in Whoville.... when they awoke and found that all their Christmas presents, food and decorations were gone... the reason to have Christmas.... which is to celebrate the birth of Our Savior Jesus Christ is much more important! Now maybe to you comparing how we celebrate to the Who's in Whoville is somewhat lame. But, the message is what's important. They still had each other, and that was the most important thing to them! Of course... to me if I woke up and didn't have any of my family, friends, freedoms etc.... it would be pretty hard to deal with. But, I know that I can lean on My Heavenly Father and his Son... my Savior Jesus Christ. I'm not saying I wouldn't cry.... me not cry.... rightttt! No, that in and of it's self.... next to impossible! But, as hard as it would be.... (and believe me, I'm not asking to be challanged in this way at all!!)
I know that I could make it through, as long as I have the help of my Savior. So 40 days or 40 years... Christmas is with me all year long. This just happens to be the time we celebrate and show a bit more attention to Him.
Take care everyone.... I pray that those of you that read this will have an Enjoyable Christmas Season.... And let me be the first to wish you a Merry Christmas! And soon to be New Year. May all your sewing projects finish smoothly.

It's November Again.... Birthdays Come and Go

I was able to get a hold of the canon camera people... they were so nice! My camera is under warranty and so now I just need to send it off to get it fixed! The guy I spoke to said that worst cases I may have to pay $79 to get it fixed! But, that I could pay that same $ and get a brand new one of the same kind... so hopefully they can fix it and it will be back soon! He said that if I send it off soon.... it will be back hopefully b/4 Thanks Giving! Which if you look at the calendar... is just around the corner!
Here it is November... hard to believe that time has done it's thing once again... and scurried so quickly through the year. It's my birthday again!!! Yep, another day in the month and another year older! Like my mom was saying in a CD of thoughts she sent.... seems the older you get although your body gets older.... it just doesn't feel as if I've gotten any older! Our family had a nice get together yesterday to celebrate all the November birthdays in the family. I have two SIL's that have birthdays this month also! One tomorrow.... Happy B-day Fernando!!!
And one next week! Happy B-day Matt! Yep.... and I figured it out.... those two were born... when I was 27!!!! Yikes! That seems weird! We had cake, (each of us got our own type that we like!) I had chocolate Angel Food Cake.... with a bit of whipped topping! I like my cake light! And then came the presents! WoW!!!! My family sure does spoil me! I got all sorts... gift cards from the local Barnes and Noble... and one from the local Hancocks... a cook book and apron... a couple of really nice photo albums (I'm not a scrapbooker.....) to put the tons of photo's I have that are waiting to be taken care of! I received a Target red bag.... to use to put things I purchase with all my gift cards!!! I beautiful heart from my parents... made by Margarent Furlong. It has a wonder verse from the bible on it on love.... So, I want to thank all of my family for spoiling me rotten.... once again! And thank you for blessing my life! It wouldn't be any fun without you all!
O.k. has everyone noticed that Thanks Giving this year is the very last Thursday of the month!!! And that means we only have a short amount of time b/4 Christmas after Thanks Giving this year!!! I hope that you are all better prepared then I am! I know that my parents are prepared!!!! They have already gotten the presents, wrapped them, mailed them to my house (the ones for our family) and they can now sit back and relax!!! Guess I had better get my act together!
We have decided that this year instead of doing a family gift (in my DH's family) we will do something for others outside of the family. And then share Christmas Eve. what we could do. It's a nice way to keep from getting wayyy to many gifts and to help out a few others that may not have anything else for Christmas.
I need to go... the laundry is calling and my sewing room .... well let's just say that it will take a whip and a chain to get into the room now!!! LoL....

Halloween Is Almost Here and Apples, Apples, Everywhere!

Halloween is almost here! I was busy yesterday working on a cloak or robe for part of the costume for our DGS. Here is a look at what he is going to be: Patawan from Star Wars...
http://www.padawansguide.com/robe.shtml My DD his mom made the rest of the costume... I just happened to have a piece of fleece that was brownish in nature to go for the outer cloak. When she gets some picks of him I will have to post some. Plus of the other little ones. Hope that everyone has a wonderful, fun, and safe time.
I picked more apples the other day.... like 4-5 bushels! Apples, apples, everywhere!!!! Luckily I was able to find a few more people that wanted some. Of all those, I ended up with only one of the tubs I filled. Yeahhhhh.... although my friend Karma is started to check her caller I.D. and probably doesn't want to see me coming to her front door! LoL.... So, if you want apples.... let me know! Mostly if you live in the area! Red Delicious Apples.... they make good pies, apple sauce and work great for drying.

Loser Monday

Well here we are again. Loser Monday. Hmmm, I can't complain because although I didn't lose any weight, I did stay the same! From when I lost weight after being sick! So... that is at least a step in the right direction! I hope that all of you that may be working out, trying to loose are doing at least as well. Think ahead if you can about what your going to eat. One thing that I have been doing is eating at least an apple a day! I know, that sounds pretty cheesie! But at least it isn't hurting! And I do love apples, fruit of most any kind makes me happy. And what's Fall without Apples? O.K. this isn't on the "diet list" but it's really good! And it includes apples too!
My SIL made this a few years back up in Jackson Hole when we were up there for Lotoja!

It's For Dipping Apples Into...... Yummy is all I can say!
Take one 8 ounce package of cream cheese and mix with powdered sugar to taste (try about a cup to start.... some people like it sweeter than others!) It works great to use either a food processors or an electric mixer. Mix it up until smooth. Then spread this onto a plate of some sort; as the bottom layer for the dip.
2nd layer is caramel.... try to find the kind at the store that is creamy and nice (or you can use a double boiler and melt some down) Spread this on top of the cream cheese mixture.
3rd layer is some sort of toffee candy bar (it's your choice here.. maybe you have a favorite!)
sprinkle broken up little bits of the candy bar (sometimes you can find this in the baking department of the grocery store) over the top of layer 2.
Next thing you need to do is wash off any type of your favorite apples! And then slice and core them.... we just leave the peels on, but again this is up to you!
Dip away..... it's Awesome!!!! Just remember that it's easy to get carried away eating this.... so be careful! And enjoy this Fall Treat!
Don't forget to find something to do with all your scraps! They tend to grow when placed into a basket, or bin together! Sooooo watch out! Have a fun week! Halloween is coming!

No Pictures Again!

So, I called around to a few places the other day to see about getting my camera fixed. They want me to pay more than I bought the camera for to ship it to get it fixed! yeah... I had better check out one more thing to see about the warranty! Cause this is for the birds!
Last night I spent several hours going thru my scrap stash to see what I had to make fabric block letters with. I found all sorts of bright fun fabrics and then this a.m. went to church and traced capital block letters onto fabric.... (thank you Linda C. for the help... she had gotten her's all done and helped me finish mine up!) So, two layers of fabric and 1 layer of scrap batting to sandwich in between and then sew them up and snip like you would for a ragg quilt, wash and dry.... and Wa Laa! Block letters that the grand kids can drag around, practice letters with and pretty much be entertained for a little bit here and there! Plus, I took a bunch of scraps I didn't want and the ladies helped themselves! So, it was a win-win situation! I was able to share and not waste... plus make room in my bins too!
Grandson's birthday celebration today! He is all of 4! Hard to believe that time goes past so fast at times! Since he will be getting more toys from others.... we got him some wonderful books! Curious George and also this darling book called "Where's The Dragon?" it's written by Jason Hook, and illustrated by Richard Hook. You need to see if you can find this book.... (pun intended!) they have all sorts of textures on the pictures etc... Basically the book is about a boy and his grandpa that are out Dragon hunting.... and they are everywhere... just that they blend in... so grandpa can't really see them! Cute book.... wondefully done! What can I say.... not much more than that cause we (DH and I ) are sold on it! Guess that's why we bought it!
Hope you get to do some sewing! I've done all sorts of things this week! I canned 21 quarts of peaches, helped picked about 6-8 bushels of apples, delivered about 4 of them to friends. More apples to pick next week. Picked another bushel of tomato's and need to can up a bushel of them too. Also dry some of the apples. And mail a package to my son! All in a lifes work.... hmmm?
Make sure and check your bobbin thread! You don't want to run out!

Talk About Feeling Like What The Cat Dragged In!

I feel like I had my oil drained.... and someone forgot to replenish me with new oil! Ever have that lowwww dowwwn...... feeling? Yep, the flu has stuck. I was claimed as one of the latest victims. So far DH hasn't gotten it.... and hopefully he won't because... well.... he doesn't do "sick" very well poor guy! I got hit Friday a.m. and fortunately I had only had Shredded Wheat and a touch of milk! I started drinking peppermint tea when I started feeling poorly and I really think that that curtailed a lot of misery.... for me at least! DH was at work... and came home to find me a bit worse for wear. But.... well, let's just say it's not a very good diet plan that's for sure.... but on the good point..... It's Loser's Monday..... and I've lost 5-6 pounds! I don't recommend this way to loose it though. I'm still on the weakish side and had to go to the store today to pick up a few things. DH would have done it I'm sure.... but, well I needed to get out.... at least out of the house and into the jeep! Yep, I noticed he used like 1/4 tank of gas I put in on Thursday... geee... I thought it was my new toy! He took it down to the dealership to get this and that taken care of... So, I guess I better share! Plus then last night, he took it to his folks to show his brother.

O.K. although I was sick I did spend some time reading.... If you want some good quilt pattern blocks to check out (a lot of Older ones and some newer renditions) check out this book they have full size pattern blocks in them. Grandma's Best Full Size Quilt Blocks (It's a Better Homes and Gardens book) http://www.amazon.com/Grandmas-Best-Full-Size-Quilt-Blocks/dp/0696235277/ref=pd_sim_b_1
This is what I have been browsing through.... thinking I need to make a sampler quilt maybe. Oh well.... I do have lots of idea's... some day I may get to one or two dozen of them! LoL...
Hope that your Monday is going well... Take time to check out a new pattern or two.... what's the sense of having all this sewing knowledge if a person can't just kick back and enjoy the styles..... don't bleed on your fabric!