Christmas 2023 Decorations

 Finally, I've finished decorating for Christmas 2023!  Just haven't had the energy or the mood to do so.  I started this past weekend getting all the boxes out...which is a feat in itself!  HA 

I always hang this little quilted ornament my cousin, Tootie, made back in 2000.  I have posted before about Tootie. In fact, my daughter and I flew to Pennsylvania for her surprise 90th birthday party.  You can read about this unique, wonderful lady here. 

This is the front of the ornament.  It's only 2 1/2"x2 1/2" and was paper pieced!  I love it!

The tree is all decorated and in the family room downstairs.  The quilt on the left is a beautiful hand appliqued and hand quilted by the Genesee Star Quilter's Group in Flint, Michigan. 

Years ago I belonged to this great group but slowly the days just didn't work out.  This quilt was a raffle and I won it!!!  I usually put it on our bed but decided to have it out to enjoy along with the other Christmas decorations!

I put minimal decorations up this year.  Seems just right this year!

This is a corner in our living room.  The little stuffed reindeer was given to me by my daughter-in law's mom last year.  It's so cute!

I purchased that textile textured painted panel several years ago in Florida.  It was heck wrapping and getting it home in one piece!  HA

This is in our foyer.  I covered my glass enclosed quilt cabinet with a circular quilted tree skirt.  This was a round robin from the GSQ group I mentioned above.  A fun piece to do.

The mantel upstairs in the living room is decorated very minimally too!  But I'm happy with it! I collect old Santa's and I usually put them on the bottom of the fireplace but Kalee loves to sniff them and, yes, at times chew on their heads!  HA  She doesn't chew anything else in the house but the Santa's!  Go Figure!

Over the weekend I played Betty Crocker.  I made five different batches of cookies:  Chocolate drop cookies (in picture), frosted sugar cookies (my fav!), Bob's chocolate chip mound cookies, Russian Teacakes (aka Snowballs, Mexican tea cakes) and candy cane cookies (they just look like a candy cane but I don't put peppermint flavoring in them!).  

My kitchen was a mess!  

But well worth it...all the cookies tasted great!  They are in air tight containers in the freezer.  I'll be putting into gift boxes for some folks and others will be for our Christmas Eve with family!

Happy Holidays one and all..we're  looking forward to the new year of 2024!  It's going to be a great one!!!

Has it really been a month or more!

 Yes, I have been lax in updating my blog...other social media calls before our blogs now!  Which is sad.  I use my blog as a diary of sorts.  I print out each year and I so enjoy reading my blog book when it's printed.  This year may be the cheapest printing I will have.  

I'm pointing to the decorative side panel!

Well, after my 2nd carpal tunnel surgery (this one on the right side) I am back to knitting.  I may just finished this sweater before Christmas....I am working on the right sleeve in this picture but Kalee is being my model this time!

I am not happy with my workmanship but I will still wear this piece....It wasn't really as difficult as the lace tops I've knitted...so not sure why I had so many issues with it.  BUT I will finish and wear at least once!  HA

And on another very sad note, my next door neighbor passed away.  It was so sad.  I did get to say goodbye two days before she passed.  She wasn't responding but I do feel she still heard me.  She's no longer suffering and for that I am glad.  But I am so sad for her hubby and two daughters.  A life cut short...toooo soon.

And to read a story about Lori and I and the snake...click here...Snake Story  You have to scroll down a paragraph or two...you'll see a snake pic!

My daughter always makes Thanksgiving dinner for her hubby's family.  She cooks most of it at home then they do a 'delivery' and she'll also put in an apple pie while they are eating.  She's such a sweet daughter.  She got me these beautiful flowers because she wouldn't see me/us on Thanksgiving.  

I just threw out the flowers.  They have lasted so long!!!  

We had our Thanksgiving at Darrin's house as usual!  It's always such a feast and good food and company.  

I love these grand kids.  Hard to get a good pic of us all but at least I remembered to capture one of the three of us!

Kris always makes the best meal(s)!!!  She's an awesome cook and prepares the entire meal all herself.  

 I did get a pic of my plate!  It was delicious!  We had pumpkin squares made by my DIL's mom, Nancy (which were yummy!).  I made lemon pie, cream puffs and white bark candy.

These cream puffs are SO good...it's from an old, old recipe I've kept all these years...at least from the 70's or 80's!

We took home the pumpkin bars and ate during the week!  SO GOOD!  Nancy is a great cook!

This was what was left of my lemon pie.  Yes, it was good.  I love lemon pie and another recipe from the 70's!

One of Kris' displays at the kid's house!  So pretty!

And that it was!  A Happy Thanksgiving with loved ones!  

Another Farmer's Market Find!

 

Last weekend, I met a delightful young lady named Alexis.  This young woman is trying to raise funds to go to Peru!  She is  a wildlife biology student at the University of Michigan who is working to raise dollars so she can spend a month (next August) in the Amazon Rainforest in Peru studying. 

Her trip sounds amazing and for an animal lover I am sure she'll do well and learn so much.  

I purchased one of the hand made bracelets to send to our great grand daughter.  They were made by locals in Peru.  She also had some really cool key chains her father made for her to sell.  But we don't use key chains anymore do we!

I did visit her blog to read how and why she decided to do this journey.  It's quite interesting.  Hope you'll check it out here: 

Alexis Blog

And you can follow Alexis on Facebook, Instagram and she has a Fund Me page as well.  All the links are here:  https://linktr.ee/followmyarrow

I wish this young lady all the best!  To be young and adventurous!  Heck, I don't want to go more than 10 miles from my house!  Let alone go to Peru!

Knitting Iceberg Sweater

 Yep, after my 3 time ripping out the pattern, I started a fourth time and I'm almost to the waist!  Woohoo!

It's been a struggle...not sure why other than I got so used to reading a chart, I can't keep my eyes from wandering and reading the pattern correctly!  But I'm on a roll now!  As is my sister!!!  She's making the same pattern, which is nice so we can bounce off of each other when we struggle!  HA

My right hand carpal tunnel surgery was put off until Nov. 3rd (from Oct. 27th!)...dang.  I really want to get it over with so I can start healing and not have the pain/numbness/discomfort...but it is what it is.  So, I'll just keep on keeping on!  

Love the Brioche stitch pattern for the neck and chest area.  This same pattern will be at the waist on each side.  At least, that's what we're hoping for!

Her sleep cap is kinda cute...different but interesting.

Just one of the times I ripped out!  HA

Sitting out on the deck this past week knitting with the beautiful weather!

This is upside down!  HA  oops

Finally making good progress!

Getting there!  Long way to go but perhaps it's best I'll still have my right hand to knit with!  A reason for everything, right!  Guess my surgeon knew I needed to finish this sweater before surgery!  HA

Cyano Printing Again

 Yep, with the Florida weather we've been having, I thought I'd make the most of it by doing some more Cyano Prints.  I've finished the printing for my Christmas cards but decided to play around with some of my watercolor paper that I created based on my drawings from Hilary's online class in 2019!

I painted each watercolor paper with the Cyano print chemical and let dry (in the dark!).  

I wasn't sure this would work covering up the pastels or crayons but it did!

This was how the paper looked when painted with the Cyano print chemical.

This was after it sat in the sun for 5 min. for the print to take effect.

And this was after the chemicals were washed out. 

Not bad...

Another finished piece

You can see each one was covered with the chemical before I set out in the sun.  These were in the drying process.  You have to keep in an area that is dark.  After dry, place in a black bad to keep the chemical from reacting to any light.

Happy with the results...not sure how I'll cut them apart but I'm sure they'll go into cards!

Yes, I am knitting...just too busy to post but I'm trying to get caught up...on my blog that is!  HA

We love our home town farmer's market!

 

Living in a small town/village has somany advantages...one this summer is being able to walk to our own Farmer's Market.  It's held every Sunday (2p.m.-5p.m.) a mile from the house...actually shorter because we can cut through my friend's back yard to the church parking lot where the market is being held.  And that's what Donna and I do each Sunday!  

There is so many different options to purchase, from veggies, to desserts (yes, lots of desserts!), breads, plants, jewelry, wood working, etc.  I wanted to share some of the vendors that I was impressed with!  

First up, is MaryBeth, a delightful young lady who creates beautiful beaded earrings.  I was so impressed with her workmanship!!!!  

MaryBeth  creates indigenous beaded art, primarily earrings.   Her workmanship is outstanding.  I didn't get a better picture of additional pieces of her work.  I may have to take more pics next week.

You may be able to zoom in on MaryBeth's table and see more work on the left side.  

She doesn't have a website but is on Instagram.  Do check out her page here.  Her site is called @bubsbeadwork.  MaryBeth said they always have called her 'bub'!  I'm sure there's a story there!  

Next up is Wummel Design Co.   Another great vendor who does creates art using wood as their palette!  Nicholas' woodburning art is outstanding.  He achieves such detail on  beautiful wood, for example,  cherry wood.    

He also creates tables (white oak with black walnut), cutting boards, etc.  Do visit his web site to appreciate all that this couple create!  Christmas is coming...gift time!

Jenny Shulskie makes the best breads!!!  I purchased her Jalapeno cheddar bread a few weeks ago and it's fantastic! 

Jenny doesn't have a FB page or web site but you can zoom in  on her sign and call her if interested!  

This is the bread I've purchased.  I ate half a loaf all by myself.  I love Jalapeno's so this bread was right up my alley!!!

Jenny also makes a honey whipped butter that is delicious on the cheddar bread!!!  

This is 'bitter melon'...I was curious as was another lady so we split the basket!  I looked up this veggie online...it appears to be an Oriental veggie.  I saw different recipes for Chinese and Vietnamese cooking.  Will give it a try!

This was taken shortly after the market opened at 2 p.m.  So far, the attendance has been great and I think successful for the first year.  I sure hope more vendors will sign up for next year.  

I purchased some blueberry muffins from a couple and they were DELICIOUS!!!!  I'll have to find out the name of their farm!  I don't remember all of them...ha.

And, yes, I have purchased cakes, cookies, honey, peaches, pickles and other leaf veggies....so, so good!  

Take advantage of small or large markets in your area.  So great to keep our folks farming and being productive members of our areas.