Last Day of November

Today is the last day of November - 26 days until Christmas!!!! And the cards have begun to arrive. Our first one arrived yesterday from David and Debbie and I love it!!!Looks just like a baby Tesla. I still have some cards sitting here waiting to be mailed but I want to finish up some other items so that I am making just the one trip to the Post Office.

Tomorrow I will be sewing all day! LOTS to do!

A Mystery Quilt

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/p/roll-roll-cotton-boll.html

These are the fabrics I pulled from my stash for Bonnie Hunter's latest Mystery Quilt. I may begin this in between now and Christmas OR after January first - it all depends on how fast I get gifts made. I'm printing the instructions off and saving them in a binder in case I can't get it completed before she pulls it back off her site in preparation for a future book she is writing.

It's SATURDAY!

Oh boy was yesterday a doozie! I had worked Thanksgiving night 4 PM until about 10 and then yesterday morning I had to be to work at 5 AM; I was so tired. Then at about 9 I took my lunch; the store had furnished a Thanksgiving Feast. I ate a bit of turkey, dressing and some fruit salad and drank some water. At about Noon I started feeling REALLY bad. I was supposed to work until 1 PM but I became violently ill at about 20 after Noon and had to call Scott and Greg to come and get me. I just couldn't drive home - it was awful! I was so thankful that I had some leftover prescription for some anti-nausea tablets in the cabinet. Once I got my stomach to settle down a bit I slept and slept and am feeling nearly like myself here at a quarter to 4 this morning.

Which is good as today is SCRAPBOOKING WITH JANE!!!!!! YEAH! I am hoping to get Greg's Navy Pictures at least started; I have his Boot-camp Graduation Pictures and the picture's he took in Texas; while in his "A" school to become a Sea Bee. 

I'll post more later....

Three pages completed plus a fourth in the works! These are the pictures taken of our trip to Great Lakes, IL in December 2008 to see our sons' PIR from Navy Boot Camp. Hard to believe that was two years ago.

Thanksgiving Once Again

Here it is Thanksgiving Day once again; it's hard to believe that another year has passed so quickly.

I'm thankful we did not loose our home this year as so many others did.

I'm thankful for my hardworking husband that gives his all to any job he takes on. I'm thankful for a well rounded son that thinks outside the box and is proud of who he is as a person.

I'm thankful Greg has found a girl to love that loves him back.

I'm thankful for all the skills that Scott and I both have to make our lives successful.

I'm thankful for the lessons taught to me by my Elders; even if I did not understand there meaning until just this year.

I'm thankful for my extended family thats always there for us no matter what.

I'm thankful for life and all it has to offer each and everyday.

There is SO MUCH more to be Thankful for in all the little things all around us.... HAPPY THANKSGIVING! 

My contribution to the meal... broccoli casserole and 2 pumpkin pies - from scratch~

HELPERS!

Yesterday morning Nick did something he never has before - jumped up and laid on my desk. I guess he wanted to show Tesla that he is a "top cat" too. Tesla is the one that usually sticks to me like glue and "helps" me at the computer and in my sewing room. Nick is usually afternoon "nap buddy".

I got two Round Robin's in the mail and have added my round to them. One has a Christmas theme and the other has a black and white theme - but now it has a surprise POP of RED.

I hope that Diane likes the bit of red ok - I LOVE IT!

I have 3 of the St Gregory blocks left to sew together - 1 for myself and 2 for the swapper's I owe them to. I'm sure that they would like to get them soon so that they can make them into a Christmas quilt or table topper. Better get sewing... oh and I still need to make myself another shirt and skirt for work.

A Lovely Fall Walk

Everything has taken on a different appearance by the River; a lot of the trees have lost nearly all their leaves so that you can see well into the woods. The grasses have died back so that you can see more of the smaller creatures scurrying about trying to prepare for the really cold weather yet to come in late December through February. There were a lot of dogs on walks with their owners today; an absolutely stunning German Sheppard named Hank decided to take a bit of a detour from his owners and went under the boardwalk and came up behind us and popped up and looked at us like where are they you aren't my people. He ran to them and was so pleased to get back on his leash.

The River has turned to such an interesting shade of green; we believe this  is being caused by people dumping "fall fertilizer" on their lawns and it's run off. The Extension service says to NOT do this as it just sets the lawns up for heavy winter kill. We do not fertilize at all unless it's in the Spring and of an organic nature like manure. Or even just plant some winter rye grass and then mow it without a bag so the clippings bio-degrade right on the lawn. Chemical Fertilizers are bad...m-Kay?

Christmas Card Crafting

I've taken over the Dining Room table with card crafting material. I'd like to get enough cards made today and tomorrow so I can get them mailed before Thanksgiving. I just decided that this year would be a hand crafted Christmas. I'm trying to use up some of the materials that I all ready have here at the house.

These are the first 4 that I made. Scott and I are going to the River for a walk and I will work on some more when we get back.

Rough Night and gotta work today

I had a rough night last night - up and down a LOT so I am not feeling too rested this morning. I have to be to work by 9. I'm going to try to sleep a little more until 7. Just feeling so BLAH!

Slept the Afternoon away

I always feel like I've wasted so much time when I awake from a short nap that lasted 4 HOURS. But I am feeling a bit better than I was when I got up at 4:30 this morning. I just put a Shepherds pie in the oven for dinner tonight. Greg will LOVE that as it's one of his absolute favorites. This is the recipe that I used http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/easy_shepherds_pie/ ; it was REALLY easy and all ready smells delicious.  Here's mine fresh out the oven...

My hours were cut at work due to lack of sales but thats OK as it's giving me time to recover from what ever I am battling at the moment. I'm still enjoying the job very much and learning about the products they carry - so many WONDERFUL things and their sale prices are really good. Hopefully business will pick up for them after Thanksgiving. In the mean time I will work on projects here. 

The leaves have FINALLY gotten pretty just in time for the winds to arrive and knock them from the trees. I just went out front and took some pictures of what I see from my computer chair.

My little helper has been very vigilant the last couple days. He won't hardly let me out of his sight. And he pines so when the fellas leave for work; he really thinks he is a baby and not a cat.

Basic Household Chore List

This is the list I just put together for myself to stay ahead of my housework. This is just a basic list and I'm sure I will add more to it as I go along. I just had to come up with something that I could put on the frig to help me stay on track and to show the guys what needs doing each day so perhaps they would lend a hand on the days I'm working crazy hours. I thought it especially important at this time of year. Anyone can use my list if they want to in their own homes.

WEEKLY CHORE LIST

MONDAY

• Laundry
• Clean Bathrooms
• Clean Liter box
• Dust Master Bedroom and clean mirrors
• Vacuum Master bedroom and hallway
• Get trash to street before dark as it's picked up on Tuesday

TUESDAY

• Dust front rooms (dining/living(study)
• Vacuum Front rooms
• Sweep off front porch
• Clean front door glass
• Sweep and mop entry
• Dust entry table

WEDNESDAY

• Scrub down kitchen counters
• clean out refrigerator
• Sweep and mop den and kitchen
• Grocery shopping

THURSDAY

• Straighten up bonus room
• vacuum Bonus room
• Clean side door glass
• Sweep and mop laundry room

FRIDAY

• FUN DAY

SATURDAY

• Clean out garage gutter
• Clean off driveway (put leaves on compost)
• Mow lawn
• Rake Leaves
• Trim bushes

SUNDAY

REST

Isn't it funny?

I think it's so funny that you can mention a place and have someone turn up the very next day that you knew from there. One of the Restaurant Managers that I worked with at Cracker Barrel came into Michaels with his lovely wife yesterday.  Kenny was always so great to work with and would help anytime he could no matter what. Just an AWESOME person all round. And his wife was so nice; I was so happy to meet her as he always spoke with such love in his voice when he spoke of her back then. He is also no longer at CB either. 

I had a pretty good day at work yesterday; it was just a REALLY long day and boy did I pay for it during the night. I had leg cramps that went all the way up into my hamstrings. They were horrible! I'm to work again today as someone called out sick. Thankfully it's ONLY 7 1/2 hours today. Then I will be off tomorrow so that I can maybe get another shirt and skirt made so I'm not having to wash and dry the set every night that I have all ready made . I have the "raw materials" here and no money to spend on clothes so with my sewing abilities I'm working for "myself" on Monday.

Time for some breakfast!

Why I didn't cut it at Cracker Barrel

Pressuring people to buy things they can't afford and don't need seems ludicrous to me. I think that is why I keep reverting back the the fabric and crafting businesses for employment. People come there to find items to fill their time constructively and to enjoy the process of being creative beings. They come in search of items to create something special for someone or to give a visual representation of a scientific process or other educational goal. There is an actual goal in mind when they walk through the door. I could probably handle working in a gardening store or a Feed and Seed as well. A bunch of STUFF doesn't do a thing to expanding the mind, body or soul - but taking time to learn a new craft expands the depths of ones mind. I love being able to take raw material and turning it into something functional - not just something pretty to look at. I hate high pressure sales tactics and will NOT buy when I'm feeling pressured to do so and I'm not comfortable pushing imported junk onto people either. So I will continue to help people develop their creative side and leave the STUFF sales to someone else.

Possible Quilt Design?

This is some flooring that is in the farm house we went to visit a couple weeks ago. I just had to take a picture as it just begged to be turned into a quilt. Makes me wish I had EQ for the computer. I'm thinking this is a 1930's era flooring but I'm not 100% sure. It just looked so cool and "quilty".  One of those challenges that I love to take on.

Yesterday I went to Spartanburg to visit my family and to take Mom out and about for a little "fun" shopping. We "shopped" mostly with our eyes and got some terrific ideas for cards at the Scrapbook store up there. I'm anxious to try some out soon!

Today is my youngest brother, Charles' birthday he is turning 34. I didn't get to see him yesterday but hope that he has a nice birthday.

I did get to see Hazel and she showed me all they've been doing at their place. They built a lovely garage and re-did an old camper. She has quite a few cats that have taken up with her from the neighbors. I've never seen so many white cats in one place. And she had plenty of orange tigers as well. They are all pretty wild and won't let you near them but they sure checked us out to see if we had any food.

Mom gave me a lovely blocking board that Grandmother Sellers had sent down to me. Now I can really block out my doilies so they lay nice and flat and smooth. 
THANK YOU GRANDMOTHER!

I got home after dark and it's really getting hard for me to drive at night; the lights absolutely kill my eyes. I'm really glad that I've been scheduled for mid-days at Michaels next week. So far it's been an awesome experience; I do believe I will enjoy all my time with them.

My Grandparents

This is a photo of my Grandparents that raised me; really Grandma raised me because Grandpa died when I was 10. The first 18 years of my life was spent on the farm that they built together with their 9 children in Upstate NY. My Grandfather was very NO NONSENSE and VERY strict. I think when he passed away my Grandma and I gained a freedom that neither of us had ever known before. I'm sure he meant well in his own way but it sure was hard to understand as a child. I just came across this photo and thought that I would share it here.

Nippy in the sewing room...

I'm on a bit of a break trying to warm my feet in front of the space heater; I have way to much STUFF in my sewing room to have a heater in there. Once I get "sewn down" some perhaps then I will dare to have a space heater in there. For now I'm going to try a second pair of socks.
My shirt and skirt are all cut out and ready to be sewn together but I want to complete two more St Gregory quilt blocks before I change the thread to black for the shirt.
Here are a few pictures of my handsome Sea-bee son from yesterday morning when he was heading out for his drill weekend...

Not quite to freezing...

It is 37* here at the moment a real nice little nip to the air to remind us we are alive. Greg has drill this weekend so I got up to see him off - he is getting his Cams on now and pulled his camo coat out to wear. Can't say I blame him as I believe they are needed today.

Another reason for me to be up so early is that I've got to get at least one shirt and one skirt made today. Perhaps I can get them cut out while Scott is still sleeping. He was so tired when he got in from work last night; so I'm trying to let him sleep in this morning. I may need a nap later today myself.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day today!

Chilly Weather

It's finally turned cool enough that we pulled out our electric space heater. We are avoiding turning the house furnace on for as long as we possibly can to keep out electric down. Last month we ran very little A/C and no heat at all and our electric bill dropped to $150... I'm hoping to do that again this month or at least stay below $200. There really is no point in heating the entire house when we stay mainly in one room at a  time and we can move the electric heater around as needed. In my sewing room my iron heats it up pretty good and I wear a sweater. I'm dressing in layers a lot now.  Of course the cats think we pulled the heater out just for them. Here they are all lined up - Nick and then Tesla closest to the heater. For a minute I thought they were going to have a fight over who would get the closets spot.

I'm trying to get 8 quilt blocks made for the Christmas block swap that I signed up to do; they were supposed to be mailed on Halloween. I'm a little slow getting them out as I picked a pretty detailed block so hopefully the ladies won't mind them being a little late. I have 3 made and in their envelopes to be mailed and 2 more in the sewing stage. I may have to set them aside until after I get a shirt and skirt made to wear to work.

Peek-a-boo

This is a peak at one of my current projects... looks fun huh? 

I have to make myself some new shirts and a couple skirts for work. I just hate shopping and I know that what I make will fit better than any store bought clothing. The uniform is black button down collared shirt and khaki colored slacks or skirts. So I am making 2 button down shirts and 2 skirts; I'll start on them tomorrow. When I called to get my next work date he said it'd be next Monday and then the following week I would be on that schedule. The job I have is just seasonal and will end December 31rst. They may or may not keep me after that and I'm not counting on it. I'm just thrilled with this new job - talk about a WORLD of difference! 

I'm so thankful for the cooler weather; I was beginning to think that the Seasons would never change. It really gets me in the Christmas crafting spirit. I'll post more pictures as I am working on projects - some may just be "peaks" until after Christmas.

Let YOUR voice count - VOTE

I hope that every American gets out and votes today! It's your RIGHT and a PRIVILEGE!

Huckabee Hallman Farm

Yesterday we went to visit a High School friend of Scott's. Her family recently inherited a beautiful farm that I used to pass daily when I lived on Pine Plain Road in Swansea. We had a wonderful afternoon with them and took so many pictures. We walked around their mill pond and then they drove us through some of their fields. The old store could be cleaned out and reopened tomorrow. The shelves and sales counter are still inside as well as the old scales. They have a cotton gin in the largest building that they fear is too far gone to save and are hoping to find someone interested in buying the old gin before the building totally collapses around it. In the smaller building next to the cotton gin is a grist mill. Everything is like they just walked away and locked the doors. REALLY something to see but it's by invitation only by the family. Their family history also says that there was another building behind the cotton gin that was a rice mill. They are so fortunate to have such a treasure. Here are some of the pictures.

Thank you Carole and "Otis" for having us ; we thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon!