November Ends

Where is the time going?  My world seems to speed up continuously and that seems impossible but each day is a blur.   The sunsets around here continue to be spectacular!  It's amazing to witness it like this at this time of year.

Some of The GRANDS:  PGS#3, PGS#2, PGD#1
2015 Thansgiving at Meme and Popi's

The Thanksgiving Holiday was wonderful.  Family that could make it did and most of all the grandchildren were around the table.  That makes my heart sing!
While preparing the feast, I received a call from lil' Miss PGD#1.  She wanted to come down could I pick her up?  Sure, I responded so I picked her up and she helped out quite a bit.  Her brother was also invited to come since I had  seen an appetizer dish I thought they'd like to create for our feast but due to some of his behavior errs was told by his Mom that now he'd have to wait until Mom and Dad came down. His loud thoughts were "that's fine by me"  I'll be glad when he gets through this stage and he'll be 7 soon.  

So this is what she did with just a little help from her brother.  Cute isn't it!

She also made the gravy for the feast and the lil' guy helped to set the table.  We had a very enjoyable day and spent some nice quality time together.  Eating, visiting, football toss, football watching, clean up and then some board games.  All in all so much to be grateful for.

Photo of the Grands taken at PGS#1 Birthday celebration at the end of October
PGS#3, PGS#1, PGD#1
He enjoyed meeting his youngest cousin for the first time and re-visiting with his older cousin.

The day after Thanksgiving, we spent it with the eldest grandson, PGS#1 and brought all of the dinner's leftovers to share a Thanksgiving Holiday with him.   Since he just arrived at this place, he's still in the observation mode so can't he can't leave the premises at his present step.  All the counselors are impressed with him and are repeatedly telling us that the individual on all the medical reports is not the same person they are seeing.  We can only hope he continues to do his best.  

Dear daughter celebrated her !! Birthday just before Thanksgiving, so we got together for that too.  The grands blew up about 150 balloons for the celebration.  The elder one, PGD#1 has learned how to make balloon animals so they used their Dad's compressor to blow them up when Mom was gone for the day.  That's one way to keep the young ones busy so Dad can continue to work on their new deck -  Brilliant!

PGS#3- age 6 still

During the party the youngest one, PGS#3 age 6 decided to static cling some balloons to the walls.  With just two of them sticking on his head, decided it was a strong enough hold to actually glue him to the wall too so he fly paper pressed himself against the wall saying, I'm stuck!  Oh where and how does he come up with the things he does, makes us all happy and scratching our heads wondering.  LOL      

Please disregard the blurriness of the photo, that's my fault with trying to capture these real life moments quickly.

My list of what I wanted completed is falling way short too of everything on it with the exception of my counted cross stitch- Bent Creek's, The Red Thread.  Sorry that I've erroneously been giving credit to Lizzie Kate for this design.  My bad!    Check out all the months- they are now complete:

I've surpassed my goal for this and it's just the end of November.  Yippee!!!  

All that remains now is the ribbon surround on the sides and top with the phrase to stitch along the bottom. That is slated for 2016 but who knows how far I can continue with it this this year.

 Some other bit's I'm grateful for are the Washington Hawthorne tree in the side yard.  It's always so gorgeous at this time of year with all the berries left on the branches for many weeks.  Then it seems like a flock of birds fly in overnight and devour them all in a day.  Since it's wintertime, I'm never sure when that happens, but I am hoping to find out when this year.

BTW- This shot does not do it justice.

Another thank that I enjoy is the natural thermometers outside the bedroom window.  Each morning when I lift the shades, I can note the cold.  Depending on the curl of the leaves and droop of the rhododendron's leaf clumps, you can instantly see how cold it is.  Notice the tightness and droop?  It's in the twenties this am.  Not that it gives it in numbers, only cold, Really Cold and SEVERLY COLD.  LOL  You can barely notice but the rotted timbers are slowly be replaced with landscape blocks.  So much more to do on that yet.

before

Another thank I have is the side deck is completed!  Yippee!!  That only took 14 months!  My BIL came over to help DH finish it and brought his tools with him.  It's beautiful and gorgeous.  The only problem is with that Trek decking being weathered for a whole year it's dirty and needs some scrubbing but right now it is way too cold to attempt that.  It will have to wait until the Spring.

DH and Siamak (my dear BIL)  taken the Saturday before Thanksgiving
and it was bitter cold while they were working!

THANKS Honey and SIA!!!!

DH installed the post solar lights this week.

They just softly cascade down each post,

(I'll try to capture a photo of them when they are lit.  

Edited this on 12/7/15 the day before the littlest grandchild turns 7.)

You can see the tiny lights just under the post caps despite the camera flash, we're all so satisfied.  8 )

Wishing you all the best at this time of year,
Jane

Saw an idea of another embroidery piece that would be sweet to stitch at some point.......

Hanging with my peeps and Easter Joys

Plenty of Easter Dreams and projects were done with some pajama days thrown into the mix.......

There wasn't any school this past week so the peeps were around.  

Their schedule didn't have the typical dance and hockey practices but still we were busy.. Busy.....

Had loads of fun.

Their elder cousin stopped by to see them and play with their new to them toy.  He was giggling like a youngster which made my heart sing.  Wasn't too long and he was trying to do stunts with it which proved too much for the thing.  The track is now loose and Papa has another job on his to do list.


Was up at 5:30 this morning, thus the darker photos.   It still is cold around here and would you believe we had a 1"-2" dusting of snow this morning!

            E*N*O*U*G*H!

Even though I know it won't last long.



Was able to finish sewing all 24 BQ quilt blocks with the Woodland Fairies Fabric line that I learned how to do at Lorene's class on Saturday.  Will share those at another time.  I think this may be wonderful project to take to my next retreat.  That will get it into the quilt top stage at least.  Another Dr's appointment in town so need to get going.  Enjoy your blessings.

Jane

Football games, youngest grands here.....

So much for posting once a month!  What's that they say against the best laid plans?   Well of of my blogging plans were thrown out somewhere and I've had all I can do to keep up.  Since the last post DH and I have had more Doctors appointments, heart work ups for him (another catherization) and surgery for myself.  The gardens are being closed up and finished up until next year and there's yet more to get done for them.  Landscape blocks laid around the perimeter being one item, etc....

So I'll give some bits that happened through our summer.

PGS#2 had Prom with his beautiful girlfriend, Kayla.

Josh and Kayla May 2014
 

PGD#1  and family went to Disney- Of course they had to let her be a princess 2014 they all enjoyed themselves immensely.

 

PGS#1 received 2 awards at school in June and we were able to get to Mass for it.  :)

 

Youngest grandson, PGS#3 graduated preschool with super star and a more serious photo of him in the center,

way to go, lil' guy

the whole family attended the ceremony

 

Husband and his two sisters at a nephew's graduation party

 

 

grand daughter acting silly with her favortie 'spaghettios"

First time fishing for each of them and they each caught 7 fish!

A great time and a picnic near Lake Champlain

Our maple tree is glorious!

DH at one of our favorite spots after a football game near Lake Placid.

Daughter participated in her first race with friends and coworkers. The Muderella in Maine and she had a blast!

It's been a rush and there's so much more.  Sewing and quilting have taken a back seat for a bit but I was able to attend a quilt weekend to attend a Hunter's Star quilt class with a friend, Trudy along with another friend Cathie who did another class and studio time too.  Was able to have fun, sew, and make new friends, (Elsie and a few others) so was a very nice "me" time spent in September.   : )   Will be sharing that project on another day. 

TTFN,
Jane 
 

PINK PROUD!

PGS#2 (just turned 16) who actually is #1 here with his October's Breast Awareness Pink Socks. 
Love that there is awareness for such a worthy cause and his team and coaches are in alignment with it.

PGS#2 will be 16 in 2 days!

Another pride and joy is my grandson otherwise known as PGS#2 here.  What a nice young man he is and I can just imagine the man he will become.  His last football game was held today.  They were defeated but how great they played and weren't beaten down mentally.  I loved that about them.   Most other games they did win and we actually were thinking they come out on top at this one but alas, it wasn't meant to be.  This sport of football has been a character builder in trusting other people on the team  and always putting forward your best despite any odds against you.    Acouple of photos to share. 

Now girls, take it easy, he is easy on the eye besides being an honor student and Number 1 in my book.
 Jane

A wonderful time was had by all.....

What a whirl wind of a vacation. DH and I took our PGS#2 with us to visit my sister in Annapolis. Left the day after Easter and traveled continuously down to Md after DH saw the chiropractor since he messed up his back. Luckily the Dr. fit him in without an appointment. Finally after 2 Rx's, I was able to stop "coughing up my lungs". It feels so much better to feel better again. PGS has a predisposition to car sickness (I wonder where he got those genes from? - But I know all to well) and he did well traveling. Despite the rainy and gloomy weather the first several days, and this little bit of moaning, we all enjoyed ourselves.


Day #2- Visited the inner harbor of Baltimore to get indoors on a chilly day. The aquarium was very crowded but a great visit. Saw the dolphin show and the Imax theatre production. If you've never been, then you're missing a great experience and sights. Eventually went to the ESPN zone, checked out an old submarine that was a tourist spot docked on the waterfront, and ended at the Hard Rock Cafe for lunch.
The ESPN zone was just where a 12 year old would love to spend the entire week I think. He had a wonderful time and I must admit, so did I. We all took turns playing some of the electronic games. My first "game" was riding a horse on a race track. Picture that! I was perspiring pretty heavily by the time the race was over and embarassingly, my horse came in last. Of course, you couldn't just sit in the saddle. The designer of this game thought it would be best to do a sitting stand in the stirrups and keep your weight to the front of the stirrups, a hard pose to maintain while jerking and "riding your race horse. The horse was rocking like a real horse and you had 2 buttons on the handle bars to "whip" your horse to make it go faster with a digital picture of how you were doing. Of course, PGS#2 and I were racing, but not each other, so DH was in the background cheering me on saying, "Whip it good, whip it real good." I know I know, pretty kinky uh? But it was exhilirating. After that, I got to actually lounge in a seat that represented a car in a digital roller coaster. That was pretty tame and just what I needed to cool off. PGS#2 kept looking over at me to make sure I was okay.

Days 2 and 3 we spent in Washington DC. What a wonderful city with so many beautiful, historical and life enhancing sights. Our forefathers all had so many glowing characteristics that has made a positive change in humanity for this country. Even though DH and I have been there numerous times, we saw many new sights on this trip. Such as the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, The National Cathedral, Union Station, Ford's Theatre, and the Peterson's House. PGS wanted to see the Holocaust Museum, I became a member so that we'd be able to get in with all the vacationing students visiting the DC sights. Take an open double-decker bus tour that allowed you to hop on hop off for a 2 day period.

Day 4, we all went to Ocean City, MD and spent the day at the beach with my sister. She is so much fun. I love her dearly. I know PG#2 and she developed a special bond on this trip. We all rented bikes and rode on the boardwalk. Those 2 actually rode the whole length of the boardwalk. DH & I had a bycicle built for 2 that we rode awhile and then just stopped to "smell the sea aire". Shopping, dining alfresco and playing in the surf and sand with beautiful weather. Who could ask for a better day. Singing with sis while traveling the 2 hour ride to the beach, priceless. The following picture is of a of the few items I purchased at some shops, The first I can't remember the name of i got while on the way to Maryland and the second one, The Salty Yarn, that was conveniently was located a couple of blocks from the bike rental shop. The area where I live doesn't have any shops like this, so I was able to get the few neccessities I needed (wanted) for a couple of my future projects besides quite a few packages of the MIll Hill petite seed beads for some other items too.

Day 5 was a sister day. We had told the menfolk they would be on their own so we could spend some time with each other. Shopping at some fantastic shops and great sales were awsome. Lunch out, boutique browsing followed by a little trip to a park with a bottle of wine and of course the Cheasapeake and South RIver views on another gorgeous day with my sis. Fantastic! The men also enjoyed themselves. Canoeing, swimming for the grandson and playing with the remote control sailboat my BIL has, while the canoe was out, just in case a chase vehicle was needed. WOnderful. ALl met later for a night out courtesy us, esp. after the great hospitality and home offered to us. Then the journey home. Thanks sis & bil, we had a wonderful time and loved your home. It's nice to have a home so far away from home.

As far as recent finishes, I did complete the binding on this doll quilt that I made reversible following the directions from the Moda Bake Shop. Here are pictures of both sides of the dollies' quilt. I quilted it in a style I saw through the pajama quilter, Dawn Ramirez called "dwirling". It was rather easy for my first attempt at it and I know, I'll be using this design again.









And the blanket in use by PGD#1:


Stay Well and Happy Stitchin!
Jane