Of snowstorms and projects...

Had a huge snowstorm north and east of us. We got a smidge..little or nothing and melted next day.  We are so blessed here. I LOVE looking at Pike's Peak with a new coat of snow up there.  And I say "Up There" because I would like it to stay UP THERE!

Worked on a small log cabin quilt for my uncle in New Mexico.  Have a slip up on it but till I realized it, too far into finishing to pull apart and fix.  Won't fall apart...all secure...warm...finished. If you are looking at it from the back of a running horse, you will never notice it.  In the mail tomorrow.

Skip's mom had pneumonia this week but is markedly improved. Dodged a bullet there.  Was actually in the activity room playing Scrabble yesterday!  What a blessing and answers to prayers.

Sunshine and blue skies today.  Went to Church on the Ranch...always a blessing to go there. GREAT people and great down-to-earth Biblical teaching.

Talked to "the kids" back in PA and MD yesterday. GREAT to hear their voices. Miss 'em!

Blessings to all.

End of January...

Been a roller coaster week or two.    Dad's surgery was successful and he's fit as a fiddle. Will keep an eye on him and monitor him every few months.  Uncle Alvin was back in the hospital for another bout of pneumonia but is back home and recuperating....

Skip had some issues and was in the ER for a bit and a days' stay at the hospital....seemed like a cardiac event but turned out NOT to be, thank you, Lord!!!  Now going back and forth to docs for a diagnosis.  Glad he's ok though. Was scary for about 24 hrs there..did enzymes and stress test in the hospital and all negative..so that is a good thing.

Finished a log cabin quilt for a friend and mailed it.  He got it one day and the next began having major medical issues...which we expected at some point this year.  Hoping and praying he can overcome his vascular issues and have a good 2012.  Hope the quilt gives him warmth and comfort.

Started a new quilt for a friend who has a birthday in March. Will be done sooner than that but what the heck! Always an excuse to sew!  She likes greens and lavenders so this is a log-cabin-ish quilt with applique' in the middle.  Hope she likes it. It's on my project area and I have to walk by it and look at it several times to see if I 'like' it or it will grow on me.  The pattern is all neutrals and soft earthy colors I love....translating it to her more vibrant colors doesn't have the same effect on me.

Working with two other gals tomorrow to sew, darn, mend clothing for people who live in a lower income housing area.  One of the gals made contact with a couple who does this kind of ministry....collects money for plugging the washing machines and dryers for them, things like that.  This is the first time they've tried this so we will see how it goes.  We'll pack up our sewing machines and a 'traveling' sewing kit of threads, needles, patches, etc. and see what comes of it.

In the midst of all this, reading "Inheritance" by Christopher Paolini.  Part of the Eragon dragon series..the final installment. Can't believe there won't be more dragon and rider stories forthcoming!  "Eragon" was a movie and I got hooked.  There was a decision to not make further movies...what a bummer!   Just my crazy likes and disklikes!

Well, that's it for now.   Lovely day outside so gonna enjoy it!

Blessings.

January 17

Well, today is my brother's birthday, and Mohammad Ali, too.
Dad is having surgery tomorrow for recurrence of his bladder cancer.  All are praying and concerned.
Uncle Alvin is back in the hospital with pneumonia again.  His battle continues and he gets weaker as time goes on.
Working on a quilt for another friend back East who is ill....should be able to finish it in a few days.
Finished a table runner tonight and used my GO! Baby cutter.  Loved it.  Went so quickly and the applique' shapes are perfect...

If you read this, please pray for my dad and Unle Alvin. Thanks.

Happy New Year!

We left here 12/16 for back East to see the kids, grandkids, family and friends. Had a wonderful, wonderful visit.  Stayed overnight with my dad on the way and on the way back here...good to be able to do that!

Came home and unloaded the car and crashed the first night. Smelled gas smells outside on Friday morning and called the utility company.  Had to evacuate the house for almost two days while they cleared the gas main break that had pumped natural gas into the soil out around the house.  Seeped through the foundation into the house.  We couldn't detect it inside, as the odorant they added had been filtered out by the soil and brick, so the house had high levels of gas. We could have exploded when the heater fired up or the hot water heater came on, flipped a switch, anything that generated a spark. God and His angels were looking over us for sure.  We thank Him so much.  Spent Friday and most of Saturday in our car out front waiting to be let into the house by the work crew. Overnighted at our neighbors' place...they were so gracious to give us a bunk for the night.  Quite an ordeal and we are not complaining one bit.  Could have been much worse.  Yard is torn up a bit but the utilities guarantee that when they are done in a month or so, no one will know where the holes were dug and we'll have a brand new up to date service installed. Right now we have temporary lines running across the front yard till they can finish the job.  Again, no complaints here!

Visited friends in MD and DE while we were back. Will be working on a lap quilt/throw for one fellow who is not doing well healthwise.  He made several bird boxes for us...feeders and nesting boxes ...and gave us a birding book....we are kindred spirits in that realm. We both love to dig in the yard and plant things to watch them grow and enjoy birding.  Hoping his 2012 is better than his dismal 2011!!!

My dad has surgery for a recurrence of bladder cancer. Praying about that.  Uncle Alvin in New Mexico had quite a scare with a perforated hernia and pneumonia but seems to be on the mend.  Skip's mom is doing well...as is most of the other members of the family.

Looking forward to 2012 and all it brings...both the good, the bad, and the ugly.  All part of this wonderful ride called, "Life".

Been busy...

I found a cute little gift bag pattern on a blog the other night.  So easy and fast...Had to grab my strip box and try it out...how fun!

They are so quick and easy. Might dig around in my holiday scrap pile and whip some of these up for the coming  season...which is fast upon us!!!

A friend's daughter has been experiencing a 'high risk' pregnancy. Everyone's been holding their breath. The mom has lost two other little ones previously, so this one was 'iffy' for them.  Now in third trimester, the family is allowing themselves to get excited for the arrival of little Levi!   Grabbed the stash and whipped up a baby blanket for him...The binding and a few other little things need to be done, but overall, done.   THANK YOU Bonnie for the .pes files for my Brother sewing machine!  Love the little bears, planes, footballs, crayons and of course  'SAM' and his varied antics.

Having great crisp Colorado weather of late.  Waiting. Just waiting.   Will be traveling over the next month and crossing our fingers for good weather.

Got to get those Christmas cookies baked this coming week.

Hope you have a blessed Christmas season.

Baby! It's cold outside!

On Thanksgiving, we had the windows and doors open. It was over 70 degrees.  Fast forward to December 4...and it is subzero, quick surprise white out snow for an hour or so and no electric for like an hour and a half.  December 5 is more of the same....lots of sun in the afternoon, but frigid temps.   Wind chill of -24 anticipated for tonight.   Ok, I'll take the 70's from Thanksgiving, thank you very much!   Brrrrrrr.

On a brighter note, attended two ladies' teas this week.  One I had attended last year and was invited back again. It was amazing.  65 tables of 8 ladies on each table and every single table was decorated in a different theme.  Was so fun.    The second tea was at our Church on the Ranch, at the Flying W Ranch assembly hall.  About 68 or so ladies enjoying fellowship, great food, yummy tea and door prizes.  Just a fun evening complete with a cookie exchange....yum yum!

Skip's fighting bronchitis.  On antibiotics. Hoping like crazy he's well enough for our drive back to PA, MD, and DE mid-December.  Been looking forward to it for months now.....getting gifts all together and things ready to take East and see the kids and grandkids....

Well, off to make sure everything is closed up, battened down, and ready for this brutal cold.

Blessings for the season.

It's December!

Whew....it's officially Christmas season, December 1!!!   Had a great two weeks with Dad and now he's back home in MO and we are gearing up for our holiday trip to see family and friends...will see him on our way across.

Had some snow today but nothing to think much about.    It IS December in Colorado, after all!

Working on table runners, hot pads, and "pockets to go" organizers..which are too fun!

Later....

Thankfully...

My dad is here for a two week visit and then we gear up for our trip East for the holidays in December.  Great to have him here!

A couple of my latest projects.  Working on 'stuff' for loved ones I just want to 'gift' to them.  Also have two Steelers themed quilt tops done....now to 'sandwich' and quilt them.... I LOVED working with the bright batik fabrics...just so cheerful and looks like the artistic, eclectic, and wonderfully gifted cousin I am gifting it to. 

We've had some snow and then sunshine to melt it so overall not bad at all.   Attended the Air Force/Army game Saturday.  Cuba Gooding, Jr. was there as a guest attendee.  We were so far away he looked like an ant but at least we were all in the same 50,000+ person stadium...funny.

Missing kids back home.  Considering a relocate. Just considering.  LOTS to think about. Makes me want to go lie down to even think of moving again, let alone 1/2 way cross the country.   I just go in my sewing room and work on the machines.

Blessings

Catching up...

Been a long time since I put anything out here. Been doing a rush order for a Steelers themed quilt and two more as Christmas gifts for cousins back East.   Also working up fabric panels for the holiday season and gifts.  Trying to list things on Etsy.  Nothing so far.  Might now work out..but what the heck! Worth a try!   Did quick embroidery projects for family and friends back East, as well.   It's that holiday thing getting into your bones!!!

Dad is coming for a visit in November. We look forward to his twice yearly visits.

Been attending Church on the Ranch, so this is Sunday and we went and had a good morning.  There is a Children's Cancer Center benefit happening at the Flying W Ranch 11/26, so Skip and I volunteered to serve food there ...it's a fund raiser..so certainly want to see these kids get all the advantages they can.

Collecting for the Children's Village at Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Trying to get gifts and donations in by Thanksgiving so Anne and crew can get them up to the kids before real bad weather sets in.

Gorgeous fall days here in the Rockies. Cool at night and 70's during the day.  Sunshine, blue skies. Can you ask for more?

Looking forward to our trip East to visit family in December. NOT looking forward to weather reports saying ice or snow.  Praying for smooth and clear sailing!

Skip was under the weather for a couple of weeks but is doing well now.   I am plugging along.  Sewing, emailing, Face Book-ing, taking pictures...EATING great food, drinking great wine....it's all good!

Blessings
Dee

Pueblo!!

Just spent two days camping outside Pueblo, CO.   Lovely weather. Walked around and discovered Pueblo most of the day Saturday.  Had a fire in the fire ring last night...sat out and looked at the stars.  Just wondering at God's creation.     Camping season is winding down. Bummer.

Opened an account on Etsy. We'll see if any of my 'stuff' sells and if I can keep up if it does.
 
Skip's mom is 87 this week. Gonna get a cake as we usually do and have her help 'serve' to the friends and residents at St. Francis.

Blessings

Santa Fe and other things.

Our friends have left and gone on toward their next destination....was good to have them here for a while and we ran our legs off being tourists.  Spent two days in Santa Fe again this week and we just are in love with that area and mostly with family there.   Missing family back East and the little ones, who are growing up so fast!  Amanda is already a young woman ...time...time just marches on...

Spent today catching up on laundry, cleaning, washed the car, got groceries, all that "fun" stuff.

Need to get back to sewing....have some projects in progress and am thinking of 'something' that hasn't come together yet..still in my mind rattling around up there!

Blessings to each.

Rain, rain, go away!

Our friends from Delaware are here for a visit, and we are running around like tourists.  Tea and tour at Glen Eyrie Castle, Cripple Creek and Victor area for ghost towns and gambling at the casinos in Cripple Creek....wolf preserve visit, Manitou Springs, just all the areas we haunt....tried Eleven Mile Canyon but the heavens opened up and dumped more rain in one day than ever recorded here in the Springs....ick!!!!  Truck threw a stone and cracked my Murano's windshield, so it's in the shop for a new windshield. We were running around in the mountains yesterday so didn't pick it up in time. Get it today...

Had a great Lajes Azores, High School reunion in Santa Fe last week.  Was so wonderful to see the chums and listen to their lives and adventures and just "be" with them all.

No sewing going on this week or two with company but have two projects on the planning board for when time allows again.

Went to RV America and checked out small 5th wheel campers vs our expandable. Hmmm....things to think about!  Might have to get a part time job!

blessings to all.

Ah! the "good old days" !!

Just got back from Santa Fe, NM ....attended our 45th high school reunion of the Lajes, Azores military brats and celebrated 45 years of knowing Mr. Skip....our best mutual friend introduced us that long ago.  Gee Whiz!! Where did all those years go??!!  It was great to see everyone.

Post-Irene

Bottom line is that family is safe.  Very inconvenienced with no power and lots of tree limb type damages, mud, etc.   Blessed that all are safe and ok.

Projects in progress....

 Snowman table topper for the winter season..

Fall hot mats and 'summer' themed mini wall hanging...pattern from Pearl Louise.  Got the entire season selections...winter and spring...to do...kinda cute...same cottage and tree in different seasons. Need to get the hanger put up somewhere. I found one that you can hang permanently, then change the little quilts as the seasons change...without taking the hanger itself off the wall.

Fall table runner....in progress. Need to finish binding....pinned to the "project" wall....!

Irene! Oh, Good Night, Irene!!

Huge hurricane aiming at the East Coast. Worried about my kids....grown ups as well as the grandkids...and friends and family.   Praying all goes well. Sean and Adriene had vacation on the Outer Banks and had to evacuate. What a bummer!!!

Had Cheyenne here for 5 days and was good to have her and do stuff with her...went fishing. Went wading in the river up in Eleven Mile Canyon...always...did Pike's Peak and for the first time saw Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep up there....she is our good luck charm....!  Saw them out by Garden of the Gods, too, near Glen Eyrie. Awesome.

Workin' on sewing and small quilting projects.  Hot mats, wall hangings, table runners. May try to sell on line.

Been hotter than normal here, but we do get rain every afternoon....so that is a blessing. Poor Texans are just baking and suffering unimaginable heat and drought.  God love 'em.

Air Force Football season starting soon.  Tailgaters are meeting to do menu planning for the tailgate gatherings before the games.  Should be fun.

Skip and I are trying acupuncture for our "old folks" aches and pains...shoulders, neck, knees, etc. So far, so good. Thought I'd freak out. No one on the planet is as needle-phobic as I am...but it's painless....we'll see how long we hang in there and have results.

Blessings for the day...

Monday...again??!!

Spent a lovely four days in WY camping.  Lovely breezes, clear skies.  Great time putzing around Cheyenne. Hope to go to the Bridger-Teton area sometime!!!

Visited a quilt shop in Cheyenne (imagine that?!) and found a hanger for my most recent project...mini wall quilt...and their shop had so many wonderful things! Like looking at a Fons and Porter magazine, only being able to touch and feel all the "stuff" that is in the magazine.  They do a great job of displaying and offering things!!!

Lots of sadness in our friends' lives...their son, Chris, passed away and two days later, the father's brother committed suicide..so the family has TWO funerals this week. Dear Lord. Hold them close in Your almighty arms.  They need Your strength!

Blessings for the day

Free fallin'

The economy is just in a free fall and everyone is pointing fingers rather than trying to solve the problem. Good grief.  Makes me sick.  Get a housewife, with five kids, who has to balance a budget of like $35,000 a year to solve it. You can't spend more than you make and expect a successful outcome.   Have to wait and see.   Our future is in God's hands...I am praying for some enlightened leaders to emerge who follow His principles and see what we can do to bring America back to its former greatness. The past few years have been a train wreck based on ideology not reality.

Friends are losing their son. Basically a death watch now. Very sad. I can not even imagine such a journey.

Nice weather all just coming together nicely the past few days.

Getting ready for a trip to Wyoming ...going campin'.....can't wait.

Working on a mini quilt/wall hanging. Having fun doing a small, fast project...still lovin' my fabric adventures.

Blessings for the day and always.

August in Colorado...

It has been so lovely here....hot and sunny during the day with no humidity, then around supper every day, a heavy thunder and lightening storm to wet things down (thank you, Lord!!) and relieve the heat and any drought we were suffering.  It's been lovely, just lovely.

Today Skip turns 64.   Another year.....

We are headed to Wyoming for a few days next week. Just camping and putzing around. No special occasion...love Wyoming in the summer.

The ravens were going out of their minds the other day and after about 30 minutes of that, I asked Skip to see what they were squawking about.  He walked up to the open space and he said there sat a gorgeous great horned owl. The ravens were fussing because they don't like owls and wanted him OUTTA there.....Skip came back to tell me about the owl and till I grabbed my camera and got back up there with him, the ol' boy had flown the coop.  Bummer....wanted to see him big time....but it wasn't to be.  We checked trees in the area but he'd really gone away.  We also have a hawk couple that are out there crying and screeching every day.   That forlorn cry they make..like the old Western movies...pretty cool.

Friends and former neighbors from PA are making a marathon trip across the US and Canada. Were in Denver yesterday and will be here for a visit today and maybe overnight.

Getting anxious to see our third oldest granddaughter this month!! She's coming for a week to visit and bringing a gal pal with her.  Can't wait to see her!

Been sewing.  Made tea cozies for an order Yvonne had for me. Bless her heart. LOVING the Go! Baby AccuQuilt cutter..makes those charm squares in a flash!  Need to see what other cutting dies I need for my passion for fabric and sewing!

Haven't heard a lot from the East Coast...but their lives are busy I guess with summer activities with the kiddos....busy busy lives!

Blessings for the day