2011 Memories

Everyone is reviewing 2011. Thought I'd do my small part, but I rarely link to the bigger blogs because I blog to satisfy myself. I don't kid myself about being a gifted writer, and tend to be brief and direct. If I'm going to read something, I want it to be a book, so I skim a lot out in the world of blogging. I do love all the eye candy I find and tuck those ideas into my memory bank! I am a visual learner, so that makes sense to me. (Strange then that I have no pictures today. Perhaps I can add them later).

In 2011 Sarah was married to the man I've prayed for even before meeting him. Alex is THE best-and he blessed me with the cutest grandson, Maxx. Happiness is the three of them here at home on Christmas morning (or any other morning) as it was so much fun to watch Maxx. I heard he had said that he didn't believe in Santa, but on Christmas Eve I peeked in his bedroom and asked him if he believed. He told me YES and I said that is the RIGHT answer because it is the SPIRIT of LOVE and GIVING that is Santa at our house.

Two of my pet babies left me in sorrow this year also. RooRoo, my crippled kitty that was born in the laundry room with two broken front legs, lived inside, but was fond of coming out with me into the garden. She had a unique way of getting around and when she was a baby, hopped like a kangaroo.

What can I say about my biggest baby? BooBoo always thought he should be a lap dog. That is something rather difficult when you are a Newfie. Each of our boys has had their own personality--this guy hated the lawn mower with a passion and wanted to tear it to pieces. You would have feared for your life if you saw him attack it. But the only damaged he could ever do was knock someone over if you weren't expecting him. Or I guess he could have gotten you with his slobber, but he didn't really slobber too much. Once there was a baby raccoon that got into his doghouse and he would NOT chase it out. He just barked and barked until I thought I'd go deaf. Instead, I had to chase the little critter out for him. Not the bravest of the boys.

2011 was the year I kept up with the pasture grass, a monumental task for me alone. But I didn't do so well with the weeds around in the back. It was also a year of simplifying around the house which means I took things OUT to the thrift stores, and limited myself on what came IN. My plan is to continue this into 2012. (I know Wally would be jumping for joy at this proclamation). In many ways Alex and Wally are alike and Wally would have been thrilled that his baby girl found such a nice person. Alex--you can jump after you learn how to mow the grass and pull weeds! :-)

2011...farewell. Memories are good for my soul.

Christmas 2011

Santa has a date with our family on December 24 each year. He magically appears after my nephew heads back to a bedroom for a nap after dinner. We welcomed Chloe nine days earlier this month and she's already to tell the big guy in red what she's thinking~and he is listening intently...

And here's Mom, big sister, Olivia, Santa, and Chloe. Mom and Santa are closely related, as in brother and sister!
Here's Alex's son that was able to fly in the day before to be my grandson! Yea!! I've been missing Maxx since the wedding this summer and am so happy to see him again.
One of two pictures I was able to get of Olivia's sweet dress with the red roses in the front. All the other pictures I tried to take ended up with a gorgeous view of her back. She moves quickly.
Cousins-Sarah and Jennell, with one of our 26 stockings we filled. This elf is simplifying next year and plans on making a family recipe book for 2012. It may be more work, but something I've had in my mind for a while.

Maxx on Christmas morning.

Alex, his dad, my son(in-law).

My baby, Sarah.
Oh, and Buster. So not excited.
Not even when he got a new watering bowl,
to remind him he is really a country boy-
a big, black rubber bowl.

When my babies got to the house after getting stopping at DIA to get Maxx, he saw the gifts in the living room and wondered if any were for him. Names were not in plain sight, so he couldn't tell, but we knew which ones for him. I'm pretty sure he was pleased.
Now, I will relax and enjoy the twelve days of Christmas. Everyone is always in a rush to put things away, but when you work, the time is too short to enjoy it. So, in the way of the wise men that had to make that long journey many years ago, Christmas will not be "over" for me yet.

Blessings to you

During this week of preparation for the celebration of our Savior's birth, may you and your family experience the PEACE and LOVE of the Christ child.

Merry Christmas.

S S S ABUNDANCE

Keep Calm...this is my motto I must repeat when trying to find the pictures deep within my computer! I still can't find some of them that I wanted to post, but am too excited to wait for my boy (Sarah's hubby) to come home this weekend. He knows his "MOM" is just computer literate enough to create lots of problems for him to solve. I am keeping him!!
This project has been so much FUN and we have had the most wonderful person in charge-- Suzanne, better known as The Coloradolady. Even though she says she likes sweet tea-I won't deny her that pleasure. Why? Because she has a cabin in my homestate and only gets to visit Colorado and wants to retire here - the best state in the nation. Suzanne, you blessed me with your time and organization in this project. THANK YOU!
And so, my box arrived! I took pictures of ALL the wrapped packages! I can NOT find them. GRRR.

LOOK:
A PERFECT, quilted table runner.
(made by my elf )
Exactly the right size for this buffet top!
an angel,
a Gingerbread boy,
Santa's list notepad,
a Wendy's gift card.

Wait, there's MORE~
Cranberry candles,
lotion and shower gel,
a roly poly gingerbread boy,
a tiny note pad,
a tea bag holder,
and four fat quarters in my very favorite colors!

Can I just say that my SSS partner was beyond generous and so thoughtful?!!! EVERYTHING fits me to a T! I must say I think I know who my SS is because I visited many participants on the list, although I won't spoil anyone's fun by telling. THANK YOU, my friend!! I hope your SS partner was good to you, too!♥♫

Oh, what fun it is to have a Secret Santa like YOU!!

A THIRD BOX!

Thank you, Anne! The box came the day after you sent it on its way to me! More than was expected was revealed when I opened the box. Let me tell you, it is so much fun to have boxes delivered from bloggers!

Floral stationery in my favorite color.

A sampling of different TEAS
and a 2012 calendar,

which I plan to take to school. I might just take the tea with me, too! Especially since I seem to spend most of my time there.

AND, this floral sugar and creamer set with vintage looking flowers--so sweet and pretty. I guess Anne knew that I would love the flowers because they remind me of my garden. It is the perfect gift for me.

Here's everything in one picture!

Did I say how nicely this set will be with my Tea Light wall color I have in the living room? Just perfect! Thank you, dear Anne. Happy BLOGaversary @ Phamily Blog!

I am so blessed with all the goodness that I've received this month!

Not Global Warming

One thing country people always seem to be interested in is the weather. Or in this case, the morning temperature. Not the best picture ever, but

MINUS 21!

Out here in Colorado we think this would be appropriate in January during the National Western Livestock Show aka The Stock Show. This is AFTER Christmas.

Santa's List

The mail carrier has been bringing me boxes from two dear blogging friends that had drawings recently. And will be stopping AGAIN with another box!

Yes, you counted correctly...
THREE times a winner!
Me!!

This folded fabric ornament was lovingly made by Donna from Sugar, Spice, and Southern Life. Her handiwork is absolutely exquisite! She told me there are a lot of pins, but I couldn't see any pin heads as they are cleverly hidden. Perfect points--I know it's difficult to see since I seem to still be on the "outs" with my phone/camera/pictures. Donna has so many great projects that she shares on her blog. Click on her name and be inspired! Thank you, dear friend.
The second box to arrive held this gorgeous handmade silk posie from Dana in Georgia. If you go visit Lambs and Ivy Designs you will be drooling... . I've been so blessed by both bloggers! I love it!! Thank you!
And Anne tells me her husband drew my name out of the hat for her blog anniversary post at her Phamily Blog. So you know there will be something else arriving soon!

It's been quite a week because my Secret Santa box also arrived. Will devote a separate post just for the party! Have a good week.

And a special note for Remington...I listened to the last 13 seconds of the big game and I know how disappointed you are.♥♫

Frosty Trees

The weather on Wednesday was perfect for transforming some small old trees into frosty white ones.
After three cans of white spray paint and three 24" trees and one larger one at 48" tall my index finger was tired. They make me think of a cold foggy morning when my evergreens are covered in frost and looking like a fairy forest.
Next on the list is to move some furniture around in the living room and get the mantle and hearth cleaned and ready for an inside forest for Christmas. Maybe the elves will decide to help.

Giving Thanks

Expressing my gratitude for my family and friends is important to me this week of Thanksgiving. Especially letting my blogging friends, from places I've never been in this wonderful world, know how dear you all are to me. Your visits, kindness and comments have helped me tremendously during the past two years since I've had to live Plan B of my life.

May you and your families have a safe, warm, blessed Thanksgiving!

And to start your celebration here is a link to a video I watched this morning. Please click and you should be able to watch it. Sorry, I've never learned how to add one to a post. It just made me smile because the mom is so sweet.♥♫

Glorious Flag

The blue skies and warm fall temperatures were a bonus when we spotted this magnificent flag gently blowing in the breeze.
We just stood for several minutes watching the flag, waiting for the perfect moment. Trying to avoid the utility lines would have meant take a picture directly into the sun and wouldn't have worked. What a wonderful sight!

Barn Quilts

My two sweeties and I went to town and got that flat fixed, shopped, and went to lunch and found three more quilts.

Arrowhead

Blossom Squash

Both on the front of The Country Steak Out.

The bonus was this bright red and white quilt on the north side of the road on a shed of some sort. No home nearby or business, just know that it was also on East 8th Avenue.
One of these days, I am going to venture out into the country to find all the other ones. There are MANY more!

Four, Flat, Friends

Four degrees this morning! Went out to start the car early so it could warm up. FLAT tire! Since we had our second snow storm yesterday and no school, I didn't use the car as we had blizzard conditions in the morning.
Thank goodness for fabulous FRIENDS that will travel out of the way to come and get me. And take me home after school! Got out the air compressor and filled the tire to see if it will stay up over night. If so, someone will follow me to town to get it fixed on Saturday. Grandpa and I fixed this one last summer together, so I do know how it do it. Just don't want to in this cold air! I love how my friends take care of me. They are the best!!

Barn Quilts

On the way to visit my sweet MIL at our local senior care facility, I turned the corner one block too soon and found a new quilt block!

Silver and Gold
around the corner from 1021 Fremont Avenue

The one below is on the way to town and I've wanted to stop for a long time to get a picture, but there is always so much truck traffic that I'm afraid to stop as there's no place to pull over. Yesterday morning on the way to church was the perfect time to stop safely.

Summer Star

Morgan County Barn Quilts are the best! After checking out their site, I've discovered a few more to get my own pictures of the next time I go to town.

Here and Gone

Last Wednesday morning we had snow...lots of it...8--12 inches. Nice, wet, slushy snow.
The next morning it was 4 degrees on the way to school!
Today the high was 63, so our Halloween snow is almost gone. My students and I will celebrate "Orange" You Glad You Can Read Day. Most classes in our school won't have Halloween parties. Our TPO will have "Trunk or Treat", though. November here we come!

New Phone

Alex and Sarah bought me a new phone last weekend. I'm not able to upload the pictures into my computer, so I had to email a picture to myself, then save it so I could put it here. What a lot of work. I'm not the most patient person anymore.
Alex will have to "do" something to make the phone talk to my computer so I hope he will be able to visit sometime soon. The photo looked a lot cleaner on the phone than it does here. That's all I know!

Two Flower Gardens

Sarah's great grandmother made this quilt for my godmother with her treadle sewing machine and it was hand quilted by friends at a quilting bee at her tiny house long ago. My cousin gave it to me last year and since I have my mother's (same pattern) I'm passing this one on to my baby. I've only done one block with English paper piecing with these hexagons and I'm thinking it will be the only one! I know my grandma made lots of quilts, but I don't know if she made more than two of this pattern. I'll have to investigate and talk to my remaining aunt and uncle and see if they have one, too.
On to my other garden...we will have a really hard frost tonight so I went out in the chilly wind after school and gathered the last miniature buds to dry for my potpourri jars.
I also brought in some asparagus ferns even though they tend to be rather messy, it's nice to start out next spring with larger plants. The amaryllis bulbs were lifted, too, and are ready for their resting period before I replant them in December.

Busy week at school with fall conferences! Wishing everyone a crisp fall week.♥♫

First Frost

My Weather Bug said there was a threat of frost last night and when I went out to start the car, there was some REAL frost on the windshield! However just a difference of 3 feet saved the few flowers that are still blooming.
These are some of my miniatures...
Last Stella d'Oro.
In ten days the Kale has turned from this:
to more purple showing. It should keep changing as the nights are cooler.
I brought this plant in the house last winter, but it was such a mess that I won't mind leaving it out when the frost sinks lower. Can't remember the name since I got to feeling awful this afternoon with a cough and dry throat and am ready for a rest.
Human contact at school means those germs occasionally meet a host...this time it was me. Grrr.

No snow here this past weekend. Ours out on the plains usually comes around Halloween.

October Blossoms

I do have falling leaves on the grass, but no sign of Jack Frost! Average date for our first frost is October 5, but it looks like it will be later this year. There really are leaves, but they are small ones from my Linden tree. You are able to click on the picture and see things better.
The allysum smells so sweet when I come home late in the afternoons, as well as the second blooms on the phlox.
Water keeps these babies happy and they look better now than they did when it was 95-100 each day.
I ♥ my lavender pot of flowers!
My mom had some extras and gave me several packs of this color.
With school, watering the dry flowers and yard, trying to mow, going to see my dear momma, and to Denver to see my sweethearts, I don't have much time left to visit and write. Notice I didn't mention anything about cleaning (which is not a priority) or bell practice and reading a bit to relax before bed. Living life just keeps me busy. Relaxing today with Sarah and Alex, both here for the first time since July 25. The dough is rising for cinnamon rolls so must check on it and make some lunch! Take care and visit when you can!