thanks-stitching . . .

Last week was a long week.  My coworker has been out sick for two weeks. She's coming back on Monday, but can only work half days, doctor's orders. Luckily it's a short week—we're closed for Veteran's Day on Thursday, and I'm off to Lifeway's Women's Leadership Forum!  

I'd ordered an assortment of flannel fat quarters from a vendor on Etsy.  She sells under Prairie Grove Peddler, and y'all she was fantastic to work with. I sent her a question about shipping, and she went ahead and bundled the assortment I was looking at into one listing, got it in the mail so fast (I ordered on Tuesday and had it in my hands on Thursday), and she sent me two bonus fat quarters to boot!

Isn't it pretty?  Such rich, yummy fall colors!

Anyway, I'd decided I wanted to do the Thanksgiving bowl fillers in wool on flannel.

It just made sense to me.

I've finished stitching one . . .

Working on the second . . .

This will be my slow stitching for today.  :)

These go together really easily and are fun to blanket stitch.  They will be perfect to share on Thankgsiving dinner day (which we are celebrating on the Friday after), as favors!

Yesterday was game day ... and have mercy ... it was definitely a day of upsets!  Thankfully, Alabama won, but it sure was a contest. I made an apple pie (first of the season!) and Warm Chicken Salad dip, which was super, super good.  (It was so good that we were halfway through it before I remembered to grab a picture, which I decided not to share.  You're welcome. ;)

The recipe for the Warm Chicken Salad dip comes from the Dessert for Two blog, by Christina Lane.  I enjoy her blog a lot, and obviously, over time, she's expanded to include dishes for two beyond desserts! I've tried a lot of her recipes and haven't found one yet we didn't like. It's definitely worth a check out.  Especially if you're an empty-nester like we are. Which is funny, because when she started it, they were newly-weds! It's been fun to watch her family grow. 

And I have two public service announcements to share.  The first is a just in case you've gotten to this point and have managed to miss it . . . 

Of the two time changes, this one is my favorite.  Ha!  The second psa is a little more stress-inducing:

Forty-eight days, y'all.  Forty-eight days. No need to say anything more.

And to apologize for introducing such stressful news, here's a first smile:

Isn't he precious??!  Ezra says, don't worry, be happy!

Linking up to the slow stitching post at Kathy's Quilts.  Happy Sunday!

:)

ides of march . . .

March came in like a lion and it's staying that way.  LOL!  We were glad to enjoy the time change ... or rather, we enjoyed the daylight that came at the end of the day. 

And we got a full moon, to boot.  A full moon on a clear night always makes me smile!

Along with the time change, spring flowers are popping up all over the place! These also make me smile!

Okay, no flowers, but a sweet view!

Something else popped up . . .

Whoohoo!!!  We're so unbelievably excited!!  And a little bit in shock!  Hahaha!! 

Todd and I had a lunch date at Sam & Greg's on the square, in Huntsville.

They have terrific pizza . . . and the best gelato!

It was lovely outing with my best friend! ♥

James and Kim took the kids to their first wedding . . . 

LOL!  Sawyer is dashing, but both the girls are a little overwhelmed!  They're coming to visit this summer.  I'm beside myself!  It will have been over eighteen months since we saw them last, when they finally get here.  

Mid-March also means it's time to change up the decor a little.  Merging seasons.  :)

A little Valentine's, a little St. Patrick's Day, a little Spring, and a little Easter (jelly beans)!  :)

The Nook is still a hot mess, which means I've gotten NOTHING done in there.  But I need to take care of it.  I can feel the need to create becoming a burden on my soul! Does anyone else get like that?  So watch out, Nook ... your time is coming!

:)

tricks and treats . . .

First things first.  Did you remember to fall back last night before going to bed??

I'm not all about time change.  I wish they do away with it. But I *do* like the extra hour on Sunday morning and the change so that I'm not driving to work in the dark in the morning.  Yes, I like that just fine!

Last things are last. So be sure to read through! (That means there's a giveaway!)

Todd was in Florida for a conference most of the week, so I was on my own. I battled a headache for pretty much the whole week, but managed to squeeze in some fun time.  Mainly on Halloween night, where we (Jason, Joc, Ellie, Evey and I) gathered for a 'spooky' dinner at my mom and dad's home and then trick or treating. My mom was in her party hostess element! We had Goblin's Eyes:

Jack-O-Lantern Humus:

Poisoned Apples:

And Pumpkin Brains:

Not to mention dessert . . . 

Pumpkin, Spider and Cat's Tongue cookies! The little girls--especially Ellie--were delighted.  But I think Jason, Joc and I were equally delighted with the fun of it! 

Even the table was dressed to the nines!

I had managed to finish up Flotsam and Jetsam for Evey's costume. Please don't mind the mess on my kitchen counter!

They came to work and kept me company for the day. 

That certainly raised some eyebrows as visitors came in during the day!

I didn't get any great pics of the girls dressed up for Halloween . . . I let Jason do all the photo taking and I've not seen any yet! I did snap a pre- and post-Trick or Treating photo of the two . . .

They had matching glo-in-the-dark pjs.  Ellie is demonstrating hers in the bottom right capture.  Evey is demonstrating how worn out she is!

I finished up both scarves this week and finished up my swap mug rug that needed to go in the mail by Friday.  I can't share a picture yet, but I will next week.  I hope my partner is pleased with it.  She sure did a great job on mine -- reveal later.

Thursday I took off a little early and met Joc and the girls at the Botanical Gardens.

With temps still in the 80's, it seemed the thing to do. Ellie loves to "strike a pose"! Evey just wants to run. Everywhere.

Even the butterflies were still out and about.  And loads of flowers still blooming, since we haven't had a frost yet.

My stash experienced a little change up this week. 

I took in two fat quarters I was gifted with from the tea cup exchange.  And then my mug rug going out and the two eels, took it and a little more back out.  I'll take it!

I need to work on some Christmas ornaments today. Just need to figure out what I'll try next. Probably not the crescent Santa!  LOL! 

That'll be my sloooooow stitching for today!

One final thing. This picture was taken at Evey's birthday party in September. I'm holding Ellie and Marilyn, Joc's mother-in-law in standing next to me, holding Evey.  Our respective husbands are behind us. Leave a caption for this photo in your comment.

For the bestest, funniest, zaniest caption I'll give a prize. Then I'll draw from all the captions that peg the picture correctly for another prize! That's TWO prizes! I'll leave it open through Wednesday and announce it next Sunday. If you are a no-reply blogger, please make sure you leave your email in your comment!

Linking up to Patchwork Times and Kathy's Quilts today.  Enjoy your extra hour and have a blessing-filled Sunday!

:)

spring forward . . .

Looking for the current book review and giveaway?  It is HERE!

Did you (in the U.S.) remember to

I strongly dislike losing the hour of sleep, but I love the daylight added to the end of the day!  :)

My 15 Minutes report is nothing special this week . . .

I got the mug rug finished off (and sent), worked on something new, and then fizzled out for the rest of the week.  I had some sort of 48-hour virus Thursday and Friday and Saturday was so beautiful, we spent most of the morning outdoors with Sawyer and June and their mommy and daddy.  Then we celebrated all our March birthdays last night.  It was such fun -- I'm again so grateful that our children and their families live close by!

My stash report isn't anything to speak of this week either:

I added that FQ bundle of Kona solids and that's (enough) it!

And then finally, for today's stitching, I'm looking at my March Hex Lab.  We were given three options--all of which are flowers from Down Under.  I love the look of the "wattle", which I'd never heard of before:

Isn't that beautiful? There's some fly stitching, stem stitching, fishbone stitching, and a feather stitch -- so a nice variety.  And most are stitches I've worked before. Mind you, that's the sample piece, definitely not mine!

Here's the template we're given to work with . . .

I love the difference between the template and the finished product!  Sure is room for a whole lot of stitching.

Linking up today's post to the Stash Report at Patchwork Times and Kathy's Quilts Slow Sunday Stitching linky party.

Shout to the Lord, all the earth let us sing!

:)