Happy 2013!!!!

Happy New Year Everyone!!!!

Boy, this new year has already started with a bang.  Many things have been going on around the farm.  Changes are good, right?  I'm going to cover everything, but will probably end up being in several different posts.  I'm going to start with Christmas Eve.

We enjoyed 2 Christmas celebrations with our families this year.  On Christmas Eve, my kids and grand kids came down to spend the night and celebrate.  This is a new tradition my girls decided they wanted to start this year.  We are kinda going back to the way our family used to celebrate Christmas when my kids were small.  And then the next weekend, Bill's kids and their families came down for our 2nd Christmas celebration.  (later post).

This is my living room prior to the arrival of the kids.  I promise, you don't want to see it after the invasion.  You can see Miss Palyn resting in one of her favorite spots.

You gotta have pictures of kids
playing at Christmas time.

I asked the girls what they wanted me to fix for dinner that night (being used to having hot ham sandwiches, potato salad, and baked beans), I knew this is what they would want.  Oh no, not my girls, they wanted my chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and ball beans (English peas).  Yes, in our house we refer to English Peas as ball beans.  So this is what we had, but I also threw in a platter of Chicken Fried Back Strap for the son-in-laws.  As for the dessert, we didn't have anything other than all of the goodies (will post about later) I made the day before while I was stuck here without a car (Bill's truck was in the shop) while he went down to Laredo with son Trent, and grandson Patrick deer hunting (will post later).  This was a last minute trip, so I stayed here and cooked.

Here I am mashing my famous mashed potatoes.  I say famous because this is one thing that my family and Bill's all enjoy.  They are very basic.  I just use Yukon Gold Potatoes, lots of butter (or margarine if that's all I have) and some Pet milk.  This combination just seems to make them so creamy and good.  I don't think there were any left.  I think everyone enjoyed their Christmas Eve dinner.  Total there were 9 of us here plus the GrandDog Piper, Libby and Palyn.

But WAIT!!!!  Let me tell you.  While I was sitting at the table fixing to get up and start clearing away the dishes, I was told by my daughter Amy that I couldn't get up until I see what was in my stocking.  I'm thinking what is in my stocking? NO IDEA!!!  So they went and got it for me to see.  Inside was this picture of Piper (Amy and Aaron's chocolate lab) and a small lime.  

This is my Grand Dog Piper with a very interesting sign around her neck.  If you can't read it, it says, "Only Child, Expiring July 2013".  In other words, Amy is pregnant!!!!  I'm gonna be grandma again!!!  I was so happy.  They had been trying for quite awhile.  I am so happy for both Amy and Aaron.  Oh yeah, the lime.  That was the size of the baby at that time.  Such a cute idea!!!!!!  

Okay, so after the excitement calmed down, we got the kitchen cleaned and the kids ready for bed to await Santa's arrival, Mandy got the french toast ready to go in the fridge to soak up it's goodness for breakfast the next morning, and the guys played a few hands of Cribbage.

(l to r) Aaron, Larry (Bill's brother), Bill and Ryan

The only one without a picture is Amy.  I took some of her, but she would probably disown me if I posted them.  She was feeling so bad that night with her sinus infection as well as being in the hospital the day before being dehydrated and throwing up (pregnant you know).  So maybe I'll catch a good one of her later.  I know we have a gender reveal party in the near future coming up, so I'll post then.

Again, Everybody, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Christmas Goodies

I've been working on a few Christmas things this year.

First, here is a picture of my paper-pieced Christmas tree wall hanging.  I worked on this during our quilt guild retreat we had a few weeks ago at the new Sunset Retreat.  I got it quilted last week and got it hung this week once my hanger came in the mail from Connecting Threads.  I had a spot picked out on the wall that needed something.  I believe it is going to be the ever-changing wall hanging block spot.  Well, let me say the "ever-changing" if I get different blocks done for different seasons and holidays.  I have high hopes, but we shall see.

Next, also I completed this Twister Wreath while at the retreat.  I had been wanting to tackle a twister project for awhile and I finally got around to it.  This was using the Lil Twister with 5" blocks of fabric.  I haven't had the time to quilt it yet, but hope to get to it soon.  Will probably be a new addition next year.  Since that was so much fun, I have now purchased a mini-twister that I can't wait to try out.

And today, I made Santa a key so he can get in our door Christmas Eve to bring them grandchillins lots of toys and goodies, since they are staying here this year.  I'm so excited to see them wake up Christmas morning to see what Santa has brought.  Well, Bella may not be too excited, but I know Lucas will.

And, speaking of grandchillins, I just happen to have a picture of them with Santa this year.

This will be my last post until after Christmas, so I would like to say to everyone,

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas!"

My how time is flying by....

Christmas is a little over a week away.  I can't believe it already.  I have been so busy around here trying to finalize gifts, getting shopping lists together for Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas morning breakfast.  I am so excited this year.  My kids have decided they wanted to bring back the Christmas tradition and all of us being together on Christmas Eve and waking up to Santa on Christmas morning with a big family Christmas like we used to do years ago before things changed.

Thank goodness I have been able to take a little time between jobs to enjoy this holiday season.  I hope to start my new job after the 1st of the year.  I really don't know how I would have been able to complete all of these projects I start.  I used to be able to move a little faster and get more done, but now I find myself stressing because I can't move and get as much done as I used to.  Hummmm, is this a sign of aging??  Yes, I think so.  But I push and push and always get it done.

I'll have some pictures of the projects I have been working on after Christmas.  Can't spoil the surprises.

But, I do have a picture of the newest stocking to join the fleet.  This is my granddaughter Bella's first Christmas, so I (Gigi) had to get busy and get her special stocking made.  It was so fun doing a girly stocking this time.  It has PINK on it.  !!!  Here is a picture of the completed stocking.







Now, what's been going on around the farm since my last post:

Miss Palyn celebrated her 4th birthday.  She got to blow out a candle (really I think she sniffed it and singed the end of her nose).  Sorry Palyn.  We sung Happy Birthday and she got a new squeaky toy.  And, no she didn't get to eat the chocolate cupcake.  That was just for the picture.

I realized I had never posted pictures of the finished bedrooms after the remodel earlier this year.  Remember, this is an old farmhouse that we gutted mostly the interior and added insulation and new electrical and carpet.

The first 3 pictures are of Bill's "game" room/office.  One goal of mine, was to get all of his mounts into one room.  It took the biggest part of one day, but I did it.  I really like the way they look too, especially now that they are all in one room. :)  The next two pictures are of the two other bedrooms.  Bring on the company.

I'll end this post for now, but I do have a few more things that I will post about later.  Have a good day!!!!

Happy Easter

I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Easter.  We will be celebrating as we do each year with a houseful of family and a big Easter egg hunt after we chow down on our annual pot luck lunch.  Trent and family arrived on Friday and others should start arriving within a couple of hours, so I need to get in the kitchen and get busy with my part, Ham, Turkey Breast, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans and New Potatoes, Broccoli Salad, and I do have a couple of Lemon Ice Box Pies in the fridge.

I wanted to share a couple of my Easter craft projects real quick.  First, here is a table runner I made last year when I first started quilting.  Actually, it was my first quilting project to complete.  I had found online and thought it was so cute.

Next, a friend of mine, Rhonda has been holding a class at her house about once a month to do these holiday decorations.  Not for sure how to explain them.  We decopaged stamped brown paper onto these wood blocks and we go back each month and make the tags to go on them to fit the holiday coming up.  So far I have completed Happy New Years, Spring and now my Easter.  They are fun to make and not hard at all, and it's fun to have them sitting out.  Hope you enjoy!

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!!

Thanksgiving Table Runner

Gobble Gobble!!!! Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Here is a picture of the tablerunner I made for my sister this Thanksgiving. I saw this on The Missouri Star Quilt Companys website. Jenny Doan always does a great job of talking me into things. I just love watching her demonstrate things. I have learned alot from watching her videos. Anyway, I saw her show her version of this table runner and I have been wanting to do a Dresden design for a long time, so this was my chance. I quickly ordered a layer-cake and preceded to work on this every chance I got, inbetween school work that is. I finished it last Sunday.