November 30, 2009

With Thanksgiving over...I have not even put up one ornament or Christmas Decoration, I just like to enjoy one Holiday at a time, plus am exhausted(lazy) so will wait until next weekend to put up Tree and to Deck The Halls as they say...I did however, pick up my Christmas Cards today....isn't it the Cutest Card - I thought the dog looked so like Cooper that I just had to order them! So that is as far as I have gotten into Christmas so far...but it is just the beginning of the week, so you never know what kind of trouble I will get myself in!

Back to sewing...

Lots of Hugs,


Mary

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Well, Thanksgiving was a Hugh Success!!! It was quiet, just the 5 of us and Mike's girlfriend, Angie, so really 6, but all the food turned out good and the smell of turkey roasting filled the house. Mike is feeling better, still has the Shingles but they are starting to scab and the pain is manageable (he is a trooper), so all went well... missed my sisters and their families and my Mom, but it can't plan sickness, so was very thankful that I had my little family together!!

I love Thanksgiving, it really makes me stop and think what I am most thankful for. Life can be so busy, but sometimes you need to stop and count the blessings in your life. For me, I am so thankful for God. He has blessed me with 3 beautiful children and a great hubby. I am even thankful for the "bumps" in the road, so to speak, as they make me realize what is important in life. Family and Health! Those are two big ones that I cherish. If you have both of those you have it all in my book.

Here are a couple more pictures of my kids...and I promised I would NOT put this picture of my gang at the breakfast table, but....I can resist!!! And here are the delicious cookies oldest made in the morning - really, really good Pumpkin and Molasses Sugar Cookies, Oh they were good!!

Oh and I caught Dave at Breakfast checking out the Blackhawk Calendar (they play today - Fri), so had to add that one. And what would be my blog without a couple of pictures of Cooper, this one he is playing with youngest and he thought he could hide under the table but I got one of him chewing his bone and well, the last one is him looking at me, like "oh no she is at it Again!"



I hope everyone in Blogland had a Wonderful Thanksgiving and Thank you to all of you who read my Blog!


Many Hugs Always,



Mary

THANKSGIVING EVE...PART TWO

(continued)

...SO MY FRIEND KAREN FROM BLOGLAND TOLD ME TO RUN COLD WATER
ON OUR LITTLE TURKEY...

AND YES IT IS WORKING THE BIRD IS THAWING NICE AND PERKY!

NOW OUT TO THE STORE DID I GO...

TO BUY PRODUCE, ROLLS, HERBS, DRESSING AND A JELLO MOLD,

WAIT I NEED PIES, APPLE AND PUMPKIN AND ICE CREAM TOO...

FOR WHAT WOULD BE THANKSGIVING WITHOUT DESSERT WOO-HOO!!!

OH, I THINK I AM LOSING IT, I AM LAUGHING OVER HERE,

AND COOPER IS LOOKING AT ME, THINKING "WOW IS SHE WEIRD"!!

BUT THE BEST PART OF COOKING FOR ME IS THE TABLE...

I MUST MAKE IT PRETTY, OH YES I HAVE MY DISHES - THANK YOU MABLE!!

(and the saga continues...)

THANKSGIVING EVE.....

TWAS THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING...

AND IN MY FRIG, SITS A TURKEY STILL FROZEN, HARD AS A ROCK,

NOW WHAT DO I DO, I ASK MYSELF,

I AM HAVING THE HOLIDAY BECAUSE OF A GLINCH,

MY SON CAME HOME WITH "SHINGLES" BUT THANK GOD THEY DON'T ITCH...

SO IT IS A SMALL TURKEY, JUST US 5 IT WILL BE...

NOW TO GET THIS SMALL TURKEY TO UNFREEZE IS KEY...

AND TO MAKE MATTERS MORE LOVELY,

MY DOG HAS ISSUES, IT IS RAINING AND HE DOES NOT LIKE HIS PAWS WET

SO GOING OUT TO THE BATHROOM, WELL, LETS JUST SAY IS NOT BEING MET!

(to be continued...!?!?!?!??!)

THURSDAY RAMBLINGS...MISS DAISY'S AND ...

Last night sewed the rest of the Missouri Daisy Blocks to the yellow center. This is not easy as you have to use a big running stitch to make just the right amount of "pucker", then once you have that secured pin yellow circle on and applique down. Next comes piecing the white squares and triangles all around the daisy. Once I have 5 more done, then I am going to sew all of them together and am thinking for a border to be strips of all the different fabrics I used. Usually these are not my usual colors but always wanted to do something in the retro 30 fabrics, so found this pattern about a year ago....


Also, worked on my Pine Tree Houses, cutting, and I don't know about you, but I have to organize all small pieces and large for that matter in baggies, this makes it easier to piece (at least for me - don't laugh now)

So as you can see I have been in (way to long) am getting better (Bronchitis) yes, the dreaded coughing is lowing down...so maybe I can actually take Cooper out for a walk today...I think he is depressed because all he does is look at me with those big eyes ... wants to get back in the woods behind my house and run, but for now maybe just a walk around the neighborhood...

I have to say one more thing, since I have been homebound I have visited some of the more remarkable blogs from you ladies and all of you inspire me, I think I joined about 20 more blogs as fav's and I am in total awe of the work that you do.

Keep sewing,


LOTS OF HUGS,

MARY

Sugar Pine Houses

This is what I have been working on today, well, while I was up and around. Have been sick...going on 3 weeks here with cough, fever, seen by dr's, has xrays of chest, blah, blah, blah oh and yes, I got my Flu Shot in September, I have been ordered to rest - HA! What is that I ask you for a Mom????!??!?? So, while working on Missouri Daisy's I found this pattern in my sewing room and I had forgot about it. Now I know what you are all thinking, she doesn't need another project, but it is keeping me sane, so you want to take a peek??? It reminds me of Sugar Plum Cottages even though it is called Sugar Pine Cabins. So I got my big bin of xmas fabric from last year and am trying to make it christmassy (is that a word), I don't know...am having a small problem with figuring out all the cutting...it gives you the measurements for one tree and one house and then you have multiply it by 8 and well when you don't feel that great, it is a little confusing...but am pushing through.

What are you up to today???

Hugs,

Mary

Sunday Ramblings...more daisies

MORE MISSOURI DAISY'S PART 10????





More Missouri Daisy Blocks: The above is what I have done 9 pieced blocks. I want to make 12 blocks all together - see I am making it smaller, so here is what I have worked on today... Am machine piecing these "darn" y-seams, I tell you if I never see another y-seam it will be just fine with me...I really like the red circles fabric (see below), but I can't find anymore of that fabric, oh well.. so the sewing and cutting continue... oh the sewing, ripping, sewing, ripping, well you get the picture... here I am trying to piece on machine (yes Y-Seams, UGH) not a pretty sight, but have to get these done so I can start hand piecing the squares and triangles. Then to place yellow center on each one...okay so now once I sew the center this is what they should look like, pretty right?And ofcourse my blog wouldn't be my blog without a picture of my pal, "Cooper" watching me move from sewing room to ironing board and back again... Isn't he getting big?? I don't think he likes it when I take his picture, but he just goes along with it...can't help it, he's my baby!

Well, happy Sunday and off to sew more,


Hugs,

Mary

Veteran's Day

I just read the most beautiful post by Tins & Treasurers Blog about Veteran's Day and how they celebrate it in schools.

Remembering all of those brave men & women who have been in Wars brings back so many memories of my Dad, who died in 2004. He was a Navy man through and through. And no matter what weather we were having here in Chgo, that flag was flown from sunup to sundown. .. and the pride my Dad had in when he placed that flag up and the respect he showed when he took it down, he even folded with such care...and now I think of all the men and women who are currently serving, I keep them all in my prayers. They give the ultimate sacrifice for all of us.
May God Bless them and keep them safe...

Please check out Tins and Treasurers Blog, it is beautiful!

Hugs to all, and prayers to those still serving,

Mary

MISSOURI DAISY UPDATE

Wednesday

I got these done and will be making more today...Have been bitten by some flu bug so will be trying to get more of these little babies done today! Just wanted to show you what I have so far...I am machine piecing the larger star but then have to hand piece the little star and y-seam (white) corners and triangles, this is by far the hardest top I have ever made! I don't think I will be making another one as it is very time consuming, but I tried sewing just by machine and those blocks were horrific!! So, am back at the hand piecing. The original quilt has 28 stars but I be very lucky if I get half that much done - then how I am going to set these stars is another thing. The original pattern has them sewn together like below (even though mine aren't sewn together yet) but you get the picture. I have a couple of ideas what to do but have to get the rest done.

So stay well, everyone - I am coughing up a lung over here and I got the Flu Shot in September (not H1-N1) but the regular flu shot - I don't think it is working?!?!??!


Sick in Illinois,

Mary

November happenings....

THE CHARMING GIRLS QUILT CLUB





Ok I joined "The Charming Girls Quilt Club" last month and I was supposed to list all my to-do projects and try to get them done by end of month. So, I have a lot (don't laugh) and please don't judge (i have alot of ufo's), Ok so here goes:

1. Missouri Daisies - yes I am still making them! I start and then stop and start again, well you may know the drill...so am going to piece about 6 more daisies and then I will construct into a much small quilt than I originally planned. I have three piles ones that are completed and ones that still need their centers sewn on and then ones that need to be constructed...

2. Saffron Hill by Sue Spargo. I won't even tell you when I started this little baby, but am putting it on the list as I want to give my sister this for christmas... needs a little more applique (stems and crow and chimneys and little circles - well you get the gist) needs some work, but I think I can pull it off and get it finished for Christmas. I love Sue Spargo Folk-art Quilts, but I am sure getting sick at looking at this one!!

1. 3. This block is from The Primitive Garden (I have a side picture of the quilt what it should look like when finished) I am looking at just getting this one block done by the end of the month not b

the whole quilt - I figure a block a month...that I can do.

4. Bunny's Prefer Chocolate - am working on block 2 - still need to machine applique this baby down. Should get that done by the end of the month too. Hopefully by Spring this one will be done - always wanted something spring-like to hang up...

5. Prairie Sweets by Fig Tree Quilts - I made one as a baby quilt for my niece - it is in my header above, well, I really loved how that quilt came together and after it was quilted it was really beautiful, so I decided to make one for me (don't laugh that was about 6 months ago) so, i have all the pinwheels cut out ready to be sewn... but the circles I still have to cut out and then all the sewing - that is the biggee! To tell you the truth I think I am going to be working on that for a couple of months at least...but I just love that pattern!!

Well, that is it for the procrastination of Mary's (please don't laugh) and for the heck of it, I took a picture of my sewing room, because I was having a hart time fitting in their this afternoon, thought you might want to see a really organized mess of a room I have - isn't it just lovely!!!?!?!?!?!? Couldn't turn right or left, I kinda just backed myself out of the room....

Oh almost forgot here is a picture of youngest on Saturday night - it was Homecoming!!! Oh look at those shoes - my Baby is wearing Stilletoos (spelling can find the work in the dictionary - but you get what I am saying) Have no idea how she danced in those babies, but they sure looked pretty!!

Have a great week everyone and I will be somewhere in my sewing room, sewing!

Lots of Hugs,

Mary