Denim and Lace

 Denim and Lace

The first finished quilt of 2025

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I love this quilt.

This quilt is made from a kit that I purchased from Westwood Acres

The beautiful machine quilting was provided by a dear friend here locally.

I love the patch work, the fabrics, and the pattern.

2025 Monthly Money Saving Challenges

 2025 Monthly Money Saving Challenges

I came across this list of challenges and shared it with my sister. She has agreed to do these monthly challenges with me so that we can hold each other accountable.

I won't lie, January has been a really tough one for me. I enjoy eating out. Also, for me, eating out is often more economical for me than buying groceries.

Especially these days with grocery prices as high as they are.

Sock Knitting Season

 Sock Knitting Season

Snowy weather and sock knitting go together like peanut butter and jelly.

Cuff down on double pointed needles, the first sock is complete and the second sock has been cast on.

Toe up socks in the round in self striping yarn.

Just beginning the cable motif on the leg of the sock. This is my second pair of socks with the cable. I was intimidated by this pattern because of the cable but cabling is surprisingly easy.

Sock knitting and my favorite tea in my favorite cup.

When HECK Freezes Over

 When HECK Freezes Over

4 degrees! This has been the coldest January in a long time. Now that the South has frozen over ... I have been searching the skies for flying pigs!!

As cold as it is, the snow is very peaceful, beautiful and quiet. Even more so when I am home from work and I don't have to get out and drive in the icy, snowy mess.

The neighborhood is quiet and oh so beautiful.

The snow is even more beautiful when looked upon from the comfort of my warm home.

We only got a little over an inch in my neighborhood but there is ice under all of that beautiful snow.

Red/White Checkerboard Quilt Top

 Red/White Checkerboard Quilt Top

My obsession with red and white quilts continues.

This scrappy red/white checkerboard quilt started out as a stack of orphaned 9 patch blocks, a few fussy cut motif blocks, and two other orphan blocks I found along the way.

I love being able to incorporate orphan blocks into my scrappy quilt projects. No orphan block left behind!

😂😂😂

The first quilt top finish of 2025

Childhood Memories

 Childhood Memories

My mom used to make orange juice from concentrate in a glass juice pitcher. As a person who lives alone I rarely buy juice of any kind because I never finish an entire container before it goes bad. Then I remembered that we always had tubes of orange juice from concentrate in our freezer when I was growing up. 

Mom would take one out of the freezer the evening before and put it in the refrigerator to thaw for the next morning. While grocery shopping I decided to pick up a few tubes of orange juice. I can happily confirm that it does indeed taste exactly like it did when I was a kid.

We had a juice pitcher like the one above ... actually, I think everyone had one of these juice pitchers. I remember my Aunt Marie had one and few other family members as well.

Next time I'm out thrifting I'm going to see if I can't find one of these juice pitchers, because I will definitely continue buying juice concentrate.

Preparedness

 Preparedness

I have a N.O.A.A. solar crank radio that I keep charged and close at hand just in case the power goes out. I have taken to filling up all of my water bottles (cups) with water ... just in case. I always have plenty of shelf stable pantry items.

I usually never have to use any of these items but I have them ... just in case.

Do You Wanna Build A Snowman

 Do You Wanna Build A Snowman

Winter 2025 has started out with extreme cold and snow.

Friday of last week the snow started falling around 11:00 a.m. businesses closed and people headed home.

I had prepared for the storm, so I headed home to relax in my recliner, watch BritBox, and relax while doing a bit of sock knitting.

Adult snow days are AMAZING!

A snowy landscape is so beautiful. There is just something very peaceful about it. Especially, when I'm home safe and sound and don't have to get out on the roads.

Where I am we only got about an inch of snow, other areas locally got up to three inches of snow. 

Adventures in Art - Watercolor Painting

 Adventures in Art

Watercolor Painting

In 2024 I took a watercolor painting class with my daughter. Since that time I have been reading up and watching YouTube videos in order to learn more about watercolor painting.

Above is an attempt of a desert photograph I found online. There are a few more details that I would like to add before I finish but I'm not unhappy with the results thus far.

Sweet Gifts

 Sweet Gifts

Sweet thoughtful little gifts from a friend.

A friend from work gave me this cute little salt & pepper shaker set. I've talked about my kitchen window shelf many many times, remembering that, my friend got me this sweet thoughtful gift.

First Knitting Project of 2025

First Knitting Project of 2025

I've had a slow start in my knitting lately, I've been quilting and crocheting but not a lot of knitting.

So, I decided to work on a pair of socks.

I feels really good to pick up the sticks again.

Happy Knitting!

 

Winterizing

 Winterizing

Baby it's cold outside ... for real!

I need to invest in replacing the old windows in my house with new insulated windows. My house is a bit drafty. Over the weekend I spent time winterizing the picture window in my living room. It was one of those projects where two sets of hands would have been helpful but in the end I managed to get it done.

Furniture had to be moved, the window and window frame had to be cleaned, taped, plastic adhered, and then blow-dryer shrinking of the plastic. It's not really a difficult project but it is tricky when you are doing it without help.

But in the end ... I conquered the task and my living room isn't as drafty as before.

First Quilt Project of 2025

 First Quilt Project of 2025

Red/White Checkerboard

Of course it is a Red/White quilt ... and a Scrap quilt

My personal favorites

I'm using up all of small red/white scraps from my red/white orphan block box. Along with a few bits here and there such as fussy cut motifs and labels from my yearly Advent Box.

I have no idea how large this quilt will end up being. I'm just going to continue on until all of the scraps have been used.

Check Mate

 Check Mate

For a couple of years now I have been interested in learning how to play Chess. Fortunately for me, I work with a young man who has offered to teach me how to play.

We have been playing chess on our lunch break, in the break room after we finish our lunch. Chess is an extremely complex game ... to me at any rate. Boy, do I have a lot to learn!

Kitchen Window Shelf

 Kitchen Window Shelf

I was able to take some time off from Christmas through to the New Year. I'm glad I was able to really relax and unplug. I needed the break.

While relaxing at home I spent a lot of time in my sewing room, I read two books, got a few chores on my list completed, and just puttered around. It was beyond lovely.

While puttering I spent some time cleaning my kitchen window shelf and pampering my plants. While at my son's house for Thanksgiving my daughter-in-law gifted me two more plants for my kitchen window shelf.

All of the plants pictured above were gifted to me. I've had the violet for more than a few years and it needed some new dirt and a bit of a trim. I hope it will survive my "pampering".

This window shelf and the plants on it make everyday a bit brighter for me and brings me lots of joy and happiness.

Family - The Best Brother-in-law

 Family

The Best Brother-in-law

My sister married well. Roger's 69th birthday was on September 5, 2024 - yes I'm behind on my Family history posts.

Roger (a.k.a. Roy), still calls me Goober, just one of the many things I love about my brother-in-law. He is a wonderful husband, father, and US Army Lieutenant Colonel (retired). He absolutely can build or fix anything. When I first moved into my house, he and my sister spent a week helping me make my house a home. 

Contributor: Cindy, my sister and our family historian ... and Roger's wife.

  I've been married to my hero for 45 years and I'm thankful every day.  Here's a glimpse of his life in 2002 in Bamian, Afghanistan and just the other day.  Love you!

B-I-N-G-O 2025

 B-I-N-G-O 2025

In 2023 my sister sent out the BINGO challenge, basically you complete a BINGO card with goals you would like to accomplish throughout the year.

Below you will find my 2024 BINGO card with the goals I completed marked off. Under that you will find my 2025 BINGO card.

It is a fun way to keep an eye on your goals and the goals that you complete.

Let the fun begin!!

Mahjongg

 Mahjongg

Years ago I was part of a group of ladies who played mahjongg one Thursday evening a month. As things often do, people and circumstances change and the group dissolved.

Well, it looks as though another Mahjongg group is in the works. There are a few original players and even more new players. I'm really excited about this new group and the opportunity to play the wonderful game of Mahjongg again.

2025

 2025

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