Our Daily Bread

 Daily Bread

This morning I made my first loaf of bread in our new home. Whenever I make bread I always think of the Lord's Prayer.

Give us this day our daily bread.

It was no different for me this morning as I made the first loaf of bread in our new home. I am truly blessed and have so much to be thankful for.

Weekend Vibes

 Weekend Vibes

Quilting and bread making, two of my favorite activities.

Finally getting a few moments to stitch up the backing for this quilt. A quilt top I finished two years ago. I presently have 12 finished quilt tops that need to be quilted and bound.

Sadly, I haven't been very motivated in my quilting journey and a journey I am very passionate about. In 2026 I hope to be much more motivated and re-spark my quilting passion.

A new passion of mine is bread making and I hope it continues in 2026 as well.

Rounding Out #62

 Rounding Out #62

I am truly blessed beyond measure and not just at my birthday. This year's birthday has been beyond amazing. Family, Friends, Food, Gifts, and Cards

😁😁😁

#62

Still Celebrating #62

 Still Celebrating #62

A wonder evening with friends celebrating. More birthday fun with the ladies. What a great evening!

Beautiful friends, amazing food, and tons of laughs!

#62

Celebrate Good Times C'mon!

 Celebrate Good Times C'mon!

I am extremely fortunate that my family always makes a big deal about my December birthday. When I was a child my mom would not stand for the dual gift. You know the one, this is for her birthday and Christmas, setting the tone that that was not appreciated or allowed. I've always had a birthday party or dinner and celebrated on my birthday (or before). 

Through the years my children have really embraced celebrating me and my birthday completely separate from the seasonal holiday trappings. And, this year has been no exception.

Dinner at one of our area's finest eateries, the Copper Cellar

A leisurely dinner with dessert, enjoying great conversation and each other's company.

From there a birthday shopping trip to a new to us jewelry store for a little birthday bling.

#62

I am so blessed.

Are You Ready to Rumble ...

 Are You Ready to RUMBLE ...

#iceicebaby

I rounded out the Thanksgiving weekend with a great evening with friends at a Knoxville Ice Bears Hockey game. 

My Girl

 My Girl

My girl and I have been sharing one adventure after another the past few months. We've learned how to weave baskets, how to make mosaic lamps, and use a knitting machine to make a hat but a couple of weeks ago we decided that a Sunday morning brunch was the ticket.

My Girl had never been to Chesapeake's, a local eatery that my girl mentioned she had never been to so that is where we went.

Crusty fresh bread, crab stuffed mushrooms, champagne cocktails, and an amazing surf n turf. Topped off with key lime pie and white chocolate macadamia banana pudding.

And time spent with my girl is always the best!

I managed to snag one of the Dunkin Donut's WICKED tins full of munchkins. Munchkins are my girls favorite.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to snag one of the Starbucks bears.

HAHAHAHA!!! I couldn't have said it better myself!

😎😎😎

Adult children are so much fun!

Festival of Tables

 Festival of Tables

What a blessing, I spent a wonderful evening with friends in fellowship at East Maryville Baptist Church.

Me and the ladies

The tables were decorated differently by members of the church and they were all so beautiful and thoughtfully decorated. We were asked to vote on our favorite tablescape and it was so fun walking around looking at all of the tables and talking with everyone.

The gentlemen of the church served us an amazing and delicious dinner ... and I chose carrot cake for dessert. It did not disappoint.

It was a wonderful evening from beginning to end. Sherree Bowen the guest speaker was so uplifting and encouraging. And, I enjoyed seeing and spending time with sweet friends.

It was a powerful evening.

Chocolate Milk

 Chocolate Milk

... and Grits in a bowl. There is a place where my sister lives in South Georgia where you can get grits in a cup. You can get your grits with cheese, bacon, sausage, eggs, any combination of those, or just plain grits.

Cheesy sausage and fried egg grits in a bowl with my favorite Nesquik Chocolate milk.

With the weather turning cooler a bowl of grits is a perfect weekend breakfast. This breakfast brings back lots of nice memories along with being comforting and delicious.

 

All Hallows Eve

 All Hallows Eve

The veil is thin, time to honor our loved ones who have passed, and to carve a pumpkin or two.

I spent an evening earlier in the week at my daughter's home carving pumpkins. We shared dinner and a tasty pumpkin roll dessert, champagne cocktails, and a great time carving our pumpkins.

Here we go ...

Pumpkin guts .... hahahaha!

Pumpkin roll ... tasty dessert

Here they are ...

Carved pumpkins ready for Halloween

Lunchbox Lady

 Lunchbox Lady

After 4 plus years of taking my lunch to work in a floral insulated Marshall's lunchbox, find I have purchased a brand new lunchbox.

💖

***Note ... I didn't get a picture of the old lunchbox before tossing it in the trash, but after 4 plus years of use you can imagine what it looked like. It has seen much much better days.***

THE NEW LUNCHBOX

I know ... why am I so excited about a new lunchbox?

Well, apparently I get emotionally attached to my lunchboxes. Keep in mind that I had my previous lunchbox for over 4 years.

Nope, this photo is not upside down.

My lunchbox arrived with the manufactures tag attached upside down.

I like it! 

This lunchbox, of course, is an Amazon find.

Joymee Lunch Bag Women Insulated Lunch Box Reusable Leakproof Large Spacious Tote for Women Men Adult with Bottle Holder and Side Pockets for Work Picnic Travel - Navy Blue

Visit the Joymee Store

Side pockets

One for the my insulated coffee cup and one for my water bottle.

Hydrations is so important.

Insulated, large but not too large, sturdy and square.

And Navy Blue!

What's not to love?

Who doesn't love a new lunchbox?

💖

Prepper

 Prepper

... of sorts

Over the weekend I prepared several 2 quart size crockpot meals to put in my freezer. I enjoy being able to put dinner in my crockpot before I leave for work and come home to a nice hot meal ready to plate.

I'm getting much better about prepping meals in advance. I shudder to think of all of the food I have wasted and/or thrown away because I didn't get around to preparing it before it spoiled.

Waste not Want not

Celebrations

 Celebrations

At the end of June my daughter and I had the pleasure and honor of attending the wedding of a long time friend's daughter. It is an honor to attend the wedding of a child you have watched grow up.

The bride was beautiful, the shared vows were heartfelt, the couple glowed with happiness, and it was a perfect wedding. We enjoyed every moment and ended up with 2 pictures due to enjoying every moment.

One picture at the wedding and one picture of the morning after the wedding.

As it should be.

We traveled a bit for the wedding and the venue chosen was amazing and absolutely perfect.

Our hotel accommodations included breakfast which was delicious.