We Are Family

 We Are Family

Yesterday afternoon we had our first family visit in our new home. My nephew and his beautiful family came by to see us and our new home. It was a great evening visiting.

It makes me very happy to have family in our new home. I hope this is the first of many family visits. I've had several friends over already and I hope there will be many more visits from both family and friends. 

#wearefamily

New Sewing Space

 New Sewing Space

New house, new sewing space ... it's all beginning to come together. I'm looking forward to many happy hours in our new home and my new sewing space.

Not the final configuration of notions but getting everything visible for some serious organizing. There is still a lot of work to do but, I'm looking forward to every moment of it.

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.

JUNE 2026

 JUNE 2026

This year is zooming by! 

This year has been a whirlwind! There really isn't a better word to describe it! I simply can't believe that June has arrived and that it has arrived so quickly. Spring thus far as been very mild and very nice but after our current rainy spell the HEAT is due to arrive.

I'm hopeful that the rest of our spring and summer will tick by at a much slower pace.

I'm ready to enjoy some summer time fun!

Change Brings More Change

Change Brings More Change

Change as in planning, prepping, priming, painting, purchasing new furniture, and assembly, of course!

Plastic drop clothes ... for the win!

Deciding on the perfect color ... Bit of Sugar by Behr Flat Interior paint

Gathering all the needed tools of the trade.

First up ... prep and priming ... KILZ primer to cover the dark heavy gray color on the walls.

My new sewing room furniture ordered and delivered.

Now for the assembly ...

I promise to post the big reveal of my new space once everything is in place.

 

Big Change - More Later - It's Later

 More Later - It's Later ...

I promised more news later on the changes that May would bring ...

WE MOVED!

And by we, I mean me and my daughter. We bought a house together!

I packed up my little house and my sewing room and moved into a split level rancher with my daughter.

We have been talking about buying a house together for several years and NOW seemed the perfect time. As I head toward retirement in a few years it just made sense to find the home of our dreams that fits our plans for the future.

And, we found it!!!

We closed on the sale of my house and the purchase of our new house last week on Friday.

I enjoyed my coffee on our new deck ... while waiting on the movers to arrive with all of my things.

And, in the midst of the move my children celebrated me with flowers, calls, and a lovely lunch on Mother's Day.

The Lord has blessed me beyond measure.

MAY

 MAY

May brings change ... more on that in a bit! 😎💖

April Has Been a Whirlwind

 April Has Been a Whirlwind

Spring here in East Tennessee has been chilly and warm all at the same time. It has been glorious.

I received my new Lodge cards, the cards are for entry into the Lodge and the pool. 

I also received the new 2026 mahjongg cards!

Happy Spring Everyone!

2026 Easter Basket

 2026 Easter Basket

This year's Easter Basket is especially SPECIAL!

I'm going to be a GRANDMA!!!

💖💖💖

Our Family is joyously expanding.

Not only is my daughter expecting but my daughter-in-law is also expecting.

Two healthy baby boys are due to arrive in the Fall.

I started making this year's Easter Basket as I knew my daughter was expecting but, long before I knew my daughter-in-law was also expecting. 

I am doubly blessed and so incredibly grateful!

MARCH - Time is Marching On

 MARCH

Time is Marching On ...

This winter has felt exceptionally long and cold this year and I'm looking forward to SPRING! There are signs of spring beginning to pop up here and there. And, the days are getting longer and warmer.

This morning my baby boy is 32 years old.

💖💖💖

Granny Squares Project

 Granny Squares Project

I started a new crochet project ... Granny Squares. It may be a pillow, a tote bag, or a blanket. At the moment I'm just making the squares. I've made granny squares before. I made a pillow with the few granny squares I had made. Granny squares are fun to make and after search YouTube for tutorials I've found there are many granny squares variations. 

 

Cardinals

 Cardinals

My birthday bird feeder brings me so much joy!

It truly is the littlest of things that bring so much joy. Especially on cold gloomy winter days.

Useless Eyesore

 Useless Eyesore

The ugly useless shed is gone!

Cleaning up the yard is one of my goals for 2026! 

I'm considering planting forsythia bushes along this fence line that will hopefully grow into a privacy border fence.

This shed has been more trouble than it was worth! It was put up on a wooden platform, the trees around it were growing into the side and roof. The rain went into the shed and the wooden flooring was rotting. So between the rain and rot nothing could be stored in the shed. It was a big useless eyesore that I'm thrilled to see GONE!!

February - Severe Weather and Hand-quilting

 February - Severe Weather and Hand-quilting

The end of January and the first week of February brought severe weather, lots of well below freezing temperatures, ice, and then snow. At my house we got almost 5 inches of snow.

One of my goals for 2026 is to hand-quilt one quilt top, one of the many finished quilt tops that I have that still need to be quilted and bound. So the first snowy weekend of February I began working on my hand-quilting goals.

It snowed all day on Saturday around 5 inches of snow and single digit freezing cold temperatures.

I trudged through the snow to fill my bird feeder, the birds were very happy and swooped in to dine.

This bird feeder was a birthday gift and I love it!

I have been enjoying this sight of birds in my feeder everyday since I put it up.

I'm ready for Spring ... 

Single digit freezing temperatures is not my idea of fun!

More Crochet - Caveman? Troll?

More Crochet

Caveman? Troll?

I finished this crochet pattern over the weekend. Such a fun project and so darn cute.

I love his little freckles! 💖

The book pattern is for a troll but all I see is a happy little caveman.

 

More Crochet

 More Crochet

Several years ago I purchased a crochet book on Amazon (see below) but not until recently did I feel as though I had the skills to try any of the patterns.

Recently I challenged myself to try one of the patterns from the book. This cute little baby bumble bee. Then I moved on to begin another pattern from the book.

This cute little troll, I still need to complete his arms, ears, and face.

This book is very well written and the patterns are so cute and easy to understand and follow. 

I'm enjoying the process so much!

Puzzling

 Puzzling

Puzzling ... twofold

Last night I finished the puzzle I have been working on forever. Besides the activity of puzzling, it is also puzzling to me that there are now all of these content creators who are hardcore puzzlers popping up on my social media. These amazing puzzlers are putting together 9000 piece puzzles ... with ease! It has taken me MONTHS to finish this 500 piece puzzle! MONTHS!

And ... who knew there were so many items one can purchase to make puzzling easier, there are tables, sorting trays, and large binders with clear sleeves to house your completed puzzles intact! You no longer just need an open table top to put a puzzle together. I confess, I have purchased the puzzle board with sorting trays that rotates 360 degrees for putting my puzzles together, and I have no regrets.

There is also a technique using painters tape to permanently keeping and store your completed puzzles. I won't be doing that but should you want to ... you certainly can.

Then ... who knew there were so many puzzle producing companies? Certainly not me. I am absolutely looking forward to picking out my next puzzle project.  

2026 - Here We Go!

 2026 - Here We Go!!!

The past few years I have completed a yearly BINGO card of goals. I love a list!

I won't lie ... a blank BINGO card is pretty intimidating!

But, pretty exciting too!

The possibilities are endless!

2026 ... Here We Go!!!

All Has Been Merry and Bright

 All Has Been Merry and Bright

End of 2025 Vibes

I've enjoyed a very quiet and peaceful holiday season with all of those whom I love. It has been spectacular! 2025 has provided so many wonderful God given blessings. A new job that I love. Good health, real peace, and happiness.

I am blessed beyond measure and I am truly grateful!

Ending 2025 in a quiet and peaceful place. My prayer for 2026 is continued peacefulness, good health, and profound happiness for each of us.

Happiest of New Years to you all!

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.