Sunday, Sunday. So Good To Me

I pulled Mother's Tree from my WIP drawer. I really want to finish this piece up but to be fair to Faith (Words to Live By), I am only going to work on Mother's Tree over the weekends. That should be enough for me since this tree is the main reason it keeps landing in my WIP drawer! After several lines of it, I get very frustrated

My doctor keeps fussing at me to get a recliner so I can keep my feet up while I stitch. Well, we just can't afford a new chair for me right now so I did the next best thing and got this ottoman. It has a storage compartment under the top so I can keep my stitching handy.

We noticed a soft spot in our living area floor. Almost spongy and my chair was sitting right on top of it. After further inspection we found a hole in the floor and called out a guy who works in this area. After he came out of the crawl space, he told us the damage. No termites but a very money hungry building contractor who had used the cheapest supplies available to build these houses and some of these supplies just gave way sooner than they should have over the years. So now certain things have to be repaired and replaced! That will put a hold on some of the work we were doing around here. That's life!

Faith (Words to Live By) is still moving along slowly but at least it is moving! Sorry I was too lazy to take it out of the frame for a picture!

I found this quilt pattern at SGCountry Sampler and I am so in love with it! Basic pattern, basic colors but put them together and OMG! I have the pattern and I am gathering the fabric for it now! The name of the quilt pattern is Worn and Loved. Isn't that just perfect for this!!!

Until next time, may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

In Like a Lion

Another month is gone and a new month is getting started! When oh when will all this rain end? One more week that started with cold weather but ended with warm weather. I hope this roller coaster ride is about over!

I don't buy magazines often but there are a few I enjoy and pick up when I am out or I may even splurge and get a subscription! It sounds like I buy a lot but I only get one or two a month. Our State is a great magazine about NC and all the wonderful things that our state offers! We have found so many places we did not know about or did not catch our interest until the magazine showcased them. Next on my list is Taste of the South. This magazine is just over flowing with good southern recipes that make you feel like you are in Grandma's kitchen again! I don't cook them all but once in a while I will find one that sets my taste buds spinning. I have picked up Country Home at the grocery check out for years! Sometimes I pick up Real Simple and Magnolia Journal if I see more than one article I am interested in.

Faith (Words to Live By) by Heartstring Samplery is coming along slowly since we are still working on getting things done around the house and that takes up a lot of my time and attention. For some reason, my pictures would not upload so I will have more to share on this next week!

I made a frivolous purchase last week. Ann Wright Sampler by Samplers Not Forgotten. I knew I had plenty to work on and I have never been a big fan of band samplers but something kept drawing me back to this one. I realized that most places were either sold out or only had one or two left so I took the plunge! I will get around to working on her one day!

I really want to pull out some fabric and work on a new quilt top but if I don't have time to work on my cross stitch, where will I find the time to work on any quilting! Besides I always feel guilty when I start a new project while I have another one in progress. Just a peak of some wonderful shirting fabrics I got from sweetgirlstudio on Etsy.

Until next time, may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

No Pictures Today

The rain has returned and we get at least one shower a day but usually more. We are still having the roller coaster temperatures which makes it hard to switch over my closet to totally Spring clothes! Just last week, we had a beautiful warm day in the mid 60's but the very next day it was in the 30's with sleet and snow! That's a southern winter for you!

I had my last infusion for this round and all went well so I am finished until around June or July. Nice break!

The painting continues. We had to skip a few days because of doctor appointments and other errands so that threw us behind schedule but we are still trudging along! I can't wait to get my cross stitch back up on a new fresh background!

Our bedroom is finally our bedroom again! For years it had been a combo of our bedroom and family junk room. If you could not a place for something, you put it in Mom and Dad's room! That just got old and felt like a walking through a maze! It has been cleared out and everything set up the way we way it now! YEA! One big job out of the way!

Faith (Words to Live By) is moving right along too. I did not finish it before the last infusion but I will keep working on it and finish it soon! No pictures this time but soon.

Until next time, may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

Day by Day

We have had a Spring preview the past several weeks. I love the warmer weather but we always get another blast of Winter before Spring actually arrives. The trees are budding. Some are in full bloom. I even have chick a dees nesting out back!

Along with the roller coaster weather comes colds. It seems like I am the only one who has not fallen to the ickies. Fingers crossed I don't catch anything!

The inside is still being painted but we are very close to the being finished! After we finish, we can begin to rehang old items and some new things too.

One of the new items we will be putting up is this sign. I love it and it really does describe me and the Grumpy Ol Gazer now! When we were younger, we loved to be on the go constantly. Now, we are happy to just stay home. I ordered this at Magothy Shop at Etsy.

I also purchased a PDF cross stitch file at Etsy. It is simple yet very poignant. After I finish up the Words to Live By series, I will want something smaller to work on and this will be just right! I am thinking this one will be at home in the kitchen.

Speaking of the Words to Live By series by Heartstring Samplery, Beth has hinted that she may be adding a few more to it! Big yea!! I already have a place reserved for this series!

I have one infusion left for this round and then I will be finished until about July. My infusion project is almost finished too. I usually take my own snacks to infusion with me since some of the meds I get really make me hungry and I hate to eat up all the snacks since there are so many other people in there too!

Until next time, may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart!

Just Another Day

The inside of the house is in the process of being painted! Oh, I had forgotten how a fresh coat of paint can lift your spirits!! Amazing! The exterior of the house is next as soon as warm weather rolls around again! We meant to do it last Fall but life happens!

My order from Better Life arrived so I have no good excuse not to clean. I prefer their cleaning products to a lot of items on the store shelves. They are plant based with no chemicals which is what I need to use since the ingredients in many of the store products can cause my Vasculitis to flare up. Plus they are about the same price and they clean GREAT

While painting a few old things have come down off the walls and will not be put back up at my husband's request. Instead, I will have more room for some of that cross stitch I wasn't sure where to put it! That's fine with me.

These little heaters are great. We bought them back around Christmas when our heat was out for several days and we still use them. I keep one on the computer desk for those mornings when I feel a chill but don't want to turn the heat up. It is great to turn on while I sit at the computer and drink my coffee! And if left on long enough, it can really warm up an entire room!

I have not done any quilting lately. Life always gets a little hectic around infusion time. I am still working on my infusion project though so between the paint brush and the stitching needle, my hands have not been completely idle!

Until next time, may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

Taking My Time

Not much news going on this week. We are still cleaning out closets and drawers. It seems like for every one thing we get rid of, we replace it with 2 things! Oh well!!

No quilt or cross stitch SALs for me this year. Don't get me wrong. I always enjoy them -- at first but then something happens and I get behind. That's when I get stressed. Also I had a made a Stitching Bucket List and boy, was it LONG! LOL. I love everything on it but the more I looked at it, the more stress I felt! I tore up that list and will just stitch what I want when I want! No stress!

My infusions have started and my new infusion project is one from Words to Live By by Heartstring Samplery. I choose Faith for the first project. I am really enjoying working on it.

As promised, here are several more house blocks and another row by row quilt. I made the fish row as a memory of my Grandpa taking me fishing when I was a child.

We have had so much rain since November! I wonder if our yard will ever dry out! I need some hip wader boots just to go out back to feed the birds! LOL. A little exaggeration but you get the picture!

I have been stocking up on some colors for certain quilt projects. Blacks, light creams, dark reds and other neutrals.

Until next time may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

Staying Alive

We have been looking at paint color samples for the inside. I want an off white because our house is dark. It does not get a lot of natural sunlight so I feel we need a lighter color to help brighten it up. The Grumpy Ol Gazer wants to go with a grey. I won with a Snowy Pine (off white).

We had bags and bags of clothes and house hold items for donation. The truck finally came around and picked it all up so our bedroom feels a lot less cluttered now!

The Grumpy Ol Gazer finally got his new Bi Pap machine so he is sleeping better at nights. I thought I would too because the soft hum of the machine would just lull me into a sweet sleep but this new machine doesn't hum, whistle or even say BOO! It is totally quite!

I happened to find several quilt kits at Wash Tub Quilts on Etsy. I loved the designs and the kits help me by providing most of the fabric I will need instead of making multiple trips to the fabric store.

Barn Dance

Pocket Change

I love the new Words To Live By collection by Heartstring Samplery. Beth has hit another home run! She has Love, Faith, Hope and Justice. I know I said I would stitch from stash this year but I think this collection would make a beautiful grouping that will look perfect on my one empty wall plus they will make great infusion projects over the year! I found mine in the Heartstring Samplery shop over at Etsy.

As I promised, here are several house blocks from the exchange I was in. Talk about some talented ladies!!

We decided that we want a walkway (preferably cement) going from the driveway around back to the deck. It is so much easier to bring groceries in by the back door but that backyard gets so soggy when we have a lot of rain and is impossible to walk across!  A walkway is just what we need - like the one in front but in the back too! I will be anxious to see if anything comes of it.

Until next time, may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

Sew What!

January and February always seem like they are so slow! Maybe it is the after Christmas effect or the anticipation of waiting for Spring.

Look what followed me home! It isn't fancy and doesn't have all the bells and whistles or jump through hoops like a lot of the grander machines but it is all I need. The aqua color gives it a vintage look too. I still have my white Brother sewing machine and it still works great but it never hurts to have a back up. Even though I remember my moma and my Grandma sewing on old Singer machines (plus I learned to sew on a Singer years ago), I have trusted Brother sewing machines for years.

An old quilt folk lore says that many people purposely put a mistake somewhere in their quilt while making it. This is to remind them that they are not perfect and to keep them humble in God's eyes. I usually get at least one mistake without even trying!

My late Christmas present has been ordered. I am so thrilled with it! I will have a place/corner to sew on quilt tops now and I can keep my machine out! No more setting the machine up on the dining table then taking it down before dinner! That got old real fast! LOL

And part 2 of my late Christmas also arrived! I just love this hoop for hand quilting! I have been looking for a good hand quilting hoop and this one seems to fit the bill. The Grumpy Ol Gazer was confused as to why I would want this because "you have so many hoops now"! LOL Yes, I do but they are for cross stitching! Big Difference! LOL.

I have a confession to make. I did something really stupid when I was quilting several years ago. When I began to feel overwhelmed by it all, I should have just sorted through my stash and put away the fabrics I did not want to use right then. Instead I just tossed everything! Well, just about everything. All my patterns. A lot of my fabrics. What was I thinking!!! So I am starting from scratch again with some supplies but this time I will keep it under control much better!

Luckily, I was able to find my cutting mat, rotary cutters and several rulers while cleaning out   the closet so not all was lost but between us, I could probably use a new cutting mat!

Here is another row by row quilt. I love all quilts but these are so much fun to make!

Lori over at Bee in My Bonnet is having a great Vintage Block SAL!  Check it out. She is sharing some great blocks that had belonged to her Grandmother.

Until next time, may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

Pot of Gold

The Grumpy Ol Gazer and I decided that we needed to get busy and clean out a lot of the stuff that has been cluttering up our closets and drawers for years. It has been a big task and one we are not going to hurry with. Cleaning out these spaces is like taking a walk down memory lane! We each would find little treasures from years ago that had been safely tucked away (then forgotten about). We are able to get rid of a lot of things that we no longer need or want while making new spaces for other items.

While cleaning out my closet I found some quilt tops that I had obviously just put away before finishing them off! I found three row quilt tops from exchanges I had participated in and I found some house blocks from another exchange I had taken part in. I will be sharing these over the month!

First of all is a Christmas row by row quilt. This is the top half.

This is the bottom half.

I also found several finished cross stitch pieces that I thought were gone forever! I had especially been looking for this piece by Plum Street Samplers. I see a Christmas pillow for next year!

I saw that LHN is coming out with a new series. I know that I said I had enough but I really really like this series. I am not going to make any commitments yet but I do keep looking at it and drooling.

I fell in love with this free block over at Quilters Cache. It is called Hard Times and is a 10 inch block. I automatically knew how I would put it together. I will save that for a later surprise just in case I can't find the fabrics I need for it. Or in case I change my mind about the colors.

I found several other designs I like but I am going to take them one at a time and enjoy the hand quilting on each one. I sure wish my Grandma was here so we could talk about quilting; gardening flowers and vegetables And even though I was not big on playing the piano, I sure loved to sit beside her while she played and sing those hymns after dinner!

This will be the year of home improvements around here. We have been putting things off for too many years and now we really need to get busy! Instead of listing all the things we hope to get done, I just post them as they happen!

Until next time, may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

It's A New Year!

Happy New Year!! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a safe New Year! I have a few new items to share! I was lucky to get some fun gifts over the holidays.

I was thrilled to get this quilt book! It has a lot of great quilt patterns that are drool worthy but I have already picked out 3 designs from the book that go to the head of my "to do" list.

This is a fun pattern. I have mentioned before that I love row quilts and Christmas quilts. Two loves in one pattern!

So far, it has been a rainy cold Winter. It certainly feels a lot colder when the heat goes out! Brrrrr. A little mouse climbed into our unit outside to keep warm and built a nest. I guess all the noise and moving parts were too much for him so he left but the nest stayed and slowly worked into the moving parts and locked them up! Unfortunately this happened on the weekend before Christmas so a lot of places were already closed for the long holiday weekend. We had to wait and shiver several days so the part could be ordered and fixed all because of a little tiny mouse!! We are already making some plans for warmer weather! Maybe a tour of state (and out of state) quilt and cross stitch shops!

Just like with my Chicken and Dumplings, I had been on a search for the perfect Chicken Pot Pie recipe. The first one I tried was awful! That recipe was trashed. The second recipe was better but was still not THE one. I found a third recipe that looked like it would be it. I tried it and (yahoo, kicking my heels together) I had found a winner winner chicken pot pie dinner! This is the ONLY chicken pot pie recipe in my recipe book now. Sorry I do not have a picture but it goes really fast! A good chilly night dinner with a salad.

Preheat the oven to 430. Use a 9 inch deep dish pie plate.

2.5 cups of shredded chicken

1 can of Veg-all

a handful of pearl onions

Put these in the pie plate and mix. In a small pot, mix 1/4 c. melted butter, 1 teaspoon of flour (I use a pinch more), a teaspoon of Thyme. Let this blend together then slowly wisk in 14 oz of chicken broth and a chicken boullion cube. Stir constantly until thickened (about 2 minutes) and pour over chicken and veg-all. Cover with a 9 inch pie crust and make 3-4 slits in it. Bake until brown

Until next time, may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart!

Goodbye 2018

This is the same post I make every year at the end of the year. Sometimes I adjust it depending on my needs or life situation. So far it has worked good for me.

A New Year is right around the corner! A brand new clean calendar! It is up to each one of us what we do with it. Each year I take the same basic goals with a possible extra or two tossed in for good measure. I prefer to use "goals" instead of "resolutions" because I feel I am taking already important things in my life and putting my focus on strengthening them.

1. To make an effort to learn something new every day. The joy of knowledge is indeed a blessing no matter what you choose to learn.

2. To make time for myself. It's amazing what 15 minutes sitting on the deck with a hot cup of coffee and watching the birds can do for my soul. A little time each day to refresh my spirit is all it takes.

3. To take time to appreciate each day. To often we forget to see the beauty around us and take the simple things in life for granted. My continued goal is to look with my eyes but to see with my heart. To simply enjoy life and all that is part of it.

4 To enjoy my family and friends. I am lucky to have each and every one of them in my life.

5. Organize and Simplify! Two key words I always yearn to make a part of my everyday routine but often lose focus on. Organize does not mean that I have to go on a cleaning binge each day. It just means that I need to get my life and things that are a part of my life in some sort of manageable order so that I feel comfortable instead of constantly overwhelmed. Not putting things off until the last minute can contribute greatly to this cause. Simplify! Just what it means - plain and simple! Stop making a mountain out of a mole hill. Do what I can and leave the rest. Don't take on more than I can handle or feel will leave me stressed out!

6. To remember. So many people have come and gone from my life over the years and I want to keep their memories alive.

7. To keep my faith alive and strong.

8. A Random Act of Kindness. Like so many others, I was raised to do them. Only back then they were called "manners" or just plain "consideration for others". So many people still do these and without even realizing it. For the New Year coming up, I challenge myself along with each and every one of you to make RAKs a regular part of your life and to become more aware of them. Whether it means opening a door for a person, buying a stranger a cup of coffee, taking the grocery cart back inside the store or something else. Let us all strive to bring back those values and in doing so we will give back and make someone's day a little brighter.

9. To Forgive. Things happen that cause hurt, anger and resentment but often the people who cause these feelings don't know or just don't care. We are the ones left with the bitter feelings that only mount up and make us more and more miserable. I will let the past remain in the past and let go of these feelings so that I can move on with my life

10. To use kind words and patience more often. I will try to live by the good old standard rule "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all".

And of course the New Year would not be complete without some fun goals!

1. Take more trips. Even a day trip can be fun.

2. No pressure. Keep the fun and joy in my hobbies. After all, that is why I started them.

3. Take more pictures.

4. Continue to write daily in my gratitude journal.

5. To blog more often.

6.  To work on my hand quilting.

Have a safe and Happy New Year. Thanks for stopping by! Until next time, may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart!

Good Memories

Hot Dr. Pepper?? Yep! And it was good! I remember my dad taking me to hockey games at the Coliseum at least once a year when I was growing up. I was not a hockey fan but I loved spending time with my dad so I gladly went. Hot Dr. Pepper was a staple at the games just like popcorn at the movies. It isn't hard to fix but it just never tasted quite as good as it did when I was cheering on the home team with my dad! Good memories

Wishing Everyone A Very

Another Year Older

I had another birthday come and go this month. I have always loved being a December baby. It has just always felt like all the lights and hub-bub made my birthday even more special. I celebrated by spending a nice relaxing day with my husband (who always takes vacation at this time of year). What did I get?

A new journal to start the New Year with

The quilt kit pictured in my last post. Bubblegum and Chocolate from Private Source Quilting on Etsy. Be still my heart!!

Every year I buy myself a new coffee mug as a Happy Birthday to Me gift

And a nice dinner at the local steakhouse.

It is time to get my infusion project rounded up and get a head start on it. I will try to get to that before January 1st. I hope everyone has a wonderful Merry Christmas!

Until next time, may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

All I Want For Christmas!

I know I have missed several weeks of posting on my blog but as we all know, this is a busy time of year!  I really don't have a lot of progress pictures to share but I do have pictures of items I hope to start on around the first of year.

I have been bitten by a crafty little bug called QUILTING. I did some quilting some years back and enjoyed it a lot but I became overwhelmed with all of the stacks of fabrics that just got bigger and bigger!  

I have no intention of stopping my cross stitching. After all, I have to have something to work on during infusions! Besides, cross stitch has always been my first love but quilting did run a close second!  I just want to be to do both! My perfect world!

This is a picture of a quilt kit I found on Etsy called Bubblegum and Chocolate! I love the colors in it!

This is a free Christmas quilt pattern I found online. It is called Pinwheels and Patchwork! Who doesn't love a cozy Christmas quilt!

But first, before I can begin to quilt again, I have to set up an area to keep my supplies and sewing machine on. I really don't have a lot of free space but I saw this idea on Pinterest. I like it and I think I have just the place for it. Now we have to out and look for this furniture!

Until next time, may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

Good Stuff!

Yes, I put the Willow Tree Sampler away for now. I will finish it up next Spring. It just did not feel like a chilly weather stitch. I have been wanting to stitch an alphabet sampler but I did not want to start anything too big so I found an alphabet I like, pulled some fabric and threads. I am ready to start and it should be a quick stitch!

I have another round of infusions coming up again in January. I always work on an infusion project during this time so I want to get everything together and I usually start on them several weeks before the infusions start. As I have said before, my infusion projects are usually prayers or proverbs. This time my infusion project will be the Praise Sampler by Plumstreet Samplers.

What did I cook for dinner this week that I want to share? Chicken and Dumplings! One of my favorites but also one of the dishes I am very picky about. I set my standards compared to my Grandma's recipe. No one made chicken and dumplings like Grandma!  I have tried several recipes only to be disappointed. I was about ready to give up and just get my chicken and dumplings when we go to Cracker Barrel (who, BTW, makes wonderful chicken and dumplings. As close to my Grandma's as any I had found) but I found a new recipe I thought I would try and it was GOOD! It was easy too which was an added bonus! Now I can have my chicken and dumplings any time I want them! Excuse the picture. NOT ME got a bowl full before I could take the picture!

6 canned biscuits

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped green pepper

1 T olive oil

5 cups shredded chicken

1 T parssley

1/4 t dried Rosemary

1/4 t pepper

3 cans (14.5 oz. each) chicken broth

1 (4 oz) can mushrooms, drained

1 chicken bouillon cube

Cut each biscuit into 4 pieces and set aside. In a large pot, saute onion and green pepper until tender. Stir in all the spices, bouillon cube, mushrooms and chicken. Mix well. Stir in broth.

Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and add biscuits, one at a time. Cover and simmer for 11 minutes or until dumplings are done. (Do not lift cover while simmering). Enjoy!

I ordered a few clothes that arrived. One of my very favorite sweaters is the Thermal Hoodie from Roamans. Once again I borrowed a picture from Pinterest.  I have 5 of them now! They are so comfortable and extremely warm on a cold day! They are a little pricey but I watch for those sales!

Until next time may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

Chilly Mornings

I took a needed break from stitching for several days so I am not as far along as I hoped to be by now. A few new birds have found the tree.  I am getting really anxious to start on my next stitch so I better get a move on and finish this one up!  Maybe it is the cooler days but I am just not feeling this piece as strongly as I did when I first started. It just feels like more of a spring/summer stitch.

Speaking of cooler days, it is time to start putting out some food for the birds again. I have noticed a lot of cardinals hanging around outside my window in the mornings. It almost looks as though they are trying to get my attention!  I only feed them November thru the end of May. That covers the cold weather and nesting season. The rest of year they have plenty of insects and berries to keep them full.

I made an oldie but goodie for dinner the other night. I used to make this a lot when the boys were little and for some reason I just haven't made it in a long time. It was good and very filling! Even the Grumpy Ol Gazer was pleasantly surprised when he got home from work and saw this sitting on the stove top. It is really hard for me to get good pictures of food. By the time I go get my camera, NOT ME has usually cut into it!

Impossible Cheeseburger Pie

1 lb. lean ground meat

1 large onion

pinch of salt

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 c Original Bisquick mix

1 cup milk

2 eggs

Heat oven to 400. Spray 9" pie plate with cooking spray.

Cook beef and onion in skillet till done. Remove, drain and put in pie plate.

Sprinkle cheese over hamburger.

Mix the rest and pour over mixture. Bake 25-30 minutes.

For those of you who have not heard the news, I have a third and invisible child. His name is NOT ME. He has obviously been around for years. Every time I ask "who did this" the culprit is always the same -- NOT ME.

Until next time may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.