Bengals Game

 

It's Aaron and dad Mike at yesterday's Bengals game.  First playoff game for both of them.

Aaron really wanted to go to the game and paid for his own ticket with his lawn mowing money.  I haven't talked to him but I feel sure he thinks it was worth it.  The Bengals win was the stuff of dreams come true.

It was so cold, and it was dark when the game was finished.

Sending condolences to Joanne on the Patriots game.  You called that one.

You Can Laugh At Me

 

One day last week I was going to tackle a kitchen full of dirty dishes and flour everywhere when I noticed that the side of my sink under the dish drainer wasn't draining.  I glanced at the stopper and saw a dead mouse in the basket.  I was horrified.

I don't do dead critters, I just don't don't.  Don't look at them, don't touch them, am terrified of them, and now there was this dead mouse that I couldn't ignore.  I tried to think of how to handle this without looking or touching, just panicking.  Even considered a Target curbside pickup of a small shop vac.  Finally I came up with a plan involving a pair of tweezers, a spatula, an opaque container, and a Kroger bag.

Heart pounding, I was able to make the flilp, and then something fell out of the Kroger bag and clanged into the sink.  It was the paddle to my bread machine.  All that, and there never was a mouse.

I was glad I hadn't called anyone for help, that would have been more laughter than I can stand, but you can go ahead and laugh.

 

Not Over Yet

 

Two potholders for late Christmas gifts - because it isn't over 'til it's over.

Pinks and Corals

 

Pinks and corals.  Or maybe, pinks and oranges.  I can't be sure.

For Christmas, a friend told me to buy two of the same things for us and we would exchange them and begin work on January 1.  And so, I ordered two sets of seven fat quarters and fat-quarter-friendly patterns.

There were seven fat quarters, but one was a purple one with little squares that I just didn't like.  I ended up short of fabric, so I looked through my stash and subbed a few fabrics.  

This is the quilt top I've ended up with.  I am satisfied.  When I can, I'll take a picture of my friend's quilt, and the interesting thing is, it won't look at all like mine.  She kept the purple but took out one of the pink florals.

I am always drawn to fat quarter bundles and they often come in groups of seven so I know I'll keep this pattern in mind.  It goes together so quickly, a plus.  It's January 6, and I hope you're suitably impressed that I've kept up with my friend and have this baby quilt top ready for sandwiching.

Would that have happened if I wasn't working with my friend?  Most probably not.

Sat Down and Finished Something

 

OK, so I sat down and finished something.  It's not anywhere close to perfect and will never go outside my door, but maybe that's not the point.  I know how to make the next one better and I'm looking forward to that next one.

And to getting started on the baby quilt with fat quarters and a pattern that my friend and I gifted each other.

If you want to give this potholder a try, you'll find it here.  https://www.husqvarnaviking.com/en-US/Be-Inspired/Blog/September-2021/Holiday-Potholders

I can almost promise that yours will look better than mine.  And I hope you will have as much fun with it as I have.

When Joy Comes Back

 

In my window.

I know this article is from a couple of years ago, but we probably need the song more now than ever before.  "I Want To Be Ready When Joy Comes Back To Me."  You won't be sorry you listened.

https://www.npr.org/2017/02/13/514351726/songs-we-love-ruthie-foster-joy-comes-back?fbclid=IwAR0D8a_Y7kcafTDhhG8xnXfLIpIjoza-xGIxBt9OrinWOn3lQr69r9fVBL4

Happy New Year

 

Happy New Year, everyone. And because it's New Year's Day, I want to post this poem by Howard Thurman, as I always do.

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and the princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flocks,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among people,
To make music in the heart.

No planner for me yet this year. The past few years I've enjoyed a Marjolein Bastin planner with different pictures every week and plenty of room for writing. I've looked and looked but I haven't tound another that I like as well.

And so, in plenty of time, I ordered a new one. And then I realized that my sister would appreciate all those lovely pictures, so I put it in her Christmas box.

I ordered another one. And then I realized that my daughter would enjoy all those lovely pictures as well, so I wrapped it up for her.

I ordered another one. Amazon said it was delivered, but it wasn't delivered to my house.

And so, I've ordered another. It should be here Tuesday.