2014...Already?

It is day 11 of 2014 and I am just now getting around to writing a blog post.  I've drafted something 3 or 4 times but could never get around to finishing it.  Let’s hope this isn’t indicative of what the year will be like.

First, Happy 2014 to you, my wonderful friends.  I haven’t posted anything so far this year but I have kept up with you.  I’ve read so many blogs recapping 2013 with all the quilty and creative accomplishments as well as some pretty impressive goals for 2014.  This post is not about my accomplishments nor goals but a short recap about our holidays.

As you know from my holiday greeting to you here, my son was home for Christmas.  We enjoyed having our little family together one more time.  He returned to his post December 26^th and went right back to work. 

 

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I received a nice package on Christmas Eve…not from Santa but from Darlene.  Darlene is a good friend of Kaaren’s at The Painted Quilt.  Kaaren has a fun feature on her blog 4 times a year (March, June, September and December) called First Friday Freebie.  She generously offers her readers a free pattern design on the first Friday of those months. 

 Last December’s FFF was Bells & Bows and you can see a picture of it here.

Where does Darlene come into the picture?  Well, Darlene just opened a new quilt store in Nova Scotia appropriately named A Needle Pulling Thread.  You can read more about the store and see some amazing photos by going to this post at Kaaren's.

 

Darlene kindly put together a kit for Kaaren’s Bell & Bows which I just had to have...

Not only does this kit include a generous amount of fabric but also the embroidery floss, batting and even a Pigma pen for tracing the pattern.

This project is definitely on my list to complete soon so it will be ready for this year’s holiday décor.  I'm so grateful to Kaaren and Darlene for teaming up on this one.  I tend to finish 'kitted' projects in a more timely fashion...is it just me?

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My DH, DD, her boyfriend and I flew to Philadelphia two days after Christmas to spend time with my in-laws.  It was a very special time with family.

This was the display in the hotel lobby.  Doesn’t it remind you of balls of yarn?

Speaking of yarn, I found a cute little yarn shop in Chadds Ford, PA filled to the brim with all kinds of yummy yarn.  Sadly, I did not get pictures of the inside of the store but will ask when I visit again.  The owner was so kind…knowing that I do not visit the area often, she wrote on my receipt “NO limit on returns for store credit.”   This was in case I needed to return any of the yarn I bought.  (We all know that won’t happen)

Now I bought all of this yarn because a couple of special people inspired me with their own plans for a Granny Stripe Afghan.  Thank you Candace and Stephanie, I’m having fun with this one J

So sorry the colors aren't coming through well...it's been raining here for days :(
Can't get good photos

Most of the ten days we spent up north (well, north from Florida) was spending time with my MIL and FIL at their home in Wilmington, DE.  However, we did take the kids to Philly on New Year’s Eve where they ice skated for the first time.  We've been up north many times in the winter but never considered ice skating.  The kids hit the ice at Penn’s Landing and after a few minutes, they looked like they had done this before.

Aren't they the cutest?

We also took an afternoon to visit one of DD’s favorite museums.  I'll tell you more about that in a future post.

I am off now to finish putting away holiday decorations and start my Good Night Irene quilt that I told you about here.

Have a wonderful weekend...I'll be back soon.