Reminder...

My husband gently reminded me this morning that I am a blogger.  I took it as a subtle hint that I should post an update, so here it goes…

March 4th was my last day in the office.

It didn’t really seem that strange for me, maybe because I was ready.  I was so busy right up to the end, mostly getting things packed and trying to do a few things for my boss before we left.

There were several farewell events, lunches, gatherings.  I have some very generous friends and co-workers. 

One of the gifts was a basket containing a couple of bottles of wine and two cruise gift certificates.  I put those to good use, my husband and I booked a 10-night southern Caribbean cruise.  We depart very soon J

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My daughter came home on the 3^rd and stayed until today.  It was her spring break from college.  We kept busy all week.

Her first request was that I bake her Miss Lou’s pound cake.  Click here for the recipe.

We tried a “new to us” Hibachi restaurant.

We ate ice cream.

I am trying to get back into the swing of cooking again.  I brought out the slow cooker one day and made pulled pork for sandwiches (another of my daughter's favorites). I can’t believe I only took a before picture.  It didn’t last long once my husband came home from work.

I also used the slow cooker to make a lemon poppy seed cake.  That was a new one for me.  I found the recipe in the Spring 2016 edition of Better Homes and Gardens Slow Cooker magazine.

 

 

It actually tasted pretty good.  Next time I will add more lemon zest and make a lemon flavored icing rather than the vanilla as suggested in the recipe.

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I started walking / running 3 miles every weekday morning.  You can’t tell from the cooking and baking but, for the most part, I have been eating and drinking pretty healthy. 

Once we return from the cruise, I will start working out with a trainer until I figure out what I am doing.

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This is the finished block for my friend’s memory quilt that I told you about in my last post.  I sent him a picture and he asked me to machine embroider his Dad’s name in the sand.  Sorry for the poor photo, the thread matched the denim perfectly. Maybe clicking the photo will enlarge it so you can get a better idea.

His mom really liked the block... I was so relieved!

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Nothing happened on the sewing front but I am taking classes at my LQS two days this week. Hope to share before I get too busy shopping and packing for the trip.

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You may notice a new button on my sidebar for Hands 2 Help 2016. Please visit Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict to learn more and consider signing up.  This will be my second year participating and I look forward to it.

Y’all have a blessed week J

Some Exciting News and Slow Sunday Stitching

It is official!  Even though it has been a well-known fact for over a year, at least at work, I am trading the corporate office for a home office.  My resignation letter has been filed and I am two weeks away from a four-week vacation.  I start my new position on April 1^st!

I'll still be working full time but will have flexibility with my schedule.  It will require traveling about once or twice per month but it is to Old Town Alexandria, VA.  How bad can that be?

Perhaps I will blog more than once a month which has been the average lately J

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It is Slow Sunday Stitching over at Kathy’s Quilts. My project for today is a very special one.  A dear friend from high school lost his Dad last year and his Mom is making him a memory quilt using his Dad’s blue jeans and shirts.  He sent me a piece of denim and asked if I would make the ‘center’ block for the quilt.  He wants the quilt to be a tribute to his Dad.  If that isn’t enough pressure (LOL), his Mom is an expert HAND piecer and quilter. 

His Dad loved to fish.  My friend would often say “Pop caught fish today….Fortunate”, so I am naming the block “Fortunate.”

My block is machine pieced but I will hand stitch the applique’.  The design is one of the blocks from Kaaren Johnston's "Camp Wilderness" pattern.  The water and cornerstones are from the denim I was given.  I can't wait to see it in the finished quilt.

Are you slow stitching today?  Pop over to Kathy's to see what others are working on...always a lot of eye candy.

Better Late than Never...

…for me to wish you a Happy 2016!

We have been very busy and I haven’t an opportunity to be creative. Therefore, I haven’t had anything to blog about.  While I have dropped in to read a few of my favorite blogs here and there, I missed out on so many.

We flew to Philadelphia a couple of days after Christmas and spent just over a week at my in-laws Delaware home.  They have both passed and my husband and his sister are selling the house there as well as the one in Florida.  My children always called the Delaware home “The Christmas House” since we frequently visited during the holiday.  My daughter asked if we could go back once more before the house sold.

 I will spare you all of the details but both houses are under contract and scheduled to close in February.  Since we returned to FL we have spent our weekends getting the FL house cleaned out and ready to go.  My husband leaves next weekend to start on the house in Delaware.  This has been a very difficult time for him and his sister.  So…prayers for them are appreciated J

We did a lot of our favorite things while up north like visit museums, as the area is chock full of history.  We ate cheesesteaks and ran around Philly.  All of those things deserve their own blog post (another day) so I’ll skip to one of my favorite parts…

I finally had a little time to visit Loop, a yarn store that I had been trying to get to for a couple of years. 

And the folks there were super nice.  They let me bring home this delicious gourmet yarn.

They even threw in a free pattern.

But that isn’t what I am working on today.  I picked up this yarn from my local yarn store a couple of months ago.  Linaza by Plymouth Yarn, 50 % Alpaca, 25% Linen and 25% Tencel.

My Slow Sunday Stitching today is making a lightweight cowl. 

Summer Cowl by Amy Kudej.  She kindly offers this pattern free from Ravelry.   There is a photo of a finished cowl on Ravelry but I am waiting to get permission to share it.

Check out Kathy’s Quilts to see other Slow Sunday Stitching projects.

Vicky's 3rd Annual Ornament Exchange

Vicky, who blogs at Life on Willie Mae Lane, hosted her 3^rd annual ornament exchange.  I participate in her first one two years ago and again this year.  Not sure how I missed last year’s. L

I was super excited to learn that the recipient of my gift was going to be Cecilia at The B Farm.  Keep an eye out for her post about the ornaments I sent to her and also read more of her blog to enjoy her decorating talent.  She has a lovely city home as well as an equally lovely farm house.

I love ALL things snowmen, one of my favorite things to decorate with at Christmas.  Linda at A La Carte had me pegged when she sent me her exchange gifts.

Love the gift bag and two sweet ornaments.

Snowman photo frames

One holds a picture of my children and the other holds a picture of me with my sweetie.

An adorable little stocking

Pretty and useful note cards

Elegant silver glass ornaments.  I have been known to decorate a second tree in our home and these will go perfectly on that one.  It is mostly white and silver.  However, this year we only have one tree so these will be safely packed away and now I am inspired to make sure I get the second tree next year.

Thank you so much, Linda.  I absolutely love it all! You couldn't have selected anything more perfect for me.

Many thanks to Vicky for hosting this fun ornament exchange. Please visit Vicky and see how special life is on Willie Mae Lane.  Also, visit her linky party to see more ornaments.

How is your holiday season going so far?

Shhh...I have a thing for Santa

Who knew?!?

I love Snowman…I really do. But looking around the house, I realized that I also have a super big crush on Santa.

This guy doesn't go anywhere without his reindeer!

I decided to frame the "Winter" stitchery instead of making a small quilt.  I change my mind all the time, do you?  The small ceramic gift box was a gift from my son when he was in elementary school.

He is too adorable with his glasses.

These guys hold stockings...that is another post.

Namaste...my ornament for this year.  He is hanging on by a gold paper clip until I can get proper string.

Merry Christmas!

Slow Sunday Stitching

Is anyone else still suffering from a tryptophan hangover or food coma?  I’m telling you, I have been sluggish the past couple of days. 

In spite of that, we did manage to decorate the inside of the house for Christmas and also the tree.  We made two shopping trips for the tree because “it” had not been unveiled on our first stop.  We settled for one slightly shorter than what we wanted but it really looks nice adorned with white lights and our favorite family ornaments.  I’m going to do a little more decorating then share a few photos with you.  I’ll also have a confession to make!

Today was Slow Sunday Stitching over at Kathy’sQuilts.  Before I share today’s project, I need to show the Manatee Row from this post.

As a reminder, my friend and I collected many kits from Florida’s 2015 Row by Row Experience.  Click here to learn about the Row by Row Experience.

  

This row is from Boutique for Quilters in Melbourne, FL.

Cute little schools of "fish buttons"

And I also completed the “Peace on the Treasure Coast” row from Laura’s Sewing in Port Saint Lucie, FL.

You can’t see them but I promise the bird has legs. 

And today, I finished stitching Primitive Stitches “Winter Sampler.” 

I first learned about these designs from Karen at My Yellow Farmhouse a few years ago.  She once had a quilt shop that sold kits. 

I have all four seasons and will make a small quilt with each.

I am still working on secret projects for Santa but he said I can tell you about them after Christmas.

Have a good week, y’all.  Put your ear plugs in because the screen door is surely about to be slammin’ J

Linking up to Kathy's Quilts, Slow Sunday Stitching

and Sew Many Ways, Sew Darn Crafty