SHQ show & tell

Thank goodness Michael’s tee off time on Thursday (11/29) was a bit later so that he could help me pack everything in the car before leaving!  I generally always have newspapers and library books for Loree…then my tea and most times my lunch, then any magazines I am donating to whomever wants them, then I had more BEDS=DREAMS quilts for Mary B and Floy’s quilt and I also took in Cheryle’s quilt hoping she was there (no luck on that one) and I took in the finished Christmas present for show and tell!!  And I didn’t even take my sewing machine and pizza box (which holds my current project) yesterday.  Yes, when I get to the church I generally make 5 – 6 trips inside  :~).  Anyway, I just took my beading and worked on it a bit as I knew I was leaving at lunchtime.  We had wonderful show and tell as usual: 

Floy's adorable Christmas table runner

June's quilt

June's crocheted rug from yarn & selvages

Floy's house quilt

Sandy B's first art quilt....completed some time ago but brought in to inspire others

Dolly's prayers & squares quilt

Sandra's double wedding ring table runner

another fussy cut table runner from Sandra

I came home with dreams of many things I hoped to do…and did not do even one of them!!!  I think the week is getting to me and I was pooped once again.  I read my new library book until Michael got home, and then we BOTH took a nap (actually Cookie and the kitties joined us) in the media room for almost an hour…heaven!  We had the last of our Chinese for dinner and watched TV and relaxed and beaded the rest of the night.

BEDS = DREAMS quilts, mystery quilt revealed

I just had time to get my blog out before SKYPE-ing with Janice Wednesday morning (11/28).  Michael had a frost delay for golf until 11:30 AM...so you know just how cold it was here today.  While he ate breakfast, Cookie was sitting in the sun...trying to stay warm (see her reflection in the door?  I thought that made this picture pretty cool :~):

Janice and I finished talking and I ran upstairs to scarf down the 2 ham/egg cups Anne had brought me, then ran out the door with Pat to head to Corinne’s house.  Corinne has lots and lots of fabric (mostly batik) for $5 per yard….and she just got in 18 new bags, so Pat and I headed out and met June and Floy there.  Speaking of Floy, she is the owner of the mystery quilt…she gave it to me months and months and month ago and I finally got the borders on and got it quilted, so it’s now in her car and you get to see all of the pictures:  

We had a really good time at Corinne's and I bought lots and lots of fabric (screw the spreadsheet :~), and then headed to Hobby Lobby for some necklace finishings that they don’t have in our local store.  Pat and I were starving on the way home, so we stopped at WICH WICH and both got egg salad.  We finally got home at 4 PM and I was POOPED!  I thought about taking a nap, but by the time I got around to it, my frozen honey was home, so I made up some Devo Delight and heated it up for him while we talked.  Remember this quilt: 

And this quilt: 

along with these pillow cases:  

Well, we got them all packed up to go to quilting tomorrow.  They will be donated to BEDS=DREAMS on Thursday.  While Michael took a shower I got caught up on my emails and finally around 6 PM I felt like I had some energy, so I headed to my studio and just putzed around a bit  :~). 

Secret Project done!!

The sky had beautiful pink & purple streaks when I took the dog out first thing Tuesday morning (11/27).  It was wonderful to see after the rain and general gloominess of the past week or so.  Michael had a quick breakfast, then headed out to WALMART and the DOLLAR STORE for a list of groceries.

My focus for Tuesday was the:  

and I was sewing on it before 9 AM.  I had previously been working on my 6 colors and the cutting that was needed, so was all ready to start sewing.  

At 1 PM I phoned Paula because I had to run to Hobby Lobby for something to go with my project…and she immediately came along to pick up some fabric.  I came home and happily stitched away for several hours, only to discover that one of the things I bought at HL was WAY too small  :~(.  My honey wanted to visit the bird store in the same shopping center, so he volunteered to go to HL and get the correct size…what a peach  :~).  

Larry picked Michael up after 6 PM to go to the movies, and by the time he got home, my secret project was done (except for one teeny tiny embellishment)!!!  You won’t have to wait forever for pictures…I promise.

So, you know my friends Janice & Dennis have sold their Connecticut home and are waiting for their home in North Carolina to be built.  In the meantime, for the next 6 months they are staying in a condo loaned to them by friends of friends (the owners go to Florida for the winter).  I’m sure it could get depressing…being excited about your new house, but not able to move into it…and staying in someone else’s house…and the long, cold, snowy Connecticut winter…..but Janice has at least created her 'happy place' for the forseeable future:

***MMR – Michael’s Movie Reviews***

OLD MAN WITH A GUN – starring Robert Redford and Sissy Spacek. 

Almost all of what is told is true (that’s the disclaimer at the start!)  Redford plays an escaped bank robber, who just can’t stop robbing banks!  He has 2 partners in crime, but the main story centers on Redford and Spacek and their relationship.  You will pull for them to survive his way of life – but the ultimate struggle is between Redford’s character and his love for the thrill of his ‘calling’.  The result becomes obvious, sadly.  Even at his age, Redford still has ‘it’!  I give it 3 fat quarters out of 5.

And the ‘forked tongue’ just keeps blathering…do rational people really believe that parents were watching where the tear gas ‘cloud’ was going to form (?) so that they could rush into it with their children?  This person will say ANYTHING to try to support HIS agenda and what HE wants people to believe:

https://www.aol.com/article/news/2018/11/27/trump-falsely-claims-border-agents-were-badly-hurt-in-migrant-tear-gas-clashes/23602096/

breakfast at Sally's

Before my honey started making his breakfast Monday morning (11/26), I got an onion sautéed and added to my breakfast casserole:  

Then I beat 20 eggs with milk and salt and pepper, poured it carefully into the casserole, spread shredded cheddar cheese over the top and set it to bake while I ran to take a shower.  

I’m testing out this recipe to see if I will make it for our New Year’s Day brunch (Mary Jo – new recipe!!)  

As always, our  monthly breakfast was wonderful and filled with much talking and laughing.  

Ann Mary, Sally, Gale (Ginny is visitng relatives and couldn't make it!)

In addition to the egg dish, we had scrumptious fruit and hard rolls:

And Sally has already decorated for Christmas:

As have we!!!  I thought you'd love to see Michael's whimsical golf tree:

We got to see adorable pictures of Sally’s first granddaughter and she is definitely a cutie!!!  Sometimes I marvel at the fact that we meet pretty much monthly, and we always have so much to talk about.

I got home around NOON….had a microscopic visit from Anne…she stopped just long enough to drop off some of her egg/ham cups for me!  When I took the dog out, I had to take pictures of our still blooming gorgeous dark purple irises:  

And of course, our roses are still going strong:

My focus for Monday was completing the mystery quilt, and by the time I joined my honey at 8 PM for some TV, it was totally quilted with the bobbin ends woven in and the basting ripped out.  It will be given to the person by the end of the week, so you won’t have to wait very long for pictures.

And hey – I finally figured out what happened to me last year:

*******************

 How have we come to this?  And yet another lie indicating a ‘minor form of tear gas’….really??  I shake my head and cannot understand at all that people still believe anything this person says…talk about ‘fake news’ or maybe I should just say 'forked tongue'. 

https://www.aol.com/article/news/2018/11/27/celebrities-torch-heartless-stwad-donald-trump-over-border-tear-gassing-of-kids/23601962/

Is all of our compassion truly non-existent?  Is this what he has brought us to?  Is this the person you want to be?  Maybe in light of reading the following article you'll change your mind:

https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2018/11/22/show-1104-why-compassion-is-key-to-a-good-life/?utm_source=The+People%27s+Pharmacy+Newsletter&utm_campaign=7357efb166-MC_D_2018-11-27%26subscriber%3D1&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_7300006d3c-7357efb166-220683693&goal=0_7300006d3c-7357efb166-220683693&mc_cid=7357efb166&mc_eid=b0cfe10022

cinnamon bread, breakfast casserole

Even though it was overcast and cold Sunday morning (11/25), Michael headed out for a walk with Cookie while I got bread dough made and set to rise.  We haven't had homemade bread in the house since before retreat.  I figured you were tired of seeing the regular old bread pics, so I thought I'd document something new:  

When he got home we both lounged around in the living room, reading the paper in front of the fire and eventually taking short naps….what a wonderful last day of the Thanksgiving weekend.  

Eventually Michael made his way outside again to get our Christmas lights set up, while I headed downstairs to continue to work on the quilt.  I got a few rows done and was back upstairs to keep the bread moving.  I talked to Michael about it and decided to make one loaf be cinnamon bread….

fully risen dough, ready to go

rolled out into a long rectangle with melted butter on top

add cinnamon/sugar

yum!!!  Michael said it was FABULOUS!!

but we made 2 ‘halves’ out of the other plain loaf and I delivered a half to Mary Jo…the woman who has been so very helpful with my beading/braiding.  

Paula came by for a visit and we got to talk for a bit so that was nice, and eventually I found myself back downstairs, working away.  I was over 1/2 way done with the quilting by the time I headed upstairs.  I needed to do a bit of work on a breakfast casserole, so I blanched broccoli, broke up some feta cheese and sliced up some ham 

and then got everything in the fridge before settling in to beading and watching TV with my honey.

Minty Krisps!

Golf was cancelled AGAIN on Saturday morning (11/24) due to heavy rain, so Michael made a quick run to the grocery store while I started on the day’s candy….MINTY KRISPS:

oreos

rice krispies

mint chocolate poured over and stirred all around

my honey bagging everything up

voila!

Anne came for a visit just as we were finishing up; she had a long day on Friday sitting in the hospital advocating for her next door neighbor…and didn’t get home until 10 PM.  We had a nice talk in front of the fire in the living room…of course Cookie would not leave her alone for very long:  

But finally, after a period of indecision, she settled in front of the fire:

should I?

shouldn't I?

ahhhhh......

After Anne left, Michael headed out for a slog at the golf course while I headed downstairs to continue working.  The secret project is moving along, and I got the program set up on the quilt and all of the bobbins wound and started to stitch out.  I wanted to procrastinate on this quilt because I was afraid of having problems…and I was right  :~(.  Fortunately, after 2 sessions of ripping out, third time was the charm and I got 2 rows completed before a late dinner.  Michael and I watched the boob tube while I got another silver/black necklace loaded up (I’ve already finished 3) and started braiding on it.  Anne asked me how many necklaces I am making, because she thought I only wanted one.  I DO only want one, but what am I supposed to do with all of the leftover beads?!?!?!  Might as well make up a few more...several people have already asked me about buying them  :~).

STOP THE MADNESS....will the cuteness ever end???

trying on someone's ear muffs!