are you motivated?

The quest for organization continues.  I prepared the bags for donation to a local charity, and Elizabeth added a couple to the stack.  (You might notice Elise being a helper by holding the door for me.)  I also shredded a few years of tax papers, old enough of course to be off the retention schedule.

I also went through some files and tossed some papers that were no longer needed, but taking up file space.  Most all of my organizing projects are things that no one will notice, but I feel better for being on top of it.

I never did show pictures of a couple of projects I made for Christmas.  First is a lounging beach towel with pillow.  Pretty easy to make, and just used a couple of bath towels and stuffing for the pillow part.  I liked the bright orange, and thought it would work great for Elizabeth to laze around the pool next summer.  

The other project was a little notepad cover, another Elizabeth request.  It came out cute, if I do say so myself.  :)

Okay, that's it for now.   Catch you later.

what the new year brings

I've been bitten by that organization bug.  I know it goes with this time of year, and in fact it bit a month early, but I've got to say it feels good to let things go.

I've had a tv on top of my dresser in the bedroom since I moved in here over 3 1/2 years ago.  And I don't have active connections in there, so it really was a dust catcher.  I'm proud to be able to speak in the past tense, because David loaded it into the back of my car a couple of weeks ago, and it has been delivered to the local Salvation Army store.  It's amazing how much "lighter" the room feels.

This weekend I tackled the guest room closet.  I've had a box of Christmas ornaments tucked away in there since I moved in, and they hadn't been used for several years before that.  I pulled the box down, and sorted through them, designating them to either Robert or Elizabeth, tossing, or going in the donation sack.  We're not talking major heirlooms here, just little things that might have meaning to the kids (or not).  There were 3 ornaments from my childhood that I kept out, along with one or two others, that I might come up with some way to display them next year.  Much simpler than a cumbersome tree. 

This Wednesday a charitable organization will be picking up my donations.  I get calls regularly from 2 or 3 of these, and am usually able to come up with a sack or two.  Nice to see some space opening up here and there.

And, with the new year I have plans of eating out less.  That of course means cooking more.  I figure it will overall be healthier, depending of course on what I fix.  Yesterday I cooked country style ribs, which came out really well.  Then today, I took the left over ribs and incorporated them with some hamburger meat into 2 Alarm chili.  Using the chili in frito pie at lunch was great.  I may end up freezing one or two meals of the chili, but with the weather being cooler this week, maybe not.

On to other things, can you believe how crazy the gas prices are?  A week ago, I saw $3.05 on QT's big sign.  Overnight it went up to $3.15.  Today I saw it was at $3.25.

Better get around.  Have a good week!

2012 is here!

It's going to be a good year.  At the beginning we anticipate all the good things we'll accomplish, and you know, I really think it will happen.  In the meantime, I just try to enjoy each day as it comes. 

I got an email the other day that had pictures of amazing paths...in fact, that was the name of it, Amazing Paths.  There were a few of the traditional that looked somewhat familiar, though I couldn't say for sure where they were.  You know the kind, the steep city street, or the twisty ones.

And then there were the ones that spoke to me, places I'd like to see. 

These two I especially liked.

On the last one, I tried contacting the photographer...partly to ask where it is, partly to see if he minded that I put it in my blog, and partly just to let him know I like it.  Unfortunately, the name in the picture is hard to make out.  However, in my quest I did send an email to photographer Victor Paul Borg.   It's not his picture, but if you click on the link you'll find his website.  Turns out he's a photographer and journalist.  Isn't the internet wonderful???

On to other things.  Rhett's tooth came out when I was at Robert and Angela's the other day.  This was taken on my phone, and I'm still learning about sending pics with it.

And of course it's that time of year for working puzzles.  Here's the first of the season, 1000 pieces.  I have a 2000 piece waiting in the wings for my next project.

And last, but not least, I'm working on two more Texas wall hangings.  One will be for Robert, the other I think we'll see if it finds a buyer.  He said I could hang it at his dealership.  They are now in the quilting process.

So this year's off to a flying start!  2012 is going to be another good year, I can just tell.  :)

Christmas and the day after

Christmas has come and gone again, and again a time of family and good cheer.  And too much food.  Sigh.  I will do better, I will do better, I will do better....

And today is another special day...John's birthday!  He and Bonnie have been in Texas about 6 years now, and he's adapting well.  Awhile back he bought a piece of property, and has enjoyed putzing around on it experimenting with different plantings. I'm glad to see he dresses appropriately, our Texas sun can be brutal.   Carl used this picture and drew an ink and watercolor painting, which he graciously gave me.  I have to say it's one of my favorites.  I don't think John has seen it yet, so seeing this will be his birthday surprise!

Happy birthday, John.  I'm glad you decided to make Texas your home.

good wishes to all

I've been participating in a secret sister swap this year.  This time it was a bit different in that we swapped quarterly instead of monthly, and it worked out well.   Monday I got my "reveal" package...and my secret sister has been Kentucky Sunshine, Trish in Australia!

Trish has such a loving and giving nature.  She's been in Australia several years, moving from Kentucky.  She and her husband have a young son, and it's fun to read of their adventures in the land "down under".  She's a talented lady.  Take a look at what she sent, much of it hand made.

 The teapot trivet and 6 coasters...handmade!

The Christmas stocking, needle case, clown pin cushion...all hand made!  She didn't have time to embellish the stocking, so I'll work on that myself, but she got the hard part done. 

These last two pictures show the wonderful sewing caddy she made to put over the arm of my easy chair.  I think she must have an embroidery machine...really pretty work.  Each side has pockets...one big one behind the sewing machine, and 5 on the other side, and there's a pin cushion on top.  Elizabeth mentioned it could also hold my remote controls.  Not a bad idea.  :)

I talked to Trish last night, and she's been working on the gifts throughout the year.  Since she's far away, her quarterly gifts were via internet shopping, so her handmade items were waiting for the reveal package.  I'm tickled with it all.  :)

Along the lines of spreading Christmas cheer, I decided I'd make some cookies for the garbage pickup crew.  They've been especially helpful this year with the tree limbs, as well as any other unusual items I'd set out.  Yesterday was trash pickup day, so I put the cookies in the oven nice and early, and had them ready and waiting.  The big truck pulled up in front, and I stepped out and handed them the little bag telling them "Merry Christmas".  As the truck pulled away with a perky little toot of the horn, I noticed the trash was left.  Huh?  Turns out it was the recycling truck!  Ah well.  I bagged up the rest of the cookies, and added a bit of fudge, and gave them to the garbage crew a little later.  Everyone can use a little cheer, right?

I may or may not post again before the big day, so I'll go ahead and say "Merry Christmas" to one and all.

note to self

Haven't had much to say lately...or much that I'm able to say.  With Christmas just 9 short days away, some of my projects are still behind zipped lips.  However, I have finished one that I'm able to share.  I talked several weeks ago about a pattern I got for a Texas wall hanging...and here's my completed version.  It's already gone to its new home. 

It was on a yellow wall, so it seems to have picked up a bit of a yellow-ish tinge, but you get the idea.  I'm pleased with it, and will be making another.

It's nice to know that I'm still learning things as time goes by.  Keeps the mind sharp.  Of course, there are times I have reminders that I need to pay more attention to things.  While making Texas, which uses a fusible webbing, I got distracted and...well, let's just say I made a mistake.  Now it's on my design wall as a reminder to be more observant. 

Can you read it?  It says "note to self...do not iron on right side of fabric".  

small frustration in the scheme of things

There's so much in this world we can either be very thankful for, or have a major gripe.  So I know my petty little grievance doesn't amount to a whole lot...

But really!  Don't you think the paper delivery person could find someplace other than the middle of the very wet grass, in the middle of a rain, to toss the paper?????