2014 plans?

What are your plans for 2014?  Mine are rumbling around in my head today.  I want to knit a top down sweater and would love to take a class on knitting socks.  Wouldn't hand knit socks just take care of a lot of our Christmas gifts? I am about to finish a knitted baby blanket that was set aside for Christmas gift making.  Oh and of course we need to quit eating all these sweets from the holidays and thankfully they are almost gone!  I need to get back to my quilting, there are so many which are ready to be quilted and I have made literally no progress on the one in my quilt frame for months.  Christmas gifts were started in October and that has been my main focus since.  It really is refreshing to look forward to a new year and new plans.  More travels to Colorado are in our plans and love spending our time out there.  

Wanted to share this beautiful bedroom from pinterest.....I love everything about it!  The lamps are adorable, colors are swoon worthy, comforter/quilt has the sweetest edges, love a blue bedroom. Red birds look like they are posing! Wishing you a motivated Monday.........

Center pull yarn.....

A grand idea from the blog "I always pick the pincushion", what a great way to make your own center pull yarn ball.  Small pill bottle,insert end of yard and put lid on and wind

your yarn, that's it.  Just make sure when you are winding , the yarn doesn't cover the pill bottle lid, you have to be able to slide the bottle out after yarn is in a ball.  Pull yarn from center...easy peasy!

Crochet and stuff......

The afghan crocheted by my sister was a gift to her son and daughter-in-law for Christmas. My nieces are holding it up for a picture, aren't they cute! I love the 4 square black blocks, gives great definition to the colors.     The pepper jam was a hit for Christmas, every Christmas party we went to we served it poured over a block of cream cheese and devoured it with ritz crackers...yummy!      On a sad note on Christmas night my sisters car was stolen right out of her driveway.  I know she is just sick about it, hoping they find it intact and catch the rotten thieves.  So sad.     Our weather has improved tremendously, I will say it was nice to have a white Christmas for a change.  Catch you later, enjoy your day.......

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from Mr. Outdoors and I!  Wishing good health and much happiness in the new Year.

Counting down......

Counting down the hours till Christmas...the Grandchildren are driving in tomorrow from different parts of the country and we are praying for good weather.  In the canner yesterday, pepper jam.  Love the smell it puts in the house, very spicy!  The snowman candle holders my sister Valerie made for me many years ago, such a talent she is. The bottom sections are clay pots turned upside down, painted with her sweet snowmen.  Our weather has turned on us....62 degrees yesterday and in the 20's today....brrrrr.  Till next time....

Making Irish Cream

We have been making our own Irish Cream for many years now. IMHO it is as good as or better than Bailey's Irish cream.  You can adjust the Irish whiskey to your own liking and bottle it up as gifts for friends (I get the small sealable bottles @ Hobby Lobby). Enjoy!

Noises in the Attic...........

Mr. Outdoors has been hearing noises coming from the attic.  He said it sounded like I was going upstairs when in fact I was in the living room downstairs.  Set up the live trap in the attic and guess what........

If the Shoe Fits.....

Saw this Maxine comic this-morning and it rings pretty true for me.  I am confident I will get it all done in time for Christmas, made me laugh tho.  The dish cloths tied with black ribbon, I have made 36 of them, three scarfs, 5 new Christmas stockings and am now working on fingerless gloves...HoHoHo  Happy Tuesday!

A few of my favorite things......

These are a few of my favorite things.....so much joy comes from unpacking Christmas decorations I haven't seen for a whole year!  We all have our favorites don't we.  I really wimped out on the Christmas tree this year, just a little 2 ft. tall tree.....only Mr. Outdoors and I will be enjoying it as our celebrations are at my sis' and youngest son's this year.  The cute red and white Willy's Jeep belongs to a friend of ours.  He flew to Minnesota to pick it up and couldn't wait to take Mr. Outdoors for a spin, 1960 model and runs like a dream.  What is it they say... the only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys...ha!

Beary cute!

Friday the 13th.  Does it hold any significance for you?  Not for me really but why push my luck...amirite?  Cutest apron ever found on Pinterest today.......and love this little feather quilt!  Bear cub in a tree in Lake City, Colorado, how cute!   He's outside a local eatery just lazying away the day.  Fantastic Friday!

Tuesday's musings......

We had a dusting of snow overnight and a balmy 7 degrees F. this am.  I still don't have the tree up but I am ever hopeful it will be done today!  Got all the names cross-stitched for the 4 new stockings and I think all the stuffers are ready to go in them.  Once I start loading them up we'll see.   Mr. Outdoors and I went Christmas shopping yesterday and got it all done except for my older sister and a great-nephew,  (13 years old) will most likely get money and sister is very hard to buy for.  What to do.....she is a quilter and has all the fabric in the world.....she doesn't drink coffee or tea.....she is diabetic so no sweets.....on and on.  I am hopeful I will find something for her!  I am enthralled with these sweet candle holders and am on the lookout for silver ladles in the thrift shops......sweet! Outstanding Crochet blog posted this cute granny square dress, made for the svelte for sure but oh so cute!  Happy Tuesday!

Jam making......

I haven't posted for awhile....busy with Christmas gifts being made. Cold bitter weather has set in for the last week and it can leave any time as far as i'm concerned.  The last two days have been spent making apricot and blueberry jam.  No fresh apricots available this time of year so experimented with dried.  After soaking the apricots overnight, cooking and then running thru the blender the jam turned out good! Some will be given as Christmas gifts and some Mr. Outdoors and I will eat.  Such a great jam making time when it is cold outside, really warms the house up and oh, the smell is wonderful!  Christmas shopping is almost done and stocking stuffers are getting there.  Made 4 new Christmas stockings, our Family has expanded this year!  Sometimes our Christmas celebration is in Colorado and sometimes in Kansas, it will be Kansas this year.  What with our Family spread out and some of them having to work the Holidays this is what will work best for everyone.  Doesn't really matter where ...just as long as we can all be together.