New inspirations

New year... new inspirations...so many of mine come from pinterest.  Who ever dreamed we would have so much at our fingertips, to inspire, follow and explore.  One of my Facebook friends posted how would you explain this internet we have today to someone re-born from the 1950's?  My Grandmother would simple be amazed...all the recipes and patterns would just floor her.  Mr. Outdoors and I feel so lucky to have lived in this time frame...heaven only knows what is in store for our great and great-great grandchildren, it's going to be awesome!  I have a couple of projects to finish from 2012 and then it is onward for my new projects I have rolling around in my head.  # 1 is jean quilts, they will be tied and I have a bazillion pairs of jeans that friends and family have given me for this project.  #2 is a lady of the lake quilt, having admired this pattern for years I think it's time I got on with it.  I do have 7 quilt tops ready to be hand quilted that I will work in every now and again.  Then there is my knitting...ahhh what I love...I am still in the infant stages and have started yet another sweater that hopefully this time will work out.  I somehow have a renewed confidence in my ability so am anxious to see how the sweater ends up.  Knitting is a great evening pastime for me...so enjoyable.  Wondrous Wednesday!

Welcome 2013!

Happy New Year! 2013 has arrived, wishing for good health and happiness for all.  We have had quite a year, having lost our brother Bill over the holidays definitely has changed how our Christmas was observed.  Leaves us with heavy hearts.  Mr. Outdoors and I ate our black-eyed peas today,ushering in that good luck they are noted for. I had forgotten to buy any peas so Mr. outdoors rushed out to buy us some before the day was over. Brother Bill was a decorated  soldier and trooper and had the 21 gun salute given at his funeral and the flags were at 1/2 mast in his honor, taps were played and all three of his children spoke ever so sweetly of their Dad.  So onward and upward we go into 2013, we've had our good luck peas so i say "bring it on".  

Christmas

Mr. Outdoors and I celebrating 48 Christmas' together, so Blessed to have each other.  A very laid back Christmas for us this year, I only put up a small tree.  The gifts are wrapped and baking will be happening tomorrow...Merry Christmas 2012!

Necktie pillow

Love this necktie pillow from pinterest.....also this Christmas tree skirt!  Amazing what ideas people come up with...such creative minds.

I do not like it

This is a very different Christmas for Mr. Outdoors and I. Normally our Christmas' are fun filled and intense with shopping, cooking and being excited for all the fun Christmas holds. We are losing his youngest brother to bone cancer.  He has fought the fight for 14 years and it just keeps coming back.  Brother Bill retired from the Highway patrol as a Major, retired from the Marines also as a Major and worked for a branch of the Government in charge of personnel.  Acquired his Masters degree at middle age, raised 2 boys and a daughter who have turned out to be not only great people but the sweetest kids you could ever meet.  The first wife and Mother of his children did not have any interest in raising the children, enter second wife.  She has been and continues to be such an awesome woman and member of our family.  Has taken such good care of our brother all these 30 years, and we applaud her for all she has done.  Compassion knows no one greater than Elaine.  So we are spending days by brothers bedside, telling lots of fun stories of Mr. Outdoors and his childhood,sitting there ever watchful should he need something, all the while knowing these are his last days here on earth.  Such an unreal feeling...losing ones siblings.  I do not like it.  I do take comfort knowing he will be in the arms of our Father and joined with his parents in Heaven.  God Bless our Brother.

Our hearts are sad tonight as we mourn those precious children and adults who were killed in Newtown, Ct.  What a sorrowful time for all of us, especially all those parents and grandparents, brothers and sisters who have lost their loved ones.  We have to take comfort that they are now in the arms of our Lord.

Delicious December

 We have had a great 5 day retreat with our son and Grandchildren up in Colorado.  The ski resort is making snow every day, they , like the rest of us simply have no moisture whatsoever.  Granddaughter and son Mark, she has been skiing since she was a little thing.

 Grandson gearing up to go snowboarding.

 Mr. Outdoors and our son, love that they all ski together.

 Granddaughter so lovely.

 I have lots of kitchen help!

Mr. Outdoors and I, our 48th Christmas together, such a lucky woman I am!

Early Christmas picture........love my family.