Merry Christmas Eve Everyone!!!

Well, hello!! Merry Christmas!!! The tree is up, the cat is playing with the ornamnets and batting one present around when he can. He also hides under it, on presents... cats!! Scrappy, when he wags his tail, hits the poor tree, so I hope all the ornaments survive this year!!

How do you like your tree??? One or two colours?? Star or angel on the top??? Garland??

Me, I like a full tree!! Glass ball ornaments in the back of the tree, to refect the lights, with handmande or bought ornaments up front. Memories. I don't - except for the glass ball ones - have things on the tree that are 'just because'. I like a tree full of memories - a fully decorated, almost too much - not gaudy though!! And yes, I have been know to move things around. Not anymore, the jokes and the ribbing got to me, so I have learned to leave it alone. And you know what, I do not enjoy this time of year like I used to. Changing subjects!!! quickly!!!

Are you ready for tomorrow?? I have a huge bird!!! I love the leftovers!!!!! I like to make things for the freezer from them, but I really should have re-thought this idea yesterday when I bought this thing!! My next day off is New Years Day - I had better get my organization skills in check here so I can make these freezer meals before and after work this year. I have a lasagne recipe that is sooooo gooood!!!! I am going to have a couple of them in there for sure!!!

But here is why I wanted to post today. I have found, a few years ago, a really good hot chocolate recipe that we use for tonight, when we go drive around and look at the lights around town. It is calorie free, at least for tonight. Tomorrow?? I am not so sure, but tonight, it's good to go!!
HOT CHOCOLAT NOG
4 cups commercial Egg Nog
4 cups chocolate milk
1/2 cup whipping cream
2 tbsp instant coffee granules
2 tsp vanilla
whipping cream or marshmallows

In large saucepan, combine egg nog, chocolate milk, cream and coffee granules. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until coffee granules are dissolved and mixture is heated through. DO NOT BOIL. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla. Pour into mugs!! Top with whipping cream and serve immedialtly!!! Enjoy!!
(serves 8)

I put this in a thermos and we drive around through the town. Uh, we do drink it!! We take our travel mugs!! I laughed when I read the first sentace. 'why would you put it in a thermos?? Why not drink it???' lol!!! And it's very easy to half the recipe - I don't, but you could.

Okay, I am off to wrap the couple presents I have left. I want to show you, later, what my hubby did with one of my yard ornaments this year!! so, once I get the picture, I will post and let you see what I came home to last week!!! And we have snow!!!!

not good

Hello. I went to the movies on Friday - New Moon, for my daughters 18th birthday. 18 is the legal age here in Alberta, my little girl is now an adult. Hmmmmm...

Not a good last few days. I had a great day on Thursday - I should not have come home. I came bearing surprises and treats - not big things, just little snacky type things, foods for lunch the next day, and.........

I think my life is going to change. What do I mean 'think', it has. My then still 17 yr old fell down the stairs - I jumped up to make sure she was okay, it souned like she really got hurt. Well, I got told where to go and basically how to get there. Guess that means she's okay - but being the mom I am, I waited a bit to go check on her again. What a bitch I am. Well, I found out on Thursday night, I am a horrible mother. Not from my daughter, from my drunk husband. That is aways fun to come to - but I guess that our marriage is over and we are done. He's keeping the girls and I can leave or he will.

I will go.

And now, a few days later, - you know what, it just doesn't matter anymore. 20 years we've been together, and now, I don't care anymore. Since I am such a horrible mother - I just want out. Yeah, I have kids who are in gangs (yeah right), never home (wrong again), I never know where they are and the friends they hang out with are all trouble (oops, try that I always know where they are and their friends are great). What a horrible mother I have been. My temper is what classifies me as such a terror. Yes, this is true. I do have a temper and when pushed, I do loose it sometimes. BUT - I have never hidden this fact. EVER. When I do something wrong, I am the first to admit it. What a bitch.

So, I am working on the how to's to leaving. We are not finacially able to have me up and go, and my thing is, where do I go??

It's funny to think about leaving you know. I have already been thinking what is coming with me. Weird things - the fish are mine. And what I don't care if I have or not. My books, some are coming with me - they are mine. Scatterd thoughts right now.
And how to support myself out there. My biggest thought is I do not want to be anywhere near here. I want to be long gone. So, this is my life right now. And no, I have not been creative in any real sense of the word, but I do have to clean up my sewing room. In boxes. This is so sur-real. Did I even spell that right???

That why I needed the laugh Myra. Thanks again. Oh, and I was already shopping for Christmas - I was in such a great place on Thursday................ how things can change.
sorry for this horrible post.

The Quilt Show is Over!!

I have been missing I see!! I didn't realize it had been so long till I looked at the date and went "oh!"!! Well, it's been an eventful week. My guild has just finished our first quilt show!! This was something I was not really interested in doing, so I didn't do anything for it - but, I am not going to be such a spoiled sport next time - and if your group of people are doing something - get in there and help!!! ;-)!!

I am going to show you some pics of the show. This in only a few - we had almost 200 quilts and I only got about 35 pics - so some of the ones I really liked I thought I would get after the place emptied. I thought the clean up was tomorrow!! That's what happens when you are not helping!!!! So, as soon as it was over, the quilts started to come down!! My fault - so it's kinds funny, but here are some of the show and I will show some more tomorrow!!!

This is a Stacked Posie Quilt.

It was made out of roost fabric!! Here is

a close up of one of the blks!!! To much fun!!!

These are the "Fun and Done" pattern.

Same pattern, but they look so differnt!!

And this was made with a cross stich saying on the top. I like it. So, I did a close up of the saying!

And with that, I am off to do my 20 minute of sewing!! I am only 27 days behind, so I am trying to stay current and then do some catch up !! I figure - new month, get back in the habit of the 20 minutes of sewing!! Consistancy is key. When I look at all the tops I've got completed, I am amazed!!! WOW!! Really???? Get back in that room and sew girl!!! Next year is finisishing!!! I have a quilt show to prepare for!!!!!!

(and boy do I have project ideas for that!!!!! uh 0h!! I thought I started alot of things before!!! Wait till I see how many I finish!!!! yeeee haw!!!!!!! I am going to haveing some fun now!! - OH!!! I didn't tell you! ;-( I was doing my 20 minutes of sewing the other day - turned on my machine and put my foot on the pedal....... it made about 3 stiches, then this AWFUL grinding noise and - it shut itself off!!!!!!! I can not get it to turn back on, it's dead!!! I just sat there for a minute, collecting my thoughts and went 'hmmmm.....' It is going into the Dr. on Monday and I won't have it back for a couple of weeks I am told. The fixer-upper-guy thinks I just blew a fuse, but it was sure a shock!!!! So, I am working on my baby machine - Janome Gem - the one I take to classes till I get the ol' girl back.

So that been my weeks off!! lol!! I will post more pics tomorrow!! night!!

It's the Weekend!! cold and snowy.....

Instead of asking "What's the meaning of my life?" ask, "What would make my life more meaningful?"

So, how is your week going?? It snowed this moring!! Okay, it's not staying but that is not the point!!!! It snowed on April 23rd!! Oh, common!! Let us keep that warm sunshine and really nice days we've had - it was so nice to sit out there and just enjoy the warmth. And now, it's back to cold and cold breezes - chilly ears!! lol!! But guess what I did today!! A friend I used to work with, asked me if I wanted to go to a Muffin/Tea Event at the Community hall this morning where they were having a talk about container planting. Well sure, I'd go!!

I have not done things like this very often, going to events at our hall, and planting is something I enjoy, so we went. We put our names in the door prize and listened to the talk. This greenhouse is fairly new and it's just down the street from me!! (Okay, down the highway, and on the other side, but not far!!). When the door prizes were being called, I looked at my friend and said "I'm winning a tomato." and guess who's names was called next and guess who brought home a tomato plant!! There were only two of them, and I laughed when I actually won one!! It's a Lemon Boy, and when I get some soil, I will be replanting it, and get it ready for the outdoors..... but not this weekend!! Brrrrrr!! I am enjoying having it sitting by my front window, and just beeing green.

So, I guess I really am going to be planting this year. I was seriously thinking I would not plant anything, but being in Kelowna, where they have all their plants out, I couldn't resist, and bought my sister a hanging conatiner of flowers and a pot of pansies!! It gave me something pretty to look and I just like the flowers........ especially when it feels like this winter is not going to end. At least there, I could pretend it was over..........

And I have finished step 5 of Double Delight!! I like it!!! I wasn't sure, but when it was all put together, it just seemed to work and look like I had planned it!! My daughter thinks it would make a great cabin quilt..... I just think it's nice.














And I have been working on the Planet Patchwork blks for my "Twilight" quilt. Yesterday I made two sets. Each instuction sheet makes 2 blks so, here they are.

I like them.

And here is my 'PhD' that I pulled out of the closet the other day, and now am woundering how to finish it off. It's sitting on my wall, and I am thinking..... I still like it, even though I started it a few years ago. My Thongs!

And today I am working on the little stars for the "Twilight" quilt, it wants 49 of them... so, I am going through my scraps and finding little pieces of batiks, and they will all be done. And I realized last night that I only have 5 more blks patterns to make!!! I am almost done the blks for this top!!! That feels good!!! See, working a little on something - even if it's not everyday, can really get things done!! This is something I am trying to do, be consistant in my goals. That is the only way to get things done, keep working on them. This quilt has been on the backburner of my mind for awhile, well, since I found the pattern, and now, finally, it's being worked on and almost done!!! I am not celebrating yet - I need to keep at it. I have projects that I have left around this stage, and I want that very bad habit to change. Consistancy is the key.

Okay, weekend is here. Movie night tonight - yes, I started this blog post yesterday, went to take photos of my work and the batteries were dead!!! So, now everything is working and you can see what I am talking about!!
And hubby is sick with a wicked cold - he had better not share!!! But he seems better today than yesterday, so that is a good sign!!
I am thinking I want to see the movie "Doubt" tonight. I have made myself a list of ones I want to see and most of the movies on my list are one word titles!!! "Knowing" "Milk" "Doubt" "Taken"......... You can have fun with these - "I doubt anyone knowing better would have taken the milk -okay!?" So, go have a fun the weekend, enjoy a greenhouse or two, and treat yourself well!!
Here is a question I got from the millionare book I read - and am still trying to answer: 'What kind of person do I want to be?'

And with that thought, I am outta here!!

Friday the 13th

Took all day, but step 2 is basically done. All that is left is the pressing and cutting to size - then onto step 3..........

I am glad to have this project on the go again. I am itching to see it done!!

I only have the 'goose' blk to do and my goals for this week are done!! Other things I have been doing it trying to do my DS brain games - uh, my brain is 74....... not the age I want it to be!! lol!! I know it was younger before - like last year, then my kids 'borrowed' my DS and I just forgot about playing..... so, now I am making myself play it again. It's fun, and if it will help me get my concentration and memory back, I am willing to play!!

I have also been trying to 'walk'. I have some of Leslie Sanson's DVD's and I do enjoy doing them when it's cold outside or I just feel like moving. So this week I have pulled out my 1mile walk and done that before I go for breakfast. I am not a moring person, so 1 mile is a good start for me. One thing that I would like to do is go for walks and think... if you have read "Artist Way" or "Vein of Gold" by Julia Cameron, she talks about the walks being really helpful to clear your mind and then fill it with ideas. It helps with your creativity and is a really good thing to do for yourself. So, I would like to go walking........ What stops me is, I want to walk in beauty - and I just feel depressed walking here. Nothing inspires me on these walks, they just make me feel like I want to go back home. Living in the praries is hard for me. I come from mountains, and I miss the trees, the valleys and hills, the different levels that your walking on, I just miss the walking there where it's always changing. Okay, stop complaining, grow where you are planted, yeah, yeah, yeah. I've tried......

And I am still prez of my quilt guild. Am not sure how I feel about that. I had an incident today that makes me wounder why I said okay.... but I will figure out a resolution to this 'problem' and then it won't be an issue anymore. I do not like conflict and I do not like being talked over. Talked to, talked with, but do not talk over me. And if you ask me something, let me answer. So, enough said.

I have had a very nice Friday the 13th. I am were I want to be with my goals. That feels good. And I have been wanting to write my brain age on here, so that when I get it down to 20, I can see where I started from and when!! Okay, Goodnight!!!

Here is a Lasagne recipe!

I was trying to get this web page put on here - someday this is going to just be easy. Right now, it's a stuggle and I just go ahhhhhh!!

Anyway, this link is for a lasagne that I made the other day, and really liked!! It used turkey sausage (which I didn't know was out there!!) plus ground turkey, which I love. If you like lasagne, you migh like this recipe!
http://www.foodtv.ca/recipes/recipedetails.aspx?dishid=8419

Enjoy! And this is what I was trying to do, when I could get back onto my post to change anything or add to it!!! Why have an 'edit' when all the choice I got was delete or post!!

Like I said, one day I will 'get it' right now, I just get lost!!!

Have a great day and enjoy the recipe if you try it!!

Finished Step One!

Today, I have finished 'Step 1' of Bonnie's mystery!! then searched for step 2!! I finally realized I had put it with the fabric I have ready to use for this project!! So, step 2 is like step one, only not so much thinking, just mindless sewing and cutting till your done....... And I am thinking I will look for the ruler she talks about - hmmmm, we will see......



Today I asked a friend if - not right now!!- if she would teach me to long arm quilt???? She said maybe in July. That might be enough time for me to be comfortable with this idea. I have never looked at a quilt top, piece of fabric and 'seen' what you could do with it, quilting wise. I don't see 'flowers', 'stars' - 'feathers' there and 'loop-de-loops' there and ...... I just don't see the quilting that could be done on things......... I am a piecer. I love to sew those little pieces togerther - and with my January Sunshine, sitting on the design wall, and as my screen saver, I am thinking - 'quilt in the ditch'........ how exciting, but I can do that!!! So, I might learn to quilt.



So, I am starting out this week on track. I got caught up on my 20 min. that I was so behind on yesterday, and today, I did it when I was supposed to - so I am caught up!! And you know what?? That small amount of time, really makes a differnce. It is amazing what you can get done in 20 minutes. And if you have the time, you don't have to stop.......



I am watched the new show "Being Erica" tonight. I like it. I have watched it with the question in the back of my mind, if I could have a 'do-over' what would I choose to re-live??? What would I like to do again, with today's knowledge and wisdom.....I hope it's wisdom!!!! lol!! I do enjoy it though.



"House" too. "Big Bang Theroy" and "Two and a Half Men" + "Medium" round up my Monday nights. Me who likes to say I don't watch that much TV...... OH! Did you know medium is based on a real woman - who is just like the character on the show???? I just found that out! Now, I like the show even more....... I could not imagine having that skill/gift, however you want to view it.