It's been awhile I know.

I've missed you, my sweet blogging friends,

and appreciate all the emails of concern.

I must say, if January is any indication of

whats to come the rest of the year......I'll pass.

My heart goes out to anyone caring for an elderly relative.

I completely understand your weariness.

And I have a new found respect for those

who have chosen a career of caring for the elderly.

Your definitely angels.
.

We were able to get away for the day to attend

the baptism of our sweet baby girl, Brenna.

Thanks to my friend, Ellie, who came

and spent the day with Aunt Polly.

As you can see from the pictures below

Brenna enjoyed every minute of the attention.

Smiling sweetly for the Priest.

Aiden is the proud big brother.

Reis, holding Brenna, with cousins Dylan & Dusty.

This is my favorite flannel scrappy quilt.
So necessary on these below zero days.

Stay warm and I hope to get back to blogging soon.

A Tiskit, A Tasket.....

I need to share a FREE block of the month program

from Bunny Hill Designs with you.

A Las Vegas quilting friend sent me the link.

The January block is just adorable!

The link features several FREE patterns
all just as cute as can be!



I finished 36 log cabin blocks
and put them together in the barn raising layout.
Now I need to use the left over strips
and design a border.
Geez, I love a quick and easy pattern.


I bought a baby monitor to take down stairs
so I can sew when Aunt Polly is sleeping.
Just mindless piecing is all I can do.
We have had home health care nurses
in and out all week.
I don't know what I would
do without them.

And here's the view from my front door this morning.

Snow and more drifting snow!

Predicted all week.

Hope this finds you happy and healthy.

How many times have you written 2008

instead of 2009 in the past 2 weeks?

I have several times!

Christmas Pictures.......a little late.

But I know you understand!

Working for their dinner.

Here's the "kids table".

And the "grown ups" table.

I wish my dining area was larger

so we could all sit together.

After dinner we opened our presents.

Aiden wanted to help everyone rip off the paper.

He had so much fun with the paper and ribbons!

My oldest grandson.

His younger brother.

Don't they have the cutest smiles!

My granddaughter modeling the apron I made her.

She's such a sweetie! And loved her apron.

A future photographer?

Baby girl in her Christmas outfit.

Love the hat!

The whole gang!

While I haven't been able to work on any customer quilts this week,

I just HAD to sew last night.

Life is so stress full these days I needed to hear the hum

of my Janome and feel the fabric in my hands.

I've been meaning to work something up with these

red, white, & blue 2 1/2 inch strips.

Wanted to do some mindless piecing.

A whole ten log cabin blocks.

I sure miss visiting your blogs.

I'm going to have a whole lot of catching up to do!

Thanks for stopping in.

CRANBERRY GLOGG

Do you remember this recipe

from my November post?

Well, here's the results........





Hubby's pouring it into the bottles......

I think I should have chopped the cranberries smaller.
Looks like I have more berries than drink.

They sure were good over vanilla ice cream!

A very late toast to the New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Aunt Polly is coming home from the hospital this afternoon.

She's up and walking a bit. Feeling much better.

Anxious to break out of the place.

It seems like 2008 has flown by, doesn't it?

This past week has been difficult to say the least.

I'm not sure I've shared the fact that my 91 year old great aunt

(my grandmother's sister) "Aunt Polly" lives with us.

She has been with us now for 8 years.

Aunt Polly is an independent, feisty, spirited, southern lady.

Never married, with no children, and has out lived her 9 siblings.

She has aged "gracefully" as they say.

Her favorite past time is reading and

doing the jumble puzzle in the newspaper.

"To keep her mind sharp" she would say.

Aunt Polly's snack of choice.....

Little Debbie snack cakes with a cup of hot coffee.

In the past few weeks Aunt Polly became confused.

Over the little things.

She was sleeping more and eating less.

On Sunday we felt it necessary to call an ambulance.

She didn't have the strength to ride in the car.

Unfortunately, she has a urinary tract infection.

Quite common in the elderly the Dr said.

And was dehydrated.

She will be hospitalized for a week or so.

My hope is that she will be able to return home.

She has, for years, made me promise

not to put her in a nursing home.

I pray I can keep that promise.

But in this season it is well to reassert that the hope of mankind rests in faith.

As man thinketh, so he is.

Nothing much happens unless you believe in it.

And believing there is hope for the world is a way to move toward it.

~ Gladys Talser

Merry Christmas!

I'm getting down to the final fun details for our Christmas celebration.

Thought I'd share my centerpiece and place cards with you.

I bought a box of the small candy canes from Wally-World.

100 for $1.97

Used hot glue to hold 3 together for an easel of sorts.

The names are bussiness cards printed on the computer.

The left over candy canes went around the candle.

Here is a recipe for Pecan Cream Cheese Pie.

It was a big hit at a Christmas Open House this weekend.

Everyone wanted to go right home and bake one!

This, along with Pumpkin Crunch, will be our dessert after dinner.

Along with cookies-cookies-and more cookies.

And for Sunday breakfast
Pizza!

I hope you have a beautiful, blessed Christmas.
Stay safe and warm.


And don't forget.........

Merry Christmas!

A SPECIAL OFFER that's hard to refuse!

The publisher of EllynAnne Geisel's " The Apron Book",

Andrews McMeel, is offering a 35% off coupon

plus free shipping!

Click on the link above and read all about it.

The offer ends tomorrow, the 19th, so hurry.

I ordered mine on line Monday

and they arrived UPS today.

If one is good

Two must be better......right?

What am I going to do with 2 books??

Give one away of course!

My 100th post is fast approching.

Watch for details.

Speaking of aprons.....

I made this one for my granddaughter for Christmas.

I love the fabric, don't you?

It's a printed panel apron from JoAnns.

By Daisy Kingdom.

I used my 50% off coupon which made it

very reasonable.

Not that my granddaughter

isn't worth full price mind you!!

There was suppose to be a ruffle on the bottom.

But I choose to use red rick rack instead.

The black dots below are just to

show you the contrast.

We're expecting a ton of snow today.

The weather man said 8-12 inches.

Then another storm is heading our way on Saturday.

Just as well, I want to read my new book!

Stay safe and warm everyone.