A new year finally

 Hello on this first Saturday of the new year....2021 finally arrived and I was actually awake but did not watch the Times Square event. We did begin but Alan and I just could not adjust to the format...or the performers. Today is cloudy and cool but not bad. Anyway on to better things. There are a couple of FB pages that encourage and support. One of them, maybe more encourage a Yearly Word instead of resolutions. My Word of Affirmation for 2021 is Thankful. There has been so much negativity that I want to really focus on the good. Each day I will think of one thing to be thankful for...being positive!

Meet Alan's Yeti. Look closely and you can see his eyes the 3 "bumps" are the top of his head. Santa knows that Alan and I kid about the hunt for the Yeti all the time so now he can prove there is one...eventually. At the present he is loosing his shell. I will keep you picture posted.

One other thing I got for Christmas was this handy attachment for my mixer. I love my Mandolin but I think Alan worries every time I use it. He thinks this is safer. Next might be a past attachment?! 

Arizona is still high in Covid numbers and trying to be safe is the normal. I do my best. When I think about those who do follow the rules, like EvaP and then are those diagnosed with it and then pass on quickly, well, it scares me a little. I am grateful that she did not suffer as many others are. Wear your mask and keep distance... 

I ask that you keep a lovely friend back in RI in your thoughts... she is doing well after breast surgery and treatment but still a bit more special thought is always good. Lisa is not feeling well...so add her to your thoughts as well. 

The list gets long 💗. 

Finally most of our mailed packages have arrived...for New Years! There is still one out there...DebbieB it is on the way to Canada I am sure. Thank you for the caring thoughts on my not feeling well. It mainly is because of a med snafu and the fact that I now will be seeing a new PCP on Monday. Not taking an important medication for a week now really causes havoc. Tired, light-headed, headache and vertigo... not pleasant but it could be worse. Once again that Household Faiery has not appeared so I am off to swish and fluff in the laundry area. Can't find the coffee barrister either so I will make my own coffee. Thank you for stopping by. I am lucky to count you as my friend. Thank you for the kind words and thoughts and your friendship. See, my Word of Affirmation...Thankful!

Coming up in a post soon...The Tumbleweed story!

Hello out there...

 The shopping complete, most gifts given (more on that later) and I was spoiled! This was the first Christmas since Denny passed that there was a celebration. The house was/is decorated in every room and outside too. Alan and Lisa wrapped many gifts for me.

The lovely statue is from Carol, Lisa's mom but all the other stuff...my Santas.   A battery operated flour sifter, an automatic soap dispenser for the kitchen and....

Beautiful earrings....

      a low temp cordless glue gun...charges in a minute!

A fantastic light weight and compact steam iron. Lisa and I saw this on a quilt show and I said that I liked it, now I have it.

Look at these socks! Must remember to keep these far far away from Murphy. Did I tell you he likes to eat socks....another time. There is also a pretty long sleeve blouse there.

The most special of my gifts....

This ornament is from the Ne Qwa Art collection...visit the link and you will see how they are hand painted...on the inside! All in all we had a wonderful Christmas. 

Did you happen to see the Cold Moon the other night....

I can not resist going outside to view any full moon. This was so bright.  It is called the Cold Moon because it appears at winter-time. Did you know this was the 13th full moon of 2020 and of course the last one. 

I know I have not been posting much. I have not felt myself on and off but especially this week. I will be visiting a new MD on Monday. This year has been such a trying time in many ways for many of us. Covid-19 is taking a toll on us. Loosing EvaP (mom) to it was a surprise to us as she was in a wonderful facility and was diagnosed only one week. Please remain diligent...keep distance when out and wear a mask. I do believe it does help.  

We mailed  gifts on December 3rd with expected delivery by December 7th....there are still 5 gifts out in la la land...no idea when they will arrive to their destination!

I wish for all of you a healthy and happy 2021 new year. 

Thank you for all your kind words and for the caring friendship. So many times your comments and emails have meant so much. 

 

So winter will officially arrive

 Tomorrow is the first day of winter. I will admit that living in Arizona it is not always easy to tell. Good thing for calendars! The temps are of course no longer in triple digits or in the 100s for that matter but having coffee outside in the morning is still doable. We may even watch the football game today out in the lanai. Just checked the tracking numbers for gifts we sent...still in la-la land. we mailed them on 12/3 and just mailed to cousin Janice on 12/14 and she already received hers! Yes I know there is postal back-up.

Still working on Lisa's socks..

A few have found it confusing to knit no heel or toe...they are generally called yoga socks. This is one completed the other is only a few inches. Why? well I got distracted. Lately it is not difficult!

I saw this someplace on line...can not remember where... but of course it became a challenge and I just had to try. These are practice rocks. Next trip out I may get the leather cording and some river rocks  to do it properly. I found them easy and fun. These rocks found their way to my craft table via across the street from the neighbors landscaping!

Lisa and I have fallen in love with gnomes.... I have had a little one since the late 70s but this guy followed us home last week.

He stands 9 inches tall. Just too cute. 

Murphy did not have a good night, well actually it was me that did not as he managed to keep falling back to sleep in my arms. We made 4 trips from midnight to 4 am out to make deposits. By his alertness this morning you would never know this. At the moment he is trailing Alan about the house. Today is a lazy day here...we are all home. 

Guess it is time to return to my knitting and Christmas music. Currently Michael Crawford is singing; soon to follow will be Johnny Mathis. Glad we could chat today. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship.

Stay safe my friends.

Advent Calendar Blog Hop

 Today is December 17th and my turn to post for this year's Advent Blog Hop hosted by Jo  from           Serendipitouss Stitching. (Click the link to visit the other bloggers). The topic for us this year is "Your Favourite Christmas Book". ....Murder for Christmas

This book was published in 1982....not sure when I got it or from where, but it is a mystery book of stories written by 26 authors...short stories.  I can tell you that I have had it for many years. What is nice about this book is that some of the writers I had not read. The pages have yellowed but the stories remain interesting. "Murder for Christmas contains something for every taste--lying, cheating, shoplifting, stealing, spying, kidnapping, and murder---in short, everything to make the holidays bright."

The other request is to post something we have made for the holiday.

This cross stitch angel is titled Magic. It was from a Christmas craft magazine from years ago. Since I gave away all my magazines, I apologize for not knowing who or where she is from. It was the first time that I finished an ornament with ruching. I had the star charm with a rhinestone. Sorry for lack of info, but is someone knows anything about who or where, let me know.

These blog hops for many different occasions are so much fun. Jo does a great job of organizing them. This is her 10th year for the Advent Blog Hop. The only year I missed was the first one in 2011! Be sure to visit Serendipitouss Stitching and see all the other bloggers.

Look at this adorable bird made by lovely Vickie.... and the needle minder. Thank you my friend. The bird is on happy in the tree and the minder on my sewing table.

Murphy is already for Christmas...went to the groomer on Monday. When we picked him up Lisa and I were told there was a handling fee added.... he was a little difficult and his ear got scraped (not very obvious at all) but all was okay. He does not like his ears or feet touched! Maria does a superb job, even with him pulling away. See his red/green collar? Lisa picked it out for him to wear for Christmas. The bell jingles and we can hear him coming...most of the time. Such a handsome boy. Today he has yelled at all the birds that stopped by to bath in the fountain or drink. Very protective of his garden.

We have remained healthy here... I do hope you are all doing well. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind words. Thank you for your friendship.

Yesterday would have been Dennis' 75th birthday.... hope the angels had balloons for him.

Almost gone...

 I am not sure if it is the Covid situation or just the holiday season, but days disappear. I am always home as a retiree but it is different when you are home trying to avoid illness. Tomorrow is a new month but not much has changed. Like many other states our Covid numbers have risen.  With Alan and Lisa out in the working world, they are careful and we all stay safe. Hopefully you are all okay. The other day I received a text informing me that a friend had passed. I had not been aware of her health issues (she is  was in RI). This gal was the daughter of my childhood friend Donna who passed in June! So sad for the family, she left a dad and a sister. Any death around the holidays is hard to deal with.

On a happier note, I am keeping as busy as my hands let me. Yes, still and always will have trouble because of the arthritis.

Did you...do you remember making folded books years ago? I do. We used to use the Reader's Digest and make full rounded trees. I saw this on Pinterest (of course)  so I got a book from the Dollar Store and voilà a tree grew! Brought back memories of Girl Scouts in the 50s.

These cute ornaments will soon fly away. The Post Office seems to be in a slow down so the sooner they go the sooner they will arrive. No picture to show yet, but I started the socks for Lisa. I love knitting socks. My goal is to get them completed soon. There are lots of "soons" in my world lately.

Later I will bake Almond Biscotti. We enjoyed fresh baked bread with our past in marinara sauce last night. Alan is a good cook. 

Murphy has a stocking.  It is burlap with applique that I made years ago. I just added his name to it. Surprisingly he has not touched it or our stockings which are hung on the fireplace.

Our gifts are on the mantle this year because Murphy thinks every package is his and enjoys tearing any...I mean any...box or mail into pieces. As a matter of fact, he has not touched the tree at all. 

Well friends, it has been nice chatting with you, but there are chores to do so I can bake. Thank you for your kind words and thank you for your friendship.

Stay safe.

Two more days

 Goodness another month flying by. Maybe it is just me loosing the days! I have had a few off days. Thanksgiving was Denny's favorite holiday so each year reminds me of his preparing dinner wearing a Santa hat. Good memories remain forever.

This is a Spirit Doll that I made for my niece Tonya. It is made from Dennis' jeans and all the embellishments have a significance.

Here is the back side. My lovely niece is having a health issue and I wanted her to have something from Dennis and me.... Something to remind her how much we care about her.  I also sent her a hugging pillow

This I posted before.  They were quite the pair when she was young. He had a special nic-name for her. I requested prayers and good thoughts for someone special, this is who they are for. It is difficult to face any issue around the holidays. 

Two more snowman...these with a top hat and snowflake. They are so cute. I love Christmas creating. It was always fun for me to send Reindeer food and a letter to children.... no requests this year. 

Sock yarn...yes... I will be knitting a pair of toeless and heelless socks for Lisa. She chose the yarn and as soon as take a few measurements I will start them.  I only have a few Christmas gifts to get .and then mail it all out. How about you? I just mail a couple of just because gifts out and they have not arrived at their destination. Should have been Monday and Tuesday, but who knows where they are.

With that, time to fluff on was and swish another. Glad you stopped by. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship.

Not lost!

 Goodness, time has just passed me by. I have not been idle, no not at all. First, I hope all is well in your home. We are doing fine. Our weather has finally cooled. Murphy is enjoying having the sliders open and pushes through the Magic Screen to go in and out. His favorite place after patrolling the garden is on the glider.

Did you miss me? The days just seem to fly...most of the time. Still wearing a mask when out, still keeping distance actually only out with a purpose. Are you ready for Thanksgiving dinner? We are going unconventional this year. No turkey! Instead we are having an Italian antipasti, fresh fruit, and Lasagna. I will bake a fresh French Country loaf which will go perfectly with the dinner. 

With all the negativity and sheltering in and masks, I said to Alan I can not wait to put out the Christmas cheer around here. "Go ahead"...so Lisa and I started and all is cheerful around here. Lights everywhere....and gifts on the mantel. The mantel you ask? Where else so that Murphy does not attack the gifts! Will take pictures to post. I have also been at the craft table.

I needed a felt Murphy for the tree.  Simple but cute. I also made a Christmas pillowcase finally...

I was not crazy about the fabric but once sewn I do like it. The fabric was a pre-cut package from the quilt shop. The other sewing I can not show until they are received....today and tomorrow they should be delivered. 

I saw these on Pinterest....

They are just tea lights. I put earmuffs and will try a top hat also. Even when not lit they are cute.  There is one more ornament that will be finished today....another Pinterest idea.

Guess I should take care of a few chores. Finish my  food shopping list and craft list. I spent hours looking for my hole punch....it is MIA! 

Nice to have you visit today. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship.

What time is it!?

 Can not believe I woke at 10am..... but Murphy and I were awake at 6am. Guess we fell back into slumber land. The temps are still rising and according to the local TV channel we are hitting record marks this year. Nice and comfy inside. Last week a package arrived from sis Lynowl

yes, the temp was 113 and I get a fluffy and soft as a bunny tail robe! Oh is feels so nice on...not exactly time for it yet! It fits perfectly.

Tomorrow our boy Murphy goes for his grooming.... sure does get scruffy fast. He was not feeling well the last few days.... bad tummy. As Alan says, if he would stop eating all the junk he finds ( plants, rocks, cardboard and paper, and socks) he would be okay. I am always on poop patrol to be sure if he ate it it comes out! 

I finally find my this years Christmas ornament.. well one of them.

Angels... remember the quote; Every time a bell rings, an Angel gets his wings..... now they will be looking to fly for Christmas. Robyn, across the courtyard friend approves. Can you believe we are already midway into August? Goodness time seems to be really on a jet.

Weill my friends, I am so glad to chat with you but I need a cup of coffee. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship. Stay safe and well.