No resolutions for me

 Happy New Year my friends....I know, a bit late. Do you make new year resolutions? I prefer a list of suggestions. The definition of resolution: a firm decision to do or not do something. The definition of suggestion: An idea or plan put forward for consideration.  My list is usually 10 suggestions. Are all my suggestions followed...of course not. Anyway, just my thing.

Look at this 5 inch rose! It opened on New Years day.....good omen. Still have some roses blooming but now we are starting a cold spell so maybe time for them to sleep until Spring.I must say that I had a wonderful Christmas. Relaxing and fun. Santa really read my list! An update on me. It seems that my asthma has returned. For the 18 years living here in Arizona, I lost it. Back in Rhode Island I was coping with inhaler and breathing treatments. Now I am back on an inhaler and a med to help...so far all is good. Thank you for your good wishes.

I have not worn a watch I retired....since 2015. Sis Lyn sent me this watch which works with my Samsung phone. Very like an Apple watch. Still getting used to wearing it, but I love it. I love that I can easily change the photo.

As many of you know, I have not been tatting or doing cross stitch for some time. First I needed a change and secondly, hand/finger issues get in the way. But I keep busy with hand sewing and knitting and my miniature dolls rooms. Next I am working on a Fairy village. I will be doing some Sashiko stitching also. My tree has been growing....still a work in progress. Remember my Tiny Dog from this post, well, now there are 10 Tiny Dogs

 They will be available for adoption soon! So, if interested, stay tuned for info. For now their faces are hidden!

This is Sam... a little 5 inch frog who is can sit or stand on his own. Soon he will have coveralls and maybe a sweater....I think maybe a little lady will join him. The directions were not hard to follow..there were a few lines that were not as clearly written and the video to assist the knitting, well it did not match the written directions.  I have been knitting since a young girl and also taught knitting for a local knit shop, so I am able to get through the hiccups. Challenges are always good. Glad you stopped by today. Thank you for your kind words and thank you for your friendship.

Just humming my way~~~~

Goodness.... the countdown has begun. I probably speak for many of you, I am quite sure I will not be seeing the new year ring in. We will have a quiet time here.  It will be good to wake to a new year.

I have completely wiped myself out today...chores.... still looking for the House Keeper Fairy.  Swishing in the laundry area, washed the hall and kitchen floors and walked the vac around the living room.  Remember the budgie? well I now have a hummingbird ~~~~~

It is double sided so a bit more fiddly work but I love it. I do need a few more in case this one flies away like budgie will soon do. I thought I was going to make a Blue Jay but the hummer just appeared. I also want to make a few folk art birds. I find handwork relaxing ... as long as I take a few breaks. Do you still have Christmas around your house? Most likely our put away will happen next week on one of Lisa's days off.  Much easier with the both of us working at it. Of course I am sure Murphy will be a great help! 

So nice to have you visit with me. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship. Finally this year will come to an end soon. My wish for the new year is that we have more compassion for one another, take time to be kind to one another and finally better health for everyone.

Happy New Year 2019

I actually was awake for the start of the new year...Arizona time which is 2 hours earlier that the East Coast where family and friends are. I can not remember the last time I was awake at midnight for the new year. I finished packing up all the decorations and put it up on the shelving unit. Just need to fir in a few boxes or find another spot for now.

The tree will be later today. Now to re-decorate the house. After a month of brightness and glitter, everything is now subdued...need to perk it all up. I have tried to clean up the glitter and the snowflakes but I am resigned to be doing this for weeks to come. It is okay, it is worth having it around all month and deal with it for a month...or so. It is so festive with it.
We  had rain most of the day yesterday and this morning is beginning very cloudy. I will not be going anywhere so it is fine with me. We are in a cold spell...at least 10 degrees colder than normal. I will need to check on a few plants and maybe cover them for the overnight lows. I will move them into the lanai for a few days.

Done to the last 2 blooms on the Amaryllis but this shoot is still very green...who knows, maybe another one yet to come? We will watch and in the meantime....

the long time cactus is getting ready to bloom! This has been around for several years and blooms when it feels like it. It look straggly but I just keep it on the shelf and let it be. The white one had tons of buds but they did not open. These plants are temperamental in my house. It also is on the shelf and out of the way so I just let them be.
Looking forward to starting my star a month project. Anyone else making these starts? I know Pattie is (no blog that I know of). She did contact me to see the link and may be doing one a month....
Okay, first cup of coffee is finished and a few things need doing as yesterday was decoration packing and nothing else. I look forward to a new year of friendship with you and maybe finding a few new friends. Thank you for stopping by and commenting. Thank you for the kind words and for your friendship.
 A new year, new beginnings.....🎉

Finally ......

Very little sleep last night but woke at 7 AM to see a beautiful sunrise. A lovely way to end the year. Yes, we have finally arrived at the last day of 2018. Tomorrow a new page starts in the year 2019. I will celebrate with my traditional late night shrimp and maybe a sip of sparkling wine. If tonight was last night it would be perfect as I did not fall asleep until 4 AM...but of course I probably will nod off before 10 tonight.
Guess what I learned yesterday. Everyday something new pops up around here. You may remember that I got my new car this past September. So for all these past 3 months I am still learning things. I figured out how to put the radio on rear speakers.... I finally drove one evening and had to find the correct headlight setting.... how to maneuver the drivers seat.... and that brings us to the steering wheel. Yes, the steering wheel. All this time I have been having trouble seeing properly over  the darn thing. I kept adjusting the seat and still was not 100% comfortable. Finally while out to get milk at the market...which I forgot and had to return for.... I discovered that the steering wheel adjusts! Who knew! Finally I am now able to clearly see better and have it adjusted to me. Of course all of this ends when The Brother Alan arrives this Spring...it will all be adjusted back for his comfort. He will be the designated driver while in town.

It is official...today I begin the pack up of decorations. Now to figure what will go where and how it will go and then to get it back onto the shelving unit....I think I will be busy all day! If you are looking for me you certainly know where I will be.
A note.... I wish I had a way to contact some of you … when you leave me a comment and you are new to my blog, and there is no email attached to you that means I cannot respond. I am not with Google+ … please be sure to leave your email if you want a response. You can also email me directly...on the right sidebar.
Okay, I must get a start here or I will be in a turmoil for days to come. Glad we chatted. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship. If you will be celebrating this New Years Eve at home like me, I hope you are able to remain awake to usher in the New Year 2019. I will try but make no promises.

I wish you all a very happy New Year ….. 2019

Last day

I feel like I never went to bed. Once again I was awake so early that I finally just got up. I have had first cup of coffee and already had shredded wheat. Laundry is swimming in the machine and the sewing machine is waiting.
The other day when I went to the market to get a few things I spoke to the manager. I wanted to tell him about the chestnuts that I bought and every one was bad. I thought they should know. He insisted that I take a credit. I refused and said that was not what I was looking for or I would have talked to him right after Christmas not a week later. He actually followed me for a few minutes talking and when I got to the register he had the cashier take almost $13.00 off my amount.
I love chocolates as you may know...but I also love fresh popped popcorn. I usually buy the single serve microwave packages but have not enjoyed them. The popcorn does not have a nice crunch and forget the butter used to season it. So, when I saw this

I figured it was worth a try. I love gadgets of all kinds. Well, it makes the same amount as the packaged kind or you can make a large serving. The salt is to your liking and the butter actually tastes like butter. The best part is that it tastes great without any seasoning too and has the fresh crunch. Okay, commercial over.
Befor I go to the laundry corner...

This is waiting for me on the sewing table. You will hopefully get to meet her real soon.
The last day of the year.....sounds sad but for me it also sounds nice. I will spend some time today and tonight remembering all the good things of this 2017 year and then move forward to think about 2018. I am sure there will be some moments tonight that will bring tears to my eyes and I will allow them to fall as they must.
Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all the caring and encouragement you gave to me and I know you will be there when I need it in the coming year. Your friendship is so important.
We cannot change what has happened or caused us pain but we can look ahead to make things better for ourselves and those around us. I wish you all the inner peace of a New Year.

New Year 2017

Happy New Year to all my dear friends here in blog land.....

I wrote my first note for My Journal Jar, just a simple reference to the day. We had pouring rain as I wrote it but it sims to have stopped, at least for now. Mr H and I had a quiet evening and I will admit to not being awake for the strike of midnight. I have been busy tatting. Yesterday I started a piece and finished it today as was my plan...start it in 2016 and finish it 2017; sort of a flip in time. Anyway,

The designer has it attached to a ring, but as I do not have a 3 inch ring at this time, it is on an ornament display. A fiddly piece but pretty. I am sure to be making a few more. I plan to make a few as The Lucky Penny with the verse attached to give to prospective brides.  I really like making these tatted pieces an giving them away is part of it. I should introduce you to Dan and Debi Fox

Just adorable to join the rest of the menagerie. I eyed these two before Christmas when the price was $24.99 each, then they were $12.49 each. Yesterday they were $6.24 each, so of course they hopped right into the car and came home with me. I spoke with he Brother Alan yesterday with a report on mom, EvaP who is still at rehab and doing well. Not sure what the exact plans are, but we are concerned if she returns home but willing to give her a try. The three (Brother and sis and I) of us are in agreement on the care for her which is making this a bit easier. Time will tell. Thank you for the wonderful support you have given to me regarding this. Today I plan for a nice quiet stitching day with Alice. Not sure if I will tat, but who knows. It is a football day so we know where Mr H will be, in his favorite chair yelling and cheering. The trees will be lite for the last time and will start returning to their cubby hold I in the garage this week. I will mention that every year they come out of the same place but never return like they were before...what happens? Does the garage fairy have nothing better to do than drive me nuts?  I attempt to do this while Mr H is sleeping as he adds to the fairy confusion. Guess that about covers it. I hope if you celebrated last night you are "well" today. I only had 2 glasses of sparkling wine last night. I look forward to this coming year to enjoy your visits, listen to your opinions and make new friends. Thank you for your kind words and of course your friendship which means so very much to me. Have a wonderful start to the New Year.

PS...don't forget to write 2017!

A finish and a start

Happy New Year my friends.... the start of a new year is always special. Mr H and I continue with our quiet celebrations....there was my shrimp to end the year and this year we watched Sherlock Holmes and then The Thin Man  movies.  I did finish the stitching of my bell pull

Now to decide the finish. The pattern calls for a simple fine chain to hang from at the top and a rounded bottom edge with pearl trim around the piece...just not sure what I want to use. For the start of the New Year I am stitching Just Nan Singing Pin Bird.

I am using 32 count linen from the linen bin and the DMC threads as listed. Love Just Nan projects. We have no plans for the day and no resolutions for the year. If I make them, some of them fall by the way side so I just plan to take one day at a time. Of course there is always the hope to stitch everyday and read. I am hoping to continue with increased independence..... I guess that needs a bit of explaining. Through the years (since moving out here to Arizona) I have become more dependent on Mr H....not a bad thing. Since he has had some medical issues these past few years I have had to do more...except the fuel in the car bit... which is a good thing. For example, doing all the driving. I have not had to be the driver when we are out an about especially at night. I am sure he will be cleared to drive again soon but I want to continue at times being the driver. It will build my confidence as so many places are more than a few miles and via highways. I have been doing some of the cooking and that is a good thing. So I guess I do have some plans for 2016....who knew! One thing is for sure...my blog will continue and our friendship too. You have all been very important and supportive. Thank you for your friendship and support and oh those kind words which make my day. Happy New Year to all of you and good wishes for your dreams and plans for the new year to come true.

Love to all of you from Dennis and Me!