Another month ...

 It seems that time is getting misplaced around here. My intentions to do this and that get lost. Since our last visit, I have been having physical therapy for my right knee. I had a fall and landed right smack dab on the knee. I am almost finished with PT and it has helped, but, with the arthritis it is not going to get much better. The goal for 2025 is not falls. This last one was because I tripped over the vacuum cord. My carelessness. anyway, if you really know me, I keep busy. One of my favorite designers is Ann Wood. I buy her patterns and enjoy the free ones. Recently she began a "circus" set and now finally for sale. You know I had to make the elephant...

Love, love it. She will release the others; a monkey a lion and a cat periodically. Oh sign me up! I added a pipe cleaner to the trunk so I could bend it up. Maybe another Elephant will appear.

My felt Christmas tree is "redecorated" for the holiday. It is a tree that is always in my room and holds many handmade items.  I made the tree some years ago from a pattern by Donna Bayless. Another wonderful designer.

This year, I added decorations on top of my curio. I will add pictures of our tree and mantel and kitchen tree soon.   Our shopping is really complete and I have just 3 packages to mail this week.

I know you are all busy with holiday preparations, but remember to take moments for yourself. So glad you stopped by today. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship.

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.

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.