Another Finish (Almost) and a Wonderful Surprise in the Mail

Would you just look at what the very talented Margaret has sent me!  When I opened her Christmas greeting envelope and saw this beautiful stitchery - it made me so happy I almost cried.  Seriously.  A sweeter, more generous friend would be hard to find.  Thank you so much, Margaret!  You made my day. 

I think if you click on the picture you should be able to see it bigger.  Her stitchery is just exquisite.  I think I'll have to sew a Christmas sashing around this and frame it.  It's too pretty to let it get handled a whole lot.

And here is a little baby quilt I finished tonight for a sweet young family at our church who have a baby girl due to be born this month.  We're having quite a growth spurt just due to babies being born - four in December and January!

I have so much fun making these smaller quilts and I really enjoy making each one unique.  Don't you love these Beatrix Potter prints?

Here's a little closer look.

This is a truer representation of the colors in the front, taken this afternoon.  You can see lots of loose threads on here.

And this is the backing, also taken this afternoon.  Sorry for the poor quality of the photos, but it is almost midnight here, and the light is not that great.  LOL!!  This little quilt is in the dryer now getting nice and crinkly.  A label made and sewn on and it will be done.  I have one more of the new baby quilts to make and it is already well started.  I'm about to start sewing rows of blocks together when I finish this post.

And yes, I'll probably look a lot like this before the night is over.  Plenty to do before I crawl into my nice, warm bed.

I do so hope you are having a wonderful day or night wherever you are, that the surprises in your life today have been good ones, that you have good friends to cheer you in times when you're feeling a little down, and that the Lord watch over you and bless you richly.

Hugs and kisses,

I'll Think About That Tomorrow

Do you ever have those days where there are just way too many things to think about that you'd really rather not think about?  This has been one of those days for me.  For one thing I went to a funeral this morning for a friend.  His wife is our friend, too.  She's strong, and she's not sad and broken-hearted.  She knows he's in heaven.  But we'll miss him.  I don't want to think about it. 

Our daughter is home and recovering, but she still has issues (many of them) to deal with.  I don't want to think about it. 

My mother is still upset with me because I did not let my brother get away with treating me really badly.  I don't want to think about it.

So, like Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind, I don't think about it.  I'll think about it tomorrow. 

Maybe.

For today, I'll think about things that make me happy, things that bring me joy.  I'll think on the good things.  After all, tomorrow is another day.

Philippians 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

I hope you have only good and pleasant things to think on!

Hugs and kisses,

                                                    Elaine

Fish on My Chicken Yard?

I finished this little baby boy quilt, and hung it on the chicken yard for a picture.    You can see there's a lot of interest from the chicks.

And now it's moved over to the garden.

And here it is on the swing.  It really gets around, doesn't it?

I really like this underwater fabric I used on the back.  It's a bright, happy quilt for a much anticipated little boy.  He's due to arrive in January.  The shower for Mom was on Saturday.  Quite an extravaganza.  I didn't get to stay for the whole thing, so I really hope she liked it!

On the really plus side, I brought Miss Ru home from the hospital this afternoon.  We've already had a visit from the home healthcare nurse.  We'll be doing some antibiotics here at home for about a week, and then back to normal.  Thank God!  I am so thankful.

Hope you've got lots and lots of good things going on in your life.

Hugs and kisses,

They're Everywhere

                                  
Quilts, that is.  We went up to visit our daughter in the hospital this afternoon and look what's in the lobby.

Obviously, it's been there for quite a while.  I don't know why I never noticed it before.  You can hopefully see from the plaque above that each unit at Methodist Hospital designed their own square, which was then made into this quilt.

Pretty neat, huh?

What I like even better than the quilt is this beautiful artwork of the true Healer.

I took our baby girl in to the emergency room on Tuesday afternoon.  Her pulse rate was very high and she had an irregular heartbeat.  After many tests and procedures it seems that what caused it was not a heart problem, but rather her body's reaction to an infection flaring in her lungs and the resulting pain.  Antibiotics are running, yet again, and she should be back home next week.  God is good! 

I hope you have all had a wonderful day here in the States celebrating Thanksgiving, and those of you in other places doing what most makes you happy.

I am thankful for you all - the wonderful friends I've met here in blogland!

Hugs and kisses,

Happy Thanksgiving

 I pray that your day is filled with all things good and lovely, that you enjoy family and friends, and that you remember to thank our Father, for it is He who has given us richly all things to enjoy!

We have much for which to thank Him!  I thank Him for YOU.

Hugs and kisses,

Thank You, Margaret!

I had such a nice surprise in the mail yesterday.  My friend Margaret had sent me such sweet, thoughtful gifts.  Margaret had written on her blog awhile back about making some hats, and I thought it was such a neat idea.  She gives a link to the tutorial on that post.  I did try my hand at it, but my one effort did not look anything like as good as Margaret's.  Now I have one of Margaret's and I shall so enjoy wearing it in the yard!  Thank you so much, dear friend!

I will SO have to incorporate this beautiful stitchery into a quilt just for me.  And there's a glasses case behind that!  Wowsers!

Yesterday Mr. Sweetie Pie and I went on a sort of sad errand.  A lady in our church is being forced to move from her home.  I think the city is condemning the property, but whatever the reason she has until Monday to get out.  She told me on Sunday that she would like for me to have an antique rose that she has had growing there for the entire 48 years she has lived in that house.  She told us yesterday that she had been born in a house directly across the street, and that she had grown up there.  Now her house (and it's a rental) is the only one left on the street.  She is moving in with one of her daughters until she decides where to go and what to do, and putting her things in storage.  Anyway, we first had to trim quite a bit - it was a huge bush, and then Mr. Sweetie Pie dug it up and put it in our van.  It was so big that I was able to divide the roots into three separate bushes.  The one above is now on our back fence.  I have another on the side of the house and the third went to live with my very sweet neighbor across the street.  I also brought home a number of clippings that I will attempt to root.  It would be a shame to let a survivor of a rose like this to die out!  I look forward to many more years of blooms from this grandmother of roses!

It is such a beautiful day here today.  The sky is that incredible blue that seems to only happen in autumn, with crisp cool breezes blowing.  Right now I'm watching LOTS of sparrows outside my window.  I know some people don't like sparrows, but I enjoy their antics.

There's still plenty that is pretty to enjoy in our yard.  I love seeing things grow, don't you!

And just in case you're wondering how the chicks are coming along, here's a little picture of them.  I went inside their pen to give you a better look, but I had forgotten a very valuable lesson:  Do not approach untrained young chickens with your toes available for pecking, or it will happen.  The little clip below will show you exactly what I mean.

Hope your day is full of only pretty and not painful things!

Hugs and kisses,

Baking Day

             
It is really cool and pleasant here today, so I decided early this morning to have a baking day.  First I made my favorite fruit bread.

This time I used dried cherries, blueberries, cranberries, raisins and golden raisins.  YUM!

Next was a loaf of white bread.  I did the first stages in the bread machine and then let it rise again in its pan and baked it in the oven.

And finally, I baked a batch of whole wheat rolls.  I substituted honey for the sugar in their recipe.  Again the first steps in the bread machine and then forming, letting rise and then baking in the oven.  We had these for lunch and they were really good.  I brushed melted butter on them while they were still warm.

Tonight, it's dripping a little light rain outside, but still pleasantly cool.  Through the open back door the fragrance of these angel trumpets is just heavenly!

Meanwhile, back in the sewing room I am still avoiding this little pile of fabric cut out and waiting for me to get busy with it......  I think it's taunting me....

Have a great evening!

Hugs and kisses,