I Like Thursday #216

It's time for I Like Thursday. Some of us bloggers write happy and fun posts on a weekly basis. Please visit LeeAnna over at Not Afraid of Color to find links to more like minded blogs. I used to have a Christmas Cactus that I had for close to 30 years. It died a few years ago and I never replaced it. I found this cute little plant at the grocery store and just couldn't resist buying it! I hope this one lasts a while but since I don't have a green thumb, we'll have to see!

This is Bonnie Hunter's leader and ender challenge this year. It's called Oopsie Daisie. Each block measures 9.5". I have 48 blocks made so far. It's a great project to use up some small fabric scrap pieces. I found the block a little difficult when I first started this project, but they're much easier now. I try to make 2 per week. I'm not sure how many I'll end up making.

I started using this moisturizer and I just love it! It smells so good and I feel my skin just soaks it up. I like to change whatever cream I use for my face. Over time, I think your skin gets used to the cream and doesn't work as well. I really love this one. Fresh is a great brand.

I'm almost done reading this and it is wonderful! It's not for the faint of heart but it's a great read. Stephen King never disappoints and this book is no exception. You might want to start reading it after Christmas! It's a little gory and doesn't really fit in with the holidays. That never bothers me. I just tell myself that it's only a book! Haha!

I hope you're ready for the holiday. I'm still wrapping but done shopping. Not bad for me! Have wonderful holiday!🎄🎅🤶❄⛄ Happy Winter Solstice!!!
 

Stormy Monday

Today has been a miserable day! We've had heavy rains and high winds. We lost power around 6:30AM. My husband hooked up the generator a little after 7 but the actual power came back around 11AM. It wasn't too bad but that wind was awful! It kept me up most of the night. I never take naps but I'm actually considering taking one this afternoon. I thought I'd share this picture of my neighbor's house. Look at his lamppost! We  had wind gusts up to 55mph. I felt as though we were experiencing a hurricane! The wind and rain have calmed down but it's still dark and stormy,

 I usually don't turn on my sewing machines on days like these. I've been sitting on the couch knitting socks for my husband. I've made him a few pairs in the past but he always seems to get a hole in them. I thought I'd make him a new pair. I'm still knitting the leg which is made up of 3 knits and one purl. It's kind of nice to sit on the couch and knit today. Lily is curled up next to me keeping me warm. I'm hoping for better weather tomorrow!

I Like Thursday #215

It's I Like Thursday time! A bunch of us bloggers try to post happy content once a week. Please visit LeeAnna over at Not Afraid of Color to link up with more blogs. I tutored at the library yesterday. I really enjoyed seeing the Christmas tree surrounded by all the books. It was fun to read and talk in the shadow of the tree. It felt very festive!

I finished my Christmas ornaments. The round ornaments were much more difficult to finish. They took much longer than I expected. But they're all done and I'm happy with how they came out. 

I just had to show you how great my ornament looks hanging on our tree! We finally put up our tree last night but we have more ornaments to add. The painting made our holiday decorating so late!

I met a former co-worker for coffee and this is what she brought me! Crumbl cookies are the best. I better not eat too much of them. I'm going to gain too much weight but they're so hard to resist!

Have a great weekend! I'm going to try to finish everything up so I can relax until the holiday. Let's see if that really happens!!

 

State Fair Sampler Quilt Top

I finished this quilt top last week but couldn't take pictures of it. The painters had my floors covered with paper or plastic and there was paint everywhere. They're gone for now. They still have a few things to work on while different areas of the house dry. Anyways, I couldn't take a picture of the entire quilt due to it's size. The quilt measures approximately 92" X 97" give or take. This is the middle of the quilt.

This is the left side. I really love how it came out. The black is such a great contrast with that solid fabric. The colors look so vibrant!

This is the right side. Some of these blocks were so difficult but it all worked out in the end! My two halves matched perfectly. I was a bit nervous to sew the final seam but it was much easier than expected. I'm planning on quilting the Carrie Hall Sampler Quilt next. I feel that will be great practice before tackling this one. I'm just not sure when I'll get to it. This time of year is so busy and I'm so behind with all the painting. I'll get to it eventually!

I Like Thursday #214

I almost didn't post for I Like Thursday. This week has been a bit difficult. Painting the house has been a bit trying. Although each room has been painted in my house, the kitchen cabinets are in the process of being painted. Then, we will be done! I can't wait to be back to normal! I have a crew of 3 in my kitchen right now. I keep telling myself that it's almost over! Anyways, we don't have our tree up yet but did manage to put up a few things. This is the wreath on the door. 

We did get a little coating of snow yesterday morning. My front steps still have a little remaining snow this morning. I'm surprised it's still there but it's too cold to melt! 

I bought a little kit for my daughter to make these ornaments years ago. She started them but never finished. Since I'm stuck in the house, I completed them. When we put our tree up, they're ready to go!

I saved this for the last picture. This is my kitchen. I can't access anything in the cabinets. I wish they had told us so we could have taken out a few items. We got take out last night. They say we'll be able to use it tonight. I hope so! I miss my kitchen! I want to go back to normal.

That's my week! It wasn't the best but I'm hoping my house looks better next week. Please visit LeeAnna over at Not Afraid of Color to link up with more blogs! 

 

Cross Stitch Christmas Ornaments

I finished my last counted cross stitch Christmas ornament. I made this one for my tree! I love that it's round and looks like a real Christmas ornament. My favorite thing is the polka dot ribbon. It was so fun to see the image blossom!

These are all the ornaments I made. They all have to be washed and trimmed. I'm still debating exactly how to finish them. I should figure it out. I hope!! I'm so happy I rediscovered counted cross stitch. I used to enjoy it years ago but quilting seemed to take everything over. It's nice to have another skill!

I Like Thursday #213

Welcome to I Like Thursday! Please visit LeeAnna over at Not Afraid of Color to link up to more happy posts. It's been a quiet week for me. My house is still being painted so I'm sort of stuck here. I've done a good amount of online shopping so I'm doing fine with my Christmas list. I like staying home but hate that I can't leave when I feel like it. Anyways, my mother received these gorgeous flowers from my brother for her birthday. They're too pretty to not share!

My mother's 84th birthday was one week before Thanksgiving so we had a cake and party for her on the holiday. I don't think she expected it! It was fun to surprise her. She loved all her gifts. I made her a chocolate cake using a recipe from Ina Garten. It was so rich!  

My cats get along okay but they're not the best of friends. I think this is the closest I've ever seen them sleep near each other. It was a Thanksgiving miracle! They did eat some turkey so maybe the tryptophan got to them!

Due to being home, I'm making great progress on my last cross stitch ornament. This pattern is considered intermediate and I'm doing okay with it. Once this one is done, I'll have to make all 5 of them into real ornaments. I've read a few tutorials and think I know what to do.

That's my week! I think the painters will be here another week. We decided to have our kitchen cabinets painted so that will take longer than we expected. We might as well get it done now and get it over with.

Have a great weekend!