2012 *goals*

Ready or not, here comes 2012.  I think I'm ready!  I am looking forward to a new year, a clean slate, and new adventures ahead.  I am so thankful that my hubby has moved back home for good (job related) and we are putting life back together again. 

My goals are simple and reasonable this year:

1. Finish some UFO's in the sewing room!!  I have only one new project in mind to start this year.  More about that later.   Here's a work in progress that I hope will be my first completed project of 2012.

Do you remember all those swap blocks I had from the late 80's and early 90's?  These four I had already set together in the blue fabric a loooong time ago.  I brought it out the other day and added a border , appliqued the center flower, and plan to bind it the same red used in the flower.  This should be a quick finish and I will hang it above my loveseat in the livingroom. 

Livingroom.... That's a big part of my 2012 goals.  With hubby moving back in and all the kids moved out, my house is a mess and very 'undecorated'.  I plan to make my house 'my own' in 2012.  I'm looking forward to a little redecorating. 

I will continue with the Block Swap Adventure group.  This is my December block made by Samantha:

Again, forgive my photography ability; as this picture does not do this block justice.  This is a very very pretty and colorful block.. a perfect addition to the others I have received so far. 

2. We hope to find a church home this year.  Sadly, our church 'fell apart' back in the spring of 2011 and it has been a sad year, as far as church and Christian fellowship goes.  I never thought we would be here again, but we are looking for a new church.  I've done a lot of praying and I know God will lead us to the right church soon.

3. And my other goal is to spend more time with my grandchildren.... yes grandchild'ren'.  Avery is going to have a little brother or sister sometime in July.  We are very excited and I hope to have some fun 'grandma' days.  As a matter of fact, today is a Grandma day with Avery, so I need to get moving.

I hope you all are looking forward to the new year and I hope 2012 brings us all many wonderful memories!!

Christmas in Coyote Country (e book)

I wanted to share with you a sweet little treasure I hope that you will check out for yourself.  It is an e book written by a blogger friend:  Rose Mary at Life in a Cordwood Cabin.

This book is a quick moving 'mystery' from beginning to end and has a touch of romance to go along with it.  It is a good clean book... the best kind!!  It even features an 'alien'.... hee hee!

You can purchase your own copy here at Amazon for just .99 cents.  I know some of you received Kindle readers, etc. for Christmas and this would be a perfect book for you  to read while learning to use your new gadget.  You don't have to have an e reader to read this book ...I don't have one.... mine was sent to my email and I was able to download and read at my leisure on my computer.   I hope you will check it out and then drop by and tell Rose Mary how much you enjoyed it.

Thank you so much Rose Mary for picking me to win my copy from your blog.  I'll be waiting for the next one!

Snowman!

What a cute little snowman block!  I made this one in a hurry as a trial block and  I love him.  I got the pattern from the current issue of Quilt magazine.  The original pattern was used to make a set of winter placemats.  I think these little faces would make a cute little winter quilt.  I will do a couple of things differently in my next blocks, but I still think he is pretty cute.   Easy and fun project!

My! How time flies!

My! How time flies... this Santa pictured below is one that I painted back when all my friends  were painting pecan wood figurines.  I painted several pieces, but this was my favorite, and the only one that I still own.

Santa

I'm glad I put the date on the bottom of Santa... 1994.  That was 17 years ago!!  Where does the time go??? 

You can't really tell from the sideview, but I had written the names of the children in the family on Santa's list.  Most have faded away, but 'Justin' is still very visible.  The reason for that is:  Justin is my sister in law's son.  His was the first and only name on the list when it was first made, as I was going to give this Santa to my SIL as a Christmas gift.  Well, when it was finished, I didn't want to give Santa away, so I kept him and added the names of the others kids in the family to his list, using a different marker.  Those added names have almost faded away, but Justin is still there, as a very bold reminder that this was supposed to be his mom's gift.  :-) 

How do you like the vintage doily underneath Santa?  Not bad for a 25 cent thrift store find, huh?

Merry Christmas....early!

We started our Christmas celebrations with family over the weekend.  This little guy stole the show and we all had a blast.  Truly, it is so much more fun with little ones around. (there will be two new baby faces next Christmas!!!)   To see a few more pic's , go here, to my mom's blog.  Merry Christmas to all!