Vintage Tablecloth Love

No one here loves it except for me.

I found this tablecloth at Goodwill on Monday.

For $2.87... perfect vintage condition.  No stains, no tears.  And it fits my large table.  It makes me smile.  I know that someone spent a lot of time embroidering this cloth... someone who enjoyed doing things like this.  I will never use it; but I will love looking at it! Thank you to whoever dontated it to Goodwill.

How to get out of a rut and other stuff

I allow myself to 'get in a rut' quite often.  When most of us fall into a rut, it is usually our own fault.  For me, it's pretty easy to get out of the rut, if I just do a few things differently in my day to day life.

I rejoined Curves  this week.  It had been almost a year since I had been, and boy! could I tell I hadn't been in awhile.  I had gained way too much weight, however, I knew exactly where each and every pound had come from:  I  have enjoyed lots of ice cream and peanut m & m's this past year.  I mean a "crazy" lot of them. (did anyone else enjoy the chocolate dipped vanilla cones at McDonald's this summer??? oh my!!)   At least I wasn't surprised at the weight gain, right?  (I guess I was glad it wasn't more weight!)

On my way home from Curves today, I decided to stop by the library.  I realized that I had not been inside the library since I started using my Kindle to read e books.  Really??? As much as I like my Kindle, I still prefer paper and ink reading.  I checked out these Gooseberry books to browse through this afternoon while lounging around the house.  (it's raining here!)

On my way home from the library, I decided to take a different route.  I normally take the shortest route, but there are several ways to my home that only take an extra 2-3 minutes.  I enjoyed seeing things I don't normally see and just before I turned onto my road, I heard something on the radio that got my attention.  (I would have missed this if I had taken the regular 'in a rut' route)

Did you know there is a whole song for this chorus?  I'm not sure that I did.  Here are the words:

Some thank the Lord for friends and home 
For mercies sure and sweet 
But I would praise Him for his grace 
In prayer I would repeat 

Refrain: 
Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul 
Thank you, Lord, for making me whole 
Thank you, Lord, for giving to me 
Thy great salvation so rich and free 

Some thank Him for the flow’rs that grow 
Some for the stars that shine 
My heart is filled with joy and praise 
Because I know He’s mine 

I trust in Him from day to day 
I prove His saving grace 
I’ll sing this song of praise to Him 
Until I see His face 

This is one of my favorite songs to hum.

Last night I tried a new recipe from Pinterest: a keeper!!! 

 It was this taco salad recipe and it makes a huge bowl full and we had leftovers for today.  Very inexpensive and the kids loved it, too.  

taco casserole 

I would love to find a pretty pot like that to serve mine in sometime.  I served ours in a large wooden salad bowl which was pretty too.  But this pan is way more 'country'.  The only thing I will do differently next time is add another small can of olives to this, as we all love olives in my family.  We also added a dollop of sour cream on the top of ours.  A must try if you are looking for something different.  (It served four adults, two children, and  we had enough leftovers for another meal for hubby and I)

So, what simple things do you do to get out of a rut?? Some people rearrange their furniture, cut their hair, change jobs, etc.  I would love to hear your ideas.

Happy House

Please click on the link

Please click on the link below the picture to see pic's of this happy house.  I love, love, love everything about it.  I'm on Pinterest these days.  I'm getting ready to transform my kitchen into red and white gingham... pure country!  :)))

The lady who owns this house is Joy from Joy's Thoughts and Things.  Click on her link to see her whole blog.  It's adorable.

Sweet Pea and the Bouffant

What am I working on?

Well, that's what Sweet Pea wants to know.  What are you doing, Mama?

Let me under there, please! Oh, it's not really big enough, is it?

I'm finishing up a little bouffant embroidery done for my 'hair stylist' daughter.  I quilted  it using my machine and walking foot this morning. It was the first time I have used my walking foot.... love it.  I should have used it on Kameron's quilt.  Still learning......

On My Quilting Table Today

Don't get too excited.  I didn't make the top.  Isn't it pretty, though?  I bought it from ebay and I'll tell you why.

Hubby is in a wildlife association that meets every September in Smithfield, NC.  There is an auction at the end of the weekend and I have been promising him for several years to have a quilt ready for auction.  Well, he told me this year is the year, because he has already discussed it with several other members and organizers.  So, what to do?  Get a quilt ready!

I was browsing through ebay, as I so often do, and spotted this one last week, that I thought would be perfect for the wildlife auction.  Hubby agreed, so I bought it. I promise not to sign it, as if it were my own, but I sure would like to take the credit for making this sweet quilt.  I'm not sure if you can see in the picture, but the ears and tails are 3 D.  Click to enlarge to see if you can see them.

Hubby and I are on vacation from each other for the next couple of days. He is playing in a yearly golf tournament with his

A new quilt top for Nancy

I had a friend to ask me about making a baby quilt for her soon to be born grandson.  It caught me off guard because no one has ever asked me to make something for them.  Several have hinted, but none have come right out to ask.  She said she would be glad to pay me.....hmmm, how do you even begin to charge for the time it takes to make a quilt?

Knowing that this friend can also sew, I told her I would put together the quilt top, but she could finish it up.  She was hesitant, but agreed.  She bought all the fabric and I used my new  'go to' baby quilt pattern.

Yes, it's JUNGLE BABIES!  I'm not sure how this quilt is going to wash, as the top is made from cotton jungle baby fabric and flannel giraffe spots.  I'm not sure how mixing flannel and regular cotton will do together.

I like the way the two fabrics contrasted with each other.  And I just love the giraffe fabric.

Nancy chose this fabric with larger face babies for the backing.  I think it's going to be a pretty cute quilt.

** I do enjoy making quilts for others, but only if it's my idea....I choose the fabrics, I choose the pattern, and I get it done in my own time.  I have so many of my own things to sew, I would never want to sew for others as a business.  I think that would take the joy out of it for me. **