Snowy Week...

We have had an unusally snowy week.... I guess that's a good thing, cause I can get lots of projects finished. I am working on two Block of the Month patterns.... and am up to date with the January blocks, but should get at the February ones. If you don't keep up with these things, they kind of get away from you. I am also doing a few customer quilts - I guess people have saved them up over the holidays - so that keeps me extremely busy. My quilting class at the local store is full this week - I will be teaching 6 beginners to machine quilt - this is always fun..

I had a one year blog anniversary in January - I guess I should celebrate that - and come up with a prize....LOL.... stay tuned!

Thought for the Day

The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof.

Barbara Kingsolver

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I can't believe it's the beginning of another year...... and we are experiencing extremely cold and snowy weather... just the right kind of weather to get lots of quilting done!! LOL... I will be updating my ufo list in the next few days.... I actually did get quite a bit done in 2008.... finished 5 of my quilting UFO's (this is just old stuff... not any new stuff that I pieced and quilted) and 10 of my pieicng UFO's (again, this is just old stuff, not any new stuff). I really must make a habit of adding to these lists to keep them up to date. I have two new block of the month programs that I am doing thru my guild, so that should keep quite busy this year, plus I have started taking University Accounting classes - so, I should have lots to keep me busy. I think if the snow keeps up I should be able to get a lot done.

I am also teaching a beginner quilting class on Shirley's Learning Fiber Arts group. The classes offered by this group are all free, so if you are looking to learn something new, that might be the place!
No resolutions for me!! Don't believe in them.
I will be having a one year "blogaversary" around the middle of this month... so stay tuned for that... I will be posting a giveaway.

Thought for the Day
We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.
Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Christmas

is over and we had a lovely, quiet time. The weather has been cold and that has given me an opportunity to get some work done. I finished a beginner class on quilting that I will be teaching on Shirley's Learning FA group. This class will take place in February and it is free. I also pieced and quilted a commission quilt for the daughter of a friend who has graduated college, as well as finished up a few of my swap blocks. So, I am all up todate with most projects.

The last two days, when the weather warmed up, I went walking on the lake. Once in a while you can hear "drumming", which is the water moving under the lake, but the lake is frozen so there is no danger... lots of ski-doos and ice fishers around. This picture on the right is looking towards where I live - I live around the bend to the right.

The picture below is looking out towards the lake, the widest part.

The final picture is looking towards my house as I am coming back from my walk. It feels funny to be taking a picture of my home from about 20 feet out on the lake.....

Thought for the Day

Stand here by my side and turn, I pray,

On the lake below thy gentle eyes;

The clouds hang over it, heavy and gray,

And dark and silent the water lies;

And out of that frozen mist the snow

In wavering flakes begins to flow;

Flake after flake,

They sink in the dark and silent lake.

William Cullan Bryant

This morning......

was absolutely beautiful... although very cold! As I drove to work the temperature was -39 degrees celsuis (which is -38.2 F) and my tires were like big stones - felt like I was driving a Flinstones car!!! As I came over the crest of a small hill, the sun was beginning to rise in the East and there was a blanket of cloud settled in a farmer's field over the snow...... just so incredibly beautiful. I wish I had a picture to show you.... I thanked God for such a spectacular day....

Thought for the Day
"The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow gave the lustre of midday to objects below"
Clement Moore

Be Careful....

what you wish for - LOL.... Well, after being stranded for 3 days in Calgary - I am home.... but oh boy, is it ever cold. It was -35 celsius when I woke up this morning... and so much for moaning about not having snow awhile back. This is the view from my sewing room this morning...

There had been a terrible snow storm in Calgary over the past few days... and while I had a great visit with family and friends.... we couldn't do too much because of the weather. Magpie and Tooie loved gramma's fireplace tho.... and didn't stray far from that!

LET IT SNOW....

well, this is our third day house bound... the weather is definitely wintry now!!!! I have to go to town tomorrow.. so let's hope it lets up. This first picture is of the road going to our house on Saturday....we went for a walk and it looked like we were the only ones around.



Hubby went into the woods, as we were walking along, to get me a few sticks to hang some quilts - they work out quite well, remove the bark and slip them in the quilt sleeve!!! recycling at its best.

I did some baking over the weekend and wrapped up the last of my gifts. I can spend the rest of the week just catching up on some sewing projects.



Thought for the Day
I think my favorite sport in the Olympics is the one in which you make your way through the snow, you stop, you shoot a gun, and then you continue on. In most of the world, it is known as the biathlon, except in New York City, where it is known as winter.
Michael Ventre

Wintery day....

well, now it does finally feel like Christmas!!!! This is the view out the door this afternoon - not too cold yet... but it's a'coming - LOL. The lake has finally frozen with a thin layer.....

My swap partner, Lindsay from England, gently pointed out that there should have been chocolate in my picture of the goodies I received from the Stocking Swap. Well.... technically there should have been.... but we ate them - LOL.... They were delicious....

With the cold snowy day, it was fitting that I received two more blocks in my ornament swap - these are from Betsy in Florida..... plus she sent me some Christmas coasters made from fabric... she's a sweetie, that's for sure.

Thought for the Day

The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.

Mark Twain

Well...... it finally happened....

we have snow!! How fitting it was to receive my first ornament block today from Christine. The background on this block is teeny tiny little snow flakes - very cute. I can't wait to get them all, now!

I quilted up my four patch stack quilt - here's one of the fancy feathers that I put in the bottom borders. This was a fun project to quilt. I guess if it keeps snowing I will just keep quilting!!!

Oh, and congratulations to President Obama.......

Thought for the Day
Oh! the snow, the beautiful snow, Filling the sky and earth below, Over the housetops, over the street, Over the heads of the people you meet. Dancing, Flirting, Skimming along.
J.W. Watson

AGAIN!!!

Well, we are in the third day of a deep freeze again! This time the snow didn't leave after the first day, and it is expected to continue for another two days. The temperature is -12C (which is 10 F), but with the wind chill the temperature is -23C (which is -9F).



It has been a good weekend for quilting..... and I finally got to use the cutest pantograph that I have had for a while - it is called "Doggie Pit Stop" by Dave Hudson. I think it is just adorable...... and I will use it again. I am not generally a pantograph user but there are a few out there that just suit the quilt!

Thought for The Day
Are you grateful?

Yesterday I was going to rake up my lawn....

and this morning look what I woke up to!!! Yesterday there was absolutely no snow in my front yard. It's a good day to stay in and quilt! This is probably the most snow we have seen all winter!