Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!!! the trick or treaters are going to get chilly here tonight.
It was a busy week last week but not much that was blog worthy, I had son's dog for a few days we had lovely weather for long walks I got my 10,000 steps in those days.  She forgot that at my house she has to stay in the kitchen or dining room I ran downstairs for something when I came up she was sitting on the carpet waiting for me so I sat in my spot in the sun room and read and knit for the duration for her visit. My sweater is the same color as her fur. In natural light they match, the flash really washed out the sweater.  Then son came and took her home so I had to vacuum and scrub the drool spots from the floor.

Darling daughter came for a long weekend since the guys went hunting again.  We spent a day shopping we bought apples from the orchard, I bought yarn and we had a delicious lunch.  The rest of the weekend we watched movies and I knit some more and she went home.  Then I did necessary things like rearranging my closet so I could get at my cozy warm sweaters without using a stool and put the short pants out of reach until next spring.  The trees are almost bare,  the wind is cold and the sky is grey tomorrow must be November.  --Ann--

smiles everyone

Squeeze together, everyone look at the camera............smiles.............needlepoint Santas I have stitched beginning in 1989.

"tell Klaus to take off his hat" "Arnold, put the book down"  "I'm checking the list"  "Sven, the goose"  "watch the candle"..............and the hand carved that I have been collecting since........equally as long.

And to all a good night..........--Ann--

Happy Ground Hog Day!!

10 things I learned last year

1. Tape the pasta box shut especially when I put it in the cupboard sideways other wise all the pasta ends up on the floor.
2. The bread machine doesn't make dough unless the paddle is attached to the nub at the bottom of the pan.
3.  Learned basics of woodcarving with minimal cuts to my fingers.
4.  Chocolate with hot chili pepper in it is really really good. 
5.  Chocolate with sea salt is good too.
6.  Oven roasted parsnips and carrots are delicious.
7.  Abbreviations for blogging and quilting HST is half square triangle not short for history, FMQ is free motion quilting, GFG is Grandmothers Flower Garden not my mother's initials with an extra g, WIP is Work In Progress, CRAP is Creative Resources And Projects which is all over my sewing room.
8. Grilled pizza burns very quickly.
9. Beets on the grill are the best.
10. Washing windows is less work than moving.

A very short true story:

Hubby Dear was looking out the west windows at sunset last fall and made disparaging remarks including "I'm not building a new house so you don't have to do windows."  So Wifey Dear made an effort to wash the windows only to find that someone put the mini blinds so close to the screen that they would not come off without taking down the hardware for the blinds. The only way to wash the windows was from the outside with the windows cranked wide open.  The windows exceeded Wifey Dear's reach even from a ladder because there were basement window wells below each window.  So Hubby Dear bought a squeegee that could be screwed to a long handle.  Wifie Dear got a good start on the windows and noticed how dusty the screens were which led to vacuuming the screens and the mini blinds and the woodwork and the ceiling fans and the vents while Hubby Dear mowed the lawn. Then Hubby Dear finished the windows. Bless his heart! And Wifey Dear made supper.  The End

Ann

Winter???

Is it really winter here in central South Dakota?!? It is 62 F here. I sat outside this morning and enjoyed the sun on my face. Last year we were up to our hips in snow. The landscape is so brown and boring I picked up my knife and chipped away at another snowman. Woodcarving or whittling what a marvelous excuse to sit outside and do almost nothing.

The trees are candles from my childhood, some still have the tag on the bottom 10c. There is no cent sign on the keyboard anymore. My wood chips are trying to imitate snow.

Staying warm even outside

Ann

Santa Collection

My Santa's usually come out with the first snowflakes or the beginning of Advent whichever comes first, this year it was before Thanksgiving some years they come out in October but these early guests never wear out their welcome.

When I started collecting carved Santas I knew the woodcarvers who carved them and there were several in eastern South Dakota. 

The Saint Nicholas with  with the bishops hat and green robe looks  like his carver, his wife painted all his carvings with artist oil paint so the grain of the wood shows through she whispered good bye to the Santa with is finger to his mouth shhhhing as she put him in my bag.

Since we have moved several times I am never there when the Santas are for sale. Now I look for Santa when we travel, I found the tallest Santa in the back row in Alaska and the Santa with no arms and tan robe in Sweden (below Alaska and left). Hubby Dearest has given me several as he has learned to surf the internet.

 Each one has so much personality

I have always enjoyed doing needlework and got hooked on needlepoint, Santa's of course. I have tried to do one every year. Some were purchased painted canvases, some from cross stitch patterns and the last couple I have painted the canvases I have a new appreciation for those who paint the canvases.

You better be good 'cause Santa Claus is watching,

Ann

Happy Halloween

Boo

Happy Halloween,

Ann

Birthday Reflection

One of my very dearest friends sent me this beautiful bouquet of lilies. Thank you!

I have been celebrating my birthday for well over a week now. It started with cocktails with the neighbors and son, then a weekend trip to Iowa to see cousins from Ireland who were visiting there, a stop at an apple orchard for a couple bags of fresh apples, calls from kids, and hubby taking me out to eat, then this gorgeous bouquet of lilies and they just get better every day.

I am midpoint of another decade. Looking back

10 things I've done:

Mendenhall Glacier Alaska

near Savar Sweden

1.  Married a great guy
2.  Traveled to Ireland, Sweden and Finland
3.  Gave life to 3 wonderful children with the goal that they would become taxpayers.  I have to brag for just a minute here.  Oldest son was in the US Navy for 5 years, is finishing college and working very hard to establish a veterans resource center on campuses in South Dakota. Second son is a civil engineer and is deputy site manager of a wind farm in South Dakota. Youngest daughter is attending college in Minnesota and is in the dental hygiene program.
4. Gone on a hot air balloon ride
5. Built a house and still married
6. Built another house and still married to the same great guy. We have moved 10 times in 30 years all in South Dakota.
7. Have visited 30 states including Washington DC and Alaska and 3 Canadian Provinces.
8. Hosted and exchange student
9. Have completed almost 200 quilts  
10. Am not taking any prescription meds or  prescription eye wear. Just drug store reading glasses in every room of the house.

10 things I would like to do

first woodcarving figures

1. Visit all the state parks in South Dakota
2. Visit all the dams on the Missouri River
3. See the states I haven't been to especially the northeastern United States and Maritime Provinces in autumn
4. Finish my kids photo books
5. Take carving lessons
6. Go sailing
7. Take some watercolor classes
8. Live in one place long enough to establish an asparagus bed   
9. Drink wine and eat cheese in several European countries
10. Avoid ambulance rides and hospital stays   

Seize the Day
Ann