I Made It To 100

I got so excited this morning because I made it to 100.  I wasn't even trying.  It just happened.  It wasn't a goal.  Although I have to admit that I do look at the number from time to time just to see.  I told myself it didn't matter because I do it for me, not as a contest.  It's kind of amazing when you think about it, that there would be a 100 out there.  I know some people have a lot more and that really amazes me.
No, I'm talking about $100!

I'm definitely not talking about my age!

I didn't get a certain percent!

I'm talking about YOU!  The wonderful, beautiful, caring friends I have that follow this little blog of mine!  

I started it just because facebook wouldn't give me enough room to write what I wanted to say!  I didn't really think about how many might be interested.  I just had things to say and share.  But I have to admit that seeing that number 100 feels good for some stupid reason. 

And I want to thank Crafty Girl at http://craftylifeandstyle.blogspot.com/ for being the 100th. And thanks to all of you who care to follow along on my journey of life.

(All images used in this post are royalty free clip art)

Thanksgiving Dream

I had one of those dreams last night.  You know, the kind where you wake up with crusty tears left over in your eyes and a sadness that you have to think about.
I dreamed that I was left homeless along with my mother and father.  Now I have no idea why my husband was not with me and why I was without a home with my mom and dad, but that's what it's like with dreams!  So we are homeless, but we could not find anyone to help us.  We kept asking different people and then asking those same people over and over again, but not only could we not get any help, everyone was so mean to us.  It was so sad and frustrating.
 I forced myself to wake up slowly so that I could remember what my dream was about and ponder what was making me so sad.  I was trying to make sense of it.  I realize now today, more than ever, how thankful I am to have a home, a loving family, and a caring mother and father.  I feel so bad for all of those people in the world, during this season especially, that don't have that. As  I slowly got out of bed, my feelings changed from a lingering sadness to a renewed happiness.  A better sense of what I have in my life.  I'm so glad that I have a husband that provides for me and children and grandchildren that I can kiss and hug and admire their beauty and health.  I feel like I need to make another person's life better if I can.
We had a great Thanksgiving, and that could be what inspired my dream.  I hugged and kissed my beautiful granddaughter, Leanna, all day!

I was surrounded by family.

And we all enjoyed great food!

Look at the wild hair on this little girl!  Because of the way the baby hair is rubbing off, she's now got a mix of  mohawk and  mullet.  She is just the happiest little girl.  And so am I!!

I Am Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving!  This is my favorite Holiday next to Christmas.  I love the food, the smell of Thanksgiving food throughout the house, the crackling fire in the fireplace, and a beautiful family to enjoy it with.  I'm thankful for all of this.  I'm thinking of so many that aren't able to have a Thanksgiving like this and it makes me appreciate and realize even more how fortunate I am and I am truly thankful.  It's easy to take for granted all that we have when we really have never experienced not having!
My mother will be here shortly so we can make our stuffing.  This has become a tradition between Mom and me for about the last 10 years.  Ever since we've lived in the same town.  She breaks up the bread into cubes while I cook the celery and onion in butter.  Then I add brown rice, walnuts and apples.  We prepare this while we have a glass or two of wine. Part of the tradition! Our stuffing is the best I've ever had!  I'll be up early to stuff the bird and stick it in the oven. By mid morning those delicious aromas will fill the house.  Thanksgiving dinner is actually a very easy dinner to prepare, it just uses up a lot of pots, pans and dishes.  The clean up is the hard part.
My cousin and his wife and two children are arriving later tonight.  My son, Austin, and his family will be here about noon tomorrow.  It will be a great weekend.  The weather is not sounding good for late tonight and morning, though, so I hope the travel for everyone is safe.
I wish a Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Wish I Had Time to Tell You About ------:

Boobs and Bones - that was going to be my blog post for today -  but I didn't get time.  I'll have to save that for another day. I have some things to say on this.

My birthday - it's today and I had a wonderful visit with my Great Aunt (Grandma's sister) and two cousins.  I made a nice birthday lunch with visiting family, Mom and Dad and Hubby.  I was going to show pictures and talk more about my day - but I don't have time now.

My Grandson's Kindergarten Open House - that's tomorrow. Hubby and I are leaving in the morning to be able to get  there.  We don't want to miss his very first school open house.  I'll have to show pictures and tell how it goes as soon as I can.

Christmas Shopping - Mom and I are going to Pittsburgh's Monroeville Mall to start our Christmas shopping on Saturday.  We'll have to leave early because it will take about 2 hours to get there.  Hope I have time to tell about it later.

Christmas Decorating - will start Sunday.  I do a lot of it and if I don't get started it won't get done until after Christmas!  I have to stay on schedule.  I'll post pictures when I get the chance.

Thanksgiving Dinner - has grown in number of family members coming.  I'm very glad about this and I love making Thanksgiving dinner and having family here.  But it takes time, you know, to shop, prepare and cook. I hope I have the time to take pictures!

If I had more time, I'd go into more detail, but I have to go knit to get a sweater finished for my son for Christmas.  I'm running out of time!

Art, Crafts and "Stuff"

I decided at the last minute last week to enter a local craft show.  I was the last entry of forty vendors to reserve a table last Wednesday afternoon and the show was held on Saturday.  I don't do craft shows normally, but this one was being held at our Lakeview Lodge, which is right around the corner from my home.  Literally.  I can walk there.  Which, of course, I didn't do on Saturday because I had all my stuff to lug.  I have little "stuff" though and I don't have an over abundance of "stuff", so getting it there was no problem.  My problem was gathering it all together and tagging everything on Friday night.  That's when you realize you have more "stuff" than you thought you did.

So here it is, my "stuff" all ready for hubby to carry to the car and drive me over and unload for me.  I could have managed myself but I think he must have had a moment of feeling obligated, since I was complaining loudly (on purpose for him to over hear) to my mother on the phone that parking might be a problem.
Mom also knits and she was sharing the table with me to sell her beautiful shawls.

Here we are setting up our table and there's Mom wearing one of her shawls.  It was actually a very fun day with a very good turnout, but we only sold a few things.  At shows like this people are looking more for crafty Christmas decorations and/or less expensive items.  Our "stuff" isn't cheap because we use expensive yarns and my little quilts are very time consuming.  We knew that going in, but that's OK.  The Lodge also served lunch and we visited with a lot of people and we made enough to cover our cost for the day.
I came home with a renewed interest in catching up and updating my on line Etsy shop.  I had been ignoring it lately since I just haven't had the time to pay attention to it or make or list anything new.  Now with my new phase of slowing down and trying to do more of what I want to do, I am having fun with Etsy again.( I have a link to this on my sidebar.) I just don't make things quickly.  Some people list new things every day and I just can't do that.  Here's a new mini "fairy" quilt I listed yesterday.  I was told by some of the wonderful Quiltsy ladies on Etsy that they have heard this term used for the very mini quilts and suggested I try using that tag on my listings.

This quilt is about 3-1/4" square and the whole thing is in a 5x7 frame.  I love making them, even if they aren't making me rich!
I also finished knitting the purple baby set that I was making for a friend's daughter's baby shower that was also on Saturday.  I got that delivered to her on Friday afternoon.

 I get quite a few requests for knitted items, but they also take a while.  I was asked at the show if I used a knitting machine.  NO!  Mom and I both knit by hand the old fashioned way.  I don't take too many orders at a time because I then get overwhelmed and feel pressured.  Not how I want to feel when doing what I love to do!
My wonderful hubby is working out of the house today, thank goodness!  Yes, he's wonderful, but I just have to say that he gets on my nerves when he's working at home.  He questions me all day about what I'm doing and I really feel guilty if I'm spending too much time working on my "stuff".  Only because I help him with paperwork and computer work and he constantly reminds me where the most money comes from.  I know, but------. So now I can relax for a while and do what I want!