Now that Christmas is Over....

Now that Christmas is over, I have started to make a list of things I would like to do in 2019.  I wouldn't call them resolutions, I would call them goals.  I always have the philosophy, that there are many things I would like to do but with time constraints due to working, being with family, etc. things don't always get done.  I don't get stressed out about not completing something, because it will get done when it gets done.  Here are some things  I would like to try or do in 2019:

1.  Make beads out of polymer clay with the new translucent clay that looks like glass.  I have already bought the clay, so now I just have to make the time to do this.

2.  Quilt more items.  I made a Christmas table runner this year and I would like to continue making some other quilted items.

3.  Maybe do some watercolor painting.  I signed up for a monthly box to be delivered to me and it has watercolor paper, paints and ideas.  All I will have to do is create it!  Looking forward to that! :)

4.  Learning how to use the kiln I bought years ago.  Once that is accomplished I would like to make some fused glass jewelry.

5.  Read more.  I have gotten away from that and that needs to change.

6.  Knit more.  I am working on 2 knitted hats for my grandboys right now.  I really missed working with different yarns.  So I will definitely be doing some more of that!

7.  I have changed jobs, so life isn't so over the top stressful.  I want to continue that route with my new job.

8.  Garden more, increase my garden in the backyard out into the wooded area.  Last year I started a little gardening back there.  I planted an azalea, 2 hostas and 1 columbine plant.

9.  Get to the beach more with hubby and possibly the grandboys.  They love the beach and we always have so much fun!

10.  Last but not least, I want to enjoy life and nature.  I want to take walks on the greenway, watch the birds more that inhabit our yard, basically just take time to smell the roses!!

Well that is my top 10 things for next year!  Do you have goals or wishes for 2019?  Enjoy your day and Happy New Year!!

Christmas Cookie Making 12.15.18

Jenny, Jack and Owen came over as made our Christmas Cookies!  We had such fun!  We made cream cheese cookies (which everyone in the family loves), chocolate chip cookies (the original standby cookie) and lastly sugar cookies.  The boys love to cut the sugar cookies out with cookie cutters that are new and ones that their Mom used to use with her sister and I!  Here are some samples of what the boys made:

Jack getting ready to make cookies (of course we washed the counter before we began LOL).

Jenny in cream cheese cookie making mode.

Little Red Riding Hood Sugar Cookie.

Owen's version of a Hawaiian Hula Dancer sugar cookie (coconut bra and all) LOL!!

We got Papa in the cookie making actiona for a little while.

Owen, myself, Jack and Jenny making cookies.

Sugar Cookies decorated, waiting to be eaten!

It was a real fun day!  Can't wait until next year's creations!!  Merry Christmas!!

November Trip to NJ

I traveled to NJ up to my Mom's on 11.01.18 and stayed until 11.07.18.  I had never took that trip by myself, but it was a breeze up and back.  It is about a 10-10.5 hour trip.  I played and audible.com book up and back so that was a good way to pass the time.  While I was up there I decided I would try out my new camera (birthday gift from my hubby and girls).  I was in luck because the wild turkey decided they were going to visit while I was there!  Here are some shots I got in.

They were interesting to watch!

I took some photos of my Mom's front and backyard.  Her Japanese Maple out front was so colorful!!

My Dad planted these 2 Burning Bushes in their backyard.  They are so beautiful!

The Burning Bushes have beautiful red berries on them.

It was getting dark but the Japanese Maple showed up anyway!

My Mom's house has a bay window and this is the view from there!

Japanese Maple

This is out the front window also but on the ridge side.

I had a really nice time with Mom.  She gets lonely at night and it was good that she had company even if it was just for a little while!  We watched Christmas Hallmark movies, visited, drank tea, had 2 fires in the fireplace, went out to lunch a few times and had dinner out a few times.  I also got 2 visits in with my friends.  I went out to brunch with one of my friends and then had dinner with another friend.

When I visit back home it still seems odd with my Dad not there.  We always talked about is on going projects he was working on and he would talk about the old days.  There always seems to be a hole in my visit.

My 2 sisters came for visits and I went to lunch with Sue twice and once with Sandy.  I also got to see my 2 brother in laws and my 3 nieces.  So I really back alot into the 5 days that I was there.  The 6th day was the ride home.  I really did miss hubby, my girls and my 2 grandsons but I was really glad I went up.

Here are a few more photos I took while I was at Mom's.

This is the dinner bell in the backyard.

This is the corn sheller my Dad refurbished.

This is some of my Dad's handiwork.  He loved his paths!

This is a real Indian grinding stone.  It was my Nana's and she gave it to my Dad.  There is a pestle that goes with it too!

Old iron wheel in the back yard.

I always loved this little log cabin birdhouse my Mom has on the fence by the garden.

Mom is ready for fires in the fireplace.

This was one of our two cozy fires we had in the fireplace!  Dad built this house 47 years ago and the fireplace he built is still working very well!

Well I hope you all enjoyed my photos of my visit back home!  Enjoy your weekend!

Christmas Tree Tablerunner

I bought a kit when I was at Joanne Fabrics with Jenny, my youngest daughter.  Now that I am done with the Tunic Top I made her, I can now concentrate on my sewing projects!  This is what I will be working on:

I thought this would be really nice to put on my antique Dining Room table for the Christmas season.  This kit came with all the material-see below:

I love these colors!!  I can't wait to start on this.

I had to go to Hobby Lobby today to get fusible interfacing so I could make this.  I bought more material to make some more.  I think I'm going to put some on my etsy site when I get them done!  This is the best time to do that I'm sure.

Everyone have a wonderful weekend!!

Some Autumn Photos from the garden.

I just love this time of year!  The weather is crisper, there is a slight breeze and the flowers are putting on their last show of the year!  I walked around the yard yesterday and took a few photos that I thought I would share with you!

This geranium has been my favorite all year!  I am bringing this plant inside.

Butterfly Bush blossom.  This kept the bees, butterflies and hummingbirds going all summer!

One of my favorite coleus plants this season.

The favorite geranium up close.  I didn't even have to change the coloring, this is what color it truly is!

Green Ornamental Kale in my front urns dappled with sunlight.

Lantana

The last rose blossom of the year.

Happy little pansies.

Ornamental Kale in my flower boxes on the front porch.

Pretty little rosebud.

Yellow Chrysanthemums-so pretty and cheerful on the patio.

This was my attempt at taking a photo of the moon with my new camera.  Still working with the settings.  I thought it was pretty cool though!  There is a jet stream along the bottom of the moon, looks like the witches may have been flying by LOL!!

So that is my photo shoot for today!  I am thinking of making cards with my photos in them and selling them on etsy.com.  What do y'all think?  Enjoy your day!

The High Tide Club by Mary Kay Andrews

Let me start out by saying I have read all of Mary Kay Andrews books and this one is one of my favorites!!  The High Tide Club had alot going on and it was great!  I love books that are set in the low country.  This one had mystery, intrigue, murder, romance and it was just a great plot!  Here is the blurb from goodreads.com:

When ninety-nine-year-old heiress Josephine Bettendorf Warrick summons Brooke Trappnell to Talisa Island, her 20,000 acre remote barrier island home, Brooke is puzzled. Everybody in the South has heard about the eccentric millionaire mistress of Talisa, but Brooke has never met her. Josephines cryptic note says she wants to discuss an important legal matter with Brooke, who is an attorney, but Brooke knows that Mrs. Warrick has long been a client of a prestigious Atlanta law firm.

Over a few meetings, the ailing Josephine spins a tale of old friendships, secrets, betrayal and a long-unsolved murder. She tells Brooke she is hiring her for two reasons: to protect her island and legacy from those who would despoil her land, and secondly, to help her make amends with the heirs of the long dead women who were her closest friends, the girls of The High Tide Club, so named because of their youthful skinny dipping escapades. When Josephine dies with her secrets intact, Brooke is charged with contacting Josephines friends descendants and bringing them together on Talisa for a reunion of women whove actually never met. 

Mary Kay Andrews out did herself!!!  If you are looking for a good read, I would recommend this one!

Pumpkin Picking, Mums, Ornamental Kale, etc.

Yesterday I went pumpkin picking with Megan, Jenny, Owen and Jack.  We had a really fun time!  We went to Hodges Family Farm on Rocky River Road.  Here are some photos of our adventures.

Black Sheep at Hodges Farm

Bunny at the farm

Farm Machinery

Field across from the farm.

Iron Wheel at the Farm

Two little pumpkins-Jack and Owen

Jack in the pumpkin patch.

Jack driving Owen in the surrey.

Jack running off some energy after picking out his pumpkin.

Jack, Auntie Megan and Owen walking out to the pumpkin patch.

Jack, Owen and Jenny getting down to business picking their pumpkins.

Jenny and Owen contemplating taking this pumpkin home with them.

Jenny, Jack and Megan.

Jenny, Owen and Megan.

Miniature Horse at the farm.

Jack, Owen and Nana sitting in the surrey.

Owen on the Ford 8N Tractor.

Owen with his prize pumpkin.

Owen on a carved piece of log that was made to look like a boulder.

Owen sitting in a log carved into a chair.

Pumpkins galore!!

Quarter Horse at the farm.

Scarecrow Girl

Sunflower in bud.

Surrey in the barn.

As you can see it was a good time had by all!!  Happy Fall!!