What a Blurrr

this week has turned out to be. My intention was to post on Monday and here it is Thursday, already. The winter cold season finally hit our house, and as always, whatever ailment it happens to be must visit each one of us. Hopefully we'll be all set with this bug pretty soon. At any rate, here is my new Fat Quarter stash I got at my LQS on Fat Tuesday. Every year, they have a great sale; buy one FQ get one free. The catch is that you have to buy ten. Aw... shucks, guess I had to choose twenty. Poor me, huh? I don't know what projects to make with them yet, but I'm sure they'll get used.

This is a horrible picture, I know. Have no idea why but here it is anyway. I've made these booties way too many times to count. If I know anyone that's having a baby, they get a pair. Someone made them for me for one of my kids and I loved them as they stay on baby's feet. It's a 1950 something pattern from McCall's. It's a keeper. Honest, the picture doesn't do these footsies justice.

I can't remember what we were baking this day, but thought I'd throw in a pic of my little helper, Caressa. She loves to help me bake. I love her help. It all works!

We had beautiful weather on Sunday and Monday. I stripped all the beds in the house between the two days, washed and hung them on the line to dry. Nothing makes me happier than to hang clothes on the line and see them flapping in the breeze. Well, maybe some things make me happier, but really, it's a simple pleasure in my life.

And we also did some bread baking this week. I made four loaves and need to make four more tomorrow or Saturday. I set it on the woodstove in the kitchen and it gets a nice rise. I love the smell of homemade bread and enjoy watching the kids butter up thick slices while it's still warm. Yea, it's been a pretty good week around here

Time to Tap the Trees

Valentine's Day is traditionally the day we tap the Maple trees. Gary, Cassidy and Kierra went out yesterday armed with sap buckets, taps and covers, and a drill, of course, and tapped the trees. For the next few weeks, until St. Patrick's Day, we will trudge through the snow into the woods and check the buckets. At first, the sap usually runs slow, but in a few weeks we will be carrying heavy, sap-filled buckets back to the house daily. We'll empty the buckets into a turkey fryer and when full, my husband will burn the sap down over the turkey gas burner. I'll post a few more pictures and directions during the first burn. If you haven't tried making Maple syrup before and you have maple trees in your backyard, I encourage you to give it a go. It's a lot of fun, a great project for the kids and everyone will be happy with the end result... home-made, yummy Maple syrup!

My Dad

My dad passed away on January 29. It's been a sad time for me and my family but I am comforted by the thought that he is happy resting in the arms of Jesus and Mary. If you would, please pray that he rest in peace.

Last night, I made this pretty satchel bag from the French General Home Sewn book. I got the Waverly material from a tag sale. The lady is an interior designer and had loads of pieces and bolts of fabric everywhere. I scooped up quite a bit that day!
My sister-in-law has been extremely helpful and supportive the past few weeks. She helped bring my mom back and forth to the hospital, helped with the wake and funeral arrangements and read at my dad's Mass, despite a nasty cold and laryingitis. I'm pretty sure she's much better, but I'm bringing her a pot of chicken noodle soup, oatmeal-cranberry muffins and tapioca pudding tomorrow; all in the bag. I hope the meal hits the spot and gives her a nice night off from cooking and the bag totes around her stuff in style.

My Daughter Knits, Too

Kaleigh loves to knit just as much as I do; well, maybe even more. She knitted this cute dishcloth the other day and tossed it over to me. She said, "Here, Mom, happy something. I knitted it for you." I was so happy! I decided to use it as a dishwashing cloth instead of a washcloth so I could enjoy it longer while washing dishes instead of myself. She used the free pattern from Kris Knits. (see sidebar)

For Christmas this year, Kaleigh knit me these beautiful Delicatto Mitts. I really like them alot as they're warm, pretty and soft. They are not an easy knit but she did a flawless job. I especially like them for driving. She used Frog Tree yarn and the Delicatto Mitt pattern found on Ravelery.

Primitive Valentine Cupboard Sampler

by the Sampler Girl. This was a fun little sampler that is adding just the right touch to my Valentine decorating.

My little girlies are busy playing inside during this dreary January day. When the sun comes out though, I bundle them up and send them outside for nice fresh air and some Vitamin D. But today, I'll just listen to them play in their pretend world and savor every minute of it.

My Little House & Country Cottage Stash

There were some excellent sales at the end of the year at the on-line needlework sites. I took advantage of several. Today I'll show you my Little House Needlework and Country Cottage patterns I bought. Tomorrow I'll show you another designer. From Country Cottage, I got: Sugar Plum Fairy, The Bakery, The Tea Room, and Summer Garden, from Little House Needleworks, I got: Always and Forever, Fa-La-La, and Pear Tree. Right now I'm working on a Valentine Cupboard from The Sampler Girl... I'll show you more of that soon. I'm hoping to get in some stitching time later tonight.
It looks like a beautiful day today, with lots of sunshine and crisp, fresh air. I would like to go for a walk later and do some errands. Hope you enjoy a great day!

Rose Baby Hats

My friend has the cutest little ones imaginable. She wanted two spring hats for them and we thought, seeing they like pink, these rose hats would fit the ticket. I'm sending them off this afternoon. Hope they like them!