Monday....

 After way too much food yesterday and lots of fun games played, it is back to a 'normal' work week for me. Well, not quiet normal as I'll have Friday off for Christmas! 

I did get into the sewing room yesterday for a little bit and managed to cut out a little for Clue #4 and figured I'd start with one set to see how it looked.... after sewing  a bit I pulled up the photo on the compter for the clue and Oops! I sewed to the wrong sides! At least I noticed after only doing a few wrong and not all of them. I kinda like the placement of the colors on the oops... it could make a really fun building block in the future =)

Maybe I'll get a little sewing in later today.... after I go out and take a look at the Christmas start a bit after sundown tonight... and our Zoom gift exchange on girl scouts. 

The Sunday before Christmas.....

 I had in my head I would work on finishing up the kids crochet and knitting projects I started for them last year. Did you know, if you want to make progress on something you actually have to work on them? I seem to have forgotten that little part of it! Oh well..... they have waited this long.... what's a few more months?

Emily's is probably pretty close with her crochet afghan.

Aidan's knitted sheep pillow.... lets just say I am still not comfortable with the changing of yarn colors to make the sheep. I really just need to sit down and figure it out!

I have been concentrating on hand quilting book club - and just have all the sashing and cornerstones to finish off then add a binding. The 9 blocks are all quilted.

I watched 2 movies last night - you would think I would have been working on something... but no! I did not. I watched The Nutcracker and the Four Realms with Emily, then we made cookies. I put on Godmothered after that and was half watching it. I need to really watch it again as it was a pretty good movie! I hear it just was released this month and was able to watch it on Disney Plus or whatever their viewing option is bundled with Hulu. I plan to watch the original Parent Trap this week - love Hailey Mills movies =). 

I decided to start something new in December.... A puzzle! I got it out after Thanksgiving and started with a 500 piece one. I mostly was the one doing it. I kept the dining room table extension in and put it out on that.... plenty of room to still use the table to eat, and I could sit and add some pieces in here and there. I was missing one piece and had an extra.... won't mention how long I was looking to figure out where that red piece went before I realized it was an exact duplicate of one already in place! I have 2 1000 piece puzzles and asked Aidan which one to do next. A ocean scene with animals. Both kids have put in a few pieces but he has helped the most. I think our minds are similar with 'seeing' the pieces and where they fit. 

I still have one Endless Diamond block prepped - it is number 20! Hmmm. Maybe 5 more (25) for a 5x5 setting and 60x60 throw? We will see. I hope to start on that block while at horses with Emily on Tuesday. I opted out of riding for her on Saturday... she was not happy with me at all! We took her to the Dr. on Tuesday this week after a fever Sunday/Monday and that was day 3 of a sore neck. Infected lymph node and some good antibiotics later and she is better but I didn't want to push it with the neck and horses until the antibiotics are through this Tuesday.  She is much better though, now. On the plus side... the kids and Greg finally finished putting up the outside lights out front yesterday.

Linking up with Kathy and the other slow stitchers this week. We are off to Grandma's for her 'Christmas' at her house. This is 'her' favorite holiday so she goes all out! May you all have a safe and happy Christmas Week.

Book Club....

 A little over halfway through the month so I figured I'd give an update on my OMG. I have all 9 blocks hand quilted and have started quilting the sashing and cornerstone blocks. 24 sashings total - and I have continued on with the outline stitching like in the blocks so it should go pretty smoothly. I hope to be attaching the binding on the last week of the year. Fingers crossed this will be all finished by December 31.

Off to try homemade mac n cheese. I think Emily will be good with it (lactose issues) since it uses cheddar and her lactaid milk! It's what's for lunch today!

Grassy Creek - clue #4 released today!

 I am ready! I managed to finish sewing clue #3 yesterday and ironing and trimming up clue #2 as well. That's 3 weeks in a row.... all caught up. Think I can make it 4? I might have had a repeat this Thursday of having a Peanut cat draped over the sewing machine sleeping for a time while I was sewing. He kept switching between the extra batting I had put on the cutting mat and draping himself on the sewing machine.  I wonder what colors we get to play with in clue #4?

Christmas gifts....

It is the year of the bowl cozy! I found a youtube video using 10 inch squares.... which I had gotten a stack of 10 inch squares earlier this year from connecting threads. I have a red/tan and dark blue/light blue to gift with a positive saying mug and some ice cream topping things. We love to use these when warming up things in the microwave so the bowls don't burn the hands when taking them out. Also works for cold ice cream for a cozy for the bowl. I've even popped my silicone popcorn popper from the microwave to one of these cozies to eat out of so I don't burn my leg having the silicone on it. Very handy. I made sure to purchase the special batting for it and used cotton thread and fabrics. I hope my co-leader likes them! Now I just need to make some for my MIL's house, my FIL, both kids so they have their own (and with 4 in the house there should be one clean one.... right?). I have a request to make some to fit the pasta bowls as well from hubby.... I'll have to figure that one out I guess too.

This is what happened when I got up from sewing the X on the front and back and was marking the corners for the V shape. He looks so cozy, doesn't he? 

Spoiled cat had me go retrieve my work chair from my desk and roll him down a bit so I had a place to sit. I sewed the darts into them, then got up to trim and pin them right sides together for the sewing them together part....

and this had happened! It seemed to be musical chairs night for Peanut!

I had to stop at 2 since I had to take the boy to guitar - he had an hour lesson to make up for a missed week  so Em and I hit Walmart for more things for the Secret Santa exchange at girl scouts. After picking up Aidan from his lesson, we stopped at Barnes and Noble on the way home to get a gift card. The kids wanted to look for books too.... which worked out for me! I had them each pick a book and then said they will get wrapped for under the tree =) I'll even let them wrap them! Em is trying a new series Wings of Fire. Aidan picked out Hitler vs. Stalin, The Eastern Front 1941-1945. Did I ever mention, my kids are complete opposites? He was looking at a book on JFK, but he had read a good autobiography of him this spring and already reread it once so went for someone different this time. 

Crazy week so far...

 It is the last week of school for the kids in 2020...they start back up in January. Em was out the past 2 days and got to go see the doctor yesterday. The neck pain on day 3 was concerning so a check by the doctor and diagnosed with an infected lymph node below her ear going down the neck. She has had 2 doses of the antibiotic (pricy little bugger but a strong one) and hopefully that will do the trick. 

I really need to get off my phone at night playing games and stitch or address the Christmas cards or something... I did get a little progress on block #8 last night. I do love the look of the simple outline stitching.

Sunday evening...

 It has been a busy day and I am about ready to settle in with a little stitching tonight and relaxing. Hubby has gone to fetch the kiddo's from his Mom's so I have another 1-2 hours of peace and quiet.

Lots of running around today - dropping card making supplies to all the girls in my troop for our card making Zoom meeting tomorrow night. I also had to pick up the girl scout cookie packet for the troop today. Cookie sales will start for us January 2. We will see how it all goes this year.

I hit up the local grocery store where they have the standing rib roasts on sale this week and I just pulled it out of the oven. Yes, it appears no one but me likes it so I get it all to myself! I cut slices then seal a meal and pop them in the zero degree freezer to pull out when I want some for lunch options.

I did get a little cutting and sewing in on Clue #3 finally late afternoon. It is a start anyway. The silly cat pulled the draping himself over the sewing machine so I decided I'd better turn it off and pay some attention to him. I'll settle in with some hand quilting where he can settle in on my lap and purr and nap like a spoiled boy that he is! This is block 8, so I'll have one more to go after this and then all the sashing and cornerstones.

The chickens were all in their coop so they got their door closed for the night. It is dark now, so I'll pop out to watch for meteors tonight as well. I hear there will be a lot so if you have a chance, look outside.

Some photo's of the chickens, 4 are laying now and the others will start in a couple of months. This was my find earlier this week one morning. These are from the light brown chickens.

Emily with Emma the chicken. Poppy is an easter egger on the ground. 

3 Plymouth Rocks and the 2 easter eggers.

the 4 that are laying now - a cross between a rhode island red and white.

Linking up with the Slow Stitchers this Sunday.