Hope everyone had a most wonderful holiday. That you were surrounded by the ones you love. That laughter filled your ears, good food filled your bellies and family and friends filled your hearts.

Yesterday was a pajama day here. A relax, breath, and exhale type of day. While everyone was holed up on the couch with runny noses, curled up in front of a western movie, or huddled in the corner with a new play pretty. I went off by myself and pulled out this quilt, I’ve been working on. I have to admit this quilt has caused me a bit of stress…or at least it did. It started out with excitement, which turned into fretting over the design layout, the over all size, backing. If it could be added to the list of panics, I did. You see, its a gift for a little new addition to our family. No, not my household, but in-laws. This little guys is special and I wanted the gift to be special…but the gift it was late due to this emotion tidal wave. Late to my personal deadline…Christmas day. I was so deflated. But over the weekend, I pulled it out and just let go. Negativity really gets you no where. I thought what really is a handmade gift? One made for my heart to another. A piece of me, my creativity, my love, given to them. Made with thought and kindness, not fretting. So I sat down in front of my machine and stopped thinking. I just did what felt right, no questions asked. Gave myself over to the process. I choose brown thread and the quilting turned into squares design. I loved it. And it all felt good as the machine hummed away.  Now, it feels like I meant it to be. Handmade and quilted with my love. I still have the trim to finish, but I’m excited to see it come together. Complete. Whole.

Not forgetting our feathered friends during the frigid months.  The kids gathered stick from the yard. You can also use rice cakes, pine cones or anything else that wouldn’t harm little birds. They spread a little peanut butter on the gathered wood, rolled them in bird seed, and hung them with cotton string. My animal lover really enjoy this project and my other one was tempted to eat it.

Making applesauce & cinnamon ornaments. Who needs candles with these hanging around.

Here’s the recipe.   A few tips~Discovered that if they are crumbling when moist, more than likely they will crumble before fully dry too. Causing sad kid as they hold up MR. Gingerbread Man in several different pieces.  Dried more evenly if patted out thin.

Our new on the go bag to fill up with library books, bottled water, sleep over clothes, craft supplies, food, an umbrella or what ever it needs to transform into for that day.

Like pulling a piece of bread out of bag and having it smile back at you.

or watching my kids make popcorn garland, listening to someone tell me about a dream where they crammed their feet into Mountain Dew pop bottles, playing in my ribbons and buttons, pulling out clean and wonderful smelling sheets, purple boots at the store, watching a fat lazy cat sleeping practically on it’s back, listening to upbeat songs, sitting with friends at a restaurant while we chatted and drank mocha, taking two little girls shopping, not having to make supper tonight, silence of a rare day alone, a new lunch box idea I have in my head, Indian ink pens, smell of oranges, eating a carrot cake cupcake with cream cheese icing, holding my camera in my hands, that we don’t live any further north.

What makes you smile?

update…bought a new replacement battery for laptop. I ordered the correct number given to me by HP, but the battery doesn’t work. But still smiling, I have a sister who doesn’t mind me high jacking her computer (again) for a few minutes.

Lights are out. Stumbling in the dark.

We’ll, if I angle the computer screen just right, have my brightest lamp held high behind me, and squint really hard, I can see you all. Black screen most of the time.

Thought I’d stop in to say “Hello You” and wipe a few of those cobwebs away from my little spot. I always enjoy pictures with a post, so here are a few. I’m on my sisters computers and found a few of my own pictures on it.

Have a lovely day!!!