Long Time Gone

Wow hard to believe it is nearly the middle of January!  I didn't realize how long it's been since I "blogged"!  But hey, it took me a while to read all those comments on my last posts! Wow I never had so many comments - love getting comments so it was a lot of fun reading all your well wishes!

Well I'm still amazed that those numbers matched up and we actually won.  No we haven't gotten the money yet - maybe in another 3-4 weeks.   A lot has asked what we are going to do with the money - new car? vacation? etc.  Well truly it just isn't enough for all that fun stuff.  It will be used for the normal day to day things unfortunately.  $7,500 (after taxes) will go fast in this economy with the price of everything going up these days!   Anyway it will be such a relief just to have this small windfall to help out!  I may have to think about purchasing a new range however  and a few other household repairs - you know the necessities in life!

Hope everyone had a very Happy New Year! 

The past few weeks have been busy making some things to sell and also getting kits together for another feather tree class (Tomorrow at the Cinnamon Stick).  Looking forward to it - it's always so much fun to watch people make things and see their smiles when they actually complete a project in a few hours!

I just finished a small hooked rug but can not show it as it's for my "secret pal" in the Winter Cheer Swap on our group AAPG.  After she receives it I will be able to post a picture.

I also ventured down to AC a few weeks ago to just relax - I read two books and spent one day walking about 3 hours on the boardwalk and through the outlets - It was cold out but I love the brisk walk along the ocean! 

Here's the view from my room - the ocean was so calm

Snow on the beach during my walk...

Almost looks like the bay but it is the ocean!

Here's a pic of the quilt I got for Christmas (my mother made) I still can't get a good picture - it's more tan and not so white looking - My Mother kept asking if it fit or was it too big so I thought Miles wasn't around but as soon as I got it on the bed there he was!  Anyway - it' a perfect fit!  And wouldn't you know it as soon as I had it on there and took the picture Miles started gagging - I swooped him up and got him to the floor before it was "defiled"!   Anyway it's now folded up and put away for now - With Miles and his problems it's just safer that way (And Miles is holding his own -rubbing the medicine on his ear rather than a pill is so much less stressful - he's still vomiting all the time but he's holding his own so we keep on keeping on!)

Close up of the quilt - you can see the variegated thread in the quilting...

The back is this fabric (my favorite color - red!)

This is the old quilt that's smaller that my Mother made about 10 years ago - it's back on the bed - love this design.  I just love the scrappy quilts - they make me happy!

Yesterday I ventured out to Grant Street for the Thursday hook-in. My goodness what a silly day - There were so many laughs and giggles my cheeks actually hurt (that would be the cheeks on my face)

 Just some random shots of the day -
 
Linda teaching a new rug hooker...
 

Linda - helping to show Jill's "Isaac" rug - she's all done and needs to bind it now.

Linda - working as a duct cleaner...

because of this fire hazard - look at the pile of lint she got out of her vent - Oh my - so happy she discovered the problem before all that wool went up in smoke!

At the Christmas party anyone that wanted to participate picked a name and you get a "secret pal" for the entire year until the next party in December.  Well Linda got a gift from "nacho Secret pal" - so was it her secret pal or not? We will have to stay tuned.  Someone knows and isn't talking...

Had you read the post about the Christmas party - this little gift had to do with that.  Needless to say everyone was howling at Linda's gift of a pair of pocket panties!

Genny working on another chair pad - I believe she said she has 6 done and 8 chairs!

Jill got a combo hat/scarf from her secret pal - Look how cute she looks!

Joan and Nancee in conference.  That would be Joan's amazing rug she's making as a consignment I believe.  Can you believe she just started this rug a few weeks ago! Oh my stars!

Kathy also received a secret pal gift.  That scarf around her neck almost was her downfall!

Nettie was busily working early on...

Then trying to decide what color to put around the border of her snowman. rug...

I decided it was a long time since I went shopping for wool - I'm telling you - at one time I had so much wool in my hooking room I didn't know where to go with it but my "stash" is seriously depleted.  (Okay some of you would say I still have too much) Anyway Linda had just gotten some new Wool Studio wool and Heavens to Betsy wool and I had to do some retail therapy - Not sure, is Kathy thinking - "is she really adding to that pile?"

I didn't get a pic of my wool but that wool in piles on the right there is the start of my shopping - ended up with 8 yards I think - I could have kept going... and going.... but I reigned myself in.

Not sure if Linda was crying because of happiness or sadness because the night was almost over!

Not much else has been going on  - I keep trying to keep my hooking room under control - but the faster I find a spot on the floor - the faster I fill it with something!  A never ending battle for sure!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!