2021 is coming to a close...

 I normally do goals for the coming year.  I noticed last year I didn't but it was so busy at our home with the kids living here.  I continued quilting, a little painting, a little wood working amidst it all.  The kids moved into their own place in May but thankfully, we still got to spend quite a bit of time with the grandchildren -- our joy! Here's most of the quilts I made in 2021...

I continued listening to audible cooks via my Audible subscription and the app I use for our local library's audible collection.  Those included:

- The Shifting Fog by Kate Morton. Good.

- The Distant Hours by Kate Morton.  All of hers are good!

- The Living Room by Robert Whitlow.  Like his too.

- The Autistic Brain by Temple Grandin. A great book to gain inside into those who are Autistic or on the Autism spectrum.

- Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. 1930's book about an utopian society.  Weird.

- The Tatooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris.  True WW2 story.  Good.

- Dragonfly by Leila Meacham.  WW2 story of young talented spies.

- The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton.

- The Alice Network by Kate Quinn. Based on true network of women spies in WW2.

- Grandma Gateway's Walk by Ben Montgomery. About the first women to walk the whole appalachian trail at 67 years old in 1957.

- Partners by John Grisham.  Always like his books.

- Bleachers by John Grisham.

- Sooley by John Grisham.

- My Dear Hamilton but Stephanie Dray.  Really good historical fiction.

- The Huntress by Kate Quinn.

- The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate.

- Where the Lost Dogs Go by Susannah Charleston. This was a re-read. Sometimes I like to re-read books I've enjoyed in the past.

- Agent 355 by Marie Benedict.

- The Manatee Did it by Kay Shostask.  An author friend who grew up in the same neighborhood I did.

- The Last Christian by David Gregory. Weird.

- The Kings General by Daphne Du Maurier.

-The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave.

I enjoyed all of these books.  I'm especially fond of historical fiction, but also love mysteries, true stories, and other kinds of stories.  I absolutely love being able to listen to a book while I multi task.  I am currently reading a good one I hope to finish in a day or two by Lisa Wingate, A Month of Summer.

I didn't do much wood working in 2021.  I did the board and batting project in the back hallway which was fun, put up the faux shiplap in the grand kids room, and refinished a cabinet to store quilts.

And a little painting...

December happenings

 It's been pretty busy around here. We had lots of friends come to our church's Christmas program -- Jim sang in the choir that performed from the living Christmas tree.

Jim's twin sister, Jenny and her husband Stan drove over from Nashville to attend.

The grandkids came one night and were so excited.  Just had to get up in the tree with Papaw.

We had a charcuterie board for our Christmas dinner with Elijah, Katie, and the kids.  Everyone loved it.  It was so fun to make, my first, but won't be my last.

We had a great time visiting and opening presents....and Papaw and I had our own little photoshoot before the kids arrived.

Had a mishap when washing the Christmas quilts to put away.  The red backing faded so bad on this one!  I only had one color catcher but didn't think it would fade since I washed it last year several times.  It was bad. I soaked it for a few hours in very hot water and Dawn ultra.  It got most of the pink out. And now it looks like it did when I first got it out this year.

My hair is growing! I'm having to use headbands which the hubby doesn't really like.  It is so wild. I'm enjoying growing it out - my new project!

The tree is up!

 The grands did a great job of helping me get the tree up and decorated.

All the beds are covered in Christmas quilts now.

Yes, that's my 68 year old husband on the swing being pushed by the grands.  Oh my goodness, they loved it.

This swing set has been a great investment.

We took them to the annual Tuba Christmas, and their daddy got to play in it this year.

....and he found the tuba he played in high school, brought by one of the younger tuba players. He is pointing out where he scratched his initials on it.....oops, bet the band director didn't like that!  Looks like he was the second student to do that, followed by about 12-13 more.

We enjoyed the local Christmas parade.  My son and his family rode a trailer for their church.  The kids had a blast!  I bet I haven't been to this parade since the tuba player was in it, what??? 18 years ago.  My how time flies.....

I've been asked to share my quilts at a local quilting group tomorrow morning.  I've very excited about it.  Although an introvert, if I'm talking about quilting or another hobby, I can really bend your ear. So many quilts with so many stories. 

 😊

My latest project, believe it or not, isn't one of my hobbies.......after 20 years of short hair, but every winter wanting to let it grow, I'm finally doing it! (now that I've posted this, that really makes me accountable).😬😬😬. I've been watching youtube videos of how woman manage their very curly gray hair.  I've bought lots of products and am excited about it.  I freaked my grandkids out with the picture below.  A friend put my face on someone else's body. The grands thought it was TERRIBLE...."mamaw, you look like a witch!  It's so, so, so, so, funny, mamaw!"  I think it's great, but I doubt I'll get it that long!

My hair is really that curly though, or maybe even more curly. I had it long for a few years in my early 40's and loved it, except I colored it and the roots just showed too much, so I cut it off short and quit coloring it.  I've been letting it grow a couple of months now...below is my progress.

I think I'm going to be wearing these head bands for a really long time....

...otherwise it falls around my face.....eek, those wild curls!

Wish me luck!!

The Holiday Season

It's that time of year when we start getting ready for Christmas.  I am not big on tons of decorations, just some Christmas quilts, a few vases with greenery, some window candles and a tree. I haven't put the tree up yet. Will probably let the grandkids help me do that this weekend when they spend their routine every other Friday night with us.  We kept them for five days last week and we had a ball, but were worn out when they went home. We took them to the theater on Friday night.

Then Saturday was a full day of building robots from cardboard boxes and duct tape.  What fun they had!

Thanks to the best Papaw ever who is always thinking of things to do with them.

Then some play with my robe and shoes, building a taller Haddon (on Emma's shoulders)..their idea.

Haddon and I went shopping for new snow boots and school shoes for his sister, while she was in school.

Then did a "Thankful" craft.

Took them home Tuesday evening to await Mom and Daddy's arrival from their trip.  The kitties were happy to have their kids back home.

The one (bad) picture I got at Thanksgiving.  Sorry, Katie, for cutting your beautiful face out of the pic.  It was an accident....

Time for the seasonal bed quilt change out....

Christmas quilts......

Finished the last gift.......this one I sang the hymns as I sewed on it.....

I've been making the mock sourdough bread lately and it is so very yummy.  For Thanksgiving I made the loaves into rolls and they were a huge hit.  I made some more today.  They are great for little sandwiches.

If you'd like to make some, check out the Humorous Homemaker's Complete Guide to Mock Sourdough.

Oh and one last pic of a cute little boy and his pet cat.....

This little boy cat is the absolute sweetest with the kids.  Haddon picks him up and carries him on his back all the time, and he never hisses or scratches, just tolerates it and sometimes even enjoys it.  He's the best.