New Year's Eve UFO Quiltmashup

Pat Sloan has called all of us to join her on Twitter, Facebook and the Quiltmashup website to finish up a UFO this week-end. SOOOOO.  I donned my MUUMUU and my shells and Kukui nut necklace and posed by the Quiltingtable and machine. Paul took my Picture for me.  Thanks to my Neighbor who brought me this Blue MUUMUU home from her trip in Hawaii.

 This Round Robin Quilt has been on the table since November 14th. It was started with my Yahoo SBS and other Elm Creek Quilts Group in July of 2010. I had a great group!  It helps that we had a good pattern to follow with Jennifer Chiaverini's Book. I think it is high time it got Finished!
Paul says we are staying home for New Year's Eve.  He will go to bed early anyway...so I can maybe get this finished.  This is the top half the row at my tummy is the top of the center section which is an 18" Mariner's Compass. I have about 3/4ths of it left to quilt.

This is how the Top looked when it arrived home last February. I really want something to be stitching on the way to the Crowther New Years Gathering.  Wish Me luck!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!

November & December Blogger BOM blocks

I needed to catch up on the Blogger's BOM Quilt-A-Long before next year.   The new one just came out by Pat Sloan and isn't due until January 25th, But it's nice to be ahead a bit on this one.  Even though I am not totally back to my normal self.  Which meant I had to do a bit of UN-sewing, Frogging... I hate when I get fabric placement in the wrong order. November's Block was the troublesome one. It's not all wrong but I wanted it right!

  Here I show how I put it together incorrectly and then...changing a fabric and frogging the whole thing,

Here it is the Better and CORRECTED way.  This one is called "November Split Star" by Stephanie Dunphy of Loft Creations.  Click the link to go to the tutorial she did on her Blog.

 The December Block was fairly easy, but I had to double check how to place the 16 patches in the final layout. I had to re-cut the HST's. I know they are made but they wandered off between the ironing board and final assembly time.  They will turn up sometime when I'm not looking for them and I can always use them somewhere else and save a bit of time. Maybe not in this BOM, but only time will tell. Thanks to Pat Sloan for the Easy December Block.  She calls it "December Organization". Her Tutorial is on her Blog also if you like this Block.  I have to Thank Jackie at Canton Village Quilt Works for organizing the Quilt-A-Long

NewFO's List

I'm so easily tempted and I really liked this idea. I already have my wish list up on the "Pages" I may as well join the fun. Since my habit of starting new projects can't be stopped. I have some of these projects on my want to list for 2012,  I can take time to play this way as well as work on my UFO'S I already have with Judy L. You can join the fun too over at Cat Patches. Check out the Button on my sidebar.

Here's is my List in no particular Order.

Farmer's Wife - My Quilt Buddy called and said we have 3 groups interested in doing this quilt.  I've had the book for a while. We will use Marti Michell templates and make 4-5 blocks a month.

McCall's Quilting Magazine Mystery- It's a short-term project that should be fun. Only 3 parts, first one is in the Jan/Feb Issue on newstands right now.

Morning Glory Designs- 2012 Block of the Month-  Reeze announced this on New Years Eve and I have to do it.  It's all applique and so old fashioned looking!

Shoo-Fly -baby (18 Blocks made)- I just need to decide how to set and put this one together.  I can play with it in my EQ 7. EDITED OUT of the NewFo's since the Blocks are already Made.

Tester quilts for Challenge #3 Pattern - My Doggy Quilt  has so many possibilities, I want to play in EQ7.

ABC Panel Quilts

Aloha (Fussy Cut)-

Flying Geese Challenge (MAY 2012)- This one has a deadline to be made in time for the Krazy Quilter's Quilt Show in May.  I have some ideas, but have to get them into fabric soon!

Feathered Star- a pattern that has been on my WANT list since I went on my First Retreat. It might just be a medallion for a future quilt.

Double Wedding Ring- I would like to make this one someday.  At least a wall hanging size to say I made it.

Jo Morton Basket Mini Quilt- I bought the KIT at a Quilt show and just need to get it out of the bag.

Bug Jars- Quilt Buddy and I have been collecting for this one for a few years.

Paper Dolls- These fabrics call to me, but I have no idea what I want to make with them.

2011 Crowther Christmas

 Now that Christmas is over for 2011 I can show the Project I made for the Grandchildren.

 17 Pillowcases for my grandchildren.  I told them they could open them on Christmas Eve.They should have had Sweet Dreams with them and will use them again next year and in the future years.

 These are just a few of the beaded ornaments I made with my Mom's Beads.  Each of my grandchildren got one of these with a card written to explain that I made them just for them with my Mother's beads.  I told them to remember her example of Love and Service that she taught me.  Before Church Paul and I opened a few gifts. I felt that the hardest part of this Christmas was going to Church and not being able to sing the Christmas Carols.  I'm glad I could go, but it was hard to just sit and listen.  The Primary Children always sing and make me teary.  This year we had a Harp soloist too. It was a nice Program. Nicer still I got to go with my Husband and he got to bring me home.

Here's Paul with his Book of the Teachings of the Prophet Thomas S. Monson.

I gave Paul his usual SOCKS, Bandanas and new this year some TIM TAMS (Austrailian cookies).  He also got one of the books I gave to each family. "A Christmas Goodnight".

 Me with the contents of the WASIQ  Stocking Swap from Bobbie M. 3 fat quarters, a Bookmark, a notebook, a zipper lanyard and little light. She embroidered the stocking with my name on it in my favorite colors. (Sorry for the 'Abominable Snow-woman' outfit.) One of the Grandson's asked me What did I get from SANTA?  I wasn't prepared for that question. I should have shown him the Quilted gma that I got made for myself earlier this month.  Blogged it HERE.
Mr and Mrs Santa gifts are in my downstairs Bathroom.  A new Faucet and Purple Bath rugs. Paul gave me an Electric Cupcake maker and a Purple shirt that I'll need to exchange for a bigger size.

This is the gift from our Daughter's family in AZ.  

The Idaho Family had a Webcam sent to us so we can SKYPE with them now. 

Each year I fill the small stockings with something small for each of the Grandchildren.  I have stockings  for each of them and hang them on this shelf in the kids room where I have their small pictures on display all year. We started with the Youngest. This year the girls got beaded bracelets with their names on them.  Abigail's fit around her ankle. The boys got matchbox cars, and they all got a coloring, word play, word search book and a pencil.  I didn't get these things sent to the Idaho or AZ grandchildren.  They will get theirs when their Dad gets his Birthday gift this next couple months.  OK Tina and Janessa?

Giving my camera to the boys, gets me very interesting photos. This one I at least knew was coming. After it was nearly time for them all to leave. A very tired but Grateful Grandma for them coming and spending the evening with us.

Milton and Family gave us a new sign that says, "I Can At Grandma and Grandpa's" , Joe's family gave us some Seattle truffles and a card for Applebees to go out for dinner, The Ransoms gave Dad and  I each a cute Grandpa and Grandma Frame, some Electric Hand warmers and our favorite Chocolates, (Cordial Cherry Kisses for Dad, Russell Stover for mom) I also got a cute magnet that says Family. You can never have too many magnets on the fridge, at my house anyways.  Looking to take the picture above I found that Dad also got a Tie from B & T family! Dad made Ham,  Potatoes, sweet Potatoes and Carrots. Christen and Kori both brought salads and desserts.  I hope it was all good.  I didn't get to eat any with my sore throat still.  I drank some apple juice.  I'm tired of eating my Frozen Fruit bars, but am surviving still on very little.  My tummy sure made a lot of noise when Dad and I were working on the Puzzle later.  Here's the progress on the Puzzle...Thanks to Carl Walk for joining us for Dinner and helping with the Puzzle.

 Only another week and 2 days until I see the Dr again and find out the Pathology results.
No Design Wall Monday for me today.  The meds say no operating of machinery... You can go over HERE to see some that have their DWM linked.

2011 Christmas Eve at our house

All is quiet this year since Brant and Tina didn't come to spend the week of Christmas with us.  Today Paul went up to deliver one more gift and fudge to his parents and I stayed home to rest up.  He also did the last minute shopping for Christmas Dinner.   I watched a few more Hallmark Movies and made the rolls for Sunday. They are Colby-Safe, if I make them.  A couple more friends dropped by with gifts and treats.  Feeling much love from the Ward Family this year! In the evening we spent our time listening to my new Donny Osmond CD and trying to put together the Nativity Puzzle I was given this year. We got the frame part finally done and I found parts of  Mary, Joseph and the Babe and put them together as much as I could.  It's time for bed -Church starts at 9am.   The presents are beneath the tree and stockings are filled.

Merry Christmas to all ...and to all a good-night!

 Happy Birthday to our Christmas Daughter, TINA! 

(the last 2011 Stash Report will not appear again this week due to waiting for the recovery of my Strength)

Tonsillectomy, at my age...

Wikipedia in short, states the following:
"A tonsillectomy is a 3,000-year-old surgical procedure in which the tonsils are removed from either side of the throat."
It goes on with many graphic descriptions and photos. I'll spare you those!
It's been a week now and I can state- IT HURTS! Am I glad it is done, sure.  I know I'll feel better when it stops hurting and food will taste good again. I have to believe that!  After a week of not much food, mostly just meds and water with a few Frozen Fruit Bars brought to me by my sweet Visiting Teacher, Karen Wall. I asked her how she knew that would be something good for me to try and eat.  So grateful for all those who have taken their time to come visit and bring stuff so the Bishop doesn't starve.  I'm surviving on very little right now.

It will be different having Christmas and not being able to eat much.  But I will enjoy having the three Tri-city families over for a while.  That means 8 Adults, and 11 of my 17 grandchildren to give me hugs.  The meal will be simple and DAD is in charge.  All of my Christmas Packages have been delivered now and I'll be able to Blog about them next week.  I delivered most of them when I went over to see Elizabeth and Andy in the Nutcracker, not really knowing why I was doing it.  In thinking about it, I know I was inspired to go to PLAN Cor D and just make Christmas much more simple this year.  I hope the gifts are meaningful to my family.  They are given with lots of LOVE.  And that's what Christmas is all about...Christmas is LOVE! Christ came to Earth as a Babe because our Heavenly Father Loved us that Much! He still loves us and watches out for us.  I'm so grateful for that.  I do count my blessings, name them one by one. everything reminds me of  another Hymn lately. I closed my Christmas Newsletter with the words to the last verse of "O Come All Ye Faithful"

“Yea, Lord, we greet thee, Born this happy morning, Jesus, to thee be all glory given. Son of the Father, now in flesh appearing.  Oh, come let us adore Him, Oh, come, Let us adore him, Oh come let us adore him, Christ, the Lord.”

Merry Christmas Eve!
(tomorrow) 

UFO List for 2012

Ok, I had the time so I got my list made, I've checked it twice and decided on these UFO's for 2012.  Some of them might look familiar because they were on last years lists. Only a few are NEW UFO's.  Lets see how long it takes for me to start a new project in the New Year...My quilting friends already have a couple of ideas in mind. #1 is the Farmer's Wife Quilt, #2 is the McCall's Quilting Magazine Mystery. It in the Current Jan/Feb Magazine.

 UFO #1 Crayons - Charity- ( maybe 1 more block, needs sashings, borders, quilting)
I won these a Block Lotto at Guild.  All that year we made Blocks from Nancy Johnson-Srebro's Book "Block Magic".  Since Judy's new Book, 60 Pieced Quilt borders is on Pre-order I want to try some of her new border treatments for this one.

UFO #2 Candy Jars- Christmas
 Christmas Quilt that didn't get finished in 2010 or 2011.  It's back on here. Third time is the Charm, I hope.

UFO #3 Civil War 150th Anniversary (2011 Block of the week) 17 of 56 Blocks made.
When I'm not too busy I'll have to work on making the needed blocks for this one. Maybe take this one on a Retreat...

UFO #4 Christmas Lone Star  (still needs set-in squares, Quilting)
 My Christmas Quilt that I wanted to make using the non-traditional colors.  I'm still deciding if I want to have pieced Blocks in the Corner squares.

UFO #5 New Years Reflections (SBS SWAP) X 2
I did 2 Swaps of these Blocks.  CRAZY, HUH?  The 2nd set we made the whole block, and they weren't these fabrics. I lucked out when I found the right BLUE, A Jennifer Chiaverini Fabric for the Strips around the 4.5" inner blocks

UFO #6 SWAP SBS -Red & White, Red White & Black, Blue and Brown
I've done 3 SWAPs with the SBS group and would like to combine them all into one quilt somehow.  I'll need to use my EQ on this one.

UFO #7 Trudy's Stars- These barely made an appearance last year on a Design Wall Monday.  They will make a Charity quilt for our Guild Project. 

UFO #8 Author's Album Swap SBS- 2011
This one was using Civil War prints and Kona Cream.  I learned there is a difference in Cream and Ivory in the Kona Solids. Calling this one "Author's Lesson learned"

UFO #9 Churn Dash/Marti Michell Wild Rose Fabric
These are the Block I made for the McCall's 1st Challenge using the wrong dimensions for them. I love using Marti Michell's fabrics. This pattern looks more like the hole in the barn door.  I'll have to think of a name that includes the "wild rose".

UFO #10 Sarah's Choice Swap -SBS 2009 This swap was done around Christmas time, that explains the Red and Green color scheme. I think we were to include Gold as well. See that one block with Gold background screaming off the wall?

   UFO #11 Buggy Barn Stars- Made with Pat Sloan's R,W & B fabrics called Sweet Liberty. The Buggy Barn Ladies got me on this one.  I see a lot of Star quilts on this list. 

  UFO #12 Hancock BOM (blue)
This is a UFO from around the time I was trying to move away from the Tri-Cities. My process was not quite as bad as Judy L's last year.  But it took a while.  I think it was the last BOM that Jo Fox created just for us from Judy Hopkins Books "Around the Block" and "Around the Block Again".  The Hancock Fabrics started their own after this one, where you had to buy each block kit and make it. I think they called it Saturday Sampler.  How many others went to those? I miss Jo and the fun ladies I used to visit with once a month and share. So I think I'll call this one "True Blue Jo"! 

These are the 12 Quilts I will concentrate on in 2012!  I hope to be better at getting them all Completed at least to a "Flimsy", Quilt Top ready for Quilting.


Check out more UFO lists HERE at Patchworktimes.

Design Wall Monday/UFO Reporting for 2011!

My UFO's didn't do as well for me as my 'Started and Finished' quilts (see tabs at the top of the Blog) Judy L is asking for our list this week to link up for next year's UFO Challenge.
You can see last years "Before" Pictures HERE. We are just a few days later making the link-up for 2012.

UFO #1 Star & Crown- pattern by Pat Speth
I got the final border on this one in March. It is in the To be Quilted section.

UFO #2 BIG Star by Judy L- June Mystery 2009
  I worked on this one in July 2011 and added two more borders.  It still needs the pieced border and to be quilted.

UFO #3 SBS (Sylvia's Bridal Sampler )30's- 49 of 140 blocks made

UFO #4 Spiderman Zig Zag

 I had made a pieced border from Judy L's Week-end Quilts book and added them on two sides. Not much to show on this one.  I just need to decide on cornerstones for this one and maybe one final blob-o-border.  It makes quilts easier to load with the solid borders.
UFO #5 Lone Star Table Topper Started in 2006- Cut out the Set-in pieces in November and am ready to get this one quilted soon. It was the October UFO number pulled. I couldn't even find it when the UFO List was Posted last year.

UFO #6  Foothills- WASIQ Round Robin - started in 2008

This one got machine quilted in January and is completely FINISHED


UFO # 7 WASIQ Siggy Quilt - Started in 2008  This one was all FINISHED in August of this year

UFO #8 Crayon's- Charity
I sewed some sashings on, but still need to make another Block I think. These "Block Magic" Blocks.

UFO #9 Election Quilt - Started in 2008 FINISHED as UFO for May.

UFO #10 Red White and Blue D9P -Started in 2008
Number pulled for February- No Progress. FINISHED in August.

                                      


UFO #11 Churn Dash and Applique- Pattern by Kim Diehl

No progress in September

UFO #12 Primary Colors Lone Star- Eddie Walker workshop- Still haven't found this Project so no Progress this year.

Off of my 1-12 A list

1-A Christmas Lone Star- No progress in March

2-A Marti Michell American Beauty #2 Finished in May for Guild

3-A Swap Stars - 2010- No Progress
4-A Swap Sarah's Choice - No progress in April
5-A Book case quilt with Nativity Panel- NO Progress
6-A Buggy Barn Stars- Stars made in January
7-A EQ6 Sporty - No Progress on in August
8-A Candy Jars- No Progress in June
9-A Ester Aliu 12 Days of Christmas- No progress in May
10-A SBS Round Robin -
My quilt came home in February, it is on the Quilting Table at the Christmas time-End of December.

11-A I crossed off the list -a Challenge for the Festival in 2011.
12-A Boondggle I spy- No Progress in 2011

I made a 1-12 B list also, thinking I was going to do maybe 3 quilts a  month.HAHAHA

1-B Wasiq Swap Blocks- 2 years worth
2-B Blue and Brown Swap SBS
3-B Heart Siggy Swap AQS group
4-B Roses - Jackie Robinson #2
5-B I Love Roses- Jackie Robinson Challenge- March 2010
6-B Sweet 16- Started in August 2010- FINISHED in March 2011
Pictured here without a Binding even.  It was Bound en-route to welcome two new Grandson's in Idaho and Arizona.

7-B Bouquet of Friendship - Pink and White Baby Size- FINISHED in January for our 4th Grand-daughter.

( I called this one Abigail's Bouquet)
8-B was a duplicate of one of the quilts on the A list
9-B Purple Baskets- WWWVQG Lotto
10-B Christmas Trees
11-B Western Shop Hop 2010
12-B New Year's Reflection quilt - Worked on this one in July

That is My reporting for 2011- I FINISHED 7 off these 3 lists. I have learned that I will only make 1 list to stick to  for 2012 and it is still in the works.  Maybe by Tuesday the 20th when Judy has called for us to link our UFO Challenges for 2012.

Click HERE for More Design Wall Monday Posts.

Blog Hop Party Winner

Min: Max: Result:29


Sheila  said:
I am a follower here and the QG, I love to find Chocolate , Thanks for the chance to win. 


Congrats to Sheila. I've contacted her and am waiting to get her address so I can mail her the prize.

Stash Report - December 18, 2011

OPPS! This Stash report has been Cancelled by my REMOVAL of TONSILS.  I'm hurting so much worse than I was before the surgery I can't think. The medicine they gave me for pain makes me sick and the numbing medicine makes me dizzy. So I'll have to play catch up another day when I'm feeling back to my old self.  It is pretty quiet around here. Think I'll go take a nap!

Go see more Stash Reports HERE.

 I'll be choosing the WINNER for my Blog Party Giveaway soon.  Will announce it later today.

Gingerbread Mansions

I had to make the time to go back and get the pictures of the Gingerbread houses at the Marcus Whitman Hotel here in Walla Walla.

There were several nice ones. The center ones were created by the Culinary group from the Hotel. They made a replica of the Hotel complete with lighted windows.In the lower left are ones made by the Camp Fire girls. The Frosted Cupcake shop did the one that has four sides, it is pictured on the left center and the right center. I liked the ones that were made of Pretzels and Chocolate Graham Crackers. The seats shown in the lower right corner and top 2nd picture are mini peanut butter cups. They are on display through December 22nd and you can vote by putting $$ in the chosen Jar. Thanks to my DH, Paul for taking me back to see them.

  Merry Christmas Everyone! 

The Giveaway with the Blog Hop Party ends tomorrow, click HERE to comment and enter my drawing.

Secret Gift Revealed...

I've been keeping my gift for Lynn a BIG Secret for a while. When she showed up at Quilt Guild with gifts for me, I had to say, I'll open these when I come out on Wednesday.  Even my Girls haven't seen these gifts since I ordered one for myself too.  You know how you get something for a friend because you want that same thing? I DID IT!  Paul told me to order what I wanted and this was less $$$ than what I REALLY want!
Anyway...Long story  not so short-
I have followed this Blog and it's on my Quilt Blog list over there on the right...mamacjt.
I've linked to a posting way back in August since she started making and selling these. She was a guest Blogger on Sew We Quilt in October. I saw these "ladies" then and decided that was what I wanted to have made for Myself and for Lynn.  I commented and contacted her to find out what I needed to do to get one made.  We e-mailed backa d forth discussing Eye color and favorite colors and stuff like that.  She Blogged back in November that #17 and #18 of her "Ladies" was a Christmas Gift HERE. When I got out to the Quilt Shop, there were Customers there from Mesa so I handed the camera to Julie H! She reads the Blog and I've mentioned before how she called out to me and told me so at  the Tri-cities Quilt Show a couple of years ago... Thanks for taking the candid shots for me.

So, now that I have given Lynn her "lady"...I think she was surprised!

I can post pictures of this Early Christmas gift to Myself as well.

 What do you think?  Do they look anything like us???  I've always thought my eyes were Brown or Hazel colored. They are Green here with brown flecks.  Lynn's eyes are really Green, but I had her make them Blue, OPPS!   Carol even put Teddy bear buttons for the posts of the earrings for Lynn's love of Teddy bears.

This is what I got from Lynn.  A Fontanini ornament of the Nativity and socks with the Nativity on them!  I think my Quilt Buddy knows what I like.  I had to go out and get some of those Nativity Socks for my other friends. I'm really not that hard to buy for, even though my husband, Paul thinks so...

 I think it's high time to get my tree decorated and the Nativities set out.  I'll have to make a new accounting of them with the ones that have been added this year. My Visiting Teachers were surprised I wasn't all done with my decorating. It's harder when I am the only one doing it and I've been not feeling very good all month! The candies and cookies for the goodie plates aren't made yet either.  Well see what gets done after I have my Tonsilectomy.  It's time to get rid of them FINALLY.  They were supposed to come out WAY BACK IN 1968 or so. They say Day 3 is the worst. I am thinking it will be hard to be on the soft diet for 10 whole days. I won't be talking too much- that might be a good thing....I tell the DH.

11 Day's 'til Christmas- warning: long Post

The Christmas Countdown Calendar shows just 11 more days 'til Christmas!  Since the 2nd week of any month is always my Busy week, I've been too busy to Blog...  I had the annual DUP (Daughter's of Utah pioneers) Luncheon at Alices' and Quilt Guild Potluck and Treasure sale with the Secret Pal REVEAL. For the Swap part of the Guild mtg we were asked to make MUG Rugs.  I whipped the 1st pictured one up on Tuesday between getting my stuff I needed to take to Quilt Guild together and going to my re-scheduled Dr appointment. The Ear Nose and Throat Dr has been out of the office, so I've been waiting for my Friday appointment since I saw the regular Dr and she referred me. They called on Monday to ask if I could come in on Tuesday at 3:30pm instead of Friday?  YES!  Even with other plans that day, I just wanted to get confirmation that something was wrong and needed to be taken care of! Guild in December starts at 6pm with our Potluck.  I didn't have much time so I was stitching on the binding while I waited at the Dr Office. I didn't even get a Block Lotto Block made this month. There's a picture of all of them later in this post.  So Pretty!

My 3 Trees Mug Rug was inspired by Bonnie Hunter.  She is a very busy quilter. She posted a scrappier version HERE. I printed it and made it the easiest way I could.  I had my Christmas-y fabrics close and available so it didn't take too long.  I had to hurry and take a picture at the Meeting before we swapped, I didn't take one at home or in the process of making it.

There were all shapes and sizes of Mug Rugs. This picture shows the two I brought home.  One is for Lynn, who had to make a quick exit to go home and take care of her son.  I didn't know which ones she had made since we didn't make them together.  I just guessed and luckily these weren't ones she had made and I let her choose on Wednesday when I went out to make our gift Exchange.  The one on the left is the one she picked.  I don't know who made that one, but I was glad I got the Cupcake one made by Marilee, my DUP Captain and fellow Quilt Retreat Buddy.  How great was that since I took these cute cupcakes to the Guild Potluck to share...

Holiday Cupcakes from FROSTED!

Block Lotto Heart and Flowers Blocks for December

Secret Pal- December Gifts

The meeting was fun and the Secret Pals were revealed one by one and mine wasn't there again so I couldn't tell her I was hers.  The Secret Pal who has been so generous to me wasn't there either so I couldn't Thank her in Person!  This is what she had for me this month.  I always put down that I collect Nativities and Lambs. She gave me both, plus more STASH cash, and a Quilt-y Calendar and small trivet/Mug Rug.

  I feel so blessed and Loved with all the gifts that have been given to me this week. First was the Tree folded ornament that came with a Nativity Puzzle from Marilee. She gave this to me, Monday after the DUP Mtg.

Angel from Sylvia

I had a knock at the door and my friend Sylvia was there with this 'Angel.  She usually gives me Chocolate too. I don't really need the Chocolate. LOL. 

I knew that this was going to be my Busy week and unlike other years I got my projects ready and sent or delivered to my Family prior to the last minute!  This is a great feeling to know that it doesn't matter if the roads get bad and icey, I don't HAVE to travel unless I really want to. I didn't get all of my "friends" gifts together though so I wasn't as prepared when my friends started showing up at the door and bringing stuff to the meetings I went to. My Visiting Teachers came on Wednesday while I was getting ready to go and visit Lynn with my SECRET Gift I've been saving for a while. They always make me feel so Loved and special. They brought me Oranges, a card and a framed quote. No Picture. I got two calls from St Mary's while they were at my house.  There are several places I could go the rest of the week, but I will be getting my TONSILS taken out. All other plans are put on the NO-GO status. I've been excused from a Family Wedding by my dear Mother-in-law even. Maybe I'll be able to finally get my poor Christmas tree decorated.

This post is getting way too long so, I'll have to do another post to show the gifts Lynn and I exchanged...