Thursday’s Menu

Yummy eats today.
Lunch was at one of our favorite lunch spots 
-
Roly Poly
Great Rolled sandwiches


#124 Westport Grilled



#52 Hickory BBQ Chicken Grilled

   

here’s a peak inside My favorite Roly Poly.

 

I know you want to know what’s in there
well, there’s sliced turkey breast, bacon, two delish cheeses, Swiss and brie, lettuce, tomato, avocado, dried cranberries, walnuts and honey-Dijon mustard.
I know you want one.



Ron’s fav, as always, is the Hickory BBQ Chicken
don’t ask what’s in it.  I’ve not given it a try as I do no want to give up my #124, yum, yum, yummy.

Add some chips
and
finish up with a Snickerdoodle

 


And what we have
is a
Happy Customer!



After a couple of stops
-
webcam purchase
mail box check
we had time enough for a well-deserved afternoon pick-me up.

A special place for a great cup of coffee
and

 
Expresso Cheesecake for me



Ron’s current  fav – Vanilla Bean

Cheesecake



Ahhh,
BK Bakery

So, now you know what’s for lunch on a Thursday
-
a couple of our local eateries.   
 

How Many . . .

really, just how many 3.5” squares [on-point] do you suppose a quilter could cut


  
from ~12 feet by 5.75” strip of String Pieces

 

in 20-Minutes-A-Day??

There, that ought to about cover two
of MY Challenges for the day.

Other accomplishments today:

- - - - learned how to put my new cell on speaker phone without hanging up on my brother

- - - -introduced by big brother to Google Chat

- - - - saved $8 at B&N.  Since I just purchased my B&N Membership card yesterday I was told I could bring any receipts from my B&N purchases during the last 30 days.  So I did just that.  AND, had a Chia Latte Tall and half a Orange Cranberry Scone.

That’s it, that’s all .

I Have Made Contact ! ! ! ! ! !

Yes, I’ve made my first video contact this morning.  After we downloaded Google Chrome last night I had to wait until this morning to give it a try.  So I did just that with the help of a fellow blogger and quilter and knitter Melody at Fibermania .  She was kind enough to show me the ropes on video chatting.  But then it was she who suggested and encouraged me to give it a try.

And what a HOOT it was.  I was on a high all day after visiting with her and being able to see and talk with her while she had her cuppa.  How cool is that?  Yee-Haw ! ! ! !

After lunch we stopped at B&N – we finally broke down and bought their B&N Membership Card.  Was able to apply receipts from all the neat things we purchased the last thirty days to our account.  Just had to use it and got a Triple Chunk Chocolate Chip cookie to split with DH and a tall decaf each.  Saved forty-six cents.  Also picked up a wall calendar and some vintage repro Valentine cards.

As I mentioned the other day, I joined Loft Creations No Strings Attached Challenge.  Here is my meager beginnings

I’m using scraps that were given to me by a long-arm quilter friend.  She has given me many a plastic bag full over the years.  These strips were already cut and ready to use.
I’ll post pics of acouple of the blocks tomorrow or so. I’m cutting them 3.5” sq.  They should be great for placements, tablerunners and table toppers.  I’m doing nothing big.  Just some small, simple {= fast} projects.  Then I’m going to get them out in the mail to unsuspecting recipients.
AND, I am attempting to meet the goal suggested by Marmaladerose 20 Minutes a Day of spending twenty minutes, at least, each day creating.

I’ve been attempting to get a good pic of this frame.  Somehow it never looks that great.  This is the frame I bought at the garage sale next door.  The girlfriend of the fellow who lives there had a small sale and I came home with several unnecessary items.  This frame was among them.  It was in good shape but plain white.  So I got out my ‘Pretty Pink’ paint, glue ‘n glitter, press on sparkles, etc, etc.  Put a cupid card on a construction paper background, and there it was ! ! ! I love it.  It’s so - - - - - well, it’s so PINK ! ! !

I know I was trying

to post daily and I guess there's been a couple a days between now and the last post.

We took the past five days for 'snow days' - didn't leave the house.  Boy, oh, boy, just like a mini vacation. 

Accomplished a number of things.

- - -  turned on the sewing machine and started a string quilt project.  okay, it's going to be a small quilt but this is the first project for a number of months.  I took the challenge [see the button on my sidebar].

- - - Made decisions on which 'hibernating' knitting UFOs were keepers.  Frogged a pair of sox and re-stashed the yarn.

- - -  Worked on baby ripple.  Was surprized when I saw it in the afternoon light [after days of snow and clouds] that the light pink contained a yellow -hmmm - can never remember whether I should say tint or hue.  Still works but was surprized nonetheless.

- - - Passed my small slow cooker to #2 daughter to made room for my new larger slow cooker.

- - - Straightened Stash Room . . . again

- - - Yesterday afternoon and evening DH and I figured out how to use webcam with Windows Live Messenger 

[any one using Live Messenger? would love to try out my new webcam]  

Now the story behind getting webcam to work with instant chat/message.  

Before Christmas I attempted to download and install Video & Audio Chat on Google.  While the install was successful, or so it seemed, there was no 'camera' icon by my name and could not get it to work.  

During the holidays daughter #1 and I attempted to install and get up and running on both my laptop [running Windows Vista and on the netbook [running Windows 7 Starter].  Same result as before.  Yesterday we tried again with the laptop.  As I said we were up and running on Live Messenger but no luck with Google.  This afternoon we download Windows Chrome on the laptop and 

SUCCESS, I HAVE A CAMERA ICON ! ! ! !  

Granted I have not made a contact yet but I think I can - keeping my fingers crossed, we'll see.

- - - Spoke with our d-i-l to-be via telephone and welcomed her to our family.  Our youngest son has been a widower for four years and has found a wonderful gal.  We wish them the very best.

That about sums it up for the past several days.  And I will get some photos posted soon.

Is it cold yet?

Today was a snow day for us.  Didn’t leave the house all day.  Didn’t even shovel.  But we did have a great chuck roast with veggies meal.  : ^ )
We had a great opportunity to watch those birdies and squirrels we’ve been feeding these past months.
Oh, yes, I did get a bit of straightening accomplished in the sewing room.  Even had time to cut some fabric.
Also, had time for a bit of genealogy.  Love the Internet.  New records available online daily.  Just need a bit of patience.
Here’s a Flicker and Mrs. Cardinal sampling some of the goodies.
Below is the sight we opened our eyes to this morning looking out the backyard deck.

It’s Cold Outside

and everyone is gearing up for a few days of WINTER.
It’s forecast to drop up to three inches of the white stuff with temps right ‘round the Zero mark on thermometers.  Oh, yeah, with blustery wind to boot.
I think we stocked up with enough groceries yesterday. 
Stopped at Target after lunch yesterday and bought a SlowCooker on sale.
Had to buy a larger size than we already had, the old slowcooker would not have held this size chuck roast in addition to the BIG bag of carrots, celery, onions and mushrooms.
Now we wait - - - - - -
the aroma is filling the house and our tummies are beginning to growl.
Had a great find genealogy-wise this morning and just had to blog about it on my genealogy blog so that my brothers, cousins and girls can be brought up to date with the newest finds.
I’ve got to go check the roast.
Keep toasty warm ! ! ! !

S-I-L’s

Recently I’ve connected with my sisters-in-law.  And have learned their both are creative gals and have interests much like my own. 

Last week one S-I-L emailed pics of her collection of animal dolls, lo and behold I spied a cowdoll. 

     

This Cow Doll was given to me by my daughter.  I couldn’t love this cowdoll any more than if I had picked her out myself

.

One is country and one is city, but certainly they must be related. 

Just before Christmas she bought a Cricut and has really enjoyed it to the max.  In fact she and my brother worked together on their Christmas cards.  I think they did great, especially since it was their first project using her Cricut. Not too bad, huh!

 

Eye Candy - - - - - - - -

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View Full Album

that about sums it up. . . . . thanks for visiting.

This is a Dish Cloth?

Isn’t this knitted dish cloth the wildest colors you’ve seen?  It’s a gift from my friend Dianna.  Why, it’s not only gorgeous ------- it is Utilitarian ! ! !

Serendipity - Coincidence -

I’ve been re-reading Earlene Fowler’s series of Benni Harper [for the third time] from the first thru the most recent. 

I’m about finished reading Goose In The Pond [third in the series]

 

and Dove In The Window is next in line.

this is the b/d card my friend Betty sent me.

is this Serendipity, or What?

It’s Once in a Blue Moon

that I’m up AND have camera in hand.  But this morning was just too cool to miss.  The moon was too high in the sky last night by the time I could take a look.  Glad I was able to catch this on the first day of the new decade.  In addition, this is the beginning of my eighth decade having finished my seventh Wednesday.  Time for brand new starts.

Our household is slowly returning to normal – well, what’s normal? anyhow most of the holiday decorations are down and some even put away.  And Baby Ripple blanket even has a few new rows.

 

Every blogger I Follow has posted their thoughts and best wishes for the new year.  Most have provoked self reflection in this blogger and have instilled a few hints on how one might accomplish more this new year. 

I’ve met so many talented, creative artists this past year – all have enriched my life.  So my wish is for each and every one of you to have the best decade ever.

Finished and Given

here’s one project finished and given to the recipients.  These were worked on during DH’s physical therapy sessions while I waited in the lobby.  A short and sweet pattern that was satisfying to make.  Embellishing  was a bit of fun.  I think there must be a million ways.

 

Gloria’s visit is going to be way too short to accomplished things we each had in mind.  But, what a fun time of year to visit.  Today’s rain didn’t seem to slow the two sisters down any today. [I think the total amount of precip for today will be right ‘round 2”]  The rain let up a bit when we all met for a bite to eat at Roly Poly late this afternoon.  Yum ! ! !  You can never have too many of their rolled sandwiches .

Well, I had every intention of doing some baking today but will have to wait ‘til tomorrow – just so long as it’s ready for Christmas dinner.  And, now it’s time for a quick snack, yikes ! ! ! ! it’s bedtime.  Nite-nite.

Since the 14th

I’ve been reminded, again, that it has been too many days since my last post.  BUT, like everyone else, I’VE BEEN BUSY.  Gloria arrived for the holiday and we’ve been creating.  No photos tonite because I’m posting from my netbook from Panera’s with our Knit Nite group.  No photos on this computer.  But at least I’m checking in.  Hmmmm A.M ! ! ! ! !

Snuggle up

That’s  what  I’m  doing.  Right  here  in  front  of  our toasty  fireplace                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

This is truly a vintage yule fire – drawn by the girls [Glor & Deb] when they were ‘young’ - ca. very early 1970’s. The brick surround added ca. 1995 makes it almost complete.

Okay, enough of that.  Now then – you may ask, “What did you and your hubby do over the weekend?”  Well, we made a stop at Best Buy.  Looky what I came home with:

 

It’s a netbook ! ! ! ! 

We’ve been toying with the idea for awhile now and have been looking at various models on the Internet.  I love my laptop but sometimes a gal just needs something small to take-along in her bag/tote.   For Comparison.   Here’s my laptop keyboard:

  And below is my new netbook.  Cool, huh?

 

Yes, hubby got something, too.  He came home with a digital camera – a Sony T90.  So now be both have new toys for Christmas.

I’m Late,

I’m late, I’m late for a very important date.  it’s the H’artfelt Christmas Blog Party and I’m late posting my part.

My excuse is that I’ve had a bad, very bad, cold and have been coughing for two weeks.

However, I was able to gather a number of my Pink decorations for the dining room countertop.

Hope I’m not going over the top with Pink, but it is kinda cute.  Would be cuter if I’d gotten ‘round to making the pink dress for my $10 doll.  But, then there’s always next year.

What do you think? Pink is too much?

Merry Christmas

Now I’m off to visit everyone’s blog

It’s been brought to my attention

that I’ve been away from my blog for a while.  It doesn’t seem like it but seven days have flown by while I’ve been coughing, coughing, coughing.  In between coughs we’ve been putting out some holidays decorations.  I’d say Christmas decorating, but when I look at the PINK in the dining room [I’ve added a few bits and pieces]it’s hard to think of the Traditional Christmas Decorating.  The living room is looking a little like Christmas the way we usually do it up.  The front-and-foremost project was to change the den from the tailored guest/computer room to a cozy place for our Christmas time guest.  Yep, Gloria will arrive next week to spend Christmas with us and her sister and nephew.  Had to re-do downstairs – here let me show you                                                                                                                                                   

- - - - used a few quilted items.  May as well be here as on the quilt rack.  My other projects can’t be blogged until after the 25th. 

One Week

That is the number of days from ordering The Christmas Cath Kidston Catalog for it to arrive in my mail box from the U.K.  Hmmmm, now wonder everyone refers to the USPS as ‘snail mail’.          This catalog makes for some great eye candy ! ! !!

Sweet Treats Fairy

Yum-mee - - - - - The Sweet Treats Fairy stopped by our house and left a couple of goodies.

As someone once said, “Dee-la-la-lish !!”

Word Verification

This morning someone mentioned the word verification on my Comments area. And to be truthful I had forgotten I had clicked that option. So I went to Help and read about it. This is what it said:

- - - - - -Word Verification prevent automated systems from adding comments to your blog, since it takes a human being to read the word and pas this step. If you've ever received a comment that looked like an advertisement or a random link to an unrelated site, them you've encountered comment spam. A lot of this is done automatically by software which can't pass the word verification test, so enabling this option is a good way to prevent many such unwanted comments. - - - - -

I've seen blog comments that have included numerous commercial ads among the comments - not a pretty sight.

So, Commenters, that's the reason behind the Word Verification.

It may snow here and

I feel puny - - - - I’ve been coughing and feel like heck BUT I’ve been blog hopping and meeting lots of creative gals via their blogs.  [I’ll try to keep the coughing to a minimum while you’re here.]  While I was over at Park City Girl I came across a humorous Commenter and just had to check her out.  So I clicked over to Sonja's blog just to see what she was up to.  She had blogged about her Advent Elf – I fell in love with the guy – Sonja posted that Kim had her Advent Elf Tutorial .  I toured Sonja’s blog then visited Calamity Kim [I’ve been a Follower of her’s for a couple of months and just now looked at her Tutorials.  I guess these visits have lit a fire under this coughing-puny-feeling blogger enough to get up off my chair and do a little something.Ripple and Baby Ripple  inspired by Lucy Attic24

and finally got around to get started with a Moebius scarf/neckwarmer.  So I’m practicing with this brown cotton yarn following Cat Bordhi's Magical Moebius clip before I use it on my Giveaway Prize from from Lina .  Here a pic of just the first couple of rows and

just how far I’ve knit.  [Now I have to say goodbye for today so I can give a little cough or two.]