Goodbye January!

A few more minutes and January will be gone! It has been a long and rather hard month and I am happy to say goodbye! The East wind returned and it was cold and felt like winter again. I really can't complain as my friends in MT and MA as well as our family in IL are just getting dumped on with below freezing temps.

Finished all my Valentines for the Tasha Tudor exchange and will post them tomorrow. The evening was spent getting Lady Linda back in shape...tax info collected, deposits ready for the bank, new folders made,etc. Business business! Time for bed.

Primrose

"The snowdrop and primrose our woodlands adorn, and violets bathe in the wet o' the morn." Robert Burns

The long month of January will soon be gone!

By and by, spring will arrive!

MORNING SUNSHINE

The sunrise was just amazing this morning and the sun is out! So many of my friends across the US are stuck inside with snow and freezing rain.I'm hoping to work outside a bit today and maybe finish my Valentines for my Tasha Tudor exchange.

Jim is struggling with a nasty head cold. I hope he stays in bed and gets well today.

FRIENDSHIP

I came home from being with my dad yesterday afternoon, to find a package from Montana addressed to Jim and Linda. My dad was really sad and down about many things and it made me a bit glum. So, I was excited to find the parcel from my friend. We opened it immediately to find an entire box of JOY and SUNSHINE from a very caring and funny friend! LaVonne is a delight and a true friend, along with being a nuthead! The package was filled with yellow sunshiny things, comfort food, cheerful items, silly things, sunny gifts, and very clever items for JOY...an Almond Joy candy bar, Joy dish washing soap, Laughy Taffy-even a sunshine light bulb to chase the gray days away here in dull Oregon. Unfortunately, Jim ripped open a wonderful chocolate bar (we're dieting) and gobbled it down so it's not in the picture.

So, my question it, how do you thank someone so dear for her friendship? I guess we'll just have to spoil her rotten again when she comes to visit....which is only a few weeks away.

THANK YOU ♡ THANK YOU ♡ THANK YOU ♡ my most fantastic wonderful friend.

Antique show treasures!

Well, I when I went to help Jimmy with his booth on Sunday and help him pack up, I found a few items for our home. I WAS NOT going to buy anything, but Jim has scoped out a few things.

I'm being careful and need to have a home for things when I buy them.

I love this yarn winder.....a beautiful wooden base that is weighted. The booth owner gave me a deal. We have purchased many things from him over the years. My girls will remember the turkey plates and the Lake Oswego lady ahead of me who wanted them but wouldn't accept the offer. When I bought the winder, Bob the owner recognized me and said he had just told someone the story about the turkey plate a half hour before. We both had a good laugh over that one!

I am fond of Joan Walsh Anglund. Jim had some credit from the booth owner across from him, so yet another deal for Linda. A great set of 12 prints, in mint conditions!

Jim had a great sale and he had so much fun. This is a good retirement hobby for him...esp when he can make some extra bucks!

A nice phone call

What a nice phone call from my Gina tonight. It's a JOY to hear her happy and doing well in New Mexico. I know she misses the North West, but I 'm so proud of her for staying in Las Cruces and working hard at her teaching.

It's good to be able to talk to your daughter woman to woman. It's even better when she can offer advise to the mama. Ah, life....the circle goes on.

Project finished!

I was able to finish my heart wall hanging today and it's actually up on the wall. It feels good to have it done and I'm happy that I was able to complete a Valentine project on my to do list.

Another dull grey day and it turned chilly this afternoon. The woodstove is so cozy and I love it.

On to Valentines for my Tasha Tudor Valentine exchange. I need to start thinking about a Valentine tea. I enjoyed a cup of my friend Donna's tea tonight...yummy.

January Full Moon

The full moon has come around once again. A chilly grey day, another winter day.I choose the name QUIET MOON as it's been just that. I worked on my heart wall hanging that I started at the retreat this weekend and should be able to finish it up and hang it tomorrow. I didn't even have the radio on, just enjoyed the still house.

Jim and I started our healthy eating yesterday. We both enjoyed the holiday treats way too much and just need to eat right again. I will feel better getting some of this weight off and my joints will thank me.

My good friend LaVonne sent me such a kind and wise email. I wish she knew how much she means to me. She always knows what to say and cheers me up when I'm down. Friendship is the most treasured gift God has blessed us with in the life.

So the day ends with the Quiet Full Moon and a grateful heart. Not a bad day....

Piece Lodge Retreat

A small detour to the Country Manor Quilt shoppe became my first stop on the way to the quilt retreat on Friday. So many bolts of fabric and a place to meet up with friends. A return trip the next day resulted in another quilt waiting to be made! Lisa helped me pick out the fabrics and we hope to finish it this year. The home was just lovely and Cathy and Dave are gracious giving hosts. Their home is a mini Timberline Lodge. Cathy is a wonderful cook and the meals and treats were endless. On Sunday, she had her friend Bonnie come and teach us how to make little quilt postcards. I really enjoyed the class as I have been hoping to learn this craft. Oh no, another fun thing to enjoy. We sadly packed up on Monday, ending a magical weekend. I enjoyed helping my friend Lisa make two little skirts for her little girl Becca-memories.

The weather was so wet and it just poured rain. I came home around the Sandy River and was shocked at the condition of the river and how high the water had come up along the bank. It was gloomy today and wet, but the weatherman is calling for some sun. I started taking some extra Vit D today. January has been a long and difficult month.

I have posted more pictures on my FB page.

Ready to retreat!

I just finished cutting up my Jelly Roll into pieces ready to quilt. I'm excited to meet my Maupin friends for a weekend of quilting where I'm not running the show. I'll probably be trying to fill everyone's water or offer them snacks. Oh soon enough. We've been receiving some deposits for our upcoming retreats.

I'm glad Jim is home...I settled down today. I guess after 37 years of marriage, I'm better when we are together. I enjoy time alone, but I am blessed with a good husband. I need to get back on track and find JOY!

Pride and Prejudice

Gina left her wonderful DVD of Pride and Prejudice here at the house and I just finished watching it. I had never seen this version and enjoyed it very much. I read the book way back in high school and have seen several versions, but this one was a treat....very enjoyable.

The ice is gone and the temperature has warmed up to 53 degrees.

I found a Jelly Roll today at Fabric Depot for the quilt retreat this weekend. It should be a fun project. I am looking forward to being a customer this time.

Jim flies in from New Mexico tonight. Gina called and said she really missed her dad. They had a wonderful time together.

Icy winter night~

The east wind is blowing and the freezing rain is coating everything in sight. The streets are like an ice rink.The fire in the woodstove feels so good tonight. I do hope the ice will leave by mid day tomorrow.

I took dad to see his heart doctor again and filled his meds. I stayed for dinner and walked out of Russellville Plaza to freezing rain hitting my face. It was a easy journey home. I dropped Jim's items at the library and stopped for some milk and ice cream.

The holiday decor is finally all sorted and packed away. Such a chore this year. I had to push to get done so the car could get back into the garage with the bad weather.

I'm watching Pride and Prejudice. I'm afraid the warm fire is going to send the Sandman in way too early.

And so winter continues.....

Thoughts on life

I went to Olympia Washington yesterday with members of my family to attend the funeral of my cousin Cathy's husband....Jim Conolly. He had battled cancer for a year. The church was filled as this man had lived quite a life. He was a lawyer but not the typical type that we often think of when we hear the title. Kind and giving and fun loving. I wish I had known him. It's funny how years slip by and we become so very busy that we never get to know someone. I felt badly as I sat in the beautiful church and listened to the kind words spoken by his family and friends. Well done good and faithful servant-you ran a good race.

My cousin is so sad-the days head will be long for her. She has her first grandchild coming in April, so that circle of life really does go on. JOY is coming dear cousin.

I was happy to reunite with some of my cousins. This is my mother's side-Smith-and sadly, they could never get along. It was wonderful to see that the nasty cycle has been broken and our generation will be remembered differently. We talked of having a gathering this summer. We need a happy time to be together and walk in the sunshine.

It snowed a bit last night and more may greet us later in the upcoming week. It is winter.

Winter allows us time to reflect on life...does it not? Take peace, take joy.

Epiphany

I love to keep Christmas going until January 6th-Epiphany. I can't bear to take down the tree, so it is nice to have a good reason to leave it up a bit longer.

Tasha Tudor enjoyed the Christmas season from St. Nicholas Day to Epiphany so I have taken to doing the same. A nice long time to enjoy Christmas.

Jim and Gina head off for New Mexico tomorrow morning...a road trip to get the car down south!

Should be a fun time for them. Wish I could go along too.

Goodbye Christmas!

Wintery Day

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and

for a talk beside the fire: It is the time for home.

Edith Sitwell

Looking for JOY!

During the Christmas season the word JOY kept running through my head. I began to think that I need to concentrate on the word and I decided that I need to look for JOY, take JOY (thank you Tasha), create JOY~basically just find more JOY, put more JOY into my life and to be thankful for the JOY that comes my way.

Each month I plan to focus on a new area of JOY.

January....the JOY of winter, being inside and keeping my house.

February....the JOY of friendship.

March....the JOY of quilting and sewing.

April....the JOY of creating.

May....the JOY of motherhood and gardening.

June...the JOY of having a husband.

July....the JOY of local produce.

August...the JOY of Tasha Tudor.

September...the JOY of cooking.

October...the JOY of autumn.

November....the JOY of family.

December....the JOY of Christmas.

Happy New Year filled with JOY!