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!