Fall October Business

- October is always the busiest month but includes so much fun, that it goes by in a flash.
The beginning of the month I Joined a Harvest Exchange.
http://www.dixiesamplar.com/p/harvest-exchange-2014.html
I stitched and gathered fun Prim items for my exchange partner, Terri at Dixie Sampler
The stitch pumpkin folk is a pattern from Lori at Notforgotten Farm.
Then I received,


Aren't this lovely special items, from a new sweet friend, Kathy R. From Maryland.
They all were just perfect for me and I cherish them.
You can see much care and thought went into my fun package.
Next I began preparing for my Bee sisters retreat, more on that later.
A quick post on my gratitude for October Fun!
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Simple Life On Vacation

Life in the summer can scream relax slowdown! Yes... Definitely enjoy each moment we breathe. The intake of warm air when you open the screen door or the drops of rain off the rooftop, to the dewdrops on early morning sunrise wildflowers.



I retired last October and find I still feel as if I'm on vacation!
Loving each moment of waking up to the thoughts of seeing what the day will bring...
I've rediscovered more stitching .... And reading about other bloggers who stitch.



But even with more time on my hands..👐. I feel life can be simpler. More clearing of clutter. Less is more for sure.
Reduce.
Reuse.
Recycle.
While I enjoy each day,
I may ponder what can be cleared away...
But maybe just some days I'll just enjoy those moments.



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August Beautiful Days

You can't beat summer days when the temperature is 75 degrees and sunny skies!


Have you ever noticed how on the flowers of Queen Ann's Lace seems to have a spot of burgundy in the center?


Each month of summer brings different foliage and flowers to enjoy.
I have much gratitude of the many Oak trees that surround the land among the wildflowers!
Blessings to everyone and enjoy the weather.
Or the your State Fair!



Iowa State Fair photo with the sculptor of the butter cow...
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Celebrations for the USA! Such a great time of year to celebrate together with family and friends!
The above needlework of the flag is a reproduction of a civil war soldier needle book.
A stitch along from Nan Lewis at Threadwork Primitives.http://threadworkprimitives.blogspot.com/2014/05/civil-war-needlebook-kit.html
It was a fun patriotic stitch. Her projects are super and love the primitive look.






What are you stitching this time of year?
Maybe today more stitching for me as rain is coming down and makes for best to stitch!
Enjoy the holiday weekend everyone and keep safe!

Location:Happy Celebrations

Summertime

- Summer has arrived with our longest day or summer solstice.
As I walk the evening the sounds I hear are these cicadas. It is their 17 year breeding time and come with calls whistling through the trees.
I am searching for the 7 different wild flowers to lay on my pillow for all the spirit of summer and health. On my walk, I also came upon some wild Yarrow. This is believed to bring good health when placed with my flowers this night.
It has been a very warm humid day... So no bonfire for us tonight! Another tradition practiced in many places around the world. Maybe even one around Stonehenge.



(Time)


(Photos from Time magazine.)

Blessings are always abound when experiencing the joys of summer and health.


As the sun sets and the sounds of the cicadas grow silent ...
I tuck my flowers on my pillow.


And fall asleep with all the gratitude of enjoying this beautiful day!
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Summery Days give way to gardening.

I'm finding joy in planting the miniature gardens and...


- My antique birdcage...
Sunday the cicadas arrived here. Which only happens every 17 years! They live to mate then die once again after 6 weeks. The amazing nature around me.






This is one that landed by me. The coloring of it are magnificent!
Much gratitude I have in sharing these wonders.
What have you witnessed?
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Time to Plant

Happy May Day 2014

Happy May Day. Very chilly and rainy here... So find I'm looking through some other May Days. I still remember the fun May Day celebrations in Hawaii.






- Here I find I'm enjoying the beautiful daffodils. I do have much gratitude for the beauty even through the misty cold rain.



Enjoy the the springtime around you.
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Easter Egghunt Season

- Time to get ready for our annual Egg hunt.
I've been working on the prizes this week and the weather looks promising!
I had a wonderful Spring break with my sisters. Maybe more on that later...
But now the focus is on to countdown and spending wonderful family time.
I'm busy cooking


. And getting as much done to refrigerator as possible before. Sunrise service tomorrow and families to arrive.
Oh yes and to hide all those eggs !
Enjoy the special season and remembering the cross.



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March

Wow, this has been a very long, long winter.❄️❄️❄️
Hurray, because March brings celebrations. Birthdays, springtime, new birth, beginning of Easter season.
My grandson and I began by making shamrock decorations.
It was the first time to get those hands in paint. He normally does not like to get dirty. Really Hudson? But he had joy doing just that, this day.😉
It always brings an adventure and smiles when Hudson comes to play!


-


Happy March!😊

Happy Valentines Day

Pillows for the little ones


Hand warmers and neck warmer, which that are infused with Lavender.


- Gift for our special book club host using my vintage buttons. ( pic by Brenda B.)
These are Some of my valentine gifts made this year... more where made to meet all my special family members.
Today is my sister, Brenda's birthday. I had hope to bring her gifts and share it with her today and spent time with my mother.
But yet another snowstorm here with yet another 4 inches snow with it continuing to fall..
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Snow and more Snow

-More snow yesterday.
How I love my warm cabin.
Gratitude for the wood stove!
Even though it continues to snow in winter wonderland Iowa...
I have enjoyed the
Stitching this time has given me.
Several project completed and Valentine gifts to consider.
I will post them later.
I have heard from my sisters this week. Maybe some cabin fever with them also.
They are thinking about sister trips and warmer times.
My SIL Barb is already experiencing those thoughts, Blessings to you, Barb for sunshine and warmth.
I also has been thinking about sister trips. It is my turn for hosting the Bee sisters this year.
Hmm.... Iowa... will they enjoy seeing the joys of this beautiful state?

Sunday is rest day and it will be my daughter's turn for Sunday family dinner. I look forward to enjoying one of her yummy meals.
I am thankful of this time when we have our family gathering once a week.
A time to visit and share our lives each week. I can't begin to say how uplifting it is to both myself and husband.
Only missing our family members who are not close enough to share in this weekly joy.
Maybe we should set up FaceTime at the table also.😊.
Blessings to you and warm thoughts.


You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste (its strength, its quality), how can its saltiness be restored? . . . You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
—Matthew 5:13-14





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More Brrrr⛄️

New buzz word of the week is Polar Vortex! The circular air surrounding the North Pole
Gets distorted and dips down to capture the Midwest! So Brrrr...
I find I'm still cozy by that warm wood stove. Thanks to much wood stored up last spring!
Thanks to the work of my husband.☺️
So to all the schools closed around Iowa hope all have kept out of the Polar Vortex

I'm thinking, to warm the house even more, lets do some baking!
My son, Stephen while home this past holiday baked us this simple good crockpot bread.
http://www.simplysogood.com/2010/03/crusty-bread.htmCrusty Bread

3 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1 3/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon Instant or Rapid-rise yeast
1 1/2 cups water

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, salt and yeast. Add water and mix until a shaggy mixture forms. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and set aside for 12 - 18 hours. Overnight works great. Heat oven to 450 degrees. When the oven has reached 450 degrees place a cast iron pot with a lid in the oven and heat the pot for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, pour dough onto a heavily floured surface and shape into a ball. Cover with plastic wrap and let set while the pot is heating. Remove hot pot from the oven and drop in the dough. Cover and return to oven for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes remove the lid and bake an additional 15 minutes. Remove bread from oven and place on a cooling rack to cool.



It was very easy and quite yummy!
So bake some easy bread and stay warm.

Winter Cold

January is coming in with a cold blast that Iowa has not seen for a bit!
Temps have been dropping all day. Brrr ....⛄️❄️❄️❄️
I find myself today with much gratitude for my lovely warm wood stove.



- So I will be enjoying sitting in my cozy chair by this warmest part of my cabin.
I plan to keep my hands busy though, finishing up some projects. These didn't quite find the way under the tree as gifts.
In fact, I'm liking the quietness of working on them without the close deadline.



So hope my friends and family have a quiet warm place to enjoy the weekend.
My friend, Brenda over at simple pleasures is probably enjoying a warm cup of hot chocolate. See her post...
http://www.simplepleasures-bb.blogspot.com/2014/01/recipe-for-one-perfect-cup-of-hot.html

New Year Time

- 2014
Years come and go with speed. Does anyone else feel that way.
My last post was the end of October. Oh my!
Now the busy two months of Christmas stitching and family gatherings have quickly passed.
This morning on TV, they suggested instead of goals for the new year....
Find just one word to focus on this year!
In the conversations, it was said, think on things that are important to you and the word will come...
For me I think Gratitude. Yes, I will feel Gratitude this year 2014.
This will be My word for the year.
If you could choose one word for 2014, what would it be?
Can you feel it?






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