Getting Christmas spirit

I know it's early

I need to work at getting the Christmas spirit

Funny story

My friend did an errand for me to grab Minnie before she was gone

The store wasn't ready for the sale and called her when Minnie was available at the front desk

My friend sent her hubs to pick her up

No bag or box so picture a cute short man in his 70s walking out of the store with Minnie is his arms

Then buckled in next to him in the car

My friend was cracking up and said to me thanks for the laugh as they never had children so no kids to buy for

How beautiful is this Minnie

I think my great niece will approve don't you?

Christmas is starting to take shape here

Even if it's early

 

Angels

Isn't this dough ornament pretty?

I want to duplicate it if I can

And dip it in wax to seal it

My steps are almost done

Tonight buying paint so tomorrow I can paint them

Lots going on in my life right now

Some things I can talk about  some I can't

But I know God will get me through

Christmas this year will be very pared down

No gifts except family as money is real tight as it is for everyone

This world gets crazier each day

Saying prayers for all my friends and hoping they pray for me too

Quilting is taking a short break for now

Don't worry

I will be back

Not depressed or anything like that

Just trying to keep my head above water

And making changes in my life

Out with negative things and people 

In with God and positivity 

I am a work in progress

My new friends are angels among us and I thank God every day for their uplifting compassionate loving ways

My only regret is it took 9 years here to know them

 

A little play

I wanted to see how far along I am in this project

So I took out my container of blocks

And played with layouts

I don't have enough blocks but it was fun to see them

Do you like this staggered look?

Or the straight set look

Which looks more appealing to you 

I won't sew any rows together yet as I want to distribute the fabrics and colors in the final layout

Buy its fun to have a little play in the midst of work

I have been scraping and sanding my steps so that I can hopefully paint soon

I need the weather to cooperate

Fingers crossed......

No rain.  No wind. And at least 3 days in a row of good weather

I am way behind this year in my projects

WAY BEHIND

 

Tough times

 

The trees here are turning and leaves are falling

Temps are dropping and the feel of winter is in the air

I lucked out at Joanne's 

I was look I ng at fake greenery roping to use as a sort of valance

Everywhere I looked it would be expensive 

I did some errands and found these at 40 percent off

They ended up like 8 bucks a window

Sweet

I put them up now and yes will keep them up

They make me happy 

And in these tough days happy is good

Life gets more and more expensive every day

It's crazy

I am hoping that the winter is bearable

And costs can be managed

Scary but with the help of God we can thrive and survive

I am learning all kinds of new tasks

Painting steps being one 

Self sufficiency helps to cut costs and get things done

What new things have you learned in this crazy economy

Two two buckle my shoes

Two more leaf blocks for my Aboretum quilt

So fun to pair up fabrics

I can't wait to have enough blocks

To really play with the layout

I think I may be close to halfway

Maybe........

For now will just keep making blocks 

I will later need to press and trim them but for now the process is calming

So much work to be done here

I have been busy with new friends going out and making dinners that I haven't sewn much

But it keeps me sane and not alone

I love my new friends

They are gonna help me scrape and paint my steps for the winter 

Labor is so expensive IF you can even find someone to do the job

So I will be learning all kinds of things I think

Self sufficiency I guess

Do you have other hidden talents?

I may need your advice

Just sayin

 

Turkey time

Yesterday I had friends over for a boiled ham dinner

When they left I saw something out of the corner of my eye

Turkeys

A bunch of them!

So I ran to get my camera

Reminded me of fun stories with my friend Jacky

Made me feel like she was here too

They ignored the camera and kept doing what they were doing

My friend told me her fav cookie is a chocolate chip cookie

So tonight when I deliver ham hash for dinner I will deliver these too

After all

What are friends for 

Tuesday already

Had a fabulous 3 day weekend

Sat went out to eat with friends to a pizza place with excellent pizza

Sun got some grocery ingredients for the ham dinner

Mon made boiled dinner and some zuchinni bread

It

Smelled

Heavenly in here

Today is work then hash for dinner

Then make a nice pea soup with some of that ham

YUM

WHAT CHA UP TO?

 

My new happy place

My new friend has a few of these.i love the ambiance it gives to a room so I was asking her and her husband about them.

I fell in love

Fri after work she called me and said wanna go look at one? I go yeah.

We came home with one and she and her hubs put it together for me. 

I

Love

It

Dunks does too

When I put it on heat mode he warms his butt by the fire

So cute

 

Leaf me alone

 

I have been trying to get ready for the winter and holidays 

My new friend is doing Thanksgiving at her house for me and her and her hubs

I am doing Christmas here for me, them,and 2 other neighbors

Problem is the one neighbor I had it out with is a gossip and friends with the other 2 coming

I don't want to cancel but yet I don't want to be gossip fodder to the other one. Dawn did this, said this etc so will play it by ear

Sad how negative people can hurt many

I just wanted to spend the holiday with friends who would ordinarily spend it alone 

Simple agenda

Not gonna let it take up any more real estate in my head

So I sewed some trees

I managed a total of 5

I was proud of myself

I am not even halfway yet but every little bit counts 

Sorry if I worried you by not posting

I am fine

Been fall cleaning 

Bought new chairs 

Had damaged one to deal with

That's ok now

Then had drunk neighbor almost take out my house

Was stressed and am every time he isn't home

Makes it a crazy world these days

What happened to my peaceful neck of the world

 

Unfinished kinda day

See this?

Just sew the last piece on right?

I'm nope

See that little slit

I didn't when I cut the piece

So back to see if I have a scrap left 1.5x3.5 for this

Grrrr

Sorry I worried some of you by not posting

It has been a trying week

One of my neighbors I just met when Rich passed and she and I have hit it off and enjoy each other's company 

I share my cooking with her and she with me

We go shopping together

Etc and the more we get to know each other the more we have in common

Fav pizza pepper and onion, both oldest child, both have 3 brothers etc

Anywho on Saturday we went out to eat and to shop for a new vac

When we arrived home we each had a nasty message on our phones

About why we went out without her, why we aren't answering the phone,  why are we rude to her etc.

I was dumbfounded

One I can certainly go out to eat with whomever I want whenever I want

Two I am never rude unless provoked 

Three I am not answering the phone cause I'm not home

So we called her.my friend called first and was yelled at because she likes me better blah blah

What? Are we in grade school?

Who does that?

My friend told her basically to take a long walk off a short pier

I was next trying to rationalize what was happening

She started off ranting and I stopped her. I said no I listened to your unnecessary nasty message now you listen to me.

1 I don't need to tell you where I am going or with whom

2 I went with a friend to buy a vacuum not what your mind was thinking

3 I am not obligated to take you everywhere I go

And 4 our friendship is done 

I have done nothing but make this woman meals, take her for groceries, trim her plants to save her 400 bucks..etc 

And I get this?

I'm nope. Done

So I didn't post because I was upset

And angry

And confused

I got 4 hrs sleep the other night

I questioned myself as if I did something wrong 

Is it wrong to enjoy someone's company

And it's not a male so not the too soon for a relationship after hubs type of conversation

Do you have possessive neighbors?

I didn't know either my friend of I were a possession

Anyway I decided then and there to move on from negativity

And move toward nicer people and things in my life

Sorry for the rant

Just was wondering if you have crazy neighbors too