Warm (relative) spell

Last Saturday it was nice enough during the afternoon that we barbecued. Love barbecued chicken!

It is 18 degrees outside as I type this. It should warm up to about 48 today. The gravel in the driveway is frozen.

When I let the dog out this morning, I saw a herd of deer running through the neighbors yard. This always makes me smile.

I sure hope we, here in Southern Oregon, get a lot more snow this season. What's left on the ground is dirty and not looking good any more. I love a bright, clean layer of snow.

No matter how much more snow I'd like to still see this season, I'm already thinking of Spring.

These are just a few thoughts in my mind this morning.

time just gets away from me sometimes . . .

Yikes, time sure has gone by since my last post. It's not that I'm really busy, but the time just flies no matter if you're having fun or not!




This is what we have seen for the last 3 days. Today we have had sunshine since early morning, but for the previous three days, it has been fog and hoar frost - on everything! It is beautiful to see, but it never burned off. This is on a truck antenna and the spikes are about 1 1/2 inches long. By the time I saw the fuzziness of the picture, the truck had gone, but I'm sure you still realize how cold it has to be to get this type of frost!

Yesterday when I went to Dale & Candy's, the clumps of frost that had been hanging around on all the trees was starting to melt a bit (thin fog & sunshine)and was falling off the trees like it was snowing. Very pretty, but I didn't have my camera! I need to keep it with me at all times, I feel I miss some really nice pics because of not having it . . .

Needless to say, it's basically indoor weather! I have been sewing my grocery bags. Wal-Mart hasn't started charging for their cheap plastic bags and now no one knows if, or when they will, but I'm still going to do my little bit to lessen the plastic bags that are used.




I made one bag out of denim, which is great for canned goods, but this one turned out too small for regular stuff. It works for carrying all the other bags. The blue bags are made from a sheet I've had for years and never used. I used the pattern from Mors Bags, it works up easily, and is about 18" x 18". It will hold a good amount.

I have 4 bags made, and cut fabric for 6 more. That should take care of a major trip to the market, if not, 1 plastic bag is better than 12!

In sewing, I went through several blue colors of thread, and then finally ran out. Going to Joanns, I took the old spool with the number of the color so I could match it. Uh huh, yup right . . . the spool I have is the 'old' style label, and Coats & Clark has changed the numbering... My girlfriend looks at me and shakes her head. "Ummm, don't you have one of the finished bags in the car?" "Uhhh, yes." She went and got one and we could then match the thread to the bag without having to guess.... smart friend!

I got 2 spools, and will save the label for the next round. The mish mash of blue thread I used was fine, but they weren't full spools and were used up pretty quickly. I also cleared out several bobbins of old blue stuff. The bags do take a bit of thread since I run 4 evenly spaced rows of stitching on the 18" handles, but I like the feel of the handles better with the additional stitching. And the inside of the bags have been french seamed - making the stitching double there too. These bags will last unless something punctures them, and then there is always applique!

Ok then. I'd better get going on the rest since I got thread.

Stay warm every one!

Camera, camera where are you ? ? ?

I need to dig out some new batteries for my camera so I can post some pictures. It's getting boring without pictures. Though all you would get is snow, snow and some more snow. I could always show you how low the temperature is on my thermometer . . . It is suppose to go down to 8 degrees over night.

I've had the wood stove going for the last month. I need to gather the ash bucket and go dump it. The snow isn't that deep right now, so I can make my way down to the burn pile and gently toss them there. When there's 3 feet on the ground, it is a bit hard to get down there, but I should just bundle up and go for it . . . yup, I will . . . tomorrow! It's dark out now and trying to get down the hill with an ash bucket and a flashlight is not my idea of fun. I'd end up on my butt in the snow, covered with ash and the dog licking my face. Ummm, NO.

Tonight I started making a small grocery bag. I will finish tomorrow and get a picture of it. It is a bit too small, but will work for a short trip. I found some denim and feel good about the fabric strength, but it is stiff and not quite what I want. I will have to dig out the older sheets and some fabric for lining. I think that will be easier and I will be able to make them bigger without the weight.

I just know that I need to make at least 10-12 of them. I usually only shop once every 2 weeks, but Donavan is coming home from his sister's and I've depleted a lot of our stock. It needed to be used since the 'stale' date was approaching, but now the cupboard looks empty. Ahhh, can't have it all, now can we??? LOL


The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

a whole new year!

in which to mess up something!!! LOL

We have had some warming, up to 38 degrees. We have had some rain, the snow is melting. Also some wind. The snow will return, but at least I don't have to worry about my roof for a while - thank goodness - I hate crawling up there to shovel!

I need to stop looking for craft ideas and start to "do". I have a list of things I want to make that is sooo long that in order to make every thing, I will live to be 250 or older! I have lots of beading thingies I want to make, Valentine's Day is coming up, then St. Patrick's Day, and before you know it Easter will be around the corner! That's just the beading . . .

Now I also want to sew. I really need to make some shopping bags for myself since Wal-Mart (the place we love to hate!) is going to be charging for their lousy plastic bags. 25 cents each! I have some older sheets that I will use, and maybe some of my t-shirts . . . I found instructions for both on the net, several for each in fact.

Like I said I need to stop looking for more patterns after I find what I need, but there always seems to be better things just around the corner, so to speak. I have a folder that is bulging and that is hard to do with the "Favorites". Well, maybe for you, but I seem to have pages and pages of Favorites. I think I need to make sub-folders. Yup, more new year cleaning up. Does it ever stop? Nooo, I don't think so, but I will take it one day at a time, and try to get a few things done this year.

I will leave you with the thought all crafters have:

Creative clutter is better than idle neatness.