Happy New Years!

Happy New Years Eve to all of you.  I shared this small quilt on Friday, but just got this photo yesterday~we were at Kim's house and Carrie took it on Christmas morning.  It isn't nearly as big as his old flannel quilt and I hope to make a larger one this spring.  Maybe.  I've also decided to start on Christmas presents in September, so when a brainstorm hits about another homemade gift, I'll have time to do it properly.  This was done in 3.5 days.  On Friday, I started working on a Winter panel to hang-I loved the barns and buggies in it and decided to do a quick outline of the squares.  I want it up by this afternoon or tomorrow; I'm thinking it will last another month, before I start yearning for spring time.  I also have another baby quilt to assemble and then our mini group will begin a challenge~we will be making all the same blocks for different size quilts and in fabrics of our choosing.  I got my pieced block fabric on Saturday with a friend and then realized that I have some left over Log Cabin blocks(alternate blocks)from the quilt I made for our bed three years ago.  The colors are perfect for the pieced blocks and it saves me money-yay!  I may start taking decorations down today, but we'll see how I feel after I get home from the gym.
Tonight hubby and I are going out for our special yearly dinner and then will head to Carrie's and spend the evening playing games.  It should be fun.  Tomorrow is open, so if I don't take everything down today, it will definitely come down tomorrow.
I wish you the best in the New Year; may you life be filled with joy, happiness and health.
Blessings,
Noreen

Well the chaos of the preparations for Christmas is done and it is time to relax a bit.  We had a wonderful Christmas day with our crew, had incredible food to eat and so much love to share.
Here is the lap quilt I made for my hubby; I raided my stash and literally threw it together in a couple of days.  It's smaller than his last flannel quilt, so there will be another one in his future.  He thought it was a wall hanging.  As if I don't have enough projects, my mini group is starting a quilt challenge in January, so I'm also gathering up lots of fabric for it.
This is the project my hubby made with our two oldest grandsons-two Corn Hole Games for their yards.  He did an excellent job and it was much more reasonable than if we ordered them online or got them in a store. The families both loved them!  Carrie even mentioned that she had really wanted one for their yard, which made us so happy.

The rest of the week is relaxed and seeing several friends.  I hope you aren't too tired today!
Have a great day!
Noreen

Christmas Blessings From Our House

      Christmas Blessings from our heart and home to you and yours.  May you find Love this Christmas!

I'll be back soon, until then have yourself a very Merry Christmas.
Joy to you!
Noreen

More Quilting Items Completed

Happy Monday to you! Can you believe in a week we will be celebrating Christmas. Where has the time gone? Wait, I know-I've been busy sewing. Today I deliver these table runners to my close friends and walking partners. Since none are quilters, I always try to make them a little something.

Each runner is slightly different-two have the same fabrics, but arranged differently and with different backing.  The middle runner was in different, more traditional fabrics; some of the fabrics were obviously made out of our country, because they were printed incorrectly.  I was disappointed and will not buy Jelly Rolls(2.5" strips)from this manufacturer again.
Today I was deciding whether I wanted to make my Winter wall hanging or do something else.  Call me crazy, but I'm choosing to do something else and make my hubby something.  Since he visits here, I can't say more, except he is banned from my sewing room.
I have an easier week, so to speak-getting my teeth cleaned tomorrow, going to hear grands do a speech at their class, going to lunch on Thursday.  Friday night we have a sleepover with our three grandsons and Saturday we are taking our daughters and sil's out for dinner. Everything is done with our families presents and if I don't get the item accomplished by Christmas I'll work on it after.
O.k. so my week is still crazy!  Wishing you peace and love this week.
Noreen

Stir and Boom Raw-Raw Lamb Dinner for dogs

Good Morning to you! As a #ChewyInfluencer each month Hunter gets to try a new treat. This month we are trying, successfully, a new raw dog food that was made in Boulder Colorado. The idea is to provide our dogs with real food created by Pet People. I wasn't sure how Hunter would like it, because he doesn't eat a lot of wet food.

The consistency reminds me of oatmeal with larger pieces in it.  I followed the directions, but cut the portion in half~however, it was a bit too watery so I've adjusted that with his following meals.  Just add hot water and let it sit for 15 minutes and you have a great meal.

You can see Hunter eating it.  He is used to having freeze dried Lamb and knows the smell, so he dug right in.

Things I like about this product is:
~It's Holistic dog food for all ages.
~Ingredients are Free Range Lamb, Sweet Potato(which he loves), Veggies and Fruit
~It is non-GMO Protein and Produce, helps Healthy Skin and Coats from Omegas 3 & 6
~There are no fillers or by-product meals, artificial preservatives, flavors colors, corn, wheat, rice, soy or gluten.
~It is so easy to prepare and this one bag makes up to 10 lbs of food.
~It's made in Boulder, just down the road from us.

Once again, Chewy has given us the ability to test a product and see whether Hunter would eat it.  With how picky he is, it's always a good thing.  We love Chewy and the entire staff.  We were provided this food free of charge from Chewy in exchange for our honest review and opinion.
You can find this great food here:  Chewy.com

Have a great day!
Noreen and Hunter

Fun, Fun, Fun

Good Morning to you! These days are just flying by so quickly and the computer seems to be the last thing I sit down at. I'm pleased to say that almost all of our gifts are wrapped and I'm just finishing up a couple of table runners-should hopefully have them done by the weekend. Last Saturday morning we all gathered to once again celebrate two of our granddaughters birthday's. Here is Miss O., now 11, opening her birthday present from us.  Little does she know that there are five more presents inside.

Miss A. turned 9 and also had five presents inside her box.

Instead of a lunch or dinner, they choose a breakfast and it was so good.  Belgium Waffles, fresh fruit and Maple syrup as well as home made whipped cream, scrambled eggs and bacon all filled us up.

Around noon, I headed south to see my friend whose out dog sitting.  WE went out for lunch and then toured an historic home decorated for the season.  It was so much fun.  I no sooner got home and relaxed and we had to go to another Christmas Open House, hosted by a quilter friend of mine.  She was dressed up as one of Santa's Helpers.  It was so much fun.
This week is just as busy and Saturday is a repeat of last Saturday-a brunch at church, one party at 4:00 and game night with my best gal pal Kam at 6:30.  How am I supposed to sew?!
Hope you are all having a great week and enjoying the season with all it's busyness.
Hugs,
Noreen

Earthborn Holistic Earth Bites for Dogs

Happy Friday! As a #ChewyInfluencer we are able to try some wonderful products and see how our pet likes them. Firstly, let me just tell you that the entire staff at Chewy.com are incredible; the customer service is the best I've ever expiernced with an online company. If you add in the fact that their products, for all types of pets, are reasonably priced and arrive within a very short time-generally two days- I'd say you've got a win/win business. This month I choose the Earthborn Holistic EarthBites Hip & Joint treats.

The size is perfect for Hunter and they are moist and easy for him to chew.

He loves them!  I'm hoping it improves his gate when going up and down the stairs.  Now that Hunter is 7 yrs old, I think it's time to get him on this supplement, to prevent any future issues.
The things we love about this supplement/treat is:
Grain Free and Gluten Free
Made with Turkey Meal, Molasses, Honey and Maple Syrup
Fortified with Glucosamine & Chondroitin
Antioxidant Rich-Vit. E and C, plus veggies and fruits in every bite.
Most of all, I am confident in the product because it is made right here in the U.S.
 You can find these treats and other great items here: www.chewy.com


Once again, thank you to all of the staff as well as Natalie.  Truly we love this company.
These treats were provided to us free, in exchange for our honest opinion and review.
Noreen and Hunter

Happy Thursday to  you.  Today is cold, wintery and snowy~the perfect day to stay inside and sew.  I'll be running some errands with hubby this morning and then hanging out until tonight.  Our ladies group at church has an annual Ornament Exchange and tonight's the night-can't wait.
I hope you are having a great week.
Blessings,
Noreen

Fun Family Times

Happy Tuesday to you! Last Friday night we gathered to celebrate Kim's birthday and Carrie took this photo to show just how tall our oldest granddaughters are getting. Yes, Miss S is taller than I am and Miss F will be there soon. Thankfully, Peanut will probably be my size.

Saturday all 17 of us went down to Denver to see the Nutcracker.  The only thing better would be if my brother and sister of my heart were with us.  Two  years ago they came out and the girls all went to the ballet while the guys all went to Cabela's.    This year we took up almost two entire rows; it was such fun, especially with all the guys there.

Hubby and I enjoying the family outing!

When it was over we headed home and went out to dinner together; so many traditions!  Our girls remember the years we always went to the Nutcracker in San Francisco at the Opera House.  My sister and sister of my heart would join us; we would walk through Union Square and then have lunch.  Such precious memories.
I'm busy as a bee and must get a move on.  I have my crown put in at lunch time today and hope to sew this morning.
Enjoy the season.
Blessings~
Noreen

Happy Birthday Hunter

Happy Monday to you all! It's hard to believe December is already here, but alas it is. It is also hard to believe our Hunter is 7 years old today. I had to go back and pull some photos so I'd remember what a little ragamuffin he was when we first met him. I wish we had gotten him at 8 weeks old, but he was almost 5 months old when he came to live with us.
Here is the first photo we have of him; I believe he is on the far left-I can tell just from his looks.  His apricot ears are showing there, but they aren't quite are predominant as they once were.

Here is he above when we picked him up.  He was sooo shaggy and needed to be groomed.

Here he was last March, notice no tear staining at all.  Of course, he had just gotten groomed.  I'm sad that after this photo he started having the red tear staining; he is just as adorable with or without it.  I've tried switching foods, which hasn't  helped at all.  I know there is a powder I can add to his food, but I'm hesitant to try it.  Some dogs have changes to their system-maybe too much iron or other mineral which causes it, I may never know.  He is pure love and is such a wonderful companion; I hope we have may more years together.  He got a special bone for his birthday and will have a special dinner tonight.

We had a wonderful time on Saturday at the Nutcracker and I'll post photos tomorrow.
Have a great evening.
Noreen and Hunter