A Winter's Sky

Hello Friends,  We have had a good couple of days!  I joined a quilting club that meets monthly to make wall hangings; it's a good way to continue to grow in the skill of quilting and appliqué.  I took the class last Saturday and am partially done with January's project, a cute Snowman.  I'm trying to finish getting things accomplished before I head to Southern California for a quilt convention.  Our weather has still been so cold in the mornings, but today we got up into the high 30's during the day.  Look at this gorgeous sunset-hubby was able to take it tonight.  Nothing more beautiful that a winter sky.
Hope you had a great weekend and that your week will be productive.
Hugs,
Noreen

Hello friends, After our full day out in the cold and snowy terrain, the family gathered for games all Saturday afternoon and followed them with our version of Charcuterie boards. Mind you that with 17 of us, that's a lot of food. One of the best games we learned was Empires which is a fun game for a large group.  Hubby brought our beautiful board that the boys made for us last Christmas.  We filled it with cheese, salami, summer sausage, grapes, pickles and crackers.  Believe it or not, no one went hungry.

Hard to believe that the kitchen held so many of us; however when you are preparing food for our family, everyone chips in.

Our day was productive; I took Hunter out this morning to walk with Kim and Riley. It was cold, but felt good to be together again-seems like forever since we've been able to walk with the pups. Afterwards, we took my car to the carwash and then I came home and started sewing. I got things ready for the class on Saturday and finally finished the last border for a quilt I'd put aside and pieced the back. What to do when you don't have enough fabric for a single panel; in my world, you piece the remaining fabric from the front, for the back. Tomorrow, aside from a dental cleaning, I plan to get the quilt sandwiched and ready to quilt. I'd love to have it quilted by the weekend, but time will tell.
With concern I'm watching the news on Iran.  Prayers going up for our soldiers.
Blessings,
Noreen

The Rockies Were Calling

Happy Monday to you dear friends, I hope you had a wonderful weekend! For Christmas this year we gave both daughters families a weekend up in Estes Park; we have done this on a regular basis until we gave them a week in Southern California two years ago. Everyone was so excited to get this gift and it meant lots of fun times for all of us. Friday hubby and I left shortly after lunch so we could drive into Rocky Mountain National Park to see how deep the snow was. The conditions were cold, blue sky, snowing and so very windy. Part of the road in was closed due to heavy snow and gale force winds. He joked that we should get out and hike around one of our favorite trails, but  I quickly said "I don't think so".

This photo was taken yesterday after walking around Sprague Lake; it was much more compacted and an easy walk.  Her is our oldest Carrie with her hubby.

All of us at Bear Lake; what a workout it was.  The snow was about 2' deep and the wind was bitterly cold.

We spent Saturday afternoon, after a Starbucks visit, playing games before have a wonderful dinner together.  I also found a new store and bought a sign that reads Blessed Beyond Measure.
Yesterday we headed home mid morning, stopped at Costco and hubby and I went out to lunch.  The afternoon was spent doing laundry and just catching up with unpacking etc.  This week will be somewhat busy-back to the gym and an errand in the afternoon.  I've got to see my dentist for a cleaning on Wednesday and then on Friday we have our quilt mini group gathering. Saturday a close friend and I are taking a class at a store that is a year long club and each month we will make a new wall hanging.  Life is good and we are indeed blessed!
Hugs to you.
Noreen

So the journey into the new year begins; I wonder if everyone else just slipped back into their normal routine.  We got up early and took Hunter to his grooming appointment, then went to the gym to work out, after that ran to the bank, Michaels and Walmart to look for a 4.5-5' artificial tree for our basement.  Walmart had two, but they were very cheesy looking so we will look at garage sales for next year.  It was so fun to host a party here for Christmas that I told hubby we'd have to do it again.
We don't want a tall tree, but it made our  basement so much more festive.
It's a beautiful afternoon here in Northern Colorado, the sun is out and temp is 49 degrees with snow melting.  I just finished placing an order on Chewy and plan to head downstairs to sew; we will be in the mountains for the weekend and I've just got to get back into the swing of things.
I hope you had a wonderful new years and that this coming year will be filled with blessings.
Noreen

From our home to yours, we wish you a New Year filled with love, peace, joy, happiness and grace.

I'll be away until next week, but wish you the best for this New Year.
Noreen

Christmas Celebrations

Merry Christmas Eve to you and yours! I meant to post these photos earlier this week, but time got away from me. Last Saturday evening we had five couples from our street over for a Christmas Party; we hadn't done this before and decked out our basement. It was such a fun gathering; wish I had gotten photos of all the food on the table. Everyone had a great time catching up.  The food tables were eventually filled; I think I need to live at the gym for the next month.  All the neighbors brought appetizers or a dessert and I'm still full; don't think I can eat another sweet.

This morning all of us went and saw Frozen 2 and I liked it better than the first Frozen.  Our youngest granddaughter mentioned she wants to see it again; I think we will add it to our collection when it comes out for sale.  Tonight hubby and I will be joining our girls families attending Christmas Eve service; afterwards hubby and I will drive around looking at lights.
May your Christmas be blessed with peace, love, joy and 2020 be healthy and happy.
Blessings to you.
Noreen

The Countdown is On

Hello there and from our house to yours, Merry Christmas.  We are finishing wrapping one present and have to buy French Bread for another,  but everything else is done.  We had a great party on Saturday with 10 neighbors.  It was the first party we've thrown during the holidays and I am so happy it turned out well.  Tomorrow morning all 17 of us are continuing a Christmas tradition and going to the movies together to see Frozen 2.  Even the teens love going and I love it that we get to go as a group.  Tomorrow evening we will all go to Christmas Eve services together and then hubby and I will drive around our area to look at lights.
What a blessing to live so close to our girls and their families.  I've already started a goal list for quilting starting in January and I've still got to finish one granddaughter's quilt.  I've joined a monthly club at a local quilt shop and will work on small wall hangings once a month; add in the challenges from our mini group and I'll be busy all year.  I'm also going back to Southern California for a huge quilt show at the end of January; it should be an adventure and I'm meeting my best friend at the airport.  The very first road trip we took was to Road To California about 16 years ago; I haven't been back since, but she goes every year with her mini group.  I knew the gals in her group when we lived next door to each other, so it will be fun to see them as well.
I pray you have a wonderful Christmas and end the year on a positive note.
Blessings,
Noreen