Christmas With the Grands

 

I truly feel rotten that I haven't been around much lately, but as you can see I have a very good excuse!

The grandchildren arrived over a week ago and our little house has been turned topsy turvy, upside down. My counters are cluttered with snacks, there is artwork in every window seal, on my bedroom dresser, in the office, on the frig, under the coffee table, practically every nock and cranny...What can I say, except we're having fun!

 

One day this last week the children decided they wanted Papa to show them how to make bread.

 

I thought when it came down to kneading the dough that the grands would leave that part of the bread making process to Papa, but they really got into it and worked it right through to the end.

 

 

The grandchildren love creating everyday. I have to tell you I'm pretty impressed with the little sculpties they've designed.

Conner's sculpty.

 

Every day Camden, Lexy, and Conner go to my MIL's apartment to visit where she spends time filling their tummies with cookies and helping them create even more artwork!

Yes, they are getting spoiled,  but not in a bad way.

 

In closing I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Having my grandchildren this Christmas has been such a gift and a great reminder to me of the most precious gift of the baby Jesus. He is truly the greatest gift I have ever excepted!

Blessings-Kimberly

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For more photos of the grand's visit please view here!







Let the Christmas Decorating Begin

 

 

Hi all!

As you can see, I am finally beginning my Christmas decorating. I put it off, thinking I had plenty of time. But I received a call from my oldest son this morning letting me know that they will be arriving next week. EEK! This is a week earlier than we had originally planned. So now I have a fire lit under me and I'm move'in fast ladies.

 

 

No doubt you are wondering why, considering all that I have to get done, that I am wasting time decorating a light with salt shakers.....

It was just a fresh idea I had (believe me I haven't had any of these in a long while) so I had to go with it.

 

I have also made up a hot chocolate bar for the grandchildren. If you'd like to see it you will find it on my other blog here. It was a quick and easy project and cute  if I may say so myself.



 

Four More Cute Mug Rugs

 

 

This will be my final post on the Christmas mug rug swap. I will start with the sweet mug rugs that Tiffaney at Folded Gingham gifted to her swap partner Jean.

 

 

Next we have Jean from All Points of the Compass gift to Tiffaney. I love the rainbow of colours that Jean chose!

 

This cute Moose rug was made by Diane for Dolores. She does not blog, but wanted to participate and I'm so glad she did!

 





 Dolores went with a Christmas tree theme. Boy did she ever! Lucky Diane was her partner.

All of the ladies included gifts with there packages. I have only shown the mug rugs, but this was the only photo I had from Dolores so you can see all that she sent.
Again, thank you to all of the ladies who participated. We will have to plan for another Christmas swap next year!



A Gift From A Friend

 

Last week on the same day that I received my Christmas mug rug gift I also received a package from my blogging friend from Maine, Vee.

Vee blogs at A Haven for Vee. Many of you know Vee already, but if you don't, check out her blog!

 

Not only did Vee make that cute Christmas mug rug in the photo above, she also sent me three vintage hankerchiefs and doilies, which I collect. I've never run across a completely blue doily yet in all of my hunts-I already have a plan for this one.

 

 

The calico star, I decided, will make a nice centerpiece for my kitchen table when I want to display a country vignette. The yellow and the blue calico's look so pretty together I think.

 

And now I have to ask the lady who says she's not much of a sewer how she did this lovely stitch, because I want to learn how to do it too!

Thanks a million, Vee.

 I feel like Christmas is starting early for me this year.

If you would like to view more post of the Christmas mug rug exchange, Tiffaney is showing off her mug rug from Jean here. And Stephanie's from Jann here.



 

 

 

 





Christmas Mug Rug Reveal

 

Hello Friends!

 

I wanted to share with you a few of the Christmas mug rugs that were created by the ladies participating in my swap. Not all of the exchanges have arrived due to the location (New Zealand, for instance), but I couldn't wait to share the ones I've received photos of so far!

 

I will start with this lovely Christmas Cardinal mug rug that I received from my swap partner, Lorrie. I think Lorrie did a beautiful job and I love the little tea bag pocket-it's perfect for me since I drink tea all the day long.

 

This is the mug rug I made and sent to Lorrie.

 

Jann, at Have A Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson sent these cute calico mittens to her partner Stephanie. There were gifts included which you can pop over and view at Jann's website as she also did a post.

 







And this sweet lacy angel was created by Stephanie from The Enchanting Rose  for her swap partner Jann. I love the angels doily and jeweled head!

 

I have a few more of the mug rug photos but I'm waiting until I'm sure that the ladies receiving the gifts has gotten them. I don't want to spoil anyone's surprise! I will be back to show you more as soon as possible.... I've also received a surprise gift in the mail from a friend that I want to share soon. 

Hope you're having a blessed Sunday-Kimberly

 





Two Days To Go....

 

                                                                           source

Hello Ladies!

Just a reminder to my fellow Christmas mug rug

swappers....

We have just two days left to finish our projects and get them in the mail. Eek!

Fun, fun, fun....

Thank you again to those who are participating.

Blessings-Kimberly



Sunday Encouragement

 

Want to see a mug rug gift I'm making?

Pop over here.

Blessings-Kim



Christmas Mug Rug Swap

 

source

 

Now as my friend Jean said, "Let the mug rugs begin." I am so excited to be getting started on our mug rug exchange. I've wanted to do a swap for a long time, so here we go...
I do want to say first please, please do not be intimidated by the picture samples I've featured. These are done by more experienced sewers than myself! Believe me my mug rug will have to be much simpler than those in the photo. However, by all means, if you are a wonderful quilter and have the ability to 'knock our socks off' with your talent feel free to do so!

 

flickr

 

Here's how this will work:

1) You have until  this Sat. November 7th to notify me to let me know if you would like to participate in my Christmas Mug Rug exchange.

2) On Mon. November 9th I will notify you Christmas Mug Ruggers who your swap partner will be.

3) I ask that you finish and mail out your mug rug on November 20th.This will give you almost two weeks to sew your creation and also allow the mug rugs that are being shipped internationally to arrive early in December.

4) Lastly, I do hope that each participate will share their mug rug on their blog or Google plus.

 

a tutorial source

I leave it to each of you to chose the size of your mug rug. Keep in mind that it is for a mug (teacup) and a snack, so not as large as a place mat! Also, make it in any shape your heart desires. The sky is your limit.

If you have any questions, as I very well may have left something out, leave a comment and I will e-mail you back.

Now as Jean said, "Let the mug rugs begin!"

Have fun with it!

Kimberly
I have been ask if you may join the swap if you are not a blogger. The answer is "Yes". The more the merrier!
Partying here:
Share-your-cup-Thursday
home-and-garden-thursday
treasure-hunt-thursday
simple and sweet fridays
creative-inspirations-linky-party
home sweet home party
the-handmade-hangout

 

 

 



A Short Hello

 

Happy November Friends!

I have been especially busy lately and have only time for a short hello. I do want to let you know that I have a winner in my Parrot Uncle drawing.

If you would like to know who the lucky winner is check here.

I will be back tomorrow with the details of my Mug Rug exchange. And a big thank you to the ladies who are participating so far! I can't wait to get started on mine.

Take care all,



 

Parrot Uncle Light Give Away

 

Dear Friends I want to remind you that you still have time to enter my sponsored drawing for lighting from Parrot Uncle.

 

Parrot Uncle has so many wonderful selections to choose from. Do you like modern? They have it. Do you like industrial lighting? Parrot Uncle has that too. Traditional lighting, children's lighting, vintage lighting, Tiffany style-they have it all and more. Parrot Uncle has lighting for every room, whether it is a hanging light, a wall light, or a table lamp that you are looking for, there are so many lights  for you to chose from.

 

Please drop by my other blog here for the details and to enter the drawing. Three days are left, the clock is ticking! Hurry! Do it today! Do it now!

 

Best of luck to all who enter-Kimberly





Hexy Mug Rug

 

 

I don't know if you're like me but wherever I go, my tea mug goes with me! Lately I have been spending a lot of time in the sewing room with nothing to set my mug on. Yes, I could use some of the fabric lying around there, but I don't think that's such a smart idea. 

 

 flickr

 I've seen many cute patterns for mug rugs. At last I decided I wanted to try my hand with one. I've  been wanting to  make one using hexies.

 Let me just say that I am rusty on hexy making, because this time around the hexies did not turn out so well! I've made pieces for a quilt using hexies in the past, but that was eons ago. I have faith that with a little more practise I can perfect the art again. I sure hope so any way....

source
 This whole process got me to thinking that we should have a Christmas mug rug exchange. What do you think? Wouldn't that be fun? Would you consider participating? The mug rug doesn't need to be fancy. To me it is really all about the fun. I took part in a Christmas apron exchange a couple of years ago and I was able to get to know other bloggers through it. Many who are still blogging friends today.

Let me know what you think...

 

 

Parrot Uncle

If you are following me on my other blog site you know that I am having a $50.00 drawing for any light of your choice from Parrot Uncle. Please click over here to get all of the details!
Blessing to all-Kimberly
I am partying here:
share Your Cup
 

Crazy Weather

 

We've had such crazy weather variances here lately.

After hours of pouring rain the middle of last week we were gifted with beautiful double rainbows.

 

Can you believe how brilliant the colours were?

I hadn't seen such a bright rainbow in years.

 

 

Thursday, Oct. 15th brought our first snow. As you can see it was only a skiff. And then on Friday we had another skiff.

Today we had a warm sunny day with temperatures in 12C (54F).

 

 

Last week was a busy one.

I did manage to get my mitten order finished and shipped to the Yukon. Here is a sample of four of the ten mitts that were mailed.

 

I also had an order for a pair of mitts from my special friend, Cecile, who also lives in the Yukon.

You might remember that it was Cecile and her husband that invited us to their Christmas eve service last year while Tim and I were working out west.

 

I love snow owls and I wanted Cecile's mitts to be special.

 So I found a machine embroidery snow owl pattern with pine trees which I thought was perfect for Cecile. This is the backside of one of the mitts.

 

                   And this is the opposite mitts backside.

I hope she likes them....

Our daughter and her children are coming to visit this weekend. We will celebrate our belated Thanksgiving together! Please pray for their safe travels.

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Got to go!

Blessing-Kimberly





 

 



 

 











Sunday Scripture

 



Discouragement

 



Post Left On The Cutting Floor

 

Me in 2013 when I first moved into my little home, before redecorating. Yes, I do really have eyes hiding behind those glasses!

 

I don't know if you've noticed but I've been suffering from bloggers block. Okay don't pretend that you've never been there before!

So today I'm not going to talk (write) much, I'm just going to show you pictures that represent those post that got let on the cutting floor.

I'm sure when you see many of them you'll understand why and probably wish that I had let them remain on the cutting floor!!

 

This was to be the post where I was to explain to you how the new Fat Free Oreo cookies are not made for dipping-they do not soften!

After dropping it and leaving it in a glass with milk for 15 minutes the edges softened, but alas the rest was still hard. This was very important knowledge I thought all of you should know...which is why I'm telling you all about it now. Ha.

 

Ever outgrow a favourite blouse? This was going to be a tutorial on how to add a side extension to a top.It never happened!

I did enjoy wearing my blouse all summer though.

 

I bet you didn't know that I have three kitchens in my home, did you? That is because I've been hiding it from you. Do you wonder why? Eek!! It's become a dumping station, as you can see.

This is the latest project on the table now. Don't expect me to come back in a couple of weeks with a beautifully converted kitchen. All I want to do is to get rid of the clutter and paint it all out nice and clean in white! Then I'll decide if I want to convert it into my sewing/craft room.

I'm sure my husband hopes I do!

Sadly ladies, this is the sort of post you get from a woman who is suffering from bloggers block.

  I think it may be time to consider taking a vacation!!

Take care-Kimberly







A Test of Endurance

 

A few weeks ago one of our sons (we have three sons and a daughter) and his FIL participated in an physical endurance test.

It appears more like boot camp training to me!

 

See what I mean?

 

 

This looks a little slippery to be running down.

 







Now into the tube...

 



 

Mud baths are good for you, right?

 



Lastly, mission accomplished!

I'd say they look pretty good for all they've been through. I know they had fun and Clayton is ready to do it all again next year.