Week 40 & 41 - Just Some Random Things

I've been working on stuff!  Nothing terribly important to anyone but myself. Nothing that would stop the turning of the earth if I didn't get it done. Just Stuff.  I worked diligently on two stockings that were requested by my brother and sister-in-law.  They are getting a new daughter-in-law and grandson soon and wanted to welcome them with Christmas stockings.  

This one was a delight to make.  Only 15 pieces but tons of beads and sequins. 

Damien is 11 and this one I'm hoping will delight him.  Greetings from Santa was fun to make. 

I've also finished one that was in progress and had to be put aside while I got the others done in time for the holidays.

Kitty's Christmas was another fun one to make.

That makes my total for felt stockings this year of 4 starts and 5 finishes.  I've started one more that I just might be able to finish before the end of the year.  Dino and Santa from 1993.  Photo to follow soon.

Ever thought about Karma?  Sometime I do...most of the time I don't.  But this kinda brought it to mind.

Gentle reminder to self - it doesn't have to be big to count!

While Mom and I were in Arizona in September, I managed to remember to get a photo of the three of us kids together - the first time since 2012.  After I had it printed off for Mom, I noticed that there had been another photo with the three of us taken while on vacation in 1959. 

Yes, folks, we lined up the same way...R, Me, and B 60 years later.  Looks as though I stopped growing when the boys continued to their full heights!

I saw this the other day, and because I was missing my son, it resonated with me. 

'Nuff said....he is my greatest achievement and my treasure.  

John took the pigs to Freezer Camp last Thursday.  Pua weighed in at 326 pounds and Pigg tipped the scales at 316 pounds.  That's quite a lot of bacon, folks!  He's picking up the fresh pork on Friday and the smoked portion will be ready in 2 more weeks.  Then he is planning a trip to Utah just after the first of December to deliver Pua to the family there.  It's such a blessing to be able to supply our son and his family with home-grown meats.  In the spring, we will take their steer to Freezer Camp and then deliver as well.

There is snow predicted for Halloween.  Thank goodness we live so far out of town that we never get trick-or-treaters.  I'd hate to see fairies and ballet dancers out in that kind of weather!

I'm off to sew and knit and embroider....thanks for stopping by.

Week 37, 38, 39 - Playing CatchUp

In spite of what appears to be slacking off on my part, I am determined to keep up with the blog for the rest of the year. That being said, I can't make any promises...Just sayin'.

Last weekend, John, with our friend and neighbor, John P, decided to make homemade sausage.  John P has done it in the past so he had all the hardware to do it.  All we needed to do was provide our own meat to start off with.  I think my John said he took over an 8 pound pound pork shoulder roast.  They ground it up, mixed in spices, and stuffed the meat into casings.  We ended up with about 10 pounds of sweet Italian sausage.  We put them into packages of 4 sausages and vacuum-packed them and they are now residing in the freezer. 

 We ended up with 35 sausages.  

I've been busy this past week.  The embroidery machine has been 'smokin''!   I love doing gifts for folks.  These are mug rugs - used as oversized coasters when one has a mug of coffee or hot chocolate or tea and a cookie!

Two of these are meant as gifts for friends...the other 2 are not meant for anyone in particular.  I'm working on some more felt Christmas stockings for gifts...need to get them completed and mailed before the holidays....I just might make it!  

We had our first freeze of the season the other night.  John had secured all the waterers for the garden and there was nothing left of any produce to freeze.  A good thing he did, too.  Wicked cold it was on Friday!  He took down the electric fencing around the garden and now the deer can have their way with what's left.  Once everything turns brown, he will trim back all the asparagus shoots and wait for next spring.  

He had picked all the peppers that were left and is preparing them for freezing today.  We will put them in vacuum packaging and freeze them for later use in soups, casseroles, etc.  Thank goodness we have 3 freezers - one of them I call the coffin freezer cause it's big enough to freeze a body!  And with Pigg and Pua going to freezer camp week after next, we will need to plug in the 3rd freezer and get it ready to hold them once they come home from camp.  

I've seen several 'memes' online recently that resonate with me.  Please take no offense, they are meant to encourage or remind.

And this one is for anyone who has a crafter, artist, creative person in their lives.

Well, folks, thanks for stopping by!  Until next time.