Ten on Tuesday

1) Have I showed you this pic?  I think I only had it on facebook. This is my attempt at getting back into sketching, artwork, etc.  I loved it in high school and still do.... but had gotten away from it.  Now that I have all these new art supply toys, I need to get busy! 

2) So I go to the library today to return some books and pick up some on hold.  The library lady then proceeds to spend the next several minutes checking in my books, before turning around and getting my books on hold and checking them out.  Really?  Is it necessary I stand here and wait while you check in my books.  Has no one told her patience is not my best thing? 

3)Last night I had my yearly employee review.  On my way there it occurs to me perhaps I should have dressed a bit more professional than yoga pants and a comfy shirt and sweater and a messy bun.  Although.. I figured if that was the case, then wearing the shirt I dropped spaghetti on at dinner was a big mistake.  Lets hope they didn't deduct points for that huh? 

4)Also on the drive in last night it was like Wild Kingdom out there.  First I come up on a deer at the edge of the road... and thank you God for telling her to wait a minute and not run out in front of me.... then I get past that and here goes a coyote across the road.  At least it keeps you alert!

5)Looking forward to a bonus date night tomorrow night!  It's the season premiere of Amazing Race and Survivor back to back!  Yay!  Cannot wait.  We are gonna snuggle up on the couch, eat pizza and watch every exciting moment! 

6)Apparently Miss Tris is in heat.  She certainly acts like it.  We had/have plans to get her spayed, we just thought we had more time.  Darrel called the vet yesterday and they inform us the price is $20 more if the cat is in heat?  Um why exactly?  Need to go google that! ha.

7) This past Sunday the husband and I sang this song.  LOVE that song.. and VERY fun to sing with the husband and his lovely harmony.  We might need to do that again.  Of course.

8) Do you observe the season of Lent?  Loved these thoughts the 1000 gifts author shared on her blog yesterday.  I also need to know where to get one of those candle wreath thingys she has.  How cool is that?

9) Anyone familiar with #SheReadsTruth?  Someone mentioned it in the Bible Journaling community I joined on FB and it sounds good so I am checking it out starting today.  Anyone want to join me?  Looks like they also have a FB community and some great devotionals.  Their website is here.

10) Still going strong on the Elm Creek Quilts series and am currently reading book 18 which is The Wedding Quilt. Enjoying the series but am becoming eager to dive back into an Amish book or two.  And yes of course I have a list. 

So how was your Tuesday?  Hope it was a good one.  Blessings !

Thankful Thursday

So what's to be thankful about on this Thankful Thursday?  Well.....

Shelter from the snow and cold!  We made it all winter without snow until this week and then we get hit twice!  This of course has been followed by frigid temps. Makes a girl wonder if she is back in Chicago again.  Did I ever tell you the one about the boy and girl who got engaged in Chicago on a cold.... 22 below... December day? 

The Insurgent Movie comes out next month!  Just saw the trailer.  Too funny though... when I heard them say "Tris" on the trailer I think oh!  Just like our little kitty Tris.... of course then I realize um hello... we named Tris after the Divergent series since we read it together!  They don't call me Monogirl for nothin.

Clean glasses.  Now that I am more dependent on my glasses... cannot stand dirty glasses. 

Halos.  Not quite as much my fav as Cuties... but they are a great second choice. 

A working Internet connection. The one at work is not so much... working.  Making Monogirl's job difficult! 

And on the heels of that thought... the ability to work from home when weather and annoying Internet connections interfere with work from the office!

Being reminded that Fannie May sells Easter Candy.... I mean have you ever tried their Caramel Pecan Fudge Egg? 

Progress on our Handmade 4Him crafty items for Op. Christmas Child boxes.  A church friend and her daughter spent this week making some awesome bracelets for the boxes!  SO excited about that!!  LOVE seeing people get on board with the project!

Not breaking my iPhone when I just dropped it between the end table and the couch..... and yes I thought I was being careful.

The ability to laugh at the chaos that ensued a few nights ago when we had the dump the meat sauce, spill all of the tide on the floor debacle...

The ability to laugh at that including that a few nights later my husband was in the basement working on the new outlets for the living/dinning room and he noticed a spot on the floor. He goes to investigate and is all what's that?  It was detergent... Yep.  Seeped thru the pantry floorboards and found it's way all the way to the basement floor.  Too funny! 

Playing with art supplies! 

 

Date night!  Especially our Valentines Date Night this past week. 

 

Reading!  And discovering that DUH the last 3 books on the Elm Creek Quilts series (which I am currently reading) are available on E-loan from the library.  Which means I am back on my beloved Kindle. 

Discovering the library E-loan now includes some magazines.  However.. not for Kindle, for Nook.  But Monogirl was smart enough to figure out Nook has a free iPhone app so now Monogirl has Taste of Home and Crochet magazines on her iPhone.  Martha Stewart Living too.  It's a good thing.

 

The Vera purse my husband picked out for me. 

Valentine roses that are still pretty. 

God's protection for our niece when her car went off the road in the snow yesterday. 

All things warm when it's next to below zero out.... like ugg slippers, down comforters, heated car seats, Dennis Basso scarves, Ugg boots.... and Miss Sophie. 

 

Spotting this on clearance when I was looking for that link.... That belongs at my house.

 

Watching Miss Sophie play fetch. 

Spaghetti for dinner tonight!  Assuming Monogirl gets off the computer and gets in the kitchen to make the sauce?  ha..

Blessings!

Ten On Tuesday

1) Yes, Valentines day has come and gone, but just had to share that actual art work occurred at Monogirl's house... she made a card for her beloved husband....It was a hit.  Of course now more artwork needs to occur.

2) Our Valentines Day was good!  It was mostly celebrated on date night beginning with dinner which was pizza, pasta and bread sticks from town... and oh yes... the all important Chocolate Confusion Cake for dessert.  That just seemed like a very Valentinesy thing to do right? 

3) Beautiful pink roses and a Valentine's E-card started my Valentines day because when I got to work... these were on my desk.  I *heart* roses especially when they are the perfect shade of dark pink.... He knows me well. 

4) Last year our Valentine's gift to each other was new iPhones.  This year we got a bit more creative.  My husband... all on his own... picked out a very PINK very Vera purse.  Did he do good or what?  There was also a beautiful card and a very pretty box of again the all important chocolate. 











5) My gift for him was a coach Wallet that I got on a great clearance deal back at Christmas, Fannie May candy and cashews and I made the card as I mentioned with my trusty new watercolor pencils which were VERY fun!

 

6) On Sunday night, we decided to order out for dinner.  So as we are sitting enjoying our wonderful Procopios sandwiches, the cat starts misbehaving. Darrel had his hands busy with his dinner so as I reached to get her back from what she was getting into I managed to spill my plate... dumping an entire cup of red sauce In. My. Lap.  Very nice.  I managed to get my nightshirt,  my pretty pink long john pants... and of course the sofa.  So as Darrel is helping me clean up I of course have to go change clothes and get my tomato sauce covered stuff in the wash.  As I am putting my stuff in the wash... Monobrain kicks in.... and I somehow manage to try to open the washer lid with an open bottle of tide sitting on top.  It of course falls off and lands completely upside down.... and pours laundry detergent all over the pantry floor.  I'm all like OK seriously.... did that just happen?  Um yep it did.  Do you know how hard it is to clean up laundry detergent? .... fun evening.  One minute we are cuddled on the couch enjoying dinner and one of our shows.  Apparently the next minute we decide to mess up and then clean everything in the house..... I liked the original plan better. 

7) Do I have plenty of crochet projects lined up right now?  Not to mention scrapping projects.... cross stitch projects... art projects.... Yes.  Did I see this Pineapple Pashmina today and totally need to order it?  Anyone?  OK... so I haven't ordered it yet... but only because I couldn't decide what color I wanted to make it in.   Do I want Pink....OK so that's a given.  Or maybe ecru, black.... or maybe the cement color?  I am decision challenged today. 

8) I forgot!  Also for Valentines I gave Darrel the "How Well Do You Know Your Husband" book and also the wife version.  I saw them on another blog and they looked totally up our alley.  There are 100 questions.  We figured we'd do 10 or so for several date nights.... which of us do you think will earn an A+ first?

9) Are you a fellow cashew lover?  Cause if ya' are... you need to try some of those Fannie May cashews.... Pricey?  yes.  So good?  yes.  They are worth the splurge on occasion.  And as long as you are placing an order... get yourself some mint meltaways too.  The green ones are the best!

10) And now... I shall bid you goodnight as I go and dive back into my book and perhaps enjoy a cashew or two since my husband seems to like me enough to share.

Blessings!  

Thankful Thursday

Feeling grateful for many things on this Thankful Thursday evening.... things like...

• Miss Sophie here.  Yes... this is my leg, my nightshirt and my blanket... but apparently Miss Sophie is under the impression that my nightshirt doubles as a great blanket to tunnel under.  Could she be any cuter? 

Being back to blogging!  I've missed the blogging world and my blogging reader friends.  Thanks for hanging around

Hot Stuff Potato Chips.  Have you had these?  The Jay's people make them and they were our Fav when we lived in IL.  Somehow a bag or two found their way down to Southern Indiana.  Don't know how that happened but me and the husband were happy 'bout that!

Crocheting... it just might save my sanity.  Or maybe that's reading... or maybe it's a toss up.

Nail polish that does not chip.  Yes. Gel polish qualifies but after wearing that for like 2+ years Monogirls fingers suddenly decided they were allergic to the Gel... Not happy about that turn of events. 

Books!  Still enjoying the Elm Creek Quilt series and loving every minute!

Art!  Did a little playing with my watercolor pencils today to try and come up with a Valentine's card for my husband.  I came up with two.  At the moment I am not sure either are fit for viewing.  Monogirl will decide tomorrow.  It was still fun just perhaps a watercolor artist I am not.  Did I mention it was fun?

Remembering I wanted to make a Valentine's card.  I've been thinking I'd do that today for a few weeks now and today?  Completely forgot until I had one hour left before he arrived home.  Perhaps that pressure of the hour has something to do with my watercolor skills or the lack thereof...

Valentine's Day.  Yay!  I *heart* Valentine's day!!  Especially since ours will commence tomorrow night for date night!  I am hoping flowers and chocolate will be involved. 

Kids Hope!  Loved spending time with J this week and loved playing with paints together and getting a hug!  J is awesome!

The nebulizer machine.  It is helping and perhaps is worth the 9 arguments and endless irritation I endured dealing with the Home Health people and the Insurance people.  Not Monogirl's favorite thing.

A new freezer on the way to replace the power surged freezer.

Mexican food... it's what's for dinner!  YUM.  Tortilla's should have their own food group.

Saturday Pancakes

My husband's pillow. I love to steal it after he has left for work.  It smells like him and yes that is a good thing.

Cuddling on the couch watching our shows and movies. 

The Chocolate Confusion cake they have at Procoppios.  YUM.  It's a very close second... or perhaps a tie to Chocolate Tower Truffle Cake from The Cheesecake Factory.

Our Handmade 4Him project!  So excited about doing this and crafting with my friends. 

My BFF.... she signed me up for a List Making online challenge/class thingy yesterday.  Now WHY would she think I'd like a list making event?  Perhaps she is my BFF for a reason. 

My craft/scrap room.  It's currently somewhat of a disaster which makes me miss it and want to craft and clean it up.  I am thinking everyone should create every day.  Who is with me?

Bath & Body works Moonlight Path shower gel.  LOVE that scent.  Love it.  Good stuff. 

Ok... most things from Bath & Body works. 

My Job.  I love working at the church.  I mentioned on FB the other day that quite often my boss... the Pastor... walks around singing whatever song or hymn happens to be stuck in his head at the moment. Makes me smile! 

Good memories of Valentines past. 

The library.  I think the library should be part of every one's day.

Our home.  Shelter.  It's supposed to be like Chicago cold in these parts on Saturday. 

Our DVR.  Love picking from things we've recorded to watch together over dinner.  Tonight's pic?  this week's episode of Chopped. 

And now I am thankful that dinner is ready!  And it starts with nachos.  Don't want to be late for that. 

Happy Valentine's Day! 

Blessings!

Wordless Wednesday

A hand painted valentine from J at Kids Hope today. Now how awesome is that ?  And ok...so it wasn't completely wordless. What? Did you like just meet me?  

Ten On Tuesday

1) Yes... I showed up....for a possible 10 on Tuesday.  At the moment I only have like um 4... on Tuesday but that just doesn't sound as nice.  Let's see what we end up with. 

2) Here you have a pic of my current project.  Bought this in a kit from Mary Maxim because I fell in LOVE with the pink color.... shocking I know and because I liked the raised stitches. Loving it but am also ready to be done with it and move on to one of the 101 projects waiting in the wings. 

3) I work at our church.  Not news to you right?  Well it is such a blessing.  Especially days like today when my boss.. the Pastor walks around singing at the top of his lungs.  Love that and am thinking I need to burst into song right along with him next time. 

4) Are you ready for Valentines day?  Or are you in the "it's just a made up card holiday" camp?  I am soooo NOT in that camp.  When I was a little girl my Mom told me a story about when she was in grade school (I think) and a boy that liked her gave her a giant heart shaped box of candy.  It was so big she had to wrap both arms around it to carry it home.  I loved that story.  I love romance.  And yes I could not wait until someone wanted to romance me and give me a giant heart shaped box of candy.  The husband God had for me?  Totally fits that description.  We always enjoy Valentines day together.... and this week, for us, it will start on date night!  Can't wait. 

5) Speaking of date night, my BFF sent me a link to this blog today and I love love love all these cool ideas for dates!  I mean how creative to make this gift for her husband for Christmas?  I might totally have to steal some of her ideas.  I love how she took pics and made a scrapbook page for each monthly date too!  Awesome!  Of course she also makes me want one of those instax cameras all over again too... I mean it comes in pink and I don't have one.  That is reason enough to get one right there.  ha! 

6) This would be my gift for J at Kids Hope tomorrow.  Cool like confetti looking polish, a sparkly headband and a I *heart* volleyball bracelet.  Did I do good for an almost teenager?  Is it a bad thing that I am 48 and I like it too? 

7) A friend gave us some of those little poke in the ground solar landscape kind of lights.  We live in the country and our driveway is HARD to find in the dark so we used two of them at the bottom of the driveway to help guide us home.  We also live on a highway.  No sidewalks.  Barely a shoulder to walk on or pull over if needed.  Being outside of town and heading out into more country I don't know where anyone would be walking to anyway.  However... one of the lights went missing?  Where did it go?  Did someone drive out here just to pick one of them up and take it with them?  Did someone happen to walk by and need a light to find their way?  Did it like blow away in a tornado I don't remember?  It's just gone.  Makes no sense.  I mean you'd have to purposefully drive out here and pull in our drive way and choose to take only one light.  This does not compute.  If someone had driven over it or hit it and knocked it in the ditch.... well that I'd understand.  Would a dog pull a light out of the ground and carry it away?  Or is the universe just messing with me?  At least we could still find the driveway with the other light.  Well... until someone.... like probably the people working on the sewer line... GRRRRR .....smashed that one. 

8) I realized today that I recently told you that we got a great Christmas gift in the form of a new great nephew but then blogger and its picture loading issues prevented me from showing you.  Well... .blogger is still pressing my buttons with its picture loading issues but I found away around that... so here you have little Elliot.  Is he not the cutest thing ever?  No.  I am not biased. 

9) Still reading the Elm Creek Quilts books.  Started #16 today! There are 20 in the series so I am on the downside and excited to be through the whole series.  You'd think a series that long would get boring or redundant but she has a cool way in each book of picking a different part of the timeline of the story and maybe the whole story is about the earlier generations. Then the next book in the present.  Then the next focuses on another member of the team or goes back and picks up a story that started a few books ago.  It's been very interesting and I've really enjoyed them.  Thank goodness for the library and the inter library loan thing because I've been able to request all 20 books thru them from libraries all over the state of Indiana. 

10) Trying to get the bedroom ceiling fan replaced (from the power surge).  Not liking anything we see in the stores.  Very much liking ones like this online.... but they are all WAY more than the budget.  Another cool one.... but with an over $400 price tag?  Really?  Hard to go that route when Lowe's has them under $200.... but they just are not that cool.  Do I have to pay for the coolness factor? 

And lookey there.... I made 10... yay Monogirl. 

Be back soon!  Blessings!

Handmade 4Him

Yes... here we have a hat and yes.... handmade by me!  I *heart* crocheting.  Why did I manage to forget that somehow?  I blame the scrapbooking obsession.  Which although it has cooled....somewhat.... it is also still with me. 

Made this hat for the Operation Christmas Child project I am trying to get off the ground at church called Handmade 4Him.  I saw several pics online showing people making items to put in the shoe boxes for the kids.  Well of course I'm all I wanna play too when I see something like that.  I mean think of all the cool stuff one could do.... hats, scarves, stuffed toys, headbands, wooden toys, pillowcase dresses, doll blankets, rainbow loom bracelets... etc... etc... the possibilities are not only endless but sound SO fun. 

So as I was working to get this started at church, I set us up an event page on the church's FB where I could post to the church with all the latest info.  The local newspaper apparently saw my posts and asked about doing an article so last week they were here to interview me and then this past Friday, this story was online!  I think she told me its also in print today.... I need to check that out! 

Thought she did a great job with the story.  The only thing I would add or include is that she had asked me what is the significance of handmade items for the shoe boxes?  My answer to that.... I believe God blesses us with the gifts and talents to make these things.  What better way to use that talent then to make a hat for a little one that is living in poverty somewhere?  I think its a wonderful way to love them and show I care and to be Jesus to them and to bring honor and glory to God for the gifts he gives me. 

I am hoping church wide, as others join in, we can make 1000 items.  So far I have made um 5.  4 washcloths and this hat.  My personal goal is to do 50 items.  I have until mid November.  It can be done right?  I am sure you will be sitting right here on the edge of your seat waiting to see the next project produced too..... right? 

Did you have a good weekend?  Our weekend always starts with date night.  This week was good... as usual of course.  We had Buffalo Wings and Rings Carry out.  LOVE the Teriyaki Tenders and potato skins.  YUM.  We watched some Amazing Race reruns... we are now on season 16 and we watched a movie, John Wick.  Have you seen John Wick?  Oh. My. Goodness.  Can we just talk about Daisy for a moment?  I won't say more... cause I don't want to throw out any spoilers... but Daisy?  On my mind for most of the movie and I still am thinking of Daisy...... Watch it.  You'll understand.  Although.. don't watch it if you don't want to see bloodshed.... and yes... some language.  Why can't they leave that part out?  We are generally pretty picky about watching R movies.  Honest. 

Anyway thanks for stopping by!  Plan to be back this week with some more Handmade 4Him projects and other crocheting, reading, crafting, oh and Valentines news... You are welcome. 

Blessings