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one day in . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

I love the new year . . . the roll out of new resolutions, new challenges, a new word, and a fresh opportunity to get it right. A clean slate, so to speak! Mind you, I do not do resolutions, but I do enjoy selecting a word to focus on for the coming year. This year my word is . . .

Yup, aware. That works on a lot levels. Yesterday, it was important for me to be weather aware.

When your temps get up to eighty degrees ahead of a cold front, chances are good severe weather will follow. It was a balmy, windy ...

added by Denise :) 3 weeks, 3 days ago. under aware , challenge , embroidery , new year , photo , pompom , slow stitching , stitchery , storm , word

advent time . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

Once upon a time there was a blogger who was participating in an online Advent calendar blog hop with Jo at Serendipitous Stitching, but she got her dates mixed up and didn't realize her date was the 20th (instead of the 22nd) until she hopped over to check out today's feature.

It was me. I'm that blogger. Glad I made the realization before noon (CST)!

This year, Jo, who so graciously hosts this annual hop, has asked participants to share about their Christmas tree traditions! This is an easy one for me!

Growing up, and even well ...

added by Denise :) 1 month, 1 week ago. under advent , blog hop , cat , christmas , christmas tree , ornaments , paper ornaments , photo , poppers , rv living

thanks-stitching . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

Last week was a long week. My coworker has been out sick for two weeks. She's coming back on Monday, but can only work half days, doctor's orders. Luckily it's a short week—we're closed for Veteran's Day on Thursday, and I'm off to Lifeway's Women's Leadership Forum!

I'd ordered an assortment of flannel fat quarters from a vendor on Etsy. She sells under Prairie Grove Peddler, and y'all she was fantastic to work with. I sent her a question about shipping, and she went ahead and bundled the assortment ...

added by Denise :) 2 months, 2 weeks ago. under apple pie , flannel , football , grandson , photo , slow stitching , time change , wool

Steps To Nowhere from The Snarky Quilter

Maybe it’s the season and all the plastic bones scattered about my neighbors’ lawns, but I went a bit dark for my latest work. It’s loosely based on a photo by Penny. I thought it had an unsettling, scary look. … Continue reading →

added by snarkyquilter 2 months, 3 weeks ago. under art quilts , in process , modern quilting , photo , spoonflower , staircase (Comments)

trick or treat . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

. . . and Happy Halloween! I am participating in the Trick or Treat blog hop, offered by Jo at Serendipitous Stitching!! If you haven't visited her blog yet, head over there and definitely check it out. She's got a list of participating blogs, and at each blog you'll find a clue to the mystery Halloween phrase! You'll find my clue at the bottom of this post!

You know how there's spooky fun and spooky scary? For the most part, I'm definitely a fan of spooky fun! When I was trying to figure out something new to ...

added by Denise :) 2 months, 3 weeks ago. under blog hop , embroidery , halloween , jackolantern , mystery phrase , photo , pumpkin , slow stitching , spider , stitchery , wool

august showers . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

Bring September BABIES!

Well, not really. Or at least, not necessarily!

Jocelyn's baby shower for Ezra was Sunday. It was so sweet! The hostesses did a lovely job decorating and making everything so special.

Joc's best friend co-hosted. ♥

A cookie cake, from The Moon Bakeshop. YUM!

It really was all so pretty! I gifted Joc with Ezra's pinwheel quilt. She was thrilled!

A very sweet afternoon, anticipating Ezra.

:)

added by Denise :) 3 months, 1 week ago. under baby quilt , baby shower , photo , pinwheel

california travels to alabama . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

I'm just going to warn you right now . . . this post is going to be super SUPER photo heavy. And not a single quilty, stitchy thing. All grands. :)

As I teased in my last post, James, Kim, Sawyer, June and Olivia made the trip from California. They came the last few days in June and stayed through the first week of July. It was so spectacular to see them all!! I've just uploaded pics. Enjoy!

My folks with six of their greats!

There always has to be the funny face photo!

Edith thought she'd sleep on the top ...

added by Denise :) 3 months, 1 week ago. under cabins , camp , family , fireworks , grandchildren , independence day , photo , sleepover , video

april showers . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

Bring May flowers . . .

My newest addition to my teacup collection. Rather appropriate for May, don't you think? I saw it in a spread in the current issue of TeaTime Magazine. They kill me. LOL! :)

Our rhododendrons and our water lilies are both blooming out!

I love all the color this season brings with it!

This last weekend was a weekend of tiny dancers. The girls had their spring ballet recital; it was Edith's first! They all did a marvelous job and it was a weekend well spent!

Aren't they darling? They're signed up for next year ...

added by Denise :) 8 months, 3 weeks ago. under ballet , camp , family , grandgirls , photo , teacup

tried and true . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

Have I ever mentioned how much I enjoy binding? I really do. I love the rhythmic stitching motion. It's soothing and settling. So I often volunteer to do the binding on group quilts. (I dislike giving blocks for group quilts ... not because I don't want to give or participate, but because of comments someone once made about my blocks in a swap. It hurt my feelings and I'm just afraid to stitch up bad blocks for a quilt someone else is having to piece. So I bind.)

I volunteered to do so for a quilt we were ...

added by Denise :) 8 months, 3 weeks ago. under baby quilt , binding , boat , create , eq , family , grandgirls , longarm , nook , photo , picnic quilt , pinwheel , quilt

late out of the gate . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

So. Obviously my resolution for 2021 wasn't to spend more time on the blog. Ha!

In fact, I didn't make resolutions (I haven't done that for the past several years, actually). I took stock of 2020 (for what it's worth, am I right?), and instead made a couple of goals. Really, I just made a goal. I finished my complete read of the Bible on December 24, but decided it was a lot of reading (the Bible in a year) without a lot of study. So this year I decided to start over again, read just ...

added by Denise :) 11 months, 3 weeks ago. under 2021 , birthday , boat , granddaughter , hospital sketches , new year , photo , quilt , study , sunrise , wool

six more days . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

I found a new and totally fitting way to help celebrate the season of Advent this year, compliments of Jo, over at Serendipitous Stitching! She hosts a very sweet stitcher's Advent, and today is my day to share!

The idea is to share a hand-stitched ornament. So of course, I'm sharing two. LOL! One is one I've had for years and years ... and it's more of a decoration than an ornament. This beautiful wreath:

It's a canvas and yarn piece that was done by my Pop. He was a terrific crafter and loved to work ...

added by Denise :) 1 year, 1 month ago. under advent , book , christmas , ornament , photo

it's beginning to look a lot like . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

By this point in the year, I'm usually running around like a chicken with my head cut off ... with no relief in sight! But if there's been *any* silver lining from covid, then I would have to say it's the relief of a lot of the hustle and bustle that usually hits this time of year. Our social commitments, which typically fill our December calendar (and wear me out), have been cut to a fraction of what they normally are. I'm thankful. Am I alone in my thinking on this?

We did enjoy a healthy, happy ...

added by Denise :) 1 year, 1 month ago. under advent , crochet , grandgirls , photo , snow , thanksgiving

random bits . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

Can I tell you something? Since I changed my comments to 'comment moderation, always' I sometimes forget to publish them to my blog. Am I the only one?!? Please tell me I'm not! LOL!

My son sent me this photo on Monday evening . . .

Frightening, no? The tallest building (the Mazda Building) is where his company's suite of offices is. He's been working remotely since March, so he's not there. But they did have a group that was working onsite, and they were evacuated. I'm so glad they moved to Murrieta; before they made the move ...

added by Denise :) 1 year, 3 months ago. under baking , camp , christmas , family , mushroom , photo , random , tea , yarn

halloween hoppin day three . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

It's the last day *and* my day, YAY!

When I first read the criteria of this hop — I’m going to make this really simple this year, I’d love to see a project with “Purple” in it, but seriously I’ll be happy also if it doesn’t …What’s Halloween tho without a bit of purple? You are free to make something new, or show a past project you’ve created — I knew this was a hop for ME! Anyone that knows me, knows I love purple! All you have to do is look at a few ...

added by Denise :) 1 year, 3 months ago. under bats , blog hop , candy corn , giveaway , halloween , halloween hoppin blog hop , photo , pumpkins , purple

halloween hoppin day two . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

Tuesday, October 20

Songbird Designs

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

Slice of Pi Quilts

Just Let Me Quilt

Appliqués Quilts and More

Scrapdash

Another great round up of blogs to hop through today! Be sure to stop back by tomorrow, because it's *my* day--hooray!!

:)

added by Denise :) 1 year, 3 months ago. under halloween hoppin blog hop , photo

time out . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

Hey, hey! What a glorious, long weekend for me! Our big meeting was Tuesday, and then the office was closed through Monday! The weather's been just glorious for a five-day weekend!

Tuesday evening, Evey came home with me and had a sleepover. We had lots of fun exploring, watching movies, and making cookies!!

She was very serious about her sprinkling duties!

While Evey and I were checking out the turtle sanctuary, I noticed a couple of water lily buds. Sure enough, when I came out on Thursday to look, we had one in full bloom . . .

Isn't it beautiful ...

added by Denise :) 1 year, 3 months ago. under baking , camp , crochet , embroidery , granddaughter , halloween hoppin blog hop , photo , pumpkins , slow stitching , stitchery , wool felt

halloween hoppin day one . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

Monday, October 19

Samelia's Mum

Just Because Quilts

MooseStashQuilting

Musing From the Grove

Ms P Designs USA

Morning Glory Designs

What a great round up; be sure to visit all these great blogs—Happy Hoppin!

:)

added by Denise :) 1 year, 3 months ago. under halloween hoppin blog hop , photo

birthday weekend . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

It was a pretty crazy week at work, getting ready for our big annual meeting next week. But that didn't stop me from getting some evening stitch time in . . .

Work progresses on this sweet little "Give Thanks" stitchery. It's nice to have something relaxing to look forward to at the end of the day!

I came home to some sweet snail mail happies this week, too. This was a win from Life in Pieces as she celebrated her 13th blogiversary!

Isn't that fun?!? I love the stiletto! ♥

And this was an Instagram win from Kathy Schmitz!

I ...

added by Denise :) 1 year, 3 months ago. under birthday , candy corn , crochet , embroidery , granddaughters , photo , pumpkins , slow stitching

stitchin' along . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

One more stitchery finished . . .

I was really pleased with this simple stitchery! I finished it out like I've done several in the recent past. I put it in a bamboo hoop, backed it with felt, and trimmed the rim out. I took this one to work to enjoy!

Speaking of enjoying things at work, my special order of chai tea, by Samovar, finally arrived! I enjoyed a nice cuppa Thursday afternoon, along with a shortbread cookie! ♥

SEC football season started up today ... hip, hip, hooray! Our church is having a Tailgate Party outside tomorrow after services.

Todd made his ...

added by Denise :) 1 year, 4 months ago. under autumn , baking , embroidery , football , photo , pumpkin , slow stitching , stitchery , tea

pumpkins and acorns . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

So far, so good! I headed out Thursday, along with some of the other Essential staff wives, for a retreat/conference in Dallas, Georgia; Cultivate 2020.

It was a LOT of fun! I love road trips in and of themselves, but this retreat was really intended to pamper and encourage the participants and a great job was done of it!

I mean, wow! Our lunch Friday was served in high—tea time—style! Each of us got our own tiered tray, that then went home with us. We went home with a ton of swag, including the gorgeous (and yummy ...

added by Denise :) 1 year, 4 months ago. under acorns , cookies , embroidery , photo , pumpkin , retreat , slow stitching , stitchery , swag , tea

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