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degrees of done . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

I had a lovely, productive Monday off ... I love extra long weekends! First of all, I made scones from scratch. Here they are ready to go in the oven . . .

They are a bit of work! But I made additions and adjustments to the basic recipe I have on file and they were worth the effort. Cranberry Orange Pecan & Cardamon Scones. Delish.

I short baked ten of them (it made twelve) and froze those, so I could bring one into work, pop it into the oven, and have it with my afternoon tea at my desk. Again ... delish!

Then I got ...

added by Denise :) 4 years, 3 months ago. under baking , blocks , class , embroidery blue , fabric , kathy schmitz , photo , scones , snow sampler

productivity . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

It's been a productive week and I've gotten in some quality time towards my crafts (and I use that word in the highest sense of its definition) almost every day, thanks to some lunch time stitching. In the class I'm taking we started to put together our first block, which I was able to finish:

It's a small class this go around, which is nice ... everyone gets the one-on-one if they need it. I'm learning some new things, too, which is awesome!

I decided to go ahead and make a fabric spreadsheet, to help me ...

added by Denise :) 4 years, 3 months ago. under block swap , class , embroidery , eq , handwork , happy mail , heart , kathy schmitz , organization , photo , quilt , slow stitching , snow , stitcher's group

the owl and the pussy-cat . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

The Owl and the Pussy-Cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat:
They took some honey, and plenty of

money
Wrapped up in a five-pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
And sang to a small guitar,
"O lovely Pussy, O Pussy, my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are,
You are,
You are!
What a beautiful Pussy you are!"

Pussy said to the Owl, "You elegant fowl,
How charmingly sweet you sing!
Oh! let us be married; too long we have

tarried,
But what shall we do for a ring?"
They sailed away, for a ...

added by Denise :) 4 years, 3 months ago. under ancestry , cat , family , history , owl , photo , poetry , pussy-cat

forwards and backwards . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

Because this post covers a lot of time, current and past!

I finally finished up Ellie's bicycle embroidery, which was a good thing ... her (8th) birthday was Friday and we celebrated last night! It's a simple finish because I didn't want the fabric or the quilting to take away from the piece it was showcasing. Mission accomplished! *smirk* Ellie had her first slumber party on Friday night, so we did family dinner at a Japanese restaurant called Edo's. Her choice!

I love the complexity of this sweet girl. For all that she loves girlie things (check ...

added by Denise :) 4 years, 3 months ago. under books , embroidery , fabric , granddaughters , grandmother's choice , photo , quilt shop , slow stitching , snowman , stitchery , tea , wool

happy 2020 . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

Happy New Year! I have so much to share since I posted last, which was before Christmas; the day after which I hopped on a plane heading to the sunny west coast to visit my son and his family! It was a marvelous trip, though it passed way too quickly. I so enjoyed spending time with these three:

Baaahaaahaaa!! No, no ... not those three, THESE three . . .

My California Crew!! ♥ ♥ ♥

I also got some sight-seeing in . . .

Yup. James moved within a ten mile radius of BOTH the Temecula Quilt Co. *and* Primitive Gatherings! Whoop! I share more on those (and my ...

added by Denise :) 4 years, 3 months ago. under california , embroidery , grandchildren , kathy schmitz , lqs , movie , photo , slow stitching

happy crazy busy . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

The crazy busyness of the season continues ... and probably will right up until Christmas Eve evening! But it's happy crazy busy, which makes all the difference in the world, right?! Wednesday evening Todd and I went to the staff Christmas party for Essential, the church where we're currently serving.

It was a very fun, laid back evening. Except for the 10 minutes we had in Target (where we went as a group to shop for our dirty Santa gifts). That was hilarious!

Thursday lunch was the staff Christmas luncheon for my work (it was also my last day ...

added by Denise :) 4 years, 4 months ago. under baking , christmas , embroidery , floss , grandchildren , guild , husband , photo , quilting , slow stitching , snowflake , stitcher's group , ufo

snowflakes and snowmen . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

Last week we had snow overnight . . . this week we had tornadoes. Weather in North Alabama is always a bit crazy. We were very lucky and didn't experience any storm damage, and we were able to ride out the warning in the storm shelter under the new cabin in the campground. It's the first time we've needed to put it to the test since it was build this past spring. And the first time in the ten years we've lived at the camp that we haven't had to leave the premises to find shelter! Phew!

I ...

added by Denise :) 4 years, 4 months ago. under embroidery , granddaughter , guild , metallic , ornament , pearl's pegs , peg dolls , photo , snowflake , snowman

this, that, and everything in between . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

Looking back, it's been a fairly busy week/weekend! It started snowing Tuesday afternoon, and continued well into the evening, giving us a full inch of pretty ground covering . . .

Coming into the camp. It took me ninety minutes to get home from work on Tuesday evening!

It was still pretty the next morning, too!

Wednesday I finished up the binding on the last of the Christmas quilts . . .

Three little lap quilts, all with their binding neatly stitched up! Ijust need to pop labels on them.

Thursday we had our annual Christmas Open House at work. I enjoy getting things ...

added by Denise :) 4 years, 4 months ago. under binding , camp macoba , deer , embroidery , giftaway , granddaughters , hexagon , origami , ornament , photo , quilt , slow stitching , snow , snowflake , stitchery , tea party , work

i ♥ pearl's pegs . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

I've been meaning to do this for a while now and today is as good a time as any, so here goes. And yes, it's a long post, lots of pictures, but I'll reward you for sticking with it to the end with a GIFTAWAY!

I wanted to share the amazing talents of my beautiful daughter. She is a peg doll painter . . .

Aren't these just the cutest of things? She's painted every Disney princess character there is!

Actually, she can paint pretty much anything. I adore this nursery rhyme set! And check out this ...

added by Denise :) 4 years, 4 months ago. under giftaway , giveaway , grandgirls , pearl's pegs , peg dolls , photo

picking up the pace . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

There really wasn't a whole lot of stitching this past week. I did the bare minimum on my Snow Sampler . . .

To be honest, Todd and I both kind of relapsed and I was good for not much. Finally Friday afternoon I started feeling better; Todd is still struggling a little. So Saturday, I headed to Early Works with the grandgirls . . .

We had a really fun time! Edith especially made herself at home.

You probably don't realize the hilariousness of this here, so check out this pic:

Yeah. She traded her ballet shoes for Paddinton's red boots. LOL ...

added by Denise :) 4 years, 4 months ago. under binding , christmas , embroidery , family , grandgirls , photo , quilt , slow stitching

virtual cookie exchange, day five . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

Y'all, if you're like me, you're sad that this is it ... the last day of the Virtual Cookie Exchange! Carol of Just Let Me Quilt has done another fantastic job of organizing this hop and it's been such fun to visit all the participating bloggers!

Make sure you visit today's participants:

And then I want to know ... what have you been inspired to try this holiday season?!? Happy Hopping!

:)

added by Denise :) 4 years, 4 months ago. under blog hop , photo , virtual cookie exchange

virtual cookie exchange, day four . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

Can you believe it? We're already at Day Four of the Virtual Cookie Exchange! Have you been hopping? If not, you've been missing out on a passel of darling projects and tempting treats! The good news is, you can visit every offering and not gain a single pound, no matter how delicious the goodies look!

Today's participants are:

Quilt Doodle Designs

Ridge Top Quilt

Pumpkin Patch Patterns & Quilting

Websterquilt

Bumbleberry Stitches

Kathy's Kwilts and More

I hope you'll take a few minutes and enjoy the festivities!

:)

added by Denise :) 4 years, 4 months ago. under blog hop , photo , virtual cookie exchange

virtual cookie exchange, day three . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

Have you been hopping with me?! Today is day three of the virtual cookie exchange, and already so many wonderful treats, projects and traditions have been shared! I can't wait to see what's shared today, so let's get hopping! Today's participants are:

Made By Marney

Homespun Hannah's Blog

Beaquilter

Cynthia's Creating Ark

Life in the Scrapatch

DesertSky Quilting

Sunlight in Winter Quilts

And if you by chance missed my offering, yesterday, please take a moment and visit by clicking here!

Happy hopping!

:)

added by Denise :) 4 years, 4 months ago. under blog hop , photo , virtual cookie exchange

virtual cookie exchange, day two . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

That's MEEEEEE!

I love hops . . . it's such an easy-peasey way to visit other bloggers and gain new ideas on a central theme. Fresh perspective, if you will! I especially enjoy participating in blog hops that Carol, over at Just Let Me Quilt organizes. She does such a great job! Thanks, Carol!

Our family has always baked our way through the holidays. We love the tried and true, but we also love to experiment and try new, fun things. I'm always looking for ways to include the grandgirls so that they grow up appreciating the baking traditions and ...

added by Denise :) 4 years, 4 months ago. under blog hop , family , grandgirls , melted snowman cookies , memories , photo , snowman , virtual cookie exchange

the blahs . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

Todd and I both kicked off Thanksgiving week with the crud. He went to the doc on Monday; I went on Wednesday. Luckily we had delayed our Thanksgiving celebration until Friday (to be able to celebrate with Joc and her family), but both of us left the doctor's office with antibiotics (among other meds), which meant by the time we celebrated, we both felt better, but still not great. It is what it is. The two of us spent Thursday quietly. We watched my one of my favorite Christmas movies . . .

The Homecoming. It was the pilot for The Walton ...

added by Denise :) 4 years, 5 months ago. under autumn , border , camp macoba , christmas , embroidery , granddaughters , guild , handwork , hexie , photo , pumpkin , slow stitching , wool

giving thanks where it's due . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

:)

added by Denise :) 4 years, 5 months ago. under photo , thanksgiving

excessive stitches . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

I've got a couple of different hand-work projects in progress right now. Because I can't focus on just ONE thing. No, I have to have THREE things (or more) going on simultaneously. LOL!

In yesterday's post I talked about a dream quilt (literally, a quilt I designed in my dreams). I (day)dreamed up another little piece ... a hexie mat. I'd done one years ago for my mom (the pattern for it was in a magazine, but I don't remember which one--I blogged about here in 2012!) . . .

But I ran across some really cute teapot ...

added by Denise :) 4 years, 5 months ago. under autumn , embroidery , handwork , hexies , photo , poinsettia , pumpkin , slow stitching , snowflake , stitchery , tea pot

happy busy . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

This is going to be another photo-heavy post; I've had lots going on! We can only carry over 40 hours of vacation time into the new year, and I realized here it was late in October, and I had over 80 hours--I needed to burn some time! And since we get two weeks over the Christmas holiday, I don't need it for then. So I took Monday and Tuesday and enjoyed another five day weekend. Bliss!

I did so much I'm going to have to split it over a couple of posts. Don't laugh. Sunday was ...

added by Denise :) 4 years, 6 months ago. under acorn , baking , biscotti , embroidery , fish , grandchildren , halloween , lake , lake life , photo , pontoon , tea dye , trick or treat , vacation , wool

time well spent . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

The association I work for had its 182nd Annual Meeting last Tuesday. It's a big deal for me and a lot of prep work and a long day . . . but we get the Wednesday and Thursday following the meeting off, giving me a long, five-day weekend.

And I made good use of that time!

Wednesday, I met Joc and the girls at Tate Farms for my annual pilgrimage to the pumpkin patch. I didn't bring home a single pumpkin (can you believe it?!), but we spent an hour or so hanging out in the corn crib!

Literally.

We all ...

added by Denise :) 4 years, 6 months ago. under birthday , corn , embroidery , family , floss , granddaughters , handwork , hexie , kathy schmitz , nook , patterns , photo , poinsettia , pumpkins , stitchery , tate farms , trivet

heavy laden . . . from Count it *all* JOY!

This post, that is . . . with pictures. :) This past weekend was our guild's biannual quilt show! I spent the afternoon there on Saturday and have the quilty photos to prove it!

I didn't enter a quilt in this year's show, though I did place my Blue Melody in one of the exhibitions that had been set up . . .

So it was fun to have that around!

We had over 250 quilts on display this year -- the show was amazing. We have SO many talented quilters in our guild . . . it's very humbling to sit among them! Here are a ...

added by Denise :) 4 years, 6 months ago. under blog hop , blue melody , fanfare 2019 , giveaway , grandgirls , guild , photo , quilt , quilt show , winner

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