So Many Blessings

Time for the "simple things" at home is always a blessing.  I had a few days this month to spend some time just being at home.  Baking, sewing and painting are some of the things I was able to do.  I am thankful for my job and all of the activities I am able to participate in but you can't beat a day at home doing the simple things.

Like baking cookies.

Sherry's Oatmeal Cookies

                            1 cup butter                                                    

                            1 cup shortening                                             

                            2 cups brown sugar                                         

                            2 cups white sugar                                          

                            4 eggs

                            2 teaspoons vanilla

                            4 cups flour

                            2 teaspoons baking soda

                            2 teaspoons salt

                            6 cups oatmeal

Blend butter, shortening and sugars.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Blend in flour, baking soda and salt.  Stir in oatmeal.  I use my Kitchen-aid to blend everything together.  This is a large batch and hard to mix with a wooden spoon.  That is how I made them for the first 15 years.

Bake at 350 for 10-12 Minutes.                         

                                                              And sewing quilts.

Flying geese for my Midnight Mystery Quilt

And more baking.

 Zucchini bread

Some with raisins and some with chocolate chips.

Squash from a friends garden.

And more sewing of quilts.

 Midnight Mystery Quilt

Freshening up our home.

Fresh paint on the front door.

Isn't it nice to enjoy the simple things, I am so thankful for my simple home and time spent there with family and friends and a little time alone is nice too.

Tea Cup and Mug Exchange

I participated in a Tea Cup and Mug Exchange sponsored by Stephanie at The Enchanting  Rose.  It has been a while since I participated in a swap or exchange so I thought this would be fun and it was.  I enjoyed gathering things together for Mary, her blog is called Material Girl Quilter.

I was excited to see my package from Naomi (www.whatjoyismine.net) when it arrived.  I took it to my sewing room to look inside and take each item out slowly.

Two new towels for fall.

So many thoughtful gifts,towels, candle, cookies, embroidery threads and designs, cookies, tea, bath tea and a note from Naomi.

I love this sweet teapot and cup.  Thank you Naomi for the box of goodies and thank you Stephanie for organizing the exchange.

Midnight Mystery Quilt - September

Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs is sponsoring Midnight Mystery Quilt-a-long.  My blocks are complete for September and I am ready to work on the October blocks.

It will be fun to see how this quilt comes together.  I love a mystery.

2015 Finish Along Q4 Goals

I have been focusing on completing projects this year and joining the 2015 Finish Along  organized by Adrianne at On the Windy Side has helped me to stay focused.   I have added quite a few projects for the 4th quarter of the finish along because I have so many unfinished projects and I hope to cross several off my list this quarter.

1.  These are some of the completed blocks for my Sunnyside quilt top, 6 are complete and I have 14 more to do. I want to have this completed and ready to be sent to the quilter.

2.  This quilt is quilted, my goal is to complete the binding.

3.  Five of the nine embroidery blocks complete, others ready to stitch and piece together.

4.  Tote bag Mystery Monday at Little Bits of This & That.  I had good intentions but did not even get this project started.

5.  The Abbey Bag pincushion kit.

6.  Christmas Tree Pincushion kit.

7.  Fruit Salad pincushion kit.

8.  Daisy Days embroidery wall hanging.  Complete it and hang it in my dining room.

9.  Quilt and bind this petals table topper.

10.  Quilt top complete - finish pieced backing and send to the quilter

11.  My Scrappy Quilt has been sent to the quilter, get it bound as soon as it gets back to me.

12.  I would love to use my JOY banner as a decoration this year.

13.  Quilt and bind this project so that I can hang it in our guest room.

14.  Complete this paper pieced Polar Bear pillow.

15.  Machine quilt and bind my Aurifil designer block of the month quilt.

16.  Complete the cross stitch ball jar and frame it.

17.  Machine quilt and bind my jelly roll bird quilt top.

I know that I have listed quite a few projects and I will be distracted by holiday sewing but I would sure be excited to complete several if not all of these projects.  Writing this post made me take a look around my sewing room and focus on some projects that I would love to call finishes.

October Finish Goal

Leslie finished the quilting on my spools quilt over a month ago and here it is still without binding.  I thought that this should be my October goal for ALYOF.  We will be traveling some this month and I wanted a goal that was something I have a good chance of completing.

This was a fun quilt to put together.  It was made with a jelly roll.

I love what Leslie did with the quilting design on this quilt.

I will be linking this post with A Lovely Year of Finishes  October goals.

Have a wonderful day!