Sunday, January 8, 2023

YOP Week #28 Year 12

 What an exciting week I've had!  I had my birthday on Wednesday; I'm officially 74 years old now....I can hardly believe it but it's true.  I got some lovely cards, gifts, and even flowers for my birthday!  I haven't had flowers in quite a while.  Here is a little rundown.........and thank you everyone for leaving messages on my blog, and Facebook, and email.  I got some beautiful flowers from my BFF.....you know who you are............they brought tears to my eyes as it was such a precious gift to be given.....I can never thank you enough...........

Another great friend sent a darling gardening towel and some gift tags which are great!   Gardening season will be here before we know it!  Thank you so much!

Sorry the photo is blurred.  It didn't look that way when I took it...I should probably read my manual and take a class....lol!  Trust me these tags are very cute and will definitely get used....

I received some lovely cards too........

I fixed myself a great dinner and topped it off with Dulce De Leche ice cream.....yum!  I spent the day crafting and reading and watching t.v.  It was great...thank you all for making it so special.  You never know when it might be your last one! LOL!

Now, for the crafty part of our program.  I made great progress and so far have been able to stick to my goals in all areas....we'll see how long that lasts.....

My sock got some love this past week.........I'm on round 56 and  only 5 more to go before I start the heel...these are my Christmas Eve cast on socks that I will wear next Christmas.

I figured out my rotation but just not how often, and when I will work on each item.  For cross stitch, I will work on Elizabeth's Squirrel as my big focus piece, another will be to work on a WIP that is close to being finished, a medium sized WIP, and a small, plus I might put my Sabbath stitch back in the rotation.

Here's Elizabeth's Squirrel which got quite a bit of attention this week.....

I chose pumpkin alphabet as a WIP that was close to being finished and I finished it.....

The next one I chose that is close to being finished is Choose Happy which was a free chart from Hands On Design during the Covid crisis......
For a small, I am working on Baby Jesus which isn't as small as I thought or it's just a lot of stitches........

 I actually did 3 final finishes this week as I did the 2022 collectible ornaments for the grands with one for myself........these were a bit fussy to finish and I didn't do very well but I tried.........this is mine......

Sam's.........

and Grayson's...........

I bought a Mary Englebreit wooden cottage that I worked on, on my birthday.  I just have the chimney left and then the painting...it was fun putting it together and the painting should be even more fun if I don't mess it up!

I finished my second book of the year, Plum Island by Nelson Demille...........he can be crass but funny, not gross. He's a good writer and keeps you interested through all 687 pages!  It is a suspenseful mystery.  I will be reading more of his books.  He's written a lot of them.  This one was written in the 90's.  I was reading it when I went to the eye doctor Friday and he said he had read that one and really enjoyed it, and has read quite a few of his books.  It was recommended by Charlie and Kate Gibson on ABC's Bookcase podcast where they interviewed him. 

I'm now reading Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood who's character, Phryne Fisher is a series on Britbox or Netfliz...I can't remember.  The t.v. series is very good.   It's mysteries....one of my favorite genres.

For next week, I will do another Final Finish, continue working on Elizabeth's Squirrel, hopefully finish Choose Happy, and work on Baby Jesus.  This afternoon I am going to start quilting my Christmas Quilt from last year and watch a football game.....probably not at the same time! LOL!  For my birthday I did something I've never done......I joined a Block of the Month quilting club starting in February.  It is for a red and cream quilt with all the fabrics included, even the backing.  It is from Stitchin' Heaven in Texas.  They have lots of BOM clubs so join in if you want to....I think it's a beautiful quilt and it's a nice way to go if you don't want to pay for all those supplies all at once.

I hope you have a great week ahead and I hope I didn't bore you with this long post!

Happy Trails!!!


 


11 comments:

Maureen D said...

So glad you had a well deserved wonderful birthday. Wishing you an equally wonderful year. Love those colorful socks. Fun to knit and fun to wear. Love the sentiment on the gardening towel. And it is nice to focus on garden planning when it's cold and grey outside.

Leftycrafter said...

Sounds like your bday was wonderful. Look at all those finishes. The ornaments are precious. I like the pumpkin sampler too. The quilt a long sound like a great time. Those flowers are so pretty. How sweet of your best friend. Have a blessed week

Far Side of Fifty said...

Glad you had a good birthday! You are keeping busy!

Miss Merry said...

Your flowers are just beautiful! What a great way to celebrate and brighten your day. You do have a very nice friend!!!!

All your projects look wonderful and I look forward to the red and white blocks. And I am googling your reading selections. I ordered 2 books on thrift books yesterday from blogs. I must be planning on a lot of reading this winter!

Betsy said...

It both looks and sounds as if you had a wonderful birthday. Those flowers are gorgeous and I really like the towel too. Your ornament finishes look just fine and I know the boys will love them.
I'm trying to read too but don't have a lot of time right now. Hopefully when I get back, although I know my dear DIL has a substantial library at their house that I can choose from if there's time to read with a busy baby to care for!
Blessings and hugs,
Betsy

HighlandHeffalump said...

I’m sorry I missed saying Happy birthday to you but I send you belated best wishes. Your flowers are beautiful. What a great week finishing that lovely alphabet/pumpkin, the ornaments and a couple of books. Seems like you’ve really started 2023 in a great way. My mum, who is 81, was at a dinner party with friends they’ve known for 40 years…one said “I just made a terrible discovery, one I can’t believe…apparently I’m the same age as old people”. They all thought it was very funny as they are all still full of life, keeping busy and feeling young. Age is just a number, you are young at heart and keeping busy and that counts for a lot.

Jeanna said...

You accomplished a ton this week! You are finishing a lot of cross stitch, very nice to see. I'm still working through my plans LOL. Thanks for the book recommendation. I've never read any DeMille but I always see a bunch of his books in our used book stores. I'll have to give him a try.

Alissa said...

Happy Birthday! Flowers are such a lovely treat.

Breathing Life said...

Happy Birthday! It sounds like you were well feted as you deserve to be. Your birthday dinner sounds scrumptious.

Lucy Bowen said...

I love your cross stitch - I feel like I have said that before! It sounds asthough you had a wonderful birthday and got lots of lovely things.

Cinna Knits said...

Happiest of happy birthdays!! I'm so happy to hear it was a good one filled with love.
I am always in awe of your cross stitch, and have never noticed they aren't finished perfectly!! Your giant granny square blanket is beautiful! And I agree, they get COMPLETELY unwieldy after a certain point!