What feeling is so nice as a child’s hand in yours? So small, so soft and warm, like a kitten huddling in the shelter of your clasp.
~Marjorie Holmes

So, I think I’ve mentioned my cousin really liked her quilt I made for her new baby..

She wanted me to make a quilt for her friend in Canada daughter Xyla Rose (beautiful name!).

For the main fabric she picked a Lizzy House line the Red Day Letter and had it shipped to me. It is the cutest line!!

This is what I came up with-

~sorry for the cloudy day weather pics..

 ~back (kind of blurry)

 ~I think this little area is my favorite!

So, I used linen for the sashing.  I have been wanting to try wool for the batting.  After all this quilt is going to Canada.  I love, love, love cotton batting, but I just feel like it is so thin sometimes.  The wool is thin, it makes it a little transparent, just a bit.  But, it is warm, really warm and very, very soft.   I think it will be good.  So? We’ll see. Have you ever used wool? What did you think?

Can I just say I finally got the corner thing figured out??  I have read many, many tutorials but I was always a little off.  No more! I got it . Yay me!

So, now that I compare the 2 quits, obviously I did not exactly replicate the design, but I hope she loves it anyway!

I won the most beautiful hat from Camilla from Bloom.   I can not tell you how warm and wonderful this hat is! There are no words.

She not only hand-spun every bit of yarn of course she knitted it as well.
She did a whole series on dying and spinning. She is Norwegian and she currently lives in Montana. She is a fantastic photographer as well. Please go visit her, you won’t be disappointed!

Thank you Camilla you have just made me week!!
I have had this warm hat on for hours~ I don’t want to take it off, so cozy!

Spagetti warm woolen hat~ thank you Camilla!!

I will be wearing this when I take my 3 girls (doggies) out for their morning walk!!

~I am so thankful my workday went by quickly and smoothly! One more day and then I will be off for a while!

and I will be so grateful for the quiet time to finish so many project’s I have hanging over my head!

~this is the beginnings of quilt I am making for my cousin’s best friend’s baby! ~or something like that!   I struggled for a moment to get my mojo going but finally thank the Lord, it hit me and I’ve been working feverishly to get it done.  Should not be too much longer.. and then there is this…

~my scraps to treasure quilt front that must be finished ASAP.. I am so late! Please excuse the wrinkles I should not even tell you how that happened..

~it partly involves this cat cuddling up on it, then being ambushed by his brother, and then a whole big rigmarole ensues.. goodness!

All in all I am so thankful I have a mind that won’t rest and hands that must be kept busy.  It just makes me feel more complete..

 
No longer forward nor behind
I look in hope or fear;
But, grateful, take the good I find,
The best of now and here. ~John Greenleaf Whittier

Today I am thankful for my hands and for my feet. They allow me to be who I need to be~

My hands that prepare the food for our meals.. my hands that do my nurse work.. my hands that touch my children, my husband, my little animals, and my hands I use to create…

My feet that carry me where I need to go~ to school, to work, to my family and friend’s home. They carry me on long walks with my dogs.. 

This year I’ve learned I must focus on what is here, what is mine today.  I can not spend my time always looking back.  If I do then I will not be present for my today, and I can not always spend my time looking  ahead because tomorrow I may not be here.. 

To find your happiness and your peace you must be in the moment of right now.  To remember to be thankful for all that you have today, and all that you have had before today, and all that you will have tomorrow.

~Peace

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

~thankful small creatures can find shelter in and around my garden~

With Thanksgiving so close, I thought this would be the perfect time to focus on thankfulness…

Each day this week, I am going to attempt a post on thankfulness. Whether it is a quote, a post, a picture… I am going to try.  

The holidays are upon us and I really want to focus on the spirit and meaning of the season and what it really means to me during these upcoming weeks.   Maybe you will want to do the same?

For today… I am thankful for my family and my warm home.  I can not imagine life without a warm shelter..  I truly believe every man, woman and child deserves a warm home and a warm bed…

~be it ever so humble, there is no place like home

~You must go here and read Penny’s post! She has just little things you need to do, there will be a lot of winners. Several  generous ladies have donated goods, even Ms. Denise Schmidt.. good grief, what are you waiting for??
Go go go now!!!  Good luck!!

~I have been so quiet….

I have been in a quiet mood.   Partly because I am starting to feel the holiday pressure.. perhaps, but..

I have also had some really sad days thinking about my dad.  When these sad day’s come, I feel sadness so  deeply -it goes all the way to my core.  It is exhausting honestly.  I know that time will makes things better but right now I do not have time on my side…

 But to every sad feeling  I believe there is a “lightness” or a happiness waiting for you…

I have been  noticing  the light of these autumn days.  I have felt very connected to this light and surprisingly I have captured some shots of it…

I have always enjoyed the changing seasons.   This year even more so.  Especially when I began to notice this autumnal light.  I felt drawn to to it in a way I have never felt before and I have been wondering what it is means to me, what is it telling me, or where it is taking me…

to a new day, a new path, a new place – I am not exactly sure but I really feel it.

I believe “the light”or happiness will always win out over the sadness you just have to wait and be patient .. to every sad feeling and sad thought - there is a happiness  waiting to be found.   It just takes time..

I have a lot of things that I feel like I need to work out, hence the quote from Georgia O’Keefe it just seems to fit my mood today…

~Praise the Lord and pass the biscuits~  I am done!!!!

It only took almost 2 years… I started the first time at least a year ago, it would have had to been in the fall/winter … I started and I don’t remember why, but I stopped and frogged..

I remembered the yarn and my previous plans this September and I was more determined this time around..

I will say I am not loving the make 1’s .. those holes are not so good.

But as my grandmother would say (she is almost 97)  “a man on horseback…” she always says that for whatever I make.. it is not perfect, but it will do.  It seems like when you knit you learn a little something each project you do … at least I seem to!

~here is my action shot… If you are here from the Moments group… I will have you know I barely cropped the photo’s… just trying to keep it real ya’ll!

~So, on just a side note, I finished my sweater up and wore it for the first time yesterday.. as I was in the carpool line at school,  my car died, just died .. dead.  Oh me.. it was kind of  a scene, but at least I looked cute!.. right?

~Today I have a new powerful battery supposedly good for 7 years.. we’ll see!!

    ~Alissa and Kirsten are writing a book together. The book is based on their online quilting bee named Block Party.

I have long admired these ladies style of quilting so to me this is an exciting piece of news…. I hope you will join in and go check out their Block Party quilt along  post.    Some quilts made in the quilt along will also be featrued in their book!  This will happen over the course of a year, so their is plenty of time to get involved and learn some new skill~

 So cool!!  (Fabric pictured are the giveaway bundles)

Amy at Park City Girl is hosting a Family Dinner Swap!
What a great idea!!

 Normally I would post a recipe for soup because that is my favorite all time food, however, I now have a close second!

~Pizza~!!

Love it, and with this easy recipe you will love it too!

I have used my favorite cook book, Honest Pretzels and yes, it is a children’s cookbook that I had hoped my eldest daughter would use, so far it is only me using it. Quite honestly, I am fine with that because I just love this cookbook!
Seriously!
Ok, the recipe:

Make your dough:

1 cup lukewarm water,
1 tsp yeast

mix in a large bowl and let it sit for 5 minutes,
then add 1 tbsp olive oil
then add 2 1/2 cups flour, * I used half white, half whole wheat
1 tsp salt

Mix together by whisk at first, then your hand.  Then you knead your dough for about 5 minutes.

Now, clean your bowl and then put 1 tbsp of olive oil into your cleaned bowl. Cover and let rise for about 1 hour.

*I will make my dough in  the morning, and let it rise all day until I am ready to use for supper. It works great that way.

You also will want to go ahead and sprinkle either corn meal or I use wheat bran to coat the baking pan.

After your dough has risen, you spread it out on a baking sheet. Cook at 450 degrees for 8 minutes, then take it out and top with your choice of toppings..

Then return to the oven and bake for an additional 6-8 minutes, or until the cheese is golden and bubbly!

I have done basil/olive oil, red sauce,  I have even  just used olive oil for a base. We’ve used leftover chicken, pepperoni, sausage, and a variety of different cheeses. There is no way to mess this up! So easy, and so so good!

This pizza is so much better than store-bought, even better then a restaurant.   No lie. It is hearty and delicious! What is also great is that most likely you will have the simple ingredients on hand, and this is a great way to use up leftovers!

Now go try it & let me know if you like it!

    ~notice the thumbs up going on there?!? She is my toughest critic!

Big thank you to Amy for hosting this great recipe swap, I am always in need of new ideas for supper!