Let's try this again

Well it's been a long time.  I thought I would give it another try.

This is a design by  Kim Diehl.  I just love it. I think it is one of the best quilts I've made so far. I think it looks wonderful next to my tree.

Larry got me this tractor. Ain't it cute?

This is oneof my favorite  santas.

Things that have happened since last post.

My husband Larry and I have built a bird aviary in our living room. It is wonderful to watch this little finches up close. 

It measures 10' long by 5' tall and 3' deep. 

This is our other bird cage. We made it out of a bookcase I found at the thrift store for $15. These little guys take up a lot of my time. When I'm not cleaning the cages. I'm watching them interact with each other. I have 12 different variety of finches right now. 

We have unfortunately had to put two of our loved dogs down. Carlee and Marley both had health issues. We miss them so. We have another addition to our family to keep maddee company. Her name is Molly. We have had her for a little over a year now 

She is such a sweet heart. She was so tired when I took this picture. We just got finished fencing in the front yard so they have more room to run around. I'll have to take a picture of that to show ya. 

Anyone else working in a miniature garden/fairy garden?  I started one this summer. I have really enjoyed looking for little things at the thrift store to decorate mine. I found a tin house but it was all Christmasy. I primed it but haven't painted it yet. One more thing on the long to do list. 

It keeps changing but that is the fun part. I'll have to take some newer pictures   I'd love to see your garden if you're working on one. I'm looking forward to next spring. I want to make a much bigger one. I also need to fix this one. The crate at the top will have more houses in it when I get finished. They will be really little ones. 

I hope you have enjoyed my rambling on. I hope you'll stop by again soon. 

Ever feel like being creative but not know where to start?

Well that is my state of mind tonight.  I have been sitting in my sewing room for about an hour now...... Still nothing done!   Well I did switch the laundry around.  Lol. Does that count? 

I keep telling myself to work on my new scrap quilt project.  But somehow that doesn't sound like fun.  I think it will be cute once I get some more colors done. Right now there is too much repetition.  

I love a simple churn dash!

I think I should have spent the last hour cleaning my sewing room up. Right now it is a bit of a mess. 

Thanks for stopping by. Sorry I didn't have anything exciting to show. I just figured I should post something to get the ball rolling.  Hopefully it won't be a year and a half between posts. Wow. Where did that time go? Nite:)

Check...

Well I have been getting a few things checked off my "to do"list.  I am happy with the smaller version of the whimsicals pattern.  I started piecing this one a looonnngggg time ago.  I got it out again and was just anxious to get it done.  It had other borders and more blocks....anyway...Now we just need some quilting.

 I spend the day on wed in my sewing room.  I had purchased some fabric at the quilt show a couple weeks ago and used some of it up.  It will just be a really simple quilt to hang on a ladder in my kitchen.

 

This afternoon was spent in the kitchen.  Decorating eggs.

 I wrapped them with cheesecloth before I dunked them.  I love how they turned out.

I hope you had a good day today.  I am throwing a surprise party for a friend on wed.  I hope she has a
good time.   Now off to do the binding on the nine patch.      bye for now.

It sure has been awhile....

Well, how have you all been?  It has sure been a long time since my last post.  I have been checking in on you all.  I just haven't felt like I had anything to say. 

Today however, is a new day.  My husband and I always attend the Lake FarmPark Quilt show every year.  My mom and her bestfriend often go with us.  Today was a fun day.  I loved so many of the quilts that were on exhibit.  But this one stole my heart.  I read the label and she saw this quilt in a shop and knew she has to make it....but she doesn't mention the artist or the shop.  The label said Juley Sirianni made this one.  I just looooovvve it. If anyone knows the original artist and how I could get the pattern please let me know.

 This one was also stunning.  I unfortunatly I didn't get the name of the maker of this lovely one.

 I have been working on this beautiful wallhanging by Whimsicals.  This one makes my heart happy.

 I had started this one quite a while back and like way too many of my projects.....it too was set aside.  I got it out last week and put some more together.  I just have the two big churn dash blocks to go.  I don't think I want it to be as big as the original.  I might leave off the top and bottom rows, and just do a simple border.  I just want to get it done before I loose ambition again.

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope all is going well for you.  I hope you enjoyed your visit and will join me again.                                                                                              Lisa

A new place for some wool.

There are some changes going on around here. One of the changes involves moving the wool to a new area. We are finally using some of our "finds". These are two ladders that were in the trash. We also brought home some old barn boards and have had them resting in the basement, waiting for their new start. Today they became my shelves.
This area is in our basement, close to our laundry area. I am making room in my craft room for my mom's things. She will be moving in as soon as our room addition is completed.

She loves to sew, quilt and rubber stamp just like I do. She wanted to keep her craft stuff with mine. Sounds good to me. So last week we found a spot for her sewing machine. Cleared off the craft work table and made some room. This is going to be fun. We have always motivated each other and now we will be under the same roof. I am excited for what the future holds.

Thanks for stopping by my little site. I am hoping it won't be so long til my next post. Hope you are having a nice holiday. Lisa

I just love these flowers

 Well now that spring has definately sprung in ohio, I just couldn't wait to put some posies around the house.

 These flowers just make my heart happy when I look at them.  This wooden box sits on my porch railing.

These little beauties are in a wooden chair in the front flower bed.  I hope all is going well in your neck of the woods.  I have been stopping by your blogs, just haven't had much to talk about.  I thought I would get the ball rolling eventhough I don't have anything exciting to say.   Thanks for stopping by.   Have a good weekend   Lisa

Things are looking up!

I am so relieved that things are starting to turn around at the Abbey House. January has been an aweful month for my husband and I and for my mom as well. Just everything was going wrong. I am not going to go in to it. I just am happy to say that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. My mom is doing better, Larry and I are not sick anymore. Ohh happy day!

I hope things are going well in your neck of the woods. I hope you are staying warm wherever you are. Today was in the 20's, yesterday the teens and tomorrow in the 40's....no wonder we are all sick. hehe. Have a good night and thanks for stopping by and listening to my rambling. Lisa

Well, the christmas decorations are put away.

Today I took a day off. I spent most of the day putting the christmas stuff away. I put things up in a different place just to make it feel like I had some new stuff. hehe. The funny thing is that that simple trick works on my little mind.

I will be happy when things get back to normal. Do you think they will? The first week of the year has not been the greatest. We found a new home for Trixie. It really felt like we were failing....we are used to rescuing animals not giving them away. But it just wasn't going to work with Trixie(the parrot) She would squawk all day if she wasn't let out of the cage and when she was out of the cage she would bite us so that we would be afraid to let her out around my mom. When she moves in it would be awful to put her thru noise all day. We found a wonderful bird lady....she has so many awesome birds. She said she would take trixie and we dropped her off on Jan. 1. The next day she called and said trixie had died. She hadn't made another sound after we dropped her off. The next morning she squawked really loud and she got her out of the cage and put her on her chest....and she just died right then. I just feel so bad that we let her down.

The next day Larry recked his company truck. Thankfully no one was hurt...just the sign at the side of the road. Still not a great week.

Sunday, Maddie had another seizure. It only lasted about 8 minutes and she has been great ever since. I know things could be so much worse.....I just wish they would be sooo much better.

The contractor comes on wed. to give us an idea about the room addition. Hopefully, that will be some good news. Cross your fingers. Sorry if this has been a downer of a post. I do feel better just to type it and get it off my chest. Thanks for listening. I hope things are going well for you in your neck of the woods. Thanks for stopping. I will have something fun next time....I promise. Lisa

It was a hard day

Today was my dad's funeral. He passed away on Saturday night. I feel blessed that our family was all there when he took his last breath. I am so happy that he was peaceful when he left this world. Our family has been so blessed to have so many friends and family to support us thru this tough time. He had gone down hill so quickly with his battle against cancer. He had lost so much weight and was so frail. This is how I want to remember him. I will sure miss you dad, eventhough I know you are in a much better place. I will see you again! Love always.

Some random pics of christmas decorations

Here is the tree that is in the living room. It is just like last year except for the bows. I got different ribbon this year.
I also added a few more baskets and put one at the base. I need to get a bulb for the little house, so it will show up better.

I just love the tall snowman. His little face makes me smile everytime I look at it.

This is a shot of the dog treat cabinet in the kitchen.

This is in the living room. I also need a bulb for the snowman. He looks really cute when he is lit up.

This is by the television in the living room. I think this santa is cute.

This is a shot of the sewing machine in the dining room. I just picked up this fruit tree at the thrift store last week for 3 dollars. I had to put it in the crock cuz the base was chiped. Still looks pretty good.

I hope you enjoyed the little tour. Hope you are having a good night. Thanks for stopping by. Lisa

Yippee

It still amazes me how quickly I can get things done when I just get off my butt and do it. Hehe. I tend to think things to death. If I would just think long enough to make a plan then do it, wow, there is no telling how much I could get done. I had this quilt machine quilted in 35 minutes.
I just love how it turned out. These colors are alittle bit out of my comfort zone. I made this quilt to go in the half bath that we just finished. Now I just need a shelf to hang it under. Oh Larrrrrrrryyyyy!

I hope you are having a good evening. Thanks for stopping by. Lisa

The old girl is home

I dropped off my sewing machine last wed. Larry was able to pick it up Sat. They replaced the bobbin case and tuned it up. The needle threader is working again. I am happy to have it home.
I was soooo close to picking out a new one while I was at the store. She was a really good saleswoman. However, clearer minds prevailed.

I did finish the quilting on Paula's quilt. I am happy with how it turned out. I will be glad to take it to her when I go to work on thursday. I hope you are all having a good evening. Stop again soon. Lisa

A Little finish

This is a little bear that I started for my dad some years ago. For some reason, I didn't get it finished. It was sooo close just one arm to do and some finishing touches. But like so many of my projects it comes to a stand still. I ran across it tonight and finished it up.
The stiching on the heart is pretty rough but it will work. My dad loves teddy bears. I think he will like it. I am sure their cats will also. hehe. Thanks for stopping by. Lisa

found a neat giveaway

I was hoppin' around blogland. I ran across a new site for me. It is the old cupboard door. There is a really cute snowman giveaway going on. You might want to stop by and check it out. http://www.theoldcupboarddoorblog.com/ sorry no pictures. Thanks for stoppin by.

Larry's latest project

Sunday, I went outside to see what my dear husband was up to. He is always working on something. He kept asking me if I brought out the trash....After the second time...I gave him the look....you know the look....Like....What!.... He said. You didn't even notice did you. So then I knew, I needed to look around. Then I realized. He had made a new trash bin. The old one he had made was getting pretty weak. He found this crate in the trash, it started out alot deeper than in this picture. He cut it down to size, angled the top, made the lid and voila...our new rubbish holder.

He moved it from the driveway to it's new home.

I love how it turned out. I can't wait for it to weather like the old one. Hope you are having a good evening. Lisa

Is that a bare chest or what?

Ha Ha. Made you look! Just thought this might make you smile....I did while I was thinking of it. Say hello to Trixie. She was really having a bad couple of weeks, a few weeks back and was biting us and really being mean. Now she has stopped all that but she has pulled out all her chest feathers. I hope she let her new feathers come out. I just might have to put one of those neck guards on her. Hope you have a good weekend. Thanks for stopping by. Lisa

A change in plans...

Well....the plan was this. Load a quilt in the machine and get it quilted tonight. Paula made this quilt and asked if I would quilt it for her. Sure I said.
All was going well, it loaded pretty easily and was pretty square. Looked like it was going to be easy....then my machine starts to act up. It keeps locking up and the monitor reads "stop for safety" I hate when that happens. I have tried a new needle and after trying many other things to no avail.... Looks like Larry will have to work on it tomorrow. So I guess it is off to bed. Hope you are having a good night. Lisa

sold

That is what happened today. I have had my dad's riding mower on craigslist for about a month, at his request. I have been really worried cuz this isn't exactly the best time to sell one .Unfortunatly, not sure if he will be around in the spring. I still can't comprehend that. But today....I got a call, we drove to my parents place and showed it to him and he paid top dollar. I feel so releaved. He was worried about a few bills that were coming in and now he can pay them...or whatever he chooses to do. I just feel happy that we could help. So just thought I would share something happy. Hope you are enjoying your evening. Lisa

Happy Halloween

Hope you all had a great weekend and a safe Halloween. Monday is my night off so Larry and I went to eat and stopped at the Flower factory for ideas for a toy for our bird Trixie. She was really having a rough couple a weeks. She was biting us and being a real brat. She has been alot better the last week or so....but she has been pulling out her chest feathers. Soooo.....hopefully the toys will help relieve her stress. Cross your fingers for her cuz winter is a comin. Have a good night. Lisa