Thursday, December 31, 2009

I Am Having Way Too Much Fun!

Warning: There are a lot of pictures in this post!
I am telling you I am having way too much fun!
Yes that is Granny quilts on top of the armoire.
Some are mine. Some are sold. I picked up that top one today from Granny.
I will put it on the side bar for sale.
Remember Granny's old sewing machine that tore up a while back?
Well it wasn't fixable but she loves the one she has now.
Anyway, the old one has been sitting in the back room and my daddy asked me today if I wanted it. He said Granny wants it out of there. Of course, I said YES! I didn't care if it worked because it was Granny's. That meant more than anything to me. Granny was thrilled for me to take it. I love the cabinet. The machine is in there and will stay in there but for right now I set my featherweight on the top of the cabinet. Connie made the pin cushion for me. Isn't it darling? Do you see my old rotary phone? I love it and it works!
My 6 year old grandson tells me about his best friend and when he describes him, he says his full name and then says: "He is the luckiest boy in the whole world". So cute. Well that is the way I feel right now with my sewing room. I have had my sewing area in a closet, in the basement, and in my bedroom and never been satisfied. We have a room that is a den but we have a huge den and this room we have always called the "nobody's room". We call it that because no one ever goes in there and sits. Well, I have changed it all. It is now a sewing room. It is connected to the dining room but I am just country so that is fine. We never eat at that table anyway.
I told my sweet hubby that I am probably the only person that I know that has a fireplace and lots of windows like this in their sewing room. I think I am the luckiest person in the world!!!

My Sweet Mom bought this for me for an early birthday present. It is a June Taylor Shape Cut Slotted Ruler. We learned about this ruler from my sweet friend Michelle. Thank you Mom for buying it for me & Michelle for telling us about it. One day I was telling Michelle my thoughts about making a new sewing room in my house and I was telling her that it was connected to the dining room and she said something that made me just stop and think.
She told me that it was my home and I could do whatever I wanted with it. She said the kitchen table police would not come knocking on my door. That was a lightbulb moment so I did it.

The room is big and I have things in every corner but to me it looks great. This is a shoe rack that Maranda (daughter) bought at target a while back. She didn't take it with her when she left and I just could not see putting shoes in it. When I looked at it I saw my stash! The Noahs Ark hat boxes were so cute when I saw them at the thrift store. I knew they would be good for something and sure enough they have sewing things hidden inside. The pretty thread holder sitting on top was once in Shannons (oldest daughter) house. It used to have pretty vines in it and was hanging on her wall but in my house it is holding thread right now.

This is a new sewing machine to me. My dad found it and it is exactly like Granny's old one that tore up and he thought I might like it. He was right. I love it just because it was like Grannys.

This is how I set up part of my sewing area. Do you see 3 sewing machines? Wow.
I decided when I was working on this room that I wanted things that I love in this room. The little orange table was in my granddaughters room at one time and she actually painted it. On that table you will see on the right side of the sewing machine a plastic box. It was my Grandmas sewing box. (My Moms mother). I treasure it. Of course you all know that I love my Singer 401A sewing machine. Sitting beside it is a fabric basket that Connie made for me. I love it. The T.V. tray underneath the sewing machine is a work in progress. Connie sent me the stuff to make a little ironing board to sit next to the sewing machine out of this tray. I can't wait to get that done.

This shows you a good view of my cutting table all folded out. In this room it will be able to stay that way. Sitting on it is my Brother Embroidery Machine. Over to the right is my desk to do paperwork. Sitting on the desk is pictures of my grands and also a plant and a candle that my sister Brenda sent to me. Thank you Brenda. Underneath the desk is a kudzu basket that was made for me many years ago by Randys aunt Jude. I would not take anything for it. It is full of quilting magazines and few toys for the kids. My rocking chair.....what can I say? This is the rocking chair that my Mom rocked me in. Precious. The afghan on the back is something I made for my Grandma Cochran before she passed away. When she went home to be with the Lord the family gave it back to me. It makes me think of her.

This is the view of my dining room if you were standing in the new sewing room. See my new rugs that my sweet honey gave me? I love them. They are Sisal rugs.

This is a shelf that is sitting in my dining room. I am not crazy about the shelf but I LOVE the things on the shelf. The cookie jar on the top is from when I was a little girl. My Mom gave this to me. The cookie jar below that is one that Shannon (my daughter) had made for me with all of the grandkids handprints and their ages on it when they were small. The next cookie jar was my Grandma Cochrans. You never went to her house without getting into this cookie jar and it always had Nilla Vanilla Wafers in it. Michelle made me those criss cross coasters that you see laying on the third shelf. I just love them. Both of the quilts on top of this shelf are ones that my Granny made.

This is the view from the dining room looking at my sewing room. Is that a taco bell cup sitting on my hearth??? Funny! My piano is very special to me. This is the piano that I practiced many hours on when I was young. This is the piano that my Mom taught students on to make extra money when we were growing up. It is funny how thinking of that now just touches my heart that my Mom would do that for us but of course when we were young we didn't know to appreciate that like we should. Thank you Mom for all of your sacrifices for us. Can you see the quilt on the piano bench? Mom & I took a quilting class and I have never finished that but thought if I have it laid out maybe I will work on it. The picture above the cutting table will eventually be took down and replaced with my design wall.

This area is the stairway that goes down to my basement. It doesn't look like much but I wanted to show you that piece sitting on top of the stairwell. It was actually the mantel above the fireplace when we bought this house. We hated it as a mantel but when my honey took it off and set it there we loved it. We don't know what it was originally. I don't know what you call that above the stairs going to the basement but when we do have people over that is where I set desserts. It is also as tall as my cutting table and serves as a second place to work when laying things out.

So I have 5 machines in this one room! (6 if you count Grannys old machine that doesn't work that you cannot see.) I have lots of things that I love in this room. I have a fireplace and lots of windows. What more can I ask for? Well I do want one thing. I would love to find some cushions for my rocking chair. I am sure there will be things that I change from day to day. I already have some new ideas just from seeing the pictures but so far I love it. My sweet honey is even impressed! That means a lot. So guess what I will be doing tomorrow to start the new year out right? Yes, I will be doing some cooking but most of all I will be sewing and loving it. 2010 is going to be a great year! There are lots of things that I want to do but my #1 thing on my agenda is to slow down and enjoy my family, friends & things that I love.
Happy New Year!
You all mean the world to me!

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

A REAL Man

What a man! This is my sweet honey out on an early Sunday morning in the cold weather getting some deer meat and a chicken on the smoker.
This is what it looked like after he put it on.

Here he is all dressed up to go to church but adding charcoal to the smoker before we left.
I was so afraid he would smell like a smoker but he didn't get that close to it.

He cooked 4 deer roasts and some deer tenderloin and a whole chicken.
He marinates it overnight in Dales Steak Seasoning sauce and a secret rub that he puts on it.
What a great lunch we had after church.
Oh my goodness!
I just love a man who cooks. He washes dishes too! We had baked beans and potato salad to go with this. I am so blessed to have my sweet honey. He is so good to me.
Lunch was yummy!
I love the deer meat but the chicken was the best!
Now this is a REAL man!

Monday, December 28, 2009

Wash Day Or Christmas Day At Granny's House

My sweet honey & I went to see Granny on Christmas day and found her sitting there doing her word search puzzles. I don't buy Granny any presents because she is just like me.....or am I just like her. We don't need anything. But I did cut some of the fabric that some of you bloggers have sent and brought it to her in a bag. She loved it. I try to bring her a few things all year long but it is not presents but you would think that it was gold. I bring things like a Coke, or cake, or dishwashing liquid. Honestly she loves that. I love her simplicity. That is what I want to be like. I am pretty simple already. I don't require much at all thank goodness.

Look at this quilt! Granny had just finished it. This fabric is from
Thearica! She sent a lot more fabric so you will see more quilts made from her fabric.
Thank you for blessing Granny.
By the way, this quilt is for sale. I will put it on the sidebar.
I asked Granny how she was enjoying this Christmas day and she said it was fine but it was actually "wash day". I told her that I forgot it was Friday. She said she best get up and get her "wash" out of the dryer. I beat her to it though and started folding them. It just amazes me that it doesn't matter what is going on, she is still on that schedule of Fridays being "wash day".

She also made this quilt. She says with her Singer 401A she can whip out 2 quilts a week.
This quilt is already sold. This is truly a scrappy quilt.

Can you imagine 96 years old and making 2 quilts a week??

Granny had took her bath and was smelling so good.
She was going to my cousin Shirley's for a Christmas
party. She was excited.
Me and Granny make a good team. I just love her!
Have I told you that before? hehehe
This was my best Christmas present getting to help Granny with "wash day" on Christmas Day.
*Thank you all that sent me & Granny Christmas cards. I have never received so many personally and Granny says she had more than she has ever had too. Thank you so much. I didn't get them posted due to the wedding! By the way, the honeymooners are back in town and doing great! They look so happy!

**Shelly Fry: I received your check. Will you contact me with your address? (somehow I have lost your email). I have your quilt ready to ship. Thank you for blessing Granny.


**If you have committed to buy a Granny quilt and have not sent the money please contact me and let me know if you are still interested in purchasing the quilts. Thanks.

Then & Now - One Year Later

Little D
Born Dec. 28th, 2008
THEN


Enjoy the video of our youngest grandchild on
his very first Christmas day!
Dec. 25, 2009
NOW
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Little D!
ONE YEAR OLD

* Please keep my sister and her family in your prayers today. While we were experiencing the miracle of life a year ago they were saying goodbye to her husband and their father.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Christmas Love All Year

Christmas Love

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family,
I'm just another decorator.


If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family,
I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family,
it profits me nothing.
If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata, but do not focus on Christ,
I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug a child.
Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the spouse.
Love is kind, though hurried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Love never fails. Video games break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of CHRISTMAS LOVE will endure.

May you have a wonderful joy-filled season of love.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Our Gift To You

Our Christmas present to each other this year was a trip to Gatlinburg, Tenn. in the Smoky Mountains. We left the day after the wedding. We took these pictures while we were there and this is our gift to you. Enjoy the pictures. I hope you all have a Blessed Christmas!









Tuesday, December 22, 2009

More Random Wedding Pictures

The Bridal Party
Part of the Grooms Family
(The professional pics will have the whole family)

Bride & Groom's Dad's

My little Angel, the Flower Girl

The Garden Children
The Bride & nephew (Brother), the Ring Bearer

Little D & Brother with Uncle Lane

Proud Parents with the Bride & Groom

Bride & Parents

Mom & Bride

Daddy's little girl!
Maranda with Grandparents!
(My Mom & Dad)

Lane is just about to remove the Garter!

Little D & Brother after the wedding
Angel giving out the wedding favors

Time to go!!!

Father & Grandmother of the bride!
(Daddy looks tired!!!)