soft and snuggly

This is my newest quilt. I finished it on Saturday, just in time for winter. This is the fifth quilt I made this year, but the first one for me. It is a lap quilt, and long enough to cover up with if I am taking a nap. The top was pieced by machine, but I hand quilted an X in every square. It took about three months to complete.

Bink and Gollie

Bink and Gollie is a new book written by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee and illustrated by Tony Fucile. If you have enjoyed work by any of these people, I think you will also enjoy this book. DiCamillo and McGhee did a great job of using words and the sense of humor in the book made me laugh. The pictures are great too. This picture book is for elementary age children, and even fourth and fifth grade students would like it. Bink and Gollie are great friends, even though they don't agree on everything. Parts of the book remind me of my relationship with my younger sister when we were kids. There is even a fun website devoted to this book which you can find by clicking here.

teacups

This is one of three teacups that I got when we cleaned out my grandma's house several years ago. My teacups are out for display on a shelf. My grandma kept hers on the buffet, but used them as well. With winter approaching, I will have to make it a point to use one of my teacups when I sit down to have a cup of tea or hot chocolate.

Brownie and Pearl See the Sights

Brownie and Pearl See the Sights by Cynthia Rylant is a great book for a preschool girl. It is the third Brownie and Pearl book, and it is my favorite of the three. In this book, Brownie goes shopping with her cat Pearl in the city. Just a fun book that almost any girl would enjoy reading.

a little Sunday boredom...

A little Sunday boredom can lead to unexpected results...namely that I went trick-or-treating this year. Yes, me, even though I do not like Halloween AT ALL.

I don't buy candy to pass out to children, and it being Sunday, there was nowhere in town to go in the evening besides the grocery store or a fast food place. So after I got up from my afternoon nap, I walked to the grocery store to get some molasses and made gingersnaps. Then I put on my walking shoes, and took off on an evening walk with baggies of four to six cookies each. I stopped at a half dozen friends' homes and rang the doorbell. Most were surprised to see me, then even more surprised I was there to give them homemade cookies. It was a great way to avoid having to answer the doorbell and I got in an hour walk.

And just in case you like to sew, my sister is hosting a giveaway on her blog.