Donkey Party

For those of you wondering what a donkey party is.....


My MIL thought this up 3 or 4 years ago. In addition to celebrating the birth of Jesus at Christmas, she thought the donkey ought to be celebrated for carrying a pregnant Mary around (yes, warped sense of things, but they have miniature donkeys, and I think this is an excuse for her to have a party with a bunch of little kids...really though it is a lot of fun).






We play donkey games (pin the tail on the donkey, donkey bingo, break a donkey pinata), string donkey beads, and drive their miniature donkeys around in the cart.




And of course, eat and stand around a fire and talk.....


Since I was working this year, I don't have pictures from this year's party. I told Todd to take the camera, but....he is a man. I should have let Jessie take the camera but....she is 8.

Kris

The Top is Done

Despite having to work 10 hours on Saturday, a donkey party at my in-laws, church, and dinner at my in-laws to see a friend we haven't seen in probably 11 years, I did get the tree skirt top done:

And I cooked yesterday. I made a pot roast (complete with carrots, onions and potatoes for dinner). While I was at it, I boiled 2 ham hocks, figuring I'd use the meat and broth to make ham and bean soup for 1 nights meal this week. And I made meatloaf that I was planning to bake halfway so we could have that for dinner.

Then my FIL called that a good friend had stopped in, he's in the Air Force, and getting his orders to get shipped overseas today. So we litterally dropped everything and went down to see him for a few hours. He was in Iraq in the mid-1990's the first time around, and then he was overseas just a few years ago - I didn't catch all the details about why he is going back - but I know I will be putting him on the prayer list at our church and hoping he stays safe until he comes home again.

It was interesting to hear his observations and opinions as having been over there time and time again - hearing the stories of the people they help, see and meet every day. I think it's changed my view a little on the war and what needs to be done.

So I will finish cooking all my food tonight (after finishing the roast and eating it for dinner) and I will be set for a few days, at least.

Duh......

There are sew many things I should be doing (and finishing!!!).

But what do I do? I start making this with these fabrics:

By 10:30 last night, I had all the flying geese units done (48), and 1 side attached to the center. I thought I might need another red and another green (and maybe yes, maybe no) but I had the fabric, so I'm going with what I have. At least this is going to go quick.

I told Todd this could be my "from me to me" present for Christmas. He did think that was a good idea - as then he doesn't have to go Christmas shopping!


But really, I'm getting ready for a 7 hour car ride to PA, plus numerous hours just sitting around talking, eating and visiting. So might as well have a bunch of 1/2 finished projects to take along and finish by hand.

Todd did ask me if I enjoy jumping around from project to project:)

Kris

Progress......on Christmas

Over the last few nights, I've gotten 2 sheet quilt tops sewn together. Can't show them, they are gifts...


I got 4 pairs of pj pants finished up. I had to go get more elastic for the waist on all of them. The pictures are pre-elastic though. Hopefully they will fit. Wouldn't that be a bummer????? I'm now thinking each kid needs more than 2 pairs of these.

And I made another ornament. These are so easy and fun ....and QUICK!

And I got 1 quilt top basted after the kids went to bed (Jessie's tulip sheet lap quilt).


I'm getting there......slowly.....




Kris

Time to Get SERIOUS!!!

It cannot be November already. It just cannot be.



Normally, I am DONE with all my Christmas shopping and crafting well before Thanksgiving. Totally done. This year - I have lots of great ideas, lots of projects in the works, but nothing completely, totally done.



So when I got home from work, I got busy:



And put all my vintage bed sheets to great use! And these sheets go a llllloooooooooooong way. I used 7 different sheets, but only about 1/3 of each sheet, and I have enough blocks for 2 or 3 good sized quilts (the blocks are all 10 1/2" square).


Originally I was going to back these with another sheet, but now I'm thinking flannel to give them some weight.



And I could not sew on either Tyler or Jessie's sheet quilt - he kept coming into the sewing

room to show me all the cute things that Midnight was doing:

And yes, that is how he normally carries Midnight around. I think the cat knows a good thing when he sees it.

Then this morning, we saw this:

And upon closer look - he was actually balanced on one of the baskets that the water plants sit in:

And on a funner note - I hope EVERYONE gets out there and votes today. Me - I'm going when I get off work at 2:00. Todd went in this morning - and waited for 1 1/2 hours in our tiny little village. Hopefully I won't have to wait that long.

Have a good day!
Kris

Mail Goodies

I just love meeting new people. And I have received some wonderful mail over the last few months:

All these wonderful vintage sheet/fabric fat quarters from a swap. Don't know what I'm going to make yet out of them, but I'm thinking!:

A beautiful pincushion, needlebook and pattern from the Down to Earth swap. And Sharon was fantastic. My partner never sent me anything:( - but Sharon stepped in and mailed me these wonderful goodies (which are already in use, by the way):

And last but not least, this darling crochet bag from Lyn. Lyn was the first person to ever comment on my blog, almost a year ago, and when I saw she was having a giveaway, I was so hoping that I would win one of her crochet bags. And I did! This bag gets lots of use on a daily basis!:

And I participated in JoAnn Carter's Ornament Swap - and I received my ornaments on Saturday from my partner - Veronica Goff. I love them, and cannot wait for Christmas and the chance to hang them on our Christmas tree:

And on Thursday I mailed out my ornament for the ornament swap over at The Carter Clan. Now it's just the doll quilt swap and I'll be all caught up.

And I FINALLY mailed out my bloggy birthday gifts on Saturday. I'm so sorry ladies that I am so late, but between fall activities, gardening, soccer and Jessie and her arm - they are finally in the mail and on their way to you. I hope you all love them!

Have a good week everyone!

Kris

Candy & Cabbage

Last night was trick or treating at my parents' house - we always go with some friends up there - the kids come home with lots of great loot! At least we had a beautiful night for it - it was in the 60's when we were out there walking around.

Some of the houses go all out with their Halloween decorations:

And of course, Todd and Tyler had to check out all that chocolatey goodness in Jessie's pumpkin when we got home:

And then today, after my 2 1/2 hours of running errands, I ended up at the Amish produce stand. 7 heads of cabbage later, I'm in the process of making saurkraut:

Now it has to sit somewhere at room temperature for 10 days. The deal breaker is you have to keep an eye on it and keep adding brine to it during the 10 days. Then process in a hot water bath and you have yummy, easy to make saurkraut!

And last but not least, guess who's been sleeping in our house this afternoon (and yes, the kids put their blankets on him because he was cold):

I think he's bound and determined that he should be a house cat!

Kris