Another Hobby

First, I found a quilled snowflake pattern on Pinterest. Hmm, I haven't tried quilling. I think I'll give it a try.  So, I went to Hobby Lobby for some quilling paper and a quilling tool. I found a kit with patterns and paper just for snowflakes. One evening after the Christmas rush had settled, I gathered my supplies-the kit with its papers and patterns, the quilling tool, straight pins, scissors, glue, and the tweezers from my serger.

I also found some cardboard and laid plastic wrap over it with the pattern I wanted to try first sandwiched in the middle. It is a bit tedious at first, but it gets easier! I hope to make a garland out of them.

Of course, I'll need to make more than one!

Now to the downer!

The Friday before New Year's Eve, the Mr. and I were grabbing a burger at our favorite family owned burger place, when I started having pain in my side. I tried to ignore it, hoping it would go away. It was the same feeling I had about 15 years ago when I had a kidney stone. We skipped dessert at Cherry Berry and rushed home. I found some pain meds and crawled into bed with my Bed Buddy (a rice-filled sock for heating). Luckily the meds worked and the pain got better. The next day, I managed to prepare my dried beef cheese ball, corn dip, and bacon wrapped dates to take to our New Year's Eve celebration at my brother and SIL's house. I only experienced a few twinges all evening. We had a great time. New Year's Day was also almost pain free. I awoke Monday morning and got dressed for a teacher inservice and work day at school. On my way the pain started returning. I ended up turning around and coming back home nearly in tears. I took more meds and returned to bed, but after several hours the pain was still horrible. My husband took me to the ER. It seemed to take FOREVER for them to give me a pain shot! I was so thankful when it took effect. I had a CT scan that showed a 6mm stone blocking my kidney. I ended up checking into the hospital and having a stint put in that evening to unblock the kidney. I am currently at home on meds waiting for another procedure to rid me of the stone. I am not sure which of a couple procedures my urologist plans to use, but I am anxious to say good-bye to this stone.

I told my husband this is the earliest in the year that we have ever met our medical insurance deductible. It may also be the latest our Christmas decorations have ever stayed out!

Y'all come back,

Lorilee 

More black!

 I just had to paint one last thing black before the end of 2011! The new ladder sure made reaching the curtain rod easier. I made the curtains about 12 years ago! The wooden rod was just natural wood. I had always meant to stain it, but I just never got around to it. Well, 12 years later it is finally complete, just not as I originally planned!

While I had the curtains down, I also "dry cleaned" them in my dryer. I'm thrilled with the "new" look. It is also nice to have all the cobwebs cleaned off !
On a less exciting note, I started having severe side pain when we were eating out last night. We cancelled our plans to go to Cherry Berry for dessert and came home instead. The pain is the same as the pain I had 15 years ago when I had a kidney stone. I've been keeping it down to a slight ache with pain meds. What a way to ring in the New Year!
Y'all come back,
Lorilee

 We celebrated Christmas starting on December 18 with my Dad, Stepmom and brothers and sisters. My SIL and I hosted our 8th Annual Cookie Exchange Party. We went to my 91-year-old grandmother's house for Christmas Eve along with the extended family. We had our Christmas with our 2 sons on Christmas Day. We traveled to my husband's sisters home to celebrate with his side of the family on the 27th. Now we are ready to think about the New Year! (FYI) The photo of "Rascal" was taken while we were taking our family Christmas photo. He was running wildly around the yard climbing on everything!

 In between all the visiting and partying, I cooked, baked, sewed and crafted! Above are this years mini apron ornaments.

 A shot of the buffet my SIL and I prepared for the Cookie Exchange.

The Cookie Exchange Group for 2011 along with some of the banners I've made this year.
This year is ending with me crazy about burlap and black. I am still finding new things to paint black. Currently, the curtains behind us in the photo are down being cleaned and the curtain rod (not visible) is being given a coat of black paint. It was previously unfinished wood! I was anxious about 12 years ago to hang my just completed curtains and never "finished" the rod! I guess it is time to finish the job 12 years later!
Blessings,
Lorilee

Merry Christmas to me!

I received an I-pad from my sweety for Christmas. Now to learn how to use it!

Merry Christmas!

Joyeux Noel

Frohe Weihnachten

Bo Nadal

Nollaig Shona

Buon Natale

Lorem Nativitas

Feliz Navidad

God Jul

Merry Christmas to everyone in blogland

Where ever you are!

Christmas Blessings,

Lorilee

Feathered Friends!

I just wanted to share a couple photos of my feathered friend visitors. I was thrilled when this Blue Jay came to the little fountain just outside our living room window AND stayed long enough for me to grab my camera!

I also have two hummingbirds that did not continue their southerly migration. I think they are Rufous hummers. I have a feeder hanging from the eaves outside my kitchen window, so I get a close-up view.

Of course, I am in the throes of Christmas preparations. My SIL and I hosted our 8th Annual Cookie Exchange on the 20th. We actually managed to take our family Christmas photo BEFORE Christmas this year. I am currently working on the card. I also have some more time in the kitchen ahead of me. Sadly, I can't seem to keep up and post in REAL time!

Merry Christmas,

Lorilee

Around the House!

 The house almost all dressed for Christmas! I just finished this banner. I am wondering if it needs something between each HO! Maybe just a small bow or something.

 The tree is decorated. The newest kitty, Rascal, tried to climb it a few times as I was putting the lights on it. Luckily, he hasn't bothered it any more.

 So many memories connected to each and every ornament!

 My Zygocactus is even ready for the holidays.

 You may remember the black paint craze.(See the previous post.) I painted the bench in the living room black now as well. Sadly, the paint on the stools and bench stayed tacky. I did some internet research and decided to try using Minwax Polycrylic over the tacky paint. It seems to have solved the problem! I am so relieved.

I am definitely impressed with this stuff!

I've started burning this candle in the evenings since it gets dark so early! Just imagine me sitting in the chair with Rascal asleep on my lap as I work on a blog post!
Y'all come back!
Lorilee

Before November ends!

 I did finish painting my kitchen stools black. The paint stayed a bit tacky for awhile, but they are finally completely cured.

 It seems like yesterday that I put out my fall decorations. Now I will be replacing them with Christmas decorations.

 We decided to try our hand at frying our turkey this year instead of baking. We ended up frying 3 turkeys. They were wonderful. We prefer fried over baked!

Luckily, we had nice weather for it! Of course, we had plenty of food. The menu included: the fried turkey, Giblet gravy, Cornbread dressings, jellied cranberry, Broccoli Rice, Green Beans, Sweet Potato Casserole, Cherry Coke Salad, Stuffed Celery, Rolls, Fruit Salad, Creamy Pumpkin Pie, Kentucky Pecan Pie, German Potatoes, Sourdough bread, Buttermilk Pie, and Traditional Pumpkin Pie.
Now on to the Christmas preparations!
Y'all come back,
Lorilee

Veterans' Day!

 Some of our clogging group, Stars and Stripes Cloggers, performed in the Calhoun High School's Tribute to Veterans on November 11. The faculty and students did a wonderful job honoring our nations veterans. We were honored to be able to participate. Sadly, I don't have any photos to share.

 I took some photos around my yard that afternoon, so I'll share them.  I love the way my Ruby Crystals grass looks in the setting sun.

 Actually, I love the way the whole yard looks in the setting sun!

Little Rascal, you better stay home!
Y'all come back,
Lorilee

 I am officially in love with black for accents! Last weekend, I painted the shutters along with the front and back doors. We had not yet replaced the kickplate on the front door when I took the photo.

 This weekend, the Mr. added a kickplate to the backdoor, along with a "scratch plate" on the door frame! The kickplate is off-center because the precious dogs scratch at that side of the door! I also repainted the inside and outside of a side door that leads into our garage. I don't have a photo yet.

The Mr. also finished the rat-proof window covers he started last weekend.

We used old-fashioned wooden screen brackets to hang them.

This is why the "covers" are needed. Rats have chewed holes in all three window screens in my garden shed.

We decided to put the "cover" on the inside of the loft window. It is hinged so that it can be opened to allow access to the window.

These are next. The one on the right has already been sanded. With all the painting, I haven't had time to vacuum or mop my house! I also have lots of ironing that is piling up! Oh, and I need to pack up the Halloween stuff and put out the Thanksgiving decor. Maybe next weekend!
Y'all come back,
Lorilee

Another Hobby to try!

Another win!!! Such cute ideas for using all that kitty hair! I'm thinking of using the technique for Christmas ornaments to put on my tree to represent each of  my kitties! A big "Thank You" to Jamie at C.R.A.F.T. I love her "card". She used cardboard from a cereal box and stamped and embellished it! She is awesome.

I thought I'd share a few photos of my fur "donors". This is Little Rascal. He was rescued as a 4 week old kitten from the side of the road. My 16-year-old brought him home.

This is Samson. He was adopted from our local Adopt-A-Pet. He was already all grown up when we brought him home.

I probably won't get much hair until spring! Then let the grooming begin!

Y'all come back!

Lorilee