cupcakes

These crocheted pin cushions are so cute...

And zero calories!

b

dreams

Daughter Knit and Pearl is a great example of

 

"Dreams Do Come True".

 

 

Aren't they cute?

 

She has dreamed about running a marathon

 in Disney World for a long time...

and this past weekend her and her friend, Ana,

ran the Disney Princess Half Marathon

 along with thousands (22,000)

of other princess's in Disney World.

 

 

 

I can't wait to hear every little detail.

 

b



world relief

Taking pictures is part of my job as newspaper correspondent

and taking pictures of these quilts today was very enjoyable.

Local women from our two churches get together every year

 to make quilts for Lutheran World Relief.

There is a team that cuts all the fabric odds and ends into squares...

and another group pieces them together.

Then the group comes together at the church to lay them out for tying.

Aren't they pretty?

Quilts are also distributed locally to the handicapped, a crisis center,

the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and Ronald McDonald house.

This year they are handing out 150 of these beauties.

Quilters affect eternity...they can never tell where their influence stops.

b

succulents

I loved all the succulent plants we saw in Port Richmond, California.

They were huge,

 I almost didn't recognize hen and chick plants they were so large.

When we got back from our trip I began to do a little

succulent homework.

They like a south facing window...

no chance of that in this house.

They can withstand cool night time temps

but like day time to be between 70 and 85 degrees.

We run our thermostat at 67 night and day.

Not too much water.
As one out of three works for me,
 I made the decision to go ahead and purchase three small plants.
They were very reasonable, $3.99 each.

Here is my little bowl of California...

Aren't they pretty?
 I will keep you filled in as to
whether or not I manage to keep them alive.

b

Friday Favs

These three gadgets are only a few of my kitchen favorites...

My red garbage bowl...what a great idea huh? A separate bowl for kitchen waste.

I love the vintage style and color.

I've had this little pan slicker for too many years to know where I got it.

But I can tell you I've looked all over for another one to no avail,

 so I treat it very kindly.

And my newest gadget is the Pampered Chef Mix 'n Chop...

No kidding, it makes browning hamburger fun.

It's Friday right? You know what that means...

the weekend will soon be here, YAY!!

b

some-bunny

Could some-bunny please tell me why I continue to work on these

ridiculously little projects?

Tiny pattern pieces...

Hand-stitching...

Embroidery and stuffing!

I think it's because they are just too cute to resist.

And I'm always up for a challenge.

b

goals

I had to get up a little earlier this morning...

as I had set a goal for my day.

I wanted to sew up three bibs and get listed on etsy...

Make a pretty french heart to put dried lavender in and...

sew up a simple market bag from this fun polka dot fabric.

I accomplished all three!

And...can you smell Chinese?

I have one of our favorite hot dishes in the oven for supper.

b

3-days

Did you enjoy a three-day weekend?

I am so lucky...

my boss is extremely generous with holidays and vacations.

I did some cooking...

chocolate chip cookies, spanish rice, yum!

Of course there is always laundry and cleaning to catch up on.

But knitting and sewing is what I enjoy the most.

With another winter storm headed our way

Dolly is going to need some warm flannel pajamas.

With an over-abundance of flannel in my stash fabrics...

 these pj's were lots of fun to make.

b

sunny

Two words...

So true!

I think this flour sack towel 

and dish rag are just too sunny to use.

Hope your weekend is sunny too.

b

hearts

I hope you're feeling the love today...

If not, here is some from Knit and Pearl.

b

dolly

"Being a grandmother is our last chance

 to act like a kid without being one."

Our granddaughters are to young for an American Girl doll...

But that will give me time to sew and knit clothes

for them before I have to

hand them over.

b

60

We celebrated a big birthday this weekend...

I promised I wouldn't make any cracks about his age.

It was a fun weekend...

Saturday, our son and his wife treated us to lunch

at Mr. b's favorite eatery,

Buffalo Wild Wings.

There were cupcakes, balloons and presents...

all the ingredients for a perfect birthday.

Sunday we stayed home while 11" inches of snow fell

and then blew around...

no big deal for us Midwesteners.

b

Pre-Love

I treated myself to a small bouquet of

pre-Valentine love from Walmart.

Anything to help cheer up a dull February day right?

The forecast for our weekend is lots and lots of snow.

Better check out Walmart's flowers first in the morning.

b

lemons

One can only dream of having a lemon tree

 in your backyard here in South Dakota...

Well...

as I can't pick my own lemons

one has to resort to alternate measures.

This box mix is so good I would put it up against anyone's

made from scratch bars.

Then save my lemons for lemonade?

I wish I was getting paid for this endorsement.

I could use some extra cash.

I was very naughty on eBay this last weekend...

stay tuned.

b

New styles

Check out this new style bag I listed in our Dakota Maid shop today...

 

 

 

I showed you this bag earlier...

it was my sample bag that went to daughter knit and pearl.

She is a great sampler but makes a terrible critic

because she loves everything I make.

 

 

This is a messenger bag with a vintage design from

World War II.

 

 

It's a great size to carry your computer tablet, reader or like me...

a tablet and my book.

 (I just can't give up the feel of a real book in my hands.)

 

 

I've used the softest flannel in coordinating plaids.

Don't you love an old flannel shirt?

 

Check them out in our Dakota Maid shop...

only $50 and 100% handmade.

 

b



happy cows

Have you ever wondered why they call California cows "happy cows"?

Look closely...

Wouldn't you love munching your lunch beside the ocean everyday?

Compared to this?

South Dakota cows! brrr

Can you stand one more picture of my embroidered  flour sack towels?

It's a California happy cow.

b

Monday already?

"Just once, 

I would like to wake up,

 turn on the news, and hear...

'Monday has been canceled,

go back to sleep."

b

worlds apart

I think everyone is looking forward to a big football weekend.

Are you going to a Super Bowl party?

I'm only interested in the half-time entertainment and Beyonce.

Otherwise I'll be tuned into Downton Abby.

I took these pictures of flowers in San Francisco...

which seems like a world away from us and the weather we've been having.

Flowers blooming in January?

We could just as well be talking about Mars.

A bouquet of these would brighten my day.

Good luck everyone,

hope your team wins.

b