ice fishing

Mr. b and our son-in-law planned to do some ice fishing last weekend

until a storm moved in and we all had to stay in.

 

 

I stitched up this fish stuffy for our youngest granddaughter.

Her little fingers had plenty of places to grab on.

 

~b is for bass

 

 

 

 



snow snow snow

We made it back last night from snowy North Dakota.

We waited it out an extra two days and were very glad we did.

 

 

If I were a kid...

this would be snow heaven!

 

 

I honestly don't know where they will put the next snow?

 

~b



It's Christmas...

~b is for blessings to you and yours

Fly Boy

I decided our youngest granddaughter

 needed a little something more

 from grandma's little sewing sweat shop...

 

 

The pattern writer wrote,

"He's a stout little chap with a touch of dare devil

 bubbling away just under the surface.

 He knows the only place he can truly fly is under the waves

 but it's in the sky that his dreams of flight really live.

 One day he just might soar like an eagle...like every boy dreams of doing."

 

 

After two days of fine stitching, knitting, stuffing

and generally just pulling out my hair...

 

 

In the end...

I decided Fly Boy is too delicate for play

and whipped up something more child proof.

 

 

Sorry Fly Boy...you were destined to be a shelf sitter.

 

~b is for (red) Baron

 

 

coiffure

Christmas is near...

I'm running out of time.

 

 

I'm also running out the door today to get a haircut.

It's a good thing I have my own gift shop.

I hope my hairdresser likes these

 handmades from DakotaMaid.

 

~b is for bob

(some of you will get this...some of you won't)

through the woods

Every grandmother's house...

 

 

through a child's eyes.

 

We came across this Victorian beauty

 driving the back roads after our train trip.

Who says South Dakota isn't as beautiful as Vermont?

Merry Christmas.

 

~b is for beauty

 

 



The chef

If a girl has a cute apron to cook in

she will need a stove and groceries.

 

 

WARNING:

Making felt food can be addictive!

 

 

Breakfast

Lunch

 



Snacks

 

 

Tea Time

 

Dinner

 

~b is for bologna



the train

Mr. b and I took a little Christmas trip this week...

 

 

We drove up to cold and snowy North Dakota to meet the

Canadian Pacific Holiday Train.

 

 

 

The train stops in towns along the way and collects

food for the local food pantries.

Every pound of food and dollar raised at each stop stays with the local food bank

 to help feed those in need in that community. 

 

 

Canadian singers Colin James and Kelly Prescott

sang Christmas tunes for 30 minutes in a specially equipped box car.

 

 

~b was for brrr

 

 

 



frosty green

It seems like I get the urge to knit a Christmas stocking every year.

 

 

Who could resist this green yarn called frosty green fleck?

 

 

Of course I'll be hanging it with care.

 

~b

 



seeing stars

I opened my pinterest feed yesterday...

and eight stars later

my little tree on top of the hutch has a new look.

Crocheted stars = so easy!

~b



tobacco

Father's Robe

 

 

Dad has been gone for 34 years and

my sister has been saving his robe for all these years.

 

 

She gave it to me the other day

and I made smoking jackets out of it.

I love the smell of pipe tobacco.

 

 

Christmas is all about the memories don't you think?

 

 

~b is for bear

 

 

 

 



inches

I looked a long time for the perfect yardstick for these little boxes.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to my resident carpenter...

Dakota Man

for making them for me.

 

~b is for bank

 

 

Photo credit: Our son-in-law sent us this great picture

 taken on his cell phone while pheasant hunting in North Dakota.

 



glitz

My two sisters and I went in search of Christmas yesterday.

We had a fun time looking at all the finery and glitz in the shops.

 

We wanted it all and in turn was satisfied

 to return home with only our memories of the day.

 

 

My Dad came home with an old pickup similar to this one year.

 We all learned how to drive a stick shift that summer.

Definitely one of my fondest memories.

 

 

I would fill an old wagon with flowers every season...

how about you?

 

~b



reflecting

These hands...

 

 

hit home runs...developed pictures during the Vietnam war...

held our babies and now his granddaughters...

they taught our kids how to dribble basketballs, ride bikes and drive cars...

they kept a roof over our heads and comforted us in trying times.

 

 

They held back tears in doctor's offices...

drove teenagers to college...

and buried love ones.

 

They hold a mountain of trust.

 

~b is for beacon

 



Christmas

I can't believe it's the last day of November already...

 

 

We are going to drop off our handmade wares tomorrow

then I may get a start on my Christmas decorating this weekend.

 

 

Wood boxes by Dakota Man...

 filled by Dakota Maid

 

 

We both have lots of hours invested in these.

 

 

 

~b is for box

 



friends

flannel frenzy...

 

 

I ventured out on a busy shopping day

 with a lot of other crazy shoppers

to take advantage of a flannel sale.

 

I met the nicest lady in the flannel aisle.

We compared projects and flannel pieces

and shared a few sewing tips.

 

 

When they called our numbers we parted ways the happier

to have met another crazy obsessed flannel seamstress.

 When I got home I regretted that we hadn't

 exchanged names or numbers.

 

 

These blankets are ready to be tied up and marked

and headed to the shop.

 

 

~b is for bonus