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



Kringle

 

Christmas screen print from Dakota Man 

KRINGLE'S Reindeer Feed

 

 

Farmhouse style decorating

 

 

~b is for Blitzen

Black Friday

 

Everyday has a beginning...

 

 

and an end.

 

~b is for balance

 

 

 

 

What's your favorite part about Thanksgiving?

 

~b is for blessings

 

 

 

porridge

 

At our house...

 

when there's snow on the ground...

 

 

there's soup in the pot!

 

~b is for broth



thankful

"Today be thankful

and think how rich you are.

Your family is priceless,

your time is gold

and your health is wealth."

 

 

Beautiful Saint Ann's Church by the ocean in Kennebunkport, Maine.

They told us, "Go on a Sunday in summer and you might see the Bush family."

 

~b

scraps

I dug out my Christmas scraps...

piecing is addictive you know.

 

 

I may or may not be doing Christmas decorating next week.

 

 

 

I used a charm pack for this one.

 Love the colors in it!

 

~b is for blocks



oink

I did some barnyard sewing this week.

 

 

One of these will be under the Christmas tree for a granddaughter.

 

 

A set of them will be sold at Prairie Whims in Huron.

They do a fantastic job of selling our wares!

 

 

So cute on a little girl in the kitchen helping mommy.

 

 

 

 

~b is for barnyard

 

South Dakota

One of the best parts of living in South Dakota...

(and there are many)

is our changing landscape.

 

 

The crops are almost completely out of the fields

and the smell of dry foliage is prevalent.

 

 

Tomorrow there is snow in our forecast.

Everything brown will soon be white.

 

~b is for brown

 

 

 

 

 



elephants

I don't usually sew knits...

but all the baby leggings I am seeing online piqued my interest.

 

 

Did you know...

The elephant is considered good luck

 and the animal is a symbol of good fortune.

 

I had enough fabric to make a hat to match.

 

~b is for britches



fasten up

Well it's certainly been quite a week hasn't it?

 

You know I was looking forward to a woman running things...

despite the fact that I've always said I would rather work for a man than a woman.

 

There was a job (or two) I won even though I had no qualifications

and I worked myself up the ladder and did quite well.

 

I'm predicting a bumpy road...

you might want to wear your seatbelt.

 

Have you ever wondered where retired presidents go?

 

 

Kennebunkport, Maine

Summer home of President H.W. Bush, Sr.

We drove by and did a quick turn around for pictures.

 

How about something cute to end your workweek?

 

 

Our two-year-old granddaughter loves princesses and singing...

 

Can't nothing, bring me down
Love is too happy to bring me down
Can't nothing, bring me down
I said bring me down
Can't nothing, bring me down
Love is too happy to bring me down
Can't nothing, bring me down
I said

Because I'm happy

 

~b is for because

 

 

 



cravings

What do you do when you're craving a piece of carrot cake

with cream cheese and pecan frosting?

 

 

You get up and make it!

 

~b is for bake



fall walks

I miss long chilly walks down the railroad tracks

 with our dogs Sadie and Mawd and Celtic music in my ears.

 

 

"Each day is a new life. Seize it. Live it."

~ David Guy Powers

 

~b is for brave

 

 



VOTE

We got up early this morning to vote

for who we hope is the first female president of the USA.

 

I'm sorry

but we agreed the other candidate is just an...

 

 

~b is for burro

 

a pine box

How was your weekend?

 

 

Dakota Man and I worked together on a new project.

Wood Boxes

 

 

Won't they be fun decorating for the upcoming holidays?

I can't wait to do a Christmas box.

 

 

I threw this one together quickly for a photo here.

I will go back later and work a little more into it...

a few more natural elements.

 

~b

gourds

I've been doing a little research this week on birdhouse gourds.

 

 

These green goards were given to me yesterday.

FREE! I was in gourd heaven.

They will have to dry for a year before I can work with them.

 

 

The three that I have had in the basement

for several years were finally brought up.

They make fun natural birdhouses.

 

 

I gave these two several coats of stain

 for another fun project I have in mind.

 

~b is for birdhouse

 

 



ding dong

Halloween is over...

the witch is dead again.

 

 

It's time to think about turkey and pumpkin pie

 

 

and sneak in a little Christmas music when Dakota Man is out.

 

~b is for brine...

do you brine your turkey?