2012 Evolution Recap

 A look at the beginning.......

*weight.....I gotta, but me and carbs....we are one, so it will not be easy. Maybe even add a little movement to my life.  I've been reading about short, full blown, bursts of exercise. I think I could do that.
Okay, I did this. I started the year at 205 and ended it at 187. Not too bad, eh?
 
*keep working on being more social.
Did this. Hosted a few parties, Christmas and a wedding reception.

*get a part time job  I've been a stay home mom for 20+ years.....scary
Did this too. It was a temp job, but a job.

*watch one child graduate high school and one graduate college (when did that happen?) and let them keep growing up, mistakes and all.
Had no choice, this happened despite my best efforts. lol

*acquire some new skills - scary skills - skills I wasn't supposed to need for a few more years. *gulp*  Grandma skills and mother-in-law skills. O-M-G!
Yep, this one happened too. It will be a process that continues until the day I drop.

*My church bought a couple of cases of chronological bibles with a daily format and challenged us all to read the entire bible this year. Yes, there will be a test. LOL Pastor did mention that he would occasionally refer to where we should be. Evil man. :-) I accept!! but now, as a church, we have the added benefit of learning something at the same time and being able to share...with everyone...because we will be, literally, 'on the same page'. How awesome is that?!
Okay, I did this, but not well. I fell behind and played catchup too many time. 

*Being the me I am supposed to be. If I learn to listen to God better, it should happen easier than if I don't, right?
Okay, still got a lot to do on this one, but I am trying.

*To make a difference, the good kind. Not the kind that people remember with a sad little shake of their head kind.
I hope this happened. I may never know. I do know I made a difference in at least one person's life and I am not sure if it was good or bad or just a piece of my personality they couldn't handle. I'll miss her, she is kind of inspirational in the in the "get involved" thing.

I wonder what 2012 is going to surprise me with, 2011 had plenty.
I got one surprise in 2012....medical issues. Nothing to worry about, but unexpected and it definitely helped with the weight loss goal. lol
  
Surprise 2, my car my not make it to 2014 without major surgery or being replaced. She is making some noises and they don't sound right. She did pass smog, so maybe it's the transmission. We shall see.

The hubs changed jobs last year and it looks like he will be changing again. Just pray, k. He needs to be open to growth and change and not get bogged down in old habits and the same for his employers. A little more money couldn't hurt either...just sayin. :-)

I haven't decided on my 2013 Evolutions, but I hope I am as successful in my 2013 growth as I was with my 2012 growth!

Happy New Year.....may it only get better or the tough times make your stronger!! Ah heck, both!

December T U S A L

The last T U S A L for 2012
(totally useless stitch along)

Even got a few fabric bits in the jar this go 'round. lol

The full moon was Friday but I forgot to post this yesterday. Oh well, it's only a little bit late.
If you didn't join in on the fun in 2012, follow the link and join in for 2013!
Tusal 2013

Happy Stitching!

What's Hoopin-ing?

Is that a bad pun? I know, I know. LOL

Well, bad punning aside, I have some new stuff hooped up and ready to go.

The hubs has a big b-day in Februray (5-0 ssshhhhh) 

and I am starting a set of napkins for him. 

I think all gray.....yes....no?

 There will be six in all. I still need to find a boat, a tractor and a barn I like.

Me and the sticky-solvy will be one. 

What's in the hoop right now:

This one is a drawing made by a long distance quilt bud. 

She is kinda making me practice my machine quilting but since I am hooked on handwork right now.........sss sss sss

She reads my facebook/blog sooooooooo S U R P R I S E!

I will be practicing my lazy daisy, back stitch, stem stitch, french knots aaannnddddd satin stitch!

That's what I will be doing during my tv time. 

What's in your hoop?

Holiday Mayhem!

This year we celebrated Christmas is a new way....Christmas Eve. My son got married and now I have to share..sniff..sniff. 

New traditions cause growing pains...why? Because we will miss what once was. Like the kids getting in bed with us Christmas morning and we all open our stockings. This year there will only be one kid jumping in the bed with a stocking. *Big sigh*

However, this Christmas Eve thing wasn't too darn bad. 

• Granddaughter's first Christmas. 
•  It works for the divorced peeps and the ones that have other Christmas plans so I got everyone....every one at my house this year! even 3/4 of the new inlaws. Score!

A little of our day:

Before the mayhem and mess

 The older kids waiting while the younger kids separate the gifts..ahh the techno age

Grandpa helps Bella open gifts 

Gettin messier

 It was an early morning for some after a late work night. LOL

Smoked turkey and all the fixins

Table One

Yes, the silverware matches

Table Two

Play time

cousin time

Yo Yo Yo Santa dog, what's up? 

Tomorrow we do stockings for the three of us left and then our plans are completely open and we shall dine on leftovers. It will be unlike any other Christmas Day proper, but we will adjust and meet the new traditions head on!!

Merry Christmas and may you take all your new traditions in stride.

*****************************

And many prayers for those who's traditions were changed forever...............

Can it for Christmas!

That's right....can it!! 

Put your gifts in a can!! I did!

I also learned a few things:

• Slow hot glue is still faster than me
• Cool melt glue is still pretty dang hot
• hot glue comes off of everything except paper and acrylic nails

The finished products

You use a no sharp edge can opener and you glue the lids back on. Make sure the glued on lid is on the bottom so they can open the top.

Gone fishin....

My hubs love fly fishing. He also loves to use dish towels as napkins. Why not combine two of his likes into one little giftee?

I know I made the fish big, but that's always how you hear about the one that got away....
It was ttthhhiiiiissssssss big. LOL

I hope he likes it.

Weekly Weather Forcast

Got this off  Facebook. Thank you Todd Wasserman. ha!

HO HO HO part II

I liked my steampunk ornament so much, I decided to make one for myself.
This hoop wasn't the same size, so it looks a bit different and it might need a little more work to make it perfect.
I think it still needs a little somethin to make it pop, ya know?

I am love, love, loving the vintage metal hoops right now. 

Going all monochromatic for Christmas this year.

 Six months old and ready for action!!

 

Yes, I am making the gramma face......she is just too much! 

It's her first Christmas and I am quite sure I won't be the only gramma spoiling this little princess!!

Next year, she will be a year and a half old at Christmas and then the magic can really begin!!

**********************************

While I am celebrating with family and friends, I will also be praying for all the families in Connecticut. 

Their pain is beyond words.

And the installation begins........

That's right folks, it's time for the Star Trek Universe to make its yearly appearance in this space-time continuum. 
Time to get busy and say: Welcome aboard!!

 

The three newest additions to the crew are on top!

And the Steampunk Ornament winner is.......

Nan G......I will need your info!!! Send me an email: rrregena at aol dot com

Nan G December 8, 2012 8:49 PM

Beautiful embroidery! Love the addition of the gear O's. :)

Leslie-Rahye's Very Merry Steampunk Holiday BLOG HOP

Welcome to Leslie Rahye's Very Merry Steampunk Holiday Blog Hop!!
For my little steamy holiday goodie I made an ornament.

I embroidered some steampunky looking letters and used gears as the O's.
I mounted it in a very vintage metal hoop.......it was actually made right at the end of the real Steam Era itself!

My giveaway is this very ornament! I know, right!!
It's only 4" wide and would look great in any holiday display.

Just leave a comment with your contact info and on Monday I will draw a name!!
Heck, leave a comment if you don't want it.....just type a big ol' N' at the end of your comment.
 
All the makers are welcome to join in!! A visit is a visit, right?

Speaking of makers.....please check out all the artists taking part in the hop. All the links are at the bottom of this post!  They are all VERY creative!!

Happy hopping!

Hot chocolate................. on a stick?

Yes! 

You can find the recipe at:  King Arthur Flour and other place on the WWW. 

Can't wait to try it!!

Taking several dozen to the cookie exchange tonight!

Happy Snacking!

More Christmas Cheer

I began my embroidery journey about a year ago when I hosted a stocking swap and embroidered four little letters.......all H's. lol Then I bought a quilt pattern that requires lots of embroidery.

Now, I am totally hooked.
I've bought and tried every hoop known to man...lol I must have, let's see......7 hoops, plus a few vintage metal hoops just for mounting some of my finished work.

My latest:

http://orangeyoulucky.blogspot.com/2008/12/after-sending-out-over-200-copies-of.html

Is it not thee cutest little ol' thang?
Before this holiday season is over, I am quite sure I will have a few more hooped pretties (since I bought 1/2 a dozen metal hoops, I best get to making! Ha!
Happy Making!

Old Christmas Project Making a Comeback

I was inspired by my friend Amy to finally finish a tree skirt I started a very long time ago. 

Like when Debbie Mumm was uber popular long ago. See....long

The tree skirt panel

I started by hand quilting little stars.....look at those tiny stitches!

How in the world did I ever do that?

Then I started outline quilting the santas.

Look at that....not out 10 minutes and there is a big ol' cat hair on it...sheesh.

I KNOW I am not going to be doing the teensy, tinsy stitching, but I am pretty sure I want to hand quilt it. All I need is some perle cotton in the right color and I'll do the big stitch quilting. 

I won't have to go overboard since it won't get heavy use. 

Yeah, that's it, big stitch it is!!

Any UFO's you pulled out of mothballs and finished?

Happy Stitching!

Frosty's Photo Album

Been practicing my back-stitch.....it's getting better, but the stem stitch is still my buddy. lol
Seems I am way into snow people this year. lol
Finished up the head shot last night, the body shot the night before.

ahem...mememememememeeeeeeee...

Frosty the snowman was a jolly happy soul.............

You can get these little cuties at www.birdbraindesign.net

Happy stitching.....now, to hang the universe........

Somewhere over the rainbow.......

There was a little break in the torrential downpour yesterday and for just about a minute, we had a lovely rainbow

I was just pulling into the gas station and whipped out my phone. As you can see, it was still raining where I was at. lol

If you look really closely, you see a double rainbow AANNDDDD you can see where it almost touches the ground, by now it was starting to fade, but it was still fab!

Just a few seconds after snapping the pic, it was gone.