Day 30...Dot in the City

Took the Dot to tour a beauty school she would like to attend, then we hung out in the City (San Francisco)

Merry Christmas

Lots of family, food and fun.

Day 21.......planning the home stretch

     Well, I haven't managed to do all the days in the challenge. I was busy and didn't really have anything worth writing about.  I started out full bore, then ran out of steam. That's okay, at least my blog isn't lonely this month. LOL

     I have a habit. It's a good habit. It's a good habit gone bad. You see, I like to plan. I love planners and markers and pens and paperclips....stationary makes me happy. Really happy. Shopping for stationary also makes me happy. Yes, I am a plannerd. 

     The bad part....I plan and plan and plan until there is no time to 'do'. Does that happen to anyone else? Am I the only over-planner?

     I am trying to be more of a do-er before it's gets to the too-late-freak-out-and-get-er-done stage. Sigh, I have a ways to go. Gosh darn, planning is so fun!

And you can't have a good planning session without a nice cup of tea....in a new holiday mug..... from starbucks.

Off to check off a few more items from my to-do list, update my to-dos for tomorrow and try to be more of a do-er and not a plan-ner.

Day 17 is tardy

Oops! Not keeping up my end of the 31 days of blogging, now am I? LOL

The Great Dicken's Christmas Faire

Day 16

Shameless grammy pictures
My granddot had her first recital.
It was awesome. Yes, I am making the grammy face.

Day 14...It's a wrap

I like all my wrapping to match. It looks pretty and I always know which packages came from my family if a tag falls off.
Crazy, anal or smart...you decide.

Day 13

Hair cut day. I feel so fresh.

Day 12....Boots

Day 10...a little more Christmas

Just getting my post in under the wire.  The 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge  is just that, a big ol' challenge. I am going to stick with it....no matter how short the post. LOL

Today, I've done a little more Christmas decorating. I had to clean and put up a whole lot just so the decor could be completely seasonal. I really needed to dust..you have no idea.

This area was a complete disaster

Now, it's neat, tidy, lit and christmassy.

The mini tree with its mini ornaments

Added some mini LED lights and my cross-stitched Trek ornaments (made by my friend Karen.) She says she isn't a trekkie, but I think she's in denial, just sayin.

It's been a long time since I decorated more than just one lonely little tree. It seemed like our remodel would never end and that I would be living with the plywood sub-floor for ev er. 
It ended just after Christmas last year and it started just before the Christmas before that. Yep, a camp stove Christmas was some fun.

Day 9, the final frontier....

It's officially Christmas....the universe is up and running. Ahhhhhhhh
Complete with a new tree my hubs made to house my collection of Star Trek Hallmark Ornaments.
It would seem we made it a tad too small. LOL  I guess we will have to make the branches longer next year. hahahahahha

Day 8 has gone to the dogs

Sewing for the family pets was not something I ever thought about doing. LOL but do it I did.

Any guesses?

A doggy diaper. Heat is no fun for anyone.

 This one got injured...again and needed a cone of shame.

The vet only had micro and gigantic and wanted 14 bucks for that piece of plastic.

I said no thanks. Got home, got some leftover, super stiff interfacing, cut a donut shape, 

darted the heck out of it and 10 minutes later....cone of shame.

I think my projects turned out pretty well. I did make two more doggy diapers and adjusted the fit so it worked better for the dog. It could still use some tweaking, but they worked out great. Thanks pinterest!!

Day Seven..teeny tiny.....

and heart breaking

A church friend recently lost a grandbaby that was born way too early. I can't even imagine.
As you can well imagine, the little angel was quite tiny and there isn't anything out there for such an itsy bitsy to wear. I just couldn't let that baby girl be naked...nope, not on this gram gram's watch.

I hunted pinterest for any preemie patterns. Not a lot. I found dolly diapers and some average measurements for a preemie baby. It was probably still a bit big.

Yes, I was kind've a sad sap while I sewed.

This is flannel lined in pink with white eyelet. 

I made 2 sizes and a toy. A baby needs a stuffie....period.

I used a peep and shrank it 25%

The whole ensemble 

The backs

All packaged and ready for the family.

As hard as it was emotionally, I think I am going to make a few for the local children's hospital. Parents shouldn't have to worry about a thing like this in the midst of all that goes on when, ya know... Wow, I can't even really write it. A few blue, a few pink and a few micro buntings for those that are too small and delicate to even dress. A small way I can use my passion and my skills to help my fellow man.

Soups on!!

Treated myself to a new knife. It cut the entire bunch of asparagus in one pass....ONE. PASS

It made making soup a breeze!! Tomato Basil Bisque anyone?

Also tried my hand at some crockpot bone broth.  Oh, this will be happening again.

I've already been saving bones and veggie trimming in the freezer for the next batch.

Recipe for the bisque upon request and once I write down everything I put in it. LOL

Succulent Space

Star Trek and Christmas are synonymous in my house. From 1991 to now, I have all the ornaments good ol' Hallmark makes.

This year, my friend Becky has a succulent obsession. I keep meaning to attend one of these make and take events, but they always seem to land on days where I am all planned up. Darn and it!!

She took pity on me and made this ornament. Is it not thee utmostest???

I just love it!
hope I don't kill it. LOL

Helpers???

My not so helpful Helpers. Oy.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.......

Going all minimalist this year. So far so good.

French and Knotty

Practicing my french knots for an upcoming project. I am pretty sure I need more practice. LOL

I used an entire skein of pink variegated floss. It looks unfinished, so I may add some more and start having them thin out to a smattering of dots.