New Books

On Valentine's Day we made a quick trip into Barnes and Noble and I was happy to find two interesting books on the bargain shelf.

I have seen several interesting projects in this book and am looking forward to trying them.  Maybe I can at least make a those bright felt balls!

This book was recommended in a blog (can't remember which one) I read recently.  Written by Heather Ross it has some cute ideas and includes paper patterns plus lots of info that would be especially helpful for beginners.  (Both were a great price!)

Remembering 2011

I was inspired by other blogs that had a "summary" or "reflection" on the past year mainly through pictures.  So although we are well into 2012 I am posting some of my favorite pictures/events of 2011.

March --  Aaron and Mary's wedding!

May --Annalissa graduates with a BS in Biology!

May -- Annika graduates from high school!

June -- Annalissa and Michael's wedding!

Sisters!

Harvest July 2011 -- Probably the last year using the old truck.

Fall 2001-- Beautiful northern Michigan!

October --  Very excited to knit a cable for the first time.

November --This represents trying something new.

December -- These two photos represent a trip to CA.  Flying and not driving!!

Happy New Year

Although January is two-thirds gone I decided it is not to late to say Happy New Year!  I was looking at some blogs and saw several that highlighted a picture/project for each month of 2011.  If I can figure out how to do that with pictures on my blog you might see that on mine:)  2011 was a very busy and special year for me and I am very grateful for its many blessings.

The picture above was taken (by me!) over Lake Michigan as we approached Chicago.   I had not flown for many years and sometimes still can't believe I was up in the sky.  I'm very thankful for answered prayer!

I'm hoping to get back to working on some knitting projects, painting some furniture, and other interesting things.  (Pictures too!)

Have a happy day!

It's Raining and Christmas is Coming

Living in a place where we usually have snow it seemed very strange to have rain and warmer temps today.   I am hoping that we will have snow by Christmas!  Since my last post I have learned my lesson about not having everything on my hard drive backed up somewhere.  Losing pictures and Quicken data is probably the worst but we have a back up system now.

As usual the days go so quickly!  My latest knitting project (a scarf) has a cable down the center.  It is something I had never tried before but had wanted to do.  Fun!  A friend and I have started a knitting group.  I'm trying to get a few Christmas cards out and need to finish some photo gifts which are harder to do since I have to get pictures from other people (my kids!).

(This project, Cable-Knit Scarf, is from Country Woman magazine.  Go to: countrywomanmagazine.com)

Have a wonderful day and always have important stuff on your hard drive saved somewhere!

A Beautiful Fall

Although it is quite cold and rainy today it has been a beautiful fall.  Here are some pictures I downloaded (finally) from my camera. These pictures were all taken around the farm.  (I am very excited to have a new phone that has a camera on it so I am hoping it is going to be easier/faster to download pictures!) 

 

I hope you all are having a wonderful fall and enjoying all the special things it brings!

September

I hope I am not the only one who is surprised when a new month begins so quietly but takes off and is almost over before you turn around.   Here are a few thoughts that relate to that last sentence:

           --Kids grow up too fast
           --Great friends are invaluable
           --Our country is really big
           --Family should live within driving distance
           --Skype is good
           --Fresh fruits and vegetables are so good
           --Things change everyday
           --God is always there
          

Enjoy your day!                                                                                         (I like this picture:)

Summer Continued

Harvest is over for another year!  We are thankful for a good and safe one.  Now we are pushing out some of the old blocks of trees and getting ready for new ones next spring.  They will probably be Montmorency or Balaton trees (tart cherries).

I have been busy in the kitchen trying to turn the apricots and cherries into jam and juice.  A3 is a very fast cherry pitter or we would not have frozen cherries and cherry jam!   She also helped with canning apricots.   I was very happy when it was all done!


Enjoy your summer!