To start the year out...

Hello,
I hope this finds 2013 starting out well for you.

Here at home, it's a tradition for my family to have, at a minimum, black-eyed peas with ham hock.  We normally have cornbread, fried potatoes and greens with the peas, but this year it will be a  little different, as I'm out of potatoes and greens (and don't want to go to the grocer for only those two items).   We're having mac/cheese, biscuits and smoked sausage with our peas this year.

What is a traditional New Years meal at home for you?

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It is hard for me to throw away some Christmas cards, but after a while they tend to build up in number.  So this year I decided to change the ones I wanted to keep into ornaments.

Here's what you need if you would like to do the same.

A pair of scissors

A hole punch

The cards you want to save

Coordinating yarn or ribbon

A large eyed needle

Look at the cards and pick out focal points that you think would look good as an ornament.

Once you decide, cut the image out.  Then use the hole punch and punch holes around the outer edge of the image.  Then use the needle (if needed) to thread the yarn/ribbon through the holes, creating an edge design.  Here are a few I did this afternoon.

I was able to thread the yarn through without the needle, but did use the needle in some instances when having to thread the yarn under yarn that has already been threaded through the punched holes.   

Do you recycle your Christmas cards?   If so, how?

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To start the year out...

Hold tight to the wonder and experience each day brings, because tomorrow will bring new wonder, new things to learn, new memories to make and new dreams.  Hold tight, but always, be open to the new wonder that awaits you each day.

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

2013

Quilting Secrets Blog Hop

Hello,

Tomorrow, December 31, a new blog hop begins.

Quilting Secrets Blog Hop

This blog hop runs from Dec. 31 - Jan. 6th

GO to http://mrspicklesgarden.blogspot.co.uk/  and check it out.

I think it will be a good way to start out 2013, may learn something new and get inspired to create your next beautiful quilt, etc.

Have a great day!

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

When it is needed...

Hello,
I hope this finds you having a wonderful weekend.

As I wait for my load of laundry to finish, I thought I'd share a recipe with you.   I made these cookies earlier today and took them to my parents house, as my side of the family had Christmas together, today.
  

I used the recipe out of one of my vintage cookbooks.   The recipe was for Chocolate Chip Oatmeal cookies, but I halved the batter before adding the chocolate chips and made one half with chocolate chips and one half with raisins.  I also eliminated some ingredients that I didn't have, but these cookies turned out yummy.  

This recipe is for both flavors of cookie, if you decide to go with one flavor, just double the amount of chocolate chips or raisins.

Chocolate Chip and/or Raisin Oatmeal Cookies
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup oatmeal
1/2 chocolate chips (I used dark chocolate)
1/2 raisins (I used golden raisins)

Heat oven to 375° F.  Grease baking sheets.  Cream the shortening; add sugars gradually and cream well.  Beat in egg until fluffy; stir in water and vanilla.  Sift together flour, soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture.  Add oats and mix well. Divide batter in half, putting one half in a separate bowl.   Add chocolate chips to one half and mix well.  Add raisins to other half and mix well.   Drop by a teaspoon onto a greased baking sheet.  Bake for 12 minutes.  Yields up to 3 1/2 dozen, depending on the size of batter per spoon.

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Do you believe God saves things for you, and then gives them to you when you need them?

I do.

About a month ago, I sang a special at church.   I was going to sing "God on the Mountain", but for some reason, I had trouble singing the song when I practiced, so I sang a different one.

I'm to sing a special tomorrow morning.  This time, I'm singing "God on the Mountain".  I had no trouble singing it, when I practiced.  I think this is one of the things God saved for me until it was needed.

Before our shut-down at work, over the Christmas holiday, we were informed that when we return after New Year's Day, there will be a layoff of 31 people.

You can imagine how this news affected people.  

I believe this song is God's way of reaffirming that He is going to take care of things.  That's one of things I love about the Lord, He is a participating God, ever present in my life.

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I give thanks to Him in song.  ~ Psalm 28:7 NIV

Until next time,

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

2012 Recap...

Hello,

I've been thinking today, I need to take down my Christmas decorations. I haven't done it yet, but have been thinking about it.

David, surprised me with a little bit of "Spring" this afternoon.  He brought home this mini-rose (the rose, is one of my favorite flowers).


I hope I can keep it alive until it can be planted.  The last one he bought me, thrives in my front flower bed and I'm hoping this one will too.



As we count down to 2013, I thought I'd recap and share a little of what I have been up to this year with you, as we wind it up.

 I will be planning in the next few days what my projects will be in 2013.   I know I have one love quilt, I need to get done in January.  So, that will be my first project of the year.

I guess that's it for now.

Until next time...

Have a wonderful day!

God bless and keep you,
Sonia

Good Morning!

Good Morning!

Look at what I woke up too this morning.  David took these pictures for me, the sun was rising and you can see the glow in some of the pictures.

He took this measurement in the front yard, 8 inches.   He then measured the snow on top of his car and got a measurement of 7 1/2 inches.

It has been a while since we have had this much snow.

When I was younger I loved to play in the snow, but now I prefer to enjoy its beauty from inside, where I'm toasty and warm.   :0)

That's all I have for now.

Have a wonderful day!

Sonia

Basking in the joy...

Hello,
It's been awhile since I last wrote.  Hope this finds you happy and basking in the joy of a merry Christmas with your friends and family.

We had a white Christmas here in Arkansas.   My family and I enjoyed time with David's side of the family, but then the weather moved in.  I called my mom and we rescheduled our Christmas together for another day (probably later this week).  Here are some pics I took of the snow as it moved in.


This afternoon around 2:00 p.m.








around 4:30 p.m.







and then again around 7:00 p.m.




It is still snowing so, I'm curious as to how many inches of snow will be laying on the ground when I wake up in the morning.

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Here are a couple of things I have done lately.   

A candle mat.

A pin cushion.

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Well, I'll sign off for now.  Think I'll fix me a cup of hot cocoa.  Doesn't that sound yummy?

Until next time,

God bless and keep you,
Sonia