Colorado

Colorado was great, It was nice seeing family! The trip there and back was a long 19 hours each way, but Riley did very well and slept more than I thought he would so that helped. The weather was nice, hot, but bearable. We had tons of fun just hanging out, swimming and doing a little shopping. 

The last whole day we were there we went out to a local lake for some swimming, a picnic lunch and some fun on my brother's boat. It was a blast!

The lake was surrounded by mountains most of the way around it and it was just gorgeous!

Riley had a ton of fun playing with his aunts, uncles and cousins.

B is absolutely adorable!  I couldn't get enough of her and it was really hard leaving knowing it would be at least five months before I would get to see her again.  Here she is laying on the Ruby Bird Baby Quilt I made for her.  Her mom and dad loved it so I know it will be used which is all I ask for!

Here she is making her "cheerio face" as her daddy calls it.  She does it all of the time and it is so cute!

This photo is more of the blanket she is on than actually of her, she was not very happy at the time (and excuse the poor photo.)  Back in March I made this self binding baby blanket, there are tons of tutorials out there, and matching burp cloths, bibs and wash cloths.  I had planned on sending them out for the baby shower, but then they didn't have one so I took them out along with the quilt and they were in full use by the time we left.  When we got out there I realized I didn't have any pics of them so this is all you get. 

While we were out there I took some time to do my niece's senior pictures.  I just wanted to share one with you all.  I can not believe she is a senior in high school!  I was in fifth grade when she was born and I remember it like it was yesterday...  Anyway, isn't she beautiful?  I realise I'm a bit biased, but come on.

Overall the trip was great and I miss them all so much already!  We may be going back out for Christmas or they may be coming here, we're not sure yet.  Either way I can't wait!

Have a great day!

Christine

Snow

So we finally got our first snow... 

I was really hoping that by some miracle that we would make it through the whole winter with out it (of course I knew that would never happen)!  We've had some pretty mild weather around these parts up until yesterday.  It was 55 just two days ago and then the very next day we were in the middle of a winter storm that left us with about 6 inches of snow.

I came across these photos today (good timing) of the first time we took Riley sledding.  It was last winter right after that huge blizzard that left 4 foot snow drifts all over my yard and driveway. 

These photos are of his very first time down the hill and I can't help but laugh out loud when I look at them.  Look carefully at the third one, the picture caught him in mid air!  He took a pretty good nose dive, but he was alright, in fact he got up laughing and couldn't wait to do it again!



Here he is giving his daddy knuckles! 

He is such a boy, ready for anything.  If he falls down he gets right back up and tries again.  I love it!

Anyway, hope this gave you a good laugh!

Christine

A Day of Baking!

Merry Christmas!

Wedding Road Trip!

Jasper

Just a warning, this is not a happy post.

Sorry I have been MIA lately.  I haven't been sewing or really doing much of anything productive.  My husband drives truck and we've only seen him once in the past 9 weeks.  I've just been having a hard tame lately dealing with things and to add to it I had to put my Westie down yesterday...  It was probably the hardest thing I have had to do.

We got Jasper the summer before we got married.  We weren't really looking for another dog, but when I first saw him I knew I had to have him.  He and Oliver were instant buddies and he was a great addition to our little family.

Jasper was a great dog.  He was well behaved and pretty mellow as far as terriers go, always loving and loyal, and a blast to play fetch with! 

When our son was born he was last on my list to be worried about among our three dogs.  I knew he would welcome a new buddy to play with and he did.  Unfortunately it has only been this past year that Riley has really got into playing with him, but I know he loved every minute of it. 

This past week Jasper started getting sick over and over again.  After hospitalizing him, running multiple test and seeing his general health deteriorate his doctors came to the conclusion that he had a neurological disorder.  They said that even IF he responded to and did well with treatment he still wouldn't be doing great and would definitely be gone with in a year.  So we had to make the horrible decision that no pet owner ever wants to make.

At least now he is happy and healthy with God, but it is still so hard.  Everything reminds me of him.  Even just letting our other two dogs outside, I see two go out and out of habit I am waiting for the third...

A First For Me

I finally started canning!  The past few years I've researched canning and planned to do it, but then just never did.  Last year I got a bushel of apples and intended to can some of them, but instead made 3/4 of them into pies to freeze and stored the rest.

This year I got a 1/2 bushel of peaches (I now wish I would have gotten a whole bushel).  The last two days I have been up to my elbows in peaches, literally, the juice runs everywhere!  They are SO good it was hard not to keep eating them!

My friend came over with her 1/2 bushel of peaches and we worked together.  It's so much more fun that way! 

I made all of my peaches into pie filling.  I started with 11 jars, but three from my first batch didn't seal. :(  This was a bit discouraging, but I quickly turned it around by making them into pies and freezing them.  So I ended up with 3 ready to bake pies and 8 quarts of filling.  I can't wait to have fresh peach pie in the middle of February!

My friend canned all of the peaches she brought (she has another 1/2 bushel at home!) in light syrup.  She ended up with 8 quarts.  Don't they just look delicious?!  She was nice enough to leave behind 15 or so peaches and I plan to can a few pints like this, they just look too good not to have some!

We ordered our peaches from a small Amish market about 30 minutes from here and they also do the apples.  So we placing our order for apples here in the next few days.  I might be crazy, but I plan on getting 2 bushels.  The Jonathans they get are SO good.  My son and I just eat them up!  So I will probably get a whole bushel of just Jonathans and then a couple 1/2 bushels of two other kinds to have a mixture.  I plan on canning pie filling, applesauce and apple jelly, yum.

I also have a bowl full of tomatoes in the fridge from my friends mom and I plan on heading out to my parents this afternoon to pick what they don't want from their garden.  And then I'm heading to the farmers market in the morning to see if I can get a good deal on some more tomatoes!  Then I will can them to have tomatoes for chilli and salsa all winter.  I love this canning business!

So not much sewing, but lots of yummy peaches!

No Comment

I'm very frustrated and don't know if there is anything I can do about it. 

I can't comment on any blogs unless there is a pop up comment box.  It just wont link to my google account.  If I just try to go through with it anyway it will take me to the google sign in page so I sign in and then it takes me back to my comment and has me as anonymous.  If I try to publish the comment again it just takes me back to the google sign in page again!

So, I apologise for not commenting on some of your blogs.  I have been checking out a lot of new blogs over the past couple of days and have been unable to comment.  This is why!  I'm sorry, I'm not snubbing you, I just can't. :(

**Edited 8/4** 
Thanks to my wonderfull new followers this problem is solved!

I'm Such A Nerd!

I'm just checking in.  I've been a bit busy lately with everything except sewing...  Maybe more on that later.

We've been looking into switching cell phone carriers to get the best deal since my husband has been going over our minutes the last couple of months and we need to bump them up or go unlimited...  So currently, instead of sewing, I am looking up apps on the Android Market and bookmarking them since I am getting my first smart phone next week!!  I'm so excited!  I'm such a nerd...