Easy like Sunday Morning

I love Sunday mornings now. When I worked at Guide Dogs for the Blind, Sunday was like...Thursday. I worked the weekends. Now that I have a traditional "weekend", I love Sundays, especially early Sunday morning. I have a kitty snuggled on my left and a Pom on my right, a nice cup of coffee and the day open with opportunity.
Saturday is a pretty good day too. We loaded up the snowmobiles and spent the day out riding with friends. This was my maiden voyage sledding somewhere other than our property, so I was a bit nervous riding out in public. The good news is I didn't hit a tree or run into anyone. I followed the group through a pretty tricky area down into a play area (the path was downhill, narrow and in some places only as wide as the skis) I needed help getting up the hill (got stuck), but at the end of the day I did pretty good. We took trail 4 up to the lodge and stopped at a landing over looking Paulina lake.

This was the view from the trail...Paulina is still one of my favorite places on earth and now I can get there in the wintertime when the road is closed to motor vehicles!

So back to Sunday...paper has been read, coffee has been drank...think I'll make brunch for Tom when he gets up and ease on in to the day. Sewing is on the agenda as well as knitting. I have a second sock on the needles with the heel turn started. I can't even remember when I started them, so it's time to get them done! Should be doable during the Seahawks game this afternoon. I hope your Sunday is easy too!

Shopping the Stash

Tom asked me about bringing over an old steamer trunk from the shop that he had refurbished for Sara as a hope chest back in the day. She never really was into it, but I said "Yes, please!" The trunk is lined in cedar and smells wonderful. Guess what I used it for? Fabric storage of course! Much of my fabric has been stored in bins in the garage since my sewing studio is still in the planning stages. I was able to bring in a ton this past weekend, and it was like visiting old friends! I have plans for Spring and Summer dresses, skirts and of course more long sleeve tees for under my scrubs! I have 2 dressers in the guest room that are also getting filled with fabric (sorry...if you come to visit there will be no room in the dressers for your stuff...LOL!) during the week it is difficult to get much sewing in, but weekends...it's on! Except if we get some snow to go snowmobiling! It has been so unseasonably warm here, it's ridiculous! Almost 60 during the day! It was 14 this morning when I took the dogs out. Jo got me up before 5:00...guess I can do some quiet sewing activities in the morning if this becomes a habit! Well better stop drinking coffee and head to the shower to get ready for work. Happy Hump day!

Back in the Saddle

Sewing has been done! I finished a wearable muslin of McCalls 6844 cardi last weekend. Great pattern and see many more in my future. A nice cardi over my scrubs is required this time of year! I also finished 6 Jalie long sleeve Tees to wear under my scrubs...it's cold in the high desert this time of year! We finally got some more snow this afternoon and took the boys for a long walk after the Seahawks clinched the game. Now just hanging out, watching the Patriot/Colt game and someone is playing Candy Crush (and someone timed out). I consider that my reminder that I need to get up and do something else! I am getting ready to start a new dress for the Union banquet where Tom will get his retirement axe. I really need more dresses! What a dilemma! Thank you all for your kind thoughts regarding Kodi. It still hurts, but he gave me so much...he will always be in my heart!

Kodiak 1999-2014

RIP my sweet boy...you made my life richer with your unconditional love! Hope you find all the bones you buried on the other side of the rainbow bridge. Miss you...

Top 5

I have been catching up with many of my favorite blogs and have enjoyed seeing everyone's top 5 makes of 2013. It got me thinking about my top 5...wait...did I make 5 things this year? I know I sewed. I did a lot of sewing jobs this year, but what about selfish, all about me sewing? Not much this year. My pitiful wardrobe can attest to that! But what about my top 5? I think the highlight was having our kids at home from England for 3 months! It takes a village of adults to wrangle a precocious 2 &1/2 year old, so minimal sewing during those months. We finished the renovations on the retirement home...that took some time. There was some great home dec sewing that went with that. Oh yeah, I polished my resume and secured a new job in our retirement city. That was a little time consuming. Then there was selling the house, that took about 3 days and then packing up over 10 years of accumulated stuff and moving it across the mountain. I guess I shouldn't be too hard on myself. 2014 should be a better sewing year. Especially since I have a new grand baby on the way to sew for! Here are some highlights of 2013:

What's Going On....

It's been awhile (I used to blog almost every day???), so in the relative quiet of Sunday morning it seems appropriate to blog. I am settling in to my new job. There are challenges, but that's what helps you grow, so I am working on it. Last week I put together a quilt for a gal at work who is facing some serious health issues. We wrote messages of encouragement and I included some machine embroidery and family pictures. I stitched it all together and quilted it last weekend.

We also went and purchased a snowmobile for me last weekend, and this week we were blessed with enough snow that I can ride it today! My helmet arrived quickly, but my bibs, coat and gloves won't be here til Tuesday. That's okay...I have enough cold weather gear for just putzing around the property today. It's a cold one...

It was so cold my sled didn't want to start at 20 below, but about 15 minutes of the Big Buddy in the trailer and she was ready to roll. It was my first time, so I was a little slow to begin with, but after an hour or so I was flying through the trees and feeling more confident! I rode til the snow was wore down to the duff! Can't wait til I can go ride up out of the snopark! Here's my new toy:

Milestone: Celebrating 40 Years of Work

Today is a special day. Today is the day my husband retires after 40 years of working. 

He loves helping people. He was good at his job. He loved to teach the up and coming firefighters. Many have learned the wisdom of "Uncle Tom".

He loved the history and brotherhood of the Fire Service.

He's heading home from his last official shift. Welcome home Baby!