12-31-2015 Bittersweet

 It was a bittersweet look on the GDs faces

as the un-decorated our little Christmas tree today...

...and cleaned house...

...and spent the rest of the day playing indoors

discovering old toys they haven't played with in a while...

...and stayed snug as a bug in a rug indoors

as the temps dipped into the teens outdoors...

Happy New Year in 2016 everyone!

12-30-2015 Sledding

 Sledding time!

We have a gentle slope on the south side of our house

that is perfect for the little snow bunnies to sled upon!

Also had fun eating snow and icicles!!!

12-29-2015 And After the Ice...4 Inches of Snow

So glad we got a snow blower!!!

12-28-2015 ICE

It's been sleeting ICE all day...

12-27-2015 Still Using Leftovers

 Stitched up this cute little hat (and headband) today

still using leftover yarns from my sweater(s).

12-26-2015 Ancient Stitch Mittens

 Today I finished these

Ancient Stitch Mittens"

so it's time to start another small project!

These mittens were made with a #6/super bulky wool yarn

and will be nice and warm for shoveling snow and driving!

Next in my queue is a sock KAL that beings in January 2016...

it involves 'embroidered knitting'

which is all the rage right now

and something I have never tried!

Plus, I will get to learn a new Cast-On method

(Estonian Cast-On)...

and who knows what else?!?!?

So, today I wound my skein of gray sock yarn

into 2 equally weighted balls so it is ready to use

and now just have to wait for the Pattern clues 

to start coming out!

12-25-2015 Merry Christmas

12-24-2015 Christmas Eve Angel

Our deepest sympathies

to the family and friends of Margie

who passed away yesterday.

We are so saddened to lose her to this world

but knowing how much she LOVED Christmas,

I know she's having the BEST Christmas ever 

today in heaven with the Christ-child himself!

Love you, Margie!

12-23-2015 Jelly Bean Sprouts

When we picked up the granddaughters this morning

the older one went on and on and on about

making jelly bean sprouts...

how you mix flour and milk and jelly beans

and bake them in the oven

and then feed them to the kitties.

So, Oma put on her thinking cap,

found a cookie recipe that uses flour and milk,

had the girls mix up a small batch,

roll them into "sprouts"

and press jelly beans onto them.

Then we baked them.

Ah, good times, good memories!

12-22-2015 Record Warm Temps

We are having record warm temps this December...

in the 60*F+ range!!!

Thunderstorms and tornadoes!

12-21-2015 The Force Awakens

DH & I

thought it would be a perfect way

to spend the winter solstice today...

the shortest day and the longest night of the year,

by watching the new Star Wars movie!

We both liked it lots!

12-20-2015 Focused

 Love, love, love these pictures of my grandson

making some Christmas ornaments!

He gets soooo focused when he works

on his arts and crafts! LOL.

Looks like he had fun!

And thank you to my dear D-I-L

for sending me these pix!

12-19-2015 Helping the LYS Move

My LYS (Local Yarn Shop) is moving to a new location.

DH & I and many other customers helped with the move.

(DH helping move shelves)

Now to re-shelve all this yarn inventory

and be ready to open for business on Monday morning!

12-18-2015 Making Pizza for Dinner

Pressing the biscuit dough.

Painting on the tomato sauce.

Adding some pepperoni toppings.

 Adding some green beans and black olives and cheese.

Eating a few toppings as we work!

12-17-2015 Preschool Christmas Program

GD#1 in her first Christmas program

with her 3-year-old preschool class.

She is in the red dress

in the front row

on the far right of the photo.

She and ALL the preschoolers did a great job!

12-16-2015 Cat Pouncing

I'm a cat

pouncing on a bird

up on the ceiling!

12-15-2015 Central Standard

 DH & I

tried a newly opened restaurant

in Bettendorf

for lunch today.

A bit pricey, but everything was relish!
We give it a "two thumbs up" rating
and plan to return!!!

Interesting floor

and interior design!

Made me think of our friend Nick Bowers.

It offered typical "bar of food"

but with a chef-ish twist on each dish.

12-14-2015 Sweet Dreams

Grandsons sharing a yogurt snack

at the picnic table Opa made for them.

Looks like Grandson #2 is having sweet dreams

at the dinner table!

It's exhausting being a  one-year-old!

12-13-2015 Fabulous Fog!

Fabulous fog...

made for an interesting

drive to church this morning!

12-12-2015 Christmas Ornaments

Shhhh...

don't tell mommy and daddy

that we made them some Christmas decorations!

The salt dough ornaments that we baked the other day

are now all dry, so we got out the glitter paint

and gave them a good schmeer!

Then we decorated a Christmas tree.

Lovely!

Once they are all dry

the GDs will wrap them up and give them to 

mommy and daddy!