More uncluttering

Roo went home early and while I was upset, a couple of good things came out of it.  Waylon will now get Roo Christmas night through New Year's Eve (praying Kris keeps her word) plus, I was able to get some things done.

1.  Out of town Christmas packages mailed.

2.  Sewing scissors taken in to be sharpened.  Should have them back this week.

3.  I was able to borrow my boss' deer truck to go scoop cow manure on Davey's deer lease.  Got it on the garden before it rained.  Hopefully this will help mom's garden grow this summer.  Of course, not having 90 days of 100+ temps would also help.

4.  Donated another approx 100 books to mom's church library.  Believe it or not, my bookshelves are still full, however, some shelves hold Roo's clothes and VHS tapes (75 freebies).

5.  Cleaned my sewing room.  I have been buying sewing containers at garage sales for the thread but that also included lots of the travel spools of thread, pins, buttons, etc.  Not really needing those small spools, I bagged up spools of threads with needles and donated them to the local pantry to distribute.  Now someone can at least sew on a button or mend a seam.

The more I de-clutter, the more I find needs to be de-cluttered.  Thank you Jesus, that for the better part of this year, you have been helping me to realize how much stuff I have that I do not use or need, that can benefit others.

This morning I am going to go help Davey fill deer feeders.  They have started Davey on insulin and right now, finding the amount that works hasn't happened.  His son cannot go with him and no way should he be out on the ranch alone.  Davey is not a Christian so I am praying for God to open the door for me to once again share the gospel with him.  I have been praying for Davey's salvation for almost 16 years.  This is an area he and Waylon have in common.  They believe in God, they just do not want to make him Lord of their lives.  One day, they both will.  I just know it.

Well, my ironing is waiting and I still have the cabinets in the laundry/sewing room to unclutter.  Hope to get these done before Davey gets here.  Next is my bathroom cabinets.  I would like to get them uncluttered before Roo comes on Thursday.

I can't tell you what a difference it makes to have less to organize, sort through and CLEAN.  Lessening my stuff to be dusted takes a load off my shoulders.  Less housecleaning required, more time with Roo, sewing, reading and other things.  I FEEL SOOOOOO GOOD!!!  THANK YOU JESUS!

Scratch-offs etc

I am truly beginning to think that Thanksgiving is the most overlooked holiday as people are so busy with Christmas stuff, BLACK FRIDAYS, etc.  I did not want to fall prey to that but I have still found myself focusing more on Christmas than Thanksgiving.

I had to make a list of Christmas stuff to buy, make and do (and keep it on the cheap side) since I have not done Christmas (tree etc) in a very, very long time and have no ornaments etc.  I probably would have just put up my nativity as I always do and put the presents under it BUT with Waylon's divorce over and having Roo here, I want to make Christmas special for them both.  I have more scratch-offs than things left to do.

Scratch-offs 
Purchase Christmas tree - bought a brand new 7' tree at a garage sale. I prefer a real tree but mom, Waylon and Roo all have severe allergies, so an artifical tree it is.
Make Christmas ornaments (see pics in previous blog)- used cardstock, flannel, glue, paint and twine - already had on hand
Purchase Christmas tree lights - several strands at a garage sale
Make 4 quilts for Christmas presents - already had flannel and batting, just needed some thread, which I got  at a garage sale
Purchase/make presents for family - decided on family gifts for my nieces and their families. Ordering pecans for both families, with Mom, Waylon and I are splitting the costs
Make Christmas stockings for mom, Waylon, Roo and me with material already on hand

Not counting mom and Waylon's gift (already had Roo's), Christmas came in under $50.  Not too bad and I had a lot of fun making the ornaments and stockings.

To do for Thanksgiving
Veggies and whipping cream for Thanksgiving (very last minute purchase)
Mail Kyra's quilt
Clean carpets
Dust

To do for Christmas
Pickup Black Pepper ham from Miillers in Llano
Dust
Veggies and whipping cream for Christmas (very last minute purchase)
Fruit for stockings

Roo comes today and does not go home until the Monday after Thanksgiving only to return on Thursday for his 1st weekend of the month visit.  Although I will be tired, I am so looking forward to having Roo for almost 3 weeks. Having Roo for 3 weeks PLUS working longer hours is WHY I have been working on getting prepared for Christmas prior to Thanksgiving.  Now I can enjoy Roo and not sweat the Christmas stuff.

We are celebrating Christmas on the 17th as that is when Waylon has Roo for Christmas. 

While I do not like the commercialism of Christmas, I do want to see the joy on Roo's face and have the opportunity to share Jesus with him through this season.  I want him to understand that Christmas is not just stuff, but what is in a person's heart.  Although he is only 2, now is the time to start teaching him that it is better to give than to receive.

Thanksgiving, here I come!

That's my boy

At work last night, Waylon's bosses held a group meeting, asking all kinds of questions.  The first person with the correct answer got a chance to bowl for a turkey. Waylon answered a question correctly and bowled a strike to win a 12 lb. turkey for Thanksgiving.

Yessiree, that's my boy!!!

Christmas decorations and Kyra's quilt

Mom and I made some decorations for the tree.  I no longer had any decorations as I haven't put up anything but my nativity in years.  Roo changed that!  We got a brand new 7' tree at a garage sale for $20 and not wanting to spend $$$$ on decorations, I decided to put my creative mind to work and use the card stock piled in my closet and some scrap flannel to make decorations.  Thankfully, someone posted free patterns on the internet to download.   We made several of each pattern and if needed, I can always make more.  Tonight I add the twine hangers to the back and am ready to decorate the tree  with Roo.  They are crushable but not breakable, a very important feature with Roo around.  I have some baskets to put candy in on the tree, after all, the reindeer have to have food too.  Usually they eat candy canes but I am giving them a little basket of Hugs and Kisses (Hershey's).

This is my sister's quilt.  The picture makes the squares look pink but they are salmon and in person, the quilt looks really good.  She spent time in Alaska when her youngest daughter was stationed there, so moose seemed a great idea for a quilt.  At least she will be warm in Maryland, where she lives with her other daughter.

Tonight, I am making Christmas stockings for all.   I have stockings that I made for everyone but Roo, however, it is time for new ones.  Waylon's life changes mean he will be starting new traditions with Roo.  New traditions, so why not new stockings!!!   Making them out of red flannel that has penguins on it.

In case it is not obvious, I love working with flannel.  Next to flannel, I love working with denim. 

Too bad I have to get to work. My creative juices are flowing!

Just the facts

1st lady wanted a larger loom than mine, hopefully, it will be just right for the next lady

3 quilts down, 1 to go
my back and arms hurt from speed quilting
my house is covered in thread from ragging 3 quilts and my vacuum decides to break down.  oh well, at least I now have colorful carpet
I am sooooooo sleepy
starting 4th quilt this morning, should have it done before Roo comes on Thursday

boss is not leaving early for the deer lease :(    there goes my afternoon nap

Gene's quilt

My boss loves to hunt so if you look real close, you can see the white deer standing by the trees.  Perhaps this quilt will give him visions of deer dancing in his head while he sleeps at the deer lease.

Where o where did my sleep go??????

I am sure that y'all have experienced the side effects of the time change.  One good thing about being up at 4am, I can work on my rag quilts.  I am just finishing Gene's (my boss) and will post a pic as soon as I get Waylon and Mom to hold it up for me.  Since Waylon and I do not see each other except on Saturday and Sunday, the pic will have to wait.

Kyra's (my sister's) quilt is next.  I also plan a quilt for Roo but just not ragged.  I can see him putting the rag strips in his mouth and chewing them off.  Definitely no ragging on his quilt.

I need to find more interesting and colorful flannel sheets and shirts.  Gene's quilt is awesome and it was made from sheets.  Much easier to cut up sheets than shirts but shirts can be so much more colorful.  God will provide.  He did for Gene's quilt.

Waylon's divorce is now over.  I pray Waylon will seek the Lord before seeking another wife.  It is hard on this mom to see my son struggling BUT, he knows the answer and refuses to make Jesus a part of it.  He knows I am praying and one day, he WILL accept Christ as his Lord and Saviour.

Guess I better go put Gene's quilt in the dryer.  It takes 4 washings and dryings to get the quilt where it does not leave so many strings behind.

Weaving loom update

I have 2 ladies interested in my loom.  Praying one of them takes it.