December 31, 2012.........last day of this year

Another year is wrapping up........wonder what the New Year will bring ?
A day to reflect on 2012........think of all the good times......and put to rest the not so good times.
Did I get anything accomplished ?......will I accomplish more in the coming year?
These are just a few things I think about today......as the years draws to a close.  BUT.........what I want to do is to look forward to the coming year........and make each day count.

Now to see if we all fall off the "fiscal cliff".......and wonder what that will really mean.

Of course I have my long list of resolutions and the "to do" list.  I will write it up....and keep it handy...and try to read it once a month and see how I am doing.

It is very cold here today....and going to be very cold tonight.  To those who are going out to celebrate the end of 2012 and the beginning of 2013.......PLEASE be careful and be responsible if you chose to indulge in the bubbly. 
Myself - I am going to stay home......watch TV and spend the evening in my sewing room.......getting my list ready and doing some sewing.  Party?......well...maybe.....I have some pickled herring, cheese and crackers and maybe a little glass of wine.  That will be about it.

So.......for now........I am going to have some more coffee and go back to bed for awhile...(it is only 6:30am - too early to stay up)
#1 on my list.......sleep when you can !

Happy New Year !!!

early Sunday morning............

Up early.........can't sleep........ I seem to have caught a doozy of a head cold......ugh.....NOT what I want.  But a few days of tea and tylenol......and it should be much better in a couple days.

As I read the paper in these early morning hours I think of other things.............the horrible tragedy in Connecticut .........my heart just aches for them.  This sort of thing should never happen.....never.  Too many of these type of things happening.

I was reading the Forum....and there was several articles about the homeless population in Fargo....In the past few years our homeless population has increased...and is at an all time high this year.  Many more families are homeless......moms, and dads and kids......hard for me to imagine.....kids who are homeless......just shouldn't be.  It isn't always the drug addicts and drunks who are homeless.......many were working people who used to have homes and jobs......and now.......they have nothing.
Makes me shudder to think it could be me.....it could be any of us. 

With Christmas right around the corner.......I hope we can all find it in our hearts and our pocketbooks to give a little something to those less fortunate.......whether it be to a homeless shelter.....the red kettles.......the animal shelters........just give a little something.  Together we can make a difference.

Waiting..............................

Not sure what Little Mitzer is waiting for.........

Maybe she is waiting for me to get out some Christmas decorations ?.........waiting for me to write some cards ?.........waiting for me to bake cookies ?...............waiting for me to wrap gifts ?..............

I have lots to do yet to get ready for Christmas...........but not to stress............as my girlfriend says......"However much time you have........that is how long it will take"......and that seems to work for many things.

 

Off to work........hoping LOTS of people need fabric today !  And maybe a sewing machine or two to put under their tree.  What a perfect gift - don't you think?

Nothing better than a bright shiny new sewing machine !

 

Have a great day !

Friday, December 7th

We must remember - 
   Today is Pearl Harbor Day......... Even though I wasn't born yet ......my mother and father always remembered that day.  There was a young man from our little town that was on the USS Arizona that fateful day. Our American Legion building is named after him.
   My mother could recall every detail of that day.....at lunch time when her brother-in-law came to tell them the news - that he just got on his HAM radio. 
She always remembered where she was sitting at the table and what she was eating
that December 7th day in 1941.  I still have the newspaper that she had saved from that day.
My mom and dad, who were not yet married, quickly made plans to get married which they did on February 14, 1941 and my father left 5 weeks later for the Army and was gone for 3 years.
We should pass these stories on.......to our children and grandchildren.......so they realize the importance of that day.

We better take one more look at my "snowless" yard.....today.  The weather man is talking SNOW.....I suppose it is time........we know every year that the white stuff will come.  
Really , I could do a Christmas without snow........I really could.
I didn't do my "start the snow blower" lesson yet.....hmmmmm wonder if I remember.  Well, I DO remember how to work a shovel.  That may have to do .
Oh .....and there go the crawlers across the TV that a WINTER STORM WATCH  for our area..
And off to work I go.......to the quilt shop and see what is new today ! 
Stay tuned for new pictures of the snow.................
Have a great weekend.

Wednesday December 5, 2012

Keeping in touch - December 3, 2012

Waiting to come in for breakfast.

Here we are  - December already......... And there is no snow in North Dakota.  and just since I took this picture less than an hour ago.....it is now raining !  NOT GOOD if the temps drop.
I see Christmas lights throughout the neighborhood.......the store are busy with shoppers......Christmas music plays on the radio........and I am not ready for Christmas by any means.
I have been listening to Christmas music......and that I have been enjoying.

Something I have been thinking about alot lately is  -" Keeping in touch".
How do you keep in touch with all the people you know as friends and family.......???
With letting writing a lost art these days.......and email is everywhere.........it should be very easy to keep in touch with ALL the people who are dear to us.

I used to have several "Pen pals".........I loved getting letters in the mail and writing to them......most were people I never even met.  When I was in 4th grade I became pen pals with a cousin, and we kept in touch for years - I finally met her several years ago and we try to keep in touch, but our lives all get so busy that notes and emails sometimes get few and far between.

And then sometimes the correspondence gets very one-sided.......then what ??  Do you keep writing and hoping that you will hear from that person ?.........or do you let it go ?.........

I treasure all the people I have met and all the friends I have made and family across the country and I really try to keep in touch and I often wonder what became of the ones I lost touch with......and I know that in some cases I "dropped the ball" and sometime they did - for no particular reason.....it just happens.

So.......this year........ I am going to try to write to all my friends and family.......and I am so hoping that I hear back from them and catch up on our lives.

Whether you write letters and send them in the mail............or send emails through cyber space.......I hope that all of us can touch base with friends and family near and far.
Can you think of someone who you have lost touch with - and do you wonder what they have been doing  and how they are ?......Let's get back in touch.
Let me know who you hear from...................

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas season......  Stay in touch.

Wednesday, November 28

Hello  - ........been busy here - how about you ?  Are you ready for Christmas ? 
Well, I am not - but  I am not going to stress about it.  Not yet anyway.

Had a few days of rather cold weather here in North Dakota.....but very little snow on the ground.
That is fine with me...I am not excited about shoveling.

I am very busy at work.  We are getting ready for a big event on December 1.  Going to be a FUN day.......so we are hoping for LOTS of customers to come.
I am almost ready......just have to make some krumkake or cookies.......and finish up my samples for my demos.....So if you are in the area.........be sure to stop by  Rae-Bon Quilting and Sewing Center in Fargo, North Dakota !
Time to go..............Have a great day !

Middle of November ?

This is the cutest beaver !!  He is standing in a wagon in a store window in Fargo. 
I am going back to get a better picture of him.......LOL

Anyway....... I hope this find you well on this cool, clear November day.  I just want someone to turn down the speed of time !
Middle of November ???   Can't be !
I have too much that I want to do before the holidays.

The roofers were here on Wednesday...........got the whole house re-shingled in a day.  That was impressive.  They did a pretty good job of cleaning up.......but now I have a dog that is really drooling..... and I am worried that he may have picked up something in the yard.......my fear is that it could be a nail.  We have had this drooling thing going on for a few weeks......took him to the vet and she put him on Pepcid......the drooling stopped......and after yesterday is started again....but has calmed down today......so I am watching his every move.
You know how we worry about our animals.....

What is everyone doing for Thanksgiving ?..........getting together with family or friends ?  Going to be very quiet here at our house..... I work again on Friday and Saturday so I am just not up to doing the big meal and all that......so quiet is my order for the day.  Just a nice dinner and nothing fancy.....

Almost time to put the turkey away.......and get out the next season's decorations.

Wishing you all a wonderful happy Thanksgiving !
Till next time.........................
Claudia

November 2, 2012 -

Another no picture day.....

Last Monday night I returned home from the Houston Quilt Market.  This was my second time at market for the shop I work at.  Another WONDERFUL experience being able to go to market.  We get so many ideas and inspiration - we come home just busting at the seams.  Now to organize out thoughts and come up with a plan. 

I also managed to get a bit of a head cold - so now I am trying to get rid of that.  It is that time of year and the colds and crud are everywhere.  So......a couple more days of gallons of HOT tea and I am sure it will be all better.

The weatherman says some snow today............ugh........... I would be fine with no snow till about December 20th.....then we should have a bit for a white Christmas.

My thoughts and prayers to all in the areas of hurricane Sandy and the destruction she caused.  I just can't imagine.

Wishing you all a good day and a good weekend !!

Friday in North Dakota

We got rain !!! Two days of rain.... we needed it so badly.  Looks like it will be a rather dreary day today......But that's OK.......it's FRIDAY !!!
And I have a busy weekend ahead.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Tuesday, October 9

 

Cool and windy fall day...... Most of the leaves are gone from the trees. I hope there is a few more nice warm sunny days......before that white stuff comes.

 

This is "Little Mitzer".........she is my sweet little sewing cat.  She is with me in my sewing room all the time.  Nothing better than having a little cat sit with you while you sew.

This is the turkey wall quilt I made for my Youth Sewing Group.  It turned out rather cute !  Other customers were asking for the pattern.....I think I might have to publish my patterns and sell them rather than giving them away......LOL...

This is the little tree I made using the little half-hexi tool.  Now we are doing a "challenge" with this at the quilt shop.  You make and decorate a tree and the other customers will vote on their favorite !  Should be fun.   I hope to make some more of these for Christmas decorating.

Just had a roofer come and look at the roof.........time to re-shingle the roof I guess......... LOTS of things to do with a house when it hits 20 years old...... I say it is time to build a new house !

I am way behind on reading the blogs I follow........just not enough time in the day.
I hope you are all having a good week !!

What a difference a day makes.............

This is today...........................

This was last Sunday......................

What a difference a day makes !
Last weekend we closed up the cabin.........it was a BEAUTIFUL weekend at the lake.......80 degrees....you just hated to close up the cabin..........BUT........then this morning - that white stuff !!!
This time of year the weather can change in the blink of an eye.

So..........now where are my boots - my gloves - my hat - and my winter coat ???.........Where did I put those ???  Guess I will find them or be cold. 

Have a good day !..............Happy October !

Autumn........

The trees are turning and the leaves are starting to fall............I am not ready for the end of summer/fall.......and not looking forward to winter.  There is too much I need to do outside.
This is the new "10 Minute table runner" I made for the shop.  My favorite fabric - Halloween.
Of course I had big plans of getting out all my Halloween decorations !!.......Guess I will have to try to do that this weekend - oh wait - going to the lake this weekend to "close up the cabin".  I always hate that - have to take home all the stuff....lock it up and wait all winter to go back.  Put the pontoon away.....haul away the jet skis......then the lake looks so lonesome and gets so very quiet there........BUT if I lived there ???.........then I wouldn't mind the quiet.

The quilt show is over now.............so now we get busy and continue to get ready for Christmas.......LOTS to do - planning special events, getting a few more samples ready......want to have it all ready to help the customers do their Christmas shopping.

My husband is off traveling for work......so he comes and goes.......Nice to see him for a day on the weekends........but NOT enough time to get "stuff" done.  The yard needs some attention.
Well, time is flitting by.......and I must get busy !
Have a great week.......................

As the sun sets..................

 I spent at week at the cabin with a girlfriend.......sewing and sewing and sewing !  We had a great time and got quite a bit of sewing done.  Once I get settled in at the lake I just can't leave...... I could stay there forever and never come back to the "big city".  Oh I know Fargo isn't that big a city, but it has grown so much since I was young and continues to grow with traffic and big city problems.  Being at the lake is so nice......quiet and a much slower pace.  I really think that is what I am looking for.

While at the lake  it was the last week of the Minnesota Shop Hop.  This has gotten to be a big deal.....about 80 quilt shops across Minnesota participate in this shop hop.  There is even a special line of fabric that comes out - "Minnesota" fabric........ya - you betcha !!  So of course I had to get a little of that.  We did manage to get to 6 shops in the area.....well, within a 100 miles or so.  And of course we saw some different quilty things and did some shopping. 
This is one of the projects I made while I was at the lake.......It is now on display at the quilt shop. It was really fun to make and went together quickly so I know this will NOT be the last one I made like this.

 

Here's...............chipper !

 

 

The little chippers were so busy shelling peanuts and taking them to their little dens.....I suppose they are stocking up for the winter.

Well, I have a suitcase to pack and LOTS more things to get ready today so I can leave for a week of education in St. Louis, MO   I have never been there so I am looking forward to the trip and all the things I am going to learn. 
I made a date with Jeff for dinner Sunday....we have been ships passing in the night.....he travels and I travel........I think it will be about 4 weeks since I have seen him.  LOL 
Gustov is going to the salon today........he needs a bath and his nails trimmed.   Then he will be such a pretty boy.  Poor Rollie will have to stay home.
Have a great weekend !!.......... Meet me in St. Louie........Louie........... !

The North Dakota Badlands

Spent last weekend in beautiful western North Dakota.........the Badlands.  I had not been out there for many years and really LOVE those hills out there. 
We attended the Medora musical !  It was GREAT......
I have more pics that I will share with you soon.

Have a good day !

Well, this weekend sure didn't go as planned............I was supposed to leave early this morning to go meet a internet friend......it was about a 6 hour drive for me.......BUT last night we discovered that the AC drain from the furnace was dripping......had been dripping for quite awhile.....and ........yes, WATER.......so......we were up till very late... moving stuff and mopping up some water........oh the fun of having a basement !!! 
I guess in the grand scheme of things......it could be so much worse......I am thankful that it was just water......and it can be easily fixed.....but it is just the pits. 

You know...........life goes along so smooth and then WHAM !   There are things that need fixing in this house...and it is time to get that list out and get busy on it.   I truly believe that if you let these things get to you.....and you just flip out about things like this.......then MORE stuff happens......so I try to take it in stride.....and just deal with one thing at a time.   I keep telling my self that it could be so much worse...... and when things like this come along...........PUT YOUR BIG GIRL PANTIES ON AND DEAL WITH IT !!!!

Looks like we might get some rain here tonight......and chance of storms.....we want the rain, but NOT the storms.

I hope you have a great weekend !!! 

HOT weather.

 We are  having a very HOT summer....... I love summer, but this hot dry weather just doesn't agree with me very well.  I spend most of the time inside with the comfort of AC.
Our little garden is struggling to grow.....I have been watering it but  now they have put us on water restrictions.  The dogs go in and out, and in and out - some days they are just so warm they don't know what to do.

So.....just wanted to let you know I am still here......just not being very good about blogging right now.

Stay cool !!

Sunday - July 15th

Time to go home........been here for over a week.....time went by way too fast.........The weather was just beautiful for being at the lake.......(a bit too hot for me)........but...it was very, very nice.
Good friends and good food and good times......doesn't get any better than that.

Now it is time to go home and get back to work........ I have a few more lake days coming in August.
Hope you all have a great week..........stay cool !

I hate to complain.........and Rollie's birthday.

I hate to complain, but it is darn HOT.  I know come winter I will wish this heat back......but for now....it is too hot.  Going to be hotter and a higher heat index today than it was over the weekend.
The dogs don't even want to go outside......

Today is Rollie's birthday !!  He is 4 years old today.  Happy Birthday to the big yellow dog.

I hope you are having a good weekend........

 Here are my projects for the day.............     The binding is ready to sew on.......then I will sit and hand sew it down.....will need to find a couple good movies to watch while I do that.

And the next project is some hand embroidery........                                                                      This is Mitzer, my sewing girl...........she is waiting for me to get busy !!!

And my dear Clarinda.........she is not doing well......she has a very enlarged liver.  We are trying some meds to take down the inflamation.....but....I don't think it is doing much.  She is almost 13 years old.  These are the tough time of having a pet.

Jeff had I had our 28th wedding anniversary this week.... He was busy at an event and I was working... We will have to pick another time to celebrate.  Life gets so busy..... remember to take time and sit and enjoy. 
Time to go sew.........Have a nice day.

June 14th - Flag Day

It's June 14th............Flag Day !!  So........I did put the flag out this morning.  I have the day off.....and had to run errands for most of it.......grrrrrrr.  That is not what I want to do on my day off.      I got my oil changed......so I can drive this weekend.

See that pretty water ?............THAT is where I am going.
Just ME, all by myself, and nobody telling me what to do or where I have to be.  Selfish......maybe, but that is OK.  I think we need to do those things for ourselves.
I have LOTS of projects that I am taking with me to work on.

The darn gophers ate my plants that I bought and was going to plant.........they have never eaten anything in the flower beds.....I didn't know they came across the road....they have plenty of room to live over on the right of way.  So that kinda finished my desire to keep planting and working in the flower beds.  My girlfriend's garden is coming up very nice !!  Need to keep working in that too.......but not for the next few days.  Had rain last night, so it is good for a couple days.

Guess I better keep packing and getting ready.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
..................................sitting on the dock of the bay..........la, la, la la.

a beautiful day in North Dakota

Back to last weekend........we went to the lake !!  That was the first time I had been there this year.  We had a great time with friends who came for the weekend.   Chef Jeff made us great omelets for breakfast Sunday morning.

 All aboard the Jenny Lynn for the trip around the lake to see what is new around the lake.  Gus takes his spot as "captain" and Rollie just wants to get back so he can swim some more.

 Then the little Chi-chi LOVES to ride.........but she needs a blanket to stay warm

 We had a great weekend at the lake............and I can't wait to get back there again.   And now that I have Internet there.........I just may stay there all summer.

This is the little cross-over bag I made for Youth Sewing this month.  It was a fun little project.  I hope the young sewers like it.  I am always looking for ideas for my youth sewing group.  If you see anything that would work please let me know !!....
Back to the sewing room........
Have a great day !!!  It is not noon yet and already 85 degrees here !!

Home again...........

  I am home again from my trip to the International Quilt Market !!  It was a wonderful time.  That has been on my bucket list for a LONG time......and now I can cross that off.

There was so  much to see and take in - I will be thinking about it for a long time.  And all the new things that will be coming to the quilt shop ( that's a secret for now and I can't tell you about that).

We are getting a few nice days here now.......gets hot and cold.....and my flowers got very confused this year......they are about done blooming and summer hasn't even started yet.

Off to the lake cabin this weekend.......that will be fun - except there is work to do there too.....always have to do a bit of cleaning.......or not.  We will see !

Hmmmm.....well it seems that blogger changed while I was gone.......

These are some pictures of my "WIP's" ( works in progress) 

Some are for classes, some are mine.....

And of course these are my two "sewing girls"...  They are always with me in my sewing room, but they really don't help much.

Time to get back to work..... I am enjoying a day off today......but busy doing stuff......you know how that goes.

May 1, 2012

Today is a very special day !  Our oldest grandson turns 16 years old today !  That is just not possible - just can't be 16 years since we waited in the waiting room at the hospital. 

Today we will all go to Red Lobster, one of his favorite places to eat.  I will be doing good if I can get through dinner without crying and thinking how fast the years have gone.......and now he will get busier and busier and maybe not have the time to spend with his grandparents.  So today I wonder what his future will hold - and what he will be "when he grows up".  So many thoughts and hopes I have for this fine young man. 

We love you Taylor !!  Happy Birthday !

April 10..............Tuesday

Lost my "umph" ........finished up another project for the shop........have a couple more to finish.....but I am just POOPED. Must be the weather !
Got cold again......had to cover up my "Bleeding Heart"....they are so tender and can't take the cold.

The grass needs mowing...but it is too cold to mow ! This is really strange weather.

I am having a dilemma - I have all these blogs marked...........I love reading them ! BUT - I just don't have time to read them all. Does anyone else have this problem ?.......how do I pick which ones to delete. Reading the blogs is like keeping up with friends you don't know.....and some I have gotten to know a bit and email with them too. So.....this is something that I have to do. I have to pare down my list of blogs to read.......
So many blogs..........so little time.

A nice and sunny afternoon..............

Don't have a picture today............just wanted to post a quick note to say HELLO !!!
Our spring weather is still WAY above normal.....even tho we had a few cold days. This afternoon and the weekend are supposed to be really nice.

So........I hope your flowers are coming up ........still a bit early here in North Dakota to uncover stuff.......we could get a frost yet. Maybe after Easter I will dig a bit.
I think I found another friend to "garden" with me this summer.......I have plenty of room. We will be "utility" gardeners.....meaning we won't have all the cute and pretty things added in.
But I will share pics of the garden..........only if we can keep it weeded and NOT full of weeds.
Have a great weekend.

Sunday, March 18

Remember that cat statue made of snow.........well, I am sure she is a memory now. We have had UNBELIEVABLE weather the past week ! This is just too weird ! Beginning of the week we hit 76 one day.......that broke a record. Today I don't know how hot it got......last I saw was 79...
This is North Dakota....and it is only the middle of March...... NOT that I am complaining - it is just strange.
They are telling people NOT to rake their yards or uncover all their flowers.....we could get snow again. Just like it is likely to snow on Halloween - it is likely to snow on Easter. So.....for now....we open the windows and enjoy !!!

Sunday - March 11

Here is a couple of hungry cats. They just couldn't wait for me to get the crunchies in their dishes.

Oh my..........the sun is shining.........the sky is blue..........the temperature is going UP ~~ the birds are sitting on the porch rail...... Spring is coming. Overall we had a very mild winter - with a few cold days.....but we are all so anxious for spring to come.

Last week....after a "big" snow and some cold temps - this cute snow sculpture was along 10th St in North Fargo. This kitty was so darn cute ~~~ that took some talent ! I sent this picture to some on email, but had to share it again.

Well, it is time for another cup of coffee and then I better get busy.......Lots to do !! But first I am going to open the window for a little fresh air.

Winter Storm Warning

This is just nuts......we go all winter with no storms and NOW we get snow. Ugh. No travel advised, wind, snow......so it is a stay at home day. Good thing I won't run out of fabric for a few days. !




Backing up to Friday......I made "potato balls" some call it "potato klub".... You can't just make a little................this is the bowl of dough.....

I have 3 kettles of water boiling..........

plus my side pork is frying too !

Once you get them in water they have to boil/simmer for one hour....

Finally they are done............a little butter and salt and pepper........Yum !!!

Now I better go see what is in the cupboard that I can cook up for today and head to the sewing room.

Stay in and stay warm !!!