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Saturday, January 01, 2022

New Year's With My Boys!



This Sunrise - 

I hope the promise of a better year ahead comes with this beautiful sight.

Truthfully, I can never capture how deep and glowing a sunrise is by camera.  There are definitely some tricks I haven't learned -

I did put this one on "night" exposure and it helped a bit.  But not enough.

This sunrise was spectacular in every way.

It's been an uncomfortable few days here in Quiltville.  It all started with a throbbing "heartbeat" in a troublesome tooth that overnight developed into quite a bit of pain.

Finding a dentist over a holiday weekend is not easy - my own dentist's recorded message of "We are closed from December 24th, 2021 and will reopen on January 3rd, 2022." did not bring me much hope.

Of course this would happen not only on a weekend, but a major holiday weekend! 

Luckily our neighbor-friend is also a dentist, and a quick text message to him was met with "I'll be in the office until 2pm, just come in."

I'll follow up with my regular dentist on Monday, but I'm already feeling much better after a couple of days of antibiotics, so I can make it through the rest of the weekend.


This was my joy yesterday!

Ashlyn was working yesterday, Jeff needed to come help finish the back walkway at Quiltville Inn, so he brought Casden with him!  

And also many things to keep the busy 5 year old entertained - including his new tee ball set.

Batter up!


Assume the position!


Saaaawwwwinnng Batter!

Even funnier - Zoey would run after the balls and play keep-away with them.  We laughed until our sides hurt.  It was SO SO SO good.


Say CHEESE, Casden!

Once worn out, it was time to snuggle in to the big comfy chair in Nana's studio and watch some cartoon thing on Netflix.

I am SO out of touch with what little kids want to watch these days!

I finished up the last of the mail order going out in 2021 while he watched.

My heart completely melted when he said "Hey, Nana?  I love you!" 


Meanwhile next door -

The path to the garage was under way!  


Check out those angles, folks!


They got as far as they could go before sprinkles started.

This metal edging will keep things in place.  It will be filled with soil and in the spring we'll add grass seed to fill in the lawn.


More sprinkles - but check it out!


The polymeric sand will happen next - and there are a few more pavers to add to the garage path - we ran short.  But most of the BIG labor is done.

And what about this weird weather?  We are supposed to be hitting near 70f on New Year's Day today?

And they are calling for snow on Monday.  WHAT?


Two buddies driving tractor!


Just check out that grin!


Dinner was a weird affair.  That's all I'm saying.

I needed something SOFT with this mouth thing.  Pasta fit the bill, only I didn't have any spaghetti.

Back in the depths of the cupboard - Well heck.  It's been such a DUCKY year, and this seemed like the perfect way to tell 2021 to just Duck Off.

The original plan was to use these in chicken soup, but just making a pasta dish hamburger-helper style was easier and quite yummy. (And funny as heck as we ate it.)

Good riddance 2021!  There were many wonderful things that happened, but this overhanging black cloud of Covid, conspiracy theories and politics have made this year exhausting, not to mention have threatened my hope in humanity as a whole.


Last finish of 2021!

I finished the binding, label and hanging sleeve before calling it a night last night. Such a good feeling!


My Top Nine on Instagram!

It's always interesting to see which posts have received the most response through the year - Three great quotes made it, along with the celebrated sale of the Wallburg house. (hooray!)  I also love that a reposted share of an Appalachian Autumn block made it in!

Three great quotes on quilts were also up there with likes. What a great reminder as we start off this new year.

THREE of the Top Nine are of this quilt - which does need a name.  And since that bottom left photo is of that tumble down cabin that was not visible in the summer due to the overgrowth, but plainly visible once leaves had fallen -  I have decided on a name.

This cabin is found on Bear Branch Road.  So I am calling this quilt Bear Branch.  It just fits.

Photos to come when the weather is a bit more cooperative. It's still wet out there right now.

Today's plan for New Year's Day?  NOTHING!

I'm staying home at the cabin.  I may lay out my string blocks and start that top assembly.  

I'll likely binge something on Netflix - there may even be a nap.

How about you?


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You won't believe what you can do with EQ!


Quiltville Quote of the Day -

Allietare is an earlier Quiltville mystery - and will always be one of my favorites.

This little piece of wisdom is on a little card that I keep above my kitchen sink where I can be reminded of it every time I wash dishes – hey, it’s probably the longest amount of time I've ever stood in one place, so it is a good place for it!
It’s not who you ARE that holds you back -⁣
It’s who you think you’re NOT.

New Year's is a great time to adopt this into your thinking.

Happy New Year, Friends!


 

39 comments:

  1. Happy New Year, Bonnie! The new walkway looks great! Your guys did an awesome job.

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  2. What am I doing today? Eating the end of the leftovers.......

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  3. Happy New Year Bonnie! Thank you for all you do for us.

    And the angles on tat paver walk are amazing! Great job by your guys!

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  4. Happy New Year !! All the best for the coming year. Love the newest quilt name. very pretty.

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  5. Happy 2022!! Love the photo & walkways look great!!

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  6. thank you and happy new year to a special person & her family.

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  7. Happy New Year! Spending the day with that cute little boy and the big boys too - just a terrific way to end the year.

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  8. Is it still the cabin since you now live here fulltime? ;-)

    Happy New Year Bonnie!

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  9. Everything in this blog made me happy this morning!
    Getting to see a glorious sunrise will give any day a perfect start! Oklahoma had the most spectacular sunrise yesterday, with a high near 60, and some late afternoon sprinkles changing into overnight rain. Then the "Arctic blast" came through. Now 30 degrees F and dropping! It is sewing weather today!
    Love your Insta top picks, and wonderful name for your new quilt!
    Happy New Year, with love and prayers to everyone!
    Counting my blessings moving into a new year full of promise!

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  10. Happy New Year!I'm glad you got the tooth seen about. Well I know What I will be doing next year. Drinking my coffee and reading Bonnie's blog.Time to start cooking the blackeyed peas and hog jowl.Take Care.

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  11. I have so enjoyed watching Bear Branch come together. It's just perfect.
    Happy New Year!

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  12. Happy 2022 to you and yours!!

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  13. Happy New Year! I almost didn't log onto your blog because I thought you might take the day off. What a lovely surprise to see your entry. Here's to a great new year!

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  14. Happy New Year!! Love the name of your newest quilt. Where you live you have so much to take from and give to your readers. Keep on inspiring in 2022.

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  15. I love that Quote! A positive attitude makes any day go better. Having a day with Casden was good for you!! So sweet, he calls you Nana. You gotta watch Paw Patrol and Peppa Pig. The strings are endless. Bear Branch is a good name.

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  16. Happy New Year to you and your family, Bonnie. Let's hope and pray 2022 is so much better for everyone. I am so glad I have a place to escape to and do what I love....My Quilting cave. lol Hugs

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  17. Happy New Year Bonnie!
    What a fun day for Casden, getting to help drive the tractor! Made me wanna try to drive it! 😁 The new path looks spectacular, those beautiful angles knock my sox off! Good luck with your tooth, that's the worst kind of pain. Quilting this weekend! Such a great way to start the new year. Love you!!!

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  18. Happy New Year Bonnie! May 2022 be better than the last one and may we keep healthy and sewing! That's my wish for the new year but won't make any new year resolutions as I won't be able to keep them! Best wishes, Charlie

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  19. Your little grandson is adorable. The turquoise & brown quilt is fabulous.

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  20. Love your walkway. The Bear Branch quilt is gorgeous. Enjoy your warm day. It's snowing in Northern Illinois. 4-8 inches expected with winds up 35 mph and blowing snow after sunset.

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  21. I always look forward to your blog because you are such an "up" person. Today made me laugh with the duck pasta. Your quote for the day is being copied and put in my sewing room (the room where I spend the most time lately). Wishing you all the best in 2022 with happy, healthy and plentiful retreaters. Wish I could be one of them.

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  22. Such a beautiful quilt (pattern name?) that Casden is snuggling under. What an adorable boy!

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  23. Oh the JOY I see in Casden and Jeff's faces!! I am so happy that he was able to come along and spend time with Nana! Precious memories for all of you! You've had 2 GREAT finishes at the end of 2021, quite the accomplishment! I love Bear Branch and will patiently await the pattern. Happy New Year, Bonnie! Thanks for your generosity!

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  24. Happy New Year to all!

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  25. Happy New Year, Bonnie, to you and all your family. I share your feelings and fears for humanity, but I hope cooler heads will eventually prevail. I was so happy to see the photo of Allietare! It was my first mystery quilt, and I am just now getting the quilting done!
    Take care and best wishes.

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  26. Nothing like spending a day with a bonus grand child to light up your life!

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  27. Happy New Year Bonnie. Love the new sidewalk. Coming to quilt with you at Quiltville Inn is on my bucket list.

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  28. I too was glad to see 2021 go. 3 weddings in '22 but the quilts are done (just putting binding down and labels on). My faith in humanity was restored on the 23rd of December when grocery shopping. As I started checking out I noticed that the card reader terminal stated "card recognized". I asked the cashier to clear it, so I could check out and she said everything was okay as the lady in front of me (a perfect stranger) had paid for my grocery order. Considering the cart was full I almost fainted. I did cry all the way out of the store.

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  29. Hi Bonnie. Today's post is wonderful. Your sunrise picture is fabulous!!! Very inspiring, Sweet pictures of Casden. What a cutie. Love the recap of the various likes through the year. I would love to see that picture of that run down cabin again. I actually love old barns, houses, cabins. I don't remember seeing that on one of your posts before. Would you be able to post t hat picture again? Your son Jeff is doing a fabulous job on that walkway. How nice to have a hard landscape expert in the family. Glad you have a neighbor who is a dentist! Oh, I do not like tooth pain. Happy New Year Bonnie

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  30. Happy New Year to you and your family! 2022 will be much better....I'm feelin it!
    Thank you for all you do and share for us quilters and others.....the encouragement, the patterns, the mysteries, the inspiration, on and on and on!!!
    Bless you and your family & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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  31. Happy New Year! I agree, Bear Branch fits that quilt. That is definitely on my "to purchase list" when it comes out. Just love it.
    It's the 2nd here--I don't think I got on here yesterday. My son, daughter in law and grands had come in on Friday and we celebrated with daughter's family. So yesterday morning, son's kids spent lots of quality time with grandma and grandpa in our family room. We did everything from having a "snowball" fight with the soft snowballs to Grandpa getting out his train from his childhood. They loved it. We don't get to see them real often and it was nice to spend one on one time with them. They were able to start back before our snow got too bad. We probably ended up with 4 or 5 inches with sleet underneath, then it blew. It finally quit about 6 last night and now it's just COLD!!! 14 degrees with a wind chill of 0!

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  32. Oh what a cutie! You are blessed, surrounded by love.

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  33. Slept under my Alletaire last night! My all time favorite mystery quilt. So wonderful to be a NANA !! Looks like he is getting some great fun with baseballs and tractor rides. How wonderful your hubby and son are so able to put that walkway in for you. Happy New Year Bonnie and Family. Hopefully your regular dentist can see you early in the week and get your tooth figured out. Mary / https://stitchinggrandma.wordpress.com//

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  34. We can tell Jeff is professional--great job! "Love you" from grandchild is a warm hug.
    Texas had over 50 degree drop in temp New Year's Day.

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  35. Happy New Year Bonnie! I am so sorry to hear about your abcessed tooth. Thank goodness for your dentist/neighbor! You might gift him with a wall hanging for taking care of you! I went thru a weekend with an abscessed tooth and when I called my dentist, on Monday morning, his receptionist refused to give me an appointment! I called my old dentist, who I hadn't seen in about 6 years and got in, immediately. I never saw the dentist whose staff refused to give me an appointment, again. To be honest, i don't think he realized what happened!
    We are well here in the North Country, avoiding people and COVID. I do wish this would end, but I am going to my sewing room, until Valentine's Day!
    Stay well!

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  36. "y" SEAMS ON THE WALKWAY!! WAY TO GO, GUYS!!

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  37. Have a Blessed 2022 Year Bonnie. You have a very handsome little grandson. Where did he get his red hair from? God Bless You and your family Bonnie.

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  38. Casden is such a cutie!!!!! and Bear Branch is the perfect name for your quilt....Your boys did an amazing job on the walkway!!!!! Enjoy your snow!
    Happy New Year Bonnie! Thanks for the daily inspiration!

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