New Year, Oranges & Snow!

We had a great Christmas. Spent it with family. My FIL had his artificial hip removed back in October & has been in re-hab ever since. SIL & family came down from Atlanta to spend Christmas with everyone. We took Christmas Eve dinner to the re-hab place, then niece opened her gifts. We stopped exchanging with the adults on hubby's side of the family several years ago. We were just exchanging $$ & gift cards & decided to stop.

We still exchange with my family so we headed to my sisters on Christmas Day. Had a wonderful late lunch & after gifts were opened we headed to the country to work on the Barn Apartment.  We have been working on it since late 2015.

Yes, we take things a little slower here in the south ...lol. Really though, the reason is that we save up to do what we can & then stop & save up some more so we can pay off as we go. We were in the final stretch & only had to install the plumbing stuff (faucets, toilets, etc.), get a septic tank installed & then hook up the water. Greg got the plumbing done & we got the septic installed but not inspected before we left (that happened yesterday). He'll hook up the water when we go back. Then all we have to do is take all the crap things that I have been accumulating. Once my wrist(s) heal I will be able to clean cabinets (need water for that), install shelving paper & get the kitchen set up too. I can't remember what I have bought (mostly at Estate Sales) & what I still need.

It was cold the whole time we were there & the only thing I got done was get my asparagus beds ready for winter & pick the oranges that had finally ripened.

42!

We headed back to the city on the 30th because it was supposed to get even colder in the country. When we got back, the Christmas Cactus was almost in full bloom.

Pink is pretty but I wish I had a red one too.

We had a low key New Years Eve dinner & the usual for New Years Day (pork chops, turnip greens, black eyed peas, rice & cornbread). Greg headed back to work yesterday (bummer for him).

We are having cold weather here in the city & it is currently raining which may turn to sleet later this afternoon if the temps continue to drop (dropped from 36 to 34 in the last hour). There was snow just west & north of the city & quite a bit near our country house. Here's a a couple pics of relatives kids.

These were taken about 5 miles from our house up there. Here's a couple closer to the house, not as thick but accumulation none the less.

And last one, taken in town about 8 miles away.

It will most likely melt by nightfall or tomorrow morning. Fun for the kids & a novelty for the adults as this only happens this far south every 10 years or so.

Headed to the kitchen to make 15 bean soup as we are supposed to have hard freezes (20s) for the next 3 nights. All animals are hunkered down trying to stay warm. For those not allowed inside I've created warm boxes with bedding & quilts, under shelter, out of the wind, to keep them warm. Plus, they have very thick coats of fur & are doing fine.

Hope everyone has a great New Year!

Quilt Retreat 2014

Earlier this year I took a trip to another quilt retreat in VA. I first stopped at my friends for a couple of nights at their farm (more on it later). She wound up not being able to attend the retreat due to their just getting pregnant ewes so I continued on by myself. Just a few hours drive north to meet up with additional friends.

We were staying at the same house we stayed at last year but they had converted the garage into the sewing room. It was perfect.

On the way, it started sleeting & then snowing. I am from the south & not at all accustomed to driving in that mess. I kept having to stop to scrape my windshield. I also stopped for gas & had to bust away the sleet in the card reader in order to pay! This is what my vehicle looked like the morning after my arrival.

We pretty much stayed in & quilted the week away. One of the ladies attending this time, is a master quilter & actually teaches classes at a nearby shop. Here is a pic of one of her quilts:

Beautiful. I hope to make one of these.

This room was great as it had plenty of table space to work on & house ironing boards & also a railing to hold all our projects.

Here's what I worked on this time:

Bedside table runner. I made 2 of these for the country house.

Chenile throw.

Pillow top (made another one of these after I got home).

Thread catchers.

One of my friends had made & given us all different versions of the above thread catchers. She brought the pattern so I made one each for 2 of my friends from home.

Someone had purchased a special tool for making these swirly table runners.

Actually I think everyone made one.

We also made memory pieces as well. Everyone used materials in a project they had worked on & then 'signed' muslin pieces & sewed them together. Great idea.

I had a great time, I really enjoy spending time with these women. All are great cooks, love to can, are self sufficient, smart, funny & above all else, very nice.