Beauty in the Everyday

I was recently reminded of how everyday things can be beautiful.  I go through this McDonalds daily for my large Diet Coke...this is the image I see as I drive up....not much to it, right?

But then, as I am driving out of the parking lot onto the side street, this is what I see

and a few days later again.....

Sweet old barn....how you brighten my day.  Can't wait to use that color in my house!

And in a week that has given us this http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Dallas-Police-Officer-Under-Investigation-for-Facebook-Postings-116432709.html

and this http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2011/02/15/john-wiley-price-dallas-county-commissioners-go-to-hell/

I was so thankful to see these two angels yesterday on Oprah http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/feb/18/oprah-effect-hits-love-kitchen/?partner=yahoo_feeds

A friend posted one of their quotes on Facebook..."everybody is God's somebody."  They are 82-years-old and as beautiful on the inside as on the outside! Thank you twins Ellen and Helen for showing us the goodness that does exist in  this world.

THE MOTHER LODE (or underappreciated crafter part 3)

My Aunt, Uncle, Mother and Daddy were here this past weekend.  While shopping with my Mother and Aunt, look what I found:

Vintage dresden plates with feed sack fabrics

Pink and green stars

vintage hexies

Twenty-four vintage dresden plates...Twenty-four of the pink and green stars...and twelve vintage hexagons!!!! So cute.  I can't wait to work with these!  The sweet hand stitching....incredible.

Another ice/snow day so this has been on the agenda...work on my Doll Quilt for Doll Quilt Swap 10...

WIP for DQS10

While we had visitors, my husband and I took my daughter's bedroom.  Every night before bed this image was presented to me:

My son and daughter 2009/1998 taken from her soccer collage

It is hard to be reminded how much your children have grown. Add to that my daughter turns 20 this week!!??? How could that happen?  Really!  It makes me a little morose...... I'm sure a little sewing will help cure that.

SNOW ?*&!"$%

Seven inches of snow here....for your viewing pleasure

O.K....enough winter!!!

PIPPED OUT

The ice tundra surrounding us has forced me to complete a quilt top I started at DMQG Saturday sew two weeks ago using a jelly roll of Sherbet Pips.  The pattern is Picket Fences (pattern maker escapes me at this point).

Yes...some of this fabric is directional...maybe not the best to use with this pattern.  Oh well...quilting lesson learned the hard way.

We are experiencing rolling blackouts here.  I have no complaints since the electricity always seems to come back on  again!

WINTER STORM

Well, our winter storm has hit...I am a little sick of the Weather Channel at this point.
On a happier note...my coral bark Japanese maple is looking fabulous

but my heart longs for this

Puppy is oblivious to it all

The second block for Birdie Stitches is up!!!  So many of my quilty friends are doing this....so much fun.  There is NO excuse to not sew (or embroidery)  today!!