nylene
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Post by nylene on Dec 1, 2022 2:16:41 GMT
This challenge is for those who scrap slowly and need encouragement to keep scrapping all month or those who want a little encouragement to continue scrapping. It is great for those new to Challenges and is a fun place to come chat with other Pokey scrappers. 1. Post a layout each week, or four layouts per month. These can be posted in the thread or in the gallery. If you post in the gallery, be sure to come to the thread and tell us you posted and tell us the name of the layout so we can find it. You can copy the URL from the gallery and paste it directly into your thread for a link. 2. This challenge can be combined with any other challenges and can be paper, digital or hybrid scrapping. These can be cards, layouts or altered items or any other creative projects. 3. Please comment on the work of others on the thread as your time allows. We all love comments on our layouts. 4. Have fun with this! This should be a "no pressure" challenge. Just post what you finish whether it is one layout or more than four. Come chat with the group as time permits. We love to welcome new members . If you are doing the Team Challenges, this challenge is worth one point for each page/project when you complete all 4. So that's 4 points for completing the Pokey Pea Challenge.  |
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nylene
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Post by nylene on Dec 1, 2022 2:20:17 GMT
I seem to have lost the month of November. It is now over and I missed it! Crazy virus!
Welcome to December's thread. I know it is always a busy month but would love to have each of you stop by and let us know what's going on with you and your family.
I would also love to see photos of some of your preparations and decorations for the Season.
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Post by grammadee on Dec 1, 2022 4:22:34 GMT
Thanks for doing this every month nylene! Here is to a happy and healthy December for all the Pokeys! I have everything but the glass done on my ddil's frame. Here is how it looks now  Tala frame by Gramma Dee, on Flickr Here is a side view of my ddil’s frame. The horses name was wood burned by the frame maker.  |
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Post by Linda on Dec 1, 2022 16:13:24 GMT
wow - that's gorgeous grammadee - she's going to love it |
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nylene
Drama Llama
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Post by nylene on Dec 1, 2022 19:50:36 GMT
Wow, grammadee, that is the most beautiful and thoughtful gift. I love the background you painted and the horse's name burned into the side is amazing. Love that font. I knew it would be amazing, but didn't know how amazing. Just the design and the way you have done everything is so professional. How I would love to be a mouse in the room when she opens this!! You are one talented lady, my friend! |
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Post by grammadee on Dec 2, 2022 0:33:44 GMT
I made a round trip to two neighbouring towns today: got my Pea cards and the gifts for my brothers and spouses into the mail, picked up the printed Christmas letters and had the glass guy finish off the frame; picked up the printed calendar pages, did some shopping and picked up some gift certificates. Came back to our little town in time to catch the Credit Union to get some cash and to pick up a pizza for supper. I was going to start in gluing down the calendar pages, but decided I need to just chill and watch TV for an hour or two. If I am awake after that, I may get things set up for tomorrow.
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nylene
Drama Llama
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Post by nylene on Dec 2, 2022 2:28:33 GMT
grammadee, you have had quite a day! Glad you got the frame to the glass man and that you got to mail cards and packages. I sent all my Pea cards today too. I don't know if the Canada ones will make it. We went shopping for Christmas today and got DH's new HOKA shoes but they didn't have my size. I'm hoping to get some before Christmas. They have literally saved my knee from surgery. I've worn them down enough that it's starting to be painful again so they must be replaced. I hope everything falls into line and you are happy about what you have accomplished before you leave. Have a safe trip!
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Post by grammadee on Dec 3, 2022 4:49:16 GMT
I should be on YOUR team today, "Gluing down the holidays", joyfulnana: spent the day wrapping the gifts for Calgary area families and BC family, filling in all the significant family dates into calendars and gluing my pages into them. Got as far as August in 8 calendars, so 4 more months to go... Also helped dh to put the hangers on the back of the frame. It is now in huge Santa sack, ready to go into the vehicle tomorrow. Plan to have everything but me and my suitcase into the vehicle by tomorrow evening. Then on Sunday morning I can just pack myself and my clothes in there and start driving. Took a break to ride into town with dh to go to a pancake supper and watch the Santa parade. We had planned to stop for hot chocolate around a bon fire, but decided that since it was -27C with a wind blowing that we would come home and have hot chocolate here. Got alot done in the last two days, but still a few things I was hoping to finish before I leave. I need to make a birthday card for my dsil whose bd is next week. And I want to bake one more batch of cookies. Those gingerbread people may be missed if they are not on the treat trays I take with me. Guess I could print out the recipe and then take the cookie cutters with me.... And I wanted to put together a sample for the December Donna challenge. If I pack up the cookie stuff I could probably get THAT done. Gotta decide tomorrow morning. Things always look really complicated to me this time of night. |
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kitbop
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by kitbop on Dec 3, 2022 14:16:57 GMT
Things always look really complicated to me this time of night. It always helps me to do what you just did: list out what you accomplished in the day and realize that you did as much as humanly possible  I'm like you though - by evening, my brain is in overdrive and struggles to see reality. You are so far ahead - well done - just tidying up little bits really! Next year you should sign up for one of the crop-n-create-cards events - I'll happily enable you! They've left me with a little stash of cards so that I don't have to make cards last minute. And I keep adding cards here and there, but once the events got me "ahead" I found I could keep up and not have the stash dwindle away. Gingerbread is something *I* miss if I don't make it! Baking while there sounds like fun myself. Your frame - a MASTERPIECE! The concept and execution are both going to blow her away. What an amazing gift you have created. nylene - aren't good shoes worth their weight in gold??? I brought a couple pairs home from my Mom's that are super good ones. Katie and she have/had the same size feet. Katie took the boots very happily, but the shoes...were a little too granny for her  I have NOT SENT ANY CARDS YET so my apologies to all - but they'll be in the mail Monday morning. I'm off this morning to do chores, hope to get a few pages in my MILs christmas present done this afternoon, then dinner out with a bunch of gals. Pouring rain, 9 degrees C (that's 50 F), not ideal "run around" weather but better than snow, right? |
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Post by Linda on Dec 3, 2022 15:43:14 GMT
goodness grammadee - you've been super busy and productive! Gingerbread cookies sound like they might be a fun gramma/grandkid activity so I'm on team pack. kitbop - stay warm and dry today as you run around! No stress on cards - it's barely December. The last of mine went out today - I ran out of stamps and had to send DH to the post office for more. nylene - good shoes are so important! headed to a German Christmas Market today - hoping it'll be good. Woke up to glass shards all over my kitchen - some kitty knocked a glass off the drying mat overnight - oops. |
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Post by grammadee on Dec 3, 2022 23:42:35 GMT
Well everything but the food and my suitcase are in the vehicle (including my camera just to make sure I don't forget and leave it behind). And I listened to Team Pack, so my gingerbread recipe and cookie cutters are in one of the boxes heading to the first home I will visit. Those boys love to bake & decorate and are off school on Monday, so I can see some gingerbread making fun in my future. I am also taking the rest of my holiday cards with me to sign and address while I am down there. Will have some kid-less days, so that is something that will be easy to do to fill the time. Used the time I might have been baking to put together a page and a card. Felt good to play. The German Christmas Market sounds fun, Linda. I hope you find lots of fun bargains, and that the walking does not negatively impact your knees. I have been told that orthotic shoes help the knees, but have never found any I found even remotely comfortable, nylene. Hope you find the ones you want, soon. kitbop I definitely plan to sign up for some C&C events next year! I have asked my family for gc's to SCT as Christmas gifts. okay, off to cook supper...TTYL |
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Post by justjac on Dec 4, 2022 1:40:40 GMT
Good news, peas! My five days of isolation are over and I tested negative today. I will be back at work Monday. kitbop I haven’t mailed any cards yet, either. I bought stamps today and I have most addressed and ready to go. Except for the dozen cards I am short. They are for more local people so another week won’t hurt. grammadee have a wonderful visit. I haven’t done any baking. Being sick in November has me so far behind. nylene I hope you can find your shoes. I’m waiting for a pair of boots I ordered online. Fingers crossed they fit. |
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Post by Linda on Dec 4, 2022 2:37:20 GMT
grammadee - yay for being all packed and finding time to play! justjac - awesome news - I hope that also means you're feeling better. Christmas market was a little disappointing - not many vendors and nothing even remotely German and only one vendor with anything Christmas-y. We did pick up an autographed children's book which was absolutely darling and some ornaments (for our tree and also as a gift for my sister - acorns and the little scenes in walnut shells - super cute and exactly the sort of thing we were hoping to find - unique and Christmas). The only food was an Italian food truck  so we went elsewhere for lunch. Did some more shopping while we were in town - DD16 needed a backpacking backpack - holy $$$ but it does come with a lifetime warranty - they'll repair or even replace. She also needed trail running shoes but those were out of stock in her size so we'll order online and hope they fit - the store has a 1-yr no questions return policy so ... Tuesday morning was a mess- they were rearranging from aisles to 4-sided displays and there wasn't much scrappy out but I did get VB Warm Wishes stencils. We go back to town tomorrow for DD's Girl Scout meeting and we'll hit Sam's Club and maybe Target then.
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joyfulnana
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Post by joyfulnana on Dec 4, 2022 20:21:52 GMT
Holy December and where did the past week go?! It felt like I went to bed on Monday night and woke up Friday morning lol. Wow grammadee you are a dynamo and I will totally take you on my team this month The frame is amazing, and so thoughtfully put together. Enjoy your trip! Linda, child proofing before bed was the hardest thing for me to get used to when Abby first got here lol. Now I understand her reasons for being on tables to begin with attention or food - that's it. And she understands that I will thwart her plans to make me get up at 3AM, she tends to leave things alone lol. Of course she isn't as curious as kitty as the young ones you have either lol. Oh nylene I hope you can find the shoes you are looking for soon. I can't stand foot pain. Yay justjac! Finally! I feel like I'm just starting to feel like myself after Covid a month ago, I hope you are feeling better. I have done no baking, and my cards have not gone out, sorry! I've been knitting a fair bit - and getting sucked into Netflix while I knit lol. But I'm at the point of the month where I know there will be no scrapping until after the holiday for me. Waving Hi to everyone! |
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nylene
Drama Llama
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Post by nylene on Dec 4, 2022 21:15:42 GMT
This week has been so busy but I don't feel I have accomplished much. The Village is getting set up slowly. I may just get the houses up and let Alex finish the trees, people, benches etc. I find that I wear out so fast. My Dr started me on a different BP med and I wonder if that may have made me more out of breath with not much exertion.
I will have all my cards out early next week and maybe I can actually scrap. I have new photos I am eager to use.
I'm still hunting for shoes. There is one more place I can try. I tried to order them through the store, but they are having a hard time getting that type.
We have appts with the podiatrist tomorrow so maybe he will have some suggestions.
Waving to each of you Sweet Peas.
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kitbop
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Post by kitbop on Dec 4, 2022 22:42:20 GMT
Christmas market was a little disappointing - not many vendors and nothing even remotely German and only one vendor with anything Christmas-y. , I'm sorry the market didn't hold up to hopes. This weekend was the "cristkrindl market" in our neighbouring city which is heavily German by settlement (it was called Berlin until WWI when they changed the name...) It is 100% European market, hand made things, 50% Christmas, 50% gift ideas, great food, polka bands playing Christmas music etc. I think that's what you were looking for  We always pop by. It's free, half on the street (which they close down) and half in the city hall. |
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Post by Linda on Dec 4, 2022 23:48:56 GMT
Christmas market was a little disappointing - not many vendors and nothing even remotely German and only one vendor with anything Christmas-y. , I'm sorry the market didn't hold up to hopes. This weekend was the "cristkrindl market" in our neighbouring city which is heavily German by settlement (it was called Berlin until WWI when they changed the name...) It is 100% European market, hand made things, 50% Christmas, 50% gift ideas, great food, polka bands playing Christmas music etc. I think that's what you were looking for  We always pop by. It's free, half on the street (which they close down) and half in the city hall. yes - that's exactly what I was looking for. |
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Post by grammadee on Dec 7, 2022 0:33:55 GMT
Arrived safe &sound Sunday. Moving on to other ds’s home tomorrow. Busy day yesterday thanks to the advice of Team Pack  |
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kitbop
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Post by kitbop on Dec 7, 2022 12:22:27 GMT
grammadee - Those are happy faces! I hope you and they had fun!
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nylene
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Post by nylene on Dec 7, 2022 16:09:07 GMT
grammadee, I love their cookies and their happy faces. What a great gramma you are! Have fun and travel safely! We made a trip across the county yesterday to take some things to our niece and her family. We had the tires checked before we left and were told we need new tires. With all-wheel-drive, all 4 have to be replaced at once. $$ Groan! We just had some minor work done on the back hatch, but I hate putting money in this car. I also don't want to start with a new one. So today we will be sitting while they replace the tires. Alex came and set up all the people in the Village and stowed the boxes under the tables. Now to get the tree up in the next couple of days. DH has made wooden gumball machines that hold Skittles for each of the grandchildren. He made enough for our neighbors too. I'm glad he has had something to keep him busy.
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Post by justjac on Dec 8, 2022 18:42:48 GMT
grammadee those happy boys are getting so big! nylene I'm glad you've got your Christmas decor started. We got our tree up on Sunday and decorated it Monday. We are just skipping the outdoor lights this year. We missed our opportunity to do it when the weather wasn't frigid. I hope to make peanut brittle tonight and get it mailed out tomorrow, but we'll see. I also need to make a dozen more cards. I bought a kit from the LSS and a few new Pinkfresh stamp, stencil, and die to motivate me. I'm doing December Daily in a notebook this year. Just one photo usually and a small journaling block using the same paper every day. I had to order a new pack of paper because I hadn't planned this ahead of time and had already used some of my paper pack to make cards. I'm feeling better. My ribs are less sore (but not all the way healed), but I still get tired out. Here are a few pages from my December Daily.  December Daily 1  December Daily 2  December Daily 3 December Daily 5
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amysolovay
Full Member
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Sept 4, 2022 6:25:20 GMT
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Post by amysolovay on Dec 9, 2022 5:02:53 GMT
***Peeking in the room*** Hello everyone! Unlurking long enough to tell Justjac, I love the cuteness and simplicity of your DD! That is such a cute idea! OK, back to lurking for now. ***waves*** |
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kitbop
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by kitbop on Dec 9, 2022 12:32:35 GMT
Checking in pokeys! We are *so* quiet this month. It's been a year (and then some) and I think we've run out of momentum. justjac - love the size of your Christmas journal! Looks like an AWESOME way to keep up with your memories this month. I am keeping my December journal diligently. It's less Shimelle and more just a journal, but I do use Shimelle's prompts if I'm feeling particularly uninspired. There's not a lot of twinkle in my journal yet this year but I'm trying! Shimelle definitely says that this season is only what you make it ("the magic is in you", trite but true). We've put up the artificial tree. First time in my life without a real tree. It's a fairly high quality one - inherited it from my Dad this year - and jut the right size. Prelit and you can choose between many different light settings and colours. Thus, it's also the first time I've ever had a tree with white lights! Don't have to water it or worry about needles. And we put it up earlier than normal and will leave it up when we're away... there is something to be said for artificial I guess. We all say "I miss the real tree" but what we're saying is "I miss the tradition of the real tree", not so much the hassle. I get 5 days off work after today but it's really my last time off work before Christmas so I'm feeing panicky about all I have to get done. Thinking about each and every one of you and hoping you are well (or improving  ) |
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Post by grammadee on Dec 9, 2022 16:58:57 GMT
Good morning Pokeys! You are welcome to join us any time, amysolovay! This is a pretty friendly group. justjac , I hope to catch up on your *fun* pages in the Gallery later. **mostly fun. I see one of them has COVID test bars on it LOL. I had thought I would have some “ME” time this trip but have been busy shopping, wrapping and PUPPY sitting. Cute as a button, but he doesn’t sit still much and doesn’t want me to sit either. Pics are in the Gift of Gratitude thread. (((((HUGS))))) kitbop . I hope you can find some activities this five days that bring you joy, or at least some contentment. Glad you are doing a DD. Would love to see some of your pages. Hopefully it will help you acquire some Christmas spirit. Too funny about the tree. We had a “real” tree when we were kids, but have had artificial ones since we were married. Would not want to go back. If I think I do, I just have to watch National Lampoons Christmas Vacation to remind myself why LOL. Merry Christmas to your CAR, nylene . Ouch on the cost. I replaced tires on mine this fall. The factory tires were not holding the road well last spring. Less than three years and less than 45,000 km (25,000 miles), and they needed replacement. Not impressed. Gearing up for a busy hockey weekend. And yesterday evening these boys mixed up some gingerbread dough. So we will be fitting in some rolling, cutting, baking & decorating over the next three days. |
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nylene
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Post by nylene on Dec 9, 2022 22:36:29 GMT
amysolovay , you are always welcome on this thread, chatting or just reading. We are a friendly bunch, sometimes very chatty, other times quite quiet. I agree with you and kitbop , justjac 's DD is wonderful this year. kitbop , I hope you can get everything done and still have some good times in the next 5 days off work. This has been a very tough year for you and family. I hope the holidays can lighten the mood. We always had a real tree growing up and in the early years we went to the mountains to cut it. Then Dad's friend began bringing us one every year. I was happy to switch to an artificial tree when we got married. The pine smell makes me sick if it is real. Em just got a tree that allows her to change the lights with her phone. It's amazing, but for me it would be one more piece of technology to mess up. justjac , those pages are amazing! I will get to the gallery to leave some comments. Has your cough subsided completely? Ribs still sore? I can say that I cough very little and my ribs don't hurt anymore. (well, except where I fell yesterday putting up the Christmas tree!) When will your school break for Christmas? grammadee , I hope you have a great time with your family. I had to chuckle about the puppy. When I tended DD's family one week a few years ago, their puppy was always underfoot. I must have stepped on her a dozen times. I'm just lucky I didn't hurt her and didn't trip over her. I'm not a very good pet sitter. Today I gave up on finding Hoka shoes in this valley. Every store says they are on order but they never come in. Today we drove to Salt Lake to look. At Scheels they had the right shoe in the right size but they were a psychedelic purple! I wear them everywhere but church and just couldn't do purple. The clerk could tell I was discouraged and said he'd go check every shelf in the back. He was gone about 10 minutes and came out with a big grin and a big box with a picture of a black shoe on the end. They feel so wonderful. I was beginning to have pain again in my hip, knee and ankle. The new Hokas are amazing! Merry Christmas to me early! I need to get back to work making tags for all the Skittles machines DH has finished. They are turning out cute.
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Post by grammadee on Dec 11, 2022 15:24:50 GMT
Posting from the rink before dgs’s game this morning. Oh he gets stepped on, nylene—and nipped by the other house dog and flattened in the snow by the outside dog— but he keeps coming back for more.  Got the cookies baked and decorated yesterday.    |
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Post by Linda on Dec 11, 2022 23:25:07 GMT
grammadee - looks like everyone enjoyed helping you with the gingerbread cookies - you got some great pictures! (don't forget to be IN the pics also) nylene - what a pain about the tyres Your dh's gumball machines sound fabulous! Yay for finding shoes. I see my podiatrist on Tuesday to order new orthotics - then I'll be on a shoe hunt as well. justjac - I'm glad that you're on the mend - hopefully you'll be back to 100% soon. Your DD is awesome - I love the small canvas and the handwritten journalling. Busy weekend for my DH and DD - Lego Con yesterday and then she had a backpacking day trip today and he stayed in the drop-off area and shopped and sightseed. So I took yesterday as a scrapbooking day and did 17 layouts (6 single and 11 double) to finish up his Dallas album. Today I did housework but have managed to sneak some scrapbooking in as well - only 4 layouts so far (1 8x8, 2 single, and a double). At some point I'll need to count up points - easy peasy here I come. I need to sew tomorrow - I haven't started my Christmas sewing yet - or my Christmas baking or...wrapping...I feel really behind. Not really feeling Christmas-y this year - I think in part because DD16 is at an age where she's not really interested in our Advent traditions, she hasn't put up her small tree in several years, she doesn't want to sing carols.... amysolovay - jump on in - let us get to know you! kitbop - I've always done artificial trees - well...we bought a living tree once years ago but only once. I love the white lights. I hope you have the best possible Christmas - I know it's been a rough year and don't feel like you have to do all the things - it's okay to go low-key if you need to.
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kitbop
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Post by kitbop on Dec 13, 2022 14:19:29 GMT
Linda - your DD sure keeps busy! I'm curious: what is "Christmas sewing?" Christmas baking is different this year - We've had a couple of options in the house at all times but usually we have a huge assortment by now because I would mail my Mom a care package. This year that pressure was off. I'm still planning on making our favourites (which is honestly at least 8 more kinds of cookies!) but My Mom's bestie sent me a very unexpected present last week - so kind of her. The quilting on these is simply gorgeous. The colours and the way the patterns in each tree vary make my scrapbooking heart sing songs. Honestly, I wish it were a small tablecloth or runner rather than placemats - only because I want to display these all season long, and placemats only come out for special meals! Plus...I really don't want to get gravy on them   Placemats quilted by kirstendrew, on Flickr I'm not getting ahead as much as I hoped on my days off - do we ever? but I am making progress and any step forward is a step forward!!!
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joyfulnana
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Post by joyfulnana on Dec 13, 2022 14:25:50 GMT
Hi Peas! I'm not sure where the heck the weeks are going but I wanted to pop in here and mark my spot for catching up. It's been pretty slow at work, so I'm going to try to catch up with you all later at work |
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Post by Linda on Dec 13, 2022 14:26:42 GMT
kitbop - Christmas sewing is the homemade Christmas gifts I make each year - often by request. This year, I made a camera strap cover for MY camera and the kids and DH all want one also - the big kids even picked out fabric and sent it to me. So I need to make those and a set of placemats and possibly a bathrobe for DS that's overdue. I'm doing less baking this year also - we've been cutting back, we just don't eat as many goodies now as we once did. Next Tuesday is teacher baking day when I make mini pumpkin gingerbreads and cranberry breads for each of DD's teachers as Wednesday is the last day before break. Those placemats are gorgeous! What a kind gift!
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so we went elsewhere for lunch.
We always pop by. It's free, half on the street (which they close down) and half in the city hall. 
We always pop by. It's free, half on the street (which they close down) and half in the city hall. 