Go Broncos:  in honor of the Broncos winning the super bowl, I made this for my sister: 

Winter has been an up and down prospect so far this year, while today it will be in the 60's just a week ago we had this:

Was over a foot of snow, closed school for a day, which is practically unheard of in Castle Rock!! 

 

I have finished a couple of projects so far this year:

I seem to be on a roll!!!

 

Krissy asked for placemats for each season, here is the first installment just in time for Valentine's Day

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Decided to learn how to use the Bloc_loc rulers and I have to confess I am madly in love with them!  They make half square triangles and half square rectangeles so much easier!

Bloc_loc square
 

 

 

 

My little one turned 10 last week!  I can hardly believe she is that old.  She loves gymnastics and wanted her party at Chameleon Gymnastics Academy where she takes lessons.  The girls had a blast. Keely is obsessed with gymnastics and is working diligently to make it on the competitive team.  Should happy in the spring (fingers crossed)

 

I am now working part time at a local quilt shop called The Thread Loft and am in heaven!! Spending all of my paycheck at the shop but who cares!  Playing with fabric and the long arm makes me so incredibly happy.  I enjoy quilting and creating so this is right up my alley!

 

 

fun times

So here we are, school is well under way.   As a matter of fact Keely has fall break starting a week from today!!  Summer was quick and fun.  We made it to Kansas City and my daughter and her family visited us here also.  My daughter absolutely LOVES Colorado so have high hopes that in the very near future she will be living here!

 

Went to a Kansas City Royals game with my son Jason, daughter, Krissy, and son-in-law Jeff.  We won, lots of fun.

 

 

Keely took riding lessons and this was her first time having a lesson on my horse Avalon.  She was awesome!  Avalon has such an easy sweet disposition and took very good care of her.

 

Keely rocked the first day of school in this amazing dress given to her by my sister.  I can't believe she is in 4th grade.  Time is flying way to fast.  It's amazing to go through being a parent again at my age (60), after thinking we were done.   This year she decided to call me "mom" instead of nana, makes things so much easier for her at school and after all I am her mom in all ways other than having given birth to her!  She is such a joy to me and I love every moment of being with her.

 

 

Made a few pillows and am overjoyed at how they turned out.  The named pillows are for the grands.  Keely absolutely loves hers and it has a place of honor on her bed.   Krissy wants one of the Halloween bench pillows so I have made 2!! One for her and one for me!  She informed me she wants as many or all of the pillows in that series.

 

 

Finally, meet the newest member of our family!  We welcomed Oreo (named by Keely) to our family and are thrilled to have her.  She is a mini Australian Shepherd.  Sweet as can be and so far very smart!  Loves everyone and will be a great companion for Keely!!

 

 

 

Quilty fun!

I have been obsessed lately with quilting!!

 

December 1st found me starting Bonnie's Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt, SO.MUCH.FUN!!

 Just finishing up the binding and then FINISHED!  Wow there were a lot of pieces to this quilt!!

 

 

Some other projects I have been working on lately:

 

Tote bags for the grand girls!

 

Wreath for Keely's teacher

 

Valentine wreath for front door

 

Wreath for Keely's door

 

 

 

 

 

Finally..........someone got what the most wanted for birthday this year:  (we are such suckers!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summer Fun

Avalon is here!  After a year and a half living in Colorado I finally had my horse brought here.  Keely is loving walking around on him.  He is living on a beautiful ranch living the life of a pasture horse.  He has spent his entire life (he's 17) living in a show barn so this is quite a new experience for him.  Not to mention neither one of us knows anything about "western" riding.  We are both fumbling through this change!


My daughter and her family came out for a visit and we had a wonderful time visiting some fun places up in the mountains.  She loves Colorado and did not want to leave!




Played up in Winter Park

visited Garden of the Gods

We did some hiking

 

We also had a visit from my son and his daughter!  Jason spent 3 years stationed at the Air Force Academy.  It had been almost 20 years since he had visited the base.  A fun walk down memory lane for him.  We then drove up Pikes Peak!  Beautiful!!

Visiting the Air Force Academy



Keely and Zoey in the Chapel

Jury Duty

A process that started January 6 came to an abrupt end today.  I was selected and juror #6 in a capital murder death penalty trial.  Needless to say I was quite concerned how this would all play out and how I would feel if in fact the defendant was convicted and we had to determine whether he lived or died.  There was no doubt he murdered the prison guard, but the defense contended he was not guilty by reason of insanity.  What little I did her I would have questions the validity of the defense claims.  As it turned out he was offered a plea deal of life without parole which he promptly accepted.  This case had been going on for nearly 12 years and the victim's family in that time decided they did not want him put to death.  They wanted an end to it.   I respect and completely understand their feelings.  To say that it was an interesting experience is quite an understatement!  After it was over we were able to speak with attorneys on both sides and I really felt for the ADA who had been involved from the very beginning on this case.  He clearly was not satisfied with the outcome and truly felt the defendant deserved the ultimate penalty.  The defendant murdered a prison guard when his back was turned with an industrial sized ladle in the kitchen.  He told those who spoke to him that there was enormous amounts of evidence disproving the insanity allegation.  The DA's concern was that it only took one dissenting voice in the jury for a lesser charge would in turn could perhaps allow this man to walk free someday.  I did ask one of the defense attorneys why to took this case and her simple answer was "I don't believe in the death penalty".  I would have liked to have been able to see this through, but frankly I am just as glad it ended the way it did.  It would have been really challenging and very emotional.  I am comforted by the fact that this person will never see the light of a free day!

 

 

 

Now back to the world that makes me happy.......

 

 

 

 

 







Quilty Kind of Day

Keely is home from school today not feeling well.  She is snuggled up in her bed resting and since I am unable to go anywhere it's QUILT TIME!!! Was able to complete a table topper that I had cut out last night.  Really like the pattern and colors.  It was a kit, however, I will definitely use this pattern again and again for gifts.

 

It is a spectacular day out today in Castle Rock.  The winds are down a bit and the view from my kitchen never ceases to calm my spirit.  I love it here!

 

 

 

 

I also finished another table topper on Monday that I got as a kit.  Totally hated the fabrics that came with it, they looked nothing like the picture I used to order it from.  Instead I substituted charm square packs I had in my stash.  I am pleased with the result and this will make a nice size table topper.

 

 

 

Finally I had to put down a beautiful picture of my little one going to her first dance.  It was a daddy/daughter ball and they looked fabulous if I do say so myself!