Yummy!

I'm going to try to start making bread instead of buying it. Much healthier, plus it tastes better. This week I made white bread and it is delicious! Next week whole wheat. If anyone has any good recipes I would love to give them a try. Oh and I don't use a bread maker.

ranette

Starting the New Year off right!!!

Warning! Picture heavy post ahead....
My darling daughter Kara is an amazingly organized person and she volunteered to help me get my sewing room together. In the last few months I have been overwhelmed when I walk in the door instead of inspired and that's not a great feeling. So over the course of a couple of days we got this room together. Here is my sewing area.

On around to the fabric shelves and design wall.

That's Kara's latest quilt that she's been putting together on the wall.
Cutting area or extra sewing table.

That's Kara's sewing stuff under the table. I just love that my rulers and squares are all hanging neatly!!
On into my walk-in closet, where all of my finished tops are hanging.

Project boxes all nicely labeled with patterns inside.

And a cooler view of the same boxes.

Here's a sweet picture of some of my pincushion collection.

And if this wasn't enough, Kara is helping Allie to paint and beautify her bedroom right now! Thank you Kara for being such a help and a generally sweet person! Of course all of my girls are...lol...most of the time.
Oh and did you notice an overall improvement in the quality of the photos? Well that's because my hubby took them with his new camera that the girls and I got him for Christmas. Maybe if I'm lucky he'll teach me someday or just take my pictures for me! Time to get busy! ranette

Here's the SSCS present I made for Lisa.

I "borrowed" this picture from Lisa because her photography skills are soooo much better than mine and it's pretty and green outside there instead of gray like it is here. Lisa has a wonderful blog at Cubby House Crafts and she does amazing embroidery. I had so much fun making this little quilt and I'm glad Lisa likes it!

Thank you for another fun year of SSCS to Elf ChookyBlue. It's such a fun way to meet new friends from around the world.
ranette

SSCS is so much fun....

And I just love my present from Leanne at The Stitching Room. It's a really awesome bag made just for me!!! I can tell because it's red and white...lol Also there was a notepad and a duck-billed platypus inside the bag...cute

Look at the sweet little label.

Here's a full view of the bag and it carries my stitching in it perfectly.

Thank you Leanne! I really do love my presents a lot and you made Christmas very special for me. Thank you Chookyblue for organizing this cool swap!
ranette

Merry Christmas!

A favorite Christmas from 1966. What a fun memory...seems so long ago! LOL

May each and every one of you who reads this blog have a very Blessed and Merry Christmas! I pray that the true meaning of God's gift to us touches your hearts this day and always. Love, ranette

The stockings were hung by the chimmney with care.....

Yeah...between me and Kara we managed to get each person in our family a new stocking for this year. Kara made hers and Jacobs and I made the rest of them. Kara actually made two sets, one for her house and one for here. I should have cleaned out the fireplace....lol....didn't even notice that until now.

In case I don't make it back here before the big day...Merry Christmas to each and every one of you! ranette

It's been so long that I'm having to relearn blogging!

Seriously!!! Everything is different. I usually email my photos to myself at blogger and that won't work, HELP Chookyblue!!!

Okay, I'm going to give it my best shot, so bare with me :o) It's been busy as usual around here. Working in retail really gets the juices pumping this time of year, but at least it shows that the economy seems to be doing better.

Thank you for all of the very kind and sweet comments on Ranette's Peppermint Twist. I tried to reply to everyone, but I may have lost a few emails between my phone and computer and some of you out there are set to "no reply" and that means I can't reply directly to you, but I really do appreciate all of my blogging buddies.

I have done very little actual sewing. I did make a stocking for Allie and I'm working on two more for Emily and Joe. Kara is working on a couple for her and Jacob to hang at our house and I'll get a picture of them when they are all hung on the mantel together. They are very cute and fun to make. Other than that though I've not sewn a thing! Not even hand work...by the time I get home from work I'm pretty beat and I've got cooking, cleaning and laundry waiting for me here. I will have a bit of a break soon and hope to get re-acquainted with my sewing room.

One exciting thing is that I received my SSCS package the other day! WooHoo!!!

It came all the way from Leanne in South Australia.

Here's my present and card and cute ornament. Leanne took the wonderful photo that is on the card. She's an amazing photographer as well as a very talented stitcher! A better shot of my ornament.

And look I've got my package all safe and tucked under the tree with a Kitty guarding it.

A BIG Thank you to Leanne for being my secret santa! I'm excited to open my present and I'll get pictures and post as soon as I do. Well I'm off to get ready for work. Have a very Blessed day! ranette