A Winter Sunday

I know we must be the only family in the USA that won't be watching the Super Bowl today.

My Hubby isn't a sports guy at all.

And if I haven't seen some postings on Facebook I wouldn't even know what teams were playing.  

So no Super Bowl Party here.

Rather it's Downton Abbey and Sherlock BBC America TV tonight!  

On the home front I changed out my chalkboard writing from Christmas to Winter theme. 

See how easy it was to make this chalkboard (here). 

It's a warm 53 degrees here today and our snow is slowly melting.  

But, don't worry, 3 to 5 inches of snow is predicted for tomorrow!

I cleaned my stove and oven yesterday.  

I love it when they sparkle. 

Today I cleaned our powder room and tomorrow while Hubby is taking a continuing education course all day I will tackle our master bath and bedroom.

Of course all I really want to do is sew, crochet, watch TV and/or read. 

I have a neighbor, Bunco galpal and friend who is expecting her third child in a few days.  

I found a cute free baby throw pattern called "Leaping Stripes and Blocks Blanket" by Moogly on Pinerest and I think I will try to whip up a quick crocheted baby throw for her.  

The sex of the baby is a secret so I picked some soft neutral pastel colors from my stash in lime, light orangy and white yarns.   

But you will have to wait to see it.  

Speaking of babies...I have to brag.  

Isn't our grandniece, Eva, beautiful?

Oh My...Ten Years Is Too Long!

The camp store was filled with "bear" items.

Can you believe it had been ten years since we have camped with my Hubby's twin brothers!

Our campground.

Way too long!

We met up at Bear Run Campground in western Pennsylvania.   

Hugged by a bear!

Hubby's twin brothers are eight years younger and they are still working full-time jobs.  

Busy lives!

So it is difficult for everyone to get time off together.

Our site and little travel van.

Plus one twin brother has three natural grandchildren and one step grandchild.  

The grandbabies are keeping them hopping...and they love it!  

But, they needed a break and managed to get away for a few days.  

Hubby's brother arriving.

We arrived first at the campground last Sunday afternoon and set up camp trying to find a level gravel/grass spot for, "Little Guy", our travel van, 

,,,saving the nice leveled paved site for Keith and Jane's travel trailer and truck. 

Me and my sister-in-law, Jane.

Hubby and his brother, Keith.

Monday we drove an hour and a half to visit Hubby's cousin, Carol.   

Keith, Carol and Hubby.

Carol is the sweetest lady who happens to be a gifted artist and quilter.  

One of Carol's beautiful quilted table runners.

Her quilts have won ribbons at quilt shows.  

And, boy, can this woman draw and paint.  

Carol painted this for her uncle when she was only 19 years old!

While visiting Carol I noticed she had a beautiful wildlife scene on her walls in her foyer.  

I assumed it was wallpaper. 

Imagine my surprise when Carol asked if we saw the wildlife scenery she painted!  

This is NOT wallpaper!

Jane asked if she penciled in the deer before painting them and Carol said "No".  

 She just painted (with latex paint) the figures and scenery as she went along.  

Could you draw and paint this without drawing it in pencil first?

I couldn't!

 She doesn't even realize how talented she is and that most people can't do this.

No clue at all!!

  

Wow...wow and wow!

Isn't this just stunning!

I asked Carol if she would come visit us for a month.

But she didn't get the hint.

The other wall.

After visiting with Carol we drove over to another cousin's farm and had supper with a bunch of  cousins.  

Now I should mention that Carol had fixed delicious sloppy joe sandwiches and strawberry shortcake for dessert for us for lunch.  

Carol's black lab, "Cash", named after "the man in black", never tired of playing ball.  

 So...we were pleased we managed to keep a straight face when Hubby's other cousin called us to supper and served us...yep...you guessed it... sloppy joes!  

And when she  asked who wanted strawberry shortcake for dessert we didn't say a word or crack a smile.  

We had a good laugh later though about the duplicate meals but really we didn't mind because it's one of our favorite meals and desserts.  

 The kicker is I had bought hamburger to make sloppy joes for one of our camping meals.  

Needless to say we skipped having sloppy joes for a third time!  

LOL !

Me and the cutest little horse.

After supper we went across the road to the barn to see and feed the horses.  

They all came out of the barn to eat.

This is a real treat for a city gal like me.  

Hubby's uncle raised Appaloosas horses on his farm for many years before he passed.  

Me giving "Ollie" a treat.

There are a few horses left on the farm including, "Ollie", a miniature horse. 

Niko petting one of his horses.

I caught myself saying "pretty" as the horses approached me...but as they got closer I changed to saying...

 "pretty... B.I.G!"

Trying not to act nervous as the BIG horses came nearer.  

I have always loved horses but more by worshiping them from afar.  

Lovely...they really are beautiful animals.  

What about you?   

Are you a horse lover?

I had never seen a life-size horse on top of a barn before!

This barn was by our campground.  

 We had a wonderful surprise greeting us when we returned to the campground.  

Hubby's other brother, Kevin, drove up to join us.  

He stayed at a deluxe cabin with his own bathroom, kitchen, cable TV and WiFi. 

We tried to not be jealous.   

We huddled around the campfire and roasted marshmallows and made s'mores and laughed and talked and just had a great time.

The adventure continues...so stay tuned! 

Frogged It...

I tried undoing just the ends of the rows that were off. 

 But it didn't work so I frogged back EIGHT colors - all the way back to black. 

 That's them - the frogged yarn in the little eight balls of yarn along the side. 

 I'm re-crocheting them in a slightly different order than before. 

 This is why it better not to sew your ends in as you go along on some projects.

This may be my next project. 

 I loved this flower afghan and broke down and purchased the downloadable pattern on Ravelry yesterday.

I gathered together some of the Caron Simply Soft yarns I recently purchased that I think would look beautiful in this afghan. 

I haven't tried crocheting one of the flowers yet. 

 The pattern has lots of photos but no diagram of the flower. 

 I like written patterns with photos and even tutorial videos but I also like to see a corresponding diagram. 

 I'm more of a visual type of person.

(Source:  Pinterest)

This is what the Waikiki WildFlower afghan should look like. 

 Well, this beauty will have to wait until I finish my Rainbow Scrap Afghan.

Want to see two sweet baby cousins? 

 Our grandniece and nephew are growing up like brother and sister.

Thanks for visiting!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Happy Father's Day

To all the great DADS out there including ours who are in heaven...

We love and miss you!

Both of our Dads loved our Mothers. 

 We were so lucky!

My flowers enhanced with special effects with the Photo Toaster iPhone app.

Pretty stunning isn't it?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Happy Birthday Honey!

Who's this cutie?

What a smile!

All grown up - my handsome man!

You are the love of my life!  

Photo taken on our 38th anniversary {{May 25, 2012}}

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

June 8th

I love you forever and ever!

Make that 38! Yep, that's 38 YEARS of LOVE!

May 25, 1974

Thirty eight years ago I married the love of my life!

{{posted wedding photo here}}

Just to prove we were YOUNG and SLIM once upon a time...

and had lots more HAIR then too!

These self photos were taken on New Year's Eve, December 31, 1974.

Hubby is sooooo cute!

He has the nicest smile.

Photos were taken in our first apartment in Mt. Propect, Illinois.  It was a "garden" apartment which means it was a basement apartment.  The landlady and her family lived right above us.  Not the greatest apartment...we moved the next year to a nicer apartment in Palatine, Illinois.  

Wow...was I ever that thin!!!!  

First married Christmas together.

When we were back in Ohio last week my brother was looking at another older photo of me stating he didn't remember me with long hair.  

I only had long hair for over a decade.  

LOL!

Hubby is taking me out for our anniversary dinner tonight.   

My heart bursts with LOVE for this man!