I Like Thursday #149

 Welcome to my 149th I Like Thursday post.  Thank you to LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color for encouraging us to find things we like/love to share and bring a little lightness, brightness to the world.  

I like that my days have slowed down after Paczki Day last week.  After a few days of recovery I actually started to sew again.  

I finished the applique on a table topper I was making for Valentine's Day.  Yep I know a wee bit late. 

I pieced the backing and the quilting from the applique is kind of awesome looking.  I am currently working on the binding.  I like that I shopped my stash for the fabrics, backing, and binding. 

Since I finished the applique project I guess I should work on another project that has been sitting around for a while too.  More machine applique.  

I am using some specialty threads.  I have a lot more to do, but starting is good in my book. 

I saw this towel at work and thought it was awesome.

I think this towel needed to come out about a year ago when we were on a much more stringent lock down.  

After days of cold, some minus temperatures, snow, ice we had this today.

We actually got to 51 degrees.  It was nice to be outside and walk a bit.

While I have been resting up I have been reading.

Night Walker by Jean Hager, this is the 2nd installment of the Mitch Bushyhead series.  An odious resort owner is found dead during a blizzard in one of his employees vehicles.  Mitch has to calm the fears of the Native employees who fear a Night Walker, a Cherokee Witch.  Is it the housekeeper recently fired, and is in fear of losing her home.  The desk clerk that he had been having a extra marital affair?  The chef that was actively looking for a new position, but due to a negative reference, has lost future opportunities?  How about his younger sister, and he controls her trust?  Or the estranged wife he is currently engaged in a bitter divorce?

Cinco De Murder by Rebecca Adler.  This is the 3rd installment of the Taste of Texas Mysteries.  It is Fiesta Cinco De Mayo in Broken Boot, Texas. When one of the top contenders in the Chili Cook Off is found dead, Josie Callahan is determined to find the culprit, since the town council wants to oust her uncle due to the murder at the event.  

Death in Kalkinchie by Carly Reid.  Jessica Greer is settling into village life in Dalkinchie, Scotland.  Working at the local newspaper she is covering the Crafts Show and while the head judge is sampling the marmalade from the local Laird's cook, he keels over dead.  

Now head over to LeeAnna's at Not Afraid of Color to check out the other I Like Posts.  

I Like Thursday #148

 Welcome to my 148th I Like Thursday post.  Thank you LeeAnna for encouraging us to find things that we like, are positive, or uplifting to share.  

I survived Paczki Day!  I had a some help at least.  Saturday I made 240 boxes.  Sunday I was off.  Monday I went in at midnight and on top of doing donuts that day with some help we made about 400 boxes of Paczki.  Tuesday morning I braved the blizzard and we made 576 individual Paczek for the showcase, and over 800 boxes of Paczki.  We laughed when it was all over and called it the great Paczki Debacle because with all the snow and ice, there were very few customers.  You can read more about Paczki here.  Since Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, it isn't like you could push Paczki day back because of the weather.  This is my 2nds year, and I think I should get a shirt that states "I survived Paczki Day!".  

Since I have been working a lot of  12 hour days it was a challenge to come up with some things to share.  I do love the creativity of the M & M bags though.

Friends don't let Friends eat chocolate Alone!

Emotional Support Candy.

This morning I spied some lovely plants at work.

These beautiful tulips.  They reminded me of a summer, all oranges and yellow!

Small pots of Pinks!  I just love these little old fashioned plants.  My great grandmother always planted pinks in her yard.  

Thanks for stopping by now head over to Not Afraid of Color to see the other I Like Thursday posts.

I Like Thursday #147

 Welcome to my 147th I Like Thursday post.  Thank you LeeAnna of Not Afraid of Color for encouraging us to find things we like/love and share with others.  

While many are having huge snow events, ours have been minimal.  The kids get out and make sure that the driveways, walkways, porches and paths to all the animals are shoveled.  They even shovel a huge area for Bobbin to use to potty.   I smile when I see all the kitty paw prints in the fresh snow.  They patrol the grounds to ensure there are no interlopers.

Our temperatures have been downright frigid.  Wednesday morning it was 4 degrees!  But the extreme cold temperatures also can be useful.  My off I defrosted one of the freezers.  All I had to do was empty the freezer and put the stuff out on the porch in coolers and bins. 

I had went to the barn to retrieve a cooler and came upon this old enamelware chamber pot.  

I heard stories that the bathroom was not installed in the house until the mid 40's.  Up until then there was an outhouse, so I am sure this came in handy on those cold winter nights.  

Oh and one freezer only took me 1 hour to complete defrost, and clean. My next day off I will do the other.  

Valentine's Day is Sunday, and the store has such pretty azalea trees.  I just had to take a picture.  A reminder that spring is on its way eventually. 

I finished my table runner that matches my mug rug.
 

I was so proud that I had shopped my stash to make it.  

I have been working on a wool piece now that the binding is on the table runner.  

I just had a realization.  I don't know where I put the rest of the blocks for this BOM.  Hmmm.

I only read a couple of books this week.

Flipped for Murder by Maddie Day.  Robbie Jordan has purchased a small country store where she serves breakfast, and lunch and sells antique kitchenware.  The assistant to the mayor of the small Indiana town of South Lick is found shot to death in her home and Robbie as the newcomer is instantly the top of the suspect list.  

This Side of Murder by Anna Lee Huber.  It is just a short time after the end of WWI and Verity Kent

has been invited to a house party for one of the former officers who had served with her husband during the war.  The only reason Verity attends is that she receives a cryptic letter which infers that her husband, who was killed during the war was a traitor.  

Now head over to LeeAnna's and check out the other l Like Thursday posts. 

I Like Thursday #146

 It is Thursday, already?  

Welcome to my 146th I Like Thursday post.  Thank you to LeeAnna of Not Afraid of Color for encouraging us to find things that we like, love and share--to add a little light and positivity to our world. 

I saw this towel at work.  No I didn't buy it, but it is too cute, isn't it?

When Bobbin was attending obedience school there was a Corgi, his name was Finn. 

I also saw this shopping bag and it made me giggle.

I mean who doesn't love a pun?

I usually drink from an antique canning jar, I like the blue ones.  I haven't broken any, but the downside is that they do tend to sweat.  I saw his sleeve, and lid with straw hole recently and I really like them. 

I have been working on my projects slowly.  Then I got distracted.  I had a Valentine's centerpiece I wanted to make, so I shopped my stash.  Once I chose the fabrics and started, I got distracted with the thought, hey I need a Valentine's Day table runner and since the fabric is already out.... and of course if I have a table runner I think I may need a mug rug too.  So far I finished the mug rug and have been using it.  

Perhaps my table runner will be done in a day or two.  The table topper is applique and I have stalled out after cutting out all the hearts.  But I will have it done before Valentine's Day, some year. ;)

Since my light in my sewing room is still waiting for the electrician my sewing time has been negligible.  But I did do some cutting and threw together this piece.  I thought it would be a wall hanging, but it ended up much larger than I anticipated.

The pattern is called the Red River Quilt, and the panel is Charlie Harper Sierra Range.  I like seeing all these different patterns for panels lately.  

I have owned Electric Quilt for several years, but never spent much time in it.  I decided to take a class and I will say after just 4 lessons I am excited to use it more.  

Finally my book selections for the week.  

Death by Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake by Sarah Graves.  This is a spin off series from the original Home Repair is Homicide, same protagonist  Jacobia Tiptree, but now she and her best friend own a shop specializing in chocolate desserts called The Chocolate Moose.  Business is going well until Matt Muldoon is found face down in their chocolate pot.  Throw in a hurricane, a surprise daughter-in-law, and getting ready for a Coast Guard fundraiser and Jacobia barely has time to breath let alone find the murderer. 

Feliz Navidead is the 3rd installment of the Santa Fe Cafe Mysteries by Ann Myers.  Rita is trying to convince her Midwest Mother that Christmas in Santa Fe is awesome.  Until Rita discovers a dead devil during the outdoor Christmas pageant which is held annually. 

Add some relics which are being repatriated from a wealthy socialite and a donkey on a diet and life gets very interesting.  

Shadow Dancer by Dinah Miller.  FBI Agent John Treehorn has a phenomenal solved case rate, until he is assigned to a 15 year old cold case involving a kidnapping of several teen boys, and the disappearance of their chaperone on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona.  The book is very good, but I will warn you it is very dark too.

The Good, The Bad, and the Guacamole by Rebecca Adler is the 2nd installment of the Taste of Texas Series. 

People are pouring into Broken Boot to check out the annual Homestead Days Celebration.  Josie is looking for an interview with up and coming country singer Jeff Clark, who was last seen leaving the dance hall with Josie's best friend Goth Girl Patti Lopez.  When Josie finds Jeff dead in Patti's living room, it is a race to find the killer before her friend goes to jail for a murder she didn't commit, and the bands leave town.  

The Pot Thief Who Studied Pythagoras by J. Michael Orenduff was a fun read, even though initially I was not a fan of Hubert Shuze who sells Indian Pottery in his shop.  But all the twists and turns in this book made it a fun and interesting read, and Hubert does end up having some redeeming qualities. 

Now head over to LeeAnna's at Not Afraid of Color to check out the other I Like Thursday posts.