I'm still here

we took a much needed break and went to our daughter's house for Thanksgiving week

the plan was for me to rest and not do anything that would make the pain issues I'd been having any worse

while I was there I did a few projects with my daughter -- she's planning a birthday party for Mr Cute that will include 4 year olds decorating cookies, so I was the "pinning and pressing" assistant while she constructed aprons for each of the little boys that will be there

last year I made Mr Cute a pair of bright orange mittens

he recently told his mama that he needed another pair of mittens so he could have a pair to wear while the first pair was drying

I was happy to do that for him -- and he was pretty happy with these brightly colored stripped ones!

I made this Christmas wall hanging for my daughter a few years ago

when I first made it there were only two snowmen, a bird and one dog

a couple of years after that I added a second dog, and four years ago I added the third snowman

earlier this year they sadly said goodbye to that very first dog, so while I was there I made another small adjustment to the piece -- embroidering a little gold "halo" over that dog's head


since we came home we have been working hard -- the painting is all done, the kitchen and family room are nearly finished

tomorrow I will be in the basement doing organizing and rearranging in my studio area -- something that will almost feel like I'm getting do do something more creative than painting a ceiling or scrubbing a floor --- I'm actually looking forward to it

we hope to have the For Sale sign up next week