Snowy Blowy January Sewing Days

 Last Saturday night we had a small snowstorm that blanketed all the land including the icy paths. It was so pretty the next day in the woods. I am getting lots more enjoyment out of this winter maybe because of having Petey with us. He revels in the snow and the ball playing so much and also just romping all about on our walks. It is truly joyful to watch him. Here he is playing with his ball in the snow.

 Our Ned on the other hand, moves as little as possible and is quite happy moseying along just smelling the snowflakes. You would never guess that he is the one who will run away and it is because of that wonderful nose of his. How different the two brother are!

I glanced at the turkeys at the feeder and spied the bunny ears. They seemed not to heed each other at all. Nothing is afraid of bunnies it seems. I've been making sure the feeders are full as it's been a very cold and snowy winter with a dose of freezing rain already. 

Last year I worked steadily on one RSC EPP project and I want to work on a couple this year just to have more variety. I'm still looking. Meanwhile, I began another Snowman hanging which I found in this book below from my own little library. It's called Country Quilts For Friends written by Margaret Peters and Anne Sutton of Bunnyhill fame. I would love to stitch every seasonal project in this book. It seems I'm not happy unless I'm appliquing something. The pretty blues are deeper than the photo shows. 

I love Snowmen and here is a photo of the project. Another great thrift store book find.

 I've got the blocks cut and most of the 17 snowmen ready for stitching. I'm hoping to get in the sewing room today to choose two fabrics for the little 4 patch blocks. Funnily that will be the hardest part for me.

  I laid more stitches on What Remains is Love. I'm enjoying working with this fabric. Many of you commented that you liked this sentiment and you can check out the pattern HERE at 123Stitch. 

And I also finished the left side of the Blackbird Designs Christmas table cloth. I have the other side finished too but it needs measuring and trimming. I've finally learned from sad experiences to stitch everything with generous seam allowances then trim. 

Joy at Days Filled with Joy (what a great name!) is hosting a SAL for a tabletopper. From her first video, I learned how to cut a square from a fat quarter. This will be a quick and easy 3 part SAL. 

We are doing okay but since Christmas there seems to always be something needing attention outside  the house. Being a confirmed homebody, yes, this is a nuisance. And with steady snowfalls including two storms- update, make that three, we are struggling to keep our long laneway cleared and open. Some of you may remember the only time we've needed an ambulance here, which was for Tony, they could not get down the laneway. That event has made me more aware of the importance of cleared access. Tony insists on doing the plowing himself and I do applaud him for his determination to keep moving, but I keep hoping he will change his mind and we avail of one of the many snow clearing services here.  

Our outings included a round of appointments for Tony who is holding his own healthwise which is encouraging. He has an upcoming appointment for another CT scan on his lungs to check on that nodule. He thinks he is weaker but I don't see any difference except he is coughing more. He had the sad news that his longest and very like minded friend passed away last week. He was ten years younger than Tony but had struggled with lung and heart problems in recent times and it was his heart that gave out in the end. He was a brilliant fellow and, in fact, has a son who works with Google and gives Ted Talks.

Thank you all for the comments on my last post. More people have said to me how rare it is for a doctor to do that; in fact, what happened to me seems to be something fairly rare but I'm happy to hear does happen. 

I hope these January days are filled with all the little things that you love because, in the end, it is lots of those little things that wind up meaning the most. 

Happy to share with linky parties at Kathy's Quilts, Alycia Quilts, Life in Pieces, Melva Loves Scraps and Quilting is More Fun Than Housework.