where have I been?

WOW!  I can't believe it's been nearly 6 weeks since I blogged.  I have been trying to catch up on some projects, stay afloat at work, and finish getting the old house ready to put on the market. 

Good news.... the house is now officially for sale, and we actually had someone go through it the second day it was on RMLS. 

been working on getting a few items ready for our quilt show next month. 

We are having a wonderful winter weatherwise.  It's like spring out there.  This was our sunrise one day last week.  Isn't it beautiful? 

Happy New Year! The year of the diminishing UFOs.

Well,  the holidays have come and gone.... it's back to work.... and I still need to de-decorate my house.  With the move and wanting to entertain several small groups of friends and family, we had guests for dinner this last Sunday,  I decided to keep my trees and decorations out until this next weekend.   Only a couple more nights of enjoying the lights on the trees.  I'm off to buy some more plastic totes tomorrow to put it all away.   (My old cardboard boxes won't do out in the shop, as they are not mouse proof).  my plan for anything that can make nesting material, is to put in a tote, and seal shut with tape.  In all the years we've been married, I've always had inside storage for these things..... so if anyone has any better ideas for me,  please let me know.....

I have done a little sewing while on my break..... I'll have to get pics uploaded and posted of you all.  Now, if I can just get these projects finished!

I'm on  a mission to finish up UFO's.... and to work on using up some of this stash of fabric I just relocated.  Charity quilt projects are on my horizon.....   While it can be convenient to have a lot of fabric on hand, especially since I love scrappy quilts,  it can also be overwhelming.... I just made a checkerboard sashing for a quilt top.... cut, and cut, and cut...... still have a stack of those same fabrics...... I think it multiplied like bunnies.....

New Sewing Area

I finally got the sewing area organized and ready to sew last week.  I was a tester for Jess' Mystery Quilt over at the Quilt and Needle Forum.  It's going on this weekend,  you should all go check it out.  Jess has once again designed a unique pattern for us to stitch. 

Anyhow.... here a a few photos of my area before I got it all messy.... LOL

I need to make a few minor adjustments,  but it seems to be working well so far.....  Now... If  I could just finish organizing the craft storage room.....

December Already....

I can't believe that December is already upon us.   We have beautiful sunny skies, but cold temps for our region.  It was only 27 degrees this morning when I came to work.    There is so much to do to get ready for the holidays.  Seems like weekends have already started filling up with activities.    I do love this time of year, though....

more pics of new house...

Well,  here is a picture of Mt. Hood from the upper deck.   Now, if we could just convince our neighbor to cut down the big tree on the left....  it's about an hour drive to get to the ski slopes, but neither of us ski anymore... the sunrises over that eastern ridge have been beautiful to watch.    

This is the view we have from the dining room table and upper deck, looking south east towards our closest neighbor.  Their house is just beyond these trees, completely hidden from our view.   We can hardly wait for warm summer evenings to enjoy sitting on the deck. 

We have furniture.... in the dining room.

And the living room.... That wooden Indian was actually in a hollywood movie!  He got shot in the chest during gun shot scene and has a wound.

 We found these cute western lamps at a liquidation store for $5 each.  The lamp shades were more than the lamps!   I have two more to make a floor lamp out of....

I can hardly wait to resurface that hearth and add a timber type mantel!   River rock?  Field stone?  The really sad part is that I found a picture in a drawer while cleaning that showed the fireplace BEFORE they did this to it.  I wanted to cry....   Remember the plans for an addition and actual front door entry way?  It will eventually be where that window is.... it will wrap around the back side of the fireplace  and extend 10 feet out.  Room for a nice coat closet....

Still working on the bedroom... we want to switch to a king size bed, since the room is 12x 24.  Mike didn't want to take pictures of the unpacked boxes on the floor.                    

Here is the family room... It also needs some facelifting done on the fireplace.... but since we can still see the fieldstone definitions, I'm going to try paint first....  What were they thinking? This is the view I'll have from my sewing machines.

This is the wall we redid, taking out a tiny 9'x9' room that was enclosed.  You can see my machine peeking up over the half wall.  Those are the boxes I still need to unpack.  The weird, loose stuff that is harder to put away....   the french doors open to the garden and lower deck / patio area with our hot tub on it.   

      

The birds have found the feeders I put up... I've trimmed back one of the wisterias, but still have the largest one to go.....

Lets go check out the craft room....

Well  you can see I still have some work to do in here.... I need to put a ceiling light in... finish organizing the fabric stash...  and find the center work table surface....   I will post more later, but need to accomplish something first.    Can't do it sitting here blogging, that's for sure, so until next time.... here is hoping everyone is having a wonderful Thanksgiving day. 

Our New Home...

This is the inside of our new living room.   I just love the warm wood ceilings.   Need to do something about the white rock fireplace, but time will take care of that.
We are decorating with a "cabin" or "lodge" theme.  DH and I are still discussing what goes into a lodge or cabin,  but it seems to be working out ok so far.   I'm more of an eclectic person.... He is more focused.  He wants all log furniture.... I would like to stick with some of our antique furniture.    Time will  take care of that as well,  I'm sure.

This is the south facing view....  reminds me of Smurfville.... lots of blue.....  (now don't get me wrong.... I love blue..... but this doesn't shout  "CABIN" or  "LODGE"  to me..... I envision rock foundation,  wood and stone pillars,  wrought iron railings,  and brown wood tone siding.   I won't mess with the blue roof.

We won't be making exterior changes until after our other house sells, and the weather improves next spring.  That will give us time to think a little bit about our final plans.

From the corner of the upper deck,  we have a sliver of a view of Mt. Hood, which right now is covered with new fall snow.    I might have a pic of the view somewhere.... I'll take a look and see.

We are surrounded by trees.  In fact... we can only see one house from the decks or from inside.   A friend of ours that lives up the street from our previous home was out to visit, and he just couldn't get over the openness and no houses crowded nearby.


This is the driveway, and Mike's garage on the North side.   See what I mean about the blue?     We found plans in a closet for a 200 sq. ft. addition which would place an actual front door entryway where that one window is that you see.     (This was the one window that was not updated to new vinyl windows when they did that project. )

I'll take pics of the house with our furnishings and post soon.  (when I finally get the boxes totally out of the way, LOL)

It's been awhile since I've been here....

Well,   last time I was posting, we were getting ready for the big move.   I am happy to report that it's nearing it's end.     We still have the last hold-out spots to move, such as... under the basement stairs,   the attic,  (I'll need to do this to decorate for Christmas),  the garden shed,  the garage misc.,  and the back shed where camping and boating stuff are stored.  The biggest hold up is we need to build more shelves down in Mike's big shop.

I am one spoiled girl !!!    I packed and unpacked lots of craft and sewing supplies.  The trick is getting it all organized into two separate spaces.... one for storage, and the other a work area that is supposed to be kept neat. Ha! I'll try my best.....   Pics to come later.....  We are still in process.    I must say that I've unpacked all but a dozen boxes that have come into the house.  And I wasn't allowed to stack any boxes in the garage or shop, so that has kept me on task.

We have already enjoyed watching the sunrise over the ridge on more than one occasion from our hot tub on the lower deck....    The cat seems to be adjusting.....  The birds have found the feeders...

 Life is good,  and I am so thankful for all I have been blessed with.

  Happy Thanksgiving!