Pline Christmas

Today was my mother's side of the family christmas party.  She comes from a large family and I remember my grandmother saying that she and my grandfather had no guess what they has started when them married.  What they started was a huge family.  My mother was the second oldest of 12 children.  She has lost 3 siblings, Martin, Daniel and Diana.

We long ago outgrew having the party at someone's home.  By the 1960's we were having the Christmas party at the Jaycee's hall and various other locations.  Now we hold it at the local Conservation Club.  Each year 2 of the siblings and their families are responsible for putting the party together.  This year was my mother and her youngest brother, Tony's turn.  Although it takes a good amount of work it is worth it.  My youngest brother played Santa today and I think he rather enjoyed it.

I also made what I think, even if I say to myself, the picture perfect cherry pie.  You judge,

Enjoy your families and hold them close to your heart.

Happy Thanksgiving

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday.  As my nieces and nephew have gotten older the holidays has changed for us. One off to spend the holiday with in-laws, one with future in-laws, one with a boyfriends family and the past in New York who will hopefully be home at Christmas.  So what to do for the holiday.  My mom decided that we should go to Thanksgiving dinner at the local VFW.  They were putting on a free

community dinner where people could make a donation. Mike and Carole joined us and we walked over.  You were served a plate with turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, beans, cranberries, coleslaw and a slice of bread.  And then also had a table of desserts.  It was nice.

When I got to mom's this morning she was already baking her mother's sugar cookie recipe.  I brought a batch of refrigerator cookies. So we baked them up as well.  Later in the afternoon Pamela, Ken and the kids stopped by to see grandma.

Then today we made chocolate dipped pretzels. Put up garland on the back porch, my baby sled in her bay window with packages, and christmas tree up and decorated.  And we stuck in a quick trip to Lake Odessa to the quilt show and a really nice gift shop.

Saturday and Sunday I need to get some sewing done.  Christmas gift to finish, block exchange block to finish and maybe make some peppermint bark.  Whew I just realized I didn't get my nap this afternoon, well tomorrow I can sleep in.

Happy holidays.

Best money I've ever spent. . .

Since my knee has been giving me trouble, I haven't really gotten my fall clean up done outside.  All the leaves are finally of my neighbor's maple and mine, but I haven't even gotten started.  Fortunately there has been a break in the weather.  So last week I made the decision to hire my fall clean up done.  I went with Smith Floral which I consider to be my local florist and plant provider.  Monday when I came home to see that a phenominal job had been done.  Leaves all raked to the front yard,all the perennials (and I do mean all) cut back, planters cleaned out.  I couldn't have wished for a better job done.  Here are a few pics.

I guess this means I have more time to sew.



Block Exchange

Finished this month's block exchange block.  This month was Jo's block, Card Trick, in christmas fabrics.

Tomorrow night is Charm group and the grand opening of Daisy's new three season room.  Maybe seeing her new space will encourage to seriously get into the planning of a new kitchen in my home.  My kitchen is the original 50+ year old kitchen.  It is really past due for more than a facelift.  But so many decisions to make: flooring, cabinets, countertops, backsplash. But I think I'm up to the challenge.

Clean up begins

Well this morning at 7 am the trucks and loaders were here loading up all the broken houses that got torn down yesterday.  I'm waiting for lots of calls back from people like the zoning department, etc.  I would just like some answers as to what is going to happen to the properties.

I have the pillow cases made by our small quilt group to donate to a local charity.  I believe we made something like 63 of them this year.  Will try to remember to take a picture of them before dropping them off.

Shocked and dismayed

I live is an older south central Lansing neighborhood, close to Ingham Medical Hospital.  For several years 5 houses across the street from me have been empty. I think as many as 4 of them were owned by a doctor or the hospital and one, a lady had owned, who recently passed away.  Now they weren't great homes.  Three were built on slabs but 2 did have basements and were pretty good houses, but they were homes.  Albeit one had been a drug house for a while and then a prostitute ran her business out of one, but they weren't commercial properties.  So tonight I was surprised when I drove down my street I was greeted by this sight.

It was very sad to see.  I immediately grabbed my camera and went to take pictures.  Several cars stopped and asked me what had happened to the houses, and we talked.  My deepest fear right now is that the hospital has bought the properties and torn them down to make way for a medical center.

When I bought my home 23 years ago I remember some of the old timers in the neighborhood telling me about a doctor who had bought some of these properties and had wanted to build a medical center but the neighbors rallied and they were able to stop it. That was probably back in the 70's.  I'm afraid this is more than someone wanting to pay taxes on vacant land instead of buildings.  But if something other than homes are buitd here, how detrimental is that going to be to my home's value.  The home that I just paid the mortgage off on.!!*&  I suddenly have a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Well, wha'st done is done.  I will have to renew some of my contact at city hall and see what is planned.  The neighborhood watch may have a new battle to get involved in.  Although if a building is planned I imagine it is much too late.  The saga will continue.

Fabric & quilt block

Tomorrow night is Variable Stars.  We have lots of business to take care of.  Pillow cases to donate to a local charity, and blocks for the block exchange.  I also have show and tell of some feed sack fabrics that I got at an estate sale a couple of weeks ago.


These are the feed sacks I got at an estate sale.  I especially like the pint polka dot ladies.




Pillow cases



This is 4 of Roxie's block.  She asked for 1800's reproductions and 4 blocks.  No sure how they will all go together this is just a random layout guessing what she might have in mind.

Tomorrow I get to have a EMG test to figure out why I keep having numbness and tingling in my left arm.  I've heard the test is painful, but most women handle it well.  Guess we are more paint tolerant!