Rice Park Lights

I love to see Christmas lights... lots of lights, so with that in mind - John, Tawnya and I headed to St. Paul to see the lights at Rice Park. We tried to keep warm, but it was a bit chilly. The ice skaters didn't seem to mind the cold. It was a beautiful sight with so many trees covered in lights. White lights are my favorite, but the blue trees were stunning too. Tawnya made friends with a few statues and I think she fit right in! Of course I forgot my camera, but the pictures taken on my cell phone are okay. At least they captured the moment...

 

An angel sounding the trump!

 

BFF!

 

Tawnya listening to Charlie Brown's music!

 

This is one big nutcracker! Must be in the park to help the squirrels.

 

Landmark Center in the background.

 

This one was taken from under the tree looking skyward... it was like being under a lighted umbrella!

It's Time

Each day I walk by this bench and don't give it much thought. For many years it has provided a place to perch while putting on shoes and boots. It has also been a gathering place for many borrowed items needing to be returned to folks... this part makes for a messy looking area. Lately it has become a questionable piece of furniture. Should we keep it? Should we refinish it? Should we replace it? If we replace it, what should we replace it with? Another bench? A table? A cupboard? Decisions, decisions, decisions!

Well, today I decided! It has been replaced with another bench.... we still need a place to perch. Without the back (just a simple bench) I'm hopeful it won't be such a gathering spot for other items. Just a nice place to perch!

IRISH MIST

Yes, I'm still alive. I know it's been almost a year since my last post, but this blog just hasn't been on the top (or even close to the top) of my To-Do list. Sewing has been a big part of my obsessions this year... I wanted to get tons of projects completed. Of course now that I look back... I may or may not have been successful in that area.

Here is one project that brought me much joy. It has 61 steps in the pattern (a lot of 2 1/2 inch squares), so I have been working on it all year step by step. I made it to step 58 last week only to see that a huge error had been made way back on step 27!

Do you see the mistake?

 

That's right... each of the 4 corners of the dark blue should have a green square instead of a white background square. I was a little disappointed in myself to say the least! So now what to do? Should I just let it go, or should I take the time to correct it? Better to eat a piece of fudge (or two) while trying to make this big decision! Being the perfectionist that I am, it was decided to correct the problem. So, with seam ripper in hand, I started to take my quilt apart.

It only set me back a few days. Now I can honestly say the finished project is much more pleasing to the eye, and balanced, and the way it should be.... see what I mean about perfectionist?!?

What do you think? Does it live up to the name of the pattern? IRISH MIST... and yes, my Irish heritage is why I wanted to sew this project in the first place. It will be on it's way to my quilter this week. I can hardly wait to hang this up in my home come St. Patrick's Day!

 

The luck o' the Irish is with me now!

DIET

There is a reason why the word 'die' is the major part of the word diet. It's a killer! After losing 4 pounds since the first of the year I had a total break down last night. John walked in the door after work yesterday and I said, "You are going to take me out for pizza tonight!!!"

Yes, it was a demand. NOT a request. I had given up all the good tasting food since New Year's Eve and couldn't take it any longer. Drinking water is so tasteless! I don't know why it is so dang hard to control eating - or should I say change eating habits.

I felt much better after sharing a small pizza with John. Yes, there was a twang of guilt, but I got over it. Perhaps eating a salad with the pizza helped me justify my consumption of the pizza.

Today looks much brighter. Cross your fingers that I can be successful in this journey. I would like to be much lighter before anyone has to try and carry me to my grave. Dead weight is the worst!