Ready for the New Year Already

I love when it is time for a new year, I love the new beginning.  I've been thinking ahead of how I can do things differently, more positively for myself/family/business/allofit.

So...How was y'all's holiday?  Did you get along with your family members this year?  Did you give thoughtful gifts?

You know, I've been saying this for years but now I am actually going to do it, my budget is a little wider than it used to be, with the kids grown and all.  If I see something and it would be perfect for someone, I'ma gonna get it and save it for Christmas.  And...I'm going to remember where I put the stuff for safekeeping, too.  Gonna write myself a note.

I am working on a delightful project right now, should be finished in a couple days.  It is 3 of my elephants, in graduated sizes, each half a size larger.  I have the small one and the medium finished, they are turning out nicely.   I'll post a couple pics, for sure...and then I am making a larger version of the Lazy Pony, out of muslin.

We have a Print Shop, Shelton Printing, here in town, he has a copier there that can enlarge a pattern on regular sized 8.5 x 11 paper, in my case 330%.  So cool, and not expensive at all.  (They don't take debit cards).

So, as the deepest, darkest unit of Winter is forging upon us, I will say that I will not be all weathery alla time...but if we have a decent amount of snow and/or cold, I will be mentioning it now and then.

Tomorrow night we are going to a little After Christmas get together at one of our newer neighbors house.  I really hope they supply some "Hi, My Name Is..." stickers and not because I want to put a fake name on there just in case ...because I am terrible at names.  I can't remember a first name if I don't have the last name.  I have to know them both, and I will most usually refer to them with first and last names...unless they have a distinct middle name, I can do first name middle name actually better than first name last name.

My little family in Germany?  They are doing well.  Delilah just celebrated her 3rd birthday, and I got up early so I could Skype and be at the party, too.  They play and learn every day, she can almost write her name all by herself.  I miss them, and I'm thankful for the technology that we can actually see each other.

Oh, you want to know about Maria?  Glad you asked.  She is absolutely the best.  Her separation anxiety is pretty much non existent, no more barking when I leave, no more barking when I get home.  She's without a doubt mine, and I am so happy to have her.

I had a very successful Selling Season this year.  Kept my hands happy most of the month, and then the projects above...I'm enjoying the time from work.  I miss it, but I did need a break from it.  The boys are taking care of it just fine.  I miss my tips and paycheck, too.

Today my Young Son accompanied me to visit my friend I've had the longest, he was 2 when she and I were neighbors.  Her kids remember him, he didn't remember a soul.  Nice of him to go with me, though.  They enjoyed seeing him "all grown up."

This is my Aunt Betty.  She is 90 years old.

She is a hoot!  

So, time to hit the feathers.

Play Nice!  xxoo

Where Have I Been?

Life has continued in my little slice of Heaven on Earth.

We have my daughter's pets until this coming Saturday.  Sweetheart and I are waking up super early to take them to the airport, which is about a 2 hr drive from our house...luckily it is on a Saturday morning, we won't have to deal with any rush-hour traffic.

I haven't had to drive in it for awhile, It has been quite a few years.  When I was young and foolish, I'd drive anywhere, any time, shoot, I took off to St. Louis from Independence in the middle of a huge snowstorm once, and I made it, too.

Nowadays, nope.  Driving through the city is too much for me to do, I even had a friend drive my car downtown to pick Delilah up from a wedding so her parents could stay.  His girlfriend came, they sat in the front, D and I sat in the back.  I would never have found that place, I promise.

I know a lot of you are thinking I should consult my GPS...and I agree, just haven't been able to get it to work yet.  I'll try on the way to the airport this weekend.

Off they will be flying, to Germany.  What a fiasco getting all their paperwork processed.  I have to say that I am pleased with my dealings with the USDA in Topeka, KS.  Catherine, if by chance you come across this, I really respect what you do.  Those forms were a conundrum for me...for you to be able to keep that straight x a bazillion of the same thing at the same time...and was pleasant the whole time, too.  I appreciate that.

I've been cranking out the Critters with all this new time on my hands.  I am enjoying feeling creative again, and Maria, while a bit anxious at times, is still my number one girl.  I think once her "partner in peskiness," Rilo, has gone home to her mother, Maria will calm down a bit.  Not sure, but seems like Rilo is the first bark I hear, usually.

Back to business/Critters...I received a very cool light box from my Darling Daughter for my birthday, and I have been using it.  I realized that I had many more Critters than I thought, and didn't have pics of  quite a few of them.

Here's the set up in my sewing room.  It's a little makeshift, but it works. 

As you can see up at the top of this post, the pics of my Critters, I've added quite a few.  You might want to clickety over and take a look at them, especially my Christmas Critters for this year.  A couple of retro from last year's Christmas Critters.  If you do, let me know in the comments which of my Critters you think would be a good Christmas Critter.  

Thanks for stopping by, I'll be back soon.  

Play Nice!  xxoo

Moving right along...

September has come and gone in the blink of an eye.  The trees at the golf course are just beginning to turn...we had such a mild Summer, which was nice, but leads to a bitter cold, snowy winter.

Plans at this time are that "they," (Board of Directors) are going to close the Pro-Shop down at the end of October, turn the utilities way down, and save a "buncha moola" from lower utility rates.  They are going to lay off the greens keeper, too.  Supposedly...

I'm not worried.  I have another place I can go to work, and I have some other arrangements that will help make ends meet until March.  And besides, everything works out the way it is supposed to.

On the Handmade by Cosmo front, I've been stitching and stuffing like crazy, I have so many Critters waiting for the finishing touches...it's crazy...I really am looking forward to some free time, I am ready to wake up, take a shower, put on clean jammies, and be creative.  Christmas is coming, I have a lot to do.

As for me and Maria...she's another reason why I am ready to have some time off this Winter.  She's such a lovely, well tempered girl.  I've been walking her and Rilo, (Danielle's girl) after work.  Karma would like to go, too, but it's a long way for an elder with such short legs.

I love this dog.  showere

October 1st

We've had some rainstorms here today.  I had to put 3 carts away in between showers and  left 15 mins. early, I had been home 10 mins. (We live 1.5 miles from the golf course) and my car safe in the garage before the hail started falling.  About quarter size.  

Maybe one more round of storms, probably about the time I am going to bed.  

I have a tight schedule tomorrow, morning errands that should be completed by 9:00 am.

Gonna hit the feathers.  Play Nice.  xxoo

My new friend, Maria, and other stuff

I don't know what I was so worried about, bringing this new dog into my life, because I love her!  She is beautiful and loving and gentle and is so smart!  The 2 older dogs here don't know what to think of her, but they'll adjust, after a rocky morning, we're having a peaceful evening.

Be looking for some new Critters in my shop, probably by the end of the week.  I have quite a few that are in the "finishing up" stage.

Quite at home.  

Here are a couple of sneak peeks, unedited photos for my etsy shop.  

This lazy pony is made out of muslin instead of felt.

All natural colors, I love the look. 

This squirrel was done in an embossed felt, 

with coordinating belly and forehead.  

This squirrel, done in muslin.  I really love this pattern.  

Wanna see another one?  

You sure?  

Ok

The very elusive, rarely seen...Zebra Squirrel.

Known for it's red nose, and glittery forehead and belly.

Quite a catch.

So, now that you've been updated on what's been going on around here, I have to go find a good harness pattern on Pinterest for my new canine.  

Play Nice!  xxoo

Maria

Did I mention that I was recently rescued by a most adorable, sensitive, gentle canine?

This little girl has more love in her that seems possible.

We're going to be Therapy Girls together, and visit the elder hones here in town.  This girl, my Maria, will be a great comfort to them.

There's just something about this one.

Play Nice.  xxoo

What Have I Done?

We just got both kids outta the house, and I go and adopt a dog?

How could I resist?

Off to Amazon.com to do some shopping!  *squee*

Play Nice!  xxoo

A planned day vs. reality. Reality won.

I am happy to have a day off, slept in a little bit, had a shower and put on clean jammies.  I was already thinking what I was going to make today, but I wanted to try out my new photo box that DD got me for my birthday...got that set up, battery dead in the camera.

Alright, I am not at work, it is a beautiful day here.  We had a storm this morning that was nice to listen to.  My battery will be charged in a minute, I'll just go cut out a pig or something.  Went into my sewing room to do just that, but I had gotten a couple of props out for the photo shoot...I've been thinking about putting a little something with my Critters, but wasn't finding what I was looking for.  The thought popped in my head that I, myself, do actually own a good amount of what we call "Little Guys"  Like for example, a little hand carved Giraffe...anyway, these are stored away in a dresser, different drawers, There area absolutely no clothes in that dresser, it is full of a bunch of stuff I've gathered over the years.

An hour later, I have a basket of Little Guys, but no felt has been cut as of yet.

I'll go try now.  Wish me luck!

3:12, back from the grocery store.  Better to go get the supplies for the Pro Shop today instead of in the morning.  Had to change into real clothes, put on a bra...but I made it.  Got my jammies back on, having a cold beverage...gotta check and make sure I haven't missed anything on facebook, right?

I re-listed a bunch of Critters yesterday, Getting ready to do some more, battery is charged, but my get up and get at it is a little in need of a rest for a few.

A thought entered my head, re which Critter to make.  I have the felt in front of me, and the pattern.  All I needs is a little Netflix in the background.

Show you what I came up with next time, until then, go take a look at the other Critters, yeah?

Play Nice!  xxoo

At This Particular Point in Time

If there is a parallel universe from ours, I wonder where the other me is, what she's up to.  I wonder if she wonders about me.  What would be opposite of me, is what I wonder.  I have been married 3 times and now I'm settled and happy with Sweetheart....did the other me marry the one I loved the most and lived happily ever after?

That would be awesome, because I always envisioned us living out our later years together.  I always thought we'd end up at the end together...he was the one I loved.

There have been lovers after, but that right there, that was love, and I wish we could have kept it.  Regrets, I have a few...but every single thing happens for a reason.

In case you were wondering, this is what I did today.

@6:00 am I was awakened by the canines that share my bed.
@6:03 am I have to pee, thanks to the canines.  I let them out of my bedroom.
@6:04 am Sweetheart lets the ding dang canines out.  I am back in bed.
@6:10 am Sweetheart lets all the canines back into my bedroom.,
@7:00 am 1st alarm  goes off, we all know we have another hour of slumber.
@8:00 am  Mamma gotta get up, y'all stand back.

By 9:00 I'm usually there,at the pro shop, Tuesday - Sunday.

La La La,
Play Nice
xxoo

Watching

I was "told" yesterday that I would have a gift from the Universe today, so I was watching.

• Saw one of my tomatoes turning red.
• Saw a butterfly flit around the flowers around the patio. 
• Watched birds at the bird feeder and birds at the birdbath. 
• Watched someone play golf,  and hopefully made friends with someone new.  

I realized, as I was watching...that all of these things, and everything else, is a gift.  

Play Nice.  xxoo

Topsy Turvy

Life at the Pro-Shop has been crazy lately.  The A/C for it is fritzed, and we can't afford to fix it, so I think I'ma gonna have to move upstairs and that's going to be some reorganizing like crazy...After 4 years I have it set up pretty perfectly, logically for me, and now I get to re-do.  Change is good, it's good for the soul, keeps a person alive.

The new space I will have to work with, if all goes according to temporary plans, is that I'll have a much bigger area to work in, much more storage space, still plenty of room for my knick knacks and plants and personal stuff.  I've always made my workplace my own.

In the past week I have learned that I am home.  That's a pretty cool feeling.  I was offered a "way out."  Free and clear, my choice, and I chose to stay, and while being alone was something I thought I wanted so badly, when it became available, I couldn't go.  I'm happy about that.

"When elephants fight, it's the grass that suffers."  I don't know who said it, I read it in a Reader's Digest in a doctor's waiting room a long time ago.  When my sweetheart and I aren't in sync, everyone (our friends at the club) are confused, uncomfortable...It's crazy how much another person's attitude can affect every one's attitude, but I've seen it, first hand.  And I've seen it get better when we get better, which we are, which is a relief.

That's how much influence we each and everyone one of us have on every person we come into contact with daily.

I have been working so much, I am on a 13 day stretch.  Monday holidays are not 3 day weekends for me, I work every one of them.  This week I have 2 more days, I'll be off on Monday.  Dr. appt. at 9:00, taking a friend out shopping after that...flower shopping, nails, maybe nails then flower shopping, home.  Hopefully home by 2 or 3.  Who knows?  We may go drink Margaritas all afternoon.  Who knows what is going to happen until it happens?  That would be a hoot.  Maybe just one, but I'd have to drive her home.  Probably won't happen...but thanks for tripping down that daydream lane with me.  *gs*

That's all I have for tonight.  Gotta go get horizontal, count my blessings, and give myself some rest.

Play Nice!  xxoo

Random

Hello, Kidlets!

• I get to Skype with my girls tomorrow, if I can figure the Skype thing out.  If anyone Skypes and wants to...oh shoot, I don't have a camera on this monitor.  Never mind.  I am excited and nervous to talk to them.  We've sent videos, but we need to TALK.  It's been almost 2 months!  
• Busy, busy at the pro-shop.  Not so busy creatively.  I've been fighting a tummy bug for about a week now, I think I finally sweated it out last night.  Fitful sleep, dreaming but not quite asleep all the way. 
• My young son has caught the bug.  He is eating 2 burritos.  After just getting over this bug, and having a "shitty" day yesterday, of course I warned him.  He chose to eat the burritos.  I am not cleaning up after that.  Seriously.
• I have a new group of golfers that start anywhere from 3:30 - 5:30 in the afternoon on Tuesday.  I didn't get home until 7:45, and went in at 8:30 to wait for a beer delivery.  Life in the pro-shop.  I do love it.  I really do.  

• My new computer came today, Young Son brought it to me at work so I could start setting it up.  My friends, Janet and Kenny came when they got off work to help me with the late crowd.  The only time she has Internet right now is when she's at the pro-shop, on my computer, so of course I give it up to her when she's there.  
• I just this evening learned that I can calm the animals in this house by singing to them.  
• Sometimes I wonder how long a person can live with another person when they have nothing in common.  I probably wonder that too much.
• I'm thinking about joining a church.  It's been a long time since I felt that, but the church me and the kids go to is so uplifting.  
• I'm going to bed.  Did I mention I'm talking to my girls tomorrow?  Yeah, I'm sure I did. 

Y'all, Play Nice.  xxoo

Old Friends, New Friends, Blending the two

I have an "old" friend.  She has two nicknames, one is "Dammit," the other is "Rose" (from the Golden Girls).

We've been friends since 1994.  We lost track of each other in 1997, but I found her on Facebook about 3 years ago, and we're still tight friends.

I have a "new" friend here in town.  We've been friends for about 2 years now.  She is a good, good friend.

Recently I took my old friend to meet my new friend.  Now we are all friends.

Today I found out that I get to see two people this weekend that I haven't seen in about 20 years.  I am more than excited about that.  To ice the cake, my old friend will be there to meet them as well.

I hold my true "cyber" friends in such high regard as well.  I have a few that date back to 2004, I have some that are more recent.  They know who they are.  Those friends on the other side of my screen, I am so thankful for.

I have no idea where I was going with this.  I'll call it random, thankful thoughts and be happy with that.

Play Nice!
xxoo

Rainy Tuesday

This morning my first alarm went off at 7:00.  It was raining outside so that gave me a chance to sleep another hour.  I can usually get some pretty good sleep at that time.  It feels like I am semi-awake all night in my dreams, so I rarely feel like I get a full night's sleep.  That one hour is important.

Sweetheart usually wakes up a little before 7....I hear him up and moving around.  That wakes up the Chihuahua, who gets put on the floor to go do her duty outside.  I'm still snuggling in waiting for the dozies to catch up to me...

Today, it was time to get Young Son's newly purchased used vehicle to the mechanic shop to see what needed to be done to pass inspection.  This included charging the battery of his vehicle to be able to drive it to the shop.  Which took precisely 7 door slams from 7 to 7:45, when I realized the dozies were gone for this day.

7 door slams.  After I made a somewhat dramatic effort to explain to him last Sunday morning how to close a door rather than slamming it.

I stitched the Dragon for my friend today, got caught up in a bunch of real life stuff tonight, not stuffed yet.

Probably going to bed pretty soon.

My hands look so old.

I miss my girls so much.

My mom and dad worked in this building.  

I love it, one of my favorites downtown.

Play Nice!  xxoo

This is me with long hair.

I made that jacket, it had racing pigs on it.  

Another New Beginning!

My daughter's little family made it to Germany safely, they've lived in 3 hotel rooms in a month, finally today their household goods arrived!  They have rented a super cute place, 4 bedrooms, sheep next door, it's life in Germany for them!

I wouldn't dare lie and say that I don't miss the pitter patter of Delightful Delilah's feet when she'd come in to wake me up in the mornings.  I miss that, I miss convos with my Darling Danielle, but soon we'll be skyping and all will be well.  I miss hearing their voices.

Little Miss D fell and had to have five stitches underneath her chin.  Makes a grandma's heart ache being so far away!

We still have their pets, they should be sending for them shortly.

 

That's Margot, Ben's cat (my dog, Karma)

Otis (the big one), Karma, and Rilo

So, about the new beginning.  It's a new/old group on FB.  A bunch of us crafty type folks are reconnecting and it's awesome.  It's called Handmade Creations.  HMC for short.  If you are crafty person, if you've been thinking about opening up an Etsy shop, or just want some honest feedback on what you make, we're a pretty nice buncha folks, if I do say so myself, come join us.

I had the idea a bit ago to try making some of my Critters from muslin.  Actually, they turned out pretty darn cool.  A flying pig is flying in a bar/grill here in town.  Let's see if I can find a couple pics.

This was a WIP pic, that's the Lazy Horsey, done in Muslin, with a cream colored mane.  

That is a squirrel, in case you couldn't tell.

This is a squirrel, done in embossed felt.

This is the Lazy Horsey, completed.

So, I've been somewhat creative, still kinda floundering to find my new "normal."  I have an order to make a Dragon for a sweet young boy that will finally talk with me, after a year of being shy...and a puppy and a kitty for one of my golfer girl's granddaughter.  

I got my hair cut super short, like just about crew cut short.  I like it but I don't think anyone else does.  I don't like having to fuss with my hair and I don't like when the wind blows my hair.  Wanna see how short?  Do ya?  I know you do...

It's grown out a bit by now.  This was taken same day.  

Yeah, that's me.  

There is a lot of mean stuff going on out in this world, do your best to not be a part of that.  In other words:  

Play Nice!  xxoo

"Sticks & Stones

will break your bones, but names will never hurt you"...that is a lie.

He says he doesn't even know what he said, or why he said it, but he had to be thinking it to blurt it out like that.

Play Nice.
xxoo

The Beginning of The End, and the Beginning of a New Beginning.

I have been truly  blessed to have spent the last 365+ days with my Darling Danielle and Delightful Delilah. Being able to spend this year as a Mother (for the last time) and Grandma (for the first time) has been an experience I wouldn't trade for anything.  Every day spent with them, it felt that my mother was there with us, too.

My son-in-law, Benjamin, Danielle's husband, Delilah's daddy, will be home on Thursday.  The next few weeks are a whirlwind of movers and bachelor/bachelorette parties, a wedding, and then the three of them leave on the 15th of March.  To Germany.  I can't drive to Germany.

There are other things going on in my life, of course.  I've been stitching and stuffing, and thinking and pondering, the two kinda go stitch by stitch.  My Young Son is taking a trip, my sweetheart and I have to make a trip to the airport and find a wedding somewhere downtown, in the dark...The Pro-Shop is making progress, thanks to some dedicated members...but, still...

To be completely truthful,  I can't quite pinpoint how I feel.  I'm ready for them to start their next chapter, far, far away, and I know I'm gonna miss them like crazy.  There's another aspect, too.  Since Sweetheart and I have been together, we've had 2 kids.  Now, one is going far, far away, and one is clinging to the nest with all his might.  Sweetheart is a bachelor.  He has never been married, no kids of his own.  We live in the house that his parents had built in 1973.  I want to broaden his horizons...I want to decide on a Sunday night that we are leaving to go see the Grand Canyon on Tuesday.  I want to be free to go have some fun!  I'm still 18 in my head, even though my body disagrees.

Thanks for reading my rambling post...trying to get all the thoughts in my head in one place is not an easy feat.  Trust me, there's more.

Delilah's Converse

My friend, Dammit Janet,

a polka dot horse

and a muslin pig. 

With Wings.

Y'all, Play Nice!  xxoo

Trying Something...

The other day an idea popped into my head, like they do now and then.  I've been making my Critters out of felt, my idea was to create a line of Critters made from Muslin Fabric.  I love the natural look of Muslin.  I still wanted to hand-stitch them, too.

I had the idea on a Tuesday, had to work my 2nd job on Wednesday, and finish a sold felt Critter on Thursday, then spent the evening with D, so I didn't get to start on this idea until Friday evening.  I traced out the pattern pieces, and began cutting them out.

As I starteed cutting, I thought, "these should have some seam allowance."  I don't use those on the felt, but soon figured out that they would be needed with the thinner material.

The front...you can see where the seam burst there on the front leg...need that seam allowance.

See how the back leg is shorter?  Seam allowance would fix this, I think, and this wing I didn't stuff, 

wanted to see how "natural" would look...I wasn't happy with this flatness, same goes for the ears.

Back end look, poor little gimpy thing.

Here is the "good" side.  This side I cut out with a bit of allowance for the seam, 

and stuffed the wing a little bit.  

I was glad to have tried this, and really learned a lot.  I'll use batting in the ears and wings next time, for a less "stuffed" look.  The seam allowance is really so important.  

So, what do you think of the stitching on the outside look of this?  What do you think of the monochromatic look?  I'm curious to see how it would look with a contrasting thread color.  

For now, I'm going to cut out another one, with a small seam allowance on all the pieces, I may do some colorful stitches on this one, just to see how it looks.  

Part of the creative process is in the feedback, so if you have any suggestions, please feel free to share!  

xxoo

Cindy

The little/big things

This evening Delightful Delilah ran into my bedroom  "nakey' as she normally does this time of the evening.

The wind has been blowing for days now.  60 degrees today, -5 tomorrow .

 Dang.

xxoo

Something Clever About 2014...

Hmmm, I've been sitting here this morning, reading all my friends' status updates about the new year, and what they are going to do differently.  It glows my heart to read that so many are going to strive to be more positive, good and kind this year.

The way this old planet is spinning, things that are happening here, it's easy to get wrapped up in all the fear mongering of the media, and the lies we're told on a daily basis.

I believe that being kind is an energy that radiates out from you.  For every kind thing you do or say, that energy gets a little stronger and a little stronger, and it moves out over the people in your close surroundings.  They get some of yours, theirs gets a little stronger, then they, too are activating it in others...like a big wave of niceness.

Like those videos we share, how doing one nice thing for one person, they do something nice for someone, and it just grows and grows...

One of my friends said that her mantra for 2014 is going to be "Attitude is Everything," and that's so true.  You set the tone for the day the moment you open your eyes in the morning.  You can decide right then and there that this is going to be a good day.  Doesn't mean that you'll be walking on rose petals, but it sure does help the day go by a bit smoother.

Don't start your day by dreading and worrying about things that may or may not happen.  Yeah, you may not like all the people you encounter, and some of them may really frustrate you, but you already know this is a possibility, one that you can't control.  You can, however, choose how you will react to it.  Decide that whatever they do, you will simply get a chuckle out of it.  Out shopping one day, we were making our way to a check-out line.  A lady saw us coming and hurried to get in front of us, elbows out.  We looked at each other and laughed, stopped and let her be "first," and let it go.

Does another driver need to switch lanes, if it's possible, why not let them?    Is it worth being upset over one second later to wherever you are going?

Go read over some of your status updates...are you sending a positive message, or negative?

Just some of my thoughts this morning.  I'm positive this is going to be a Happy New Year, every day.

xxoo