~ improvise...

...using the foot of the bed as a design board ;-)

~ in my sewing room...

...selecting fabrics and making a design board while I am waiting for the Farm Girl Vintage book to arrive.



A girl's gotta keep herself busy! ;-)

~ food shopping day...

I pulled through the double space and into "best spot in the lot" -- I pulled straight out when I was done!



I took the photo with my new cell phone camera.  I still use tracfone as the provider -- but now I have an LG Android phone.  I am surprised at the quality of the photo -- not bad at all.  I need to practice with this camera too -- I don't know how to zoom, etc.  It won't ever be my "go to" camera -- because I only turn my cell phone on when I go out to run errands by myself. ;-)

~ winter sunset...

...too pretty to let it pass by.  I grabbed my "new" camera and because I had to be quick, I set it on the "auto" setting.  I did some minimal photoshop editing.  I think it's okay -- but I want to do better.

~ flower box progress...

...four blocks completed!

~ playing with my "new" old camera...

My "new" camera has been sitting idle since July 2014.  This is the camera that I received as a Christmas gift in December of 2013.  I have now beat my own record for longest amount of time between getting a new camera and not using it.

So, it's time to learn how to use the "new" camera.  Why?  Because my current goal is to "use what I have" to distract me from wanting things I don't already have -- so that I can get rid of some of the clutter here :-)

Here are some photos taken yesterday -- while it was snowing:






...and the photo that was left in the camera since July 2014!



None of the photos have been edited.  I need to study them a bit and then move ahead to some other settings on the camera.  I have my favorite settings that I use on my "old" camera -- and I need to find that comfort zone on this one too.

Looks like the sun is trying to peek through -- it might be a good day for more practice ;-)

~ prepping fabrics...

...for the flower box sew along :-)



I took this photo last evening at sunset.  The natural lighting was so pretty at that time.

Not today...it's snowing here...again.

~ gimme a high five...

...Ozzy!



If you can't see the video, here is the link:  high five Ozzy

~ the day after...

...winter storm Octavia.

Ozzy doesn't care that the temperature outside is only 5 degrees farenheit.  He wants to go for a walk with me in the early morning.  I try to delay the walk when it is so cold -- but he is persistent -- so I bundle up and take him.

This morning we were treated to a beautiful sky -- and the morning flight of birds that passes overhead.  This is a daily morning event -- usually I'm back in the house by this time, but this morning I took Ozzy for his walk and then came back in for my camera to take some photos of the beautiful morning, and...



...so I could take a photo of this :-(


I first noticed some fur on the top of the snow (right side of photo).  And then...the spatter of blood :-(  It was bright red when I first saw it, and between the time when I went into the house to get my camera and then came back outside the spatter drops had deepened in color.

I am feeling guilty now.  Do you think if I had not delayed Ozzy's walk this would have not happened?  And then I think that this was not a random act of violence -- it was a wild animal catching it's prey to be eaten for survival.

There are some tracks -- and the fur can be from either a cat or rabbit.  It's possible a vulture swooped down to pick up this animal -- but I didn't see any feathers.  Since this happened on my front lawn, I will have to investigate it further -- I really don't want to have an animal carcass hanging around when the weather warms up.

For now, I am off to the store to purchase some sewing supplies so I can continue with the quiltalong I mentioned yesterday.

~ snowy day...

This morning, we woke up to this...



Rick did the first part of the shoveling and snowblower...Nicholas did the second half...and I knocked all the snow off the bushes and trees, and, then shovelled the porch and front walk.

This afternoon's weather was different -- still cold but with pretty sunshine.  So after some indoor chores I was able to work on a block from a new quilt along.



Oh yes, and my little snowman block is finished too -- I made it into a pillow.



Cookie wanted to mention (again) that she helped!

Here is the link to the quiltalong:  http://beeinmybonnetco.blogspot.com/2015/02/my-flower-box-quilt-block-tutorial-and.html

~ happy valentine's day...

... sending lovely thoughts your way!

~ snowman love...

...still working on this...



...but I have helpers now!  My sweet little Cookie cat...



...and... Milton...meow!

~ Ozzy is so excited...

...today is his birthday!



If you can't see the video , here is the link on flickr:

~ happy birthday, Ozzy...

~ how to build a snowman...

Using the ipad and a flannel charm pack that I won from Fat Quarter Shop...so long ago.



Almost done! :-)

~ icy morning path...

This morning's walk with Ozzy was a bit treacherous.  Yesterday, I tried to clear away the snow bordering the sidewalk so that the meltoff could drain -- but it still puddled in the usual area and then froze last night.  I threw down some sand mixture and put out pots to warn any pedestrians -- not that there would be any on such a bitterly cold morning.  I had to wait until all of the cars travelling to and from the elementary school were finished with their morning ritual before I could take the "serene" photo.  During that entire time, I was the only person out there -- I had long since brought Ozzy back in the house so his little footies wouldn't freeze!

~ choose happy...

...especially on a rainy monday in february!

~ clouds in my coffee...

...and dreaming of springtime :-)