Update!

Today we are all feeling very grateful and excited as
we learned that my young friend, Daniel, who recently
endured a bone marrow transplant just received great
news.  The bone marrow en-graphed and if all
goes well he may becoming home this week.

We continue to pray for him and his family, but feel
so grateful for this blessing.

Halloween Carnival and a Finish!

Last night was a perfect evening to be outdoors.  The
temperature was very mild.  We didn't really need a
jacket until close to the end of the Halloween Carnival
when it started to cool down.

We all gathered at my son's home for a spaghetti
dinner---which the kids could hardly eat because
they were so excited.  Then off we went to his
neighbor's for their annual Halloween Carnival
which goes from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

They really go all out decorating their home and
yard making it fun for kids of all ages!

Ian dressed up as a rock star.  (Notice his hair color)
Kohler came as a butterfly, Hailey dressed as a
friendly witch and her friend Jennifer "cheered" them
all on.

Each activity takes one ticket and there is a prize or
treat given to each child.  Their little paper sacks
were overflowing with goodies by the end of the
evening.  They had a great time!

Today I finished the binding on my table
runner which completes my fall projects for  this
year....

...as I need to get started on Christmas.  It will be
here before I know it.  Am making three sets of the
Christmas Sew Along Banner for my family.
(http://www.sewhappy.me) That's going to keep
me busy stitching in the evenings.

While the weather is still nice I think I'll slip
back outside and see if I can do a little more yard
work.  Pulled up some of my annuals and tomato
plants this morning and put all of the cushions
for the patio furniture away as well as all the
little garden accessories I add to the yard in
the summer.  It's looking quite bare and empty
out there, but I'm glad to be getting things in
order before winter arrives.

Have a great day wherever you are!

Nola

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Spread

Don't remember if I've share this recipe before, but
this is one of my favorite fall recipes.  It's good any
time of the year, but as I've mentioned before fall is
pumpkin time for me so we especially it enjoy it now.

It is wonderful on bagels, toast, etc.  I especially love
it when my daughter makes her homemade bagels
and shares them.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Spread

1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

1/4 cup sugar

3/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1/2 tsp. vanilla

Beat all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl
with an electric mixer on medium speed until
smooth.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour
or up to 24 hours.  Makes 1 1/2 cups (24, 1-Tbsp
servings)

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY
  Tuesday, October 11,2011

Outside my window...There is a little sunshine and the
storm clouds that delivered rain this morning are
breaking up.  Temperatures have warmed up to about
60F which is really nice.

I am thinking...I now know why the plaids are not
working that I wanted to use for my son's quilt.
My daughter stopped by today and in the course of
our conversation I asked her to take a look at the
quilt and give me her opinion.   Well, to make a long
story short, over the years she has been using some
of the plaids for projects, returning flannel pieces
that she has also bought and used for her projects.
No wonder things didn't seem to come together!
So, I have decided to let it rest for awhile until I can
find some plaids to supplement what I have left.

I am thankful...for Sunshine!  It warms me, brightens
my day, and makes me feel happy. 

In the kitchen...Navy bean soup simmering on the
stove.

I am wearing...Levi's and blue plaid shirt.  Hmm...
I must be on or in a plaid kick.

I am creating...Nothing now.  I have set the quilt
to the side.  Will have to work on some of my
other UFO's.

I am going...To try and get my granddaughter's
photo/scrapbook up to date.  Worked on it a little
today.

I am wondering...Where my time goes.  Just doing
four pages for Hailey's book seemed to take most of
the afternoon.

I am reading..."Montana Summer" by Jeanette
Miller

I am hoping...To find some plaids that will work
with what I already have.  Didn't make it to the fabric
shop today.

I am looking forward to...Relaxing and reading my
book this evening after I go for a quick bike ride
now that the weather is good.

I am hearing...My clock chime the hour.

Around the house...Halloween decorations have
now been added to the fall decorations and it is
looking quite festive. 

One of my favorite things...Playing in the leaves
as they fall from the trees with my grandchildren.
It won't be long now as a few are beginning to
drop.

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Work Wednesday and Thursday
Much needed hair cut Thursday
Relief Society Humanitarian project tomorrow
Attending the annual Halloween party in my
son's neighborhood Friday
Saturday fall festivities at Heritage Park with
the family

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

I have loved this quirky little doll ever since my
mother and sister each made one many, many
years ago.

My children call her the "witch" doll because of her nose.

We looked forward to visiting mother and
seeing this special doll dressed for the different
holidays in the clothes mother had lovingly made
for her.  When mother passed away I claimed
this doll for my own.

Thanks for visiting.

Nola

Don't Know About These Plaids!

Several years ago my daughter and I purchased a group
of plaid flannels to make a quilt we saw pictured in a
quilt magazine.  The years slipped by and we never
got around to it.

Today seemed like a good day to preshrink the flannel,
press and cut it into squares.  They will now become a
cozy quilt for my son to use when watching TV, etc.
He has hinted rather strongly that he would like a
new and larger quilt for Christmas as the lap quilt I
made him a few years ago just doesn't quite cut it
anymore.

Laid them all out on the floor this afternoon and
am really struggling with the look of all the
different plaids.  The quilt in the magazine looked
so cute, but for some reason I don't "love" these
as much as I did a few years ago.  Guess I will let it
sit for a day or so before sewing them together.

   Nola

With My Little Eye----

With my little eye I spy SNOW!  Rain here in the valley
but snow about 3/4 of the way down the mountains to
the east of me.  The weather man said there could be
snow dropping down to about 6,000 feet and he was
right.  Very cool temperatures today.  It's hard to
go from mid 80's to the mid 40's in a 24 hour period.

But, I did get a few things accomplished after work
today:

The blocks I had previously pieced were sewn together
and borders added for a table runner.  Now just need to
figure out what to do for the backing.  Am thinking
I'll pull some fall fabrics from my stash and piece them
together.

Halloween stitchery completed and framed:

Oh, here comes the rain again!  At least it held off
long enough for the kids at Davis High to hold
their Homecoming Parade a hour ago.

Hope you're having better weather today wherever
you might be.

I'm off to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate!

Nola

What Do You Do When It Rains?

Rainy Days make good days for sewing and baking and
that's just what I did today.

My daughter and grandson's stopped by to do some
"stampin" while I baked pumpkin cookies and made
potato soup that we could share for dinner this evening. 
Great comfort food for a rainy day!

Using 5 inch charm squares was able to cut and sew
the blocks for one more fall project this afternoon. 
Am hoping I can sew them together after work
tomorrow.

Traced this stitchery last fall, but never got it
stitched.  My goal is to have it finished and framed
by the end of the week so we can enjoy it before
Halloween has come and gone again.

The weatherman is forecasting more rain and cooler
temperatures (about 30 degree drop) for the rest of the
week, so maybe I will meet my goals.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Nola