Where Have I Been and .....

What have I been doing?  That is what I have
been asking myself lately.  It is almost the middle
of February and it seems like it was Christmas
just yesterday.

A good part of January was spent sorting,
cleaning and organizing my sewing room,
eliminating patterns that I have printed off
the computer and decided that I no longer
wanted.  I need to be more realistic
about collecting everything I see.  It did feel
good to downsize and re-organize.

While sorting through some Valentine fabric
I found some small scraps and thought I would
make me a new Mug Rug.

When it was all done, I chose not to use it for
that purpose after all.  So now it hangs on a little
metal stand.

Made these little "hearts in a hoop" for Valentine
gifts.  This one was done with variegated thread.

My time has also been spent working on Relief Society
assignments for my church.  In January I was asked
to chairman the Stake Relief Society Birthday luncheon
for 350 ladies, March 7.  I have a wonderful committee and
things are moving along very nicely.  But, all that
has to be done is never far from my mind.

Then I am on the Relief Society Committee for my
ward and our February evening meeting theme
was "Staying on the Path."  We had three workshops
and a little treat for the ladies at the end which I
made:  "Deeelicious Popcorn"

It is to die for!  You can not eat just a little!  It is a
caramel/cinnamon popcorn that has drizzled melted
chocolate and vanilla melts over it. And since it
was February, I put the popcorn in these cute little
Valentine bags.

It is time once again for "Grandma's Valentine Party"
and I've been busy shopping for inexpensive prizes,
searching the web for new game ideas and wrapping
all the prizes.  Everyone gets a prize for each game--
win or lose.  The prizes are put in bags for each
person and when a game is completed they can
reach in their sack and pick a wrapped prize.

The grandchildren love receiving an invitation so I
made heart shaped envelopes with the information
on the inside, added a little chocolate and will deliver
these Thursday.

I have also been working on my personal history
once again.  Took a much need break from writing
in the fall.  Just too much to do with the holidays,
fall yard work, etc.  I have started writing about my
childhood pets.  I was blessed to have some amazing,
caring, loving, loyal, and protective pets.

This is me and my first dog, Spotty, a Border Collie.
We were inseparable and he was very protective
of me.  He literally saved me from falling into a
ditch by my grandparents home that was filled
with irrigation water.

We have had such a mild winter--very little snow.
Temperatures have been above normal and I'm
having a hard time staying in doors to work.
But, I must get back at it!