… it's the little things. . .

. . . from the availability of peppermint bark

(. . . & I love the little 'Dove' pieces of peppermint bark,

just the right amount!)

. . . to all the wonderful variety of poinsettia colors!

This one is in my bedroom.

It's the most wonderful coral-y pink tinged with red edges.

I love it, & I hope it lasts long into the new year. . .

. . . And then there is this very special ornament.

It has become my favorite.

A neighbor made it for Dad & I, five years ago.

She took the photo (my favorite) we had of Mom 

that was used in her memorial service program,

. . . & she placed it inside a glass ornament that she painted 

with delicate snowflakes.

Secretly. . . I never put it away. . . it hangs in a tree that I have in the house

. . . all year long.

. . . but for now, it is carefully placed beneath our little Christmas tree,

. . . reminding me of what a gift the time I had with her was.

It's the little things. . .

. . . that make the biggest difference to me.

I want to thank you all for visiting today,

& I pray that you have a very special celebration

of the wonderful gift that God has given us.

Merry Christmas everyone!

♥ Bren

… little treats

Who would think that such simple little things 

could make me so giddy. . .

 But, while at church on Sunday, 

I told a friend about my upcoming trip to Minneapolis

& she told me about these little gloves that she got at Target.

They are 'smart' gloves!

. . .Well, at least the pointer fingers & thumbs are.

You can use those two fingertips while using a cellphone with a touch screen.

A regular  'mittened' or 'gloved' finger won't work - 

but for some reason these two 'special' fingertips will!

(. . . & for 3 dollars - I couldn't refuse!)

(. . . & yes, I did have to pull out my iPhone at Target - 

just to be sure & give them a 'test drive'!)

I'm very excited about my trip to Minneapolis later this week.

(The last time I went this time of year - they had just had a blizzard!)

The weather looks like it will be very nice,

(not too cold - but cold enough - it is winter after all!)

I know they have gotten a little snow 

& I just hope that some of it is still around. (sigh)

I realized that I will be out of the studio/office for a few days after 

the website sale (Counting My Blessings) was scheduled to end - so I will

be extending the sale until December 4th. . . 

(25% or more off all patterns & books!)

. . . & speaking of little treats. . .

. . . my dear friend, Jacquelynne Steves, 

the incredibly talented designer behind The Noble Wife,

is looking for some feedback & your opinion & is doing a giveaway 

as a thank you to those who respond.

If you would like to participate - you find the blog post here!

Before I get out my suitcase - I've got to give Bailey a bath. . .

He is having a very special friend (Nubin!) . . .

. . . well okay. . . his *girlfriend* (see here!)

come & stay with him while I'm gone. . .

. . . & he want's to look (& smell!) his best!

Hope you have a wonderful week!

♥ Bren

… some summer favorites

This summer I have been craving the funniest things. . .

When the temperature rarely goes below 90° (F), 

& is on track to possibly set a record for 'days over 100°'. . .

I seem to not want 'creamy' things (even ice cream!) as much,

& this is what hits the spot. . .

. . . Yep. J-e-l-l-o.

For me, it's sugar free & the cherry & lemon flavors seem to be what I am making the most.

They truly hit the spot.

The other thing that has been a constant in the refrigerator are these. . .

 I have always liked radishes. . . in salads & for snacking. . .

but this summer, it's as if there is no such thing as 'too many radishes'.

I even found new ways of preparing them. 

Country Living magazine just did a little 'radish feature' & I found this & this (yum!).

What's funny is that since I've been keeping radishes in stock in the fridge, Dad has been craving them too! 

(read: we are going through bunches & bunches of radishes. . . & jello!)

What an odd combo. . . but what can you do.

When a craving hits, a craving hits.

Happy summer days!

♥ Bren

… a bit of morning comfort in a bowl. . .

. . . I don't know what it is about this summer. . .

. . . Usually in the summer I get up super early (before sunrise - around 5 a.m.) . . . which also means I go to bed about 9:30 p.m. , but this summer I have turned into a bit of a night owl & I've been averaging a 11 p.m. - midnight bedtime. (!) That is so late for me! . . . but it's been really hard turning off all the things going 'round in my head & getting myself to beddy-bye.

So that, then, leads to me sleeping in until about 7 a.m. & not having breakfast until about 9. (I can't eat right after getting up. . . I need at least an hour or so. . .)

. . . & that leads me to my next funny thing about this summer. . . my cravings for oatmeal! Usually in the summer - I go for lighter fare &/or cold cereal - but not this summer. . . Now, I am, admittedly, an oatmeal girl. . . but usually I have oats in the autumn & winter when there's a chill in the air. Not any more! Even with our warm summer days - I think I've had more oatmeal for my breakfast in the last 3 months - than I've had in the past couple of years! Thank goodness it's good for you!

I like my oats (doesn't matter to me of they are the steel cut or the quick-cooking. . . I like all kinds (. . . & I must admit I like the ease of the quick-cooking kind. . .)) with two packets of sugar substitute (I'm not picky which kind. . . just whatever is in the cupboard) & then the tiniest smidge of butter. I don't like it swimming in it. . . just so that I get a hint of it from time to time. Then, the must have . . . I sprinkle cinnamon all over the top. (. . . I can tend to go overboard with this step. . . I love cinnamon!).

Then, after grabbing my favorite wooden (handled) spoon & my coffee, if the weather hasn't heated up too much - I head for the back porch & enjoy the start of my day with my morning bowl of comfort.

It's a great way to start the day. . . & these days have been quite full! This past week, I've finished binding three new quilts (one design - made up three ways), worked on the next fabric line (. . . which means many hours on the laptop with Photoshop), & I just finished the new pattern cover for a new series of quilt patterns. . . (a peek this week. . . I promise!) Today, I'm headed over to a dear friends home for a morning of stitching with some friends (sigh!), & then a bit later I'm hoping to get the new quilts photographed. . . & then more quality time with the laptop & the next fabric line. . . 

. . . What's up for you this week? . . . (& I'm really curious. . . thumbs up or down for oatmeal for you?)  . . . Hope you have a great day!

♥  Bren