Around the House – Page 7

It Pays To Whine

44 Comments / February 4, 2011 February 22, 2011 / Around the House

In December, when Scotland was getting so much snow, I was whiney ’cause we had piddly little dustings of snow. Then in January, the East Coast got hammered and I was whiney some more. Even the South was getting more snow that we had, And now … we finally got some snow!!! I LOVE it! I’ve been having a great time playing with the snowblower this week — she’s my new best friend. She can throw that snow all the way across the driveway — WooHoo! {Insert Tim the Toolman Taylor Grunting.} (That’s BigDaddy’s driveway.)

I’m actually a little disappointed. They’d predicted that we could have as much as 16″, but we weren’t that lucky. Oh well, we’ll take what we can get. The ugly tree is loving his new winter blanket too. (Excuse the bright sun — I was just excited to be home before dark to take a few pictures!)

We have lots of animal tracks out behind our house, so I took a few minutes to check them out. I love seeing who’s come by to visit. I’m not a track expert by any stretch, so I can only guess. Any track experts out there? I’m thinking maybe a squirrel here?

And a bunny who drags his feet in the snow?

These pretty tracks trailed off into the sunset.

They’re deep and big and in groups of four. I’m guessing maybe deer here?

And look at these cute little tracks. See the shallow little “hand” print in the upper left? As far as I know we don’t have any little monkeys out there. A racoon maybe?

I found Big Foot out there too. Oh Wait. That’s Me.

Big Foot decided to come back in the house — it’s cold out there. We’re supposed to get a few more inches this weekend. Yipee!

Oh, and I wanted to show you a picture that I received from NoBlogJoyce. She saw the Wedding Quilt last spring and decided to make one for her kids who are getting married in a few weeks.

I LOVE it Joyce! You did a fantastic job — it’s fun to see the quilt with some color in it too. And isn’t that a pretty monogram — I love the way the letters go together. Thanks so much for letting me share your beautiful quilt, Joyce. I hope the kids love it — and Good Luck with the wedding!

Now…on to the weekend. Have a great one!

XOXO,
Anna

Snow and More

53 Comments / January 14, 2011 February 22, 2011 / Around the House, Chat

Snow! We got snow!!! I love it! It brought my new boyfriend along with it too. Someone at work was selling a snowblower, so after 25 years, we finally broke down and bought one. I’m in Luuuuv. I might miss shoveling a little, but not when we get a lot of snow. This was a nice comfy amount — 5 or 6 inches I think.

Periwinkle mentioned an interesting photo challenge. I think it would be fun to participate, although I’m not sure I could get some of the shots. Anyone else going to participate? Perhaps the local peeps could tell me where I could get a shot of a 100 year old tombstone?
If you’ve been here awhile, you know how much I love my little cupcake stands. They are a little pricey though, so if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, Tomkat Studio posted about an easy way to make some of your own.

Last weekend we went to see The King’s Speech. LOVED. IT.
As has become our custom, the gingerbread houses have been placed outside for the squirrels. Probably not a good idea to actually attract the squirrels, but I can’t bear to throw them away.

A few weeks ago, when I posted that I had a Pips Fat Quarter Pack to sell, several of you were interested. A friend has contacted me to let me know that she has one to sell — if you’re interested, please e-mail me (anna@thimbleanna.com) and I’ll put you two in contact.
There has actually been a little post-Christmas sewing around here. Here’s a sneaky peek.

Eye Candy Alert! New episodes of White Collar start next Tuesday. You’re Welcome. ;-)
And finally, but MOST important, Corrie has been posting lots of ways to help the Australian flood victims in several of her posts over the last week. Even just a quilt block will help!

XOXO,
Anna

Unwelcome Guests

53 Comments / November 28, 2010 February 22, 2011 / Around the House

Did all of you Americans have a nice Thanksgiving? I can’t believe it’s already come and gone. We had a really wonderful Thanksgiving this year. We had a LOT to be thankful for here in ThimbleannaLand. Not the least of which is that CuteNiece1 was with us. She had a pretty serious car accident the night before Thanksgiving and totalled her cute little Blueberry.

Poor, poor Blueberry. And lucky, lucky us. CuteNiece1 walked away with a few bruises and cuts and it was so lucky that no one was in the passenger seat, as there wasn’t much left of it after the accident. Definitely a Thanksgiving that we’ll remember!

We also discovered a few unwelcome guests on the day before Thanksgiving. We have a big tree in the backyard that is looking a little poorly, so we called in the tree expert.

It’s very grave, indeed. It seems that we’re now hosting the famed Emerald Ash Borer. We’d heard about the EAB a few years ago when it was first found in Michigan. Back then, there was a lot of talk that wherever the EAB was discovered, people would be required to cut down their ash trees within a few miles, in order to try to stop the spread of the EAB. They must’ve decided that was too expensive though ’cause we never heard much more about it. And it’s too late now. ;-(

Mr. Tree expert showed us 7 or 8 other big ash trees on our lot. Our sickly tree will come out this week (it’s too close to the house to do anything else) and the other ones will eventually die too. I hate having to cut down our trees! This is a serious infestation, and sadly, if you’re in the eastern US, those little critters are probably coming to a tree near you soon.

So hey — notice how I’m totally avoiding the big event coming up? It’s a strategy!

XOXO,
Anna

Flowers and Poetry

24 Comments / October 23, 2010 February 22, 2011 / Around the House, Chat

Is everyone having a nice weekend? I’ve been doing a little yard work — the annual War with the Leaves has begun for 2010. We’re just getting started and I bagged as many as I could for today. It’s SO dry outside, I’m now covered with dust. Crossing fingers for rain tomorrow!

While I was outside, I cut a few hydrangeas and hung them on our back porch door. They’re not nearly as pretty (or as prolific) as they were last year, but they’re still nice.

Since all I have is yard work, I thought I’d mention a few other things. Yvestown wrote an interesting post about twitter and facebook and all points in between. I found myself nodding my head in a vertical manner a lot while reading.

And a few weeks ago, a coworker sent me a link to a video of a 3-year old little boy reciting a “Litany” by Billy Collins on youtube. (Have I mentioned this before? Forgive me if I did — I can’t remember anything anymore. Yesterday morning, I prepared a beautiful sweet and sour chicken meal for the crockpot and then left for work without plugging it in. Grrrr!) Anyway, I LOVE Billy Collins — and this poem too. This little guy is super cute.

(Hmmm, I tried to embed the code, but it says it’s been disabled by request — you can see the video HERE.)

Here’s the poem if you’d like to read along:

Litany

You are the bread and the knife,
the crystal goblet and the wine.
You are the dew on the morning grass
and the burning wheel of the sun.
You are the white apron of the baker,
and the marsh birds suddenly in flight.

However, you are not the wind in the orchard,
the plums on the counter,
or the house of cards.
And you are certainly not the pine-scented air.
There is just no way that you are the pine-scented air.

It is possible that you are the fish under the bridge,
maybe even the pigeon on the general’s head,
but you are not even close
to being the field of cornflowers at dusk.

And a quick look in the mirror will show
that you are neither the boots in the corner
nor the boat asleep in its boathouse.

It might interest you to know,
speaking of the plentiful imagery of the world,
that I am the sound of rain on the roof.

I also happen to be the shooting star,
the evening paper blowing down an alley
and the basket of chestnuts on the kitchen table.

I am also the moon in the trees
and the blind woman’s tea cup.
But don’t worry, I’m not the bread and the knife.
You are still the bread and the knife.
You will always be the bread and the knife,
not to mention the crystal goblet and–somehow–the wine.

–Billy Collins

So…see if you can top that this weekend! {winky}{wink}
XOXO,
Anna

Welcome, Fall

40 Comments / October 10, 2010 February 22, 2011 / Around the House

We’re having a beautiful fall weekend here in ThimbleannaLand. The temperatures have been unseasonably warm, but this week, the trees have started to change and I’m finally feeling like summer is behind us and winter isn’t too far away.

I’ve spent a little time out in the yard today and it seems like Mother Nature is feeling it too. Spider webs are everywhere — not only on a lot of our shrubs, but in the corners of my windows and doors too.

The squirrels are fattening up and busy burying nuts. I’m always happy to see them too busy to be chewing on my patio chairs.

I’m fattening up for winter too. I made homemade bread yesterday and slathered it with some jam that we made a few weeks ago. Yum, Yum. I always crave comfort food this time of year and I blame it on Mother Nature.

And lookieee here! The binding is on my wall hanging. My fingers are sooo happy that the quilting is finally over. Finished wall hanging coming to a blog near you soon.

I hope you’ve been lucky enough to have a beautiful weekend too!

XOXO,
Anna

P.S. I’ve also managed to play on the blog a little. A new fall header, and just in time for some of your Christmas sewing, I’ve put all the Bolts of Bella on sale for 20% off.