Simple Abundance

This year for our quilt group Christmas party we decided to do a block exchange instead of a gift exchange. Can I say it was an absolute blast. We decided on the fabric line of Simple Abundance by Bonnie and Camille. Our block needed to be 10 and 1/2 unfinished and the rest was up to us. Take a look at darling blocks I came home with yesterday.

ELAINE (our wonderful hostess)

HEIDI

MICHELLE


DEBBIE JENSEN

MARAE (my cute mom)

MARENE

BECKY

KIM

ANDIE

VAL

CAROL

DEBBIE BOYER

I am soooooo lucky to be a part of such a wonderful group of talented, nice, darling, funny, creative, domestic women. I LOVE you all. Merry Christmas 2009.

Well Done!

Heather finished her service mission this week. We are so proud of all her hard work and dedication this past year. Children all over the world will benefit from the 100's of school bags she filled...

Families will be so grateful for the thousands of hygiene kits she assembled...

Young and old can keep their heads cozy with the many hats she made...

And people everywhere will stay warm from the quilts she helped trim and get finished.

Thank you Ned and Marene Ellsworth for all the countless hours you spend helping Heather and many others learn to serve.

And thanks Marene for the David Archuleta Christmas CD.

AND IN JUST A FEW SHORT WEEKS ANOTHER HOLLIS MISSIONARY WILL FINISH HIS MISSION!!!!!!!!! WE CAN'T WAIT TO WELCOME HOME ELDER HOLLIS.

We got our GROOVE on tonight BABY!

Tricks & Treats

When family calls don't we all come to their aid? Well, my sister Jenny needed a place to host her students piano recital so I said I would be glad to do it. The kids all dressed up in their costumes and performed a number and then were invited to the kitchen for some spooktacular treats. My mom, Jenny, and a few other moms brought all the treats and I just provided the house but I just had to show how cute some of the goodies were. First, here is Jenny and her daughter Emma.

Here is my island filled with yummy treats. I thought the apples were so cute with crooked sticks from orange trees. The little cupcakes were frosted with black sesame seeds for the eyes.



What a fun night to perform and have fun. Everyone did a great job.
The caramel apples were to die for and made from scratch. None of this unwrapping store bought stuff.
Here is the recipe for the

Carmel Apples
2 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cube butter
1 cup light Karo syrup
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Bring the sugar, butter and Karo to a boil stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low and boil 7 minutes. Add the can of sweetened condensed milk and continue to cook on low to the higher end of the soft ball stage. Dip granny smith apples that have been washed and dried into the carmel. Place on a cookie to set-up and cool. Makes about 20 small apples.

Everything But The Kitchen Sink

Finally finished this quilt just in time for Show-n-tell at quilt group today. I'm so happy to have used up so much of my thirties stash. Even the back is all 5 inch squares. The only fabric I purchased was the stop border and the 7 1/2 yards of White. I love how it turned out and it just may be the quilt I wrap up in this winter to keep me warm and happy.



It's hard to see the quilting but trust me when I say my mom did an amazing job. Mom, your the BEST!

Week at-a-glance

These are my Bff's that got me through this week. Looking for some new friends for next week.

Mom Cries, Grammy Chuckles

I see Beauty School in her future!