Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate :)

Did you know that besides sewing I have a passion for chocolate? I sure do! Each year I special order my Easter goodies from Sarris chocolate shop in my native state of Pennsylvania. So many darling novelties to choose from; yummy, yummy melt in your mouth chocolate, oh my. And today the bunny.... I mean UPS man left this box of goodness on my porch. Sorry to carry on so, but I thought I died and went to heaven! Now I have to find a good hiding spot, I didn't order any for me, what in the world was I thinking! Well, obviously I was not :(


Ok, I admit to being a bad blogger lately. I just don't know where the time has gone since we returned from our little trip. One day runs in to another and before you know it another week has passed by, you know how that goes. Jerry and I have been busy with a little bedroom redo- painting. And I started going through all my drawers and shelves etc during the process... holy cow, that was a big nightmare! We are making good progress though and I need to get all the work out of Hubby while I can before golf season gets into full swing :)
In my spare time I was working on writing up the instructions for my new pattern. "Bunny Tails" has three cute little pillows to stitch and and ornament for your Easter tree. They are quick to stitch and lots of fun, I love bunnies don't you?


And here's a sneakie peakie at my next design, all done and ready for me to write the pattern this week.
And speaking of kitties, well not that we were, but many of you have asked about my little fur baby Cleo. She is doing very well, adjusting to running to the vets every week for tests. For some reason kitties just don't like to go for a ride in the car. She cries and cries all the way there. Allowing me to give her 2 shots every day and being such a good girl about it. She is even on a prescription cat food, her Dr calls it the Catkins Diet, ha, ha, get it! Our vet thinks it's pretty funny, however Cleo does not feel quite the same about it LOL!
Oh gosh, hubby is pulling in the drive way and I guess that means I'll be hearing "whats for dinner" next! What is for dinner anyways LOL!
Have a lovely weekend all!
XXXOOOO

Vegas Baby!

Good morning! Still catching up from a busy whirlwind week. Last week I had the pleasure of making a quick trip to Vegas with hubby. He was there for a convention and I was able to tag along. I was ready to leave the cold behind for a few days, when we left KC it was only 8 degrees! Vegas was only in the 40s and 50s but it's amazing what a little sunshine can do for you.
We stayed at the hotel Paris.


Such a pretty hotel with the replica of the Eiffel Tower. You can actually ride to the top of the tower and have dinner however we did not.


I was able to attend one of the convention functions, a special opening night where George Bush was the guest speaker. He talked for 1-1/2 hours, I was really excited to be able to hear him speak!


And what hotel lobby is complete without lots and lots of slot machines. This one caught my eye right away lol!

Lots of walking in Vegas, so many places to go and see in such a short time. So much eye candy!
Would you like some ice cream, can you believe this is ice cream?


We walked and walked, visited several of the hotels near by, they were all decked out for Chinese New Years and the displays were all so stunning. The next few pictures are from the Bellagio lobby and atrium, pictures just don't do justice to the beauty of it all.


Health and Prosperity.

Year of the Tiger.

Topiary Pandas at play.

Home again, home again, more snow and cold, as I said the brief reprieve was lovely. Full swing into preparing for my Valentines! I spent all day Saturday in the kitchen. Making cupcakes, cookies and goodies for my boys.


Did you have a nice Valentines Day? Mine was wonderful. Jerry and I drove down to Lawrence, to have lunch with our son Jon at KU. Lunch with my boys, it doesn't get better than that!

Wishing you a wonderful week!
X0 Barbie Jo and Cleo

A little sick kitty :(

Oh my, Cleo and I have been very busy this past week, running back and forth to the vet. Cleo is 10 years old now, not that old for a kitty, but she has been showing signs of somethings not quite right. She has been drinking lots of water, I mean LOTS! Jerry would say to me, gee, I just filled her bowl! So I gave her a bigger bowl, and then a bigger bowl, pretty soon I could have just sat the kitchen sink on the floor. Now you know what goes in must come out, so next I was buying box after box of kitty litter. I googled "cat drinks and pees a lot" (aren't computers an amazing source for info) and every article I read seemed to point to feline diabetes. We made a vet appt and ran blood work which came back as expected.
Insulin was prescribed for her and back we went to learn how to give shots. YIKES.... I was really not looking forward to this part, I mean Cleo is not that laid back and I was afraid of not doing it right... UG! So Cleo and I have been working this out this past week, we are both getting a little more used to the routine, she needs a shot twice a day, 8am and 8pm. We will continue monitoring Cleo with her vet to stabilize her condition and hopefully enjoy many more kitty years.

Hubby brought me these flowers the other day, they sure were a bright spot in a stressful week.


Valentines Day is just around the corner. Yesterday I wrote out all my cards and boxed up goodies for all my little Grandsons. I love Valentines Day, the colors, glitter and sparkles, the chocolate :)


Browsing lots of reading material while at the vets. I love this one- Phyllis Hoffmans- Celebrate Winter. Such eye candy, the photography on every page is amazing, lots of wonderful recipes as well. If you love to entertain this ones for you!


And then there is the latest Hancock's catalog. I have been circling all the fabric I want like a kid at Christmas with a Sears catalog. I don't know how fabric can get any better, each new line is more amazing than the last!


Hope you all are keeping warm and cozy with all the snow storms that have been blowing across the country. I dare not whine about the measly 7 inches we got on Friday after talking to my east coast relatives.
Next on my agenda is a little packing. Getting ready to head out for a few days. Maybe I'll have a few pics when I get back.... a little hint.... Elvis can marry you here!
XO Barbie Jo and Cleo

A Felting Fool

I don't know about your end of the country, but here in Kansas we had bone chilling cold weather, below zero weather most of last week. The snow from Christmas which I loved at that moment, because who doesn't love a white Christmas, is still piled up on the ground....only now it's a yucky color and a nuisance. Other than running out for necessities such as chocolate, Cleo and I have been content to stay home and felt lots of wool felt for new projects. We were felting fools, we felted over 27 colors!

The crock pot was put to good use making lots of comfort food. Chili in sourdough bread bowls topped with cheese and a big dollop of sour cream, YUM! I love winter food don't you?

I finished my pattern for "Down The Bunny Trail", isn't it adorable? Jerry will be adding it to the web site tomorrow.

Today was a much needed get out of the house day. Too much hanging out here talking to Cleo can not be a good thing. Hubby and I skedaddled on over to Independence Missouri with friends to see an exhibit at the Harry S Truman Presidential Library & Museum. Now I know driving to another state sounds desperate for a get-a-way, but you have to remember we are just about on the state line, so going to MO can be minutes away. OK, back to the museum, it really is a lovely building which my picture does not do justice to as it shows only a small portion of the building.
I did not however want to walk backwards a mile in the freezing cold and slush to capture a better picture for you. The special exhibits change from time to time, the exhibit we were interested in seeing today were the Pulitzer Prize Photos from the year 1942 to present.

One of the permanent rooms is a replicate of Truman's Oval Office in the White House.

All that looking at photographs works up an appetite, we were starving and ready for some Italian cooking at V's. Now don't let that sign scare you away lol! The food is wonderful and the atmosphere is fun.

When I got home I had a box waiting for me, actually I have been impatiently waiting to get my hands on these luscious shades of #8 Perle Cottons.


I am itching to get stitching this week!
Have a wonderful Sunday.... XO Barbie Jo and Cleo

Happy 2010!

Happy New Year to all! I know, it has been awhile since my last post, seems I had a blogging meltdown before Christmas, so we have a little catching up to do. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Years. Ours was quiet but lovely and we had a white Christmas, lots of white, a foot of snow! And I have to show you a darling gift my mailman brought, a completely unexpected gift from my bloggy friend Sharon.

Some of you may know Sharon by reading her fun posts on Red Geranium Cottage and she was a very busy girl this year stitching up lots of cute gifts. She sent me one of her famous zippered pouches, the cutest little embroidered stocking and even a little ornament for Cleo! So sweet!

Along with a fresh snowfall come a batch of snowmen. No I did not make this little girl, she sits in a yard few houses away from me. I love watching all the little ones enjoy the snow. And I also am thankful I don't have to deal with the mounds of soggy mittens, clothes and boots anymore LOL.
Along with that snow the temps have been in the single digits, a nice time to stay inside as much as possible and stitch. Cleo and I felted this nice stack of wool felt last week.


Then we cut it up and began working on a new design. And just look at my helper, laying on top of my penny rug, pins and all, doesn't matter, just gotta lay claim to my work in progress. Um, could you move over Cleo so I can sew this tail bunny on?


Well I did manage to get it done, here's a little peek at "Hoppin' Down The Bunny Trail".
Writing instructions this week and hope to have it on my web site soon.

Have a great week everybunny, and stay warm!
X0 Cleo

Fluffing pillows and a little decorating!

The 1st week of Christmas, now nearly over, boy we are moving right along!
Our week was busy. Hubby had knee surgery this Wednesday. That all went very well and he is re-cooperating nicely. The last 2 days I have been tied mostly to home with him and that has had it's advantages as I was able to get a lot done with Christmastising the house!
Out came the totes and all of my favorite things! Just like the Christmas song, these are a few of my favorites I am happy to see each year!
Love the face of a nutcracker! At one time I had a large collection but I have now reduced that to just one, my Steinbach Irish Santa, he is so pretty.


The stockings were hung by the mantle with care..... here is Cleo's which hangs right next to Jon's, my 2 babies!


Hung all the ornaments on the tree. My tree is mostly covered with lovely glass ornaments is the German tradition I grew up with. But I have to say the ones that make me smile are those the children made. Jon made this cute little felt bear, don't you love the nose and Christmas vest LOL, just like the one his Dad wears every Xmas day.


And then there is Mr Gingerbread man, gotta just love that face. Oh those eyes LOL!!!! Gee, can you believe those raisins have to be at least 20 years old and they are still looking good.


I am a sucker for magazines with enticing covers during this season, especially the food and decorating ones. Picked this one up with my last grocery hull. Lots of yummy recipes in this one.
Looks like I will be trying a few next week when the baking begins!


And that has been my week in a nutshell people! I hope you find time to enjoy the little wonders during this hectic season.
XO Barbie Jo and Cleo

The day after!

The day after Thanksgiving and boy am I ever stuffed. All those leftovers, Turkey for lunch and turkey for dinner, pretty soon we'll be flapping our wings! It sure does smell wonderful while cooking though doesn't it. Nothing like the smell of that turkey cooking all day!
I allowed room for a special treat this year. Chocoholic that I am, I ordered a Mr Gobbles for each of us in the chocolate variety, from one of my favorite shops in PA, Sarris Candy. OMG, creamy and wonderful chocolate, and cute, they do such a nice job!

Here is a scene not unlike most off yours I expect, only on a smaller scale, my table was set just for 3. Nevertheless we had all of our favorites: mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole and sweet potato casserole, rolls and pumpkin pie.

Here is hubbys plate, overflowing, because his plate is too small! He hates these Holiday dishes. I knew when I set the table he would mention it come dinner time, as he does every year, the plates are just too small! Not like you can't get a refill LOL! Last year I gave him the platter instead :)

While I spent the day in the kitchen the boys brought the tree up from the basement. And the wreaths for the windows. Cleo is getting excited as usual once the sparkle and glitter comes out, here she is "nesting".


Now the Christmas rush is on, full steam ahead! Yikes I can't believe this has crept up on us again! Did you go out in the crowds shopping today?
I spent the day doing a little decorating and sewing. I like to shop on the week days when the stores are a little quieter. I also do a lot of shopping on line and send gift cards as most of our gifts will be mailed.
I am glad you stopped by, hope all of you have an enjoyable weekend!