A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

... but I have to tell you I miss the written word. For a while it was all about Instagram...instant message, short and sweet, one after the other after the other after the other. But I have to tell you it just is not like blogging. I miss blogging, and even more I miss my blogging friends. Call me nosy but I miss hearing all about their day or week or what project they are working on or how Grandpa is doing and what you are making for that new grand baby. Yes it is more work, it is more time consuming

 And takes a little more thought to actually form interesting documenting of each subject but so much more rewarding. Sooooo once again I am going to try to get back into the habit of blogging. I don't have a huge following but I do have people saying, "when are you going to blog" or "I miss your blog posts" and that feels good. Call me what you will but I like the compliments and I kind of like knowing I was missed, so Hello! How have you been. I can't even begin to tell you all that has been happening In my world, because #1 I wouldn't have the time to write it, #2 you wouldn't have the time to read it all, and most importantly #3 I can't remember it all! Hey I am no spring chicken you know and I can barely remember what I did yesterday never mind the last 6 months.

I can tell you I have taken several trips. I was back to see my old friend Jenny at Missouri Star Quilt Company, and this time I took a friend with me and we had a ball! We visited Mama Hawks Bakery cafe and it was wonderful! The decor, the staff, and the food. 

The men had a comfy place to sit and wait for us while we shopped, although that was short lived...they decided to go exploring instead and then when we went back the next day for the whole day...yes the whole day from opening to close, so they went golfing and our day flew by, shopping, looking, touching and being inspired by everything we saw around us, so much so that I was inspired to buy certain things and then when I got it home and unpacked it, I couldn't remember what I bought it for...it was information overload and inspiration overload  but it was a wonderful experience shared with a special friend and it was fun. Now I know I said words are important but so are the pictures...and I don't know about you you but I like a blog with pictures!

 

 

 

I have taken a cup of coffee and a snack to my sewing table and I have stood at the counter grabbing a quick bit, I sat on a blanket on the beach eating, but I think this is the first time I have sat on a stool eating lunch at an ironing board. I was definitely a Kodak moment! I saw some great ideas to incorporate into my sewing studio. Mr O has offered to make me a cutting table island on wheels, so that when necessary I can move it out from the wall and of course I want  need storage space under it, I am always kicking my trash can as I move around so I noticed at all the MSQC cutting tables they had a trash container attached directly to the cutting table whic I thought was ingenious! Their tables are modified kitchen islands from IKEA and the trash bin flips out from under the table when needed and it too is from IKEA, I noted it in a photo and put it on my list for my next IKEA stop. 

I cutting table island, and 1 tilt out trash bin. I looked and looked but could not find it at IKEA so I asked, and no one really understood what I was wanting so I pulled out my phone to show them exactly what I was hunting for..."Oh You want shoe storage bins" was their answer to me. Me: "Ummm yeah that's what I meant; tilting shoe storage bins not tilting trash bins, how silly of me!"

 

All neat and tidy and tucked away...

 

Tilted out and ready for use...just slide all the remnants and scraps into the TRASH   SHOE bin. I have had one of those RASKOG rolling carts from IKEA for several years now and I have to say I love that as well.

Want to see another great idea?

 

Isn't this coffee table a great quilt storage/display piece? I love it! It does double duty, clean dust free storage and display. Guess where it came from? Yup! You guessed it...IKEA

Just so you know I am not being paid to say this, I just think it is such a clever idea! My shopping list was getting longer and longer by the minute and my big dilemma was where I was going to put these things if I got them on the way home. You have to understand I do not have easy access to an IKEA store. The closest is 8 hours away and so I try to stop in to make my purchases on my way home.

 

I had a problem though...and no it was not all my doing...

 

It was her fault! No! It was her fault!

Oh my we had fun and we hit about four or five more quilt shops after this picture. Thankfully Mr O is an absolute magician when it comes to packing a vehicle and we were able to manage a few Thrift/Vintage Shop  purchases as well...even a bird cage and footstool!

Oh my we can laugh now but it would not have been a funny thing if we had been made to unload at the border crossing back into Canada. 

We had a wonderful week in Branson after this and it was such a great way to celebrate our 46th anniversary with friends. Earlier in the year we had travelled together to San Antonio to celebrate their 40th anniversary, so it really has been a fun time. We live 1000miles apart, and really appreciate the times we get to spend together.

4 days after returning home I had a quilt retreat to attend so it gave me good opportunity to use some of my fabric purchases. You will have to wait until after Christmas to see them though just in case some of the recipients see this post.

I am writing this post from a motel room in Ontario...yes yes I am on the road again! On my way to spend time with a sister and brother for a week, then on to Manitoba. We have book a couple chalets and Mr O and get to spend Christmas with both our children and their spouses and all of our grandchildren...no one missing! I am looking forward to this so much!

Afterwards on to Saskatchewan to spend time with another sister and her family then to our daughters' for a week and then we have booked a retreat/spa accommodation for 4 days on out way home to kick back and relax after all the festivities. 

I can't believe the year is almost done. 

There are so many things I could tell you but I might be repeating myself, so I am going to go back and see what my last few posts were about and I will try to get back with a little more news.

You know I was afraid that when I got back to writing I would be out of practice, because you know what they say...if you don't use it you lose it! Our kids are growing up with keyboard skills but their hand writing is atrocious; they can't spell because "spell check" looks after that for them, we hardly need to communicate with words because emoticons and short forms and pictures say it all for us, so I am going back to what I enjoy....words!