Moose in the yard

We had some moose in the yard, a mama and this years calf. Had to take pictures of course. They hung around for a long time, they ate a bunch of willows (they're the reason we have willows- so they come around more) and then bedded down next to the pond and chilled for a while. They were still there when the sun went down, so that was neat.

New sign

I've been wanting to make a vinyl sign for the bathroom wall that said this for a while now. Finally got around to it. I think it looks great - not sure why the bathroom wall looks that color, the wall is actually a nice light cream color. But anyway, the sign looks cute, now hopefully it will stay - the vinyl didn't really like the textured wall.

Dad's new (ish) chair

Mom got a new chair, that will help her get up and down more, given to her from her insurance company. So dad decided to trade up from his old broken chair, to mom's "old" chair. Mom's been trying to get him a new chair for years, and he wouldn't even consider it, but then the other day he decided that when she got her new chair, he would trade for the chair she was sitting in. So, now he's got a newish new chair. And its a recliner and a half, so there's even room for a puppy to sit with him. And it didnt' take 2 very long to figure that out. I think he'd been sitting in the new chair trying it out for about 20 seconds before she jumped up there and sat down on the empty side. She was so cute. Mya wanted to get up too, but she didn't want to jump up, so she just leaned over the arm of the chair. Such funny dogs!

Justin's new bowl

Here are some pictures of Justin's newest bowl. Its beautiful!

Doggy cart ride

Well actually this first picture is 2, helping dad eat his jerky and read the paper. She sat next to the chair for a long time, then eventually she just climbed up there and started licking his face, she was sure that jerky smelled like something she wanted and that gramps would let her have it. Then she stayed in the chair, and she would stare at him for a few seconds, then lick him really quick. then he'd tell her to stop, so she'd stare at him for a few seconds, then lick him really fast again. It was hilarious!
Justin taught the girls to ride in the garden cart today. Unfortunately the pictures loaded backwards, but they are still cute. He started up at the shop, and loaded them into the cart, called me so I could see and take pictures, then he "drove" them all the way down to the house, and under the deck where the wood is stacked. It was so funny! They were so serious about it.

My best quilt ever

I found this pattern in my quilting magazine last year, and took it down to the store to find fabrics, and found these four, one is a cream with white print, the other is a darker cream with red flowers, and cinnamon red with dark cream flowers, and a brighter/darker red with cream flowers, and I knew they had to be this quilt. I am so excited with how this turned out. The quilting is an all over pattern, in red, then the center cream squares are a free form flower that I just cranked out by eye to fit the space. The back is a really cool japanese, mum flower pattern, that is red and white. I can say absolutely this is the best I have ever done. I made a cool purple quilt last year that I did really good on, but there were a couple bobbles on the back. But I think there is only 1 tiny bobble on the back of this one, and the rest is perfect. I'm so proud of myself! :) Love this quilt. Its a super king size, larger than normal, so that it almost touches the floor on all four sides of the bed, so they can fight over it, and tuck and roll, and the other guy won't freeze. :) I used a cotton batting, with a little polyester, that is really warm and super soft. Anyway, I'm very happy with it, and mom and dad love it! It goes great with the creamy/red colors in their room, very warm and friendly looking.

Christmas stuff

Kitty's present didn't get done, so he had to suffice with a sparkly bow tossed at him. He wasn't so impressed, but that could have been because Mya was SUPER excited to open presents - this dog really gets the whole present opening thing. She doesn't get that they aren't all for her, but she does enjoy the process.

Before the ribbon.

Here's 2 showing "grandpa" her new baby doll. Sewed from old jeans, and stuffed with an old shirt cut up into little pieces. very durable and safe, in case they somehow tear them. 2's baby has purple hair, and a purple ribbon.

Mya chilling with her baby doll, her's has pink hair and a pink bow.

2 was terrified by the sound of the paper crackling, something from her past of being abused, not sure what happened, but anyway, she tried to crawl under Justin to hide, until he could show her it was a present.

No, that's not Mya's present, that's MINE! She stole it, and kept trying to take it out of my pile, guess she decided that all the presents wrapped in snow man paper were hers...

Blurry I know, but it was a blur of activity while they were trying to open their presents. Like I said, Mya really likes unwrapping.

Here is the beautiful rocking chair Justin built for me. The wood is from birch trees that dad logged, and our neighbor Ron sawed into lumber, and Justin made into a rocker for me. Pretty cool!!

Here's the genealogy/computer desk dad commisioned and Justin built. On each side is a shelf that slides out. the one on the left is for the scanner, the right is for the printer. So cool!! Mom was floored, she loved it, and it was a total surprise, because I was the master of keeping secrets this Christmas - and usually I'm really lame at present secrets - you can ask anyone. I get too excited. but since it was a small Christmas it was very important to me that the element of surprise be there, so I worked really hard, and let me say I rocked! hehehe. Justin did such a great job of building this, its absolutely gorgeous!