Thursday, July 25, 2019

I Like/Love #30

Once a month I write my gratitude post, collecting nuggets all month long. Practising gratitude is so worthy an activity.

1. Nana mug
I posted this on Instagram and there is so much within this single photo for which I'm grateful.
I am grateful for:

  • my cat, Bella
  • the wicker table she is on, shelf that she loves to perch on (usually when it's inside) and grateful that I can buy white paint to turn it back to the white it originally was.
  • the Mandevilla vine that has been through so much since last summer, and is doing quite well, despite Rufus pruning it, and even Bella attempting to that morning get a hold of a branch
  • that mug. Grateful that I am a nana, grateful that I have two daughters who think of me that one, Brianne would buy me this mug and send it to me in the mail for Mother's Day. It arrived, broken. I was very sad as it is such an à propos phrase to me. About a month and a half later, Dayna showed up with a mug, "I know you said you don't want or need any more mugs, but you're getting this one because it's so perfect." And there was the exact mug that Brianne had sent me! Neither knew of the mug history. Isn't that perfect?
  • My beautiful deck, private yard, early morning sunshine, peace, birds twittering, and the first cicada of the season I heard that special morning.



2. I love this back yard quilt that Brenda of Quilt Designs in the Yard sent me when she asked to sponsor my 30 Quilt Designs Challenge. As soon as my husband saw it, he said, "I can incorporate that into our gate! He's built our front fence to coordinate with the deck railing he designed and made, (and is remodelling it slightly, as one does with quilt patterns...). I love what he did!

3. Renovations are a trial. Ours is going to be a long road, but I know the end will be worth it. We had to move out of the room we were using for the previous couple of years in this little house, and go into the guest room. I love this room. I love the vibe in it, the coziness of it (it's even smaller than the other one we were in, like no room for our chest of drawers ha), and the look of it in July. I have my July quilt, Seaside Rose, on the bed with her matching shams, and we have two windows, a north-facing and an east-facing one. I just love an east-facing bedroom as I love to have the sun wake me up.
I love having a cat on the bed for her morning nap, too.
4. I loved this new-to-me vegetarian chili recipe I got from Brianne.
I've never served chili with a dollop of sour cream and shredded cheddar on top, nor with tortilla chips, but it was bowl-licking GOOD! I like that seashells runner I made, as well as the sandpiper coaster I designed and made as part of a set for one of my projects for the Henry Glass Challenge in June 2016.

5. I like these two January Tiny Tuesday blocks, one of which, the 3D bowtie, uses a red from that Henry Glass Challenge! Okay that link between likes 4 and 5 was not planned but it sure is cool!
I am nearly all caught up now!

6. I like the first two pink blocks for July.
And the third one, the micro pig! She is just so adorable!


7. I like this Thank You card I received this month.
Although I don't make the comfort quilts that I make throughout the year for any thanks or recognition, just send them off with the hopes they bring comfort, and perhaps some joy and warmth more than physical, it is nice to get one of these!

8. I like nesting seams; all these matchy-matchy points! I also love this YLI variegated plum/navy thread, and the mint Aurifil one isn't half bad either.
I love this fabric too, and yes I FMQ-ed the sign for 'om'...more on this in my August 7 post.
9. I am living in and loving every word and rich detail of Harry's Trees by Jon Cohen. For me, the mark of a great book is when I am inhabiting it all day long, and this is definitely one. I am so grateful to Diann of Little Penguin Quilts for recommending it to me after she read my Night Watch post. I highly recommend it.
Sitting on an à propos piece of Island Batik fabric, nest-ce pas?!

10. Last but definitely not least, I love my new grand-dog. She is the sweetest little girl pibble I know. (I also happen to know the sweetest little boy pibble there ever was...)
This is Penny, new addition to Dayna and Tyler's family, a rescue who 'just happened' to cross their path on a walk one evening...quite the remarkable story of The Universe lining things up when the time is right. She does the same head twirl our beloved Naala used to do and I can't get enough of it, or of her.

If you'd like to join in, please do. You can write a weekly post or whenever you feel the urge, and link it up with LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color with others who practise being grateful.🙏

10 comments:

  1. MacGyver did a wonderful job implementing the barn quilt into the fence. My vegetarian DIL would love that chili recipe.

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  2. You always have the best I Like Thursday posts, Sandra! So glad you're loving Harry's Trees! I felt the same way about it - I just wanted to live inside that story. Your Tiny Tuesday blocks are wonderful, especially the piggy - love the background fabric in that one. The barn quilt on your gate is so perfect for you, and how wonderful that your husband could build it right into his design! And Bella's blue eyes - wow!

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  3. Wonderful post from a wonderful woman! Hope you have a splendid vacation...I'm working furiously to be on time for August things... Nice to see you are caught up so you can travel in peace. Love love love your loves!

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  4. I love everything about this post, Sandra! So many wonderful things, from Bella's beauty to that cute little pup picture at the end! What fun to read. I'm off to take a look at that book! Enjoy your vacation!

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  5. Lovely "likes" this week thanks for sharing: Bella's picture is so special--she is a beautiful cat...and i love that little wicker table--and the Nana mug, well...just perfect isn't it?
    Hugs, Julierose

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  6. Hi Sandra! Oh that mug is extra special especially knowing that both of your daughters think enough of you to ensure that you have it! Bella looks so sweet (and safe) under that cute little table top. Wowee - that backyard quilt looks so fabulous on your gate. I would snag that photo if I were Brenda (well, asking you first) to promote her quilt designs. Makes me wish I had a fence, gate, something to hang one on. - I'll be looking at the house differently now. That little piggy block - how darn cute is that?! Gosh, what a nice thank you note. Little boosts like that make you want to give/make more, I think. You don't do it for the kudos but an unexpected one is well deserved and appreciated. Awww, sweet Penny - perfect name with her coloring! She's probably wondering why a) you're outside and she isn't, and b) what that thing in your hands is and does she need to chew on it?! ~smile~ Roseanne

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  7. Love these "loves". Such wonderful little things bring us such happiness. It's good to embrace them in the moment and share them later. They keep giving joy that much longer. Have a great day.

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  8. What a heart-warming batch of likes, Sandra. I will need to look up the book, as I’m starting a new list of gotta read books. The quilt in the gate is just so classy. Yay for MacGyver’s mad design/construction skills. Your bedroom may be tiny— but it looks cozy (or is it cosy on your side of the border?) and magazine worthy. And Penny! That head tip will get you every time. Dogs just know how to melt our hearts. I have a feeling you are wracking up lots more likes while we all read these little tidbits of sweetness. :)

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  9. Ah, the sisters both knew their mama so well - that mug story is so sweet.
    Your gratitude posts are the best - life is filled with blessings - simple and sweet. Thank you for sharing these.

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  10. A great list. Love your mug. I need one that says Auntie. ☺

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