2018 Goals

When looking forward to a new year there are always things I want to do better and things I want to accomplish.

Read my Bible thru.
Spend more time in prayer.
Be a better friend.
Be more conscious of those around me.
See others needs and respond.

Finish kitchen and living room remodel
Put up new siding and new porch supports

Finish the following UFOs

Bind-wedding quilt, Garrett's quilt, Angelina's quilt, Mattie's quilt, 1930s baby quilt

Finish piecing-scrappy trips, 1930s my blue heaven, shirt strings,  Toulouse, Allietare, tumbler

New quilts I want to make

On Ringo Lake
Red and White
Blue Snowman Gatherings quilt
Christmas quilts

My blogging goal is to journal once a week for the entire year!

2017 Overview

Looking back over 2017 there were some good times along with a few bad times.  All in all we were very blessed in 2017.  Here are some of the highlights.

In February we adopted a dog from a local rescue group.  She (Annie) and our Sir Otis get along well. 

In April our daughter was blessed with a new job.  She now has a great job she loves!

In May we finished an add on to our home.  We added a dining room.

In June our son Joel married and we were blessed not only with a new daughter in law but also two grand children.  Our family grew from six to nine. 

In July we moved Jeremiah from the east side of Norman to the west side.

In August we took up kayaking!  We found it to be great fun! I also joined Weight Watchers and have lost 30 pounds.  Still have a few more to lose.

In September our daughter Jenna and her husband bought their first home.  They were blessed with a brand new home.  We helped them move in early in September. 

In December Richard and I finished reading our Bible thru for the year!

Looking forward to a great year in 2018!

First Finish

Can't believe I have my first finish of 2015.  It is Bonnie Hunter's Grand Illusion Mystery.

 Summer Nights

102x102

2,756 pieces

23.5 yards fabric

While I was putting this together on New Year's Day I watched Grease.  As I sewed I texted my kids to see what they thought a good name for my version was.  I like to use song titles or lyrics for names and as my kids are very musical I sometimes ask them for ideas.  Joel immediately answered "Summer Dreamin" at the same time Jenna said "Summer Lovin".  That immediately brought to mind my favorite song from Grease.."Summer Nights".  

The porch where Richard and I sat and dreamed and talked of our future was the inspiration for my color choices "Summer Nights" was the perfect name for this quilt.  Every time we use this quilt it will remind us of the visions we have for our future.

Stash Report
Fabric used this week: 23.5 yds
Fabric added this week: 0
Fabric used this year: 23.5 yds
Fabric added this year: 0
Net: 23.5 yds used

I'm linking this to Judy's stash report. 

I am also linking to Bonnie's Monday link up.

As always,
Blessed are the Goodmans

Coconut Custard Pie

While coconut pie is one of my favorite desserts I very rarely make or eat it.  I married a man who didn't like coconut and my dad loves coconut pie but as a diabetic can't have it.  I won't make it when my dad is around and can't eat a whole pie before it goes bad so it is a rare treat for me.  Recently I've started cooking with coconut oil and Richard has come to like coconut after 31 years of marriage.  I was looking for a simple recipe that we would both eat and I came across the following recipe on Pinterest.

Impossibly Easy Coconut Pie

Ingredients

1

cup flaked or shredded coconut

3/4

cup sugar

1/2

cup Original Bisquick™ mix

1/4

cup butter or margarine, softened

2

cups milk

1 1/2

teaspoons vanilla

4

eggs

Directions

• 1 Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 9-inch pie plate with shortening or cooking spray.
• 2 In medium bowl, stir all ingredients until blended. Pour into pie plate.
• 3 Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until golden brown and knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cover and refrigerate any remaining pie 

 The only change I made was cutting the sugar to 1/2 cup as I used sweetened coconut.

It is my all time favorite coconut pie.  I've made several of them over the holidays and they always come out so pretty and good.  My dad tried a piece at Christmas and loved it.  He never eats dessert as he is very careful to keep to his diabetic diet but since this has so much protein with the eggs he gave it a try.  It didn't seem to cause him any issues so I plan to make it for the very special occasions.

I would highly recommend this recipe.

As always,
Blessed are the Goodmans

Happy New Year

Richard and I had a stay at home laid back day to celebrate the new year.  I did cook a couple of meals with his help, but most of the day was spent working on the Grand Illusion mystery.  After seeing the reveal just after midnight I was anxious to start putting this together.  

First thing after getting up this morning I put together the first block.  I strayed from the colors used by Bonnie Hunter somewhat.  I really like my combination.  

After breakfast I finished four more blocks and put the first row together.  I'm really liking this.

At the end of the day all my blocks are made and sewed into rows.  Just need to put the rows together and add borders.  I will work on that this weekend.  It would be great to have this in the frame by the end of the weekend.

As always,
Blessed are the Goodmans


 

Caught Up!

One of the small things that makes me happy is a new ironing board cover.  I put a new one on today!

The first thing to be pressed on it was clue #4 of Bonnie Hunter's current mystery Grand Illusion.  What a great way to end the year..

All caught up on the mystery quilt!  It's a great feeling to finally be caught up.  So ready for the next clue.  I hope Bonnie decides to release the next clue a day early!

I'm linking up with Bonnie's Monday Linky 

As always,
Blessed are the Goodmans

 

Christmas Eve Gift

Christmas memories are the very best.  One of our favorite traditions is "Christmas Eve Gift".  My grandmother started this long before I was born.  The idea is to say "Christmas Eve Gift" to someone before they can say it to you.  The original idea was that the person who was slow to say "Christmas Eve Gift" had to buy the other person a special little gift.  We don't hold to the "little gift" part of the tradition, the fun for us is in the competition to "get" someone by saying "Christmas Eve Gift" first.  This leads to late night calls and early morning wake ups.  We will hear "Christmas Eve Gift" many times tomorrow and each time it will bring to mind a loved one who is no longer with us but still loved and in our hearts.

My Uncle Shorty always had the most fun with this tradition.  He passed away on December 23, 1990.  He is the first person I think about on Christmas Eve, as he went to great lengths to be the first one to say "Christmas Eve Gift" to my Mom.  I miss him and think of him often, but Christmas especially reminds me of the fun times we always had with him!

After my Uncle passed away my baby brother Paul became the family member most into our "Christmas Eve Gift" tradition.  He spent a lot of time planning just how he would "get" everyone on Christmas Eve.  He had such fun and we all worked to be the first to "get" him.  Paul passed away on September 17, 2008 and I wondered if the tradition would ever be the same fun.

My son Joel very quickly took up the excitement of the tradition and now he is the one we all try to "get".  I just found myself scheming on how to get him tonight..maybe a call at five seconds after midnight..I haven't decided exactly.  You can rest assured that I will give it my best shot!!

Bonnie asked up to link up with a picture of our favorite Christmas quilt.  My quilt is somewhat related to the first part of this post.

I had always wanted a Christmas quilt but thought it was an extravagance for the one month of the year it would be used.  Not one prone to "extravagance" I spent several years thinking about whether or not to make myself one.  Then my baby brother died very suddenly at the age of 37 and brought home to me how very short life could be.  The next year I made Christmas quilts for my family.  This is mine and every time I put it on my bed I think of my brother and all the good times we had.  It's such a happy quilt!!

This is made using Bonnie's Pineapple Blossom pattern.

 

 As always,

Blessed are the Goodmans