To Do Tuesday

Hey guys, welcome back to To Do Tuesday! I was glancing back over last weeks list and realized that most of my list got done. Whoohoo, but before we celebrate some of it didn't.

Okay so let's take a look-see.

1. Start seeds indoors.

I still havn't started the seeds and I really need to. Winter for the most part is over here and except for the ran and clouds it would feel like Spring already. So I'm adding this back to my To Do Tuesday list for this week.

2. Start, just start on this amazing quilt!

Yes, I did start the Texas quilt. I'm excited about it but I really underestimated how much time it would take. I'm officially finished with central Texas and now onto the Panhandle.

3. Clean my kitchen cabinets!

Geesh! This is the one I really should have gotten done but really if I consider; cleaning the cabinets or sewing, well, sewing wins out every time.

4. Buy a sweet Valentines gift for a missionary wife in Budapest.

I decided to make something for my friend instead of buying something. So, I quilted her a throw pillow cover for Valentines Day. It's really the first one I ever made so there are some oopsies here and there but altogether it turned out pretty nice. 

 I did make a mistake and I had to add an extra row in the middle which made the heart to elongated. I'm remember next time that if it grows tall it must grow fat too. All in all I really enjoyed it and loved the outcome. Almost kept it for myself.

5. Find a special gift for my best friend who recently lost her mother.

I still need to do this or at least send a sweet card so I'm adding this one back on the list too.

6. Order our middle son's wedding invitations, that's my job.

Knocked this one out and I loved the invite. The photos they took were so cute. 

Can I just stop and brag a little? I can't tell you how much I love Serina. She's absolutely perfect for Josh and she loves him so much. I couldn't be happier with her. Also they've been so godly in their courtship and have honored God completely. Okay, end of brag.


So that's over and onto this weeks To Do Tuesday list

1. Start seeds indoors. Hey if you need some helpful info about starting seeds indoors check out my post from last week. 

2. Find a special gift for my best friend who recently lost her mother.

3. Crochet some more of these dishcloths to send to friends. 

I used a really scratchy yarn from Red Heart for the scrubby line. You can get it at Walmart in multiple colors and it's pretty reasonable too. I like making these dishcloths with cotton yard and the scrubby instead of just the scrubby because you then the cloth is all purpose instead of just a scrubber. 

Here's a great tutorial for the Bobble Stitch. It's not the one I use because I didn't actually use a pattern but it's as close to my pattern as possible only I started out with 30 foundation chains instead of 15. 

Make sure you stop by Hopeful Honey and visit Olivia. She has an amazing site. 

Okay enough of that.

4. Clean out that kitchen cabinet!

5. Start planning the rehearsal dinner for Josh's wedding. I think there's a lot I can get done here and take with me when we fly there in July. It'd be nice to have it all done beforehand. 

6. Make Scripture memory bookmarks for the Croatian church and the Gypsy church and laminate. 

Okay so there's my To Do Tuesday list for this week. I'm gonna try to work on them in the order I listed them. At least that way starting seeds doesn't stay on my list till Fall. 

So, what's on your list this week?

To Do Tuesday

Hey Guys, it's Tuesday again and, can you believe, the 2nd of February already? Yep, it's crazy how fast we fly from one season to the next. I know it's still winter but they're already saying that winter is over for us. That's absurd here; we usually have a full, and somewhat white winter heading all the way into April and sometimes May. Hey I'm not complaining. Today I worked in the yard in 60+ weather, GLORIOUS!

One thing that doesn't change is To Do Tuesday. There's always something needin' done around here.

Now that winter is over, (I'm almost scared saying that for fear I'll jinx myself and snow will fall tomorrow, even though I don't believe in jinxing, still) and some green is already starting to peek out of the cold ground I'm looking until planting!! I know for my area I really shouldn't be thinking about this yet but the warmth has reminded me that I had planned on starting seeds indoors this year. I love flowers of all kids and I love to be surrounded by them in the summer so I'm gonna save some Kuna (Croatian currency) and start my flowers indoors instead of spending a ton for them at the local garden store. I've been looking around at the options for starting seeds indoors and there's a big debate; To Light or Not To Light.
I found a great article at A Return to Simplicity about starting seeds without lights, which I'm probably gonna do since it's so warm here but if you're interesting in a light system and the how-tos then check out the article here on Grow a Good Life.  So today for To Do Tuesday my number one is:

1. Start seeds indoors. 
I actually need to go buy some more but I bought a few at Walmart last time       we were in the States.
Oh yea and I've been planning what to plant my little seedlings in. I've been         saving TP roll tubes, but since there's only two of us now that's a slow go so I I've also starting saving all my bio degradable egg cartons. So, I should be set. There is a good article over at Premeditated Leftovers about 5 Frugal Ways to Start Seeds Indoors.

2. Start, just start on this amazing quilt!

Cristina over at Pretty Little Quilts made this amazing Texas quilt and anyone who knows me know's that no matter how long I'm away from home I'll always be a Lone Star Gal. Not only did she make this amazing quilt she also a Deep in the Heart of Texas Quilt A Long. It's really an amazing idea and so fun to see what each lady has done with their area. 

So, there's my ambitious #2. That's why I set the goal of at least starting, it's gonna be ah-mazing! 

3. Clean my kitchen cabinets! Ooh, this one's not as glamorous but I really need to get it done. So, maybe tomorrow and now that I've included a photo I really don't have a choice, kinda shot myself in the foot with that one!

4. Buy a sweet Valentines gift for a missionary wife in Budapest. Johnny's been invited to preach a Valentines banquet for a friend (he's an expert) and we'll be headed up there in two weeks and don't want to go empty-handed. 

5. Find a special gift for my best friend who recently lost her mother.

6. Order our middle son's wedding invitations, that's my job. I almost can't believe that it's already time for my children to be married but it is and I'm old!

So, that's my To Do Tuesday for the first week of February. What's on your list?

To Do Tuesday

I know, you guys were thinking that I dropped off the edge of the Earth again but I didn't, I'm just running late today getting my To Do Tuesday post done. 

To tell you the truth I actually have to get something done from last weeks list. I mean well but life gets in the way and my To Do list gets buried under my everyday chaos. 

Anyhow, today is more of a finished To Do Tuesday. I've had this quilt on my to Do Tuesday list since December 2014. Yes, you read that right, 2014! Hannah and I started it the Christmas before she went home and it got stuck in my UFO (unfinished object) pile till last week. I know it's not Christmas but now it's all done and ready for the next yuletide season. 

I'm most excited that I learned a new technique. Aunt Marti over at 52 Quilts has a great tutorial on how to do this flanged biding. I love the way it looks and it wasn't hard to do. I will say it takes a little longer but I think the finished product is very nice. (and yes I see the thread hanging from the quilt, I missed that one!)

Oh btw, if you have a problem getting those mitered corners, check out this amazing tutorial for dummies. Uh yea, I meant dummies. She doesn't call it that but let's be honest.

So, that's it for my To Do Tuesday. I do have things to do this week but it's all grunt work and nothing interesting. 

To Do Tuesday #(who knows)

I can't even tell you when I did a To Do Tuesday last but alas, here I am for To Do Tuesday. 

I love days like today. Basically all I need to do this week is maintain the house and life as usual. I love the holidays but I love January and the down time. I have friends who love the hustle and bustle of a crazy busy life but I kinda prefer a slower pace and Croatia allows that. 

I do need to get a few things done this week and I'm thrilled about #1.

1. Our middle son Josh is getting married!! I'm so thrilled with the young lady God has sent him. They've been courting for a year or so and they've decided July 16th is the day. I have the privilege of designing the wedding invites so I need to get that done this week.

2. I know what you're thinking; "when is she gonna finish this thing?". Well, this week and maybe even today. Do you know how silly it is to make a Christmas quilt a year ago and not finish is and then wait a whole year and still not finish it by Christmas. Goodness, I'm pitiful! Stay tuned though, this week the quilt will be finished and put away for the next 11 months. 

 This is not a To Do but a DONE! I finally finished the little quilt for the new baby girl Hana who made her appearance 5 weeks early. Don't look too close, I was having problems with the tension on my free motion quilting in the section. EEK!

I know that's not much of a To Do list but it's what's on mine this week. 

What's on your To Do list for the week?

To Do Tuesday

1. First thing on my To Do List is to make this adorable baby quilt for the new little girl coming in January. I found this lovely one that Susan made and I'm collecting fabric to make a similar one for little Hanah. 

I love the gray, pink and white color pallet. It's gonna be beautiful-icious! 

2. I am still working on gifts for the new baby so I found this super soft blankie in full size and I'm going to make two blankies out of two it and crochet the edges. You can find a great tutorial for edging fleece here. 

Other than the obvious household stuff I'm still "planning" on doing the flower beds in the back yard. I AM going to get it done and hopefully before it snows. 

Today Johnny and I are off to explore the city of Pecs, Hungary. It's gonna be fun and God has given us amazing weather. Yesterday it was 70 plus degrees. For November, this is unheard of but I'm not complaining. 

Okay guys, that's my short list for the week. Looking forward to checking out your To Do Tuesday posts. 

To Do Tuesday

Hey Guys! It's Tuesday again and I'm here for To Do Tuesday! Woohoo! 

We have had the most amazing weather lately. It's almost mid-November and it should be cold and white here already. I'm not complaining at all but it's a little crazy. I put up all the patio furniture a month or so ago and got it all out again yesterday. The longer I can use that patio and sit in the sun the better mood I'm gonna be in. Anyhow, I'm gonna take advantage of the weather and prepare some flowerbeds for the Spring. 

1. Prepare flowerbeds for Spring planting. I found this great tutorial here at Canadian Gardening and I've been saving up my newspapers. It seems so easy and I'm hoping it works out just like they say. No, I'm not naive but hopeful. 

Basically it's just a matter of layering paper, mulch and dirt and the idea is that by Spring all the grass below has died out and it's ready to plant. Since I hate pulling weeds, I'm gonna give it a try. 

2. Make some Christmas gifts for the kiddos in church. I'm obsessed with crocheting lately, can't get enough. I am not only starting lots of projects but, wait for it.......I'm finishing them too!! What! 

Yep, I finished this one yesterday for my sweet Nan. She loves Minions. 

Anyhoo, I want to make some Ninja Turtle hats for four of the boys in church. 

Oh yea and before I can do that I have to find a yard store that has green yarn. It's like a treasure hunt here to find basic yarn. 

Johnny's at Bible Translation Project and I have the whole house to myself till noon so I'm gonna take full advantage of it. Gonna get some girlly things done while he's gone. I love the "me" time, not that I don't always have access to "me" time now that we're empty nesters. I just prefer to pluck, color, shave and any other of those sorts of unseemly things while he's not here. I'd rather he think I'm naturally this smooth. HA!

Anyhoo, Happy tuesday Y'all!!

To Do Tuesday

Tuesday again! I know I say that every Tuesday but every Tuesday I'm surprised shocked that it's already Tuesday again. I actually remember being a teen and telling my mother that I was bored. I would complain about how long the days were and she'd say, "The older you get the faster the days will pass.". At the time I didn't believe her but I'm here to tell you, Mama was right on. 

Okay so I'm trying something new this week. I'm actually finishing some of the stuff on my list! I know you're shocked to see this fabric actually on a pilllow but I did it! I know it's been on my list since back in August but not any more! It's done! Checked off! Marked through! Finito!

I actually only have two things on my list this week because I was super busy yesterday and I did most of the stuff I needed to for Gypsy church. So I don't even have to list those, actually it would be good if I did then I could check them off and that'd look really good for me. Ha!

  I while back my honey-man got me a new Bible. It's a beautiful, burgundy Church Bible and it's wonderful. It smells just like a brand new pair of Justin  boots! ❤ Anyhoo, it's not a study Bible it's just the Word of God with no additions. I have had a Scoffield for years and loved all most of the notes and helps. Even through I love my new Bible I miss the notes and references of the old one.
So the other day while rummaging through a drawer I found this one. It was our middle son's Bible and he hardly used it. It's a Rock of Ages Prison Ministry Study Bible and I love it! It is used a little but not much. Apparently he stopped using it because the cover fell off but it's perfectly intact inside and has some great notes.


 Okay so why is it on my to do list for today? Cause it's nude! It needs a little coverin' up so I'm gonna make a Bible cover for it. See, there was a point to all that rambling.

Finally, last on my list for this week; enjoy today and tomorrow in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, and the theater tonight. My honey-man booked us a room and got us tickets to see Anna Karenina. Not sure about the story, something about Russian royalty, we'll see. I'm just looking forward to a little get away after being cooped up for 2 weeks of strait rain. I'm glad the sun is deciding to come and visit us today because I was getting ready to order some Gopher wood!

Okay now it's your turn! Link up so we can all come and check out your to to lists and get motivated to make our own.

To Do Tuesday & UFO's

Hey Guys, it's To-Do Tuesday again! It seems like the weeks are flying by at lightning speed. I can't believe it's mid-October already. 

Anyhoo, it's To-Do Tuesday and I'm ready to list all my to-do's a hopefully get some of them done. 

1. Okay so this is back on my to-do list. I should have made these pillow covers a month ago but they seem to get pushed off for more important tasks. I'm seriously going to get them done this week and maybe even today! I even found a good tute for it here. 

2. I'm going to finish this quilt! I'm on a mission to finish it before Christmas season arrives, which is right on our tail! I thought it would be a nice thing for Hannah and I to do together before she left for school but sadly, with all the hustle of the holidays, shame on my lying self! With all my procrastination it set taunting me till Christmas was over. It's that rebellious streak I have that's to blame. Anyhow, this is sitting over my machine reminding me hourly to get my stuff in gear and get'er done!

3. Number three on my list is finishing a blog design I started for a friend.

4. Use my  ❤❤❤Cameo❤❤❤   to cut out a verse for the wall at the Gypsy church.

5. Come up with some games for our Saturday morning Gypsy kids meeting. I really need to find some simple games, no words or reading involved, that can be played by about 5 at a time in a space that's 8x6. That's it, that's all the space we have so finding games has been a booger. Hey if you have any ideas, please leave them in a comment. Our little ones would be so happy to play something other than balloon pop and day & night. 

6. Make something yummy with the fresh pumpkin I cooked yesterday. I baked a small pumpkin and got only two cups from that thing. Maybe gluten free, low-carb pumpkin cheesecake! Oh yea! 

7. Finally, I'm going to try to figure out what's going on with my diet. I'm in such a slump and I'm in a dangerous place right now. You know that place of decision that I'll probably look back on and regret or pat myself on the back and say, "you did it!" Anyhow, that's where I'm at and all this cool weather isn't helping. All I want to do is eat and hibernate. Not good. 

Anyhoo friends, that's my To Do Tuesday for this week. I'm seriously motivated and I think I'm going get on those pillows right now!

Make sure to link up!

To Do Tuesday #5

Okay today's To Do Tuesday is directly linked with my very first To Do Tuesday and an item on that list that has been hanging out in the shadows waiting to be checked off. I'm finally getting to it and I don't have any idea why I waited so long! What was I thinking? Precious moments wasting away when I could have be Silhouetting!

Yes, I did it! I finally opened my new Silhouette Cameo and I'm over the moon! We actually purchased the machine to use in the ministry but that was before I realized how AW-MAYZING it is! Are you kidding, have you seen the possibilities? I found this board on Pinterest that I'm nuts for. This chick has pinned over 855 pins related to things to do with this mad machine.

Anyhoo, today's To Do Tuesday is dedicated to the wonderful Silhouette Cameo.

1 Okay first off check out this lovely sign over at Aimee Weaver Designs. Is it not the prettiest thing you've ever seen? I would buy it in a heartbeat if I had $99 and if I didn't have to pay $1000 to get it shipped to me. But, since I don't and can't I'm going to take some inspiration from it and make something sorta similar.

2. I am in love with this sweet image from Dawn Nicole Designs. She is offering the file for free! Yes ladies and gentlemen, I said FREE! This is going on HIS side of the bed!

3. Fun, colorful garland for my super-room! I found this sewn paper garland and fell in love. I love all things colorful and this will fit in perfect in my new craft room *aka* Super-Room.

Okay besides all these goodies, there's still laundry to be done, two baskets that need to be folded and put up. Sunday School lesson for Sunday and Gypsy Kids Meeting Saturday morning. There's still lots to do besides this to do list but I'm making these priorities or at least I want to so we'll see how it goes.

Regardless of however many I get done I can still check off opening the thing from my very first To Do Tuesday. Woohoo me!

Oh wait, I wanted to share this with you too. I seriously do this, no, I'm serious I really do. Pitiful I know. 

Have a great, productive Tuesday and rest of the week y'all, and don't forget to link up!

To Do Tuesday #4

Wow, this month has flown by. I can't believe we're almost in October. We've been back here just over a month and it seems to have just flown by.

We've got a lot done so that takes time but honestly I've spent a small while feeling quite depressed. I can usually roll with the punches but this month back has been brutal.
Okay, remember my post 10 Things I've Learned My First Week of Living in My Empty Nest, well forget everything I said! Apparently what I learned from living my first week in an empty nest is...absolutely nothing!
I was living in a pipe dream. Reality hadn't hit yet. I thought everything was smooth sailing when in reality a storm, a big, black, ugly, storm was coming. Not only did we have an extremely empty nest to deal with we also had to learn to live knowing that three-fifths of our little family was on another continent on the otherside of the globe. It's been a lesson in faith to realize our children are for once out of our reach. We've always trusted the Lord but now it's test time! our hands are tied so we're going to have to truly trust in God to protect them.
I also forgot about the culture shock we always feel when coming home or going to the States. Life is so drastically different and moves at different paces, it takes time to get used to that. I didn't realize or remember how lonely it gets here either. I'm sure I took for granted how easy the transition was going to be and how much I'd miss having children in the house. I am a mom, that's all I've ever been (other than loving and multi-faceted wife). So, transition? Yep, a big one!

The storm has come, a month long storm and I think I can see some blue peaking out from behind those black clouds. So, today for my To Do Tuesday, I have one item listed:

1. BE HAPPY!

I'm going to do my best today to acknowledge all I do have here and put aside all the thoughts about what or rather who I don't have here.
Life is about growing and changing and we're just in a metamorphosis right now, it's a little painful but I'm hoping to come through with beautiful wings and ready for my next phase of life.

Don't forget to link up, can't wait to see your To Do Tuesday!

To Do Tuesday #3

Today's To Do Tuesday is gonna be pretty lame.
#1 on my To Do List is GET WELL! I'm a bit under the weather so today's goal is to feel better.
Hope you guys are super productive today, I'm planning on spending it in bed!

To Do Tuesday Link-Up #2

Well, it's that time again and I'd love to say I checked off all of last week's list but sadly... I didn't. The spirit was willing but the flesh was weak. Actually, time just doesn't seem as long and abundant as it used to be, time just seems to fly these days. Plus, I had a pretty big list.  

Hey don't forget to add your link before for To Do Tuesday link-up. 

We actually did get quite a bit done and some stuff that wasn't even on my list. BTW, before you ask, #6 says klakavci  (I have no idea what this is in English) which is Croatian for those little brick thinggys our downstairs patio and driveway are made out of. For those wondering, yes I know the list is messy. 

 Okay so we did finished the curtains! This was a huge job because the ceiliing by the crazy, almost 3 meter window wasn't flat. It actually started to slant up quite a bit about a foot away from the window. We just had the sheers on one of those tight cables before. Johnny had to flatten the ceiling over there so he could put up a proper curtain track. It was a lot of work but it's amazing to be able to close the curtains and walk around at night and not have to worry about creepers watching you. This was a big one and I'm glad it's done!

 My second semi-completed job is our conversion of our Nan's old room to my super-room. Johnny got the shelves and desk put up and now it's up to me to find all my junk tucked away all over the place and move it into my super-room! Yes, super-room is what I'm calling it.

I do have a confession, I haven't touched the Silhouette yet. I'm telling you, time is hard to come by. It seems like I should have more time but the time I have is just flying by. We've already been here almost 3 weeks and that's craziness!

Okay now for my actually To Do Tuesday.

I am seriously going to tackle my drawers today!! They are so full that they won't close properly and I've had it. Okay, I'm gonna make a confession...I hoard undies! No normal person, in their right mind needs as many undies as I have. I know that but I just can't seem to toss them. But today...they're gone!!

To Do Tuesday = Bathe stinky doggy. BTW, she's a ShihTzu and yes she should have long hair and did when we left her in the kennel. When we returned she looked like this. Don't get me started!!!

So I still have school books lying around and what's a girl to do with them? They're too good to throw out but it's too expensive to ship them to someone who needs them.

So, should I box them and put them with the multitudes of other boxes in the garage to never been seen or thought of again or what? Decisions, decisions. Either way, they're leaving my super-room today!

Oh, this has nothing to do with To Do Tuesday but I wanted to share it. I found it yesterday at Ikea. It was advertised as a lap table for a computer but it works wonderfully for Bible time. A neck can get pretty stiff staring down at your Bible for 10 chapters. So this works amazingly and it was cheap, which I love! Oh yea and look, it matches my Bible cover!! Thanks IKEA! 

Okay Guys, it's your turn! I can't wait to read your To Do Tuesdays!