Several mornings this past week had such colors at dawn that I had to step out to the freezing cold to take pictures. This day had purple clouds low on the horizon, almost looking like a second mountain ridge with the sun coming up in front of them.
The birds seem to like the new feeder. A pair of chickadees take advantage of the bounty on a very cold and overcast day.
Here, a Carolina wren gets his share while a downy woodpecker has a meal on the opposite perch.
Another dawn in golden yellow and peach hues.
Morning fog settles into the valleys between the ridges making them easier to see.
The cardinal pair are sticking around for the winter here. The male was sitting on the stair railing post for a bit, long enough to pose in all his scarlet glory.
The female was on the feeder for quite a while. I think she can land on this one a bit easier.
At a dinner with My Sweet Babboo’s pickleball friends, I was asked when I might come visit and bring cookies again. I played with the group for a couple of years until I was forced to quit. So now I just go watch and visit from time to time, usually bringing treats. I spent one day baking, then took the tray to the gym the next day. I made a another batch of my biscotti with toffee chips and cinnamon chips, lemon bars and chocolate crinkles.
This was the first time I’ve made chocolate crinkles, and they were a sticky mess to handle. But, oh were they good!! Chewy and soft with an intense chocolate flavor. I got the recipe on the internet, but don’t ask me where, I don’t remember which site. Pretty much all the recipes are the same.
Our wedding anniversary was last week as well, and My Sweet Babboo brought me a dozen gorgeous white roses.
I have often thought of doing a quilt of a rose like this ever since I did the Dream Big dahlia panels. But next time I want to sew it with fabric, maybe raw edge or needle turn applique? I have this vision of starting in the back, and building the petal layers overlapping one by one. Might be an interesting way to stretch myself.
Out with the old year Zoom on Tuesday saw 12 of us for a couple of hours to sew together from six different countries! We are all bloggers, and the event is hosted by Chooky Blue in Australia. For those who don’t know, a chook is a chicken. I was able to join for about 2 hours this time. Chooky starts at 6 am her time, and goes all day. There were 5 in Australia, 3 in the USA, and one from each of Germany, Norway, England, Canada. Likely more countries were represented after I had to sign off as we’ve had participants from New Zealand and The Netherlands on previous Zoom sew days.
In the sewing room, I’m working on smaller projects for now. You may remember this cute coffee print that a friend gave me. I pulled it out for some coffee theme mug rugs, and matched thread colors to the fabric for the embroidery.
I found a nice tone on tone for the embroidery that coordinated with the print, and set the machine up to do the stitching. I put the threads in an egg carton with numbers in the bottom of the cells so I can keep track of what color is next. I use bits of paper to hold spots where the same color is used twice.
It came out well, I think. I did two of the embroideries exactly the same colors. Next will be to finish them into little mats. Then I need to find some coffee theme mugs to put with them for the guild shop.
We had some work done in the house, and it has put me in a clean out mode. January tends to do that anyway, but this year is more than most. I’ve been putting furniture up on craigslist, and packing up unneeded dishes, knickknacks, games and books to take for donation. I need to tackle my closet again, and find some fabric to take to the re-home table at guild as well. So, this week is earmarked for that. I did finish the first denim jacket, and I’ll show you that whole process this coming week.
What are your plans for the week?
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From My Carolina Home 
Carole, the winter scenes of sunrises, clouds and visitors are a nice perk among the winter bareness. I’ve been using my Merlin bird app while walking, and enjoy identifying the sounds of birds which I dont always readily see, but definitely hear.
I think challenging yourself to the rose project sounds amazing, but you should definitely keep it since it has the sentimental value of your anniversary. Happy anniversary!
The coffee mats are adorable, great job with the colorful thread approach!
I have Christmas put away at home, tackling the antique mall booths this Tuesday. We held a 50% off sale, so I’m hoping to pack fewer things away! I purged several personal Christmas items this season, and that felt good, but admittedly, no space was saved, as I found myself buying again in this season. I love Christmas, what can I say?!
Have a good week!
Mom made chocolate crinkles and lemon squares growing up…so yummy.
It is fun seeing two different bird varieties at your feeder simultaneously.
My zoom time was too short. Chooky really brings us together.
Gorgeous pictures as usual. Is that a squirrel proof feeder or do you use a baffle? Mine are getting rusty and I could use a refresh!
I love seeing all the birds at the feeder. You get such a nice variety. Your embroidery project looks great. It’s always fun to make projects using both quilting techniques and the embroidery machine. Sounds like you had a lovely week. Happy New Year and Happy Anniversary.
I love seeing your views and the birds that visit. The sweet snack tray looks delicious and I am always amazed at your quilting projects! Enjoy your week, Carole.
It sounds like your year is off to a great start. The pickleball treats look yummy, and I’m sure, appreciated. The mug rugs are going to be beautiful too. Happy anniversary.
You have been productive. This week I’ll be returning pants that didn’t fit or the feel of them was ‘off’.
I’ll be making a run to Costco for their chicken pieces that are barely coated because they were a hit.
I’ll be in my she shed planning/cutting for 2 charity quilts and binding 1 or 2 that are fresh off the frame.
Hello Carole! Here in Wisconsin, I have been sewing, working on a flannel quilt for my oldest daughter AND watching it snow almost every day! Your mountain views are beautiful, but so is our clean, white blanket of snow! My daughter will be 50 on the 14th and her party is next Sunday. I have the top done, and will get the back ready for pinning today. Quilting tomorrow and finishing on Tuesday! A good start to the year as far as Stashbusters go! I have made my three daughters a number of quilts over the years…each one has a themed quilt just for them, a flannel Christmas quilt, and a special wall quilt, complete with quilt hangers built by my husband! My daughter mentioned last year how she didn’t have a flannel quilt just for cuddling in…she uses the others I made for her as decor items. And, she mentioned a flannel cuddling quilt again when we were together at Christmas. Little did she know then that her wish was already in the works! After her quilt is finished, I have another on deck, cut out and ready to go. My goal for 2026 is to do some serious stash busting! I’ll be leaving my part-time job as our church accountant at the end of February, so I’m hoping to get alot of “me” time in the sewing room!
Have a great week!
We had one spectacular sunrise this week, the whole sky was blazing red. Reminded me of the old saying, “red sky at morning…” and sure enough, a big storm rolled in the next day. I just finished quilting the 1st of 3 flannel baby quilts. Made my first fabric purchase of the year – backing for the quilts – so it was in & right back out. Club meeting is Tuesday & they’re going in for comfort quilts. Your treat tray must have been a big hit, a terrific variety to please everyone’s taste.
Happy New Year, Carole, and happy anniversary to you both! Ours is coming up this week – 50 years! Your sunrise views are beautiful and I always love your bird photos, too. Those coffee mug rugs are cute! Glad you made it through the work that was being done – those kinds of things do make you take a look at stuff that can be gotten rid of. We’re going away for a couple days for our anniversary, so don’t exactly know what I’ll get done this week. But looking forward to the getaway, for sure!
I think I need a new feeder like that! That cookie plate looks terrific — especially that biscotti. That was one I didn’t get around to making this Christmas and I always love it (mine is a lemon/ginger biscotti.) You have your work cut out for you (no pun intended) with that quilt. It will be fantastic! Sounds like a wonderful post holiday time. I love it.
The pictures are so beautiful! I love the sunrise and especially the birds. The cardinals really cooperated for you. The red male picture reminds me how much I’d love to see these in real life. I lived back east for a time but don’t think I ever saw one.
Your embroidery really turned out lovely. That is going to make a lovely coffee mat. I love how you find ways to use all your talents!
Happy New Year!
the roses are beautiful I love white roses too and very light pink. I forgot to make lemon bars this year for the holidays seeing yours just now reminded me. I used to make so many yummy kinds and this year I just didn’t do much. Your mountain sunrises look so good. I wish we lived on the opposite side of the road to get the views better but on my side of the road we are in the woods and I don’t get an open view very well.
The roses are a beautiful and thoughtful gift. Have you considered making a quilt using photos of your roses printed out on photo fabric? You could make an anniversary memory quilt.
No, I haven’t thought of that. Photos on fabric haven’t appealed to me in the past, and I am not one to make commemorative quilts. My focus has been more on designing and charity, and I think I will be concentrating on smaller projects in the near future. I have too many bed size quilts now!
I love your pictures Carole. I used to feed the birds but now the deer rob the feeder and I haven’t found a deer proof feeder LOL. I also am in the mood to organize and declutter but I don’t know how much I will actually get done. I hope everyone has a wonderful week.
What gorgeous sunrises! We have had a few of those during Christmas break as well. Now it’s the moon..this morning it was huge and in the sky until 7:45! This week I am working on drafting a patter for some long johns for DH, to be like his beloved silk pair. These will be in a fine merino skit Girl #1 and SIL gifted him for Christmas. Also on the list some more tree blocks for a quilt that has been kitted for far too long! I intend to do a couple of BOM quilts this year, so need to get things cleaned up. I’m participating in a declutter (Karen Brown) this past week, and it has been nice to be told which task to work on each day!
OMG! That “treat tray” looks amazing! I’m so happy my new doctor said my weight is good. Pass that tray! Lol! Love your bird photos. The cardinals are so pretty this time of year, so vibrant! I’m preparing fabric for my next projects. I’m a “starcher”! Have a great week!
Happy New Year. Those treats look yummy. Do you have recipes for them?
Like the “perfect blend” saying on your embroidery. Perfect for your coffee fabric.
I look forward to gazing at the birds each morning here. We have a special feeder for the blue birds and one with seeds for the other birds.
I’ll be going to a quilt retreat at the end of this week and am so looking forward to it!
Wishing you all the best in 2026!
Your pictures are so fun added to your writing. I love watching the birds too. That Carolina Wren is cute – I do not think we get them here in SE MI. Too cold… We saw two eagles very close up this week at our State Park a few miles away from where we live. That was very exciting!
This week I start a water exercise class and a cookbook club at our library. Theme is chili /soups for this month. It’s my first meeting with them and looking forward to it! I need to decide today what to make!
My project for this month sewing is some themed mug rugs for my sister – one for each month starting with her birthday in Feb. Love your coffee themed ones and a good idea for me to make a coffee themed one as my sis and I love our coffee!
Have a lovely week!