So, call me a glutton for punishment but I spent my Sunday with more machine applique. I worked up this little puffin wallhanging for Stacy. I have been wanting to work on this for close to oh, about a million years. Seriously, it's been in my head for at least a year. She loves Maine like I do.

Here is what I did with my evening:  Worked on my rug - loving this process; uses two inch strips, no frame needed - drank peppermint tea, and watched stand-up comedy: Debra DiGiovanni and then Brian Regan. OMG I laughed 'til I cried and when is the last time I did that? I can't even remember. Felt like a bit of an idiot sitting in my living room laughing my ass off all alone but whatever makes you feel good. And it did.

My affirmation today says, I say farewell to 2012 with love, and joyously welcome the new adventures of tomorrow. All is well. Life loves me.

Well, season is upon us here in the Fabulous Florida Keys as we watch our sleepy little town begin to teem with tourists. Traffic sucks, tons of people at the pool, and forget about the grocery store! I have neighbors across the canal now and while they are very nice, I can no longer keep my curtains open.  :(
I got a wild hair yesterday and spent the day working on a hawaiian style quilt with machine applique. Lots and lots and lots and lots of stitching (thank you Miss Elna) until I was practically cross eyed. Can you see the dolphins?

Now that my mom has opened her present, I wanted to show you the bag I made for her. I love the fabric and have been saving it to make her something for ages. Got it as a home dec remnant at Mardens of all places.

Happy Christmas and I had a truly lovely day, if you really want to know.
Woke up before daybreak, drove the girls to the state park for a hike, came home to
open my presents (with Lucy's help) and I got the one thing I really really truly actually wanted from my lovely Anna: Origins whipped Ginger Souffle (oooh I love it) and the one thing I didn't know I wanted but love love love with all my heart from my wonderful Annie: my very own Zia coffee cup.

I went kayaking with the dolphins in my canal, Lu and Tom came by for a nog and I talked with my friend, Stacy, heard from Sue and Flo and talked with mother and daddy, my sis, WOW, talk about gratitude. I am filled up.
Tonight, la piece de resistance was watching Meg Ryan in some movie where she duct tapes her cheating lying husband to the toilet. Seriously. And that is all I'm going to say about that except the ending sucked (he lived).
The girls and I are off for a walk in the moonlight and then to bed. sweet dreams to you all

Christmas Eve and the sunset matched my little pink tree. This will be the last year I'll have this tree. Lots of bittersweet memories all wrapped up in it from when we first came to Florida for Christmas and I ask you, why do I want to be reminded?  I will begin a new tradition next year.

sunset from my dock

. . . while visions of sugarplums danced in their little heads. This was at about 7:30. The holidays are exhausting, aren't they? 

So I looked on the google to see what kind of lizard I have hanging around and guess what? It's called a Jesus Lizard. I have no trouble believing that because when I come across it, I usually say something like Holy Jesus! The thing is 3 feet long and doesn't seem to mind me or the dogs being around, unless the dogs spot him and go after him, and then the sucker can move. I'm just glad he wasn't lights out on the ground this morning because the Fabulous Florida Keys are in the midst of a cold spell - all the way down to 50 last night!! These lizards can't tolerate the cold temps and you can see dead bodies all over the place when we have a prolonged cold snap.

Michele and I went up to the Hard Rock in Hollywood on Wednesday. The Civic Club got a bus and we hitched a ride. Michele had never been before and went a little wacko over the 2 penny slots. (yawn) I had a mani/pedi and a nice lunch and some laughs with FloBo and her sis. Met up with Michele back on the bus. Hey, I won $23! woohoo  Not going to tell you what I paid for the mani/pedi but suffice to say, I didn't come out ahead (or even) when you factor that in!

 And, I wanted to show you the beautiful faces of my orchid. No, that's Elvis at the Hard Rock. I'm talking about the picture below. Hello?

Today I drove up to Whole Foods and bought myself a Christmas dinner for Tuesday. Chicken Kiev. I'm going to dig out my funky little artificial tree tomorrow. I'm all done missing my husband and feeling blue. Time to move on.

Cheers for now,
LizzieAlone

I sewed up these cute little drawstring bags to hold the games and off they'll go today.

And, perhaps it was my remark that the only logical outcome for the defendant accused of domestic battery was castration that got me dismissed from jury duty yesterday. Yay! Dodged that bullet.

I came up for air and realized that there are not many days left until Christmas so I have been sewing for the little ones in my spare time. I'm making a memory game - we called it Concentration when I was a kid and my sisters and I loved to play. I saw a version of this on Purl Soho (shout out! Love the Purl Bee!) but I am doing mine with fussy cuts, decor bond and this stuff from Mainely Sewing called um well I can't remember what it's called but it's really thick stabilizer used for bags. Lots of zigzagging and I've used up two spools of thread so far.

So, last night I bartended at this event to benefit the Domestic Abuse Shelter, a cause near and dear to my heart. Pearls in Paradise. Had to wear black and pearls and it was fun seeing everybody decked out. It was at Eleanor's gorgeous estate and the fabulous Dave Feder, guitarist extraordinaire - and my friend - played with his band, Myster. They were absolutely great! So, a good time had by all and lots of money raised for a good cause.

And a few days ago, Chuck and Karen put on quite a spread in a holiday celebration for our water aerobics group. A lovely evening and just look at that sunset. BoCo (Bonnie and Connie) showed up as Mr. and Mrs. and how cute are they!

the spread

Look for the helpers

maybe the helpers can do something about gun safety laws so we don't have these tragedies anymore

Happy Twelve Twelve Twelve

Can't believe I haven't posted in so long.

Yesterday, my friend said to me, I wish there were a Christmas pill you could take so you would go to sleep and wake up when it is all over. I agree. For years I've read about people having "difficulties" around the holidays but I never really got it. So, I've identified it; I'm moving on. Just a few weeks and it will all be over. Hey, last year I had to go to a shrink and I don't feel the need this year so that's progress, right?

My affirmation from Louise Hay today says "I am satisfied, fulfilled, and complete; and I am ready for new adventures. I clean out the old closets of my mind to prepare for what awaits." Ok, I'll work on that, Louise.

Anyhoo, I've been busy busy busy, social butterfly that I am, flitting from party to party: the annual Hospital party, the RH Rippers party, water aerobics party, etc etc. And, I was sewing like mad, getting ready for a craft show last Saturday. I now have my very own canopy. Woohoo!

set up

my booth

helper, Sue - thank you!

Since I am finished sewing for the show, yesterday I FINALLY finished little Ben's birthday present. They are so cute but I wasn't wearing my glasses and made all the seams 3/5 instead of 3/8 so I have no idea if they will fit. They were fun to do though and I'll do some more for the two babies in my life. 

And, couldn't resist a picture of my hibiscus plants this year. Beautiful, aren't they?

I'm thinking three more weeks and the sadness (and bitchiness) will go away and I will be back to my sunny self.  As usual, I feel better after writing something so thanks for  that.

Love, LizzieAlone

Ta da!

NOTE:

Windex does not phase giant roaches.  Clorox Clean-up stops them in their tracks.

A bit of hysteria last night chasing a palmetto bug from the kitchen to the bathroom to the bedroom to under the bed and finally nailed him on the bottom shelf of the bedside table. Me screeching (in a totally lady-like way of course) and the dogs running in circles, what? what? where? Honestly, enough already. I had the pest control people in and I'll be calling them to come back tomorrow. I am a clean and neat person. What the heck??  Last night I put my toothbrush in the fridge. Just in case . . .

So I've been quite the social butterfly lately. Happy hour with the water aerobics bunch,

Sunset at Bayside Grill

Would have been a good picture of us . . . but it's not

and my annual Florida Keys Quilters holiday party. OMG so much food, and lots of fun. I was lucky enough to wind up with Mary Lou's gift again this year. Woohoo! Props to Julie for hosting all of us this year! There must have been 30 women in attendance.

getting busy in the kitchen

Some of us inside

Others  on the balcony.

Mary Lou made this bottle of lights with fabric fish - gorgeous!

I cut out a bag last night and I am going to resist going to Our Lady of Perpetual Mimosas this morning and get a little sewing done on it. I am using my precious batiks from Bali.

yummy colors

Miss Elna: ready to sew!

Another beautiful day in paradise - the view from my door

The girls chased THIS

off the dock and into the water yesterday. Zoiks!  Other than that, I had a lovely day with my friends. Went for a walk in the hammock (that's what we call the forest here in the fab fla keys), had lunch at Num Thai and ended the day with a swim and hot tub at the Holiday Inn.

bathing beauties, Marilyn and Gloria

Sundown at my house

and the moon just before daybreak today.

I haven't been writing much because I've been a little down. Maybe it's seasonal affective disorder but I think it's the holidays. Just got to get through the next month and I'll be back to my old self.

This is what 70 looks like!

Our beloved Gloria turned 70 on Thanksgiving and aren't we all so thankful she is in our lives!

posing in front of her latest work in progress

surprise luncheon at Island Grill organized by David and Erica

* * * 

Kind of ticked off at Google this morning because they told me my quota of pictures is full and I have to pay if I want to upload more pix to my blog. I had to go to Picasa, join Google +, and delete some of my albums, thus removing pix from my blog, in order to have more room. I am certainly not interested in paying for the privilege. Anyone have any suggestions?

Imagine if the world were a village of 100




Happy Thanksgiving.

Debbie and I went to the annual fundraiser for Island Dolphin Care last night and had a FABULOUS time! Island Dolphin Care, right down the street from me, does "dolphin therapy" for children with special needs or at risk and wounded veterans and their families. A super good cause and well worth a visit if you are ever in my neck of the woods.

The party was held at the Big Chill - shout out! Wonderful food, great music, silent auction (my own personal weakness and yes I got some goodies), live auction and lots of freebies from local businesses and even some little handmade dolphins and starfish at each place setting with quotes from the kids and parents tied to them. Attention was paid to every little detail and wow were they organized. The event was outside on the Bay and held around their pool, with a fire burning right in the center of it. Very
cool!

Florida bag

Apparently two weeks is how long it takes me to settle in to a new place. Today, for the first time, I walked in and looked around with some sense of satisfaction and belonging. (It helped that the bug guy was here to de-roach yesterday and Las Senoras came and cleaned. And, I am finally unpacked.) Gloria and I have our studio up and running and have been starting to have some creative time together so that's a beautiful thing. Life is good.

work space

living space

So here I am settling in, seeing my peeps, back at work, loving life and somebody has to harsh my mellow and tell me that Thanksgiving is next week. Well, I guess I'll deal with the holidays as they come and move on. Not planning for any kind of a meltdown this year.

Can I just say . . .

there are three things that are really pissing me off this morning.

1. Men who do not respect their marriage vows. Especially those in high places.


2. Roaches, especially when they are called "palmetto bugs." Yes I have them. ick


(and the two above have much in common, if you ask me)

3. Christmas music in the stores before December!!!!!

Ok, I'm done and now I will mindfully spend the rest of the day thinking about what I love.