2013 In A Jar, Pinterest and Perfection (Sorta :0)

Gotta start out with thanks again!  I’d been gone so long, I wasn’t sure you all would even remember me – and boy was I grateful to hear from so many of you that I have missed.  Your kind comments and e-mails always remind me of how much goodness and beauty there is in the world – so thanks girls.

Holy Busyness Batman – the McStudlys keep me hopping.   The Junior is a Senior in High School, and we have been busy college choosing and scholarship applying, drill meeting, and NHS Tuxedo fitting, and just to be sure that it’s not all work, some wicked games of Monopoly and Scrabble.    

Nearly every Saturday, we are traveling around Northwest Missouri – savoring the Juniors last year of High School.  He is the Batallion Commander at his school (big honor for him – proud parents we are).  Here he is this past weekend, performing with
his best friend Andrew. 

And here they are with the trophies they won that day :0) – more proud Momma!

There have been snow days, too – which throw the schedule
out of whack, but I love it – love the beauty and power of Mother Nature.

While we are talking Mother Nature, let me share with you my favorite thing about the new house. 

Yup, leave it to me to pick something corny like this – but it is that I get to watch the sunrise out of my living room window with a big mug of Joe every morning (or we can see it from our bedroom when we sleep in)!   These pictures don't do it justice - it's truly awe inspiring to watch

It’s not quite as pretty as an ocean sunrise, but Missouri beautiful in it's own right.

I’m still a Pinterest Addict – over 10,000 pins (hanging my head in shame).  Did you all see the pin on making an annual jar for your New Year's Celebration?  You write down all of the fun things you do, and then on New Years, you pull them out and read them.  Here is our 2013 Jar

I think we forget just how much we do, how much joy our lives are filled with – and this is a great reminder.  I just cut up some fun scrapbook paper, and when we finish a book, or see a movie, or go somewhere special, I just write the date and a little Twitter length squib about it. 

It’s not too late to start one, I just got mine together a couple of weeks ago – memory, my journal, text messages, ticket stubs – helped me find the dates!

Now, the Junior and I are huge – I mean huge – Nutella fans!  We are known to eat it by spoonfuls straight from the jar.  So when I saw these fun Nutella Mug Cakes on Pinterest – well, we just had to give them a go last night.

Delish – really!

And, I finished the quilt top for that tutorial – think I’m going to call it “Antique Sugar”!  What do you think - does it look like antique sugar?

Yup, my life is pretty much perfect :0)!  Sorta??  Uh, how about "No" girls - how about not at all??  There are, of course, the deeper struggles and imperfections of life.  But, ya can’t really capture those in pictures, so I’ll share a couple of those imperfect moments from the past week that I was able to capture on film (just because laughter is good for the soul).

Slight overflow problem with the mug cakes!  Said a large mug – she meant really large :0)!

And, ummm shouldn't the bottom of this quilt be straight across, flat??

Seriously!!  I’ve yet to make a quilt without spending some quality bonding time with my seam ripper.  We're learning to love each other, or at least not hate each other!

But - you awesome women, that silly 2013 Jar of all the good times we’ve had in just two short months, and those sunrises, and, of course, the McStudlys somehow make all of life’s big and small imperfections seem a little . . . well . . . irrelevant!

TTFN,

Kelly

 

 

Comments

[Pam P]

Yep! Sometimes you just have to laugh when life throws it's little curve balls :) So glad you're back - you've been missed!! Hope to hear all about your adventures this last year.

[Dorothy]

So glad to see your back -- great idea on the 2013 jar!
Dorothy in IL

[Jocelyn]

I can't tell you how happy I am to see you back online :-) We've MISSED YOU!!!!

[Sunny]

I can't believe I was so busy I missed your last post! Welcome back to blogland. I love the bottom of your quilt. heehee!

[Polly]

Ya gotta share lotsa photos of your new house and sewing room!!

[Sandi]

I love the quilt picture you posted. Enjoy your time with your family.

[Carolyn Sullivan]

I call my seam ripper my best friend! right now my fav BEST FRIEND took a drop off the sewiwng table and is on a persona journey..... she'll be back. probably just making a statement about how messy my room is.

[Mary Burn]

Welcome back! Missed seeing the pictures and comments about your family. Have fun choosing a college for your son.

[Lisa Finnie Finn]

Welcome back Kelly. We really did miss ya
Aint life and living wunnerful???

[Jane]

That's a sweet and perfect name for that quilt. How soft and beautiful. I liked the idea of documenting different highlights of the year to review on New Year's Eve, thanks for the inspiration I just may copy that idea. Jane

[Sue]

Hi Kelly, it's wonderful to have you back! Its been so long since you popped into my inbox! I've missed you!

[Delcia Rosenow]

Not corny at all! I love to watch the moon out of the kitchen window or our bedroom window on clear nights. Once in a while I can see Mt. Rainier on a sunlit morning--pure white before the day's wind uncovers the darker ridges.

Love the quilt--perfect name too! AND I have missed your postings. Very smart of you to take a break and enjoy your son's last year of high school. You'll always treasure doing it--smart girl to know your family is most important.

[Debi McIntosh]

I have missed you - you are right!! Love the sunrise. Really pleased you are posting again.

[Nancy Horton]

SO glad to have you back!! love the quilt, the view, the info on Junior, and the nutella cake, (the mess in the microwave, not so much)...be sure to look into North Georgia University in Dahlonega, GA..it is an excellent senior military school...has a great rifle drill team called the Blue Ridge Rifles...my son went there, was not in the rifles, but enjoyed it...we love the area, too!

[Sinta]

The jar idea is so fun! I am going to have to remember that! I love your little pastel quilt... so sweet and so you (and me). Can you even stand the thought of your senior going off to college?!*!#?

[carol broughton]

Hi Kelly,

Your Antique Sugar quilt is just gorgeous! Looking forward to the tutorial. The jar for New Year's Eve is great, and sure to bring back lots of the little memories that make life sweet. Glad to have you back!!

[Patty]

I had to laugh when I saw the quilt laid out wrong, cos I've done the very same thing. My seam ripper and I are good friends too. The nutella cake looks yummy. I have also been known to eat it out of the jar. It's just as good as frosting, and kind of addicting! Your view is fantastic. We moved a few years back and I miss having windows on the east side of the house. Glad to see you are back.

[Stefanie]

Oh Kelly! Glad to see that you are back! Email me!
Stefanie

[Wendy]

So glad that you are back and all is well with you! Glad you are settled into your new home. And a big welcome back to the land of blogging.

[Sue]

I am so glad you're back. I missed your blog. I would check and check and then I stopped. I just tried it tonite out of the blue and there you were. I so enjoyed reading the things you wrote. Please know that you do touch us with the things you write about and inspire us. So glad you're back!