The Beauty of Starts and Finishes

 I finished this little wallhanging for my friend Terry a while back. He was, and continues to be, a great source of encouragement to me in the last year and a half.

    I love how it turned out! The fabrics are wonderful....I bought more of them for my stash.

I plan on making Wisconsin my home in the very near future, so I figure I need to have a few tops ready for the hoop. I foresee alot of hand quilting time coming up. Winters here are long and hard. Mason's quilt had the priority. I love this top!!

 It reminds me of a circus....not sure why. I will figure out a way to put that into the name.

 The next top is bed size and only needs the borders put on. I'll do that next week, and then finish another UFO top waiting in the wings. In my hoop right now is this little 36x36 inch gift quilt. It has the same fabrics as Terry's quilt and is for my lifelong friend, Lori.

 My Queen size Underground Railroad quilt is just about done. Only the 2 outer borders need quilting and they should go fast. I plan on much productivity this winter!

The next 3 days will see nothing but playtime with this guy!!!!

 He came north this morning to spend a 4 day weekend with his grandma and John. He wore me out on the first day!! He wore himself out too, and was sound asleep at 7:30, which is why I was able to do this little post. He'll be up bright and early and ready for more fun. 

I hope your weekend will be as entertaining as my own!!!

A Teddy Bear Beauty

 Meet Willow. She came to us on April 1st. She is a Teddy Bear puppy, and was a gift from me to John, who is a dog lover.

 He was very surprised when he came home and found her waiting for him!

 She is a princess, for sure!

 She was so tiny.....but....

 She grew! And she became quite the Mama's girl!! She loves John and the boys, but certainly decided she was MY dog....and I'm a cat lady!

 Just don't tell Willow that! Although, I have to say, she loves Zion, and I think some days she is convinced that she, too, is a cat!!!!!

 Teddy's lighten up as they get older. She is a beautiful girl! But.....

 She is VERY naughty. Puppy Manners classes start next week!!!

Willow is not looking forward to that! 

I'll share more about Willow in coming posts. She is certainly a powerful force in our home! She's lucky she is cute!!!! Nuff said!

I should be back tomorrow....so much catching up to do! I can't leave you without a cat picture so here is one.....look closely.....

Poor Willow. She can't join them up there. Well, she can actually jump up on that couch now, so there are few safe places for them. 

See you soon! Thanks for the visit!

Beautiful Squares

A birthday gift for a dear friend who helped me through the darkest time of my life. He will get a bigger one in the near future!! I sure love these fabrics!!! All from charm squares. I found a new to me fabric store in a near by town. Ye Olde Schoolhouse is located about half an hour from me. 

Christine, from A Simple Quilter lives nearby and took me for the day. It was quite fun and John gave me some cash to spend....which I DID.

Enough fabric for a nice size quilt for our livingroom. I am excited to start it....AFTER the one in the hoop, and then Mason's quilt gets done. I am happy to get some quilting mojo back. I lost it for quite a while there. Hopefully, blogging will inspire me to pic up that needle more. There is also a Friday hand stitching group that meets at the quilt shop ALL DAY LONG....you can go for as long or as short a time as you wish. I plan to do some of those Fridays. Chatting with other quilters and hand quilting....what could be nicer?

The Beauty in Washing Dishes

 No, you did not read that wrong. Why blog about dishes? Is my life that boring now? No, it's not, hahaha....but I do dishes at least twice, and some days up to 4 times a day. One of the changes in my life is that I no longer have a dishwasher. Now, I am not going to pretend that is a Beauty for Ashes trade....it is NOT! However, I decided from the beginning that I would make the dish washing experience as beautiful as possible. I actually don't mind it a bit. My first requirement is that I spend a little extra money for the products that make washing dishes a more positive experience. I LOVE Mrs. Meyer products, and the aromatherapy that takes place IS beautiful.

 My new kitchen has the sink positioned in the corner with windows on either side. It creates a spectacular view, and I add the things I like to look at in that back corner. My future husband is wonderful about making sure I have flowers so those are almost always there....

 These tulips are about done, but they are still beautiful. And look at that view out the window!!!

 I have pretty dish soap and hand soap dispensers on either side of the sink. John not only makes sure I have flowers....he likes to make sure I get a regular giggle. He writes something on the hand soap's chalkboard every once in a while. This is what was there yesterday.

 I love using the towels my friends have made me over the years.

 When he is home, John dries while I wash. It is much nicer to work together, but I have to say, I also enjoy my time looking out that window in silence. Either way, I am blessed.

 Once they are done and put away, it is a good feeling.

 Do not think I am kidding myself. I know this is not a beautiful thing, BUT, there is no reason to not make it as beautiful as possible, and somehow, I think I lucked out with the view, and the corner sink. It sure makes a mundane daily chore much more enjoyable.

The Beauty of Grandchildren

 God has a way about Him.....when He gives Beauty for Ashes, He does not mess around. In a matter of 9 months, I went from having 2 grandchildren, to having 4.....a double portion. Along with TJ, who turns 10 on Thursday, and Emerson, now 6 and a half, meet Allie, and Mason. Allie is my Daughter In Love, Jessica's 7 year old daughter, which now makes her ours too. Mason is Kim (my son) and Jessie's new baby, now 5 months old .

 My cup runneth over......

How can life get more beautiful than that? It can't....or maybe it can.....

Beautiful New Beginnings

 If you followed me over from Life With A Little Sass, you'll find a much different blog. Well maybe not so different. I am still me....just changed. Ok, maybe it IS different. This blog is about Beauty for Ashes. I won't explain....it is just as it sounds. Here is some of the beauty that has taken place in the last year and  half.

 In future posts, I will share this beauty with you. I am not going back to dig in the ashes. They are buried under the beauty of my new life. I am excited to write again, and to record pictures and family history for my new grandson. 

Until next time.....

Bren