Lizzi is hibernating.....

Changes in my job this year; 

Changes in my husband's work schedule; find my long-arm left in hibernation. 

The changes are all pretty exciting really.

 At work, I love the independence and freedom in my job as a mentor and reading specialist. I certainly do not have to worry about getting my 10,000 steps in each day.  I seem to always be on the go as I flutter between classrooms. Just today I started the morning giving a sixth grade lesson and ended it working with our kinders as they learn to decode and read. It's just so awesome to be a part of their learning process.

At home, the month of March will find hubby and I getting back to working the same Monday through Friday schedule for the first time in F O R E V E R!! Like we are talking so long we can't even remember WHEN we did share the same work schedule in the past ten years. But not anymore!!! We're so excited about the idea of being able to enjoy full weekends together and the opportunities that this will open for us to be more active together. Funny how one change dominoes into so many others. You know, like when the bedsheets get changed, laundry gets done and house gets cleaned...that kind of fun stuff.

With that said, that leaves me again, with not much to share on the ol' quilting blog here. (I'm so sorry) I AM enjoying my hand stitching as I work on my Sue Spargo Forest of Trees BOM. I find myself stitching every night and continuously looking forward to playing with all those creative stitches! Of course, I have plenty of quilts awaiting to be finished, including two for the Carolina Quilt Project. (I haven't forgot Carole....smiles!) But for now, I just wanted to drop in to let ya know...my life's just in transition. A good transition for sure. But one that finds me taking a break from quilting once again. I'm sure once Summer rolls around, Lizzi will be out of hibernation and I'll find myself getting those projects done lickety split! Until then, I promise to drop in to share updates of the grands, our weekend adventures, along with some slow stitching every now and then.

A Virtual Hug!

No your eyesight isn't going bad....our little guy just loves his dog and I couldn't  believe I caught this adorable moment in a photo. (blurry as it may be) I just had to share...hoping it makes you smile too.

The right hug from the right person just makes all the difference doesn't it.

Our Anniversary Weekend

We both took a little extra time off work last week and escaped to this quaint little town of Lava Hot Springs, Idaho to celebrate our 30th Wedding Anniversary. It's rich in history as for centuries before it was turned into a settlement, the Bannock and Shoshone Indian tribes gathered here to bathe, rest, and worship in the natural, odor-free mineral waters found in this quiet valley. 

In 1911, the State of Idaho began developing the hot springs into what is now a main street of hotels, restaurants and ol' time western bars that greet visitors with a smile and continue to offer fair prices.

We were spoiled from the moment we arrived and truly  enjoyed the inclusiveness of our Anniversary stay.
We were able to schedule mineral soaks, evening dining and enjoy complimentary wine tasting and
 breakfast without ever leaving our Inn.
It was all amazingly relaxing and rejuvenating.

Both private and public hot spring pools and tubs can be found in every hotel and park. 

Seriously, it became "normal" to greet other guests with a quick hello as we passed each other in hallways and common areas bundled up in bathrobes and styling flip flops. Which okay, admittedly felt weird in the beginning, but of course, didn't take us too long to get use to. 

We also enjoyed some out door recreation in-between all those mineral soaks and found 

snow-shoeing to be the perfect way to see the winter landscape.

As we reached the peek of our hike, we were thinking another mineral soak would be perfect just about now! Luckily we had that and a couple's massage scheduled once we returned to the Inn.

So yeah, no machine sewing to share, but thanks goodness for hand sewing on a long drive.

Tomorrow reality sets in and it's back to work, but never the less, we're so grateful to have gotten away to celebrate that which makes the day to day so worthwhile and awesome!

 
PS: Please feel free to comment and share an anniversary celebration of your own.

A New Project!

I finally found a project that my ol' vintage sewing box is perfect for!

I joined Sue Spargo's Forest of Trees BOM this year and each compartment 

is just right to keep needed supplies on hand: 

 I also found the perfect little spot to set it all up so I can conveniently pin the next

 layer  of the piece and enjoy stitching each day after work for a bit. 

I haven't been sewing or quilting but am enjoying the peacefulness many of us find when hand sewing. Linking up with everyone else at Kathy's to celebrate and share. Happy Stitching!

Thirty Years Ago....

A peek into an old scrapbook reminds hubby and I of our joyful beginning

 as husband and wife thirty years ago today. Thirty years!! 

(No digital photos back in 1989.)

My handmade wedding dress, vowing to be "Together Forever"...we sat and chuckled over breakfast as we flipped in reflection through this old scrapbook. We found ourselves discussing how lucky we feel to have grown-up together, amazed at how much we've accomplished and conquered, grateful that our marriage only grew stronger as we've traveled this so-called journey of life together. 

And oh how I still remember the joy I felt during this very moment pictured below 

as we walked down the isle after our wedding ceremony...as Mr. and Mrs.

And shoot, he can still surprise me with flowers that bring those same tears of joy to my eyes.  

Of all the wishes I had as a little girl, I'm just so very, very grateful that the one of my being married to my very best friend is the one that came true! We've overcome tough hardships including cancer, depression, and most currently Angioedema. We've celebrated as we've built a successful life and  shared the joy of becoming grandparents. I'm just so humbled to be HIS wife. I seriously can do anything with this guy by my side as he makes me the best me I can be. He always makes me smile. He makes me laugh. I'm the lucky one!!

I plan to keep these right on my desk to enjoy as I also relish in everyone's mouth drop 

expression when I answer: "How long have we've been married" . LOL!

When asked how we did it, I share how we started out and continue to be best friends and communication has been key in our marriage over the past thirty years. We're grounded and simple even in these modern times of technology and social media. We continue to have weekly dates and enjoy a simple, drama free life together.  We like, care, listen and support each other. We have fun. We hope to inspire others by our example and I truly thank you for stopping by and sharing in our celebration.

Feb. OMG: Another Flimsy Finish.

My February goal is to finish my Buggy Barn Sunny Side of the Street into a flimsy. I only have the checkered grass rows between each panel and border to add, so it should be easy to get done.

I plan to custom quilt this finish, thus it will most likely have to wait until my summer break when I have more time to quilt. I'm once again setting monthly goals with everyone else at
Patty's OMG linky. Click HERE to see what everyone else is up to.

So looking forward to Spring!

Today, I was delighted by the fact that the mornings are starting to get lighter earlier.

 I just hate going to work in the dark. It doesn't feel humanly right to me.

I'm simply grateful that the morning dawn is beginning to greet me on my daily walk to work.  

I'm also looking forward to what  Pennsylvania's famed groundhog, Phil, predicted is going to be an early Spring. Our Winter has been unseasonably mild without our usual dumping of snow but it has been cold and wet. I'm finding myself anxious to get back to golfing and hiking soon!

Guess you can say I have a small case of Spring Fever. Do you?