2016 is a Wrap!

Your might want to grab a cuppa and  get comfortable.  2016 was a pretty good year.  Our family added another adorable baby girl, and there was another engagement, with a wedding to follow in 2017.  I don't have children, so I focus my attention on my five nephews.  And yes, I made the little afghan that she's snuggled with.

We had many adventures in 2016, starting with Florida in January.  When we left home there was nearly 30" of snow on the ground, and we were happy to put that in our rear view mirror!

Mid April found us in our beloved Smoky Mountains, hiking and photographing wildflowers.  I'm sure we'll go back in 2017, but the landscape will be greatly changed, following the devastating wildfires in November.

In June, we went waterfall hunting in the Finger Lakes area, another of our favorite places.  We found several waterfalls that we had not visited before, and paid a visit to the Ithaca Farmer's Market

Our Really Big Adventure of the year took us to the Canadian Rockies in September.  The scenery was breathtaking.  We took hundreds of pictures!

I also took my first train trip, and visited Oregon, my 48th state.

And somehow, I managed to do a lot of sewing and quilting.  I participated in two UFO challenges, and checked off many items from my list, in addition to starting a few new projects.

Projects for December included four sets of coasters for gifts, and I finished a jelly roll quilt that was started at retreat in November.

Two wall hangings were completed, one of which was also started at the same retreat.

The other incorporated the use of crayons.  I don't think I did a great job, but it was a learning experience, and I will definitely try the technique again.

Sorry some of these pictures are so dark, but I took them at around 5 am.  If I wait for the sun to come up, I won't have time to post later.

And let's not forget Christmas!  I exchanged gifts with a couple of my blogging buddies, and received an ornament and a beautiful calendar from Maria.  The calendar was made by her quilting group in Australia, and contains so many beautiful quilts in beautiful settings.  Thanks Maria!

My package from Di including an cute little reindeer, along with a pattern to make more, a cross stitch kit, and a 'cool finger' to protect my finger from my hot iron.  Too bad I didn't have it a couple of weeks earlier when I did burn myself!  It will be put to good use.  Thanks Di!

Is anyone still here?  If so, thanks for reminiscing with me.  I hope to be back tomorrow with a couple more items to share.

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!      Sunny