Mother Nature and Her Gift!

Mother Nature has been the center of attention in my remote corner of the world!

In the past two weeks, she has gifted us with about 15 feet of snow.

Her dillydally whims can make for beautiful scenic photos...

however...there is a dark side to this heavy quilt of white stuff...all that volume of snow has to be moved in order to protect property and ensure safety.

Mr. DillyDally (and Brother, while he was home) have had to shovel both decks and the stairs (there are 33 of them) a minimum of twice a day!  We live on the beach, so our snowfall is much smaller than our friends and neighbors who live up the hillside.  Shoveling has been a full time job for everyone...often taking more than 8 hours a day.

It has been a challenge for everyone.  The conditions were so bad on Thursday (Jan.5) that the city had to shut down ... visibility was nonexistent ... even the snowplows were stopped, it was difficult to maintain emergency services.  The conditions have been hard on everyone ... especially their backs and in their hearts!

This You-Tube video does a great job of showing the conditions on Friday as our community worked hard to restore their property ... it also serves as a tour of our remote corner of the planet ... I think you'll enjoy it!

Now ... for the bright side of our "Snowpocalypse"!  It is in time of trouble that our true character is revealed.  Watching neighbor helping neighbor ... witnessing people rushing to assist those in need ... that is the reason I refer to all this snow as a gift from Mother Nature.  It is a gift and an honor to see the best in our fellow man.  I am blessed to live with my neighbors in this remote corner of the planet.

Do what you love!  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally

Odds...Ends...and Treasure!

Let's begin with the odd! ;-)  In this remote corner of the planet, when it comes to odd we're talking about our recent weather!

We received over seven feet of snow in the month of December!  That is extremely unusual for us ... remember this is a temperate rainforest...it is not uncommon for us to not have snow for Christmas!

Yep...this is the "infamous" view from my front deck.  This reflects snowfall that occurred in less than a 24 hour time period!

It snowed nearly every day of the holiday break ...

...this remote corner of the planet looks beautiful under a heavy blanket of snow!

Now for the ends...

... another 007 project reveal.  Camo wristers for Brother DillyDally!  He put them to good use ... he and Mr. DillyDally spent everyday shoveling snow!

This photo was taken on December 30th ... his holiday break here at home ended that day.  Between the snowfall and the snowpack sliding off the roof, they were shoveling the side deck at least twice a day!  He is currently somewhere in Montana, seeking out a ski adventure.  I doubt they have as much snow as we have! ;-)

Now ... take a look at this treasure!

Isn't this sweet Dove of Peace beautiful?  She was handcrafted by and a gift from Roseann Kermes.  It was a part of the gift package I shared in an earlier post.  I immediately hung her on our Christmas Tree, where she was admired by all who visited!  When we took down the tree...I just couldn't part with her and pack her away.

I decided that she should accompany me while I'm dillydallying in the sewing room.  There she will be a constant reminder of all that she represents ... peace, creativity and friendship!

I'll end this post with a picture of the view taken today ... see the railing? ... only three inches of snow last night!  Mr. DillyDally gets a break in the snow removal department! ;-)

Do what you love.  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally

A New Dillydally Year!

Photo taken by Mrs. DillyDally

The sunset from my front deck ... September 21, 2011

Photo taken by Bonnie Hunter

Bonnie Hunter's interpretation of that sunset in quilt form!

What a wonderful way to ring in a New Dillydally Year!

Wishing you a year filled with dillydally moments...

Mrs. DillyDally

A 007 Project Revealed!

We have had an unusual amount of snow this holiday season...which has made for a wonderful Christmas vacation!

Finally... I can reveal one of my 007 projects!  Ya-Hoo!  As you might recall, last year I made Sister DillyDally a Christmas themed quilt, you can see it here.

Sooo...this year it was Brother's turn!

Pattern comes from Sherri Falls of This n' That Designs and fabric is from Holly and Taylor.

The pattern I made is called Confetti and is pictured on the back cover.  As you can see, I left the corners square on mine...Brother DillyDally literally wraps himself up in his quilts when he uses them, square corners make that a bit easier! ;-)  It finished up to be 60 X 73 inches ... perfect lap size!

These center blocks were all made with a "jelly roll" ... love that!  I love patterns that use precuts ... half the cutting is done ... I get to the piecing part faster! ;-)

Sherri's patterns are a pleasure to make ... her instructions are always clearly written ... and accurate!  Love that ... makes it a completely enjoyable process!

  I backed it with a black plaid (printed, not woven) flannel.  Local long-arm quilter Linee' Perkins did a terrific job quilting it for me.

I had purchased the pattern and supplies a year ago when QBee Diane and I visited Heavenly Patchwork Quilt Shop on our Mini MN Shop Hop, here is the post.  Sherri often publishes recipes in her books ... she had asked for recipes on her blog while writing and designing this book.  I had submitted a holiday favorite, Crab Stuffed Mushrooms ... and she included it!

Here are the ingredients.  I have made these every year of our marriage (30 yrs!) it would not be a holiday without them!  They really are easy to make ... we make ours with Alaska King Crab, but they can be made with any type of crab or shrimp ... for those of you without access to fresh seafood, canned will work!  I had intended to take a picture of them cooked and ready to serve, but our company was here and I forgot!  Just trust me ... if you have Sherri's book, give the recipe a try!

I have finished three of my knitting 007 projects and have only one remaining!  Yep ... the end is in sight!  I'm not complaining ... each one is a dillydally choice!  It is the secrecy that is difficult for me! ;-)

Look again at the first picture in this post ... do you see something in the water?

Sea otters are a very common sight here in my remote corner of the planet!  They are very difficult to photograph ... especially with a simple point and click camera like mine!  Fortunately he held still for a fraction of a second!

Do what you love...do dillydally!

A Blessing!

It was nearly five years ago that I created and implemented the concept of a "dillydally lifestyle".  I had experienced three life altering events that left me contemplating many aspects of my life and how I wanted to live out the remainder of my days. Wow... I just reread that ... ;-) ... sounds awful serious!  I don't mean to be overly dramatic, but one of the most wonderful decisions I made was to surround myself with people who impact me and others positively.  Since making that decision ... amazing things have happened in nearly every area of my life!

Once you stop allowing those who are quick to judge, criticize, or drag you down to have an impact ... the "cream rises to the top" ... sorry, but I am the daughter of a dairy farmer ... ;-)!  When you filter out the negativity ... positive people become more obvious and can enter your life!

Case and point ... Roseann Kermes.  I met Roseann briefly while on a bus tour during the 2008 Minnesota Shop Hop.  She greeted the bus as it pulled up in front of her quilt shop, Rosebud's Cottage. While in the shop, she sought out and had a conversation with every customer.  Her kindness made it easy to remember her.  In 2009 when I returned to her shop, I shared with her that I had begun a blog designed to record my MN Shop Hop experience with the intent of inviting the QBees to join me in the future.  She was the first one to link my blog from hers ... I was ( and still am) so touched!  In 2010 she assisted me in making the plans for our trip ... and this picture is of her sharing her studio with us this past summer!  Roseann is a nationally recognized quilt designer (yep...a Quilt Rock Star) and owns and operates a quilt shop.  She is a very busy and productive person ... yet she takes the time to reach out in kindness to others ... like me!

On Christmas Eve, I received a package from Roseann ... I had ordered cuts of the Pam Kitty Morning fabrics that she had in her shop.  I was so busy with holiday preparations that I didn't open it until late yesterday.

  I have been looking forward to these prints since they were first announced last spring!

They literally make me smile!

Be still my heart ... gingham checks and polka dots ... heaven!

This print is my favorite ... yes ... I think I should redecorate my entire home with this fabric!  It just oozes Mrs. DillyDally!

And then there is the panel of Kitty Fashionistas!  They are sew stinkin' cute ... yep, I ordered two panels!  Of course, I have no idea what I'll make with them...

... for now, they make me happy ... eventually they will tell me what they would like to become!

A pile of happiness!  A bit of dillydally heaven!

It is sew nice of Roseann to go to the trouble of taking on my mail orders ... but you can imagine my surprise when I found additional goodies in the box!

What fun!  Such thoughtfulness!

Three kits ... new notions .... but mostly the gift bag was filled with kindness.  Kindness that traveled thousands of miles ... fills me with joy!  There is nothing better than knowing that someone was thinking of you!  She also sent some goodies for our guild members...I'll share those later!

This post is about so much more than the fabric I ordered ... although I love it.  My hope is that I've driven home the point that when you shake off the negative people that are a part of everyday life and spend your time and energy seeking out the positive forces around you ... amazing people and experiences will enter.  Roseann is one of those people who has a positive impact on others, she is like having your own personal cheerleader ... which is how we should all serve one another.  She has been a blessing in my life ... may we all be a blessing to one another.

Doing what you love is a blessing ... dillydallying is a blessing!

Merry Christmas from the DillyDally Family!

We slept in and woke to fresh snowfall ... assured of having a White Christmas!  A leisurely breakfast of Glogg and lefse ... exchanging gifts ... it was so nice to have a quiet morning together.

Apparently Christmas is exhausting!  Who knew? ;-)  At least it is for the four-legged member of the family!

Close friends joined us for dinner ... it was an wonderful day filled with great food, good friends and family!  A very quiet and peaceful day ... lovely.

The DillyDally family hopes you had a day filled with all that is important to you!

Merry Christmas!

Tis the Night Before Christmas...

The rain has...

...turned to snow.  It looks like we'll have a white Christmas!

The tree is up and decorated!  It's filled with memories of past Christmas'... each ornament has a story behind it! Love it!

The cookies have...

...been baked and all passed their taste tests! ;-)

This sweet knitting angel watches over me as I continue my covert knitting projects!  No worries ... I'm still on schedule, they aren't due until after the first of January!

All is well in my remote corner of the planet as we prepare for tomorrow and all that Christmas represents ... wishing the same for you.