Weschester Lakes Cookie Exchange

I stopped participating in these exchanges a few years ago because my kids like
my traditional Butterhorns, Beacon Hill, Sugar Cookie Cut Outs & Gingerbread
cookies that I make every year.  I decided to join my neighbors this year and found
this adorable "Melting Snowman" cookie to make. 

His head is a partially melted marshmallow. Unfortunately, I only had 18 cookies to
exchange because my devilish dogs jumped up on the dining room table and
ate half of them while I was at Costco with Christie.

 Susan Lash was our hostess this year and she came up with the idea of a trivia game
to add laughter to the mixture.  We really had a wonderful time!

 Below is a sampling of all the wonderful cookies exchanged.  Some of the women
really put some effort into their cookies.  It was a very festive evening and a great
kick-off to the holiday season.

Finished projects!!!

Even though I haven't posted in a while, I HAVE been quite busy making things.
The table runner above was a Christmas present for my friend Anita who likes
all things creepy.

 My niece, Jennifer, is pregnant with their first child (a boy!) and I
made this for a shower gift.  It is white and can be used at his baptism.

My friend, Marlene, bought this beaded/stone yarn and hated working with it
so I became the lucky beneficiary of it.  It is absolutely beautiful (even if it is
a bit heavy to wear......the price of beauty).

Garden Party 2012

This is my 30th NMFN Garden Party and one thing I can say with
certainty.....they are typically HOT and Muggy!  We usually start
with a cold drink (Arnold Palmer for me and a wine or beer for
David)  We then move on to find Saz's ribs, brats, sushi, etc.....
A ride on the zoo mobile is usually next followed by dessert
behind the Penguin Pen.  Luckily, their lovely scent stays outside the
building. 

 Rachel Schwartz, daughter #3, joined us for the festivities!

2012 Root & Wing Run

Northwestern Mutual's 35th annual Root & Wing Run began this morning
at 8:00 am.  This is a competition between the home office employees &
agents.  It's a great kick off for the annual meeting. (Ashley looks tired
before it even begins!)

 These are some of the agents from Ashley's Mitchell Beer Agency in CA

 The starting line is up ahead.  The serious runners get to go first and the
slow people with baby strollers, etc...are in the rear.  We are somewhere
in the middle.

 We have a new general agent, Matt Lieder.  To congratulate David on such
an awesome year he sent us this beautiful bouquet.  I like him already!

Ashley's Home!

Ashley is here for the annual meeting and once that ends
next Wednesday we head up north! We had a last minute pizza
party with Grandma, Grandpa, Heidi, Aunt Anita, Tanya, Christie,
Ashley, Uncle Mike, Dad & Torry.  It was a gorgeous night to
hang out on the patio.  Doesn't Maggie have spoooooky eyes????

Joanie Zeier Poole

Joanie Zeler Poole was our guest speaker this month for North Shore
Quilt Guild.  She is an AMAZING quilter who has won numerous
awards.  She learned from the best....Diane Gaudinski!

    Show and tell time.....

I love these floral pictures I took in Cedarburg and I especially love
the picture of the bicycle that I took up north.  I may even frame that one.

This artist was painting a scene of downtown Cedarburg!

Practice time!

I took this class a few years ago and finally finished it.

It was good practice for my free motion quilting.

We have been working on the guest cabin in St. Germain.  

David has spent days working on the driveway and spreading

grass seed & top soil. I tore down all the wall paper 

(tiny piece by tiny piece) and then ended up having drywall put up.  

What a waste of 3 days :-(

There is an artist in Minocqua that I would love to have

paint this eagle on the small cabin.  Perhaps this is a 

future project for me????  You never know.....