Thanks everybody for the kind words & encouragement. Part of me wants to say they're not my colors or my style, but I too like how it turned out, especially for a Sampler. So I'll say thanks again, & as I just explained in a descriptive blurb I was asked to submit on being accepted for the Show, it was a little like doodling w/ fabric instead of pencil & paper. The Show's not a juried one, but still a Show, in one location for November (Lefferts Historic House, Brooklyn, NY) & a second nearby location for December (Prospect Park Boat House, Brooklyn). I'll post an update when the Show's up. Thanks Again for Egging me on everybody ... I DO feel stronger for it.

Cell phone so I don't have to get up and answer texts/calls. Count me in the warm lap crowd with the fluffer-doodle kitty. Possibly a snack and/or drink. Other than that, the remotes live on the table where anyone can use them. I know, right? A television democracy ;) During this particular season (hello, seed season?), a notebook with all my germinating seeds, be they winter sown or are under grow lights, diagrams of the flower beds and notes I've made about designs in my head or future wants. Later, it might be a book. Or the notebook which houses my blogs that are to be compiled into a book. I yanked them offline, and will turn them into chapters, so they're not readable at the present. So basically, a project is always close at hand? Yeah, that's it.

@Jen K, and @ Nicole- my family went to Oberammergau for the Passion Play in 1980. I was just a kid, but it was an amazing experience with all the townspeople participating in the production. Those same folks would put tourists up in their homes for the event. Don't know if they still do this? We stayed in an upstairs bedroom of a lovely old woman who was sweet as pie and I remember lots of wood carvings in her home. (We ended up coming home with a couple beer steins and hummels instead of a nativity set, as my parents collected them.) The trip was always on their bucket list. My dad had been stationed in Germany years prior in the army and my mom had very German roots. Thank goodness she was able to communicate somewhat since her family spoke a low German dialect. I remember my mom saying they saved 10 years for that trip. Such a beautiful, storybook place!

Oakley, if you can make cinnamon rolls, you can make bread. Cinnamon rolls are bread -- enriched and sweetened bread that actually takes a bit more effort and patience. And bread is baking -- is that different from cooking? Maybe a loaf of bread or some rolls would inspire a pot of soup (it's cold here) or something else to go with. Even a slice of buttered toast or a pb&j is better when the bread is homemade. But I won't push --- just be here if you are ready to try again and want some help or some congrats when done. Trailrunner, will have to try buttermilk in mac and cheese. I don't make it often, but I imagine that would be good. Yes to cornbread here too. My grandmother liked to drink buttermilk, but I grew up thinking it was just for cooking -- and a glass for her on occasion. Your berries and lemon curd look so nice. I made lemon curd with the last of our Meyer lemons. My French neighbor brought us some crepes, so we used our lemon curd and berries with them. And a little whipped cream cuz we had it. It would have been rude not to, right? LOL