The End of November

One last photo of this project. It’s at its new home with Eric. Definitely the hardest piece I ever completed. Eric loved it so he’ll have it for years to come. I sent a care package back with him to bring the holidays to him and his two roommates.

 They are all pharmacy students living far away from families. He called and they bought a Christmas tree. He called it a Charlie Brown tree, but he said it had “a lot of potential”.


It was his first trip home in almost 6 months. Study loads and distance combine with jobs and no holiday time off kept him from coming home sooner. He must have commented on quilts and “pumpkin stuff” ten times. He said it felt like home. He said –“ You don’t realize what a difference it makes”. I guess I type this out because I wanted to remember it……..

Here are my stockings finished. We got our Christmas tree put up – all ten foot of it, a Frazier fir and it’s gorgeous. So much different than the chaos of last year. Contentment is the word of the season.

If you didn’t live where you do now--- where would you live?…I always pretend it would be on the east coast somewhere….definitely close to water. I wish over cottages like the ones Jane Coslick talks about.

I won a copy of Cottages in a drawing she had. I curled up on the couch the day it came and got lost in the pages. What a treat. Coupled with a pot of coffee, warm socks, and quilt--I'm good.

The kids will both be home in three weeks for the holiday.  We've had two days of rain so our snow is gone, but there's a chance for more the remainder of the week. Most of my christmas shopping is done.  I did it on-line this year.  I knew what I wanted to purchase and took advantage of the free shipping deals out there.  I've been making a couple of gifts, but if they don't get finished it will be alright. Some times the best gifts are gifts given "Just because...". I'm ready to kick back and enjoy the season-- the colors, the music, and all its meaning....

Gratitudes:
My laptop
Breakfast for supper tonight
An envelope of DMC Thread

In Every Thing Give Thanks....

Last Friday night we had 14 people over for a casual Thanksgiving dinner.  I found these paper plates and Chelsey stamped up the napkin rings.  The dinner just kept growing so I decided friendships meant more than China and "the more the Merrier".  We had so much fun. On top of it, I worked until after 4 pm.  with everyone coming over at 6.---- In other words--"I am woman, here me roar.." Truthfully Don and Chelsey rocked and we were a machine getting last minute details done. Completely fun.

I've been stitching away on my stockings.  I'm realistic enough to know I won't feel like much sewing during the week so on weekends I get projects ready.

I made this stitchery a couple of years ago.  I made a patchwork heart for the center piece.  I took the patchwork off, because I now can needlepunch so last night I finished the heart. You'll get one more look at it-- hopefully it will be framed tonight.

I wanted to document this pumpkin.  About 10 days ago I finally cleaned the garden signs out of the garden.  I noticed a pile of leaves with shadows of oranges.  Brushing things away this pumpkin sat there waiting for me... I don't believe in coincidences it was definitely a good sign.

I'm sitting on the couch with my laptop -- listening to sounds around the house.  Don and Eric are laughing downstairs, the pups are playing toys, the football team I picked just scored.  I couldn't wipe the smile off my face if I tried.  All four of us have jobs we love, a warm house, all the contentment in the world. Contentment - that's the word in our house.  We've really been working at recognizing our blessings and being grateful.  It's always fun reaching for the stars.  But sometimes it's fun not feeling the pressure to have to.  Oh sure-- I could make a list of everything  I don't have that I'd like to...but I can always hold a matching list of all the things I do have.

A prayer request-- my daughter's best friend is stationed with her husband in South Korea.  Communication is tough, and her safety is a concern.  Remember them and our service people away in foreign places today.

Tomorrow - I'm off too-- a paid holiday- go figure - The pumpkins will be replaced with holly, maybe a little shopping, and the Christmas music will be dusted off.  The last three months are positively my favorite times of the year.

Gratitudes:
Quilting Friends throughout the world
Cornbread Dressing
Louisiana Phone Calls

For Lillian Hope....

I got a layer cake of Lily and Will by Bunny Hill Designs and used half to make a baby gift for a friend.  I had plans for a really detailed, complicated pattern, but Chelsey showed me this Patchwork Pottery Design and we each made one.  It was easy and fun--- and sometimes easy and fun is good.  It's even great.

We had our first official snow on Sunday evening. We took the pups running in the woods.  The flakes were the size of quarters.  It was way too pretty to stay inside. This snapshot was taken as I pulled out of the driveway on Money morning about 7am. I wanted to remember that sight.

That photo reminds me why I work....and what I have to come home to.....

Gratitudes:

Eric coming home this weekend
Chelsey feeling better from the flu
Our icemaker---remember those old metal ice trays?!?!?

The Stockings were....

Well, the stockings aren’t hung, but they are cut out anyway. These are little Primitive Gatherings Patterns. I end up shipping most family gifts south, so this year I’m tying these to packages with the gift tags inside the stockings. Words like Joy, Believe, All Hearts Come Home At Christmas, and Love will be embroidered on each.

I knew I’d be tired at the end of the day this week. When I sew on my machine like that, the mistakes seem to snowball. But this will be relaxing at night. I won’t be using Valdani threads, I have a plastic tote of DMC floss. Sunday evening I piled my wool pieces around me—I keep them in a wicker basket instead of my sewing cabinet—and cut away. In the Wool class I took from Lisa Bongean, she taught us to save all scraps because you never know when you’ll need a toe for a stocking or a flower center or a heart for a crow to hold onto.

We have a chance of snow Thursday and Friday. It’s that time of Year. I need to get my Pilgrim stuff out and tuck away the black cats.

Gratitudes:

My Pellet Stove purring in the background.

Chelsey forgetting her laptop this weekend(It gave her a chance to pop in for an unexpected visit)

Leftovers for supper(less cooking)