it came upon a design wall clear . . .

Or rather, cleared and put up for the time being.

But certainly my schedule hasn't been cleared! Between church functions, office parties, guild parties, caroling parties . . . plus all of life's regular events (like, ugh, work and housework) . . . I'm worn out!

I still have packages to get out in the mail and a set of cards to finish -- two Charming Girls goals not met -- whoops! I've also got some baking ahead of me, but that's right on schedule!! I love making goody bags, and I'll work on that today and tomorrow!

Needless to say, my design wall will be empty for at least another week.

I'm sure, though, that if you check out Judy Laquidara's Patchwork Times, you'll find plenty of folks who have inspiring work on their wall!

Today I'm off again to spend some time with my darling grandson. I get the added bonus of putting him to bed tonight, as his mommy & daddy are going to a work Christmas party! I'm sure we'll have plenty of photos for tomorrow. I'm taking Polar Express to read to him -- his first annual reading!

Happy, happy, joy, JOY!

:)

'twas the saturday before Christmas . . .

Last night we headed out to another Christmas party. This time it was our church's choir party. It was such a great time!! Our hosts were the music minister and his wife, and their beautiful home was decorated to the nines!

We played some wonderful games and ate some wonderful food and had some AWESOME fellowship!! Todd and I were on a team that won one of the games -- a Christmas carol game -- and took home some yummy flavored hot chocolate as a prize!

This morning we took advantage of the fact that neither of us had to be anywhere, and slept in! We got up around seven-thirty and got our coffee and enjoyed french toast, bacon, and scrambled eggs for breakfast. Then Todd had some maintenance things to attend to around the RV and I headed into town to do some grocery shopping.

When I got back, I saw that my Stocking Elf had been by again!

The Stocking Elf has never made an appearance before this year. I guess I've been extra good?? So far, he's placed Christmas socks, a candle, thin mints, M&M's, and some chocolates in my stocking! And Christmas is still a week away!

I had a gift to finish ... just a little peek. This is for the original best man in my life; my daddy!

And I worked on my Secret Pal's Christmas gift, which I'll put on the table tomorrow (the last Sunday before Christmas)!

I got my copy of Celebrate: Winter this week, too. Yummy!

Hopefully there will be a quiet moment in the next week or so that I can sit down and enjoy its pages.

One of my Charming Girls goals for November/December was to hunt up some new, healthy recipes for dinners. I'd found a couple this past week on Fitness Magazine's site and we tried one tonight. Well, sort of. The recipe was for seared pork chops with orange-chipolte glaze and smashed potatoes; I modified the glaze to suit us, but it was wonderful!!

This evening, I made Todd & I some sugar-free gourmet hot chocolates, and we're putting in The Polar Express. Let the week before Christmas BEGIN!

:)

holiday traditions part 2 . . .

Well, since we're officially into December and the Christmas season, I guess it's time to post my Christmas holiday traditions. I posted my Thanksgiving holiday traditions here, and I do like to keep the two separate!

December 1 marks the beginning of the 25 Days of Christmas movies/shows and jewelry! I have enough dvd's that I can pretty much watch a Christmas themed one every day between Thanksgiving and Christmas! I also love to wear themed earrings, pins, and necklaces during this time. Especially pins/brooches. As you can see in the picture below, it's been a trend of mine from waaaay back!

I'm the one of the far left, in the bells. During the week prior to Christmas, I'll get out all my Christmas sweaters and tops and wear those, too!

Our family, though big on Christmas cards, has never really been ones to send out the photo cards. But at two different times, when all four of us adult sisters and our children were able to gather in one place (and when we had a suitable candidate to play the part of baby Jesus), we've done a Nativity scene photo and sent it out with our Christmas wishes.

This first one we did in 2000, with baby Alison.

This second photo was done in 2006, with baby Lucy playing the star role.

I love Christmas lights -- the more the merrier! We love to get in the car and travel through the decked neighborhoods. One neighborhood in SE Huntsville (and really, one street) goes ALL out and has lights, blow ups, a moving train, and one year even had Santa and reindeer! We visit there *every* year!

We also like to take a yearly trip through Huntsville's Botanical Gardens, Galaxy of Lights. It gets bigger and better every year.

Christmas cookies are always a favorite! There are several different kinds that I really look forward to eating ... err, making. Candy cane cookies, peanut butter kiss cookies, no-bake cookies, almond thumbprints, chocolate chips and sugar cookies!

The sugar cookies were more fun when we still had kids at home that wanted to decorate them. These days, to make life easier for me, I stick to stars, holly leaves, and stockings! One of the things I really enjoy doing is making a plate of cookies for each of the guys in the shop. I think it may be one of their favorite things, too!

Last year, Kim and I took a cupcake decorating class! I blogged about our experience here.

I may try to make a couple this year, just to make it worth the time we spent on it last year! Anyway, the tradition behind it is spending time together with my kids (and in the future, grandkids) doing something to kick off the Christmas season, whether it's make holiday cupcakes, go see the Grinch in ballet , or to see the Nutcracker!

Then there's the gingerbread houses! I think gingerbread houses are so much fun. I've got two Pampered Chef gingerbread house molds, and we'd make and decorate at least one of these a year. Sometimes we kept them, sometimes we gave them away, like this gingerbread Lighthouse!

I've now passed one of those molds to each of my girls, so that they can continue, if they want, the tradition in their own families.

As far back as I can remember, I've always enjoyed a live tree in the house for Christmas! We used to go out as a group and pick out a tree and bring it home to decorate. For many years, we saved the piece of trunk that was cut off the end, and each of us would sign it and we'd put the year on it. It was just one of those quirky things we did!

I loved a big, fluffy tree! The more lights, the better!

Last year, sadly, was our first year to have an artificial tree.

And just a miniature one, at that! But this is what fits in the RV; I'm just glad one *does* fit in the RV!!

We don't do anything 'formal' for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day -- instead, we tend to have a party-like atmosphere on Christmas Eve, with fun finger foods, cookies, eggnog, and the like.

For as long as we've been married, Todd has always put a ham on before going to bed Christmas Eve, and it's tantalized us all night long with its yummy aroma!

Christmas morning, mom & dad always had to be up first, and get that first cup of coffee going. We opened stockings together and Santa has always left an orange in the toe. Everyone's oranges had to be eaten before any presents under the tree could be opened! When I was a kid, we always got navel oranges (which took a long time to peel)! As an adult, I always tried to make sure it was clementines or tangelos in the toe!

There's so much more; music, caroling, friends, parties, gift-giving, crafting, shopping . . .

And I haven't even begun to touch on how central Christ is to Christmas for us. I love the season of Advent, and I never want to get so caught up in the commercial trappings of Christmas, that I forget that Jesus truly is the reason for this season!

Don't forget to stop by the Charming Chatter blog and check out lots of other fun Holiday Traditions!

Feliz Navidad!

:)

obligatory post . . .

And it's not that I don't have anything to say; it was a really busy, productive day! I've even got pictures to go with it. Unfortunately, our internet has been down most of the day -- and is still down. Pooh. Luckily, we're able to use our Verizon card to check e-mail and surf, but no downloading or uploading.

Anyway, I wanted to get this in -- NABLOPOMO and Charming Girls goal -- and so it's an obligatory post. Hopefully I'll be able to share some photos manana!

:)

all sewn out . . .

What a fun evening I had, even if it wasn't *super* productive. I'm not my creative best in the evenings anyways, and generally by Friday night, I'm just downright pooped! Don't get me wrong; I can stay up -- I just have a hard time focusing. LOL! Mindless movies and internet surfing are more my evening speed. Ask my husband -- he has a hard time getting my day out of me when I got home at night. My brain just quits!

That being said, I did manage to make some progress with my hexagons!

Look at all these lovelies! I am so loving these colors.

So that set is all sewn, ready to be pressed. Hurrah!

I got my next set of strips sewn and pressed.

And then they went under the ruler . . .

I'm so 'in like' with this ruler! It's so much fun. I do admit I have to be really careful or it moves on me and I don't have equilateral triangles any more. Ooops!

So now my solids/patterned triangles are all cut and cute and ready to be assembled.

They will make either these cute little separator hexagons . . .

Or these fun, funky hexagons . . .

Which don't even look like hexagons because of their funkiness!

And I'm left with a huge pile of these. Triangle orphans, I'm calling them.

Don't worry little triangle orphans! I will find a way to use you! I'm thinking little mixed up hexie pillows. Since this quilt is for a pre-teen girl, I think that would be FUN!

So my long list of possibilities for last night ended up being just that. Possibility instead of reality. *sigh* I really should put up the hexagons and work on CHRISTMAS presents. LOL! Especially if I'm going to meet one of my Charming Girls goals for this month. Yikes!

For now, there's a big day ahead, full of fun, non-quilting things: like daughters and grandbabies (for a bit) and tea and ballet and THE GRINCH!!! I've been listening to Christmas music all morning -- I'm so in the mood!

And my man is on his way home from work and I promised him French toast and bacon for breakfast. Better get to scooting!

Glad tidings!

:)

holiday traditions part 1 . . .

Over at Charming Chatter, the home of the Charming Girls' Quilt Club, the theme for the next two months is:

(Click on the button to see the post, and check out
others' holiday traditions!)

A lot of folks are sharing their combined holiday traditions, or just their Christmas traditions, but I wanted to break my traditions down to two separate posts, one for Thanksgiving and one for Christmas. I *love* Thanksgiving and as a genuine Mayflower descendant, I rightfully wanted it to have it's own limelight!

Since I was a little girl, the table setting has always been important.

Between pretty serving dishes and full place settings . . . there's never an inch of free space on our Thanksgiving table!

I love arranging flowers, so I make sure we have fun and pretty table center!

Grandpa's fudge has been a must at every Thanksgiving I can remember! In my thirties, the job of making the official Thanksgiving fudge was passed on to me. I've faithfully made it each year, until two years ago, when my daughter decided she wanted to be the official maker-of-the-fudge. This is the best homemade fudge I've ever had -- an old BH&G recipe, tweaked by my grandpa!

Rarely does a piece of fudge make it past Thanksgiving day!

Growing up there were always at least two tables, and invariably one was a kid's table. I always wanted to sit at the adult's table -- I thought the kids' table was unfair! Then when I was finally able to sit at the adult's table, I missed the hilarity of the kids' table! I resolved when I was younger that I'd do my best to work tables so that everyone sat together!

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade is a must. It will always be a must, just like football is a must for a lot of the men in my family. I've always pulled dinner together to the happy sounds of the parade!

As my sisters and I got older, we watched The Sound of Music on Thanksgiving evening. I've not ever been able to quite get my family to jump on that particular bandwagon, but we always do watch something! The last few years it's been The Santa Clause, which is another of my favorites and seems like an appropriate way to ease into the Christmas season.

When Todd and I first married and the kids and I moved to Alabama (1996), it was the first time I'd been responsible for Thanksgiving dinner (and the turkey) on my own! In fact, there had only been three other times I'd missed Thanksgiving dinner with my folks and family! One thing that quickly became a tradition for our new family Thanksgiving dinners was that everyone got their favorite pie! Joc's was blueberry glace, James wanted apple, Todd always asked for pecan, and I made a pumpkin for myself and Todd's dad. The desserts were nearly as important as the turkey!

Another family tradition was the playing of spoons . . . this actually happens pretty much whenever members of my expanded family get together! We've been playing for years and years, and the game has made it into the next generation! It's fun because it's a game easily played by folks of *all* ages!

I think spoons were being grabbed up in this photo!

Last year was the last time for us to have Thanksgiving in our home; this year new traditions begin and our darling daughter will host the family Thanksgiving gathering! If I were going to give her tips on making it less stressful, I'd share the following things:

Write a list of the things you need to do and to cook. Stuff is less likely to be forgotten in the hustle/bustle of the day if you've got a list to go by!

Set the table the day before and put a sheet over it (to keep out dust and cats).

Put your serving dishes out and label them so you remember what goes where!

Don't feel bad asking for help; both in getting your home ready and in food preparation.

Don't sweat the small stuff!

Don't feel compelled to rush to the kitchen to clean up after dinner! Spend time with your guests, allow your food to settle, and enjoy the day!

Know how you're going to handle leftovers!

My last tradition regarding Thanksgiving? I keep up my fall/harvest decorations up until the first Saturday past November 30th. Then I switch out to Christmas!

Gobble, gobble!

:)

november / december goals . . .

I completely missed the September/October goals, egads! But I'm not going to pass up November/December, especially when I've got so much to do! So, without further ado, my goals are:

1) to post every day during the month of November, for National Blog Posting Month;
2) to finish by December 10th, any handmade Christmas gifts that will be shipped;
3) to research and find some new healthy recipes for entrees and desserts;
4) to get Christmas cards signed and in the mail by November 30th;
5) to make a reasonable Christmas budget (with Todd);
6) to stick to our Christmas budget;
7) to post a separate post of Holiday Traditions for both Thanksgiving & Christmas;
8) to sort and pack up all my summer clothes and get rid of anything that I know I will not wear again, with Todd's input;
9) to wean myself off artificial sweeteners (note: the products that are made with them will be another month's goal);
10) to continue to sort and organize my quilting/crafting/working area;
11) to work on the sheets and bumper pads for Jocelyn's nursery;
12) to finish piecing two quilt tops; and
13) to take the time, during the season of Advent, to really reflect on its meaning and the cause for Christmas celebration.

Whew! I think I've got my work cut out for me! No time like the present to start . . .

:)

a crane hill finish!

We arrived at the B&B mid-afternoon on Friday, and we had a blast together! Here's the crane photo for this trip . . .

I'm not sure if he's decked out early for Christmas, or wearing last year's decorations! Whichever, he was looking festive and happy to see us!

I picked my spot first thing Saturday morning. Todd took his fishing pole and tackle box down to the water, but I decided this was the perfect workspace for me!

Especially when you consider the view I had all day long . . .

It was sometimes hard to not get lost in that view!

Anyway, I plopped down in my chosen spot to tackle the binding on Sawyer's quilt!

I actually would finish a side and then read a couple of chapters in the book I brought. Consequently, I finished both the book *and* the quilt this weekend!

Tah-dah! Finally! I don't know why I procrastinated so long -- it's really cute and will look darling in his bed, with the matching bumper pads and skirt. More than anything though, I hope it becomes a favorite blankie and is loved and used!

And, finally, I knocked off a Charming Girls goal (from July/August). Better late than never is what I'm sayin'!

And it was good to get away, but blessed am I that when I come home from my getaway at the lake, I'm coming home to our peaceful, getaway in the woods!

:)

hippity, hoppity, happy!

I do not sing the praises of my dear husband enough. He truly is my hero and champion! My darling man is one of the kindest, most generous, and thoughtful men I've ever known, and I'm so lucky to be married to him!

Not long after I started quilting, I had an idea about hanging pegboard in my workspace, so that I could hang my quilting rulers and tools and get to them more handily. Of course, when we decided to move from the house to the RV, I put the idea on hold until we were in our new space. Since the bunkroom was going to be our extra room, I had thought that the pegboard would hang nicely over the bathroom door in there.

Early on, we made a trip to Ace Hardware and bought the supplies. But the weather was cold and dreary, and didn't really lend itself to a project that would need to be cut and put together outside. So we figured it wouldn't be a big deal to wait for warmer weather. Of course, warmer weather came and so did the accident, which had us not even living in the RV for several months, and me not even really caring about quilting *gasp* for a bit.

Now that normalcy is returning and the weather is perfectly lovely for outdoor projects, I had started to make noise about getting the pegboard up to make the room more quilting-efficient. Yesterday, I came home to find the project in full progress!! Before the end of the evening, Todd had the pegboard hung, and I had dug through all my quilting stuff to get the rulers, hoops, and rotary cutters up. I need to get some more hangers, but I've got a good start!

This will give me the room/ability to get the rest of the quilting part of the bunk area in order.

The two cardboard boxes are photographs I want to get scanned. Egads! The two wide set of drawers are all quilting-related stuff. The skinny set of drawers down here is office supplies, ribbon, and stationary.

The skinny set of drawers up top is, I'm almost embarrassed to admit, full of candles. Jars, tarts, votives, and tapers. I'm a real candle-aholic!

This is my crafting/cutting/sewing table. All cleared and ready for a new project (or for me to finish an old project -- goodness knows I have enough of those)!

Bless his heart -- he'd spent so much time working on my project yesterday, his desk just got overwhelmed!

I'll have fun playing and organizing my space this weekend. This gets me closer to actually completely one of my Charming Girls goals!! Whoohoo!

Thanks, darling!!!!

:)

sewing party . . .

* * * Calling it a night! * * *

Well lucky me -- I got a text from my son late this afternoon, inviting DH and I over for pizza and time with the grandbaby. Ummm, ladies, time with the grandbaby??? Sewing was *all* over! I'll have some free time tomorrow and Monday to finish up and post pictures! And probably some Sawyer pictures, too!!

I so enjoyed your company today -- have a great night, filled with visions of sugar plums!!

:)

* * * Update * * *

Three o'clock and all's well!

I've got lots of things cut; some things pinned; some things I'm still thinking about. I *can* tell you that I'm doing a little something with this pretty little block, from Quilter's Cache. I hope perhaps I'll be able to take pictures of it later.

I'm *also* doing lots of playing with this darling little tutorial, found on Prairie Moon Quilts!

I cut, stitched and pressed my blocks for Lissa, too. I'll send those off on Tuesday!

I've also had my last cup of coffee (I moved on to pomegranate iced tea, which is red, so still in the spirit), eaten a fare share of my kettle chips, and only had a bite of my Hershey bar! I've been too intent on projects, if there's still chocolate left at 3 o'clock in the afternoon! :)

* * * Original Post * * *

I do love having choices and today I've got plenty!! I mentioned last night that I wouldn't be able to necessarily discuss details, nor show finished products, but I can show my options . . .

Today's Christmas sewing may involve a little of these . . .

Or possibly a little of these . . .

And maybe even a little of this . . .

And most likely a little of these . . .

But most definitely it will include this:

Now, go check out Charming Chatter and see what everyone else is up to today!!

HO HO HO!

:)

christmas in august . . .

It's time for a . . .

Check out the Charming Chatter blog and join in the fun!

To get in the mood, I stopped by the store on my way home tonight and picked up a few things to add a little life to my party! I got my salty chips, my chocolate, and plenty of coffee mate! It may not look like much, but the ability to share this fare over the cyber-waves is endless! :)

I even bought my *favorite* flavored coffee mate -- Peppermint Mocha is not just for holidays any more! That, and my pretty Lenox Christmas tree mug, are *sure* to put me in the holiday sewing spirit!

I'm not sure how much I'll be able to share about what I'm actually sewing . . . it is Christmas, you know! (I dearly love Christmas secrets -- especially when they're mine!)

:)