Family

Tree Trimming

B and P did a little tree trimming this weekend. We have had experience with the power company coming and trimming trees under the power lines. They make such a mess that we prefer keeping things trimmed and out of the way ourselves so that the power company doesn't come and do any clearing. We have some Christmas trees planted under the lines which helps keep things tidy. We keep it mowed around them and know they will not get tall enough to get in the way. But sometimes the other volunteer trees get too tall and have to be removed.P learned to tie the right knot for the guide rope and to count rings to see how old a tree was.As an added bonus, we get a few more little firewood stacks to add to next year's wood supply. 

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Handmade Holiday - received

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I like receiving handmade gifts as much as I like giving them.This year, B's mom gave us some beautiful embroidered pillowcases. Just look at those pretty satin stitched leaves!My grandmother used to keep me supplied with embroidered pillowcases but most of the ones she made for me are quite worn and tattered. It is nice to have some fresh cases made by B's mom.She also knows that purple, green, and gold is my one of my favorite color combinations.Aren't these pretty?P got this cute beaded snowflake ornament from her cousin, F. She had mentioned when we decorated the tree that handmade ornaments were one of her favorite gifts to receive!My sister made this soft striped scarf for D. I am sure it will help him stay warm this winter. He doesn't much like hats because they don't fit well over a pony tail so a scarf is good for him.

Monday

It was a slow and not very productive weekend here. We did get out for a bit of sunshine yesterday and found that the rest of the apples had fallen off the trees.I ended the weekend by starting a new knit project.  It should be a quick knit.

We've Been Decorating

Decorating for the holidays takes us a long time. I love our mix of thrifted vintage, family heirloom, gifted, travel collected, and handmade decorations.Putting lights on the tree is exhausting for me. There are six hundred lights on this tree! Remember, it's the one on the right in this picture.  I like the little lights! They help get through the long winter. If only we could leave the tree up through March! Once the lights are on the tree the decorating is all fun.P and I have fun remembering all of the ornaments and who made them or where they come from. This is the beginning of the season for me -really thinking of and remembering loved ones. Holding the ornaments and choosing just the right place on the tree is a time to pause and remember. I feel a little like I have family members and friends past and present visiting for a short while. There are so many ornaments made for us, by us, and purchased on travels around the world hanging on our tree. Each year I treasure this trip down memory lane touching each little treasure.We ALMOST have all the decorations on the tree. almost.We are even using a new (to us) tree topper this year. Oh, and we still need to find the white sheet that goes under the tree and add the icicles.P is looking forward to doing her homework and coloring in the glow of the tree lights after school.I have a quilt that I need to finish but I also really want to mix up some gingerbread dough for cookie boy cookies, and there are the other boxes of decorations. What is a mother to do?

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Flashback Friday - Paleontologists

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1974This must have been the summer that we visited Dinosaur National Monument. Here we are camped in the North Dakota Badlands. We spent a long time unearthing a jaw in the gully behind our campsite. We were sure it was a dinosaur - jaw my father informed us it was a cow jaw. My sister says she still has those teeth!In the morning our tents were COVERED with mosquitoes. We broke camp quickly and tossed everything in the car without packing it neatly. We had breakfast farther down the road.Look, all three of us were wearing keds! I guess we had different colors so we would know whose were whose.  My sister on the left is wearing a home made sun hat.  I am in the middle wearing a dress/shorts set made by my mom. I still have both patterns.  We were so cool!

Christmas Countdown

This is not what I had planned to spend the day doing yesterday.P had the day off of school - I think it was a teacher work day. Anyway, the boys were back at college and she and I started the big tidy to get ready for our holiday decorating. We remembered that we need to get out our advent tree before Thursday. Then she remembered that the boys will not be here to take turns with the ornaments. We decided that we should make something to send them at school so that they can have their own countdown.I opened up a small envelope from my desk and used it for a pattern. The envelopes are made out of double sided craft/scrapbook paper and perfectly sized to hold a 3 by 5 inch index card. Miss P stamped the numbers and helped with the flower punching.It took us most of the day to make and number FIFTY envelopes.We don't have them all filled yet so we thought we'd send them in batches. I'll get the first few in the mail today!I know they don't read the blog so it's OK to post this here - as long as no one else spills the beans. Ahem. You know who you are. Don't tell. I want them to be surprised! If it hadn't taken ALL DAY to make these I probably would have made a set for you too.  Maybe D will share.I'm off to do some quilting.

Busy

Miss P has been very busy with her crafting. Since she learned to stitch beads there has been no stopping her. M brought down his old beading loom and let her have a go with it. She has had no trouble at all.She has also been doing some embroidery this weekend. She finished one project and had it wrapped up to give away before I could get a picture of it!She thought the embroidery was so much fun she's traced off another design to stitch.I'll try to get a photo of this project. 

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Blast from the Past

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In 1972 we went to the Grand Canyon!That is me in my favorite outfit. I remember it well. The top was reversible and was a blue chambray on one side and the red bandana print on the other. It had matching red bloomers. I remember one summer when we stayed with my grandmother I wore it every day. She put it through the wash and I didn't get it back until it was time for us to go home. She HID it because she didn't want me to wear it all the time. Sigh. The memories.We purchased a scanner last week! I've been scanning some old family slides.

Instagram Photos

Narrow hand appliquéd bias strips. 1/16” quilting lines not going over the appliqué. I’m about a month in on the quilting and ALMOST finished. Whoop! Quilted with Invisalign on top and Decobob in the bobbin. Threads by @wo
This summer we watched my two oldest grand kids one day a week. Towards the end of the summer they started making projects on their own in the sewing room. They made lots of little projects from my scrap basket including pillow cases and tiny quilts
Here’s the layout with all but one block done. I’ll finish that last block when I get more of the baby poop green/mustard fabric. I put out the call and the internet provided! This top will be finished soon! This is a remake of an 1870s
I’m finally getting around to putting these stars together. I made the stars a few years ago and have been on the hunt for the perfect setting fabrics. These @carolynfriedlander prints are the perfect match for the 1800s reproduction prints in