Fall in a Heap Day

Apparently I used up all my energy and brilliant words over the last few days and to use one of our favorite phrases, I've fallen in a heap today. I've done nothing constructive and thought no deep thoughts.  (Do I ever think deep thoughts? I'll think deeply about that.)  (Smile)

So here are a couple of photos of past projects. The first is a stitchout from Embroidery Library which is no longer available. I suspect it's because the digitiser used the UK spelling of counsellor instead of the American counselor. I don't mind. It hangs at the top of the stairs to the basement.

And here's a closer view of the window pane quilt in the living room.  It uses Holly Taylor's fabrics in a Doug Leko of Antler Quilt Designs pattern.

And that's it for today from the Resort. I think we're going to pick up dinner curbside somewhere tonight. Heap! It's fall in a heap day! ♥  

 

Cards and This 'n That

Today was Christmas card day.  As in getting them ready to send.  It finally dawned on me that if I was going to do the cards, I needed to get busy and write the official Christmas letter.  I down at my computer and then moaned to Dan, "What is there to write about in this crazy year?" He immediately rattled off several things.  "Wait!" I said. "Write that stuff down for me!"  He did, and using his notes, I got one written. I told him thank you.  (:

Here's the scene this afternoon (and yes, those are Susan Winget cards):

I got them all done and they are ready to go into the mailbox tomorrow morning.  Yay! 

After I posted yesterday's blog of the kitchen, I realized that the little angel garland didn't really show up in the cookbook cupboard photo so I took a closeup of them today.  They are so adorable and were handmade by Carol Galloway, a very talented artist from Cavendish.

And one more photo from the kitchen, on the wall just to the right of the angels.  Another gift from Bruder Bear and Karen, along with a small Santa ornament from my Secret Santa one year when I was teaching.  

And that's the rest of my kitchen.  ♥

Christmas in the Kitchen

I seem to spend a lot of time in my kitchen.  Dan has never eaten cold cereal so a hot breakfast it is each day.  From the start of the day until evening, I am probably in the kitchen more than another other room in the house, unless I'm on a sewing mission.  Decorating my kitchen happens with each season, but never so much as for Christmas.  These are new photos, but may be very similar to ones I've posted in past years.

The cookbook cupboard Dan made me some years ago is my favorite spot of all.  The Jim Shore trees and Santa just make the top and were gifts from Ann at past Christmases.  

The broom is many years old, probably dated, but I still love it.  I made it probably forty years ago. The calendar is a Susan Winget one, the same artist who did the illustrations for the book in my Bear Corner pictured a few days ago.  The snowman platter was a gift from Bruder Bear and Karen, and under it, if you click on the photo to enlarge it, is a garland of little angels, a gift from Susan Boehne, a teacher friend of mine.  The wooden mitten on the door knob was made by Cyndie McCabe, another long-time friend and former neighbor.  I get the best gifts! 

These little snowmen, perched by my sink, were also a gift, made by a former assistant principal at the school where I taught.  So cute!

And on the wall in the breakfast nook is a quilt I made from a Country Threads pattern, called Uncle Santa, also many years old.  

Even my stove gets a little decorating.  I put my lovely dark green Staub dutch oven on the back burner, put an appliqued towel on the oven handle, and park an adorable snowman timer next to it.  Those red spatulas in the utensil crock fit right in, too!

And last, here is the breakfast nook table.  

You can see Uncle Santa on the wall, and on the table is a runner I made for Mom and Dad and brought home after we cleared out their house. The sleigh centerpiece was made by a friend the first year we moved back to town, so it's been on that table since Christmas of 1985.  Tradition!!  ♥

A Little Nativity Scene Story

Last year I was looking at a picture of a country house decorated for Christmas and something on one of the walls caught my attention.  It was a rustic nativity scene and I loved it.  The picture was rather dark, but I thought the lines of it could be seen well enough for Dan to try making one.  I showed him the picture and he loved it, too, and said he'd try. Of course, he was successful and here's a closeup.

And here's where it is in our house, over the stairway to the basement.

We showed it to Ann and she, too, loved it, so Dan made one for her. The other night, we got a text from her with the following message and photo: "Daniel put his precious peanut baby Jesus in the manger!"

It was the baby Jesus from a nativity scene he had make in Sunday School a few years ago. He'd made a manger from popsicle sticks and baby Jesus from a peanut wrapped with felt. Ann had put it with her big nativity scene because she loved it so much, but then Daniel noticed that Mary was holding baby Jesus, so he couldn't be in the manger, too.  Ann was working in the kitchen and didn't see what he was doing, but later when she passed by the one on the wall, she spotted the little baby in the manger.  

Here's a closeup:

It's just the sweetest thing and makes this Grammy's heart melt.  Merry Christmas! ♥

Sunday

It's Sunday and while it was fogged in early, the day has emerged with a beautiful blue sky and sunshine.  When we arrived at church, someone or more probably several someones, had chalked the parking lot and the walkway into the foyer with the names of God.  One after another they emerged into view as we walked forward.  Mighty One, Counselor, King of Kings, and on and on they went! It was amazing and inspiring. No one claimed responsibility, so I guess it was a Christmas gift to us all.

And speaking of Christmas, last evening Ann and Eric posted this picture, which I shamelessly stole, of the tree they cut yesterday.  It's gorgeous!!

You can see the closed pocket door behind it. Their house has a circle in it so no worries that they can't get into the kitchen. :-)  I love seeing Daniel standing on the arm of the chair, balancing himself on the ceiling, to hang a high ornament. As Eric said, it needed a bit of encouragement to fit through the door, but they love it!  ♥

Early December Saturday

What is it about Saturdays?  Even when you don't work, Saturdays are special.  I sort of slept in, eight-thirty, which was lovely.  After breakfast we began plotting our projects for the day.  For me, that meant serious Christmas shopping so I could cross it off my list.  After conferring with Ann and Dan, I achieved success. Decisions were made and the items were ordered.  Yay!!

Then to the basement to store decoration boxes (Dan), and finish basement decorating (me).  As we worked on those things, boxes of things from my parents' house--files, photos, etc.--surfaced and we were able to do a little sorting and consolidating and shredding.  Another yay!

This afternoon Ann and family came to get their Christmas tree from Papa's Tree Farm in our lower backyard.  Such fun!  Such a huge tree!! They used our pickup to drive around to pick it up so the boys all decided a ride in the back was called for.

I didn't get a picture of the tree in the back of the truck because they left the back way.  I hear they had to pull a pocket door closed from the living room to the kitchen to create a corner big enough for the tree.  It sure made for a fun afternoon! ♥

Christmas in the Dining Room

It's only two o'clock and I've remembered! The dining room is pretty much ready to celebrate the days leading up to Christmas so I thought I'd feature it today.  I'll try to remember to take a picture of the table all set for Christmas dinner when the time comes.  It's very festive, if I do say so myself, with the Christmas dishes, crystal, shiny flatware, and red plaid accented table coverings.  

So, to commence!  Here's a long view of the room.

My sweetie made all the furniture with the exception of the chairs, which I would love to replace.  Some day.

And a closeup of the left wall.

The Bible on the dough box belonged to Dan's grandmother, Aletha Miller. It's open to Luke Chapter 2.  I made the counted cross stitch St. Nicholas's years and years ago and I talked about them in this post. 

Here's the table for now.

It's not a large table; it was built for the house we lived in at the time and worked just fine until we added in-laws and grandchildren.  Dan solved the problem by building a much larger plywood top that we drop on so that we can easily fit ten or more around.  The only issue?  Dan doesn't build anything that isn't sturdy, and it takes hardy sons, brothers, or grandsons to bring it in and put into place.  Just part of the dinner fun!

And the hutch.  Again, built for another house, but it might as well have been custom made for this house, it fits so perfectly.

The candle on the right is one of those battery operated ones and it has a timer on it.  I smile every evening when I notice it glowing about five o'clock.  

And the little shelf next to the hutch.

Hmm, looks like I chopped off the top of the candle.  Oh well!  Dan turned the wooden holder and of course, built the shelf.  The little Hummels were ornaments I gave my mom years ago, and the plate and little pitchers were gifts from my long-time pal, Kathy, when she lived in Boston for a few years.  I made the wall hanging using my embroidery machine for the words.  

And that's the dining room, all decked out to celebrate the season.  ♥