December!!

 Ahh, December!  What is December besides the last month of 2021 and December 1 is our granddaughter's birthday!  We begin to panic December 1 when our shopping isn't finished, meals aren’t planned, gifts aren't made--Oh, I meant to begin that last January but life got in the way and the days ticked by--swiftly!! 

 We know that Christmas is celebrated in the month of December--BUT, most likely the reason for our celebration--Jesus' birth-- didn't really happen in the month of December--

It is not believed Jesus was born on the day Christmas is globally celebrated. Instead, Christmas was chosen as a convenient celebratory day on the same day of a pagan holiday that celebrated the winter solstice, according to The History Channel.

None the less, if you believe, then it's a beautiful story for you and me, no matter what month Jesus was born.

On a secular note--there is a calendar for national day of:--today, December 2 is 

• National Fritters Day
• National Mutt Day
• Special Education Day 

So, if you are ever bored and want to know what to do on what day--look it up on the above calendar--always something to think about on that special day!

 

Another thing to do daily is countdown to Christmas! Each day December 1-26 from Moda! 

Making lists is another prority for December!  List of cards to be sent out; list for foods to buy; list of gifts to buy; list of events; list of times to shuffle to the airport; list of lists!!

Sometimes, we need to take time to sit and reflect on what we are doing in our lives--is it necessary to panic--nope!  it will all get done one way or the other!  no need to place extra burdens on our weary minds or bodies--if, it doesn’t get done, so What?

okay, I"m off to begin knitting those darn socks that I should have started days ago!! 

While My ears are listening to Book of Revelation on The Bible REcap off Podbean--look for the app on your device;  if you didn't think there was stress enough, listening to Book of Revelation is another thing!!

thinking--Warm Feet!

 Those cold winter days are creaking up on us!  If you have a warm head and warm feet--you trap all that warm body heat in!  So. I've been looking at sock patterns and of course more hat patterns to knit--wish I knitted faster--I'd give them as gifts.  

Frosted Branches, is free pattern and really neat looking pattern--it's a must to keep my feet warm and pretty!

Straight Laced by Jenanne Hassler's pattern is just how I like to knit my socks--two at a time on

two circular needles.

Rambles by Kate Poe looks quick and easy!

and then After Party Gals with their Christmas mystery sock countdown popped up!

guess I'll be knitting a pair of socks before Christmas--let's see how that works out!

clues will alternate between 3 Instagram accounts, so be sure to follow Artesanitarium, Mary E Rose Deisgns and Knitted in Switzerland to ensure you do not miss any clues.

You know what they (who are they anyway???) say--"Warm feet = Warm Heart!"  

In the meantime, as I knit--I'll pull on a pair of store bought socks to keep my feet warm! 

Bring It On!!

 BRing it on!!  The day after Thanksgiving begins...........................black Friday shopping online!  Christmas music while we decorate the house inside and out!  It begins!  That special time of the year!  

Perfect songs to play as you decorate--except!  the very first song on the list is

"All I Want For Christmas" by Mariah Carey--an overworked song for the season!

I'll skip that one and move to #2

"Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays" by NSYNC

cue the music and we're off to pulling out boxes of ornaments,

baking a sheet of cookies for that warm smell throughout the house;

we need to engage all our senses--smell, taste, sight, listening and touching

all our memories

Light the fireplace for more atmosphere, even it's 100* outside--we'll turn down the AC!

It is happy times like this that we love being at home with family, celebrating the most of

joyous occasions!  

In the evening, the first of the holiday movies begin to play!  Each family member has 

a favorite--what's yours?  The son likes "Love Actually"  Go figure!  a guy liking a love story!

Rotten Tomatoes has their list of all time favorite movies--

think we'll need to watch at least two a day before we finally

end up with "Die Hard"!  

Gobble, Gobble

 

Thanksgiving Foods!

 Holiday foods are the best!  What will you prepare for your big family meal?  What are your family favorites?

"A traditional Thanksgiving dinner consists of roast turkey, turkey stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, corn, dinner rolls, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie." 

You can find recipes for almost every Thanksgiving dish that you like--here is Lizzy T's take on recipes for turkey day!

Our grand daughter always brings a corn dish while another grand daughter brings the green bean casserole.  The brown headed daughter likes duck for her meat dish--wonder what duck sandwiches taste like?!!

Last year I made my "more better' cranberry dish!  Why more better?  Because when we were in Mexico buying tequila, a friendly store manager suggested the one in his hand as "more better"!   and I must admit--adding more better tequila to the cranberries made it super great! 

Here's the More Better Cranberry Sauce recipe:

One 12 ounce bag fresh cranberries

2large oranges juiced or you can use fresh orange juice

1/2 cup brown sugar (i used a substitute)

1/2 tsp cinnamon

 grate of nutmeg ( like to use fresh nutmeg)

chopped pecans to taste 

Rinse cranberries and add to pot, add other ingredients and cook till tender--can take awhile--

once the cranberries are cooked down, take off heat, cool and now you

add the More Better Tequila (any tequila will work)==make it a 1/4 cup, then add more better if you want that taste

I put mine in jars--place in refrigerator to cool and set.

just perfect for those dishes or we like it spread over Brie that is baked--yummy!

And let's not forget those pies!!  pumpkin, pecan, chocolate cream, etc with lots

of whip cream--!

whatever you have for your Thanksgiving dinner-

 we pray you have the most healthy, happy, peaceful day with family and friends!

and all those leftover--oh boy!!

Happenings for the Holidays!

 It's that time of the year again !  Bonnie Hunter's mystery begins the day after Thanksgiving, November 26! Introduction is up and ready to download

And then there is this!! 7th annual holiday homespun quilt along with Jan Daly offering this free project.  Begins November 28–either table runner, small wall hanging.

Here comes another sew along with Fort Worth Fabric Studio!  I still haven't finished the fall one--actually--I didn't begin it!

you can find all their past sew alongs on their web page under digital.

If you want to add an Advent Calendar to your list of things to make, check out Hattifax.com

Great fun for the whole family!!

Another fun adventure with Lisa Capen--follow her on youtube

This mystery begins November 26--you can find her other

videos helpful.

Pam Buda loves vintage quilts and this December she is hosting her

Quilt Archaeology.  

She calls this one "Glad Tidings"  Check out her webpage for 

the free pattern.

Oh The Joy Of It All!

 Yes!  What a joy! we have in our lives!  Our great grandson is now 4 months old!  He's so fill of love and happiness!

No!  He can hold his own bottle--but mom is right there to assist if needed--he loves his

milk and can be a little 'piggie'.

Here is his four month photo--I don't know we started this trend--but I love it!  Since we aren't close enough to see him regularly--these photos are a big joy!!

And the hat I knitted for him sits perfectly on his head!  I was afraid it would be too small--but no, it fits just right!  I've got another one for him to wear at latter times when he grows more and a red one on the needles now

so quick to knit with instant gratification to boot!

Stuff!

 Sometimes I don't have any idea how to classify items that I like to share--today I found couple of 

Christmas ideas plus one freebie ezine that I like

The Homemakers Heart is a free monthly digital magazine that features delightful designs created by Jenny of Elfantz.  You can view past issues as well--lots of creative items are included

Here is a wool  and cotton sewical stitch along is sponsored by Lisa Bongean  gift tags are always welcome addition to our Christmas packages.

Sewing with Craft gossip has some interesting activities for the whole family.  This advent calendar is perfect for those little ones who want to know when Santa will arrive.  Check out all the other craft projects on their website.

go out there and have fun!  I'm trying to learn a new computer language--me and IT don't speak the same tongue!! 

Virtual Happenings!

 

Sorry! but this event has passed!  But, it's virtual so you can still jump onto the

website and participate in a few events.  If you're a member, you can view several different films--

Shetland Wool Week!  One day I'm going in person! 

Shetland Wool Week is a world renowned celebration of Britain’s most northerly native sheep, the Shetland textile industry and the rural farming community on these islands. Shetland wool is a world class natural fibre, with a long standing reputation for quality, strength and excellence from the fleece to the textile products. Shetland knitwear has a deserved respect gained from many generations of hard working knitters and crofters producing some of the finest lace and Fair Isle knitwear.

Since its conception twelve years ago, Shetland Wool Week has grown into an internationally acclaimed event. Throughout the week there are an extensive range of exhibitions, classes and events, which will cover many different subjects. These usually include; weaving, spinning, dyeing, Fair Isle and lace knitting as well as many other fascinating subject areas. Events take place from the most southern tip of the Shetland, right up to the most northerly island of Unst, famous for its beautiful lacework, with many locations in between.

Here's the free pattern for this year's hat, designed by Wilma Malcolmson

I'm sending out a special thanks go Sheila Dixon, who publishes a monthly newsletter with

hand spinning information from around the world.  I look forward to seeing what other spinners are doing in this mad world.  Hand spinning keeps us SANE!

Thanksgiving Fun!

 Have you begun to think about Thanksgiving plans?  It is definitely closer than you think--our friends have already ordered their meal from Cracker Barrel!  We are planning our family gathering with all the fixings--but, the best part is being with Family!! And this year we'll have the whole family with us on turkey day.

Here are some pre-plans that can be used now for a crafty Thanksgiving!

spark and chemistry has instructions for these de-light-ful jars to decorate your

dining table.

Love this table setting!  Easy to make and a good way to use those pie pumpkins

And while I'm thinking of decorations for the house, I'm also working on these:

Turkey Trot is from Missouri Quilt Company--you can purchase the pattern now but you can also watch the video which gives you instructions.  I have several Dresden plate sections already made and didn't know what to do with them--and then I stumbled across this pattern!!  Problem solved!

I'm liking this little garden flag!  Thermoweb has the directions--this will be our welcome

sign for turkey day!

and to decorate our buffet table from Diary of a Quilter comes table runner ideas.

Oooooh, I'm getting excited!  Planning our menu is easy--everyone brings their favorite dish!

Baby Hats!!!

 I/m so excited!  My great grandson needs knitted hats!  My grand daughter-in-law had bought some of these 'stretchy hats that were made from nylon--and it would not stretch over baby's head.  She has no knowledge of knitting or how knit stitches will work in a hat pattern.  She worried that it wouldn't fit his head if I knitted him a hat--ha, little does she know what I know!!

I have tons of yarn that can be used for babies head--off to find the perfect hat pattern for that little guy.

Basic hat pattern (knitted) 

Shirl pattern by Mandie Harrington--

Vintage Pique Rib hat

Fayerye

I think I have plenty patterns to get me started!  Now, which one should I begin with first??!!

New Projects!

Well, I tried!  Yes, I really tried----to keep my new projects off my list.  But, it doesn't work when 

interesting things come up!  I can not resist! 

Heart Felt QAL begins in February 2022--but, I'm getting excited to see a heart

quilt block to make! 

Pat Speth of Nickel Quilts is hosting this smashing quilt along!!

how can you resist this beauty?!! Party of Six!

I can't!  you can purchase the pattern now on her website--

if you want to sew along check out her Facebook group where

she is releasing a block at a time--free!

Gratitude Quilt is a free pattern by Amy Smart-great for charity quilts or

signature quilts

Since I'm going down the rabbit hole--I'm going to drag you along with me!

Stay tuned for other 2022 projects to add to your list too!

 

One UFO Flew Out The Door!

 Slowly but surely, I'm tackling my pile of UFO's!  Several are being quilted with many waiting for the final stitches for the binding. 

Finally after years of stitching and assembly, the top was quilted—of course, it awaits binding! 

Technically, this was not a UFO waiting in the wings--it was a new project!,

I stumbled! and begin----and finished! this neat Christmas quilt--maybe, one

for my husband who loves old trucks--it's called Homestead Holiday by

Whimsical Workshop

I bought the panel but had all the fabrics to complete--loved my fabric for the stars,

wish I remembered where I bought that fabric!

Ok! OK!  I stumbled again!  Pat Sloan began her Fall Frolic quilt--these blocks

are easy and quick to assemble--so, yes, I jump in with both feet--

Shoe Box For Kids

 Our Cowboy Church is participating again in Operation Christmas Child sponsored by Samaritan's Purse--

Samaritan Purse has several ways you can participate with your family, church or just by yourself and friends. We have enjoyed gathering items for the shoebox.  We choose boy or girl and this year

along with our blond headed daughter, we chose 3 boys and one girl--maybe, next week we'll

see if any are still available and shop again!

Here was our list of items to buy--we had fun roaming the aisle of our local Wal-Mart, Dollar Store and Grocery store to fill our bags.  We'll return the bags to church and volunteers will place these items in shoe boxes to be sent off.  We also donate funds to assist with shipping.

Bags are filled and ready!

Boys bags are filled with cars, puzzles, crayons, coloring book,

deck of cards, personal hygiene items, etc.

Girl's bag is filled with girlie things and a plush toy!

It is a yearly goal of our small cowboy church to fill at least 100 shoe boxes

but each year we do far more than our goal!

What joy it will bring a child!  and this project filled our hearts too!

Small Loom Projects

 Recently, I celebrated a birthday--just another day in the real world.  I do have special people in my life who make the day just a little brighter and joyful.  Two of my friends worked together to create unique gifts for me.  Something I've never attempted or wanted to learn.  And I'm done quite a few crafts in my lifetime.  They gave me these interesting weavings from a small loom.  

Did you ever have one of those little loom for potholder ?  That's not how I started weaving--

it would have been a great introduction though--learning over under, etc.

They worked very hard to find different patterns and of course, got some of my favorite color in the mix--orange!

Stitched Modern has tutorials for this project.  My friends are still learning new and different 

patterns--well, after all they have the looms and all those loops that need to find a home.

Popshop America has several suggestions.  

and I leave you with the best possible thing you can do with a small loom

comes from my friend, Sharon Crary, who has won numerous awards with

her small loom weavings.

"Down in the Valley"

Thank you my friends for sharing your talents with me--I'll enjoy and share my

potholders with everyone!