Countdown to Christmas--Moda Style!

Just four days late--but never too late to begin or

collect these patterns for your Christmas quilt!

Countdown to Christmas!

December 1

December 2

December 3

check out the website to find December 4

and be sure to sign up to receive each day in your mailbox!

Ringo Lake Begun

And so it begins the day after Thanksgiving--2017-18

Quiltville mystery

Here is step one--all my 1.5" strips are cut and ready to assemble--Browns,

Aqua and neutrals

Just when you think you have enough strips cut, nope--

not enough--

Mission accomplished!!

50 nine patch 3.5" blocks--whew!

Just a little late!  The new clue

came out Friday, December 1--

and I'm behind...............already!!

Sweet Shoppe Quilt Along............

Christmas Candies + Fabric = Quilt Along!

The inspiration for this year's quilt-along is Christmas candy—candy canes, peppermints, anything sugary and sweet, as long as it's red, green and white.

Cutting instructions came out December 1--sorry, I wasn't on top of this

sooner!  But, I love the fabric choices of red and green.

I have NO red and green quilts--can you believe?!!

That's a good excuse to begin this treat.........

Jen Daly Quilts website has step one

and Monday will be sewing instructions.

Happy fun!

Preparing for Advent............

As I prepare for the Advent season, I knit at least one of the advent patterns

that are published on Ravelry.  This will be the sixth year I've participated--

each day during the 24 days of December, you receive a section of the pattern.

Come join me--knit each day as you prepare yourself for the season.

an Advent calendar shawl  designed by Unikatissima  is symmetrically patterned in length and shows different lace diamonds, harmoniously distributed over the whole shawl.

The stockinette parts make as well the pattern as the knitting experience calm and relaxed - just the right thing in this busy time :)
The pattern has a repeat of 14 stitches which allows you to decide on the width of your shawl to your liking.
The pattern of day 12 can be repeated as often as you like to make the shawl as long as you wish.

Thanks for Day 30....................

I am Thankful that Thanksgiving has come and gone--our hearts

are happy with the fellowship we shared with family and friends.

Now, we turn our thoughts to the Advent season 

Advent begins December 3--Advent is a season observed in many Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. The term is a version of the Latin word meaning "coming". The term "Advent" is also used in Eastern Orthodoxy for the 40-day Nativity Fast, which has practices different from those in the west

Day 29 of Thanks.....................

Sorry Folks!  This is the way I feel today--

all tied up!

Everything going ever which way--

tomorrow will be better

that's for sure!

Day 28 of Thanks.......................

Here comes the best Thanks of all..........................
MY FAMILY!!


Husband, daughters, son, brothers, sisters, cousins, mother---all included in gratifulness! 

family

[fam-uh-lee, fam-lee] 

 

• Examples
• Word Origin

See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural families.

1.

1. a basic social unit consisting of parents and their children,considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not:
   the traditional family.
2. a social unit consisting of one or more adults together with thechildren they care for:
   a single-parent family.

2.

the children of one person or one couple collectively:

We want a large family.

3.

the spouse and children of one person:

We're taking the family on vacation next week.

4. any group of persons closely related by blood, as parents, children,uncles, 

    aunts, cousins

to marry into a socially prominent family.

5.

all those persons considered as descendants of a common progenitor.

6.

Chiefly British. approved lineage, especially noble, titled, famous, orwealthy ancestry:

young men of family.

7.

a group of persons who form a household under one head, including parents, children, 

Day 27 of Thanks......................

I am thankful for all my friends--near and far.

We are one happy family!

These are wonderful lovable friends made by

Dottie!  They are heavenly to hold and more

fun to enjoy on her bed of red!

Thanks Dottie for sharing!

Day 26 of Thanks.........................

I'm so thankful for those folks who

share their talents through exercises such as

THIS

Aren't these great?  I love putting together a

Christmas tree quilt or table runner.

Day 25 of Thanks..........................

On this day of thanks, I'm so thankful that my son likes my fiber art!

He has requested a Texas Flag Quilt for his bed!

This is the pattern he likes--so I'm gathering my stash fabrics

for this challenge!

Day 24 of THanks............

Thanksgiving Day has passed and I'm so thankful for...........

wearables that fit!!!

Just ate too much!!!  

Day 23 of Thanks................

On This Day of Thanksgiving,

we offer up this short prayer

that reflects our thoughts

of the day!

Interesting facts about Thanksgiving

• Canadian Thanksgiving predates American Thanksgiving by 43 years. The first Thanksgiving in North America was held in 1578 in what is now Newfoundland, Canada. It was 43 before the first American Thanksgiving which happened in 1621 at the site of Plymouth Plantation, in Massachusetts 
• Sarah Joseph Hale, who is the author of the nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb" had contributed to the establishment of Thanksgiving as a national holiday. After 17 years of sending letters to President Lincoln, she had convinced him to support legislation establishing a national holiday of Thanksgiving in 1863. Before Thanksgiving, the only national holidays celebrated in the United States were Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day) and Independence Day
• The TV dinner was invented in 1953 when Swanson had 260 tons of leftover turkey from Thanksgiving and no idea what to do with it. When asked, one of the employees said that they should package it in trays with sides and freeze 
• There is a grocery in Paris named "Thanksgiving" that sells US food like Skippy peanut butter, Jello Instant Pudding, and Pop-Tarts to homesick ex-pats 
• The day after Thanksgiving is the busiest day of the year for plumbers and septic companies who call it "Brown Friday" 

Day 22 of THanks..........................

Day 21 of Thanks.............................Crab Bisque!

I'm so Thankful that my family loves my crab bisque and request it every Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Here is the recipe:  

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 small white onion and one small potato, finely chopped
• 6 celery ribs, finely chopped
• 6 scallions, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons Mashed Roasted Garlic
• 3 cups whole milk
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 to 1 tablespoon Tabasco
• Salt
• Freshly ground pepper
• 2 pounds jumbo lump crab or Dungeness crabmeat

• • How to Make It

    Step 1    

    In a large soup pot, melt the butter. Add the onion, celery, scallions   and cook over moderate heat until softened, 5 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.  Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the broth is thickened and the vegetables are very tender, 15 minutes.

    Step 2    

    Add the roasted garlic and milk; bring to a simmer. Stir in the cream and Tabasco and bring to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper, then add the crab; simmer until hot. Serve the bisque with oyster crackers.

    Make Ahead

    The crab bisque can be refrigerated without the crab for up to 3 days. Reheat the bisque gently and then add the crab just before serving.  Serve with fresh crusty bread. 
  • 
    

Day 20 of Thanks...............................

Each day is a blessing and I'm thankful for those

special moments!

Day 19 of Thanls

Day 19 of Thanks!

I'm thankful for the smallest of things--a whisper of

"I Love You" at bedtime

 a simple "good morning"  

 a bright smile upon passing a stranger

a warm handshake

a whisper of thanks!

Day 18 of Thanks..................

Day 18 of Thanks--

I'm thankful for those who give support and comfort to those in need--

a hug, a shoulder to lean on, ears to listen,