After Christmas

Christmas Eve has passed, most of the food is consumed or distributed, and it was fine to have it here at our house.  How did the small trees work out?  Several asked about my not having a big tree, but I diverted their attention to the smaller ones.  I was so distracted by keeping everything going that I didn’t take a single picture of the night… but here are a few of the décor ;-)

Our immediate family tradition is to have breakfast at our house on Christmas morning then to open presents.  All the brain racking seemed to work out – Mom seemed pleased with her Roomba, Dad with his Nintendo DS (more with his Ginseng cream), and DS with his speakers (since he picked them out ;-).  I got a very nice watch from DS and a Grandfather clock from M&D.  Hum… think there’s a common theme here? 

I haven’t been out since December 23 and am just about to catch up with my rest and solitude.  Watched football yesterday while I finished the little Christmas sampler using the Sulky thread.  I really do like using it – no thoughts of switching colors, etc.  Just keep stitching!  Since Christmas is over, I used the year 2010 but put my initials and 09 in mini stitches.  Almost finished the candy cane – with exception of backstitching.  This one did have several shades of red, but it was one I wanted to finish before the end of 2009.

I’ve been thinking a little about stitching goals for 2010, but haven’t gotten it tied down exactly just yet.  I am planning to do an Alphabet SAL with Brooke’s Books group, a monthly ornament SAL with Friendly Stitchers, and to finish up some UFOs started in 2009. 

    Peace~Love~Joy
and Happy Stitching!

Charlene

What am I doing?

So, why am I here, instead of working on the house, or preparing the shopping list, or any of the other 100 things I should be doing?  Am I the procrastinator extreme?  Not typically – but perhaps that’s who I’m becoming.  Yes, in my ‘grand plan’ today was to be the House day – tomorrow the Food prep day – Tuesday and Wednesday Cooking days.  Therein lies the procrastination… there may be an extra hour or two in the cooking days…

DS and I had planned to get the tree and go to see Avatar yesterday.  He picked me up at about 2:00, so we got the tickets then went for lunch before the movie.  Lunch was good, but the movie was awesome!  My first 3-D of this generation, and these are the glasses they distribute.  Remind you of Jack Nicholson?  You're supposed to recycle them, but I passed the container before I knew it, and wasn't about to turn back in that mob.  The 3-D alone wasn’t what made it so great.  The story was good, the cinema was awesome, and it was almost three hours, but you’d never realize it.  All the hype and noise about this movie is worthy – even at $11 – go see it if you’re a movie person like me – longing for a visit with the Na’vi on Pandora.

Last night I tried out the new Sulky cotton thread I got from Anita's Little Stitches.  Go check out her fine examples!    

Did you notice there was no mention of a tree?  I asked DS what he thought about the idea of not having a big tree this year, but having several small trees and other decorations.  He said, If that’s what you want to do, and I do believe it is!  There are no small children, and the others who want one have theirs at home… my home, my décor.  Finally talked myself into it – or out of it in this case.

Here's hoping you have all your shopping and preparations finished and are ready to enjoy your holidays with family and friends!

Merry Christmas to everyone ~ I wish for you a season filled with peace ~ love ~ joy and Happy Stitching!

 Charlene

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… more in some places than others!  Around here, it’s coming along slowly, but it is coming!  I’ve been working on a menu and grocery list, plans for decorating running through my mind and stitching very little.  Late, you say?  Yes, quite, but that’s the way it has gone this year.

A few stitches added to the Sewing Box - right.

Finished the Shepherd's Bush ~ Snow for a former coworker.  She got it and was very pleased.

Started a new ornament, and think it will be a surprise - unless someone cares to guess what it is :-)  

I've had a birthday since the last post - I'm 56.  Seeing that in print looks SO old, but most of the time I honestly don't feel how I think that age should feel!  It was quite nice, but very uneventful.  Celebrated with the family the evening before with dinner and gifts.  Got some lovely Christmas serving dishes from Mom and an electric drill/screwdriver from Dad (wish I'd had it when putting up the new curtain rods), and a fantastic universal remote control from DS.  His comment was something like it made him tired to watch me juggle three remotes to watch TV.  The child (yes, he's 28 - ah ha - half my age) always comes up with the Best surprises!! 

Our LNS stitch night was on the actual date, so that's where I chose to be.  It was Christmas goodies' night, so we each brought some snack foods.  One of the girls was in a terrible auto accident in November (broken back, etc.) and she was able to be there in her body cast with the assistance of her DH.

Just a little blog surfing, then it's time to get up and busy.  Thank you for coming by.  I appreciate your visits and especially your comments.  Hope you'll come back again, soon!

Merry Christmas to everyone ~ I wish for you a season filled with peace ~ love ~ joy
and

Happy Stitching



Charlene in SC USA

Ornaments?

I’m not exactly sure what happened, but all of a sudden I was overtaken with the urge to stitch Christmas ornaments.  Most of my family members don't love hand made the way WE do, so had hardly thought about gifting them at all, then, Wham!  I really didn't have anyone specific in mind at the moment, but ornament stitching had to begin!  So last Sunday I stitched this snowman along with football and thought about making him a hum-bug, but he ended as a long ornie.  I know now who he will go to.  He's by Glory Bee from Just Cross Stitch 2009 ornament magazine on blue 18ct with DMC.

Then Monday, a chart I found on eBay arrived, Prairie Schooler, Up on the Housetop, and this little border Santa with sleigh overwhelmingly took me.  Again with no one specific in mind, but as I was stitching, my newly married (summer) cousin and wife came to mind.  It wasn't the intended purpose of the ornament, but I added the wording 'our first Christmas' and now it's ready for them.  Blue 18ct with DMC. 

As I was stitching, I thought about a former co-worker who always sends the prettiest hand-made cards for my birthday and Christmas.  I enjoyed so much stitching the Shepherd’s Bush Baby, and had just gotten Snow, so off to work on 28ct linen.  I spent last night finishing the stitching, but would love your suggestions on how to finish it for her.

I had been reading for some time on the Friendly Stitches’ yahoo group about stitchers being in a rush to finish ornaments, wanting to do so many with so little time, etc. that I suggested we do an ornament-a-month stitch along beginning in January.  Abi and the group mods put it out to the group, and as far as I can tell about 20 of us will be doing that next year.  They don't HAVE to be Christmas ornaments - any season will do.  This is a very nice group of stitchers – appropriately named – so if you have space in your email list, you may want to join and give it a try.  There is always chatter and LOTS of fun and interesting projects going on.

My ‘plan’ for today is to start making the house ready for our family Christmas gathering on Christmas Eve.  It rotates from house to house, and this year is my turn. 

Tomorrow my LNS, Stitch and Frame Shop, is having an open house.  I’m looking forward to that, more!

Thanks for stopping by today.  Wishing you all glad tidings and great joy!

Happy Stitching!! 

Charlene in SC USA

Let the Count Down Begin

Christmas is only a few short days away, and no one has mentioned this directly to me, other than Mom asking carefully, “Is the party supposed to be at your house this year?  You can have it here if you’d rather.”  Why carefully, you ask.  There are years when I am a Christmas Scrooge, but so far this year has been going along rather nicely.

Remember, Thanksgiving was here at our house, and I enjoyed it very much.  Reason being?  I didn’t knock myself out trying to make the house sparkle and the food taste like Martha had helped.  I did the bare minimum – made the house look like people really do live here, and cooked the way I like to eat. 

My great LNS, Stitch and Frame, gives those who are registered a certificate for 20% off a complete project during their birthday month.  Since this is my month, I decided (a while back) it would be for Rosewood Manor’s Quaker Diamonds.  One of the girls at stitch night Tuesday was working on it, and it is so pretty!  When will I stitch it?  Don’t know, but it’s in my stash now!

I am still working on Fanny and Company’s Sewing Box.  Someone asked if it is for Christmas, and no, it’s for another project after the first of the year, but will wait until a little later to show that to you.  

The Santa Sampler is also  getting a few stitches now and again.

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you're having a great weekend doing everything you enjoy! 

Happy Stitching
Charlene in SC USA

My last cigarette was on November 13, 2009. 

11/13/2009

12/5/2009

-22 days