Happy New Year!

January Sunrise

My husband took the photo above a year ago, but it was January so it seemed appropriate to use it today while wishing you a happy new year.

Hope that the year ahead brings you wonderful things!

***********************************************************

I hope I have more time to stitch this upcoming year. I still haven't made any goals or resolutions, but I think I can fulfill my rather small wish on this chilly January evening.

 

Thanks for stopping by today!

What resolutions have you made this year? Have you made any great stitching plans for 2011? Do tell!

Christmas Memories

I got this ornament way back in 1987 from a very dear friend. I love hanging up all the precious ornaments I've received over the years. I haven't made many ornaments myself, but some year I will!

Here is a recap of the holiday season, done pictorially:


Animated Figures on a beautiful display we visited


Arriving at the Hotel's Display


Gorgeous Lights!


Viewing Beautiful Lights


Love the Carriage- Some Lucky Folks Ready for a Ride


An Elf


Stagecoach Ride


From Across the Street, and Down a Block

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Some Crafty Project Kits


Love the Colors!


Waiting for Adornment
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I did a lot of baking this holiday season, but I didn't take any pictures of anything I baked or made. The bottom line is I realized that next year I won't do very much baking. I'm saying that now, but maybe by next December I'll forget my words.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


A Few of Our Stockings
Counted Crosstitch and Country Crafts Heirloom Stockings by Donna Kooler (BHG)


Reindeer from Finland- A Gift to my Parents

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

It was a wonderful holiday, and we had family with us on Christmas Eve, and on Christmas Day. I can't believe it's already over for another year. I hope you too had a joyous holiday.

 

Thanks for stopping by today!

Christmas Stuff

I am finally here again! It seems as if it has been forever.

Christmas has come and gone, and I still haven't shared photos of some special Yuletide items in our home. I'll share the items today, if you don't mind. At a later time I will share photos from the actual holiday celebrations.


Here's a very special Christmas ornament my dear friend Jenny gave me when our daughter was born back in 1983.



This ornament means "Merry Christmas" in Norwegian, and it was stitched by my friend Janet:


This was also stitched by Janet:


Another gorgeous one stitched by her:


Kathryn stitched these two ornaments. I love how they're simply finished in an embroidery hoop:




Here's a few more ornaments on our tree that I wanted to share today.
I bought this monkey one for my son many years ago:


I bought this one at one of those 'at home' parties. I have no idea what the company's name was.



My brother and his wife brought us this one back from Russia:


This ornament was drawn with pencils by my friend Janet:


Some photos of the tree:




The beautiful nut ring my mom made us a few years ago:



Stockings hung on our antique armoire. We don't have a fireplace, so this works out fine:


Christmas with roses still in bloom:


Thanks for stopping by on this winter's evening.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was wonderful! We went to my brother and sister-in-law's house and had a great time visiting, eating, and playing games.

This weekend also marked the start of Christmas shopping for me. I wouldn't dream of going out on "Black Friday". I can't stand crowds and too much madness! Instead we went out for a bit yesterday. I was able to purchase the gifts I buy for co-workers, and for my students. I also had to buy more costume pieces for our upcoming Christmas program. It's fun to be able to buy them instead of having to construct them.

Today will be spent wrapping the 39 gifts we bought yesterday, decorating for Christmas, and getting ready for the upcoming work week. It will be busy and my days will be very long.

I haven't shopped at all for any family members or friends, but I am thankful to be done with the work gifts. It always gets so busy this time of year that it's easy to feel overwhelmed with getting everything done!

I hope to get in some stitch time today, too. I think I'll have to do it soon or else the day will pass quickly without any sort of hobby time.

Here are some photos from Thanksgiving:

Luscious desserts:


Dishing up our meal:


My niece and nephew:


Toasting the Season--My Brother:


My Husband and I with our Grandson:


My Great Niece and my Son's Girl:


My Nephew, Son, and His Girl:


Thanks for stopping by today!

Easter

Easter is over, and so is my spring break. Tomorrow it's back to the routine of work.

We hosted Easter today, and we all had a great time. I want to share my mom's lemon bar recipe that she made for today, but I'll have to do that on a future post.

Here are some photos from today:


My Great-Niece Hannah during the Egg Hunt


More Egg Hunting


Hannah on Easter

Ethan was here too, and it's the first time he's been at our house. He now weighs over 10 pounds and is doing very well. He was born 10 weeks early and spent the first few months of his life in the hospital. Unfortunately we didn't get a good photo of him today.

Here is a photo of him that we took a few weeks ago, along with his big sister Hannah:

 

Thanks for stopping by today.

Happy Easter & Sampler Update

I want to wish everyone who celebrates Easter a happy one! There will be 14 or so of us for brunch here tomorrow, so we've been busy getting ready for that.

Above are some roses from our yard that I've put in vases for tomorrow. I'm so grateful that we have roses now. We planted most of them four years ago, I believe, and they're really doing well now. The red one is called Chrysler Imperial, and I love its brilliance of color. The red and white pedals at the base are from a rose called Scentimental, and the yellow/pink/white variegated one is Cabana. Also in the mix of roses is Tournament of Roses, Oregon Gold, and Perfume Delight.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I finished the grass area under the lower right hand corner's house. Here it is:

 

I then added an alphabet from a sampler book I purchased on clearance at a general bookstore. After a bit of thought, I decided upon a deep reddish color for the alphabet. I improvised on the flowers near the alphabet, and I like how they turned out, I think.



I placed some people near the center home, along with the same improvised flowers:


Here's a peek at the whole thing now:


I need to finish the border, and add a few more touches here and there. Then it's off to be framed at some point.

Thanks for stopping by today, and Happy Easter to you. Thanks for all your kind comments and encouragement regarding this sampler! Your words mean so much to me.