new year, new decade ..

2020 - wow! - it's hard to believe that we're entering a new decade - it just doesn't seem like 20 years ago there was so much kerfuffle about the new century!   ^^

This is Danybrod's bonne année 2020 - a freebie.  I tea dyed the fabric hoping the white thread would show up but it was not very effective.  Dany's finish is quite lovely - mine leaves something to be desired.  This was my busy work this past week ...

All the best for 2020!

one day or day one - it's your decision

hmm ....

I couldn't think of a good title which doesn't show much promise for this being an interesting post.  ^^  I had typed a rant about Christmas nowadays but decided not to use it - quite possibly you have your own rant about how the celebration of Christmas has changed - this year it seemed to be all about the selling/buying of stuff - where were the Christmas tunes and the goodwill.


Our Christmas is usually quiet - we haven't spent it with family for 20 years.  This year a neighbour called in with her wee doggie for a visit on the 24th and on the 25th another neighbour called in for a visit - we enjoyed both visits.  The best visit was on Christmas Day when we 'Skyped' with our son and daughter-in-law who live in Europe.

I stitched this one awhile back and finally did the finish.  It's a design by Lynn B at Happiness is Cross Stitching - I've stitched several of her mini cats...

if you're ever feeling lonely

just look at the moon

someone, somewhere is looking at it too

dear santa ...

  

This one is from Little Stitcher - sadly, the white thread is barely showing but it's a cute design.

Have yourself a Merry little Christmas!!

happiness doesn't come from what we get,

but what we give

new ornaments ...

There are a couple of new ornaments on our tree this year ...

"do you see what i see" is a gift from an old friend

this one is from "Home" - they make them for each province plus Canada - each has  a ribbon in the appropriate tartan 

it doesn't get easier 

you get stronger

Christmas stuff ...

Just some Christmas stuff.     It's amazing what some sunshine can do for a photo - we've had a dearth of sunshine this season and I'm curious why ...

 a tomte made from a styrofoam ball, felt and fake fur with a mini pom pom for a nose

a Gail Pan design

I used to make these wine jackets  

memories keep Christmas in our hearts

a gift ...

This 'poppet' is a gift - a very cherished gift.  Last month a neighbour and friend, Charal, passed away - her daughter from Vancouver was here with her and stayed to deal with her mother's estate.  We got to know her daughter quite well and are very fond of her.  Her mother used to make porcelain dolls and dress them - they were very beautiful - she was a talented lady.  The daughter gave me this poppet in memory of her mom.  I cherish it.  Charal was very active and had such wonderful stories to tell - we always enjoyed her company.  On Sunday her daughter left for home - a four day drive under good conditions - we were anxious yesterday when at 10 p.m. she still hadn't arrived at her destination for the night - this was a beautiful but difficult stretch through the Rockies with lots of passes and avalanche areas.  When we awoke this a.m. there was a text waiting for us that she'd arrived safely - there was lots of snow - speed was reduced to 20 kmh for stretches - there was lots of traffic so they drove in a cavalcade (safety in numbers and no one could speed) - a 6 hour drive turned out to be a 10 hour drive.  Later today she will arrive home in Vancouver and begin to unwind.

a mother's hug

lasts long after she lets go

cuties ...

This time I took a photo before showing these cuties to my friend - the one who has the red mouse.  When Alice saw the bigger one she called it by name - it was sweet - she is a retired school teacher who lived on a farm and they raised sheep among other things - it went to live with her.    I got the idea for these from Ann - they are made like the wreaths in a previous post with added faces and legs - thanks Ann for sharing the idea.  

if a family has an old person in it -

it possesses a jewel

(Chinese Proverb)

one of those days ...

Carol asked me to share the table mat from my last post - it's one that I posted some years ago - what's old is new again - I cannot locate the original blog post and therefore cannot tell you whose design it is.  :{

Do you ever those days when you wonder if you're losing it - I seem to be having more of them than I used to - yesterday was one of them!!!!!  It began with looking for the above table mat so I could take a photo of it - hmm, not here, not there and doesn't seem to be under anything - ohh,  there it is under the basket of mini lights!  I remember where I put things when we moved in here but can't remember where I put them a month ago when I sorted through and combined  'bins'.  I was looking for the Christmas towels - they could only be in one of two places - nope, not in either - I knew I hadn't given them away -  eventually the light went on -  aha, we brought the blanket box home from the cabin for extra linens, etc.  - yessirree, that's where the Christmas towels were - and the blanket box is in a closet so it's not in plain view.  ^^  Last week I made some Christmas Crack - we ate some - the rest was stored away .... so, where is the Crack that I stored - I did eventually find it - told my fella to remember where it was.  lol   The day seemed to go from bad to worse - I haven't shared the half of it.  ^^ 

The other day I sorted through all the x-stitch pieces that I have and decided I should start doing a finish on them - some will be left for making cards - some left me wondering why I had stitched them.  Yesterday I was having a lazy day and did a finish on two of them - burnt (or is it burned?)  my thumb with the hot glue - the ornies are hanging on the tree now ...

 the fairy is from Lucie Heaton and
Snowflake Deer is from Daffycat

Today is starting out ok - first thing this morning I put on a pot of soup and made a batch of our favourite shorbread - here's the recipe:

(Food Processor) Shortbread

2 cups flour

1/2 cup fruit sugar*

1/2 pound cold butter, cut into 8 cubes

[* if you don't have fruit sugar, process granulated (white) sugar for a few seconds to make it finer]

- Put sugar and flour in food processor and pulse for a few seconds.

- Add butter and pulse for 30 seconds or till fine crumbs form (stir through to make sure no large lumps of butter remain).

- Process till mixture clumps together into a ball.

- Put into a 9x9 pan, press out evenly over bottom, prick all over with a fork.

- Bake @ 350F till firm and lightly brown (anywhere from 35-60 mins - in a pyrex pan in my current oven 35 mins. is sufficient).

- While warm cut into squares; cool in pan; keeps well in covered tin.

DELICIOUS!

(This is an old recipe from Canadian Living Magazine)

This is the book I'm currently reading - and enjoying - every time I pick it up it's like putting on my favourite, comfy slippers - I really like the Rebus character - and he is a character ...

And last but not least 'book art' - I made a book tree - thanks to Maggie - how clever is this - there's a link to the instructions on her blog ...

i haven't forgot ...
i just can't remember!

two more ...

I seem to have been doing a lot of stitching this season - good news is that the pieces actually have a finish finish ^^ 

Lizzie Kate

   

Whispered by the Wind

a balanced diet 

is a cookie in each hand

new ones ...

Just the other day I was sorting through my Christmas x-stitch pieces deciding which ones would be displayed which way - there seemed to be fewer than I thought - how could that be - then I realized that the new ones I'd stitched in the fall hadn't made it to the storage bin - here are a few of the new ones ....

F. lli Graziano

Bent Creek

from a kit

when you follow the masses

remember that sometimes the m is silent

there's a ...

I saw these cuties on the blog tykva.toys.ru  - there are instructions.  Basically the body is a circle folded in half , the ears are smaller circles, and the tail is a chain - quite simple to crochet - sooo cute!  I made another one in red - shared these with a friend before taking the photo - the friend, who loves red, kept the red one.  ^^

And mail from away ....

 from Claire.  



it's not how much we give,
but how much love we put into giving

the last of them ...

This is the last of the cards that I needed to stitch - hmm, there's a bit of a bird theme - quite unintentional ....

And a lavender sachet for my aunt ....

Everything that has to be mailed is ready to go - whew!

Our Indian Summer ended with some rain that changed to snow as the temperature dropped - left us with treacherous driving and walking conditions but the landscape is white and bright!  ^^

may the bridges I burn,

light the way

retro Christmas ...

This one is as cute as a bug's ear (from a cross stitch magazine) ....

We've been having Indian Summer - all the snow has disappeared - yes, all of it - with no wind, no sun and lots of humidity it feels like we're on the West Coast - downright balmy!  

This made me laugh ...

i don't like to call it revenge - 

returning the favour sounds nicer

working on ....

I've been working on Christmas - the card for overseas was the first finish and I showed it in this post .  This one was stitched a while ago but only just received the final finish - finished like a pin keep - stitched with variegated red (DMC 115, a favourite of mine) .....

  I crocheted these wreaths because I could - I was curious how they'd look - they're kinda cute.  I used some round shower curtain hooks for the base - yes, I was desperate -  the pattern is simple with either HDC (half double crochet) or DC (double crochet) to cover the ring - make sure the number of stitches is divisible by three - the next round is some combination of SC (single crochet), HDC (half double crochet) and DC (double crochet)  in a stitch and skip a stitch - just make up your own design.  I worked DC on the wreath with the red baubles and HDC on the other one - only difference is the size of the wreath.

I was going to write about some of the strange things I experienced during the full moon last week but you likely have your own stories so I'll just say this ...

some people are like clouds -

when they disappear, 

it's a beautiful day

after all ...

I was sorting through my Christmas things deciding what I was going to use this year so that I could make sure the items were clean and pressed - that's when I discovered this cushion band.  I remember making it but didn't think I still had it.  Having put away the autumn cushion cover this band is just what's needed till it's time to dress for Christmas ...

By the way, the tartan throw in the background is the Maple Leaf Tartan 

which is Canada's official tartan.

This cutie was found at the 'thrift' store - would you believe it was only 25 cents  - including the candle - somehow or other it found it's way home with me ^^

I made a few of these paw prints for animal loving friends - hang them on a tree - use them for package tie-ons - you'll find the pattern here ...

there's no such thing in anyone's life

as an unimportant day

November ...

The poppy x-stitch was a freebie from Permin- it's a beautiful design.  

the ones we love

never truly leave us

crochet

A crochet bookmark from here .  I tried this pattern with gift giving in mind - it's too bulky for my liking so I only made one.  

The table topper on which the book rests says "many have eaten here, few  have died" - it usually evokes some laughter - there have been some who have seen no humour in it.  ^^

Are you wondering where October went - I can hardly believe how quickly it flew by for me.  I've been fiddling with 'comments' on my blog - some readers don't like the robot even though they can bypass it and just click on submit, the embedded comment box blocks out some folks (I'm one of them) and the other method presents a challenge for me to reply (if you left a comment to which I did not reply this is the reason - regrets).  Feel free to read and not leave a comment.  ^^

everything comes to you at the right time ...

be patient

thinking of you ...

Over the summer I stitched a few small, simple designs to use as cards.  One that I really like is this lily of the valley by Luli and I like stitching it in a single colour.   I've used this design for lavender sachets quite frequently.  

This card is for a neighbour - she is 88 (we confessed ages one day when we were wishing the most gentlemanly of gentlemen a happy 95th ^^) -  a classy lady who is very pleasant and has a good sense of humour - she's a sweetheart.     The second anniversary of her husband's death is very soon and I know she still misses him very much - so I thought this might be a nice 'thinking of you' card.

The envelope is made from gift wrap - I find it easy to work with ... it's very forgiving and the creases iron out of it.  ^^  I tore the edges for a different look.

may love be what

you remember the most

the tree ...

This is the autumn tree ...

Here's an update on the bizarre snowstorm -  the ground is still warm and there hasn't been a hard frost yet so roadways and lawns with a small amount of snow cleared off very quickly ... a good thing for those who had to travel.  The snowdrifts and windrows took a bit longer to disappear.  Power was restored quite quickly in most areas but some areas had extreme damage with power poles and transmission towers toppled - it's a good thing it hasn't been cold.  Now flooding is a concern - an autumn flood is almost unheard of  since it's usually a problem in the spring.  It's been a crazy year for weather - spring and summer arrived on the same day and looks like autumn and winter did the same.  My favourite seasons are spring and autumn so it's disappointing for me.  

Anyway, onward and upward - I've located the Christmas cards, made a list and checked it twice made a list of baking that I want to do for the holiday season and another list of  ingredients that I need.  Back in the day I would have my cards addressed and the fruit cake baked by the end of October (snow or not) plus have a lot of the shopping done - how times change as we age.  ^^

give thanks for unknown blessings

already on their way

Thanksgiving long weekend ...

This is Thanksgiving long weekend in Canada - and this is what Manitoba looks like!  Not a lot of snow but wind driven to create huge drifts - it was a Colorado Low that hit on Friday - our neck of the woods didn't get it until Saturday - this photo was taken early morning today, Sunday.  Most of the highways were closed on Saturday and thousands are still without power.  The trees still had leaves so the weight of the wet snow caused many of them to snap and bring down power lines.  It's mild today at 6C so with any luck the mild temperatures will continue along with some sunshine and most of this snow will disappear - now the concern is about flooding.  Just now the lawn is bare of snow and there is a large flock of robins looking for worms - nice to see the robins. 

This is a new finish for autumn - a Happiness is Cross Stitching design - Lynn's mini cats are  cute ...

These were the last flowers I picked from the garden just before the snow arrived - blue delphinium and pink lavatera ...

you may be given a cactus

but you don't have to sit on it

couldn't resist ....

I couldn't resist crocheting this cutie by Stitches n Scraps.   I don't  have a newel post for it so I used a jam jar - I used #3 yarn - it's really cute! 

These are the mini pumpkins I made last year ...

It did happen - the snow that is - went to bed on September 30 to big, wet, flakes of it and arose to about a half inch - quickly disappeared once the sun rose.  Hopefully, we can now expect Indian Summer to arrive.  

We went to the cabin yesterday - this little oak is the last to get it's leaves and the first to lose them  ...

I've been  on a downsizing/de-cluttering spree - did a lot of this at the cabin over the summer - am now tackling it at home - almost done (for 2019).  The downsizing will be a continuous thing I fear - it's getting easier to part with keepsakes, memories and good stuff - just can't do it all at one time.  ^^

it might not seem like much to us,

but to people who have little, 

a little more can seem a fortune