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