White Christmas

We had a very white Christmas, there was snow on the ground from the storms we have been having for the last several days, BUT it also snowed on Christmas morning from about 7am until 1:30 or so. I can't remember the last time it snowed on Christmas day, my son was so happy he said that he can't ever remember snowing on Christmas and he is 28 years old, he was a very happy kid. We all had a great day at my son and daughter in laws new home, it was just the immediate family 2 Moms 2 Dads and 3 sisters with a Grandmother thrown in for extra measure of happiness. Everyone brought there gifts and we had a round the room gift opening everyone taking a turn round until the last gift was open, lots of fun!
Dinner was Prime rib with all kinds of side dishes that everyone brought with them to share. After all the gifts, food and wine, we payed some board games and had a great time.

We have all decided that we will do the same next year too and perhaps this will become our Christmas tradition.

Merry Christmas to one and all.

I love snow, but...

We don't normally get any that sticks to the ground or stays around more than a few hours. We live at sea level and it never falls this far. But, this winter things have changed, see all that white stuff that is what I have been dealing with for about a week now. Yesterday was the 4 th time I've cleaned off the back steps so that we could get out with out falling. I was able to get the front steps, the back steps and a small path to the back yard cleared. Guess what I got up to this morning, yep you guessed it steps that don't look like I have even touched them. I'm so glad I didn't try to clear the driveway as I don't think I would be happy about more snow at all if I had. My daughter and I stocked up on food before the storm hit just in case it really happened (you know you can never trust the weather man). But for something to do we walked to the mall on the 2 nd day of the storm just because it was so pretty out, that was a 2 mile round trip and we had fun. A couple days later we walked to the post office, then to the mall since we were already out and about another 2 1/2 or 3 mile walk. But 2 days ago we thought we would go to the grocery store and 5 miles one way was a bit much so my son was at work with his 4 wheel drive so we begged for a ride home. I don't think it would have been so bad if we didn't have to walk across the bridge but that was not a fun part of the trip. Well we are supposed to go to my son's for Christmas, but can I put tire chains on the car? I found the tire chains in the garage, I don't know why but we have a brand new still in the package set that fit my new car, now I have to figure out how to put them on. I've seen it done lots of times, my DH is a long haul truck driver and I have watched/helped him but I have never done it myself, if I can master it we will try to make the drive the 10 miles to my sons house, or he said he would come and get us. I feel like such a looser having to have my son take me places just because I'm afraid to drive in the snow or can't figure out how to put the chains on the car. Well the good thing is I have been getting some exercise in and that helps because I have also had lots of time to bake cookies and make candy and a good cook always has to sample her finished products.

Snow

We got SNOW!

It started snowing about 6am yesterday and didn't stop until 4pm or so. I love the snow, and we don't get it very often so when we do I just love it. My daughter and I decided to take a walk in the snow yesterday, we didn't really have any place or thing we needed to do so we walked to the shopping mall a mile or so away. While we were there we did a bit of stocking stuffer shopping for Christmas, we then had the long walk home. It was fun and we dressed warm but when we got home our legs sure hurt. We made chili burgers for lunch and put or pj's on and watched a movie. What a great way to spend a snow day!! The snow is still here but you can tell that the weather has gotten warmer an it's starting to melt, they are predicting that we get more today or icy rain so lets hope for the snow! Here a couple of photos taken yesterday about 4 when the dog wanted to go out again and I decided to check the mail.

Christmas card

Here is a photo of a beautiful hand made card I received in the mail today. I'm a very lucky person to know such a sweet lady that made this for me. Thank you Pam.

Rant/vent or whatever!

This is not turning out to be a good holiday season for me! I have joined a couple different exchanges this season and I love doing them. BUT, when you make a commitment to do an exchange you should follow through with it and that doesn't mean to send what you are exchanging but to also follow the directions. Example~~ If the exchange is for a piece of fabric 12 x 12 then send fabric that measures 12 x 12 not a piece that measures 8 x 8 or if it says to send something red don't send something green. I like many other participants follow the directions so why is there always one or two that don't. I work very hard to make sure my partner will be happy with what they get and then in turn when my item arrives it's not even close to what it should be. I know that this little rant makes me seem that I'm ungrateful or a real b*tch but I just want the same respect that others are given in an exchange. I'm going to have to think long and hard before joining in on any other exchanges for the 2009 year. Okay rant/vent over now off to make some Christmas candy.

Comfort bag received

Today the mailman brought me my "comfort bag" from the exchange I joined on the Just a thought message board.

It was filled with lots of goodies. ~~

chocolate kisses

spool of Vicki Clayton Silk 6 str regular

6 skeins of DMC in red, green & white

red & green buttons

2 fat quarters of cotton fabric

dragonfly wind chime

socks with snowmen

round up - it's a needle minder

Bent Creek chart

Ewe and Eye and Friends "Primitive Santa" chart

red hand towel

2 sticky pads and a magnet shopping list pad

pencil with reindeer eraser

blank note cards

Do you ever wonder...

Do you ever wonder if anyone reads your blog? I do
I know that what I write is more for me but I do wonder if anyone else is reading. I have several blogs that I try to read once a week or so and I really enjoy my time doing so. I feel it keeps me connected to the outside world especially with others that share my same passion for cross stitch. I have seen some very beautiful stitched pieces and unique finishing that I would love to try someday.

Finally took a couple of hours and did some stitching for myself. I would really like to get this finished before the end of the year as I have other things I would like to stitch in 2009. This is Quaker Alphabet by Debbie Draper Designs. I'm stitching it with DMC variegated floss # 103 its a lot more blue in person than in this photo. The center medallion will have my initials and year of completion.

ornament exchange

Like I said I've been busy. Here is the ornament I stitched and finished for my exchange partner. Its from the Prairie Schooler leaflet "Christmas strawberries" only I stitched it on red wine color fabric with white. I was a little concerned about the finishing but it is easier than it looks. The hardest part was the stitching, 32ct over 2 on the darker color fabric wasn't something my old eyes enjoyed. I hope my person likes it, I read her blog and know that she is a great stitcher. I worry that my stitching and finishing isn't up to her standards. I'm sure we all worry about this from time to time, but I hate to send spend so much time on something and not have the recipient like it. I guess only time will tell.

I have all my exchanges for this holiday done and mailed, now to finish up on some ornaments for my kids.

comfort bag exchange

This is something new I have joined in on this year, actually I've joined 2. This is a photo of the first one that was mailed off Dec. 1st. I have included several things I hope my person will enjoy. I made a tote and a matching ort/thread bag in colors that she said she likes. I've also sent some chocolates, bubble bath & bath scrubby, cross stitch chart with the DMC threads to stitch it, some flower seeds from Washington State, hand lotion, gloves, post card that shows some of the area where I live and other things that I can't remember right now. The box weighed a ton! LOL I can't wait to find out if she likes it. Wonder how long it will take to arrive?

Meet Gus

My daughter has a new kitten and boy is he a handful. LOL I have forgotten what it's like to have a baby in the house, he is now 2 months old but still a baby. My dog Fro isn't to sure of him yet. But Fro has been the only pet in the house the whole time we have had him so now he is learning to share, and he is not to good at it. The most important thing that we are trying to teach Gus is that the dog food is not his, it's a concept he doesn't get as of yet and maybe never will.