Late Christmas Project

Lots of things prevented me from getting this finished for Christmas, but just as well, because I won't be going to see the recipient until January anyway.
The picture has a digital black border where it now has a fabric one.  It is sandwiched and ready to go under the needle for quilting.  Today I am creating the quilting design and hope to be stitching by tonight.

 

I recorded a whole bunch of Shirley Temple movies last week so will go turn one on while I design away.

Oh, Goodies!

Besides the usual peanut brittle, almond toffee and jerky, this year I made some hazelnut shortbread snowballs and dipped the bottom half in chocolate.  OH!!! my favorite.  Then I made some cherry jelly sticks and coated them in semi sweet and special dark chocolate. I made some peppermint wafers with left-over chocolate.  In the fridge are the makings for some almond joy truffles and there are some pretzel rods in the cupboard I had plans for, but I believe I am done in the kitchen. Before our trip we delivered goody gifts to all the neighbors on our street and some around the corners plus our VT & HT families, but there are always more exchanges as the time gets closer to Christmas so the kitchen is lined with bags of more goodies just waiting.  I bagged it all so I won't eat it.  At least, that is the plan.

Our Simple Christmas

Before we flew to Maryland to visit R&M&kids, I was in a big push to get Christmas bought or made, packaged and wrapped and delivered so I didn't take any time to decorate the house.  When we came home I saw how bare it was and got into the spirit of the holiday.  I wanted to keep it simple so didn't get out the 10' tree and all the trappings. Here is what we ended up with for a tree. The second little tree on the table is in a bowl of Grandma Dini's remaining glass ball ornaments.









I ended up not making the canvas art for all the kids' rooms, because it seemed like a joy-killer gift so I used the one I did make to dress up our door wreath, along with some Maryland holly. Thank you, Mary.  I dug up a baby holly plant the morning we were leaving, to try to grow in a pot back home, but as you can see, it is not holly.  Guess I was in too big of a hurry. 

Can you identify it?

No Empty Chairs

This year has seen two mileposts in our eternal family journey. Here are our two wonderful 8-year-olds and their fathers. We sure love you boys.

I find it interesting and symbolic that both sons are on the right hand of their father.