New Year's Eve 2013 On To The New Year

Since 2013 started with a broken wrist for me, it could only get better along the way.  But first I had to trudge through the rigors of physical therapy and exercise to regain strength and mobility.  I learned a lot about what a fracture and a cast do to muscles, ligaments, tendons, etc. It takes quite awhile to regain functionality.  Thanks to a wonderful husband, life at home continued with him doing most of the cooking, washing, driving, etc.  By  the middle of March I was back to driving and beginning to resume a somewhat normal schedule of activities.  Writing this in December makes me realize that I've come a long way from the middle of March.  I still deal with stiffness, a bit of pain, and a bit less than full rotation of my right wrist but I can function....Praise God!

As I look back, I realize that I actually accomplished a lot of quilting despite the restrictions of my right hand.  Actually, working with the rotary cutter and sewing helped in the healing process as a form of exercise.  I made several community quilts, worked on various tops and completed a quilt for my niece's birthday and one for friend, Genene. For Christmas I made 5 pillowcases for gifts and a doll quilt and PJs for Violet's doll, Annabelle.  I didn't attend Road To California this year but I've got my reservations in for 2014....next month! 

Travel was light this year in comparison to all the foreign travel of the last few years.  We managed a trip to Mendocino in March for our anniversary and I got away to Carpinteria in April.  We flew to Floriday in October for a Callaway family reuion and visit to Disney World.  In November, we went down to Los Angeles to say good-bye to Grandpa Roy and to celebrate Thanksgiving. 

The big project of the year was remodeling the master bath.  We are delighted with the new walk-in shower.  It is so convenient for our "aging-in-place" years coming up.  

Family has been well and happy and I have felt blessed each day.  I continue to feel at home here in Alameda.  I still have (and always will) moments of sadness missing Stephen.  Those times often hit suddenly. I take great pleasure in working at my DGDs school, being a part of the GrandPerson's Club and quilting with my guild friends.  Bible study continues to be an integral part of my weekly routine.  

It's been a good year.  May all the praise go to God for all He has provided. 

Getting Ready For Next Christmas

I became the recipient of several Christmas fabrics through my quilt guild.  They weren't of the highest quality or the latest style but I played around with them anyway.  I added a green and red that I had on hand and found a polka-dot for a little flange.  I almost had the top finished for this Christmas but sadly it all got put away and ignored in the rush of the holidays.  So here it is after Christmas and I have finished the top.  The plan is to actually finish it up within the next month so it will actually be a quilt not just a top.  

Just enough thread to finish the last border!

Top finished.  I'm liking how it looks in my living room.

A Very Merry Christmas

Last year's Christmas season was colored by the addition of the red cast on my broken wrist.  Despite pain meds and the cumbersome cast, I did a teeny bit of decorating.  I also put a smile on my face and tried to enjoy the family love around me.  But it was different.  

This year, the wrist has pretty much healed with most of the function back.  So I got out the seasonal decor and started to decorate and enjoy the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  I developed a personal mantra about it......do as much or as little that will make me personally happy without stress.  Turned out that I put out quite a bit of stuff.  Every evening I found myself delighting in the decor as the lights would come on around the living room.  I would smile and feel joy that actually only comes from the real reason for the season....The Savior's Birth.  

One of my favorite decor items is  modern and simple wood carvings of the Manger scene that my in-laws bought for us in Mexico.  We put it out every year and I've begun to add a few angels to it.  I've been in a constant search to find just the right animals to someday add.

It has become the family tradition to celebrate Christmas Eve at our house.  This year Lissa's mom, Linda and her brother, Matt joined us.  I prepared dinner and we enjoyed each other's company.  The girls got to open new pajamas and so did I.  We ended the evening with what has been our Sorenson family's Christmas tradition.....reading the Christmas story from Luke and reading "twas The Night Before Christmas". 

This year was really special.  Makayla read from her Bible and Violet read from a book that I had given their family several years ago.  The memories of years long ago when Jon and Stephen would read the stories filled me with nostalgia and I felt tears in my eyes.

Christmas Day was spent at Jon and Lissa's home as we all took turns opening gifts.  Jon prepared the annual traditional morning treats of cheese and salami and crackers.  He even bought cheddar cheese from Pea Soup Anderson's to add to the festivities.  Jim wasn't able to come over because he's been suffering from a nasty cold. 

I feel blessed and loved to have made it through this year.  God slowed me down with an injury and He taught me the lessons of patience and persistence as I asked for healing and pain relief.  I was led to find a wonderful Advent book of devotions - The Greatest Gift - by Ann Voskamp.  Evening readings kept me on track.  I enjoyed celebrations and outings with friends and family. A year in God's presence is always a good year.  Praise you Lord!

Annabelle's Pajamas

Finished!  The gift set for Annabelle the doll is all set for wrapping and putting under the tree.  I had such fun making the last part....the PJ's.  I haven't done garment sewing in ages so doing it with 1/4" seams for an 18" doll was a bit of a challenge.  But I only had to rip out once.  Now that I've got the hang of it, I could really get into doll clothes and accessories.  That will have to wait for after the holidays.  What I really want to do is teach the grand-daughters to sew doll clothes......and of course, quilts. 

Annabelle's Quilt

DGD, Violet received an 18" doll for her birthday at the end of November.  That definitely meant that Annabelle (the new doll) would need a few gifts for Christmas.  So I have bought a pattern.  YIKES.....I had no idea what patterns are costing these days.  But it does have patterns for lots of basic outfits that can be embellished and enhanced.  I already made the poncho.  I couldn't wait.  I had to give it to Annabelle ahead of time.  It matches on that I made for Violet.  It pays to hold on to those scraps. 

Looking cute.  Now Annabelle has one to match.  (No pic yet)

Of course, Annabelle needs a quilt.  And if she needs a quilt then she needs a pillow and pillowcase to go with it.  And of course, Violet needs a pillow case to match so they can all sleep in matchy matchy comfort. 

Quilt is not quite done but it will be ready for Christmas.

 Annabelle's "mom" has also requested pajamas for her so I guess I had better get busy.  Who knew that making doll clothes and accessories could be so much fun.