Homage to Our Christmases in Maryland

We began buying White House Christmas ornaments in 1995 when we first moved to Maryland.  Along the way we also bought a retired ornament here and there for Jim's mother, Jean.  When Jean passed away, we inherited her ornaments and combined them with ours.  This year I bought a small tree to display them.  All together we have over 20 ornaments highlighting the White House and the metro D.C. area.  I'm thinking that I need a little bigger tree but for now, this will do. 

The Little Christmas Tree all lit up

A new brass ornament is available for purchase each year

All the ornaments are different and unique

They sparkle and look especially pretty with lights

A Thankful Gathering

The tradition has been handed over to Lissa and Jon.  They now cook the main part of the Thanksgiving meal and we gather at their home.  This year Lissa's mom, Linda joined us.  My contribution was Classic Green Bean Casserole.  You know the one with the French's Fried Onions.  I also made the Sorenson favorite potatoes, Secret Treasure Potatoes made with Instant Potatoes but absolutely loved by everyone.  And for the finale, I made my Pumpkin Chiffon Pie with the coconut/graham cracker crust. 

We were soon off to Jon and Lissa's across town to celebrate how much we have been blessed.  We are truly thankful this year for Jon's health and well-being.  Jim and I are so thankful to be able to live here in Alameda close to our precious family. 

Our very own domestic goddess.

Domestic Goddesses need helpers to make the gravy

Table beautifully set and ready

A little pre-dinner game of chess.

Jim, Violet, Makayla and Linda (TuTu)

Father and Son happy together

Place cards provided by Makayla

We all added leaves of thankfulness to Makayla's Thankful Tree

Smart Sewing

As the proud new owner of a Smart Phone, I knew it needed a special case for hanging out in my purse.  I felt confident I could put together exactly what I wanted and I did.......okay......The first one was a bit snug.  It is living a new life as a case for my reading glasses. So I had to make another phone cozy this evening.  With only a few "unsewing sessions", it was finished in record time.  I am really happy with it.  Now if I could just master all the new stuff on the Smart Phone....... I did send my first e-mail from my phone today.  I am on my way...... 

Fabrics cut.  Fusible fleece added.  Ready to sew.

Yea!  It fits nicely.

I like this stylish Kaffe Fasset fabric.

Tucked away and ready to go in the purse.

Halloween Happiness 2011

We had the most delightful weather for Halloween this year.....a real Indian summer kind of day and evening.  Of course, that has put us into the red zone for fire awareness but Thursday we're due for rain.  Wait long enough and the weather will change.  

 We had great fun with Jon's family for Halloween this year.  Auntie Cheryl (really Jon's cousin) came up to celebrate with us.  She made most of DGD#1's costume.  I think Princess Warrior is all the rage right now.  DGD#2 was darling as a mermaid.  The entire weekend was full of Halloween happiness....parties, parades, and pumpkin carvings and of course, Trick or Treating last night.  Pop Pop and Nahn Nahn hung out at the front porch handing out the candies while everyone else went door to door collecting their candies and goodies. 

Lady GaGa enjoying a little wine before the Trick or Treat walk.

Patiently waiting for the adults to take pictures

The Princess Warrior in her custom costume

The pensive mermaid ready to go

One of the results from the neighborhood pumpkin carving party

Pop Pop patiently waiting the arrival of Trick or Treaters.

 

Apple Pie, Projects, and Precious Family

The DGDs were over the other day.  As usual they wandered into the kitchen looking for "treats" and eats.  The oldest decided she wanted to cook so she asked for a card and she wrote out a recipe.  Below is a 6 year old's recipe for apple pie.  I'm sure you'll want to try it soon. 

Following the directions made it more soup than pie

After residing at the end of our bed for a few months, the Strip Therapy Quilt is finally hanging above the bed.  The tall sloped wall was in desperate need of a pop of color.  But it is a tall wall and the actual hanging of the quilt was not easy.  Thanks to DHs creativity and willingness to reach up to tall places, the quilt was hung.  Our basic philosophy is that we will not hang anything over the bed that will fall and knock us out during an earthquake.  I think this qualifies. 

This antique square measuring stick came in handy.

No other way to reach up except to stand on the bed.  Notice the precise "blue tape" marks.

Hangers went right up to the limits of DHs arms

Voila!  Isn't it beautiful.  Now we need new lamps.

DS is on the mend and he and his wife went out on a special date to a concert last week.  Of course, Nahn Nahn got to have a sleep-over to help out.  I love this family.  I am so blessed. 

Nason St. House, Alameda, California, October 2011

And finally, a little retro Halloween happiness.  I think I made this fabric pumpkin and its leaf coasters over 20 years ago.  It comes out every fall.  I've noticed in the quilting blogs that fabric pumpkins are  once again popular.  What goes 'round, comes 'round.   This one is holding up well. 

A bit of Fall Fun for the dining room table.

Lucky, Lucky Me - Thursday Happiness

Today's mail brought two surprises.  Well not really surprises since I expected them both to come eventually.  But getting them both on the same day was pretty cool.  Doesn't everyone love to open packages? 

First out of the mail envelope came this: 

HHhhmmmm....What could it be? 

Open up one end and take a sneak peek: 

Oh!  I think I know.

Yep.  It's my winnings from Clover and Violet 

A Little Apple  Jelly Roll by Aneela Hoey from Moda

This is the second time I have randomly won delicious fabric.  So I am going to let these lovely fabrics sit on my shelf (within constant eyesight) while I search for just the right project.  Thank you Clover and Violet and Moda!

And if that weren't enough, I had another package to open.  This one was from Shutterfly.  Thanks to a free coupon courtesy of Ancestry.com, I had made up a book for pictures of some of my quilts.  It was an 8x8 photo book with 20 pages that only cost me the amount of shipping.  Guess that Ancestry.com subscription that my DH has paid off. 

Trials and Projects and Pumpkins - Oh My!

Life has been hectic around here. Our family has had another encounter with cancer.  Jon was diagnosed with testicular cancer two weeks ago and has been home this week recuperating from surgery.  Considering all we've been through with Stephen, it put quite a scare into us. This particular type of cancer is very treatable and curable when caught early as Jon's was.  We await the pathology report and some blood tests for final follow-up decisions.  Once again, our friends and family pitched in with prayer support and love.  Once again, we have experienced God's love for us as He has given us courage and strength for yet another twist in life's journey. 

And here is my darling first-born a week after surgery out for a visit to the pumpkin patch.

Keeping busy has been the best way to deal with stress this last week.  I went to Quiltinators and worked on a community quilt.  Several blocks got done but it is not yet finished.  I also made rice pillows for Lissa's students.  They are weighted pillows filled with rice that wiggly children can put on their laps to keep them focused and centered.  Fleece made a very nice cover for them. And finally, I finished up a mug rug and coffee cozy for a friend.

Cushy Rice Pillows

Bright Disappearing Nine-Patch Community quilt

Mug Rug and Coffee Cozy for Terri

And today we were off to the Pumpkin Patch in Livermore, CA.  It was a gorgeous fall day that was just perfect for picking pumpkins.  Jon was a trouper and he knew his limits.  He walked slowly and rested along the way.  Pumpkin Patches are such great traditions for the Fall. 

I love the colors of fall

A man and his pumpkins

Feeding the goats

One little pumpkin

Two little pumpkins

Are you really this tall Makayla?