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.

What Can You Do With Scraps?

I am really enjoying playing with scraps.  Mostly I've been doing Bonnie Hunter's technique of Leaders and Enders to make 4 patch blocks out of 2 1/2 inch scraps.  I've been trying to pay no attention to colors and pattern unless there is something glaringly odd.  With the latest 4 patch squares, I added a SnS side to put them on point.  Then I got the idea of using them in a chevron pattern of some sort.  I pulled out some neutrals, measured and came up with this: 

Scraps, scraps, scraps

As you can see, this is a work in progress and there will some shifting of blocks before it is put together.  Then I'll have to let it marinate for awhile before I add borders.  I'm having fun with it and that is what is important.  It will eventually go to community quilts.

Special People In My Life

I met my husband in 1965.  We dated for four years before marrying in 1969.  One of the special gifts of our relationship was my introduction to his parents.......two wonderful people.  Roy and Jean became a second set of parents in my life.  I was accepted immediately as a second daughter.  On October 24, 2013, Roy passed away peacefully at the age of 94.  Jean's heaven date was April 2006.  For ever and always, I will be thankful for having had them in my life. 

Jean Elizabeth Morgan ca. 1934

Wallace LeRoy Allen Sorenson ca. 1940's

Roy and Jean 50th anniversary 1989

Family, Fall, Fun and Friends

We left on October 9th for a trip to Florida.  It started with a few days in Orlando where we attended a family reunion of the Callaway Family Association and then moved on to WDW for four days. 

catching up with my cousin once removed....also named Leslie

Ready to greet the other members of the family at the banquet

Then we headed out to "visit The Mouse" at Disney World for four days.  We stayed at the Caribbean Resort, used the WDW transportation and basically had a grand time on a grown-ups trip to WDW.  Unfortunately we both caught colds but we trooped on determined to see it all.  Disney was all decked out in their Fall finest. 

Only cost $2. for a bus from downtown Orlando to Downtown Disney.

first stop Epcot.....our favorite

something new......Disney Hollywood Studios

We've always loved the Muppets

The Castle has been updated

Disney is always memorable

Florida skies are beautiful.......Humidity not so much

Last night at Teppan Edo in Epcot

Currently In Progress

Finally!  I am almost done with the pillow from last year's Holiday Lane blog hop........the one where I came home with a broken wrist from Spain and therefore was not able to finish.  The dear pillow has sat around watching me heal and reminding me that I want to have it done for this Christmas.  So here it is October and I have finally pulled it out with all its bits and pieces and basically finished it.  BUT, I don't have enough polyfill to finish stuffing it.  I will get to Beverly's.  I will finish stuffing it.  I will sew its final seams.  It will get done before Christmas.   So for the moment, it joins a few other random acts of quilting that adorn my design wall.

no stuffing yet

a tiny bit of stuffing