Christmas Time is Here!!

It's the Sunday before Christmas and all through the house is wonders of wonders, an air of calm expectancy. The plans have been made and yet while there is still much to do; there is no whining or heartwarming to be seen. What can this mean. Have I gained some wisdom over the years?  Don't know....

There's a pedal tractor in pieces waiting Uncle to get some screws and a pedal which were missing from the box. And I came up with the proverbial last minute stitch. You know the one that you are still knitting or crocheting on as you wait for family to arrive or in my case, driving to my son's house.

But I am not stressed. If it gets done or not, so be it. I only have to make a puff pastry and a pumpkin pie. I will put the ham in the slow cooker. Everything is coming together for a relaxed Christmas. I plan enjoying.

Merry Christmas to all of you, my friends.

Advent Ramblings

Thanksgiving has come and gone. We are now in the Advent season. Although between the advertising on TV and the stocked shelves, one might think the Christmas season began back in September. I saw houses decorated and lit on Veteran's Day. IMO it just caters to greed.

I find that as I grow older; I find that my Christmas wish list is getting smaller. Yes, I still write a letter to Santa. Don't you?  Granted, I do give Bill a copy, but the original goes to the North Pole. This year's list is top heavy with cross stitching items including an Ott lamp plus several books. Yarn would be nice, of course.

So not only is the list getting smaller it's focus has been changing. Gone are the dolls and toys of childhood. Boy I sure loved my Dr. Kildare shirt. My BFF preferred Ben Casey. Our mothers made our shirts. We wore them proudly to school.

Over the summer I crocheted dish cloths for the Washington County Fair's country store. They want more so the cloths will be my take along project. I want to double the number I donate.

This year, I want stitch more of Brooke Nolan's Spirit angels. I spent the weekend attaching beads. This is the first time that I have used beads in my projects. I must admit that it was easier than I expected. I like the results. This is the apron pocket from Brooke's Spirit of Christmas Baking. It is a Christmas gift. So I will not post complete picture until the gift is given.

Alas another four plus months have gone by. I have always heard that time seems to fly faster the older you are. Well, I can warn you all: IT'S TRUE!!!

Maybe it is because I am still having good days and bad ones too. I get so tired too easily.  But I still get up and try my darnedest. Some days it feels like I am just watching life pass by my window. I know that is going to take a lot of time for the bruising in my leg to heal. The back pain due to spinal stenosis and compression fractures can only be managed because that will never go away.

So I am leaning on my faith in God for the strength each and every day to be a person whom my family wants to be around. I want to be a person who radiates with peace and be a loving soul.  I do not want to be a drain on anyone's emotions. I pray for God's wisdom and the desire to follow His will. May I listen to His voice.

I am crocheting, knitting, or cross-stitching something for those on my Christmas gift list this year. I imagine the last stitch will be stitched on Christmas morning. I only have twelve on the list this year.

I miss canning. I used to make jams, preserves, pickles, and relishes. A favorite to make was green tomato mincemeat. I used the mincemeat to make holiday pies. As a child it was my job to pick the berries for jam. I took over the canning as my mother taught me.

Guess what folks, I am a terrible blogger. It has been almost two years since I posted. There has a lot of water over the dam since then. I'd moved back to Quonochontaug from 16 + years in Westerly.

 I am learning to live with all of my health issues. I fell in February while walking across my living room and spent 39 days in a nursing and rehab center healing and building strength so I can walk with a walker. Climbing stairs is still a bit difficult especially the top step, but going down is easy.  My left leg is still black and blue, it started out as brackish purple as I have seen a bruise from above my knee down to the foot. The bruise now only under my knee.

I find I have to knit or stitch in spurts, so my projects are going slowly. My right wrist tends to ache if I overuse it holding a needle.  Right now I am still working on Julia's sweater. I have started washcloths for the Washington County Pomona Fair Country Store and The Country Store at the New England Grange Building at the Big E.

I am still stitching on Brooke Nolan' s Spirit of Christmas Baking. I have the skirt done but not the apron. I have to post some photos.

Last year, both of my brothers were diagnosed with cancer. CEP had bladder cancer. Yes, unfortunately, it is had because he went home to be with his Lord and our parents this April. Last October, LBP was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on his lung. He underwent chemo and radiation treatment during the holidays. He is now celebrating remission.

All through this, I have been supported by the most wonderful husband and friend. We have the mostest grandchildren. If I told you about them, you would say that I was lying. LOL Needless to say, I enjoy anytime I can spend with them.

The Year of the UFO - 2012

Happy New Year.  2012 came in very quietly here in the southwestern corner of Rhode Island.  I woke up around midnight for some reason and it was so quiet, I immediately thought of Peace on Earth. 

In sorting and straightening my stash, yesterday. I discovered more UFO's that I realized I had.  A lot of forgotten stitching. I decided that rather making all of the same old resolutions which I make and break each year, I would set a stitching goal.  Hence the Year of UFO's.

My first UFO is wedding sampler.  I picked it up again this morning. So back to cross stitch I cheerfully go.  I pick up the strands of my blog.  I reunite myself with my stitching groups. 

Sarah/Craftymoo has a great giveaway going on over at her blog: http://craftymoo-sarah.blogspot.com/  Become a follower, I did.

Wishing you all of the best in the new year!

Thanksgiving in three days and Christmas is right around the corner.

Time surely flies faster as you age.  In three days it will be Thanksgiving.  I will be spending the day with my family.  All I have to bring to the table is some pies.  This year I'm baking two Mince, two Pumpkin, and an apple.

This year will be Little Billy's first Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Watching a new grandchild celebrate his first is so heartwarming.  My granddaughters are old hands with all of the celebrating.  They will be adding lovely handmade decorations around the house for sure..

In my stitching bags are a couple of ornaments to be finished.  I am also knitting a blanket and sweater set for Billy.  The girls always need hats and mittens. My husband has asked for a new hat.  So I guess I better get my needles to smoking.

I Am Back!

Wow!  I cab't believe that is has been so long since my last post.  The past hasn't been smooth by any means.

The arthritis has been steadily getting worse.  It all goes hand in hand with the Lupus with all of the complications.  One of my main concerns has been the joint pain and the Lupus fog.   The pain, well, I have easier days and some not so easy days.  It is the brain fog and some off and on memory issues that worry me the most.  It is unsettling to be unsure of yourself mentally or unable to concentrate for long periods of time.

I have been unemployed since August 2d.  Now that I have gotten over the "what will I do?' stage, I find I have I have time to spend doing what I want.  The only problem is that there are few jobs out there especially for mature people like me.

But I have begun cross stitching and knitting again.  I am stitching some Wizzers for Christmas gifts.  I am knitting a baby blanket for my newest grandbaby.  My son and daughter-in-law has brought into the world a beautiful little boy: William.  I think I will call him Willie because both his dad and grandpa are named Bill.

I have to mention a blog I love:  Crafty Lil' Witch. Meg has a great blog where she discusses my favorite designer, Brooke Nolan.  Brookesbooks are the most beautiful angel and spirits.   Meg is having a giveaway at her bog.  Please check her out.