snowy day

Winter is beginning to look like it is here.  The Christmas cactus wreath blocks are brightening up the gray days.  The Christmas decorations are coming down and we are preparing for the new year and my eldest's 30th birthday.  Only  a few days until then.  There may be a night out at the new Chinese buffet on New Year's Eve and a dozen English dvd's await a marathon of movie watching.  Wishing one and all a lovely, peaceful and happy new year!

The gifts are all opened

The shrimp quiche loaded with asparagus, spinach, mushrooms, peppers and onions is halfway gone.  The roast with all the fixings is in the oven, with potatoes, onions, carrots, asparagus, artichokes and celery, with rosemary and parsley from the last of our summer plants and a bit of thyme as well.  Alongside is a figgy pudding with great handfuls of figs, dates and walnuts encased in buttermilk and molasses batter scented with nutmeg and cinnamon.  Now we rest for awhile until we sit down to eat.  Blessings to all.

Merry Christmas to all!

Lovely sunrise, just below freezing here.  The house is stirring and the presents await.
Wishing everyone a lovely and peaceful holiday.

wacky winter solistice

59 degrees and sunny, I saw a neighbor in shorts, rollerbladers, bikers, joggers, walkers, people just out soaking up the sun!  This is not the norm for around here, but it is lovely!
Did a bit more shopping as my New Year's baby's 30th birthday is coming up right after the Christmas holidays.  Finally saw men out shopping in the department stores, I guess they are convinced Christmas is coming now.  Working on a wooly vest, almost done, and starting a cactus flower wreath quilt for the holidays, though will probably be next year's and was started last year's, but progress is being made.  Tomorrow is the big grocery shop for the holiday feasting, we have cookies and candy galore, thanks to many lovely co-workers of hubby, so just need to lay in a standing rib roast and veggies and bread.  Hope everyone has a lovely winter solstice, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year!

halfway through the month

How can that be, I have finished the flannel crazy quilt and a knit hat for a gift and am working on a wool vest from Chelan blue heather wool.  The house is ready for Santa, gifts are piling up under the tree, thinking about the season today I realized, the Christmas story is one of love, faith, danger, betrayal, a story as old as our lives.  A time of hope, a time of acceptance of miracles and dangers and of the gifts of life and death.  No wonder we have opted for the jolly gift giver as the symbol of the season in this time of denial and gloss, the real story is pretty scary to confront.  Yet the gift of new life holds great joy and we all deserve a time of joy and peace and love as well as the harder realities of life.

Birthday

Spent the day in Gettysburg for my birthday, lunched at Cafe St. Armand with hubby and son, browsed in a few shops while my son took photos of shadows and sunlight.
Visited the Manning's fiber arts studio after a drive through the lovely countryside to celebrate another year's circuit of the sun.

Bought some beautiful fibers and a new drop spindle to create more yarn.
Thank you to all who sent special wishes and who joined me in making the day special!

New month, December

It used to be the 10th month and so named.  A glorious day here, warmish and sunny, tomorrow an outing is planned to celebrate my birthday, how lovely.  Wishing everyone peace and happiness.
The work continues a golden wool hat is about 7 inches long now, working on the second to last row of the crazy quilt and the woolen vest is starting to take shape.
All my books read and returned to the library, more await.