Merry Christmas!

I know I haven't been at this blogging business for very long, and I know I haven't blogged as often as others. I started out with the goal of keeping things creative and upbeat and not dwelling on things that stifled my creativity (it's so easy to do). But I am grateful and pleased that I have 3 (!) followers at this time. It is very kind of you to drop in regularly and I really appreciate your interest. I don't want to be self-deprecating, but I worry that I am not in the same league as many of the other bloggers who are so very productive and seem to keep their families clothed and fed as well. (Amazing.)

At this special time of the year, I am grateful for my family and friends, and that includes those of you who follow me here. This is such a wonderful time of year, full of light and celebrations of many kinds. I am grateful for this space to express myself and the things that I am thinking of. I promise you I will have more for you to look at in the coming months. I think I should be spending my winter in the southern hemisphere so that I can be more vibrant and interesting!

I hope that you are all safe, happy and warm at this holiday season. Cherish the wonderful things in your life because they are the real gifts we have.

Merry Christmas!

Checking off the lists...

It's been a rough year. My work has been taking all my energy, so I'm not the most effervescent Christmas elf this year. I really have not been effervescent in December for several years. I did make a new Christmas stocking for myself 2 weekends ago to demonstrate foundation crazy piecing and using some of the decorative stitches on my sewing machine that I really haven't used before. I would show you a picture, but my husband has my camera today. Sorry.

We did get down to the Walkway of Lights in a town about 40 miles away from us. They used to have a gift shop with handmade ornaments and decorations that were sold to help Habitat for Humanity. This year it was contracted out to a nearby gift shop. It wasn't really the same. But they still had hot cocoa and yummy cookies for the kids to enjoy. The lights are always a treat. If the snow sticks around, we'll probably make the trip again just for fun.

We also visited Amish country with the kids. In Shipshewana, there are some lovely gift shops and I especially like looking at the ornaments and the Byer's Choice carolers. We found a cute panda bear ornament for my younger son who likes all things panda. Again, no picture, but I'll try to fix that this week. We also had a wonderful family style meal at one of the restaurants there. We have been visiting this town with our kids for over a decade and it's fun reminiscing about all the changes that have occurred there. I think I'm turning into an old fogey.

We visited the Festival of Gingerbread in Fort Wayne. The kids and husband really enjoyed it, even though I had to drag them kicking and screaming. I love gingerbread houses and have made one just about every year for the last 20 years or so. One of my favorites referred to the silver balloon hoax by the family who said their son was inside the balloon floating across the countryside, while he was hiding in the attic the whole time. People come up with such creative ideas.

Today the kids and hubby are off to Chicago to see his dad. I have to work a couple of days and then I'll be off for 2 days. It will be a quick, full of work holiday, but I will have 4 days off over New Year's. You have to be happy for what you get. I will have some free time, so I will probably spend little time fondling the fabric. It's almost as good as going to the spa for me. Almost.

I might go see the Philharmonic holiday concert this week. I might cook up some treats to get ready for Christmas day at my dad's. I might take a nap or two. We'll see what I can put on my own personal list for the week. Maybe I'll get a few things checked off.