My eleven day holiday vacation began today. It began as early as usual, getting up at 6:00 a.m. One's internal clock doesn't change just because you don't have to go into work. I spent part of the day with my DH doing the last of the shopping. We are planning a Mexican Taco/Nachos Bar for Christmas afternoon, with our two daughters and their families. This may become our new tradition. In the past, we had a Christmas morning brunch with a smorgasbord of items. Now that their families are growing, they need Christmas morning to spend at home with the little ones. My DH and I also browsed through a local antique shop, but I decided not to purchase anything, when my DH indicated that he wanted to pick out a Christmas gift for me. He took me to JoAnn's to pick out an OttLite. I came away with the last two 13-watt task lamps on the shelf that were sale priced at $29.95 - 66% off. What a sweet deal! What a great gift!
My granddaughter loves to play with my Nativity set. Last year, I misplaced one of the sheep. When I asked her about it, she went right to the spot where she had hidden it. I began my Nativity set back in 1995, when our family spent Christmas in Frankenmuth, Michigan. We visited the world famous Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland, Since I spent quite a bit on the Nativity set, I decided to find something just for my granddaughter and our other two grandchildren.. The local Christian bookstore had a Fisher Price Little People Nativity set on sale; so I purchased two of them. I cannot wait to see the look on her face when she sees it under the Christmas tree.
In my last post, I practically prayed for snow. Well, we got a little Thursday and Friday. The blowing wind was the worst part of the weather, but it sure made the hot tub feel good. I wouldn't mind if we get a little bit more of the white stuff for Christmas, as long as, our daughters are able to drive to and from Grandpa & Grandma's house safely. Our youngest daughter has already requested logs on the fire to keep her toasty warm, which works better when "it's cold outside". Isn't that a song?
One of my favorite Christmas decorations is this wall-hanging, Christmas Reflections. The bargello design, Underwater Reflections is from the book Bargello Quilts by Marge Edie. I completed the quilt in 1997, a year after taking the class at a quilt shop in Lansing, Michigan. Thinking back, my quilt friends and I drove quite a distance to take quilt classes. The shop was one of only a few in a fifty mile radius of my home. It's amazing the number of quilt shops, now. My quilt is centrally displayed on the wall behind my sofa.
I have a Christmas table topper that needs quilted. As usual, the project was begun in a previous year and left unfinished, when the holiday passed without completing it. The project included matching cloth dinner napkins, which have been used twice. I really need to get it finished, before the napkins fade and no longer match the table topper. Beyond this project, I still need to finish stitching the PJ's I began for my grandchildren. I still have tomorrow and Christmas Eve to finish them. Over the years, I have always been working on sewing projects right up to the big day. This year is no different. And, if they don't get finished, there's always next year.
Merry Christmas!