Small Preparations

 With November coming to a swift close, I've been slowly working on preparations for the Christmas season but also looking forward to a new year that will, hopefully, be a little less chaotic than 2020 has been. In my 70's now, I am much more aware of the need to "make every moment count." I cannot imagine what it is like for my 97-year-old father navigating all the mess especially these last few years have been in. At any rate, I have most certainly had a blessed life. I'm waxing a bit nostalgic as this last weekend I heard from my childhood friend that her mom (my second mom) is receiving care from Hospice in a care facility. This news not only makes my heart cave in but also reminds me of the goodness I have been surrounded by all my life. Thanks be to God! 

This morning I finished binding the third pocket "mug rug" I made for a pre-Christmas gift for our great-grandchildren. Each family can add a cookie and glass of milk or cup of cocoa for Santa on Christmas Eve. Last year I made a little home decor piece for each of the five married grandchildren (see below). I like the idea of mug rugs for gifts as they are cute and fairly quick to put together. I have thought about making table toppers/runners as gifts too but if I do that for this year's gifting, I'd better get on the ball!

I did some easy embroidery on the pocket part of the rug where a cookie (or maybe a wish list) can be inserted. For the top rug I used the Holly and Ivy block from Lori Holt's Vintage Christmas book and for the other two (and the pocket idea) I used The Crafty Quilter's pattern, Christmas Pocket Mug Rug.

Here are two of the five decor pieces I made for the grandchildren last year. I adapted an idea I saw on Pinterest here using my Silhouette and vinyl. 

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As I mentioned in the November 11th post, I have my two sewing machines set up to start a quilt and finish a quilt. . . I started making the half-square triangles (HSTs) for the flannel quilt and will begin sewing them into 11 rows of 23. 

Boy, am I glad to have the Triangle Square Up Ruler!

This last week the weather has been cool but not uncomfortably so and Clare was able to move all of the hay that was stored in the south bay of the big barn, to the new barn.

His plan is to convert the south bay of the big barn into a workshop outfitted with workbenches and shelves so he can be inside during the cold months and work on restoring his 1949 Ford tractor and any other manly projects he has. He's ordered some pendant shop lights and has both a propane and electric heater that he can use on the coldest days. He says, "It'll be every bit as well-appointed as your sewing room!" (which is pretty darn nice). 

It's a drizzly day out today and I've put a pot of clam chowder on for a warm-up-our-tummies afternoon meal. Speaking of meals, Clare and I will be enjoying a mini Thanksgiving dinner this coming Thursday; Herbed turkey breast, acorn squash, mashed red potatoes and gravy, and an apple-cranberry salad. Of course, I will also be preparing a pumpkin pie!

God's blessings,

Hazel