Missin' TX, Ya'll

So I am missing all the fun we had in Texas . . . anyone else feeling the same?  Such a sense of community, family, never being alone, little Miss Ainsley Fluff, laugher, discussion, sharing, revealing, learning, and all in all reveling in being part of a big family that doesn't see each other often.  Perhaps that is why we always have such fun - we don't spend too much time with each other?  I am amazed that I didn't buy any quilt fabric, but was making a real effort not to do so.  I have to finish my projects that I have already purchased.  But, that said, has anyone noticed that all the new Christmas fabric is out now?  Oh, how I love Christmas in July!  Does Ashley have the Christmas countdown on her iPhone for 2010 yet?!?  I bet she does.  Love to all!

Poem Inspired by Carrie's Blog

Sometimes the weekends aren't long enough
and summer comes too fast.
Old friends forget to call
and memories don't last

But, life is worth living
Fall will soon draw nigh
Christmas season will be upon us
and angels' singing we will "hear from high"

Yesterday I loved a fall-themed painting
in the mall by a store called Coach
And remembered my mother buying one
of beautiful runnuculas totally beyond reproach

Don't you just love the new poetry
It doesn't seem to rhyme
But gives way to pictures in its time

But, enough trying to be poetic,
because my desk is a mess!
I'll spend a few minutes to do a pile or two,
then back to enjoying my Sundays too few!

Christmas Eve

T'was the day before Christmas and all through the house . . . we are excited and ready! We are thinking of all our family and friends and wish we could all be together somewhere in the country with snow on the ground and at a barn dance where we could be dancing the night away. Yes, I am aware I have been watching too many Christmas movies! But, the fact remains - thinking of you and wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

Vacation - Let the Fun Begin!

Today I am on vacation until next Monday. I am trying very hard to ignore the fact that I just read my work email and one of my team is home sick today. Now an already short team is shorter by two of us. Sigh. I sort of feel like I should go in and even began an email saying I would be there by noon. But, then I slowly erased it word by word. It's Christmas. I want to be home with my girls making cookies and celebrating my favorite holiday in the year. Plus I need to grocery shop, exchange my red sweater (ha - for a smaller size!), make cookies (hmmm, maybe should keep the larger sweater), and just enjoy being home and relaxing by the fire. Note to self: stop reading work email.

Ah, the Holidays

Dan is in the kitchen singing Christmas carols and it is only 9:19 a.m.! Amazing and unprecedented to say the least. I think we have all the shopping done, but the Christmas cards are still on the dining room table. I am going to finish them today if I do nothing else (besides, of course, the random blog update). Then, am thinking of making the sugar cookie dough so that on Wednesday we can just roll 'em and bake 'em. I am inspired by all the magazines as usual at this time of the year and want to bake. We put up two Christmas trees this year and I have really loved having one in the living room where I am most of the time to enjoy. That, the fire going and Lucy at my feet - that is the perfect way to end the day. But, Lucy prefers to curl up on the rug by the fireplace, which is very sweet to see. Hope your shopping list is getting shorter and you can enjoy the holiday this week. Remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Stars

Today we put up new Christmas lights on our house. Well, Dan, Chris and the kids put them up while Mom and I encouraged from a couple of strategically placed yard chairs. The new ones are little strings of stars that hang down from the eaves - so pretty. They twinkle, too.

Mom and I shopped this morning at Macy's and came away with a few new duds and a couple of very sparkly pretties for Mom - diamond earrnings and a lovely diamond drop necklace I love how she buys herself something fabulous every year for Christmas. They sure were having some good sales.

We have one artificial tree in place, but undecorated. So, still need to put up one more and then decorate them both. Can't wait!

Holiday Weekend

Is there anything better than a lovely three-day weekend? I think not! It's been hot, but today I woke up early and it was deliciously cool. I have been pattering around quietly so as not to wake up Dan and Ash; Lucy follows me lovingly wherever I go. I love it when Dan is asleep and Lucy likes me BEST. An experience that is so short-lived.

Friday I made a new fall-themed armchair remote control holder for Dan's mom. We took it up to her yesterday plus two fall wreaths. She liked the one with the pumpkins best, so we put it on her front door. The second one was on her bed and we were planning to bring it home when I noticed that the colors matched her comforter really well. We ended up hanging it over her nightstand and it looked very nice.

After our afternoon visit, we went to Don and Tracy's house. Their newly-married son, Mike, and wife, Jade, were there, so we got to meet Jade and hear about their life buying a duplex, finding out the roof leaks, dealing with the insurance company who won't cover it, etc. The exciting news is that Jade is expecting a baby in March. That will be grandchild number three for D & T, and since so far they have two boys, we are thinking pink. Tracy raised two boys, she deserves a little pink in her life. Speaking of pink, Tracy is recovering from breast cancer treatment. Her hair is growing back, her breast reconstruction was done last month and things are looking good for her. Except . . . her upper arm has been hurting and she quizzed me about what my blood clot felt like and we think she may have one. So, we went to dinner and left so they could go to urgent care and have it checked. They have plans to tour the New England area for two weeks starting next weekend, so I hope for their sake that it isn't a blood clot and she will still be able to travel.

Today is grocery shopping and more sewing. I have run into a road block on my embroidery quilt fabric-wise, so am waiting to hear back from sister Sue to see if she has any more fabric that matches what she sent me in 2004 from her stash when I had the blood clot. And, I am beginning the Christmas snowman quilt that Carrie bought the fabric for - it should be very cute.

Garage O Plants

Pigs must be flying somewhere because we are going to plant the front hill that's been bare for nigh on to three years. Now THAT'S embarrassing. I don't know where the time has gone. So, I worked out a plan, we ordered 200 plants and today they were delivered and placed in the garage. Yellows and pinks and purples, OH MY! It is going to be lovely. Tomorrow Lionel comes with his team to plant them and apparently I have to be up and at it early to direct them. It will be worth it.

I sewed the binding on my Christmas strip quilt that sister Sue quilted for me. Now I need to tack it down. This is my year to finish quilts and I'm not moving on to another one until I finish this one. Jeffie is quilting my log cabin quilt with pink thread and hearts (my fav). Can't wait to get it back.

Out With the Old, in With the New

Carrie has packed up from being home for two weeks and is driving back to her apartment in San Dimas. Ashley has gone to help her boyfriend with his motorcycle that broke down on his way to work this morning. It was used, purchased just last week. Let's hope it isn't anything major. Dan is outside pulling down the Christmas lights. I'm trying to get ready for the day, making a grocery shopping list and planning for the week to come. We had a great holiday with lots of family memories and time spent with friends. Yesterday I taught Carrie how to sew on a button and hem her new pants. Put that in the category of things I should have taught my daughters in high school. Anyway, she has new skills or, at least, good understanding of why the cleaners charges $10 to hem pants! And, I have done my job as a mother. Ah, the pressure . . .

New Year's Day

Happy New Year!

Christmas trees: 2 (bought a 2nd artificial tree during Macy's sale)
Ornaments: too many to count (where are all the boxes?)
Football games: I'm so DONE with football by now!
Holiday candles half burned: 7
Daughters helping put Christmas decor away: 2
Resolutions: 5 and counting (1 is sew a minimum of one hour a day)
New diet cookbooks: 2 (see resolutions, again, sigh)
Quilts to finish: 5 (don't tell Dan!)
Ideas for new quilts: 3 (again, don't tell Dan!)
Sounds of Dan organizing holiday cleanup: priceless!
Hopes for 2009: too many to count!

All the best for a very Happy New Year!

Fa la la la la . . .

You know it's Christmas when:

1. Carrie and Ashley are in bed together singing Christmas carols
2. Dan is making one last trip to the grocery store
3. Carrie is learning to make Favorite Salad
4. Cleaning up for company coming tomorrow
5. Making breakfast egg casserole for Christmas morning
6. Wrapping the last gifts
7. Watching for the FedEx truck
8. Running out of Christmas bows
9. Making a gingerbread house
10. Going to the Heltons!!!!

No Christmas Eve service tonight due to expected rain storms.

"We wish you a Merry Christmas!
We wish you a Merry Christmas!
We wish you a Merry Christmas
And a happy new year!!!!"

Sending love and best wishes to everyone this Christmas and always!

"Not a creature was stirring . . ."

Except for a mouse! I hear at least one in the attic, but hopefully it will find one of the traps recently set up and die. There, I said it. Yes, I hope for the quick demise of the little things. There is not enough room in this house, attic or (God forbid) otherwise, for both of us. Making Mrs. Hayter's Christmas baked egg casserole this morning to take to work for our table party - food all day long. Glad it isn't raining as I ran through the drops yesterday with Mike's birthday cake in hand. Tomorrow I'm off and I can't wait! Today will go quickly as I prepare to be gone until Monday. Merry Christmas everyone "and to all a good night!!!"

4 a.m. Musings

So, I wake up today for the weekly 4 a.m. teleconference only to find out that they moved it to tomorrow! And, strangely, now I am wide awake. I predict that I'll be doing a total faceplant today around 6 p.m.! Oh, well; perhaps I met my sleep quota for the weekend (finally) and am ready to face the day. Things I could do: make Christmas cookie dough, make Christmas cookies, tidy up the house (company coming on Thursday), start my layered jello salad for Christmas eve dinner, sew or read. And, I never did get to the Sunday paper yesterday! Well, it is a busy season, isn't it? I did get my Christmas shopping done, so feel much better about all that. The mall was crazy, but the prices at Macy's were sale upon sale. That was great! A couple of packages to wrap and some cooking and I'm all set. How about you? Are you ready to experience Christmas at its commercial best? Let's remember that we are celebrating the birth of a King, our Lord and Savior, Almighty God, the everlasting Father and, best of all, the Prince of Peace. God bless us every one.

All Bound Up

Sue finished Karen's quilt and sent it to me to do the final binding on it. Frankly, it is gorgeous. I love the colors and the fabrics and the design - even if the pattern was wrong and Sue had to trim parts to make them fit. She did a beautiful job and Karen is going to love it. It's all boxed up and Dan will mail it tomorrow.

It was a sewing weekend and I do love being in my office/sewing room during the winter. It gets the late sun and is lovely and warm during the colder days. Last night we went to church and then out to dinner with Nancy, Scott and Vi at Famous Dave's. Ashley went to Chris' work holiday party and she looked fabulous in her cranberry red dress and heels up to there. Don't know how she walks in those things, but the effect was certainly worth it.

Now, on to Christmas cards and final shopping. Tuesday my work has its annual "grade and graze" - it sure is fun being in the lab and enjoying their activities. Apparently the two top guys flip pancakes in the morning for everyone. Can't wait to see that. Oh, and we'll grade some diamonds, too. Friday is the all-work holiday party, then the Helton's annual Carol Sing. It'll be a good week.

'Tis The Season

The garland is up, the stockings are hung, the Yankee holiday candles are out, and the snowmen (of which we seem to have an army) are placed just so. Yes, Christmas is up at our house, thanks to Miss Ashley. Dan's been sick and now I have it. Ashley was down with it on Saturday, but got better much quicker. (Oh, to be young again.) Now we just need to finish shopping, baking the cookies and signing the Christmas cards. Thanks, Ash!

Happy December

Thanksgiving was great. Ash and I went to Thanksgiving eve services and sat with Chrissie and Matthew. We traveled to Aunt Coni's for the Tilton gathering to celebrate. Carrie came home for the weekend. Then, Friday, Ashley's Chris came over and helped hang Christmas lights on the outside of the house and stayed to share our second Thanksgiving dinner and we played rounds and rounds of baseball - Greg's card game. We shopped, saw Australia - go see it! - and decorated our Christmas tree and relaxed. It will be a busy month now that December is here. That said, let's remember the reason for the season - the birth of our Lord. 25 days and counting!

Early Friday

It's not yet 6 a.m., but am gearing up for a busy Friday. It is cold this morning! Yet, by noon it will be 80 degrees. That's how we slide into winter: heavy coat on the drive to work, pull off layers for lunch, pile it on again for evening. Today I have lunch with Bev, one of my old co-workers, to catch up on everyone in Advancement, then tonight it is to Nancy's for Matthew's first birthday celebration with the family. He came to trick and treat last Friday and was so cute dressed as a little blue dinosaur. Anyway, I think that what he was! Thank you Chrissie and Josh for including us on the dino tour. We loved seeing you. My mom is in Hawaii, but sick and not doing much. She's headed to the dr. again today. Hope she can enjoy the beach at some point before they head home Sunday. I'm learning how to work my Blackberry and last night Ashley loaded a Christmas tune to be my ringer. We can't wait for Christmas!!! Am listening to Josh Groban's Christmas CD in my car already. It's beginning to look a lot like CHRISTMAS!!!

Fall is in the air - can you feel it?

Today we woke up to a break in our heat and a beautifully cool morning that gives one hope for fall. Ashley sagely remarked that it isn't officially fall until the 23rd, but the urge to remove my summer decor and get out the pumpkins is strong. Fall: if we feel it, it will come. We went to church last night, dinner with B & J at Oggi's - their grilled chicken salad is fab - and today will be restful with odd jobs around the house. Dan is supremely happy that football has begun and Ashley says that means Christmas is coming. Let's hope only the goose is getting fat.