Countdown to Christmas - week four

Baking is done.... although there is still butter on the counter.... more short bread cookies might be made in the morning.

 The nativity has been carefully set up (by hub) ......

.... the tree is sporting a Santa hat this year... Gifts are wrapped, but the stockings still need to be stuffed...

But it is looking a lot like Christmas at our house!  Merry, Merry All!

Countdown to Christmas - week three

Oh this month is progressing very quickly! I am crossing off events on my December calendar very quickly.... two guild December holiday celebrations - check.  Family Christmas Get-together dinner - check!  It seemed that I looked forward to these Christmas events for so long, and in a blink they have passed.  Tomorrow will be our departments' potluck luncheon & after that Christmas break is one week away.  I haven't wrapped any of my gifts nor have I completed my gift shopping!  Today I am home with a bit of flu/headache, etc.... Not being very productive today. Hence this post midweek!

On a bright note, I have begun my Christmas baking, and hub is my taste tester.   These lemon tarts, maybe a little tooooo tart, will be goodies for hub to eat.  Good, but perhaps a little less lemon zest next batch.   I have made butter tarts (& stashed them in the downstairs freezer) and up next are my whipped shortbread - always good.

 

Another bright note; look at this really sweet bag that Barb from our FVMQG made for me!  She embroidered my name on the handle - I love it.  Plus it is reversible too.  And look at the sweet piece of fabric she gave me!  Thirties inspired and turquoise - LOVE - LOVE 1930's fabrics and especially turquoise.  Thanks Barb, now I must think of something good to spring on you in the New Year!

Christmas is definitely in the air.   Merry Merry all !!

Countdown to Christmas- week two

The little felt snowflake on my Advent calendar has traveled to week two of the Christmas season.
It is a grey frosty morning and I am prepping for our family Christmas dinner with our Mom in Langley.  My younger brother is arranging this family event and we are all pitching in.

 Some food to take this afternoon. I am looking forward to this family get-together.

 Our Mom who is now wheelchair bound, will really appreciate this dinner.  She was the 'queen of Christmas dinners' & this will never be forgotten. Part of my Christmas celebration each year always honours my parents. They were such generous people and loved this season.

And, no I haven't done my baking yet, but I may have something to report on that in a day or two. But in the meantime, I did pack up my sewing machine, a big step towards getting other things done,like baking! Here is a little picture of Christmas bunting! I made bunting for all my friends this year, plus some for our bookcase - a nice way to use up bits & pieces of fabrics.        
 

Merry merry all!

Countdown to Christmas - week one

This is the bunting that I have made for one of my quilt guild's Christmas meeting - it will decorate the gift table, and then become a door prize.  All my other Christmas buntings have been mailed out in brown envelopes to dear friends, along with all my Christmas cards.  This is worth making note - usually my cards are in the mail a week before Christmas.

I seriously have to step away from my sewing machine and get into the kitchen! I have some Christmas baking to do!  Perfect opportunity - hub is working tonight.  Merry merry all!

Vintage Market

What a lovely way to spend a Saturday afternoon!  Touring the Christmas Fieldstone Vintage Market plus a coffee date with a friend. I scored this beautiful old oak rocker, plus these vintage kitchen items.   Love the vendors - they are all so friendly; and the prices for all of their 'one of a kind' wares are sooo reasonable.

I would have taken photos while I was at the market, but I had my daughters little doggie tucked inside my coat. She loved the outdoor market and all the attention -but I wasn't able to reach into my bag for the camera all that easily.  

And now it is the next day, and I still wished I had purchased more!  Ah well, next time.

The beginning of Christmas

Oh it is Grey Cup Sunday here in Canada!  but I spent my day with two dear friends browsing a craft market, and unintentionally found some Christmas spirit. Our date & time to get together had been switched several times... I actually was fuming a bit but really didn't want to miss being together with these two!     It is always mysterious, Christmas spirit I mean; it comes upon you in the most unexpected ways.

Sometime during our time together, our animated conversations & laughing/crying, sharing... 'ping' I was struck!  I do attribute these moments to our long-standing friendship - we have been friends for decades! Old friends are like a mirror; and I usually like what I see in the reflection. It is the passing of time that confirms it - what I see in that same reflection, again and again.  We have changed over the years and yet we are still those same 20-somethings we once were. This might be where my discovery of Christmas spirit has sprung - grateful to have my faith in friendship renewed again and again.
And, along with everything else that Christmas is, it's coming also signals another year's end is almost upon us.  This always makes me nostalgic!

All in all, this was a good day.

the beginning of Christmas decorating...

 I have officially begun the Christmas season at our house!  Baking will commence Sunday afternoon. Beginning to put little things out here & there... so far only in the kitchen.... it usually starts this way each year.

 

 

This looks so much better, or my camera takes a better picture, in daylight.  but I love the colors, I think there should be a 'touch of blue' in every  project. Also I really love the Christmas Sheri Berry fabric....in 'salmon' but really it is a warm faded red with really cute little cookie cutters, rolling pins, snowmen & Santa!

The inspiration for the scrappy tree came from the newest online issue of " Inspired Ideas" 

Mid November -the beginning of the Christmas season.....

 Well it is almost mid November. I have made myself a little rule to follow regarding the Christmas season, I refer to when it 'officially' starts at our house aka when do I start Christmas baking and decorating! 

The rule, and I think it is a good one, is that we do not put up any Christmas decorations until after Remembrance Day on November 11th.  It is appropriate I think.  

After Remembrance Day, I give myself permission to begin, so this weekend I will be snooping through our Christmas totes and boxes &  begin putting up/out a few choice, cheery items.  Again this is another nice thing about being mid-aged is that over the decades we have lived in this house I have been able to collect items that mean the most to our family, hub, our children & myself especially.  Not always the most lavish or formal - sometimes very humble, but the most meaningful. I know what I like about the season of Christmas. Besides the plentiful food and baking, all the decorations, Christmas signifies 'family' (made up of kin and good friends!); thankfulness; remembrance of the year that has past and looking forward to a new year. Also little baby Jesus always makes me feel happy about life and helps me to see my humble part in the lives of my family.  Can I explain what I mean?  Not exactly, but all of these reasons make me love Christmas. 

Mid November is the beginning of Christmas season, much like the month of June begins the summer. I love this time.

Camera Collection

Did I mention that I lost my camera earlier this month?  I am so sad about it. I really loved my cute little blue digital Nikon.  I had that camera for years, taken so many great  Christmas & birthday pictures. Carried it with me everywhere when in Europe last March.  But no, I lost it on a shopping trip in the city with a girlfriend, it probably fell out of my bag when I was rearranging things in my big purse.  sigh.

Cabinet-adorable!         Valley Direct Furniture

A fun thing I did with my camera was to take pictures of things I see when I go shopping.  A kind of digital record of what I liked. Each time when I got home I would upload these pictures onto my laptop, it is almost like reliving the day, well no it is more like collecting ideas & inspirations.   I will be replacing my camera soon - it is hard to do without one.

But until I do replace my camera, I am so glad that I have a folder full of pictures that I haven't looked at in awhile. Like this cute cabinet.Even though I took this picture during the summer, it reminds me of Christmas.