Working on ...

Just before Christmas I was asked what I was working on and couldn't tell because it was for my brother (who has quite a few cowboy boots and coyotes rooming in his area) & sister-in-law. They called and thanked me so here they are!

I found the pattern online and apparently liked it so much I ordered it ... twice ... once about 3 years ago and then again this year. When I found the Christmas coyote fabric I knew I had to get busy. The directions were clear, but not easy. The stocking itself was not difficult, but the pieced front with similar sized pieces had to be carefully placed and not interchanged. I would have enjoyed templates, but that probably is not as accurate when sending the pattern online and using different printers. They were fun to make as I enjoy a challenge. I actually made 3 of them & kept one for us. There is nothing in it, but it looks good hanging at the fireplace.

Good book!

Just a quick note before we go out to dinner. I belong to a book club where we each buy a current book and then pass them around to each other. I get to read books that I may not choose. I got "Losing Mum and Pup" by Christopher Buckley and loved it! It is witty and yet reverent. I'll read other books by Christopher Buckley. Thanks!

Christmas Tree

Look at our beautiful tree! We haven't had one in 15 years ... we've decorated the house, but no tree because we have been with either of our grandchildren for Christmas. This year we have been invited to be with Cindy & Charlie.

So, now I'll tell you how we happened to get this lovely tree. We were with Paul & Lisa & Amanda & Kendra for Thanksgiving and Lisa asked me what we were doing for Christmas. I said we were staying home. Then she asked me if we would get a tree. I said that we weren't because our house was too small to have one. Lisa mentioned that there are lovely, slim, lit artificial trees available. She even pulled them up online, but nay ... too much money for a nice one ... we have plenty of decorations without one ... who needs it? End of conversation.

So I went on my merry way. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving week-end with good food and wonderful visits with people in and out all week-end.

A few days after we got home the doorbell rang and it was a delivery of this big box. Chuck wanted to know what I ordered, and I hadn't. When we opened the box it was the tree ... from Lisa and Paul and is our Christmas present! It fits in our front window perfectly!

It went together perfectly and even has a remote to turn the lights on & off. I had fun digging out all our ornaments and with the empty spots I filled in with dried hydrangeas from our garden.


Then I tried to put the angel that Cindy had needlepointed for us years ago as a tree topper, but it was too heavy and kept falling down, poor thing. That's when I fashioned a few hydrangeas into a bouquet and it is light enough to stay in place. The angel sits on the valance near the tree and looks beautiful there.

Cindy put up a small tree and asked me if I wanted to borrow the tree skirt I made for her and it works ... but I'll make one for our tree in 2010. That's what I need ... another excuse to quilt. ;-)

And we like it. It won't shed and has 3 easy pieces to put together and no watering. Great way for us to have a tree.