Christmas At My House

Happy Thursday to you all. It's once again Thankful Thursday, so count your blessings! Here is the first of four Christmas table runners I made; this one has hand quilting on it, so it will stay right here with us. I love the colors and fabrics. I should have ironed it last night, but just wanted to get it on the table.

Our antique table with special angels on it, my kneeling Santa, the Shepherd Boy in front of Baby Jesus and a little book and candle that says Wise Men Still Seek Him.

My Lizzie High collection, gifts from the sister of my heart~ Susan.  I've had all of these for at least 20 years if not more. I still  love their whimsical look.

Here is my new Cardinal collection-I got started a couple of years ago; love these birds, wish we had them here.

My Nativity scene~it is at least 30, maybe 32 years old.  I've thought of getting another, but this I purchased when my girls were young.

My Dickens village, which is probably about 37 years old now; my sweet MIL gave me all but one of these buildings.  The Needlepoint and Quilt store came from my best friend Barbara(aka quilting and traveling buddy and next door neighbor for 17 years).

One of our Tomas Kinkaid paintings; actually it is our daughter's, but they felt it fit in so much better with our others.  Love the scene.

Love this Kinkaid plate that my hubby bought me back in Ca.  It must be about 20 years old.

For the joy of the season, the gift of Love coming down to us, for family and friends and even decorations that are more sentimental than costly, I am thankful. I am thankful for a warm home, a beautiful state to live in, our beloved companion Hunter and even the ability to get out to walk and exercise.  I am so thankful that on Friday night we will be celebrating Kim's birthday; we celebrate it early because she was our Christmas miracle and we've always celebrated her at the beginning of the month.  It made it so much easier when we had birthday parties for her as a child.I am thankful that Saturday all 17 of us go to see the Nutcracker in Denver and then Sunday parties start~it seems that each weekend is almost full with Christmas Parties.
Whatever you have going on in your life, I wish you Joy.  May you find reasons to celebrate.
Noreen

Another Thing Checked Off the List

Happy Wednesday to you! As you know I'm working very hard to get things done for Christmas. I got the pattern for this cute little zippered bag and decided to make my friend Cyndi one for Christmas. Cyndi doesn't come here, so I'm safe sharing it. Although I modified the pattern so the wide end was on the bottom, I think it turned out so cute. I machine quilted it prior to assembling it, much easier this way. I'm had another full day-errands this morning, walking after lunch and then to the gym. Our internet has been throwing fits, so this took awhile to get posted.

Now I'm heading downstairs to quilt. I could barricade myself inside for days and not be done, but I'll do my best. Hope your week has been smooth and that you are enjoying life.
Hugs,
Noreen

One More Thing crossed off the list

Hello to you on this crisp November day. I pray you all had a blessed Thanksgiving! We had such an incredible time with family, especially my brother and sister of my heart. I have previously mentioned that I had finished a special gift for someone special, but couldn't reveal it. Well Susan now is in possession of it and I can share. I fell in love with this pattern for the runner and found the fabric, so had to make it for her and my brother for Thanksgiving. I am making at least three other runners in Christmas fabrics and I am able to share that because the neighbors don't read blogs. I hand quilter it all and it went very fast.

They left on Friday afternoon and the weekend ended up being very busy.  Saturday afternoon the entire clan went to see The Grinch, which was a very cute movie. Typically during this season we all take one afternoon and go to the movies-such fun.  Sunday when I got home from church hubby already had the tree up and decorations out.  Needless to say most of the morning was spent decorating, though it's still not done.  After lunch I ran to Walmart for prescriptions, Kohl's for Levi's on sale and Joann's for fleece for our village scene.  I've gotten so tired of using batting over the years and just don't have the time to whip up a runner.  Today I'm hitting the gym, hope to be back on my normal three day a week schedule.  This afternoon two neighbors and I are heading up to The Perennial Gardener in Fort Collins to get a gift for our other neighbor whose birthday is today. We are taking her out shopping and to lunch tomorrow. She is such a precious friend!
I hope you are having a good day!  Stay healthy, lots of bugs going around; I think my eyelid infection is over-yay!
Hugs to you today.
Noreen

From our home to yours, may your blessings overflow and the food fill your tummies.
May you count your blessings and reflect on what all that you have.
My brother and sil arrive today and our time will be filled with lots of wonderful moments.  Thursday we will gather and give thanks for family, health and beautiful Colorado.
Hugs,
Noreen

November Sunset

Happy Monday to you all! I've been sewing up a storm, working on Christmas presents and wanting to make even more. This weekend was really low key for us and this week will definitely be busier. The weather here is cold and clear; the photos below show a sunset this weekend, with Longs and Meeker Peaks in the shot.

My brother and sister of my heart are in the area, but won't arrive until Wednesday.  It will be too short of a visit, but we gladly take any time we can get with them.  Thursday there will be 23 of us at Carrie's house; I know it will be a time of Thanksgiving, laughter, love, joy and craziness all thrown in.
I hope your week is blessed and that you have much to be thankful for!
Joy to you.
Noreen

Hello Friends,  Today I woke up with a very swollen eyelid-all red and really sore.  I determined quickly that it is a Stye, ugh and does it hurt.  My girl suggested using very hot compresses, which I have been doing all day.  I skipped the gym-just didn't feel like exercising, but hope to get there tomorrow. I did walk Hunter and also did some sewing and went to a friends house so she could share some secrets with me on a zippered pouch.  I'd love to go back downstairs and sew, but will relax a bit.
Hope you are having a great week.
Hugs,
Noreen

Happy Monday to you all.  Yesterday we woke up to several inches of snow and decided it was a perfect day to stay home and enjoy a relaxed day.  Hubby worked on a new Marquetry project while I worked on several Christmas gifts.  We watched football most of the day and evening and enjoyed beef stew I made.  Today has been full~the gym this morning, grocery store and now I'm working downstairs again.
For those of you who watch t.v., you may remember the last two years there has been an ad on for Cuties(small tangerines) with a toddler hanging in a backpack on the back of a door trying to get one.  The toddler is the son of one of my oldest girls best friends and I just saw a glimpse that there is a new commercial coming out staring him-so be on the lookout.  He's adorable with curly blond hair.
This week will find me in front of the sewing machine, working on various projects.  One, I have finished and will share after Thanksgiving; it's a gift for someone and I don't want them to see it here before they receive it.
Stay warm and if you don't have snow, enjoy your weather.
Hugs,
Noreen

Hello to you on this cold Thursday morning!  We just now reached 30 degrees; it seems like it's been colder, for more days, than we normally get at this time of year.  I can tell we are getting a little older because we keep on furnace on at night, unlike how we used to turn it to 55 degrees. I know my brother will be more comfortable when they visit in a couple of weeks.  I'm thankful for a furnace that works that we can heat our home with.  Today I'm heading out on an errand and then have a dentist appt. to begin getting a new crown. Ugh.  Somehow I wish my teeth would stay healthy, but I didn't inherit good genes in that department.  Glad I have a good dentist that I am comfortable with.
May your day be filled with joy!
Noreen

Northern Flicker

Happy Outdoor Wednesday to you. Now that the elections are over, we don't have to mute our t.v. at all the ads. So thankful. I'm also thankful we have the freedom to choose here in the U.S. and that we live in a free country. On to more pleasant topics.
Yesterday morning I looked outside and saw a beautiful bird on the railing of our deck. I couldn't get the camera fast enough, but knew enough to know it was a woodpecker checking out our posts. Our neighbors have been bothered with them for years; I've been thankful we haven't been. However, this bird is so beautiful I didn't mind seeing it. He quickly moved on from our deck railing to our Pergola to see if it was worthy of its work.He quickly left-probably due to the stain we put on it.

I was amazed at the orange under it's wings and found in my bird book that it is also called the Red Shafted Flicker.  From what I read they look mainly for dead trees; our neighbors have an Austrian Pine that blocks our view and is right next to our fence-thus dropping all it's needles in our yard.  It's a huge mess and we've nicely offered to buy it from them, to have a tree company come out and take it down and replace it with something smaller that doesn't shed-like a miniature Blue Spruce.  They can't even see it from their house, but have said no.  So if this woodpecker has to hang out nearby, it is welcome to that tree.  We really like our neighbors, they are in the late 80's and 90's and I imagine will move in the next five years.  Maybe then we can hire a tree farm to come put something in that is nicer; when the houses were built the builder had to put in so many Pine trees-I don't understand it but we've taken out several.

WE are off to the gym this morning, then later I have a craft day with a friend and we are joining neighbors going out for dinner tonight.  Hope you are staying warm, it's freezing here!
Hugs,
Noreen

Cuteness Overload

Happy Tuesday to you. I came across these photos in an email and they just made me smile and say AWW. Hope you enjoy!

Babies are so adorable, even the baby Squirrel.
Hugs,
Noreen

Harvest Colors

Happy Monday morning to you! I hope you had a great weekend and enjoyed an extra hour of sleep. I always love it when we roll the clock back and get that extra hour, even though it truly isn't an extra hour. During the spring and summer, we both get up early; come late fall and winter we love just staying in bed a bit long. Now that Halloween is over, I continue to display Harvest items and Thanksgiving decor. It's tempting to start decorating now for Christmas, but I'm happy just to watch Hallmark Christmas movies.  Don't these fruits and vegetables look so delicious!

I'm still working on lots of sewing projects, but yesterday afternoon enjoyed  the football game on t.v. while I was hand stitching.
Hope you have a great day!
Joy to  you.
Noreen

Happy Friday, I can't believe it's been days since I posted here.  That should tell you that my days are filled up, good things but time consuming.  Had a great day on Tuesday in Cheyenne with my girlfriends.  Life is a whirlwind and in three weeks everyone will be recovering from stuffing themselves on Thanksgiving.  I'm already working away on Christmas presents-should have started a month ago, but they'll get done.  Hubby and I did go to lunch on Wednesday and afterwards saw a movie-A Star Is Born.  I wasn't sure I wanted to see it as I've seen the original and remember crying through it.  Knowing this one was just as sad, I was curious to see how Lady Gaga did.  I must admit I was pleasantly surprise-I don't care for her music, but she was good.  Bradley Cooper was excellent in his role as well.
I've been doing some gardening and hubby is outside with our grandson, once again raking up more leaves.  Hope you all have a fantastic weekend.
Hugs,
Noreen