New Year's Eve 2009

Father Time and Baby New Year

New Year's Eve 2009, tonight we say good-bye to 2009 and Welcome in 2010. It seems that this year has slipped by me, I was just getting the hang of writing 2009 and now I have to change to 2010. Seems the older I get the quicker the year passes by.
So many things have happened this year both good and bad, but we survived it all. This year another one of my family members (Aunt Sis) left us, seems like each year we lose a loved one. So as the clock ticks down 2009 I will take a moment to remember all of my loved ones that have passed.
This year has also been a trying time for my son, he is facing a new year alone. His wife decided she wanted to explore her other options and called it quits. It hurts me so much knowing the pain my son and their 4 lovely daughters are going through. I know these things happen but I never suspected they would ever split as they were always the perfect couple.

This year end for Jenny was extremely scary as the other night as they watched a movie, her youngest child spiked a fever and had a seizure. They spent the night in the ER and after many tests Rebecca was sent home with a clear report.

Jenny's oldest son will soon make eagle scout, Emily the elder of the clan is so into designer clothes and shoes, Ally is still the princess or so she thinks, Lizzy is the most delightful child, Morris, well what can I say about Morris, he drives his mother crazy. He is always into something. I think he is adorable and not a terror at all, but than I don't live with them. Becca is beautiful, quiet and so much the glamor girl.

Melanie continues her work at the Nursing home, this year she went back to being a CNA instead of working in a office. The change means more money and hours for her, but it is harder on her back and knees.

As for Melanie's clan, Heather is still into her sports while Kyle is into books of all sorts, he loves being a know-it-all.

Hubby and I have both enjoyed a year without medical emergency's, I guess we are doing something right. We will always be on medications but that is just a part of getting old. We still enjoy our weekend outings, garage sales, flea markets and auctions, you never know what treasures you will find, and I love doing the freecycle thing (picked up a box of cross stitch supplies today).

As for the house, Thanks to last years puppy's and their un-decorating of the hallway (tearing wallpaper) I wallpapered the hallway, painted the dining room and I stained all the trim that hubby made for those areas. He still needs to make trim for the living room, bedroom and finish the cabinets in the bathroom. Now that he is healthy again, I hope to see those rooms finished soon.

My charity work went well this year with donations to numerous groups, my main one is the World of Charity Stitchers, you can see some of the donations on past postings on my blog.

My winnings: this year I have become such a contest junky. I love entering contests, hops, dashes, shuffles, and giveaways and I really love winning. I have won all kinds of wonderful items on the blogs I follow. I am in the works of coming up with my own giveaway so keep checking back.

As for the New Year, Well we shall see what the future holds

We will be spending tonight watching Dick Clark usher in the New Year, we will snack on grapes and cheese with a glass of wine, maybe a 1/4 glass for me. I just can't drink much. Tomorrow we will watch the Rose Parade and if the Mummer's parade is on we will watch that too, hubby will watch the games and we will have the Traditional Pennsylvania Dutch dinner of Pork and Saur Kraut. I know that I now live in the South and the tradition here is black eye peas cooked with a dime, but I don't like them.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to one and all.

If you would like to see how the rest of the world celebrates NEW YEARS follow this link.

http://www.fathertimes.net/traditions.htm

Its Over

Christmas Eve and Day are now over, gifts unwrapped and out the door. For us the big family thing was Christmas Eve, we had the sound of little feet running all around the house. They came, they ate, they unwrapped and they left, in a torrential downpour I might add. All day it rained and by the time everyone got here it was pouring cats and dogs. When they left it was raining even harder, but they all managed to get home safe and sound.

The youngest Grandchild Rebecca spent a lot of her time in front of the chocolate fountain stuffing Strawberries in her mouth. I wonder if Jenny will be able to save her little dress, it had chocolate everywhere, but she had fun. The Teen girls were being their sassy self, back talking their moms, I hope they soon grow up and get out of that stage. Mel is getting double duty as Kyle is now getting snippy to, they think it is cool to act this way. Hang in there Mel it does get better, one day you will have mature adult children. Jack, is younger then Emily, but he is acting so grown up lately, I don't hear him sassing his Mom like the girls are. He seems to be mature for his age. Jenny is showing more grey lately, has to be the attitude she gets from the kids and to think she has 6 to get over this stage, she might be totally grey before all is said and done, that's what they make hair dye for.

As for me and my list to Santa:

I woke up Christmas Morning and looked outside and there in the driveway was a Silver Vehicle, that's it, Santa is real, he had given me my car. WAIT a minute, that isn't the car in the picture, it looks a little familiar to me. Hey what goes here, I know that car, it belongs to Phillip. So the car wasn't for me, Phillip had driven here and when he left he drove Jenny's van home (Jenny doesn't like driving at night and besides the weather was horrible) They will be here to pick up his car Sunday. So no car for me, no quilting machine, I did get a Wii Fit but not from Santa, we bought it at K-Mart. As for the necklaces, I got the dragonfly necklace and a Butterfly necklace set both came from hubby. No mermaid or pom necklace from Santa, no PC Stitch software (guess I have to order that too) Quilt Material, this was in my mailbox Thursday , my win from sewmamasew and last was the cross stitch supplies, nope didn't get anything from that list. So in my opinion, THERE IS NO SANTA CLAUS, at least not one that stops here. Heck, Santa didn't even fill my stocking and Evelyn is no longer with us to fill it for me. My items came from my Santa, my hubby. Thank you dear for all you do for me, you are the one person who makes my Christmas Special.

Grandson Kyle got me a cute little candle lamp for my spa bath (see he can be sweet), and Melanie got me some little treasures for crafting or to hang on my tree. That's it, well I did get the Simplicity Rotary Cutter and Bias Tape Maker, but it didn't make it back under the tree. Oh and friends Sharon & Mike got Hubby and I a gift certificate for Texas Roadhouse and a $ 10.00 scratch off ticket (not a winner)

I spent months making Ceramic trees, floral arrangements, cookies, shopping and wrapping gifts, decorating the house and for what, in a matter of a few minutes things are unwrapped and loaded in cars and they are gone. So I think for next year a gift certificate per family, they can do the shopping and wrapping. Jenny for Hanukkah, Melanie and Donnie for Christmas, besides we are just getting to old for all this work. Next week it all comes down and gets packed away again, that is if the outdoor blowups ever dry out.

Christmas Day we didn't do anything, we just sat around and watched TV and I worked on my cross stitch Celtic Summer design. Nice and quiet, lots of Christmas movies on and we had leftovers for dinner, so just a reheat no cooking. Today we are going to brave the stores, I need to return a blouse to Wal-mart. I bought it for Christmas Eve and when I tried it on something just didn't seem right. Took a minute to figure out that the blouse had two left sleeves, there is a notch in the back of the sleeve and on the other sleeve it was in the front. Guess it was made in China, so back it goes.

One more thing to add, We found homes for all the puppies but one. Lady Charmaine (Charmin) is now officially one of our family. She like all the rest will be spoiled rotten oh, so sorry I mean Pamper. She has already made herself quite at home.

A Christmas Gift

This morning I checked my email and found I had received a wonderful Christmas gift. I had entered a contest at sewmamasew on the last day of their entries, not even being sure I had made the deadline. I did and I won one of the many items offered in their giveaway from over 1,000 entries. I won Gee's Bend fat quarter pack (it is pictured above) Needless to say I was thrilled, I love those words "You won". The material will be put to good use in the quilts I will be making next year for World of Charity Stitchers. I have a box of squares the ladies have stitched waiting to be made into quilts for Century Care Center and a Cancer Patient quilt. Now if I could find a contest to win batting, or one to win a quilting machine, wouldn't that be something? I do enjoy making these quilts, after all I get to practice new block designs.

My Christmas countdown

House decorated inside and out, Check

Tree decorated, Check

Charity Quilts and knitted items finished & delivered, Check

Ceramic Trees finished & delivered, Check

Floral arrangements finished & delivered, Check

Cookies baked and delivered, Check

Gingerbread houses finished & delivered, Check

Cookie Trees finished & delivered, Check

Candy made, not yet

Shopping done, Check

Gifts wrapped, not yet

I am almost there, a couple more days and we will be invaded Christmas Eve by the grand kids that live close by. They will be to excited to eat any food, well almost any food, the Chocolate Fountain is always the first thing they want to dive into. Rule is they need to eat something in the hot food line before they go for the dessert table. Strawberries, Bananas, pound cake, pretzels and marshmallows all go for a dunk under the creamy chocolate waterfall. When the time is right, the children all take their place in front of the tree and Grandpa hands each child a wrapped box, when they get their boxes they can rip and tear to their hearts content looking for the treasure each package holds. After all packages are out from under the tree and the paper and empty boxes are taken to the trash they settle down to play with one of their favorite items and once again the chocolate fountain becomes the center attraction, especially for the teens. A friend of mine said it best, you work for months and months, and in just a few short minutes it is all over. I am not sure what hubby and I will be doing Christmas Day, in the past we have traveled to Biloxi with friends or by ourselves. This year it may just be a quiet dinner for two and a movie

Merry Christmas to all

Santa Giveaway

Linda and Sandy from "This and That Fabrics" are having yet another giveaway. A cute Santa Face wall hanging kit is the prize this time. The ladies have been busy the past couple of month's with their giveaways. So we all need to stop by and support their blog and their store that is filled with wonderful items. visit their blog at This-n-That Fabrics and Craftshop Shuffle leave a comment which will enter you in their contest and tell them I sent you. Have fun and here's hoping you win.

Christmas is coming

Christmas is fast approaching and even though I won't get everything done I had planned on, some projects are done and out the door. I made 7 Christmas and 1 Hanukkah floral arrangements, plus 2 door hangers and all but one have been delivered. I wanted to take pictures of all the arrangements, but I finished them, delivered them and oops I had forgotten to take the pictures. I did get pictures of the last two so I can share those with you. The quilted lap robes are the ones I have been working on with World of Charity Stitchers. The Quilts along with the other items made by the group are on their way to the nursing home for Christmas delivery.

Hubby is finishing the trim in the dining room so I can now get the hutch back in place and have room to work in there. Next week is baking the Gingerbread and Holiday Cookies. The kids and grand kids have put in their request for their favorites. I had told them I won't be making all the cookies I normally make due to my late start with baking. The number one cookie choice this year goes to Peanut Butter Blossoms, so many requests for that one. Mel wants her Chocolate Nut Meringues, Hubby is Snicker doodles and Chocolate Chip and for me Hermits and my Pennsylvania Dutch Sand Tarts. I will also be trying a recipe for Pizzelles that I got from Linda at This and That Fabrics, can't wait to try these.

OH NO, I still need to shop and then there is the wrapping and I still haven't gotten my cards in the mail. I am off now to get the cards ready so I can mail them tomorrow. Just glad I have that box of Christmas Cards I bought because there was no time to make any this year.

My Letter to Santa

Dear, Dear, Sweet Santa,

I have been a really good girl, OK sometimes a good girl, but I try hard. I stopped believing in you years ago and we won't go there as to how many years that was. But if you are real and if you do grant the wishes of believers than I believe, and I have my list posted here. I know you like letters, but lets face it this is 2009 and no one writes letters any more, every one emails or blogs, or tweets or what ever else they do. Me I blog and I read blogs and I enter blog contests, lots of blog contests. Sometimes I win and sometimes I lose. OK back to the reason for this blog, My Wish List, and here it is.

1. A Mid Arm Quilting Machine or Long Arm Machine, I only need the machine as I have the frame. And it really is for a good cause, my charity quilts, and then there are all the other quilts I need to finish. Come to think of it while I am wishing for the impossible than how about a computerized model. This is what I call a Big Girl Toy and I like toys. see pic of Baily's Mid Arm Machine

2.A New Car, well it really doesn't have to be new, used would work to and it doesn't have to look like the picture any color, and shape, and make, I'm not picky. Only stipulation is it has to have a engine, it has to run, it has to have working AC and Heat and a radio. see pic

That's all the big things, and if you are real you will have these under my tree, or in the driveway.

3. Necklace Tiffany's would be nice, oh this is supposed to be the little list, so Pomeranian necklace at collectibles today, or a Mermaid or Dragonfly at eBay again see pic

4. Wii Fit with Balance Board, Yes, I am a old lady who has a Wii, need to get my exercise one way or another and this works for me. So any neat Wii Games will work and Yes, I have a pic

5. Fat quarters, Charm Square, Jelly Rolls, Pastry Rolls, or Layer Cake, I know most of this sounds like you would go to the bakery but it is all material for quilts. or anything for Quilting, even Machine quilting thread would be great, like in my stocking. oops sorry I don't have a stocking to hang. I made them for the kids and grand kids last year and didn't get around to making one for me and hubby. So wing it, use one of Sean's big socks he won't mind. Just in case here is a pic, love the pretty color.

6. Anything for Cross stitching, PC Stitch Pro version 9 would be really good or threads, material, gadgets, needle holders, etc. OK, so you know what thread looks like, I still added a pic, I like the colors and DMC is the kind I use.

The next two items would have been the Simplicity Rotary cutter and the Simplicity Bias Tape Maker, but they were on sale when Jo Ann's had their sale and I ordered them(what a challenge that turned out to be). They are here and under the Christmas tree. OK Santa, I know you see everything so I confess. I took them from under the tree and used them last night, Hey I have an excuse I needed to finish the 6 quilts for Century Care Center, Mel is picking them up Sunday. So OK another "I'm bad" strike against me, but don't tell Sean.

Guess that is about all that I can think of, if I think of anything else I will update the list, so Santa you need to check back now and then. And Santa if this stuff isn't under my tree I will know for sure that you are a fake and that you really don't exist and you will crush the dreams of girl OK a old lady, hey I can dream can't I. I can dream that I am once again young and that Santa is real and that all these wonderful things will appear Christmas morning. Hey, pay attention, I said I can dream didn't I, so now pick yourself off of the floor and for goodness sakes, stop laughing.
I am heading out to make Holiday arrangements for me and the girls. I just needed a break and making my wish list helped get me in the mood. I am so far behind in this holiday stuff, I didn't get my cards in the mail yet, I didn't start my baking or gingerbread houses, and as for shopping I haven't even been in a store yet. See I am so far behind, do you think we could postpone Christmas for a month or so??? Maybe I would be ready by then.

Santa a PS, Sean has been a good boy to so while you are here delivering my stuff you can drop off one of those computerized carving machines that Sears sells, he would like that for his shop. Or maybe some shelving so he can get the shop in some kind of order. Or maybe a new truck for him to haul wood in, what do you think Santa, can you get this stuff in your sleigh.

Have a Very Merry Christmas one and all.

Cindy's having a giveaway

I just wanted to let everyone know that Cindy from Cindy Mae's Designs is having two giveaways on her blog at CindyMae's Stitching Korner. You can chose to enter one or both, and if you blog about her giveaway you get another entry. She also has some free designs you can print out to stitch. S0 visit her blog and stop by her shop to see all the goodies she has.

Finished

I saw, I blogged, I conquered. I spent the whole day at the Sew, Mama, Sew site, visiting and commenting the sites. Yes I said my entire day was spent there from early morning to midnight, but I am now entered in so many giveaway drawings. OH MY, such wonderful things they had, a list of finished items and a list of materials for crafts and I did both the lists. Lots of items for the kids, and bunches of things for me. There was a lady that offered a hot pad for achy backs and I really need that one after spending all this time in front of my computer entering the contests. Now the hard part comes, Waiting till the 7th to find out if I win anything. I also have the dashes, shuffles, and hop which most end on the 15th. Guess I need to start crossing my fingers and toes and wishing that I win something, anything, even one thing would be nice. Hope you all entered and you win too...
Today I entered, tomorrow back to the quilting..... We are delivering the items on the 18th to the home for the seniors....

BIG GIVEAWAY EVENT at "SEW,MAMA,SEW"

I found a site this morning that has all the giveaways you could hope to enter. At the "Sew,Mama, Sew" site, they have organized crafters and suppliers for a huge giveaway event. From Dec 2 nd to the 6 th visit "Sew,Mama,Sew" and go to the list of participants. Visit their blogs and leave a comment is all you have to do. I have spent the entire morning visiting sites and I don't know when I will finish my list, so many bloggers, so many giveaways, so little time. Guess I will be glued to the computer till I finish my list. You all know how much I love giveaways, some would say I am addicted to them. But you must admit they are worthwhile, I have won all kinds of things on line, lots of patterns, kits and material. Maybe I will be lucky and win some of the items offered here. Go now to http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?cat=13 and start entering. some of the items I have found so far: necklaces, bracelets, baby items, purses, pillows, stuffed animals, toys and so much more and I am only in the handcrafted section, can't wait to get to the supply area.