2018 Finishes

I enjoy looking back at what I accomplished in the past year. I had some big finishes in 2018. 

First and foremost I finally finished Baker Beach in July!

 In that same month I made a tissue box cover for myself.

 A toilet paper cover for my mom....

and I made "Over the river and through the woods" into a pillow cover.

July was a productive month.
Now to go back to the beginning of the year, there were no finishes in January, but I finished this pretty lace infinity scarf in February.

May saw the finish of my Granny Square Rose Afghan after several years of it hanging around. 

In August I finished this scarf for donation.

 I also decided to put some of my vast cork collection to good use.

September saw the finish of yet another scarf for donation.

I also made these fingerless gloves for my Mom.

Of course, up until recently, I have been working on my Advent Calendar. 

I am hoping that I will be able to finish this in 2019.

It is quite satisfying to see all that I accomplished this past year. I hope to share with all of you much more in 2019.

Thanks for stopping by!

Merry Christmas!

Candy Canes

Do you like candy canes? I remember eagerly awaiting Christmas time so that there would be candy canes and sucking on them as a kid. Funny, I don't really like them that much as a candy any more. 

I buy a box each year to hang on the tree and after Christmas I put them in a bag where our snacks reside. The following year I find the bag again and throw it out. Only my daughter will actually eat maybe one candy cane a year. 

This year one of my husband's students gave him a mug with a stocking holding two large candy canes....one peppermint, one strawberry. I may have to refer to Hubby as Mr. Fantastic on the blog from now on. 

I came upon these great candy cane ornaments when we were going through my late BIL's decorations. I think these may replace the annual box in future years. Don't they look very realistic.

I also sewed a candy cane this past week. There are two to make, but I could only complete this one. I don't want to take any chances so I am limiting my sewing.

I still have to finish attaching this candy cane.  I will make the other one today hopefully. 

I am joining Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching. Pop on over to her site to see what other bloggers are stitching. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Christmas in my Neighborhood

There are several families that go all out with Christmas lights each year. Hubby and I drove around the neighborhood a few nights and I took some pictures.

 Above is one of several houses that goes all out.

 It is really pretty. Aren't the penguins below adorable?

 Another neighborhood house is a little more restrained in its lighting.

 One more that is not over the top.

 Hubby put the lights up on our own house last week. It is just how I like it.

The porch has its sled full of presents.

This Yule log on the sled was a gift from my MIL.

In the window I put an animated Santa that I have had for some time. but rarely use. He is surrounded by my snowman collection as well as a ceramic Christmas tree and a ceramic music box house with a Santa that comes up out of the chimney.

Usually I put my nativity in the window, but this year it is residing in the dining room on our bar.

It looks quite pretty in the corner and we pass it by all day long. 


I have been down and out since Saturday with throat infection. I went to the doctor yesterday and now I have medication to treat it. I haven't been this sick in a long while. I spend a whole lot of time sleeping most of Sunday and Monday. My throat was so sore it was painful to sip water. Ugh! 

I also went to a new hand specialist last Friday. He aspirated the cyst on my right thumb and basically said that I will have to restrict my stitching to some extent to avoid the severe pain in my right wrist and thumb. Eventually I might need surgery, but it will be extensive as I have arthritis in all three joints of the right thumb. If anyone has to deal with this too, I would love to hear from you.

Let the decorating begin!

An unexpected day at home on Friday meant that I was able put away the Fall decorations and start taking out the Christmas ones. This year the first item to be hung was my Redwork Santa.

"Over the river and through the woods" was the second item that I decided to take out. I am so glad that I finished this into a pillow top last summer.

 Of course, my magnetic Advent Calendar had to come out for December 1st. I have to add the bell to the tree today.

 Last night I pulled out my Christmas dishes and put them in the corner cabinet in my kitchen. I use them every day during the month of December and put them away on January first.

My crafting is still extremely limited. I have been going a little stir crazy to say the least. I started thinking about what craft I could possibly work on that doesn't require the pinching motion that is so painful.....crocheting, knitting and holding a needle or fabric are not possible right now. I remembered that last year I had completed some no-sew fabric Christmas ornaments and I had one that was barely begun. I pulled out the little crocheted basket that it was in, cut some fabric and have started working on it again.

 I have two rounds done on each end. I hope to add the red row sometime today. It is made with lots of straight pins and folded 1-1/2 inch squares of fabric.

It doesn't hurt my right hand to hold the Styrofoam ball and I do most of the folding and pinning with my left hand. What a relief that there is some craft that I can work on.

Just the other day this little bunny came to visit our back yard again.

 I love that the bunnies are comfortable just sitting out in the open in our yard. I wonder what will happen when my daughter visits with her puppy at Christmas.

I am joining Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching. Pop on over to her site to see what other bloggers are stitching. I have shared some past stitching in this post, but I will be pinning my ornament today not stitching. I will also probably try to get some more decorating done today. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Family time

With my son and daughter home until Sunday, we decided to do something holiday oriented.

We went to Old Westbury Gardens' Holiday Marketplace. The mansion was decorated for Christmas and there were vendors on the grounds with unique items for sale.

I took some pictures of the holiday decorations in the mansion.

 Flash photography is not allowed so the pictures are somewhat dark. The mantel decor is beautiful.

 This tree is huge!

 Several rooms have trains.

 This doll house is quite elaborate.

 Isn't this ceiling gorgeous?

 This mantel is beautiful also.

 The embroidery on this coverlet is quite pretty.

 Can you believe how they decorated the bathroom? There is a pony in the tub!

 You can't visit the third floor, but the staircase is nicely decorated.

We didn't buy much at the Marketplace. I bought a gift for my daughter's fiance and my daughter bought some different flavors of ravioli to bring home.

Afterward we went to Hick's Nurseries to look at the Christmas displays. They have a walk-through area that has different scenes displayed for adults and children to enjoy.

 Aren't these adorable?!

 Look at these stuffed animals.

 Santa has quite an elaborate sleigh.

 This snowman and pup look cold, but the pup was wagging its tail.

 Then there was the shopping. Elf anyone?

 or maybe a Santa?

 or a snowman?

 or a Nutcracker?

 This is one of many decorated trees.

Of course they have Department 56 villages also.

 The hockey players in the bottom corner actually skate around the pond.

 I love the village below.

Here is Christmastown from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer....my favorite Christmas cartoon. 

 There's Rudolph!

 I love looking at the villages!

 I have always liked these figurines too, but not enough to buy them.

 I like this Santa too.

 I really love this Santa. I have a small collection of Santas that I display each year. This would make a wonderful addition....hint, hint, Hubby.

I hope you enjoyed the picture tours.

There isn't any crafting to show you right now. My right hand has been painful every time that I attempt any craft. Even the food prep for Thanksgiving bothered it. I am planning to go to a different doctor soon for a second opinion as I don't feel like my current doctor understands how important my crafting is to me or doesn't care. 

Thanks for stopping by!