New Year's Eve

Today is inventory day at the quilt shop. Apparently, for taxes, the merchants have to count their inventory at the end of the year. The entire staff shows up and counts patterns and notions and books and kits. A few high school girls come to help. Their job is to weigh all the bolts of fabric. Laurie Ann has a conversion factor to change weight into yardage, and then into cost. We usually find odds and ends that no one knew we had. This year, Laura has promised to bundle the "lost and found" items and give them to people who follow her blog. More later! Gotta go.

Pincushion

This is my smallest quilt so far. It is the pincushion I made for Rachel after Christmas. She and Laura gave me crushed walnut shells to use as filling. It turned out so cute! I could make this a profession. The possibilities are endless. So much fabric, so little time.

Speaking of professions, I have to take a new board exam in 2010. I have materials to study from, but it will cut into my sewing time. I may have to set up a reward system...twenty questions, ten minutes of sewing. Hmmm.

Have a Happy New Year and stay cozy!

Christmas Snow

This is what it looks like on our front deck this morning. Brrr! At least we have a cozy house, and tons of Christmas leftovers. Rachel and Laura are up at Brian's, since it was too snowy to make it back here last night. I'm thinking it will take snowplows and a snowblower to get them back. They may not get to travel home as planned since the South Dakota interstate is closed and the airlines will be backed up as well.

I personally have always enjoyed snow days. The unexpected day off, no guilt, and lots of things to do at home. I got filling for pincushions as one of my Christmas gifts, so that is high on my list. May all your snowy days bring unexpected pleasures as well.

Christmas Countdown

I love this picture. The tree is ready and waiting for you. The bedroom, not so much. But it will be! I promise.

I finished Mike's quilt and he got to sleep under it last night. Since it was way below zero last night, it was good timing.

The farmer is going to the city to pick up the saw for his shop. I am on call, so I will stay behind. It is a quilt shop day. I will wear my beeper. My life is in layers, but it seems to work most of the time.

Time for breakfast. Have a good day.

Correction

I found out that caringbridge is its own website. The word you type in to get Kami's news is kamijohnson. There are very cute pictures.

As long as I'm here, I will tell you I learned how to cook an acorn squash. You cut it in half, top to bottom, and scrape out the seeds. Put the cut side down on a baking pan with sides. Add water (1/2 inch?) to the bottom of the pan. Bake at 350 for an hour or as long as it takes for the squash to be soft when poked by a fork. When it is soft, scrape out the inside yellow part and put in a bowl. Top with butter and a handfull of brown sugar and mash with a fork. Taste and add more sugar if you want it sweeter. The older I get, the more vegetables I like. Cooking does not come easy for me. I have no sense of timing or how to season things. Perhaps I am just distracted by other things. Tucker has a way of putting his head on my lap, or on my computer, and staring at me with his big, brown eyes. How can you not pet such a pleading dog?

Christmas Wine

Merry Christmas to all. The bunnies are snuggled together on the hearth waiting for Santa to come. Our tree is decorated, and we are taking orders for Christmas goodies. It is snowing today, but not as much as Omaha or Missoula. Yesterday we cheered on the Grizzlies and today we are Vikings fans. I love fall football.

If you are wondering what in the world is in the jugs, it is phase two of the grape adventure. These are the white grapes being made into wine. It has introduced me to a whole new vocabulary.

The jug is a "carboy", moving the wine from one jug to the next is "racking". I think someone was tasting and talking at the same time.
The yeast/fermentation part is done, but it still has to clarify. After finishing on the white wine, the farmer will do the red. It won't be ready to drink for this holiday...perhaps Easter?

I have a week to turn the sewing room back into the guest room. I am amazed by the amount of fabric I have left over from past projects. It will be a happy New Year!

Kami had her baby last Saturday, somewhat early. I think St. Alexius has a Caring Bridge website with pictures. I will go look. The last name is Johnson.

Art History

One of the interesting things about Mom's is all the art on the walls. This one is signed by Lionel Barrymore. After looking on the internet, I learned that he is Drew Barrymore's father. In addition to acting, he studied art in Paris, and did etchings like this one, called "Quiet Waters".

We now have lights on the tree and the ornaments go on tomorrow. I finished three placemats for Mom and have one yet to go. I realized I haven't been good about sharing a Christmas wish list this year. For those of you at a new school or location, I would like a coffee cup for my collection. I take turns with them for my morning coffee and think fond thoughts about the giver. I just bought a pincushion pattern that calls for crushed walnut shells (found at pet stores). It makes a great filler. I think a picture of R, L and A done by Duane F. would be especially lovely. New nightgowns, a quilt charm for my bracelet, and garden clogs (size 8 1/2,

or 9 , or whatever surprise you think of would bring a smile. I'm just glad to have you here.

Drive safely.

Two Turtle Doves

Merry Christmas! I am back from my visit with Mom. While there, I helped her decorate her Christmas tree. Some of the old ornaments I recognize. Others were made by her friends or were given to her by friends. She remembers the story to each one. This basket with two wooden birds is one that came from her family. We had it on our tree when I was growing up. My brother and I used to take turns hiding the wooden birds in the Christmas tree, and hunting for the birds until we found them.

Mom seems well, although weaker, and more hard of hearing. She is tiny, but still determined to do everything herself if she can. Bob Allen, the man who was the maintenance man for the Bridge and is now retired, is still one of her best friends. He visited while I was there, and his daughter and her husband will visit Mom when they come for Christmas. Mom makes friends with everyone she meets.

We played five or six games of scrabble. The only time my score was higher than Mom's, my sister beat us both by using all her letters on a 30 point word, which gave her 80 points in one play. I am going back to quilting. I can take only so much!