What a Difference...

...a year makes! Our little Augie is all grown up! It hardly seems possible that he's been with us a year now. It sure didn't take him that long, though, to train us. 

The best seat in the house isn't a seat at all; he's the resident "hearth hound"!

He's filled our hearts and home with pure, unconditional love over the past twelve months.

And in other news around the house, (I'm trying to catch up!) the Christmas Cacti decided to put on their show a month early, I suppose they're Thanksgiving Cacti instead.

My parents sent this, a Swiss Cheese plant, when I broke my wrist at the end of August; it's already doubled in size! Have you ever seen one of these before? It was new to me.

These treasures were gifts from my mother, they belonged to her mother and are at least 100 years old. The smaller, clear glass cake plate is also a pedestal style, I tipped it up to show the detail. I'm so grateful for these and can't wait to use them for Christmas entertaining. 

I was privileged to be asked to create paraments for Advent for our sanctuary at church.

They were dedicated and placed into service this past Sunday. 

We watched this movie recently, if you like happy endings like I do, you'll love it! ⭐⭐⭐

I've got this pretty piece under the needle currently; this top is one of MANY (in the 100's!) left behind by a lifelong quilter who passed away last year. Her daughter is donating them to charitable causes, I'm honored to help her bring them to completion as blessings to others. 

So, back to "what a difference"... how about twelve years? Augie's not the only one growing up at the speed of light. Mason is driving now, he's not four anymore; and I tried SO hard not to blink. Sigh. 

Life is Good!

Continuing On...

I am still plugging away on the Chrismon path, I've hit a few potholes and endured some detours along the way but I'm persevering, holding steady and not veering off. After returning to the supply store a few weeks back to purchase some more kits to try, I've been dedicating whatever free time that I can carve out in the afternoons to work on these. The written directions take some getting used to. The Star Cross (far right, above) gave me fits, my first attempt was pitiful!  I took it completely apart, got new wire, and tried it again yesterday. This is how it is supposed to look. Hooray! A friend and I are going back to Rufty's,  "Chrismon Central", in a couple of weeks to take another (intermediate level this time! Yikes!!) class. She's been much more prolific in her efforts than I have, see below: 

She's become a Chrismon-making machine! Aren't they all beautiful, each and every one?

The two of us got to together the other afternoon at church just to see how many we're going to need to fill one of the trees that we'll use for this purpose during Advent. We carefully laid our completed Chrismons on a tree, just where it stood in the storage room, as an audition of sorts. Not bad. We're still going to need many more, but this gives us an idea; we've got time. Hopefully we'll be recruiting eager "makers" this fall within our own church family; and we have years and years to build our collection. In the meantime, I'll be continuing on... one bead at a time, learning all that I can along the way.

To God be the Glory!

Life is Good!

Christmas Stitching

Don't ask me where the time has disappeared to since my last post, I honestly don't know; it seems like just yesterday I was putting away the dishes after Thanksgiving and here we are clear through Advent and today is Christmas eve! I've been busy adding stitches to many things, all in preparation. As you can see from this photo on the left, I stuck to the challenge and finished the table topper on time to get it on our kitchen table in time for Christmas, never has a project brought more immense frustration; which makes the reward all the greater! I was bound and determined to see this one through and I did it!

I backed it with the vintage Santa print, it had been shelved in the stash closet for decades, it's just perfect! There's been lots of Christmas stitching going on this week, I cannot share it today as it has been for Christmas gifts that haven't been given yet; but stay tuned! Yes, just like that-- it's here!

Wishing you all the peace, love and blessings that this day can hold.

Life is Good!

Up next: Christmas!

Countdown Glimpses

When I began posting this month I made reference to glimpses, little peeks into the Christmas preparations going on here at home as if they were quick looks into windows on Advent calendars. Today's glimpses are of some of our actual Advent calendar collection. These have long ago had each window opened as we counted down to Christmas, but I have hung onto them and proudly display them each year now, not only for the charming illustrative artwork but also for the memories associated with opening each tiny window as a family, all in anticipation of what was to come! This free-standing Christmas house may just be my all time favorite!

I simply love the illustrations and the colors.

The attic garret is an art studio. The photo below shows what is behind window #7 above.

Why, yes, it is Santa himself, posing for the artist of course!

The outside of the Christmas house calendar.

This smaller, wall calendar, depicts a European Christmas market in the snow.

This chestnut vendor wears a coat with #4 window as her pocket.

Just look at what is keeping warm in there! I have a special fondness for the little dog in this one too!

The bear skiers are having a grand time outside this Alpine castle on this bright calendar.

This particular calendar has not held up as well over time, some of the "doors" have been lost but it remains on of my favorites nonetheless!  The precious illustrations evocative of children's books of fairy tales hold a very special place in my heart!  How are you counting down at your house?🎄📅

Life is Good!

December Glimpses

Remember opening a window every day in December on those long-ago paper Advent calendars to glimpse something new each time, all to get ready for Christmas? This is my version: on the first day of December the Christmas dishes have appeared in the kitchen cupboard. Enjoy your preparations!

Life is Good!

Joy!

Today is the third Sunday in Advent; "joy" is the candle lit today; as we prepare for Christmas we observe, with joy, what is to come. How do you express this joy? Baking is in full swing at Chez Goodneedle. Never before have I purchased 10 lbs. of sugar or a pint of vanilla at the same time! Let the cookie baking begin, in earnest, as we prepare... with joy!

Life is Good!

Intervention Needed!

We love the annual electronic advent calendars from Jacquie Lawson, we share them as dowloads with the grandchildren and get one for ourselves too. This year the theme is Victorian Christmas, there are lots of activities (things to create and decorate) that build on each previous day, creating a more Christmassy Main Street to revisit as time goes by and Christmas day draws closer. There are fun diversions as well: puzzles, books and games. My daughter-in-law shared this photo; Gregory and Lynnleigh enjoy their calendar each night before bed, she says that they LOVE it this year. Well, there's a certain obsessive attraction for me too: the ornamant breaking game! Ornaments apper in a large grid, clicking on three of the same color ornaments that appear in a row breaks them, allowing different ones to drop down into play. As the levels progress the speed picks up and bonus points appear for accumulation by breaking "special" ornaments. This morning I could not make it from the desk chair and laptop until I reigned victorious over this silly merciless game. Dishes to wash? Cards to address? Gifts to wrap? Trees to decorate? Nothing on my "to do" list could break the temptation to play or sway my competitive nature to beat the computer! I was definitely rendered powerless and in need of an intervention. Thank goodness this screen suddenly popped up. Whew! Now, I can get on with my day; tomorrow might just be another story!

Life is Good!

Joy

Yesterday was the third Sunday in Advent; "joy" is our Advent word of the week. The children of the congregation presented "The Signs of Christmas", a pageant, during the Sunday School hour. The final scene wasn't really that for these grandparents; I captured yet another mini-drama, an unscripted one, that unfolded at the very end, it is documented above. 

The joy of the season is reflected in the children. 

Life is Good!

Give It Away!

"Love in your heart wasn't put there to stay.  Love isn't love 'til you give it away."   - Oscar Hammerstein

Love; it's this weeks' Advent word. My husband and I walked into church yesterday morning to be greeted by a friend, she came right up to me with a sad look in her eye. "I have some bad news" she began, " it's really bad." I braced myself. She went on to tell us that our church's Parish Administrator had unexpectedly and suddenly died over the weekend. I felt like I'd been kicked in the stomach, I certainly hadn't braced myself firmly enough to receive that tragic news! Phyllis, our efficient and always professional Parish Administrator could easily run our church office with one hand tied behind her back; she knew everything, every one, and kept it all straight. There was never any confusion as to where she stood or what was being handled, Phyllis was a straight shooter and a clear communicator. In every phone call, e-mail or face to face meeting that I had with her over the years I always came away feeling confident and reassured that whatever business we had spoken about was being tended to, and well. We became friends as time passed and we both became grandmothers, often chatting about the joys of grandchildren; and yet, Phyllis was always the consummate professional when it came to the church office. Late this past spring she was plagued with back pain and time after time had to postpone treatment because of some chronic breathing and pulmonary issues. At long last, about three weeks ago, she was deemed healthy enough to undergo back surgery and she came through that procedure with flying colors. Last Thursday I checked on her and learned that she had a Dr.'s appointment that afternoon and was doing fine. Her last Facebook status update, dated November 28, confirmed her now pain-free state and her desire to get back to work as soon as possible.

How was the news that I had just heard even possible? 

I sat in the sanctuary yesterday morning and tried to remember the last time I had seen Phyllis and spoken with her. All of a sudden the moment came flooding back, as clear as could be. We were standing in the hall outside the church offices, she was hurting and had come in to tend to busisness for as long as she could that day; she was eagerly looking forward to getting her surgery behind her. I told her that I would be praying for her. She started to walk away, turned back toward me and said "I love you." I echoed that sentiment right back to her, extremely uncharacteristic behavior; and yet, in that time and space it didn't seem unusual at all. I walked away feeling God's presence between us and surrounding us. I knew that she was going to be okay. This exchange haunted me yesterday, but in a very good way. I am so deeply thankful now that I expressed those words of love, I had no way of knowing then that they would be the very last words we'd ever speak to each other.

So, back to our Advent word of the week: love; don't hold it too tight. Remember the rhyme by Hammerstein, live it; your heart can't possibly hold onto all the love that you have. By all means... give it away; you will be so glad that you did!

Life is Good!

Love

We love because He first loved us - 1 John 4:19
Life is Good!

Time

 I believe that "time" might be the word I hear most right now:  "I don't have time, I'm running out of time, where has the time gone?"... you've heard it too. This clock hangs on the wall in my sewing room, it's a replica of a Swiss railroad clock, a souvenir of our days living in Geneva years ago.  As you might imagine, being that it is a Swiss timepiece, it keeps perfect time. During this Advent period, the weeks of preparation and waiting before Christmas, how do you mark time? Rather than get out all the decorations at once we prefer to stretch it out and focus on one item at a time: the window candles one day, the tree on another, tomorrow I will be hanging our garlands. This morning our grandson helped me to put out our cherished nativity. Together we unwrapped each figure and Gregory identified it and placed it in the stable; he was deliberate in his actions to see that every figure and animal were securely under the roof, even as it became more and more crowded. "Why?" I asked. "Because it can rain in Bethlehem" was his simple and logical response. We couldn't fit the camel underneath, but being covered with a towel satisfied his desire to keep everyone dry and comfortable..."just in case it rains"! I doubt that I will ever forget the sweet time spent together with Gregory this morning when I place this nativity scene in the years to come. How are you spending your time in preparation? Even though time seemingly flies, try and make the time to slow down and really examine the gifts that surround you today; I guarantee it may just be the best time you'll spend in these hurried and hectic days of preparation. This is the time that God has given to us: gifted time; more perfect than any Swiss clock could ever measure!

Life is Good!

Christmas Spirit Abounds...

Gifts are readied for friends and neighbors.

 ...even if blog posts are few and far between these days!

In a recent article I read by ELCA Bishop Mark Hanson he described an Advent posture of "standing on tiptoes and leaning into-- looking into-- God's promised future in hope. Advent reminds us that it is not for what we hope, but in whom we hope. The hope in Christ changes our perspective on both the future and the present."

 Just like all of you, I am as busy as can be in these last few days leading up to Christmas; today is no exception. I am checking in with a few photos as a way of chronicling this past week. As hard as I tried to load them in order, Blogger had other ideas about that; so, rather than fight it, I have relented and ask you to bear with me. I've included captions to add a relative time frame. My wish for you is a hope and spirit-filled Christmas; both today and into the future!

Thursday was our annual Quilt Ministry Christmas Tea;
we've gathered like this for the past eleven years, celebrating the season
and enjoying each others' company over a simple luncheon and warm cider. 

A better-late-than-never birthday quilt was finished on Tuesday.
Gregory enjoying his new BIG BOY room, bed and quilt!
Of all the things I've ever seen on any quilt I have made, a child is my all-time favorite!

Mason in his pre-school Christmas program on Monday, he was a cow.
(Although he insisted that he was an owl! A great horned owl, maybe?!)

Gregory and Mr. Goodneedle outside the sanctuary of the church
just before Mason's preschool program on Monday morning in the Capital City.

Lucy Ann and Gregory enjoying an impromptu game of
catch after the preschool program on Monday morning.

Mason with Santa on Monday; there was a special visitor in the Fellowship Hall!
Lucy Ann and Gregory kept their distance, even though there were candy canes.
The two-year-olds in our family aren't quite sure about the big guy in the red suit.

In our neck of the woods the candles for Christmas eve services at church are wrapped with crepe paper "ruffles", in a tradition borrowed locally from the Moravians. Over the last few years the job of cutting the paper (red representing the blood of Christ) and wrapping the candles (white representing purity and The Light) has fallen to the Quilt Ministry. In December the sewing machines don't move out the closet at church; instead, the ladies gather and wrap candles. This year 680+ have been prepared!

And, finally, on Monday evening our Bee gathered for snacks,
a Naughty Santa gift exchange and a movie. This is a great time that we eagerly look forward to all year long. Although some choice gifts were "snatched" during the exchange it was all in good fun!
(I'm over it, really I am! Ha!)

Life is Good!