A Quiet New Year's Eve

Last week Christmas Day dawned sunny and warm (well, warm for Chicago in December). It's been a warm December overall. Our little flower has stopped blooming but it's still quite green.

I took a contemplative walk and spotted this pinecone that seemed nicely seasonal.

So did a neighbor's house.

Shadows were long in the early morning. 

I saw several of these leathery leaves.

We'll be at home this New Year's Eve, our usual preference, for a quiet celebration to welcome in the new year.

I hope your New Year's Eve celebration is fun and safe.

Loads of goodies

Christmas goes by so fast--I want it to go slowly, not just because I enjoy the family gathering, eat till you bust day, but I want to see what gifts everyone got.  There are generally some cool things floating around that I don't want to miss. Multiple forms of back scratchers, pigs, and chocolate. Many books that need to be browsed and discussed, tools, t-shirts, edibles, and just fun stuff. It's better now than when we were young and it was all rip-n-tear.  But it just never lasts long enough for me.

I got some lovely, thoughtful gifts that I'll appreciate all year.  (well, the chocolate and handmade salsa might not make it but other things will.)  Here's a sampling of some of the fun.

My niece made me a necklace (crochet) that is very cool. I love her color choices.

I got two little lighting devices that have already come in handy.  I'm up more and more in the night and have used them to read a bit. And I've been journaling early, before the winter sun comes up (when it does), and they've been useful there, too. So far I haven't used them for their intended gifting purpose--extra light for embroidery. I'm sure I will.

I'm really intrigued by these buttons.

And these micro tools (teensy scissors and pliers) will be very handy for beading.

And Hubby bravely indulged my Shirley Temple passion.

Now I can show the other things I made, too. That will have to wait until next week, though.

Intention for 2012

For the past several years, I’ve chosen a word to focus on during the new year, rather than making resolutions I probably wouldn’t keep. The word is a focus for meditation and a guide to where I wish my life to go. My first word was “Move.”

Last year I selected a phrase, “No Excuse.” A slight admonition to myself to be responsible and act so no excuses would be necessary. I still need to keep that in mind (I’m a great procrastinator.)

This year I’ve selected another phrase: “Destination. Deliberation. Determination.” I’ve been listening to the Harry Potter books on my commute and I’m in the midst of book six, where the students learn to apparate.

“Apparition is a magical method of transportation and is basically the magical action of traveling by having the user focus on a desired location in their mind, then disappear from their current location and instantly reappear at the desired location. According to Wilkie Twycross, Ministry of Magic official and apparition instructor, one has but to recall The Three Ds: Destination, Determination and Deliberation. One must be completely determined to reach one's destination, and move without haste, but with deliberation. “ (from the Harry Potter Wiki)

When I searched online, I found I wasn’t the only one who saw this as a good metaphor for taking action in one’s life. I found several references to it in articles. Welcome 2012.

Christmas fun!

I hope you had as enjoyable a holiday as we did.  Mostly it was a quiet weekend. Sunny for a change and not too cold. On Christmas Eve we went to see the The Muppets (I really enjoyed it) and I worked like mad to finish up this gift:

I'd already finished this one:

On Christmas Day I made this one last gift and then we wrapped presents.

The piggy is needlefelted. This year had theme presents, not planned. Back scratchers were a big one--most people got one, one person was given two. The piggy recipient received a huge piggy bank. Books are still a big present in my family, too.

My sister always gets stuck hostessing and does it brilliantly. We dined and chocolated and had a great time.  A few didn't make it and were missed.

Merry Christmas

I've spent an indulgent week--giving myself the gift of time and quiet.  One morning I took myself to Panera Bread for a lovely breakfast bagel and hot tea before work. Another I joined coworkers for a catered-in lunch. I didn't stay late at work (well, hardly). I met an elderly professor for a lovely lunch.

I've worked on my crewel paper. Stitched on holiday gifts.  Wrapped and given presents.  Received some lovely gifts from friends. And caught up at work during the quiet days.  Holiday bliss!

I hope your holidays are as warm and lovely and full of joy.

Finally--some stitching to show! And a table Runner Pattern

These were a bit hard to photograph--they're table runners and about 40" long.  I made them from a quick online pattern, Ten-Minute Table Runner by LaRae Bunnell Clark, that I found about a week ago. 

I finished one for my sister and one for my sister-in-law.

And here's the pattern for you. There's still time to make some before Christmas--it's that quick! If you click on the pattern it should enlarge to print.  If not, e-mail me and I'll send it to you.

Little Traveler

Last weekend was a perfect preholiday weekend.  On Friday my sister and sister-in-law and I got together to enjoy holiday decorations.  We went to the Little Traveler for lunch and browsing.

We ate first and then browsed the many shops in this renovated mansion.  Each room has something different, from furniture and clothing to wine and chocolate, and it's easy to get lost amongst the winding rooms (I think it's two or more houses linked together--it seems endless). Many of the items are from small companies and are definitely not what you'd find in any department store. This was one or our mom's favorite places, so there was nostalgia amongst the holiday glitter. 

And glitter it is--The Little Traveler really goes all out for the holidays. In addition to rooms of holiday greenery and ornaments and under-the-tree villages, all of the rooms were also full of holiday decor, clothing, cards and all were beautifully decorated.

Afterward we ran some errands and picked up odds and ends needed for getting the holidays together. Then we sat around the dining room table and talked (and ate fresh-from-the-oven spice cookies).

It was a really fun day.

I was whacked on Saturday and lazy. I started leek-potato soup and roasted chickens for dinner. We did laundry. I worked on Christmas gifts.  Read a bit--the new Diana Gabaldon Lord John Grey book. We watched A Christmas Carol (the 1951 version with Alastair Sim). 

Sunday was more of the same. I made tacos for dinner, worked on Christmas gifts (one down, two more to go). On Sunday we watched A Christmas Carol (the 1938 version this time, with Reginald Owen).  It was relaxing and fun and full of holiday spirit.