Jingle Bells

The holidays are fast approaching.  We've been trying to keep things simple this year.  Yeah....right.  Very simple though, is the decision to participate in Chookyblue's Secret Santa Christmas Swap, otherwise known as the SSCS.  We send a handmade gift and a Christmas ornament to our partner.  The gift has to wait under the tree until Christmas, but the ornament goes on the tree right away.  Last year I received my gifts from Fiona and this year I was instructed to send gifts to her.  What fun!  Thankfully, her package arrived in good time and she posted a photo of the hot chocolate ornament I made for her.  Silly me forgot to take a photo before I sealed the package!

I received a package from Maria, also in Australia.  Now I have a kangaroo on my Christmas tree!  I can't wait to see what's in the other squishy package on Christmas morning.  :-)

Also not so simple is avoiding the deer.  LZF met one in the dark on his way to work.  He is fine, not sure about the deer.  The truck is in hospital.

We signed up The Viking on our membership at the fitness club.  He has a wonderful time in the children's area playing and also taking classes in dance, gymnastics and arts & crafts.  There are more he hasn't tried yet.  He's also started swimming lessons.  On this first day the instructor was trying very hard to earn his trust.

Last weekend we also had the carpets cleaned.  Bad timing as usual.  The Sailor Son was visiting and we also couldn't decorate for Christmas until the carpet dried.

So a day was spent hanging out in the kitchen.  

The Sailor Son was passing through between his assignments.  In Texas he met a lovely new ladyfriend.

And they both graduated from their training program.

We finally got around to decorating on Sunday.  The bird tree goes up in the dining room.

The outdoor lights are up, with lots of help from The Sailor Son.  The contractor who did our repairs and supervised the house painting also installs holiday lights, so this year we opted for lights along the roof line.  I'm thinking next year we should add lights in those upper windows.  You can never have too many lights.

Over in New Zealand, the Evil Step-Daughter manages to fit in some wonderful sewing amongst all the other things she does as a busy mother of three young children.  I just love this shirt she made for Rocky.

And we are told he loves it too!

It's never simple to start a new project at this time of year, I should have my head examined, but I've finished part 2 of Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt.  Part 3 is about half done and part 4 was released today.  I'm behind!  Don't worry.  I'm not really worried about keeping up.  Much.

Swoon.  This is my Christmas present from The Tramp.  It's a Bernina 720.  The 710 and I never bonded.  I disliked the 9mm stitch width though I loved so many other things about the machine. Along with many others on the Yahoo Bernina groups I  moaned about how I wished to have the large machine but with the 5.5mm stitch width.  I knew Bernina made the 720, but wouldn't sell it in the US.  Apparently times have changed because it's now available for Americans to purchase online, though not through local dealers.  Believe me, I tried.  To make a long story short, I contacted Bernina myself, moaned directly to them, and they and one of my local dealers were able to make the purchase happen....on terms that worked for me.  The stars were aligned that day!  I am very grateful to all who were involved.

I've also finished a knitting project.  Piglet appreciated the warm evenings on my lap while I tickled her ears with the yarn.  I shall have to spread it out for a photo!   Tomorrow.  :-)

Fungus

It seems to be all about fungus in the neighborhood these days.  I see it all over the place when I go for my walk in the morning.  So many different kinds.  This is just in our backyard!  I thought this first one was quite beautiful.  And you can see how big it is.

I've been walking a couple of miles each morning with one or other of the dogs.  This morning was Maisy's turn.  This was before sunrise and the streetlights were still on.

The interesting just-before-sunrise sky reflected nicely in the pond.

The dog of course, couldn't understand why I kept stopping her fun to aim my phone at the sky.  :-)

Mom and Dad needed to do a few errands so The Viking and I took them off to the mall.  As long as he can have some time in the play area he doesn't mind.

I bring my knitting so I don't mind either!

One of the errands was to buy Mom a cane.  The physical therapy for her hip has progressed very well and she can't wait to stop using the rollator.  The therapist is going to teach her how to walk "properly" with a cane.  Cane lessons. Who knew!

After lunch, the weather was so beautiful The Viking and I stopped at a park.  I knit and he ran and ran and ran and ran and ran with a small crowd of little boys.  Excellent!

And on the way home he insisted on checking his map.  lol

Starting a couple of small quilting projects tomorrow.  I need to get some gifts made!

Did you know?

Did you know that it is now summer?  It sure is.  And a hot summer at that.  Record or close to record high temperatures every day, with thunderstorms in between.  Summer.  No question about it.

Did you know I went on my bee's retreat to the mountains?  Yep.  So much sewing.  I took the 301 and all the small bits of fabric I showed in the bin on the last post.  Many got put together, but there is sooooo much more to do.  We stayed in a very comfortable house with a fabulous view of Grandfather Mountain.  Very pleasant in every way.

Since I got home I've been plugging away putting the blocks together.  Soooooo many more to make. :-)

Did you know I've been on a hat sewing kick?  Yep.  About eight so far.

Did you know that strawberry season has come and gone?  It's too short!

Did you know I made another purse from my favorite pattern?  Very fun fabric, but I've decided it isn't my colors.  Great for the summer though, and it was a good experiment in using Soft and Stable batting in a pattern that doesn't call for it.  I'm definitely going to try it again in the autumn.

Did you know I also went off to the North Carolina Quilt Symposium?  I had "help" packing too.  Do you know how hard it is to explain to a two-year-old that "his" suitcase isn't broken?  He was convinced it was missing wheels because it only has two.  :-)

We took a happy selfie when we finally arrived after the long drive.  A lot of smile in that photo!  More smiles when we saw how many ribbons some of us (not me) won at the quilt show.

The venue was very nice and included this interesting historic mansion.

The famous Georgia Bonesteel lives very close to Bonclarken and was a gracious hostess when some lucky folk went on a tour of her house and studio as one of our classes.  Her cat, Rose, got into the act too, which meant I had to go outside for a while to get away from the cat dander raised while flipping quilts and use my inhaler, but even so I enjoyed the tour thoroughly.

My other classes were with Sue Nickels, learning to draw feathers, and with Laura Wasilowski, in her Tiny Homes and Garden of Eden workshops.  All were fun and fabulous.

Did you  know I could draw feathers???  I sure didn't!!

Have you ever heard of a water castle?  I hadn't either.  Every once in a while The Viking would mention castles when we were driving around town.  Castle?  Where in the world would you find a castle in North Carolina?   Neither I nor his parents figured it out until one day when we were out of the car he pointed out the water tower behind Trader Joe's and told me it was a castle.  OHHHHH!  Behold....a Water Castle!

Of which we have many.  :-)

Did you know it is so much fun to see your grandson playing with your childhood toys?  :-)

Did you know if you start a walking program you sometimes have to walk in the pouring rain?  Yep.  You do.

Had you heard of a new migraine therapy called Cefaly?  Neither had I.  I'm a couple of weeks into it and I'm not dead yet.  I'm taking that as a good sign.

Did you know that Em Ems taste better with sand?  (M&Ms)

We've been spending time at Jordan Lake.  Someone is wondering if Nini remembered to bring the Em Ems again.  :-)

Do you know how important it is to have a "beach project?"  After a few trips to the beach I realized I needed something to do while the boy plays.  Granny squares seem to be the ticket.  No sharp objects involved.

I saw the idea of putting holes and eyelets in a plastic box for your yarn.  So we made one and it seems to be a good way of keeping the sand out of the yarn.....mostly.

Did you know baby owls nest in cars?  The Viking declared, "I have a seat belt.  Baby Owl have a nest."  Works for me.  :-)

Did you know dogs like to rush out of the airconditioning and take up posts in the sun in 100F heat?  Honestly!  We don't keep the house that cold!!!  Good grief!  Dark fur gets HOT.

We had lots of family over (on Saturday) for Father's Day and I failed to take many photos.  But here is one of the happy fathers and his namesake great grandson.  Love you Dad!!