Merry, Merry Christmas!

Here we are just 2 days from Christmas - are you ready??  It's a good thing it finally arrives, so we stop shopping - right?   So, let's get on with it - it's time to be done with all the work & enjoy the celebrations!

What are your plans?

We are having Christmas Eve with a large part of the family here at the farm, then going to our youngest son's to celebrate there. I'm thinking that Kentucky will be warmer than Iowa next week. We'll be at their lake house on the Cumberland, so it'll be a laid back relaxed atmosphere & we're ready for some relaxation!

Wishing everyone a joyous Christmas & all the best in the New Year 2012. As Ellen says, always remember to be kind to one another.   I really do believe the world can use alot more kindness these days & it begins with each one of us.   But then, too, I believe that quilters are the kindest people in the world!

 

Have a good one!

And thank you for your business and friendship

this past year!

A Winter Wonderland Overnight!

Christmas at the Farm

Yes, we got our first dumping of snow making it an Iowa Winter Wonderland here; but the best news is that it was less than 5" so it's just perfect for this time of year.  Temperatures are cold enough to keep it snow & not slush - for now anyway.








So if you live where you see no snow by Christmas, you can enjoy these pictures of the farm to get you in the mood.  Lights & trees are going up all over town & country in anticipation of the holidays right around the corner now.

I surprised myself & finished decorating the house early this year; feels great to have some extra energy for those things. 

What about you?  How's your decorating going??

 The Christmas caramels

are wrapped & ready;

but there's lots more baking to do. 

Of course, we have to have kringla & lefse

 at this Danish celebration.

  



Windham Sampler blocks

Quiltingly, I've been working on the blocks for a new 

Windham Sampler & just now finished them. 

Love the browns & tealy blues with the black. 

What do you think?

Guess I'd better get back to some gift wrapping & maybe more baking. 

 Have a great week

& enjoy some of those

open houses & concerts

 that make this time of year so special.

Jo Morton's been up to so much good again!

Elizabethtown in red/brown/gold

Another beautiful grouping from Jo at Andover Fabrics;

Elizabethtown! 

Creative juices have been running since they arrived

a couple weeks ago!

Gorgeous border prints & coordinates in three colorways! 

Good job, Jo!

In blue/gold/navy

In plum/green/gold

Which is your favorite?

Just wanted to show you these

& wish you & yours a very

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Take care & travel safely!

Baby, It's Cold Outside!!

Don't let that little spot of sunshine fool you; it's very cold outside today; and the wind is not really even blowing.  Time to get out the gloves & scarves whether we want to or not.

Thimbleberries

I finally got my Thimbleberries Pumpkin Quilt up in the family room; this is one of my favorite quilts for the fall season. I can remember when I first saw this quilt; we were at the Thimbleberries studio in Hutchinson, MN & I had to make it.  I hear so many quilters talking about how certain quilts affect them like that; this was one for me & it's been years ago. . . would not want to figure out how many years it has been! Oh, but they've been good years with lots of quilting a part of them.


I have to share a new recipe I found at the Better Homes & Gardens site.  It's Pumpkin Fudge & it is awesome & easy to make.  Go to bhg.com & search for "pumpkin fudge."  Believe me, you'll want to give some of it away or take it to a bake sale or bazaar, because you cannot keep it in the refrigerator, it is just too tempting to have it so close for snacking.

Also, check out the Upside Down Caramelized Apple Pie; it is made in a cast iron skillet first on the stove top, then baked in the same skillet.  And, it, too, is delicious!  Well, you can tell what's on my mind today - eat, eat, eat!!