Thursday, December 28, 2017

A RIDICULOUSLY LONG CATCH UP POST!!!

Well I am of course sooo ridiculously behind now that I should probably not even try to catch it up.  But.....since that's not really in my nature, and I do want a record of things in my blog books, I will do my best to get things in here.

Both Thanksgiving and Christmas 2017 were wonderful in almost every way.  I think I will mainly just show pictures and narrate somewhat as these books are one of the only places I have pictures eventually printed, and I don't want them to be missing.  On the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving Melody and her family were here and had rented  a big house in beautiful Temecula so that they could host Thanksgiving for everyone.  It was sooo nice.  The house and the time together, the meal and the memory will go down as one of the best so far.  Here are some of the pics of that time...

THIS WAS THE WHOLE GROUP...THE ONLY ONES MISSING WERE MY OLDEST TWO GRANDCHILDREN, EVAN AND LINDSEY, AS THEY WERE SPENDING THE DAY WITH THEIR OTHER GRANDMA, AND ANNABEL AND HER LITTLE FAMILY HADN'T GOT HERE YET.
HERE'S THE GROUP WHO GOT THE CHRISTMAS PJ'S THIS YEAR.  THE WEATHER WAS SOO BEAUTIFUL THAT DAY, AND THERE WAS A GIANT FIRE PIT OUT BACK THAT WE ENJOYED OUTSIDE ON THE PATIO THAT OVERLOOKED THE BEAUTIFUL WINE COUNTRY IN TEMECULA

OUR FOUR KIDS.  THEY SOO ENJOY THEIR TIME TOGETHER

2 YEAR OLD CLAIRE TRIED SOO HARD NOT TO TAKE HER NAP THAT DAY BUT JUST DIDN'T MAKE IT.  WE LOOKED OVER AND SHE HAD JUST LAID DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF EVERYTHING, AND FELL FAST ASLEEP, LOL.  GRANDMA KNEW THE FEELING

THESE 4 COUSINS SURE ENJOY THEIR TIME TOGETHER TOO.  POOR LITTLE TELLA BROKE HER ARM TWO DAYS PRIOR AND WAS STILL WAITING FOR SWELLING TO GO DOWN TO GET HER CAST.  SHE WAS SUCH A TROOPER ON THE WHOLE EXPERIENC

KIDS TABLE

LITTLE SOPHIA IS SUCH A LITTLE DOLL.  I DON'T SEE HER NEARLY ENOUGH.  SHE WAS SOO SWEET

SOPHIA WITH HER GRANDPA

MY OLDEST AND MY YOUNGEST.
Ok, I "think" I had shown you most of the gifts I had made and gave out that day, which meant then I started getting busy on some things I wanted for myself.  It took me WAY longer than I intended it too, which left me very pressed for time, but I was really glad I pressed on, as I ended up being really happy with it all.  I bought a line of Christmas fabrics by Robert Kaufman, and made pretty much everything out of it so that it ended up all coordinating.  Let me show you all of this.....

THIS WAS DONE FROM A KIT WHICH I JUST LOVED...IT WAS THE SAME LINE OF FABRICS, AND WAS PRETTY EASY TO DO.  I TREATED MYSELF TO AN EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENT AND BOUGHT A GATHERING FOOT FOR MY MACHINE WHICH MADE THIS HUGE HUGE RUFFLE MUCH EASIER TO ATTACH!

I MADE THESE SANTA CLAUS EMBROIDERY DESIGNS INTO PILLOWS USING THE FABRICS TOO.  THESE WERE SOOO MUCH FUN.  I HOPE TO MAKE SOME MORE NEXT YEAR, THOUGH I WILL START WAY EARLIER, LOL.  

I MADE TWO

JUST HAD TO SHOW YOU UP CLOSE SO YOU CAN SEE MORE OF THE DETAIL.  I USED A FURRY FLEECE FABRIC FOR BOTH HIS BEARD AND HIS HAT


AND THEN THIS LOG CABIN BLOCK RUNNER WAS ALSO FROM A KIT.  ALL OF THE FABRICS WERE PRE-CUT, AND WHAT A DREAM THAT WAS.  THIS WENT TOGETHER REALLY EASILY IN AN AFTERNOON, AND THAT INCLUDED DOING THE QUILTING WHICH I DID MYSELF.  I JUST DID A STITCH IN THE DITCH, AND IT WORKED OUT REALLY WELL.

CLOSE UP ON ONE OF THE BLOCKS....I SOO LOVED THIS FABRIC

HERE'S WHERE I PUT THEM

I ALSO MADE A COUPLE OF FABRIC TREES OUT OF THE FABRIC, AND A SET OF 8 COASTERS.  I USED CHARM PACKS OUT OF THE FABRIC FOR THESE AND IT MADE THEM QUICK AND EASY.  I LOVE MAKING THOSE TREES  I MADE 4 OF THEM THIS YEAR

I MADE THIS BY COMBING A FEW OF THE EMBROIDERY DESIGNS THAT I GOT FROM A SHOP THAT I LOVE AND USE FREQUENTLY.  I GAVE IT TO MY NIECE JESSICA WHO DOES MY HAIR FOR HER LITTLE BOY WESTON WHO LOVES LEAVING TREATS FOR SANTA

HERE HE IS ON CHRISTMAS EVE ALL READY FOR SANTA
HE GOT A PAIR OF THE PJ'S TOO
I ALSO MADE A FEW OF THESE AS GIFTS THIS YEAR  IT IS ALSO FREE STANDING LACE WHERE YOU STITCH OUT THE FRONT, THE BACK, TWO SIDES AND TWO ROOF PIECES AND THEN SEW AND GLUE IT ALL TOGETHER AND ADD A RIBBON HANGER.  I LOVED THE DESIGN AND THEY CAME OUT SUPER CUTE.  BUT NEEDLESS TO SAY THEY TOOK A LONG TIME SO I NEVER DID GET ONE MADE FOR MYSELF.  NEXT YEAR FOR SURE'!




I MADE THIS SET OF COASTERS FOR OUR LIVING ROOM AS WELL.  THIS DESIGN IS FROM THAT SAME SHOP WHICH HAS DEFINITELY BECOME MY FAVORITE.  THESE WERE A LOT MORE WORK THAN I INTENDED, BUT WERE REALLY WORTH THE TIME I FELT.  I MADE 8 OF THEM, AND EACH COASTER TOOK ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF TO COMPLETE.  THEY HAVE A LAYER OF WARM AND NATURAL IN THEM SO THAT THEY SOAK UP ANY MOISTURE OR HEAT REALLY, REALLY WELL.  I USED METALLIC GOLD THREAD FOR A LOT OF THE DETAIL STITCHING WHICH WAS ONE OF THE REASONS THEY TOOK SO MUCH TIME AS IT IS KIND OF PAIN, BUT AGAIN, REALLY WORTH IT.  THESE PICTURES DO NOT DO THESE JUSTICE AS THEY KIND OF SPARKLE TOO.

WANTED TO SHOW YOU A CLOSE UP OF ONE OF THE CORNERS, AND THE DECORATIVE STITCHING ON IT

BIG DECORATIVE STITCHING WENT OVER THE CENTERS





THERE WERE TWO WITH GOLD CENTERS, TWO WITH RED, TWO WITH GREEN, AND TWO WITH BLACK.

HERE'S WHERE THEY WENT

Then!  We hosted out annual brother/sister dinner at our house again and it was once again such a good time.  I'll just post pictures of this night as they are pretty self explanatory.  There are a few pictures of all of our Christmas decs as well.















MY MOM'S CHRISTMAS MICE

I MADE AND GIFTED 10 OF THESE ANGELS THIS YEAR, INCLUDING MYSELF.  THEY TOOK AN HOUR AND HALF TO STITCH OUT ON MY MACHINE, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE TO SIT THERE AND WORK THE MACHINE WHILE IT WAS RUNNING UNTIL IT WAS TIME TO PUT ON MERRY CHRISTMAS AND 2017.  I LOVED THEM.  THEY ARE STIFF AND YET SOO LACY LOOKING.  MIGHT HAVE STARTED A NEW TRADITION, LOL.  A DIFFERENT ANGEL WITH THE YEAR EVERY YEAR, LOL.  AGAIN, I WILL START WAY, WAY, EARLIER.  THERE WASN'T A SINGLE THING I DID THIS YEAR THAT I WASN'T FINISHING UP THE DAY OF.  
We celebrated my husbands 66th birthday, a grand daughters 13th, and another grand daughter's 17th as well but I don't have any pictures of any of those events.  And then the Sun. before Christmas we celebrated Christmas with our 3 sons at our oldest son's house.  We had Italian food and it was just a wonderful, wonderful day.  I can't be sure why I took NO pictures, but I didn't.  I think it might have been the brother/sister dinner had just been the night before and I was beginning to drag just a wee bit, lol.  And then!  the Friday before Christmas hubby and I loaded up and took off for New Mexico to spend Christmas with Melody and her family there.  It was the first time we have done that and they have been married over 9 years already, so I think it was time.  It too was such a good time.  I have a few pictures from that...

Add caption











A BOY AND HIS DOG...THIS IS CODY

CODY GOT TO HAVE A PJ DAY AT SCHOOL AND WORE HIS NEW CHRISTMAS JAMMIES


HANDSOME LUKE

DARLING SAM




LOVE THIS PICTURE OF CLAIRE...THEY GOT SOME SNOW A LITTLE AFTER THANKSGIVING...DIDN'T LAST THOUGH

LINDSEY AND HER BOYFRIEND ON HER 17TH BIRTHDAY 

MY YOUNGEST SON AND HIS FAMILY

SAN DIEGO GRANDS

CODY AND I HAD A MOVIE DATE AND SAW THE STAR...SUPER CUTE MOVIE

LINDSEY AND HER DADDY JOE ON HER BIRTHDAY
I doubt anyone makes it to the end of this post especially as un-involved as I have been with blogging.  I have really missed it, and I do intend to get around trying to catch up some tomorrow.  You can imagine I think how long this took.  But I feel good that I did catch up.  How grateful I am for how much the Lord has blessed us with.  I am going to be busy this next month as I am going to make a quilt for my niece new baby!  She and her husband adopted a BEAUTIFUL little boy the week before Thanksgiving.  We are soo happy for her.  Hope you all are having a happy, healthy, holiday season.  Many blessings to you all!  Debbie

7 comments:

  1. I made it and I loved it! Well all except for Tella’s broken arm and that you ran out of time for the little church decoration. Wonderful holiday season you enjoyed! Your family knows how to have fun and enjoy each other. Those grands are growing like cwazy! And is anyone sweeter than little Claire putting herself down for a nap? Too cute!

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  2. What wonderful celebrations you had. Love all the things you made, especially love the coasters and the angels with the year on them.

    Happy New Year!!

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  3. Such blessings to see Debbie. You made such pretty things. You have been so busy. I think it is nice to get caught up with you. Have a wonderful weekend and I hope you have a wonderful 2018

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  4. Well, Debbie, not sure you could have added one more thing and no wonder you have been out of the blogging loop for a while. Enjoyed catching up with you. New year blessings!

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  5. I read every word and looked at every single picture and enjoyed every minute of it. You have made some amazing things and helped create memories and new traditions. What a great Thanksgiving and Christmas time you've had. I was so glad to see your post in my favorites lineup. I've missed you. Happy New Year to you and your family.

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  6. Enjoyed this post very much and I did read to the end. I'd been checking back every week to see if you had posted and glad to find out that you had just been super busy creating. What keepsakes you are making, and many memories with your family.

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  7. Debbie, I read every word and looked at every picture! So happy that your time of celebrations were so special and family-filled! (And happy that you were able to work around the sickness making the rounds.) You do such wonderful things with creating gifts . . . I continue to be amazed at all you do!

    Happy New Year to you and yours! Hope you have a little time to prop your feet up. :)

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I am so glad that you would take the time to comment on my thoughts and feelings, it is such a blessing to me!