Quote of the Week

Ring out the old, ring in the new,

Ring, happy bells, across the snow:

The year is going, let him go;

Ring out the false, ring in the true.

--Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Post-Christmas Update

I hope you all had a nice Christmas and pleasant time with family and friends. Patrick and I spent Christmas Eve with our daughter and we had a great time and lots of fun opening presents together. The closes I could get to my son and his family was via Skype but how wonderful that modern technology "almost" takes us there.

We had a quiet Christmas Day just the two of us and it was nice to relax and enjoy our time just reading, watching movies, and doing a little stitching. We did venture out yesterday for breakfast and did some grocery shopping while the rest of the world braved the malls. NO WAY!

Feels good to have some finishes to show for my first days of vacation so here goes. I hope to get a couple more done before the end of the year.

Consumed by Gifts

by Brittercup Designs

Just Cross Stitch Ornament 2010

16 ct. yellow aida & DMC floss

Frosty Flakes

by Little House Needleworks

16 ct. yellow aida & DMC floss

Quote of the week

"Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas."

-- Calvin Coolidge

WIPs...

There has been talk in one of my groups about starting 15 new projects in the first 15 days of January, 2011 and then finishing the 15 projects before the end of the year. Rather than committing to such an undertaking I thought I would list all my current WIPs and UFOs and commit to getting these completed before the end of 2011. Hopefully this will give me some "wiggle room" for my model stitching and ornaments I like to get done.

My current list of WIPs & UFOs includes:

Mildred's Garden House by Blackbird Designs

Colonial Women by Little House Needleworks

For This Child by My Big Toe

My Family Sampler by Little House Needleworks

B is for Blackbird by Prairie Schooler

Sampler Game Board by Drawn Thread

Christmas Double Flips by Lizzie Kate

Sailing, Sailing by Little House Needleworks

Book of Ink Circles by Ink Circles [UFO]

Lady of the Flag by Mirabilia [UFO]

What's Milly been up to?

Well guess I have to backtrack a little to fill you all in on what I been up to lately. On Friday, December 3rd we drove up to Folsom, CA for the wedding of my niece Lisa. We stayed at the gorgeous Lake Natoma Inn which was walking distance to the Folsom Historic District . We had a nice dinner on Friday evening and set out early on Saturday to enjoy the Arts and Crafts Festival in downtown. We also took a tour of Pioneer Village where volunteers lead demonstrations in blacksmithing, and panning for gold. It's also home of the oldest freight station still in existence in the West.

We went back to the hotel late in the afternoon to dress and shower for the wedding which was to start at 6PM. It was held in the Pavilion room at the Inn and was a very quaint and intimate setting. Reception was immediately after the ceremony and we had a great time catching up with family and friends. I hadn't seen my (step)brother in years so it was wonderful to see him and get caught up. I wish my niece Lisa and her husband Michael many happy years to come. Here is the lovely couple.

Michael & Lisa Gross

December 4, 2010

During the week I finished my model for Country Cottage Needleworks and took a sigh of relief to put it in the mail just two days past my deadline. Thanks to Nikki for being so patient and forgiving. I know it has arrived safely in her hands and I'm sure her fans will just fall in love with this piece.

In between crazy days at the office I managed to get our Christmas tree decorated and it's great to have the holidays to look forward to. We've had so many activities to keep up with but enjoying it all. This weekend my daughter had a total baking blowout and had bowls, plates, and trays full of brownies, cookies, candies, as far as the eye could see. She provided bags and tins and each guest was able to fill one with goodies. A total YUM fest!!

Almost forgot...I did find time to finish my Little House Needleworks, Joy to the World ornament in a stand up which now sits with my other holiday decorations.

And no week is complete without a photo of my grandson Izaiah. Have a good week!

Quote of the week

"You all know that I have been sustained throughout my life by three saving graces -- my family, my friends, and a faith in the power of resilience and hope. These graces have carried me through difficult times and they have brought more joy to the good times than I ever could have imagined. The days of our likes, for all of us, are numbered. We know that. And yes, they are certainly times when we aren't able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It's called being human. But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful. It isn't possible to put into words the love and gratitude I feel towards everyone who has and continue to support and inspire me every day. To you I simply say, you know."

-- Elizabeth Edwards

July 3, 1949 - December 7, 2010

Quote of the Week (In honor of World AIDS Day)

"Anybody can get HIV because it's a virus. Whether you're rich or poor; old or young; black or white; gay or straight; married or single. It's what you do, not who you are, that puts you at risk for HIV."

-- Bonnie Goldman