Eva's wallhanging...
Eva was thrilled with her wallhanging. I was surprised by her reaction, when she opened it. I was expecting a shrug of the shoulders, a "that's nice," because she was opening so many presents... But she slapped her hand over her mouth, her eyes were huge. "It's beautiful!" she said so softly as she ran her hands over all the beads. I think she 6 going on 60! She said she remembered coloring all the colors- just like a quilt! She is really very pleased with it. I know you can't tell by the picture, but I decided to take Tonya's advice and go with the "more is more" philosophy. I can see how people could get "embellishment fever" and never want to stop until your project weighs 500 lbs! It is kinda addicting sitting there putting on one bead, then another, another...There are over 1000 beads on that little wallhanging! There are over 500 in the grey area, alone. (My DS Jacob's bead collection has been decimated, somewhat, but he likes it, too, so he doesn't mind.) My favorite beads are the little turquoise daisy sequins on her dress. Eva loves jewelry- so I added a necklace and a couple bracelets. I made a pocket on the backside for her drawing to fit in- as well as a place to put the color copy of it and the label. I enjoyed doing it, but I am glad to have it behind me so I can work on some other UFOs.

Bill's Feast...
This is Will. The love of my life. He's 40. (I just had to say that because I told all of the kids' ages.) And he really is the love of my life. I know it's hard to tell from the picture, but this is my kitchen. His feast was the other night and, with Bill, it is always a big surprise.
He hung about 10 yards of my 120" wide muslin from the kitchen ceiling, making a huge tent. The ends he closed in with extra yardage- Mom, recognize the blue leopard fabric? He hung little white lights above it for stars. So we had ourselves a little "camping trip." He grilled hambugers on the grill and then we had s'mores for dessert- over those little chafing pots. I was a nervous wreck that we'd set something on fire. Never happened- outside a marshmallow or two. He had the camping plates and lanterns on a tablecloth on the floor. No, Grandma didn't sit on the floor. We got her a little table. Bill gave the children each their own huge chocolate candy bar. The kids know that's always part of his ritual- they just have to find it. Once, it was taped to the underside of the table. Once, under the seats. He had them thinking he changed his mind, since they had s'mores. Enough chocolate, right? Nope.

This is the "quilt" that I made Will for Xmas. It is Minkee Blankee on both sides. It weighs a ton. I put extra-high loft batting in it and so it feels like a real fur. Only softer and it doesn't shed! I used 2 yards of fabric on each side, so it is about 60"x70". I nice size to sit under when watching movies or sitting at the computer. There must be some kind of black hole by my computer as I am always freezing when I am sitting here.

While visions of sugarplums dance in their heads...
The children are all tucked into bed and the house is settling down for the night. Will was called away to work- he is "on call" throughout the holidays. (I miss him, but I am so thankful that he is only having to work in a hospital on Xmas Eve- it is very sad to think of those that are there because of illness. Hospitals and sickness don't take holidays.) We decided to wait to open presents until Monday- when he would be home. I don't have any particular attatchments to the 25th so that's fine by me. It'll give me one more day to finish wrapping those 60 pairs of socks! Of course, I want to wait until we are all together. Having said that we are waiting one more day to open presents... I must confess to opening one, a few days early. My roommate from college sent me the most amazing gift box.
It's like a little anti-nervous breakdown kit!! And since I just said I don't have any hang-ups about the 25th....I must confess to feeling a little blue at having to spend it alone. So... I broke out all the goodies in the anti-nervous breakdown kit- except the chocolate, but that's another story. I am wearing the flannel PJ's she got me last year- with the Mary Englebreit tea cups of kindness... I showered with the Lavender Kiss My Face bath gel- you won't believe how wonderful I smell! I slathered on lavender and shea butter lotion. I lit the lavender soy candle- we midwesterners appreciate anything in soy- except our food! I brushed my teeth with the Tom's of Maine orange and mango toothpaste- got a shock at how much whiter my teeth are. I smeared my face with anti-aging cream- I usually have enough dry skin flaking off my face to fill a snowglobe, but not anymore! I set out the necklace that she got me to wear with the sweater that Sarah got for me- oh ok, so I opened two presents early. What do you expect when left on my own? The sweater is about the same color as the green box, above. I just love it! So now I feel all pampered and loved and not so down in the dumps. I am planning on finishing up Evabeth's wallhanging, tonight, while watching some movie- haven't decided, yet. I hope everyone is having a lovely Xmas Eve and a wonderful day with your family and loved ones.

John's feast...
This is John, also known as Jack. He's 9. Last, but certainly not least of the kids' feasts. John stays on the walking wounded list. His mouth is always busted and his teeth, well, the dentist really likes Jack. He has braces in his future- as soon as he gets his cap put back on- for the umpteenth time. He had shaved ice with rootbeer over it. Then he had lots of flavored crackers and that funky cheese in a can. Kids loved that. Then he had a great salad- mom has to suggest that salad would be nice or none of the boys would even think of it. Pizza- he made with Chef Boyardee- and you know? It was really very good- we put our own cheese and toppings on them. He served ice cream or sherbet in cones with chocolate chip cookies. Only a kid would think that ice cream sounds good in December. Well, we did have a warm day and I think it got up to nearly freezing. His gift was "screamer balloons"- have you ever seen those? They are about 4 feet long, and after you blow them up, you release them and they scream around the room. How annoying is that? But they kids loved them and they were so... John, that I couldn't say no.

I can't even tell you how much these special evenings mean to us. We have a very long, narrow kitchen table- reminds me of the one Finn described in her old home. DH made it for us the week we moved into our old farm house. Or first meal on it was Thanksgiving- 6 years ago. How righteous was that? It is 8 feet long and only about 28" across. Bill and I sit in the middle, together, on one of the long sides. And as I sit there by the light of candles and Christmas lights and I look down the length of that table at all of these beautiful smiling faces, oh, how could my heart be anything but filled with such joy that I can't express. I think that sometimes people believe that things need to be perfect in order for them to be truly happy. Newsflash for 'em. Life will never be perfect- not here. And as my Aunt June says, "Those hard times make such sweet memories." So, life is sweet. Bittersweet at times, but sweet nonetheless. And I'm gonna soak it all up!

Boo's Feast...
This is Rebekah. Most people call her Boo. Sometimes, Bek. Sarah's DS, Ian, started calling her Rebekah-boo. Then it was Bekah-boo. And finally it was just Boo. She says, "My church name is Rebekah Jehosheba. My home name is Bekah-boo." She's 4.
She had her feast and did a lovely job. Her appetizer was those frozen french toast sticks- dipped in strawberry preserves that had been warmed up. She had a nice salad and chicken soup- "with those twisty noodles." She made crescent rolls with some help from the Pillsbury dough boy. She was quite handy at rolling all 64 of them up! She had strawberry poke cake for dessert and gave all the children three little strawberry candies. Notice a trend? She loves strawberries. I take each of the children out to lunch the day before, or the day of, their feast and then we go grocery shopping, together. She ate at the Chinese restaurant and wanted brocoli after her icecream dessert. I know she ate her weight in the green stuff. Every mother's dream- a child who will eat her vegetables!
My Basket of 2" strips...
You know, I'm still not sure where everyone else gets their tubs of 2" strips. I had to make mine. Anyone feel up to filling me in? Bonnie's quilt patterns so often call for hauling out the tub of 2" strips... I get to looking around my quilting room, thinking mine must have wandered off or something. At anyrate, I picked out some scraps from my stash- aren't you proud, Judy- and cut a basket of 2"strips. I feel part of the co-hesive whole. I must be a real quilter, now. I am working on a pineapple blossom- love how everyone else's is turning out. I am getting close to having 46 blocks made- with all the little bonus triangle blocks- and wow, now I can see the fun of having a bunch of those 2" strips. But where do they come from???

Joe's Feast...
This is Joe. He is a great guy. 15 years old and a heart of pure gold. He is always laughing and finding funny things in what the little ones are doing. But he's the "big dog" so ya better tread respectfully. He had his feast the other night and true to his age and gender there was a mountain of food. He went Mexican. No surprise, there, though fettaccini alfredo is his favorite. I think he was trying to be unpredictable. He had chili-cheese nachos and then soft-shell tacos for his entre. For dessert, he had warm brownies topped with vanilla ice-cream and hot-fudge sauce, whipped cream and a cherry on top. He gave each of the children a satin bookmark with pretty foil inspirational sayings on them as his gift.

I have been sick over the past few days. When Joe realized that I wasn't going to make it out to church, Sunday evening, he says, "Are you getting enough fluids?" How cute is that? Of course, he gets his mother-hen tendancies honestly, as his dad is very good at it. I am passable. A few minutes later, he brings me a diet Coke for my headache and a bottle of water with strict instructions that I was to have both drank by the time he got home. He's really a great kid and I couldn't be more pleased with the way he is growing into a fine young man. I'm not even going to get into what I consider essential qualities in a man, these days. It's ok, you can sigh a big sigh of relief, now.

While I was sick, it got me to thinking... not sure how lucid my thoughts were as I definitely had a fever, but nonetheless... What if you could schedule a cold? Not that you'd want a cold, but what if you knew that on, say, Friday, you were going to inevitably come down with a nasty cold? 'Cause I know that at my house, they come at such inconvenient times and I am never ready to be stopped in my tracks by illness. But what if... I got the whirlpool all cleaned out, made a big pot of chicken noodle soup, had a new box of Puffs Plus, nice clean flannel sheets on the bed, a stack of DVDs that I've been wanting to watch but haven't had time, and plenty of light cranberry juice and diet gingerale... now, I ask you, how bad would that cold seem, then? But it would take some planning, yah? so... do you think I could arrange a nervous breakdown? Not that I'd want to have a nervous breakdown, but what if I knew one was going to inevitably hit, say, the day following Xmas... What do you think I would need to really enjoy it? I am figuring on the following... completely cleaning my sanctuary of the master bedroom and bath, 'cause what fun would a nervous breakdown be if no one can tell where the moaning is coming from? (My bedroom looks like a cyclone hit it- a cyclone full of clothes and newspapers. And the bathroom...well, the contents of what should be a walk-in closet are spilling out into the bathroom. The whirlpool is actually clean but I'd just like to give a little advice to those of you that think a soaking tub is dull... I'd take the dull compared to the spiders that occasionally creep out of the jets. EEEEECH!! Anything but relaxing. It only has to happen once, and ya get the willies everytime you sit in it. So the jets need to be preflushed and honestly, it kinda snuffs the mood.) I need a freshly laundered pair of thermal underwear, some fluffy socks, and my terry bathrobe- just to carry the whole, "I'm falling apart" bit. Again, the tissues. Chocolate, lots and lots of chocolate. Maybe a schedule for cups of tea to magically appear on my now cleared bedside table... I think 2-3 days would do me. Yep, it's goin' on the schedule. I gotta go clean my bedroom.

Sarah's handbag...

actually, it's a bag for her Bible. This is part of Sarah's Xmas gift that I gave her. When we were down in FL., my sister made me and my DM and DSIL each a bag. My Bible fit in it, perfectly, so that is what I use mine for. Laurie had found this old quilt top at a flea market- with holes, and made all of our bags out of it. I really need to take a picture of that one. Anyway, she had embroidered all of our names on these little pockets in various colors. Her DMIL has a Viking embroidery machine and I can't say I've ever been interested in one until I saw the things my sister could do with it. She showed us how it worked and as a demonstration peice, she worked up this pocket for Sarah in the colors Sarah picked out. When Laurie was done she handed it to Sarah, who handed it to me and said, "Make me a bag, sometime." Well, how hard could it be? really. Yeah, I think I could figure it out. I didn't have a cool vintage quilt to work with, but I did have this little Ricky Tims convergence I had fiddled with. I wasn't so thrilled with it that I had planned to do something more with it... It was like one of Finn's orphans. I thought it might be big enough. Backed it with some vintage-esse fabric. Played with the qulting. Tried Darcie's stones... I still need a lot more practice- it takes a lot of concentration to get them really scootched together like she does. I didn't have a pattern- just based it on the one Laurie made me- only a bit bigger as my Bible sticks out of the top a little. I had some vintage binding already made up from a previous project. The handles are made from rolling the quilted fabric up so they are very sturdy and cushy. All in all, I used every bit of that fabric and I am pretty happy with the results. I filled it with 1/2 yard cuts of blue and yellow. Figured that if Sarah has sworn off buying stash fabric, somebody needs to take up the slack!