Tuesday, December 30, 2014

And another Christmas has come and gone

Hello Stitching Friends

Its hard to know where to start.  We had a great family Christmas with good food, and great times.  The best part is our family being together.  Mike was able to take a vacation day and have Christmas off this year.  I told him that was the best present of all.  He works at a job that never has closed days or holidays, and runs 24/7, 365 days a year, so when he's able to be home all day on a holiday, it's a treat.

I have been using up the remainder of my vacation time over the last part of December, which has been nice.  I will be back to work tomorrow, but then the library will be closed on January 1.  I'm sure there will be lots for me to catch up on there.

I have caught up with reading blog posts today.  It was fun reading about everyone's holiday celebrations.  

We took our tree down yesterday.  It was looking very sad.  The weekend before Christmas our daughter brought their kitten over to our house for us to keep overnight while they went on a short trip.  Well, needless to say, the cats residing at our house were not too happy with this small visitor that was filled with so much energy and mischief!  He thought the Christmas tree was his personal cat toy, and took delight making a running leap into the tree and batting at the ornaments, knocking down as many as he could....  I was not happy with him.
He looks sweet and innocent here, but believe me, he wasn't!  So after he went home, I repaired the tree as best I could, but it just didn't look as good as it did before.  Then to top it off 1 of the strings of lights went out the other evening.  So, it was time to take it down.

On Christmas morning, the kitten, Hendrix, came back with Holly and Joe, and then to turn the adventures up several more notches, our son David, and his fiancée Lauren, brought their dog with them. It made for a crazy morning for sure.  Our animals, for the most part went and hid from these four legged family members.  Hendrix was terrified of David's dog.  So, he made himself scarce as well.  After awhile everyone settled down and discovered they could tolerate each other.

I had hoped to get the Cardinal finished this year, but I ran out of the over dyed floss I'm using for the snowflakes and words.  I will call and order a skein tomorrow when my LNS opens.  

I'm sorry for the wrinkles.  I just have the words to finish along the bottom and it will be done.

So, last night I was looking through some charts trying to decide what would call to me the loudest.  Before I made a decision, Holly was asking me if I had any cute owl designs I could stitch for the baby's nursery.  She is going to decorate it in the treetop owl theme she fell in love with at Target.

So, I had her look and she chose this design of three little owls. We found the freebie on Pinterest.
 So I found an over dyed floss I had on hand along with some white linen, and got started.    I will finish it as a small pillow she can put on a shelf.  It's always fun to start something new.  The little owls should stitch up fairly quick.

I haven't pulled any other new project to start on January first.  I love the idea of a new start in the new year.  I will have to give this some more thought.  I do want to finish the book I'm currently reading to add to my list of finishes for 2014.  I've read 70 books this year.  

If I get ambitious I need to put away the other Christmas decorations from around the house.  But I don't think it's going to happen today....  

Happy New Year!  


10 comments:

  1. Sounds like you had a nice family Christmas, too, Melody--I love it when everyone is able to be together for the holidays. It doesn't happen often enough any more!

    Oh, your cardinal is stunning--can't wait to see your final finish!

    70 books--amazing!!! I am such a slow reader as I tend to fall asleep when I read...

    Wishing you and your family every happiness in 2015!

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  2. Sounds like a lovely holiday and so nice your DH could be there. And that kitten is so cute - if a terror! I love, love love your cardinal and those owls will be adorable. Hope you have a joy-filled new year and I look forward to seeing your 2015 projects!

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  3. lol! It sounds like you had a very furry Christmas at your house! My my! Glad everything settled down eventually. Too bad Hendricks destroyed your tree. It's funny -- Mia never wants to do anything with the tree. I guess it all depends! Love the owl design your daughter picked for the nursery. It will be adorable and the perfect touch! Hope you can get the floss for the cardinal tomorrow and finish that one up -- it's lovely! Happy 2015!

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  4. The BB Cardinal piece is stunning.
    The Owls will make a cute pillow.
    Happy New Year!
    Marilyn

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  5. Sounds like a wonderful festive season. Oh ... Hendrix ... so cute ... how could you get cross! A lovely start on the owls,

    Wishing you a Happy New Year.

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  6. What a great family holiday you had! The kitten does look very innocent! I love the cardinal and little owls will be so cute! I hope this is a very happy healthy year for you!

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  7. Enjoyed reading about your family holiday! The cardinal is lovely and that owl trio is very cute. Wishing you a Happy New Year!

    Robin in Virginia

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  8. I love the cardinal piece--it is in my stash, languishing... At least you have nearly finished it! Soon as that floss comes in... Glad your husband got the entire day off for Christmas with you! It IS a family holiday... gee whiz! I have not yet made a firm plan for 2015, in regards to stitching or anything actually. But reading 70 books... wow! I don't think I have ever done that! If I read 5 it is a good year! So many things tugging at my time! Ha! Happy 2015!

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  9. Love love love your red cardinal! Beautiful stitching. Thanks for sharing with us. x

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  10. Oh Melody -- you re making me want to find my cardinal and get going on him again -- I have something like 20 stitches in him :)

    Congrats on what sounds like a wonderful, family-fun Christmas.... save for Hendrix and the tree lol

    Happy New Year!

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