Christmas past and present

An Irish Manger given to me by a very dear friend.

For the past week or so memories of Christmas have filled my mind and heart. Many bring a smile. Some a tear.

This little ornament was painted by my Mom. Dated 2001.




















My very first stitched ornament. I had never made an ornament before this. The date on it is 2007.

As I decorated my trees (see the last post) and put up my Christmas village each piece had a special memory attached.

The village is especially dear to me. My Mom always had a village under the tree. I have many photos of her sitting on the floor creating that years scene. As a young child I loved watching the train she had under the tree circling the Manger. One of my treasured memories, though it sounds sacrilegious, was giving the baby Jesus a ride in the coal car on Christmas day! My Christmas village collection started about 10 years ago. And one of the first things was this tree with the people that my Mom painted. (She loved to paint plaster pieces. I think we all have at least one that she painted.) Notice that she painted to dog as close to Irish setter red as she could. Over the years I have added houses to my village. I only wish I could live in a town like this, a pub, a bookstore, a pet store, a sweet shop, a market, and best of all a sewing and craft store! My ideal town!

This is the set my Mom painted for me.















The skaters are cast iron and belonged to my Grandmother.












A couple of very special decorations. These were also plaster pieces that my Mom painted for me.












Last week was also the Christmas get together at my LNS, The Lazy Daisy. We had an ornament exchange. Those are always fun. I have so enjoyed these monthly gatherings.

All the ornaments from the LNS ornament exchange.

This is the ornament I stitched for the exchange.

I also heard that both my partners from the HoE ornament and smalls exchanges have received their pieces. So I can now show what I stitched.LHN's Fa La La I made into a small pillow. Amy said she like it.

And another LHN ornament I sent to Gabi. I like how they both turned out. I just may need to do them again for myself.

Last but not least is the ornament I receive in the HoE exchange. This one came from Ina in the Netherlands. It is just beautiful and looks gorgeous on my stitchy tree. Thank you Ina.

This past weekend and the past few days have been a whirlwind of finishing, wrapping, stitching and mailing. As mentioned in an earlier post, money for gifts is pretty scarce. I love to give but was getting so depressed realizing that I just couldn't do my usual for each and every member of my family. Until I had a brainstorm. And at this point I think it was a nor'easter! I have a largish storage container of stitched pieces that have been sitting there. Some for almost 5 years! Sitting there waiting to be finished or framed. So I thought I would use these. There were more than enough. So between the few ornaments I had stitched this year (9 of those) that were specially stitched for certain people and those older pieces I spent all day Sunday and most of Monday finishing them and making pillows and ornaments. Here are some of them. I was so crazed to get them done and wrapped that I actually forgot to take photos of some so they will have to wait until I can ask for a picture. Even if they read my blog (and I know most don't.) they won't know who gets what.

As you can see Rory was just exhausted after all this work. Either that or he is trying to be a good boy so Santa will bring him something good.

I want to thank each and everyone of you who have left me comments in my last few posts. I appreciate them more than you know.

And just in case I don't find time between now and Friday.........A very Merry Christmas to you all!

Love and stitches

Kathy

and licks from Rory too

Thank you, a favor and Christmas part one

I have so much to say that I don't know where to start. I take that back. I do but have had a hard time finding the words to express how much all your comments and emails on my previous post have meant to me. I am moved. You all have touched my heart more than you know. The warmth and caring that you shared with me. The love and prayers. The peace and understanding. Stitchy bloggers ROCK! From the bottom of my heart I thank you.

That weekend following my post wasn't all tears and sadness. The mail on Saturday brought a surprise that cheered my aching heart. A fellow blogger had sent out wonderful packages of Christmas cheer to a number of his blogging buddies. And I was one of the lucky ones to get one. Edgar, you have no idea how much your treats lifted my spirit. But of course, chocolate will always lift you up. And that darling photo card. I LOVE it! You can see that there is also a jar of delicious peach jam and some chewies for Rory too. (He loved them!)

In trying to get myself out of my dark cloud I had taken Rory to go see Santa. He behaved much better this year. And I am sure Santa will be bringing him bunches of toys and chewies.

I managed to get some stitching done. Not as much as I would like but it is coming along. I still have a few more gifts to finish stitching and then there will be a finishing marathon so I can get these things in the mail. Nothing like waiting until the last minute.

Last week also found me home for a few days with a terrible head cold. I can't remember the last time I had one this bad. I am feeling much better but still not a hundred percent. If I hadn't had the flu shot this year I would say that I had the flu and not just a cold. But then I rarely get colds so I tend to be a big baby when I do. But with that time at home I did manage to get my Christmas decorations up. I put up my Christmas village and two trees. One tree is Rory's tree. Ninety percent of the ornaments are dog related. Including the Angel tree topper which has the head of an Irish setter. (The other ten percent are kitty ornaments for Rosie. See her photo in her favorite spot under the tree.) The second tree is a small three footer that is my stitchy tree with all my stitched ornaments. Not as many decorations as years past but it does look pretty. Between putting up the trees and all those sappy Hallmark Christmas movies I have no choice but to get in the Christmas spirit. Here are some photos of the tree. I'll share the village in my next post.

Now I have a favor to ask. I need to get some Christmas cards made and get them out in the mail this weekend. I just can't decide which photo of Rory to use for my cards. Below are the ones I think would work. Also the two with Santa above. I just can't seem to pick just one. Which one do you like?
Thank you again for all your wonderful comments. For your caring and your friendship.
Until next time...........

Love and stitches
Kathy
and licks from Rory too.

Where are you.........

Where are you stitching mojo? Where are you Christmas spirit? Where are you cheery smiles? I seem to have misplaced all of them. I am normally an optimist. And try to find a smile in everything. But it isn't easy right now. I had hoped that spending Thanksgiving with my dog show friends would help. It did for a little bit. Rory and I had a great time at the shows. No big wins for Rory but we still had fun. And that is what counts. But then it was back home to the money worries, the bills, and the fact that two years ago this Monday, the 6th, is the second anniversary of my Mom's passing. (Deep breath so I don't start crying.)

Today has been rough. It started with my train being canceled and having to stand outside at 7 am this morning in 36 degrees for 35 minutes until the next train came. My feet were frozen and here it is almost 2 and they finally feel thawed. Then I open up Facebook and read this posting by my sister.

I wish heaven had a phone so I could hear your voice again. I thought of you today, but that's nothing new. I thought of you yesterday and days before that too. I think of you in silence and often speak your name. All I have is memories and pictures of you in a frame. I miss you Mom.~ repost if you have someone in heaven that you miss on earth

My Mom, me and my dog, Maggie. Christmas 1998

That did me in. (Another deep breath.) Sorry folks. I'll try not to get the keyboard wet.

Stitching mojo. I haven't picked up a needle in 9 days! Yup, you read right. 9 days. I keep looking at all the stitching I want to get finished for Christmas. The gifts I need to stitch up. And just look at it. Sigh. I really should be stitching now during my lunch break but instead I thought I would type a blog post. Procrastination. Yup, that's me. Maybe this weekend. We'll see. I do need to get those pieces stitched.

I am now so glad I had my last exchanges of the year all stitched up before Thanksgiving. They are on their way to their new homes so no photos yet. I did have a bright spot that helped a little. Yesterday I came home to my exchange! Paula was my partner in the HoE Christmas smalls exchange. She stitched up the Love and Joy pattern by Plum Street Sampler from this years JCS Ornament issue. She finished it a pillow. I just love it. (Funny thing is that I am half way finished stitching this pattern myself. Now if I can finish it it will be a gift. ) She also included a few extras. Including a LHN pattern that I don't have and three Just Nan Christmas patterns! And of course Rory just loved the toy and chewie she included for him. Thank you so very much Paula!


































As for the Christmas spirit? I have always loved Christmas. I have a huge Christmas ornament collection as well as many house decorations and a large village. I haven't even begun to put anything out. And I just can't find the enthusiasm to do it. This will be my third Christmas without Mom. Maybe that plays a part of no Christmas spirit. Well, no maybe about it. It does. We always did those things together. (The village was always her favorite thing to put up.) Plus I have always loved shopping for gifts and buying something special for everyone. But this year finances are even tighter than last. And I just don't have the extra to spend. And that hurts.

I just have to find my way out of this dark time. I know I will. I hate feeling this way. Just bear with me.

With luck Rory may help bring back the smiles when I take him to see Santa tomorrow. At least for a little while. I leave you with a few photos from our Thanksgiving show weekend.

The group I show with. (I'm in the gray in the back)

Rory and me hanging out.
















Sunset on the ferry ride home.

May the spirit of Christmas light your world with love and laughter. Until next time.........

Love and stitches

Kathy

and licks from Rory too.

PS. I really do appreciate all the comments you leave for me. They mean so much. Especially this time of year. So thank you all for taking the time. I apologize for not commenting lately on your blogs. My computer at work is acting weird. It will only allow a few blogs to open. I keep getting an error message on many blogs. I hope to catch up with more of you over the weekend.