Christmas 2017

 We have added more children to our family Christmas this year. What more could I want? Let's make some graham cracker houses. Bonnie is intrigued.

I made this Marcia Derse quilt for Jim. We were going to visit her on Whidbey Island, but got stormed out.

Naomi is the newest addition to Christmas.

On the Frame

 I've been working on this broken star for a few days. It is important to keep all the corners the same, so I take pictures as I go. That way, I don't have to keep rolling and unrolling.

I'm also making this quilt with a nice fuzzy backing for Bonnie. I hope the back holds up to washing because it is feeling very heavy.

Christmas Quilting

 I have a hard time saying "No." If someone needs a quilt done in time for Christmas, they really have to get it to me by Halloween. Even then, clients are desperate and sometimes will switch out one quilt for another. I forget how much time I spend on quilting large pieces. If I get behind, I get grouchy.

I finished this about 1am and collapsed. Some deadlines are extremely firm and there is no procrastinating my way out. It's really my fault for deciding on a complicated design. But with this much negative space, it had to be done.

Bonnie Meets Santa

 Bonnie is at the age when Santa may be frightening. But Pam and Howard are smiling, so it must be okay. She is perfectly dressed for the ward Christmas party. 

Hmmm. Maybe not.

Preparing for Christmas

 I'm trying not to stress, but it's so hard to say "no" during the holidays. Ideas pop into my mind and I want to do everything. Every craft. Every candy. Every quilt.

Let's start with caramels. Should I dip them in chocolate?

The tree is up, but not decorated yet.

Why not make a cute make up bag?

The reverse is just as cute.

Oh, good. My shipment of 11 lbs of chocolate arrived from Amazon. I just need to pack these in 1 lb packages with my FoodSaver.

Why not make some ornaments with my parents' pictures?

My dad was a handsome Naval officer.

My mom was a beauty queen in the Rose Parade.

My ancestors in Sunday School class in 1887.

Happy Thanksgiving

 Usually I'm exhausted by the end of Thanksgiving, but this year I tried to stagger the work out a bit. If I can get Paul to deep fry the turkey, then the oven is all mine. The trick is to get the orange rolls to come out of the oven at the same time as everything else is ready. Usually I forget something.

Berry Delight and Broccoli Salad can be done on Wednesday. Pumpkin pies are a morning affair. If I make Smitten Kitchen's green been casserole, that takes a while. Plus mashed potatoes and stuffing. Luckily, Howard likes Satin Pie, which needs no help from the freezer.

That's how I feel.

Let the little ones enjoy a movie or someone's phone. Happy Thanksgiving.

The Lack of Power

 I started Monday in such a good mood. I stitched up these little gifts because our YaYa quilting group meets on Tuesday. But as soon as I was done, the power went out.

Sometimes I check the PUD outage map to see how Everett is doing. If they aren't out of power, we get more trucks. On Tuesday I left for Mount Vernon to enjoy the day quilting. Not much was going to happen at the house with no power.

Naomi's Blessing

 We were happy to go to the Snohomish building to see Naomi blessed on Sunday. Pam and Howard brought up Bonnie from Edmonds and Grandma Megan came from Utah for the event. I love our growing family!

Jack not name; Jack job

 Sorry for throwing in a Muppet Movie line, but Jack has two jobs. One is at Cabela's and one at Costco. Luckily, they are just down the highway from each other. He is working insane hours. I'll be happy to see him on Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Naomi Visits

I loved having Naomi come visit yesterday. She is still a wee little girl and her needs are few. 

Who is asleep and who is awake?

Grandpa practices his swaddling skills.

Naomi and Friend Owl.

Bighorn Sheep

 I looked out my window this morning and saw a bighorn sheep in the backyard. We have many strange animal sightings on the island, but not this. Barb down the street swears she saw the elusive cougar that appears occasionally. This huge sheep does not seem like an island native.

I ran out to take pictures. At the point where he arrived at the pond to get a drink, I got nervous.

He wandered away by the afternoon hours and I never saw him again.

Holding Hands

 Naomi is growing bigger and stronger. I love to see her and hold her. I know that too soon she will be running around and teasing her brother.

Naomi Arrives

 We are delighted to announce the arrival of Naomi. Katie and Tyler are always tight-lipped with name choices so we were surprised by the announcement. When Katie was an infant we would go visit Paul's Aunt Naomi (1914-2000) in West Point, Utah. She was an incredible genealogist so had books and books of her research. When she was a young woman she served in the Northwestern States Mission. 

Another Thursday baby! Paul stood outside the hospital room, waiting for crying.

What a beauty! She's even sleeping through Church.

Here's Naomi Willard (r) with her sister Emily.

One Last Grave

 We drove down to Salt Lake so Jackson could visit with Grandma and Grandpa now that he has returned from his mission and he has recovered his English ability.

On the way out of town, we drove east to Clarkston, Utah to visit the last of the Three Witnesses, the only one to come West. It is a darling town, but I can't imagine how cold it is in the winter.