Happy December, Happy Day!

Happy December! It is my birthday month and one of my favorite months of the year.

I had a busy day but I got some good news when I saw the kidney specialist. I was so nervous and worried. The doctor was so kind and caring. Oh, how I have been blessed with such wonderful doctors. She started the visit off by saying how much I have been through in the past 3 months and wanted me to talk about it. WOW....pretty cool to have a doctor understand. Of course, that made me tear up and look for the Kleenex box. Anyway, she explained that my kidney levels were fine until they put me in the hospital. She thinks it may be the medications, so she made some changes and wants me to be call if I have any problems. I have to have more lab tests on Monday and again in two weeks and then we will have a conference call on December 28. I can do that!

I have been decorating all week, so I needed to just get out for awhile. I did some errand and then had tea when I returned home in one of my best December teacups/ You can't beat Royal Albert! I especially like this pretty cup and saucer.

I seem to share this little miss every year, but I just love her. I have had this little birthday angel since I was a little girl. I don't know how she survived all the moves when I was growing up. She just makes me smile and I keep her in the kitchen so I see her everyday.

I have to share a darling early birthday gift that my friend Nancy sent t o me. It's a tea Advent calendar. I have never seen one and think it's just darling. I am having a hard time opening it! I am always like that with pretty soap or stationery. Funny, I know.

I can't remember who gave me this Christmas teaspooon, but I love using it every season.

The day was slipping away when I took this photo. I love the soft lights of December. It's been a long day and time for bed. Happy December.

Having Fun with July....Dolls, Dolls, Dolls!

I have sure been having fun decorating with my new found goodies! I have really gotten into the 4th of July thing this year. I was thinking I didn't have any dolls in my boxes...boy, was I wrong. Goodness, I guess I have always loved dolls. This is quite a fun little group.

This is probably my favorite! I love this patriotic angel doll. God Bless America is printed on her yellow start. Her face is sweet. She has quite a handlful!

This little bunny miss has a basket filled with sewing notions, so I guess she has been busy sewing.

What's the 4th of July without Uncle Sam? I didn't realize I had lots of Uncle Sam items.

This is a sweet little boy doll that is new this year. I ordered him. He's composition and all dressed for the 4th. I just thought he was so cute.

I think I shared this little gal...Miss Liberty...last year. She was made by Christine LeFever who is a wonderful doll maker who lives in Oregon City, OR. I just love this little doll.

My SUMMER issue of my doll magazine just arrived! Oh fun reading for a lazy summer weekend.
I can't wait to read it. This is a great magazine and I always learn so much.

We have been working around home and finishing up some yardwork today. We are going back to the beach tomorrow to pick up Jimmy's IPad that he left at the motel. Not sure if we have any plans for the 4th. I think our daughter Gina is coming back from Seattle, but haven't heard for sure.

Enjoy your long weekend. 

December 10th~Stockings, Tree Shirt and a Birthday Surprise!

A few weeks ago, I told you about the red and off white cutter quilt Jimmy bought for me and that I was going to make Christmas stocking out of it. So I am finally getting around to showing you the process and the finished project. They were really fun to make and I am soooo enjoying my sewing cottage! What a difference it makes when you actually have a place to sew.

I really liked this quilt as it had a nice pattern that would work when I cut it up. Being a quilter, I have to admit, the first cut was really hard to do. I held my scissors over the binding for a few minutes before I could lower the blade. After the first assault, it was OK. I knew I was recycling something that may have ended up being discarded.

This is the lining I chose....a nice cotton print. I wanted something older looking but not too country.
It's a Moda fabric.

I drew the pattern freehand as I couldn't find a pattern that I really liked. Sometimes it just fun to do it the old fashioned way.

A finished project! I was able to get all four showing off the same block pattern. I found this old trim in my stash of goodies and attached it with a vintage mother of pearl button. Simple.

Here's two of them hanging by our woodstove. I used vintage irons as stocking holders. It works well for our cozy home.

I had enough of the cutter quilt and lining to make a tree shirt. I did buy some muslin to make the huge ruffle! I forgot how long it takes to add a ruffle onto an item. That's when you wish you had a ruffler!

Here it is tucked under the tree. We decided to do a display of vintage toys under the tree this year as we are all going to Seattle for Christmas. I have been wanting to do this for years anyway.

And look what is is under the tree now! My dear friend LaVonne sent me this amazing cast iron doll stove with little utensils for my birthday! I have coveted the one she has for years and bless her heart, she found one for me. Oh I am still so HAPPY and AMAZED! It is perfect for now and then it will move into Annabelle's house. Annabelle may want to do some holiday baking this season. She's a bit jealous that one of the tin heads is enjoying it before she gets her turn. Thank you LaVonne!

There you have it! My back is really hurting me, I think I pulled a muscle. So today I promised Jimmy I would take it easy and just work on the computer and my Christmas cards. It's really hard when you have lots of things to do!

It snowed again in the early morning...so pretty. Our temps are finally warming up now after about a week of frigid temperatures. The snow is melting away. It is such a treat here, that we just love it.

December 5th

Good Morning! It's very cold here in Oregon with a severe cold wind warning this morning to arrive through the weekend. The tree is up and now I'm off for a work day and decorating day at my dad's.

My sister Debbie, Angie, baby Otto and I are going to work like crazy to get it done and get back home. This is the picture from his concert Monday night. He loves the choir.

Papa Wuitschick

December 4th Oh Tannenbaum!

I had to chuckle when I found this sweet vintage postcard to use for my blog post today. My girls and my Jimmy loved to get the biggest tree they could possibly get for our Christmas! Now, our house is small and I would remind them about that fact, but they never listened. It makes me laugh now. We finally came up with a system of measurement using the daddy's big arms. Now we have an artificial tree and I do miss the smell of a fresh tree. So girls, here's the tree for you!

I finished the tree shirt yesterday and we hope to decorate the tree this afternoon. While I was sewing, I was listening to some Christmas music in my cottage. I have a CD from a concert we attended in 2002. It was in the beautiful church in Mt Angel OR and it was all sung in German. As I claim that heritage, I just love to hear the sounds of the German language. Of course O Tannenbaum was included and I can remember a lot of the words from my high school German classes. I was taught by little German nuns at a girl's school long ago and have sweet memories of those loving ladies.

December 2nd

Good morning blogger friends! Happy Monday to you all. I am still decorating and hope to finish today, however, the tree will have to wait for a few days. I am working on a new tree skirt from the cutter quilt that I used for my new stockings. Dad's concert is tonight at his retirement home and I have a ton of Etsy orders to package and mail off, so it will be a busy day.

So, here's a little message of HOPE for you until I can get back to your blogs to visit. It will be a fun week ahead~ St. Nicholas Day is December 6th. Time for a special tea.

Welcome October~Time to Decorate!

Oh welcome October! A new month and one of my favorites. I remember when the doctor told me I was expecting my first baby in this glorious month, I was so excited. That baby will be 37 the end of the month.

I love this quote from Anne of Green Gables. You can find these graphics in an Etsy shoppe called Islays Terrace. Soft and such a good quote.

It's pouring rain this morning but the sun and some warmer temps are to return later this week. Our fall has been pretty soggy.

Our leaves have hardly started to turn this fall. You will be lucky to find one in my backyard with this much color! I do hope that changes soon.

When I posted about pumpkin pie spice last week, one of my blogger friends asked me about allspice. So, I did some research and was surprise to learn about the spice all of us have in our spice cupboard.
Allspice is a scrub that produces berries. Most of it is grown in Jamaica. The berries are harvested and dried in the sun. It has the smell of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves with a hint of juniper and peppercorns. That explains why it has such a lovely smell.

The berries are a bit bigger than peppercorns. When they are dry and ground, they have a lovely reddish color. Now I want to buy the berries to grind for baking. See what you learn when blogging?

If you are in need of the spice for baking and have run out, you may use this formula for making your own. 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg and 1/2 tsp cloves. If that is too strong for you, use only 1/4 tsp of the nutmeg and cloves.

I am going to start my fall cleaning and fall decorating today. I love to decorate at this time of the year.
One more cup of coffee and I need to get going! Happy October.