Pipers, Flowers & Peeks

At Christmas, all roads lead home.

~Marjorie Holmes

I have been reading a lot of blogs where the writers talk about traveling to one place or another for Christmas.  And don't you know, 98 per cent of the time its to a home.  Sometimes it's to a grown child's home and sometimes it's to the homes of their parents.  My road on Christmas Eve will lead across town to my mother's home for lasagna and french bread for dinner and homemade cookies and sorbet for dessert.  But before that happens, all roads lead to my home - my two daughters and their families will be here to share in all of the Christmas festivities.  It will be a tight fit with 6 adults and two children in a small house with only one bathroom but we will make it work.  So, as in so many cases, all roads do lead home for Christmas.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Eleven Pipers Piping

At the big feasts held during the holiday celebrations the guests were often entertained by musicians, dancers, jugglers, etc. as well as singing and dancing themselves. Bagpipes and their younger cousins the musette (an instrument similar to a bagpipe but the air for the sound came from bellows rather than blowing into the instrument) were popular instruments for dance music.  The pipers referred to in the song would be the professional bagpipe musicians hired to entertain the guests with their music and provide music for dancing.

Today is Wednesday making it One Flower Wednesday!!  Today I have two flowers to share with you.

First, this is a flower made for me by Geniene from Holt Act, Australia.  She and I are members of the Inchy Hexagon Flower Swap.  Geniene made this flower as she was my swap partner for December.  My request was for a red, white and blue - or any combination there of  - hexie flower.  Isn't it cute?  I really like the white on white center.  Thank you Geniene!!

And this is the flower I made for myself.  I figured my GFG just had to have something to celebrate Christmas.  What better way than with snowmen and Santa!

Do you remember a few weeks back when I was asking for your help on figuring out where some fabric came from that had arrived in my mailbox?  I don't think I ever told you that I did figure it out.  (If I did tell you I apologize for being repetitive).  I was over at flickr.com checking out my groups and happened to run across Bee in Oz, a new group that is just starting out with their first month.  Guess where that fabric came from?  The person who had been assigned January sent out her fabric waaaaay early but failed to include instructions or a legible return address.  I don't think she reads my blog so I'm going to show you the block I made for her.

Since I had just made the Layer Cake Quilt Along block #4, I decided to use that same pattern for this block.  It was a little difficult working with the fabrics she sent as there wasn't a lot of variety in the fabric design except for the red piece.  I don't think she has received it yet but I hope she likes it.

Over the last two days I have also made 3 blocks for swap partners for the month of January.  These are for members of the Block Swap Adventure.  I think at least two of them read my blog so I can only give you a sneak peek at what I've been up to.

I will show you the completed blocks once they have been received by their new owners.

GIVEAWAYS

I could not find a single new giveaway out there in blogland to tell you about.  I will keep watching and will pass along any that I might find over the next day or so.  I'm sure that the giveaways will be back again once the holidays are over.

FINAL THOUGHT

One more day and we will have all of the explanations for the 12 Days of Christmas.  One more day and my DD#1 and family will be here!  Two more days and DD#2 and her husband and my granddoggy will be here!  Three more days and Christmas will be bringing in all the happiness and love it has been promising us.  I'm not one to wish days away, but this time I am.  Soon I will be counting hours for each special event to happen.  And then I would like time to stop, or at least pause on hold for a little while.  I want to enjoy and savor every minute I have with my family this Christmas and I wish it would never have to end.

Christmas is the day that holds all time together.

~Alexander Smith

Here's to a wonderful Wednesday!!!