Merry Christmas!

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.
~Norman Vincent Peale

Only two more big sleeps until Christmas!  Well, at least for those of us in the USA.  Our Australian friends only have one more big sleep!  Good thing Santa has 48 hours to make all of his deliveries  - can you imagine?!?  I think I'm ready all except for the breakfast roll and ambrosia salad but I don't make those until tomorrow.  DD#2 and her husband arrive tomorrow and then the festivities begin.  Christmas Eve is spent at my mother's along with my sister and some good family friends.  Christmas morning is at our house - it will be small this year - where we will open stocking gifts, have a big breakfast and then open Christmas gifts.  Christmas afternoon/evening will be spent at my SIL's house where there will be at least 15 adults in attendance and a couple of little ones.  The day after Christmas will be rather relaxing but then we head just south of town for dinner at our nephew's house where we will feast on Christmas dinner leftovers and visit with more family and friends.  This is the way it has been for over 38 years.  Some traditions never die.  Are you ready for Santa's arrival?

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Christmas

With Christmas just hours away, I would like to share some little facts I found involving the holiday:

* Most of Santa’s reindeer have male-sounding names, such as Blitzen, Comet, and Cupid. However, male reindeer shed their antlers around Christmas, so the reindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh are likely not male, but female

* The Germans made the first artificial Christmas trees out of dyed goose feathers

* All the gifts in the Twelve Days of Christmas would equal 364 gifts
* According to the Guinness world records, the tallest Christmas tree ever cut was a 221-foot Douglas fir that was displayed in 1950 at the Northgate Shopping Center in Seattle, Washington
* Christmas trees have been sold in the U.S. since 1850
* In Poland, spiders or spider webs are common Christmas trees decorations because according to legend, a spider wove a blanket for Baby Jesus. In fact, Polish people consider spiders to be symbols of goodness and prosperity at Christmas
* Alabama was the first state in the United States to officially recognize Christmas in 1836
* President Teddy Roosevelt, an environmentalist, banned Christmas trees from the White House in 1912
* In Germany, Heiligabend, or Christmas Eve, is said to be a magical time when the pure in heart can hear animals talking

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AND A LITTLE FUNNY

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THE TRAVELING STASH WILL GO TO.......

Thank you to those who participated in the Traveling Stash giveaway.  This giveaway was fun and quick and enjoyed seeing all the different states where it might travel to.
I am ready to send the Traveling Stash on its way.  But where will it go?  With the help of random.org, the decision was made.  The Traveling Stash will be going to

OREGON

Congratulations to Barbara!

Barbara said "I'm just dying to win the traveling stash. Please send it to me in Oregon."

I will be sending the Traveling Stash out in Saturday's mail.

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TIME OFF

I will be taking the next two weeks off from blogging.  I need time to recharge my batteries and to get some projects completed.  I plan on not spending a lot of time on the computer but will check in occasionally to see what's going on in blogland and will keep current with my email.  Here are two projects I will be working on.....

I've started putting my Gardener's Journal quilt together.  I would like to have it all put together by the end of next week.  I will then spend time quilting it with stitch-in-the-ditch quilting.  As you can see, that will take just a little bit of time with all those 1 inch squares.

I'm also working on this counted cross stitch project.  I'm stitching on 18 count cream Aida with a variegated DMC floss.  This is so relaxing and a great diversion from quilting.

So I will see you all again when I post on January 9, 2012!

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GIVEAWAYS

My Go-Go Life is having a giveaway.  You could win a set of Aurifil thread and a  Moda charm pack of Lollipop.  This giveaway ends Monday, December 26.

Diary Of A Quilt Maven is having a giveaway.  You could win a complete kit for Cobblestone Lane by This & That in reds, teals, and browns.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, December 28.

Hawthorne Threads is having their weekly giveaway.  You could win a half yard bundle of Feather Your Nest.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, December 28.

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FINAL THOUGHT

Merry Christmas, my friends!!

See you next year :)