Friday, December 23, 2011

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 :)

38 comments:

Anonymous said...

merry xmas to you Linda and your love ones,take care.xx

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Congratulations to Barbara. Love your cross stitch, just a beautiful blue! Merry Christmas and Blessed Holiday to you and your family.

Gene Black said...

Merry Christmas Linda. I am indeed ready for the big day. Mine will be pretty much as busy as yours.

I am happy to see that Alabama was first at doing something right!

Sallie said...

Merry Christmas, Linda! I love your cross-stitch - what pattern are you using? It is beautiful!

sunny said...

Congrats to Barbara! A very Merry Christmas to you and yours Linda. Enjoy the time with your family, and recharge your batteries. See you in 2012.

WoolenSails said...

I am cleaning my sewing room up and reorganizing, so I can get started after the weekend, time to finish things and start some new projects.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.

Debbie

krisgray said...

Congrats to Barbara! Have a happy holiday season - safe travels! I will miss "having coffee" with you the next two weeks - lol.

Staci said...

Merry Christmas, Linda!
Thanks for all the lovely things you do for your fellow blogland quilters. See you next year!

rubyslipperz1052 said...

Congrats to Barbara!...so FUN!!

READY?...for Christmas? uuh...nope =( Maybe Saturday around 10pm? Hopefully =D

Have a great time away from zeee ol' bloggin'. You have some fun projects to be workin' on.

MERRY Christmas and BE SAFE!!

love,
annie

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Merry Christmas! Enjoy your next couple of weeks...sounds like a good idea! I love the cute cartoon...will share it with hubby! Hugs! ♥♥♥

Needled Mom said...

Two weeks? I will have severve Stray Stitches withdrawal!!!! Enjoy your time away and I hope you get lots accomplished.

You have really gotten a lot done on your piecing of the Gardener's quilt. It will be fabulous.

I love your CCS project. The blue is so pretty. It is so relaxing, isn't it?

It sounds like your next few days will be busy, but fun with lots of family. Have a wonderful and happy Christmas. See you in January.

Kris said...

Merry Christmas, Linda!! Your Gardener's Journal quilt is darling and don't ya just love cross stitching!! I always love your posts!!! And I hope 2012 is a wonderful year for you!! Kris P.S. You forgot my Giveaway over at Lavender Quilts!! :-))

Sarah Craig said...

You will be missed, but have a wonderful blog-cation! Enjoy Christmas with your family!!

Terry said...

Your Gardener's Journal quilt looks great! I love the fabrics you're using for it! Merry Christmas! :0)

Maria said...

Have a wonderful christmas with your famliy Linda and I look forward to reading your post agin in the new year.
Enjoy your break.

suemac said...

Have a wonderful holiday season with family. This is just the best time of year.

Christine said...

Merry Christmas & A Very Happy New Year!

Diane H said...

Merry Christmas to you and yours, Linda and Happy Stitching in 2012!

Teresa F. said...

Merry Christmas to you and all your family.
Happy New Year!!!
Enjoy your little blogging vacation.
Teresa

Christine M said...

Merry Christmas to you and your family Linda. Thanks for a great year full of interesting facts. Hugs, Christine xx

Fiona said...

Have a very Merry Christmas....
Hugz

Tarnyia said...

Merry Christmas Linda to you and yours xxx

Cathy said...

Merry Christmas, Linda! Have a lovely bloggy break!!!!

Joanna said...

Merry Christmas! Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

corina said...

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with health, happiness, lots of fabric and oodles of time to sew!

ElfRenee said...

Merry Christmas, I hope you had an awesome one!!

Nancy Sue said...

Happy Holidays! Hope you had a wonderful holiday and enjoy your well-deserved time off. What will I do without you to jump start my morning :)!! Have a wonderful New Year's Eve and see you in the blogs in 2012!

Miss Hillbilly said...

Are you enjoying your break? I am. I had over 400 blogs in my reader today so I thought I best catch up. I hope not to do any computer tomorrow. Have a happy New Years!

Barbara said...

The Gardener's Journal quilt is going to be stunning, I love it!

Sue said...

"Life" got in the way of my blog reading and I'm eons behind. I had almost forgotten how much I enjoyed your witty blog. May the New Year bring you good times, good health, peace, joy, happiness and prosperity.

Becky said...

Wonderful post! Loved the reindeer and Christmas facts. I'm so impressed that you are doing counted cross-stitch. Your blue and white project is awesome. Have a wonderful New Years! Thanks for all that you share with us, dear friend!!!!

Char said...

I finally had a few minutes to catch up on blog reading.
I hope you had a great Christmas and I'm wishing you and your family a Happy New Year.

Char said...

I finally had a few minutes to catch up on blog reading.
I hope you had a great Christmas and I'm wishing you and your family a Happy New Year.

Char said...

I finally had a few minutes to catch up on blog reading.
I hope you had a great Christmas and I'm wishing you and your family a Happy New Year.

Char said...

I finally had a few minutes to catch up on blog reading.
I hope you had a great Christmas and I'm wishing you and your family a Happy New Year.

Joanne Lendaro said...

I'm just now catching up on/getting back to reading blogs. It's been crazy for me and finally I see things getting back to the everyday normal. Hope you had a wonderful break and I'll look forward to more post in a few days!!

hugs!!

Nancy said...

Hi Linda,

Happy New Year. I hope you enjoyed your two weeks off. Looking forward to reading more blogs from you. I'm finally sort of caught up and can get back to reading blogs again.

marina said...

love your gardener's journal top it looks wonderful. I love your cross stitch too. Really beautiful. I have dabbled a little in cross stitch too over the holidays and must say enjoyed it heaps!

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