Sunrise with Christmas lights twinkling in the distance
This has been the fastest holiday season ever! After everyone was here for Thanksgiving (it was a blur), my mood was "I have plenty of time before Christmas", but life intervened, as always.
I did get a little holiday decorating done. Even without a tree, I am happy with our lights and favorite decorations. Above are some daytime vs evening scenes from our living room.
And our view from the sofa every night
I made cookies from Granny Mitchell's recipe yesterday and have more dough in the freezer. This is her treasured recipe, written in her hand and signed Elzadia Mitchell. You can see from the photo that it was a much used recipe before we decided to laminate it years ago! Mom told me Granny had made this recipe since the 1880s, when she was a young girl. When Mom pressed her for the recipe, this was her best guess! Here is a post about the recipe.
I put aside my fall quilt for a little while, but I will get back to it
I've been playing with the 16 across blocks!
Last week I decided to make a small quilt for The Littles. When I moved my sewing space, I found some handmade flannel Christmas napkins I had purchased but never used, and after cutting off the hemmed edges I had 12 square-ish pieces. I placed them in a simple 3 x 4 design but got in a hurry and forgot to square up the blocks before I sewed them together!
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I added a flannel border and a panel and more flannel on the back. It made a smallish, non-uniform quilt, but it is a play quilt for The Littles, and they don't care if it is square!
I also made three more rag-edged Christmas stockings for my daughter, like these I made last Christmas. Since she got married in March, she needed one for John, her husband, and for the youngest two of his four children.
My sweet daughter-in-law Susan sent me this adorable Grandma sweatshirt! You can see how long it is - perfect for my leggings.
We made two 100 mile round trips to our daughter's house in the last week and will go again on Christmas morning for brunch and to watch Everett and Delaney open gifts. Yesterday we made another 100 mile round trip to meet our grandson to give him gifts to take home to our son and family in south Texas. That is a LOT of driving for us old folks!
Wishing all of you a very happy holiday season!
Your decorations are lovely! You've been a busy person. You've made 2 small quilts and driven many miles round trip! Have a peaceful weekend so you're fresh for another drive Christmas morning!
ReplyDeleteAll of your Christmas decor is so beautiful and festive , Linda. I just love that you have Grandma Mitchell's recipe card- what a treasure. Her handwriting was so beautiful . Don't you just love handwritten recipe cards. You look fabulous in your new sweatshirt. Your sweatshirt brought back fond memories . My family had one made for my Nanny ages ago. It is now in my possession. I love how yours is long and I bet it is quite comfy. Have a very Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThere's something so very personal and intimate about handwriting. I have a couple of recipes that make me pause each time I use them. I need one of those grandmother shirts. And, it was well worth the 100 mile drives for the grands!
ReplyDeleteLove your decor and really love all your Christmas projects! Have a Merry Christmas Linda!
ReplyDeleteHi Linda! Your home looks so welcoming from the moment you enter. I'll bet family and friends love to visit! Great quilt for the littles and you're right - they don't care what it looks like. Last night, Dominic was using his sister's Barbie quilt because it was nice and warm. I love the raw-edge stockings. They've been sewn with love and will be filled with care. All the more special for the new kiddos to feel a part of the family. Have a very Merry Christmas! {{Hugs}} a bunch, my friend. ~smile~ Roseanne
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post! And what a treasure that recipe is. That’s one that needs to be framed and hanging on the wall in your kitchen. I stumbled upon a number of recipes just last week that were written out in my grandmother‘s hand. They are so special. I also love the quilt made of the flannel napkins. It is darling! And what a genius idea well done, Linda! Have a magnificent Christmas.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful beautiful Christmas decorations in your home Linda. your quilt is cute. The kids will never know that those blocks were not squared and the cookie recipe really looks good. if only I could eat flour i would make some. have a great and wonderful, merry Christmas, and a very happy new year and a blessed life. Hopefully I’ll be out of my cast on the second of January and be able to type again! have a good one. I am dictating this, so if things run together or miss spell, forgive. Hugs
ReplyDeleteIt's so fun to see your Christmas decorating, Linda! I love having a tree, but I think it's the lights that I really love the most. That's a cute flannel quilt for the littles - such a good idea to use a panel on the back. Hope you survive all the driving - I'm guessing the 26th will be a day of rest!
ReplyDeleteyes that is a lot of driving - nice decorations! I'm so glad I laminated some recipes too but wish I had more of them - I used to have an old cookbook of moms which disappeared over the years of many moves I wish I still had it and don't even remember the name of it.
ReplyDeleteLooking very Christmasy for sure. Wishing you a great Christmas. I love that flannel quilt, after making myself one this year I've discovered how warm and cosy that are, your grandies will love it. Wow that recipe is a treasure, what a wonderful gift to have.
ReplyDeleteYou Christmas decorations look so festive. You've been busy with some fun projects, love that quilt for the littles. Safe travels this holiday season since you'll be on the roads so much. Have a very Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas! I love your sweatshirt!!! And the quilt is adorable. May you find a little bit of rest in all the travel.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your Christmas decorations. We had a tree this year, but decided to go with a four and one-half smaller versation...much easier for us to set up!
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ReplyDeleteMy holiday season seemed to go by quickly too. And it felt like I cooked everyday but the eaters only came for a couple of hours and then I was left to clean up. I'm not complaining, I just wish they would stay longer. We're going to have to change the routine. That is a great sweatshirt. I love the way the 16 across quilt is coming together - I haven't seen that arrangement before. You certainly did a lot of traveling back and forth, hopefully you had good weather.
Your house is beautiful and so cozy looking. Such lovely quilts too! Happy New Year 😀
ReplyDeleteThank you Tina! Happy New Year to you as well.
DeleteYour house looks so festive! I just scanned some of my grandmother's recipes and intend to collect them into a book for my siblings. I will also ask them for any they might have. Love the remake of the napkins and stockings and your sweatshirt is just fabulous. Merry Christmas (late) and Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteWho needs a tree when you have decorations as lovely as the ones you have.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh!! you have been crazy busy!! the lights change the look of the house ... I love it!! and your quilt for the littles- too cute!! WOW - on all the driving... thats a lot of miles - but sounds really worth it!! Happy new Year!!!
ReplyDeleteI love your holiday decorations Linda! Each corner is so festive. Sometimes I am tempted to skip the tree as well. I felt like I needed it with the kids but now with the two of us, I can do things different as I please. Just lovely. Plus the Christmas quilt. It is adorable - simple and cozy which is the best kind of quilt (in my opinion).
ReplyDeleteOh your house looks like a Christmas dream, everything so beautiful. What a decorating touch you have, Linda. Adore that gift from your DIL...perfect! And loved seeing you too! I'm interested in that pattern you are using for your Autumn project too. Such cute projects and definitely a very special recipe.
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