A Finish for the End of the Year

This morning is dawning cold and clear (26F).  The little bit of snow we had has mostly disappeared.

Yesterday I chanced upon this chickadee - his downy feathers all puffed up to combat the cold weather.

Design - "Little Flake"

Chart - "Flakes" - CS015

Designer - Val's Stitchin' Stuff

Fabric - 28 count R & R 18th Century Brown linen

Fibers - GAST & Caron Wildflowers "Opal"

Started - 29 December 2010

Completed - 31 December 2010 

Everyone was cold and hungry yesterday morning.

The quail...

the chickadees...

and the bunnies.

Beauty in the snow!

As this year ends I am amazed and delighted to now have 66 faithful followers!  Wow - that, more than anything has been my reward for posting everyday in 2010.  I thank you for your time and generous comments.   

Little Flakes...Figuratively and Literally

Yesterday evening I finally had some time to work on "Little Flake".  Ironically, as I finished about 9:30pm, I happened to look outside with the aid of the Christmas lights, and noticed that it had begun to snow.

We had one good snow shower last night, so the ground is white. 

As promised, a few pictures - the theme:

"The Beauty is in the Details"

The Crescent moon in the morning sky...

Blackberry leaves encrusted with snow... 

Douglas fir boughs...

Pine...

Teasle...

and Queen Anne's Lace.

December Stamp...December Birds

Design - "December Stamp"

Designer - Lizzie Kate

Fabric - 28 count Mocha Cashel linen 

Fibers - GAST - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 13 December 2010

Completed - 28 December 2010

For Outdoor Wednesday I thought I'd document the birds who came to my suet feeder yesterday.

The main attraction - suet

A flicker

A Starling (a pest!)

A Hairy Woodpecker (female)

A Steller's Jay

...and more of my sunflower eaters...

Spot or Dot

You lookin' at me?!

Tuesday Thoughts

I am having a hard time getting started today.  It is a gray old day...seems slow and sleepy, and so, I guess, am I.  I have, however, kitted up Val's Stitchin' Stuff "Little Flake" as my next project.

Yesterday, we had a Flicker show up to eat suet from the feeder.

He was a large, striking bird.

I love the spots and the bright red cheeks.

A smart looking bird too!

The Christmas Table

I've made a little progress with the mitten on "December Stamp".

I know Christmas Day is stressful for lots of folks... but not for Cat-Folks!  

Solomon after a Christmas breakfast of Albacore tuna

Christmas dinner place-setting

The festive table

Chocolate Peanutbutter Marshmallows, Meringues, Mint Chocolate Brownies

Chocolate Chip Cookies, Sugar Cookies, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies - When I bake the theme is: CHOCOLATE!

A Quiet Day

Snowguy without a snowball

Snowguy with a snowball

Design - "Snow Gazer" (kit)
Designer - Heart in Hand
Fabric - 32 count Clay Belfast
Fibers - GAST
Started - 21 December 2010
Completed - 24 December 2010

Two photos of the finished stitch - one without a snowball, one with the snowball button.

I am laying low and having a quiet day today.  A storm blew in about 5:30am this morning - lots of wind and lashing rain - 1/2" when I checked the rain gauge a bit ago.  I've picked up the wrapping paper, stacked the empty boxes, and inventoried my many wonderful gifts.  It now appears that the wind has picked up again, the sky is once again a dark gray - another storm on the way.  I shall grab a book, a cat, and a stitch and enjoy the storm - warm and safe inside.  

It's Christmas Day

It's 6:00am - still quite dark outside...I think that Santa arrived last night...I'll go downstairs after a bit and have a look-see!

Design - "Wee Santa 2000"

Designer - Heart in Hand

Fabric - 32 count Dirty Belfast

Fibers - WDW

Started - 25 November 2001

Completed - 31 December 2001

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Christmas Eve

Design - "Dazzlin' Deer" limited edition kit

Designer - Heart in Hand

Fabric - 32 count R & R Dark Cappuccino

Fibers - GAST

Started - 2 January 2002

Completed - 10 January 2002

I will be eagerly awaiting the sound of "reindeer paws" on the roof tonight.  As a child, one Christmas Eve my family thought we'd heard Santa and his reindeer, only to discover three or four "escaped" horses grazing on our front lawn! 

I thank everyone for their kind comments on the Christmas decorations.  I'd promised a "before" and "after" shot of the media center, and here, finally, are the photos.

Before...

After...

Here's wishing everyone a most Merry Christmas Eve - I've five more packages to wrap, then I will be able to enjoy the day.

Trees, Trees, and More Trees

Design - "Little Green Tree" from The Christmas Collection

Designer - Bent Creek

Fabric - 32 count Summer Khaki linen

Fibers - DMC

Started -  17 November 2001

Completed - 21 November 2001

Continuing the tree theme...

Here are a couple of Hallmark mini-trees...

...and yet two more trees with Hallmark miniature ornaments.

We also have a second "large" faux tree. 

This is my mom's Bird Tree - all of the ornaments are birds or bird-related.

There's even a turkey...

...and not a bird - a bat - but hey, it flies!

It's an Indoor Wednesday

I needed a small travel stitch, so decided to begin working on "Snow Gazer" by Heart in Hand.  Sometimes you cannot beat a kit - all the floss, the chart, the fabric - it's all there and ready when you are!

Outdoor Wednesday is celebrating the indoors this month, so I thought I'd share a few more pictures of our Christmas decorations. 

Both my sister and I collect hand-carved wooden Santa.  This is her collection.  I think it looks like a meeting of the UN of Santas!

This small wrought iron tree resides on top of the piano. 

This simply decorated faux tree is on the buffet in the dining room.

The festive bear is sitting in my mother's childhood rocker.

Are you all decorated and ready for Christmas? 

December...Stamps and Trees

I stitched a bit last evening.

Here's what I have to show on "December Stamp".

Lizzie Kate is a past master with color combinations - this is so very bright and cheery!

I thought I'd show off our Christmas tree.  It's a "fake" tree as one of our cats is allergic to "real" fir trees - I kid you not! 

This year I got to decorate, and I decided to use Hallmark ornaments.

I went with a dual theme - snowmen...

and Santas...

I think there are somewhere between 125 and 150 ornaments.

I'm pretty pleased with the final effort.

Now it just needs some packages artfully arranged around the tree skirt!

Have you been naughty or nice?