Christmas 1926

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I thought I'd share a Christmas card that belonged to my Great-grandmother.  It was sent to her from her oldest sister in 1926 - 90 years ago.  

"Dear Sister - We are all just fine as this year draws to a close - Ella was still waiting the last she wrote.  I am hoping every day to get good news.  A Merry Xmas  and a Happy New Year to all.  From all of us, Much love Margaret McAdam".

Ellen Florence (Ella) McAdam Caufield 1884-1968

The letter refers to Ella, a younger sister who was pregnant with with her second child. 

Joe Caufield (1926-1998)

That child, Joseph Caufield was born the 17th of December 1926. 

Margaret McAdam (1872-1935)

Margaret McAdam was a school teacher - multiple grades in a one room school house for decades.

Mathew McAdam (ca. 1833-1927)

By 1926 her mother was deceased, but Margaret lived with her father, Mathew McAdam, a native of Scotland... 

Rob McAdam (1882-1937)

and her brother, Rob McAdam on the family farm near Blooming Prairie, MN. 

Janet McAdam Waning (1875-1976)

My great-grandmother Janet McAdam Waning, and Ella both resided in Oregon by 1926. 

Christmas Decorations - Part One

It's hard to find a quiet place to sleep with all the holiday upheaval!

Norman Gnome will take us on a tour...

Starting in the breakfast nook, I have a few nativities on display.

The kitchen cupboard knobs are all festooned with cookie ornaments.  

Almost anything can become a collection!

These look good enough to eat.

My mother's Christmas / winter plate collection is also on display in the kitchen.

I have so many kitchen / food related ornaments that this year I expanded from two trees to three trees.  This one is in the kitchen. 

The other two are in the family room.

Here's a close up.

And here's my newest tree. 

I thought I hadn't decorated much this yaer.  But as it turns out there's enough to show that I'll break this up into two posts.  More to follow on Boxing Day.

Trying Not to Panic

Design - "Reindeer"

Chart - "Christmas Past" #51

Designer - The Prairie Schooler

Fabric - 32 Black Zweigart linen

Fibers - DMC - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 21 December 2012

Completed - 26 December 2012

Christmas is right around the corner and I am trying not to panic.  I need to make a list that helps me feel as though I'm organized, even if I'm not.  Today I need to wrap, wrap, wrap, and bake a couple of batches of cookies.

Padma says, "Don't sweat the small stuff!"

This large hawk was in the tree with my two ravens and drove them off.  Bad hawk!

Here's my White-throated Sparrow.

A Fox Sparrow.

Black-capped Chickadee.

I think the chipmunks took a mini hibernation during our ice storm.

Doesn't look like they were bother by it.

Back On Line

We lost power on Wednesday December 14th at 4pm, and cable and internet at 9pm.  Our power was restored Monday December 19th at 3pm.  We've been without cable and internet until late this afternoon when my father was able to work a patch for the internet until the service call scheduled for next Tuesday provides a permanent fix.  

During our power outage Padma and Parvati hogged the spots in front of the fireplace and were regular fixtures on warm blankets.

Here's one last look at our Deep Freeze.  

I had a couple of squirrels show up looking for food. Tough pickings when most everything is encased in ice. 

My Alibaba fountain continued to run unabated.  Fresh water is important for birds even in cold weather.

Here's a Golden-crowned Sparrow.

Here's a couple of them.

And let's not forget the California Quail.

Look at the splayed tail feathers.

As soon as the ice began to melt the quail attacked the blackberries leaves, eating vigorously.  I had lots of seed set out, but nutritiously their bodies must have demanded greens. 

So cold - no wonder this guy is all puffed up.

Buck Rodgers came by and for a moment it looked like a Christmas card outside. 

A Little Bit of This A Little Bit of That

The day before the storm hit, the female Anna's decided to take a bath.

She perched on the rim...

...then stepped in...

...even washing her head...

...before rinsing off.

Changing topics, over the weekend my Mom, sister, and I headed off to visit the Farmers' Market and the Holiday Market.

I thought these food items looked especially festive!

Lots of fresh produce even in December.

I've been eating oatmeal for breakfast. I think it is cold weather comfort food.

Most importantly, here are the catnip mice that my sister buys as Christmas gifts for the cats each year.  Don't tell them ahead of time!  Padma and Parvati will go crazy when they get them.

Finding Joy

Design - "Joy"

Chart - "Flora McSampler 2011 Ornaments"

Fabric - 28 count Wichlet Milk Chocolate linen

Fibers - GAST & WDW - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 30 December 2013

Completed - 30 December 2013

Taking care of the birds during the ice storm is rewarding and joyful. I feel a responsibility to make sure they have food and water all year, but there is a special urgency when the weather is terrible. 

The woodpeckers were out in force.

Here's the male Hairy Woodpecker.

Here's the female Hairy Woodpecker.

An Acorn Woodpecker and Starling.

The male Acorn Woodpecker.

It was a challenge to detach the frozen feeders and refill them.

The female Acorn Woodpecker and crew finished off a large cylinder feeder of mix nuts in just a few days.  In 'normal' weather it would last three weeks.

Here's a male Flicker.

I saw as many as three Flickers at a time.

Protein like suet and peanuts helps the birds with calories to fight the cold.