CHRISTMAS PASTS 2...

The kids came up on the 21st 

and we had a wonderful time. 

 It was short and sweet 

as they had to go right back home 

but it was all worth it. 

 These days, any time spent together

 is such a glorious treat.  

We had a good meal,

 celebrated Jake's birthday,

 got to see Jacenda's ring 

for the first time in person 

and got to meet our fur great grand baby all at once...

...she is adorable,
 a great delight, super smart,
 and displayed such good manners. 

Her mom and dad had a

 different story to tell

 but at great-grandma's house

 she was on her best behavior.

She took a sunbath...

...and went for a walk

through the autumn leaves.

Kisses were exchanged between cousins,
 but the other cousin (Robin) 
wanted nothing to do with Bean
 and, for sure, didn't want her around me! 
 Kai was infatuated with her 

and wanted to be by her side at all times.

My Great Grandmother's quilt

Before we jump right into the past time,

 I want to show you my 

latest effort in the quilt block saga. 

 I really don't know why I have become so

 fascinated with  quilts lately 
but, for some unknown reason, I have.  

I only own two old quilts. 

 One was done

 by my great grandmother's hand

 and one I bought at an antique shop.

  The only value 

that they have is sentimental, 

especially the one 

from my great grandmother. 

 I have never made a quilt

 in the way that they are 

supposed to be made.  

When the kids were little

 I made them each a "quilt" 

that consisted of 

two pieces of fabric

 with a layer of batting

 between the pieces and then

I tied them all together with yarn. 

 Cute but nowhere in competition

 of any quilt. 

 A funny story regarding 

one of those quilts:

Our son sucked his thumb 

and used his quilt as a security blanket

 at the same time. 

 He drug it every place and called it his noni.

  It was always dirty 

but it was a great loss for him to be without it so I devised a scheme. 

 I cut the quilt in pieces 

so that he could have

 a clean piece at all times.

  Over time, the pieces became so worn that, one by one, they were thrown out. 

 When he was down to the last piece, 

he let it go out the car window 

while driving down the freeway.  

All I could hear from the back seat 

was a teary little voice saying, 
"my noni, my noni"
 and that was the end of that. 

 I wanted something to do one day

 that involved painting 

and I think I thought that quilt blocks

 would be an easy 

and fast fun thing to do.  

They are harder to do (at least for me) than they look

 but I was hooked.  

So here is my latest endeavor

 and how it began:

I bought this picture a few years back 

but, unfortunately,

 it didn't seem to fit in anyplace 

and was not really pleasing to the eye. 

 It was three feet long

 and just a bunch of Ball jars in a line. 

 So as the saying goes,

 when you are given lemons,

 make lemonade and  

I turned it into something else. 

 I ordered a special stencil 

and this is what I came up with:

I am really pleased with it.

  I thought I should have made 

the quilt ends a little smaller 

but after looking at it for awhile,

 it has grown on me. 

 Now it is doing more

 that just sitting in a corner gathering dust.

Now here is the rest of

 Christmas Pasts 

that I promised you.

Before I close, 

I would like to share with you 

something that someone sent to me:

"Judy, thank you for a peek into your wonderful world.  There is peace, tranquility and a feeling of safety that all of us look for in today's world but rarely find.  There's a look of the late 1800s but the feel of the safety of the 1950s.  It's good that you've found a way to communicate with people on a level we all can enjoy, recognize and feel comfortable with.  Thanks again for giving us all a little place to come to when things get ugly or unacceptable."

I certainly felt blessed 

when I read this. 

 Thank you so much.

 

 This is the time of year 

for thanksgiving and gratitude

 and I hope you all know 

that the words above

 are exactly what I hope

 that you will take away 

when you read my blog.

  

What these special people in my life said,

 and so much better than I ever could,

 is how I feel about

 each and every one of you 

and how much I appreciate

 all your kindness, your good thoughts and your friendship.

Have a wonderful 

and blessed Thanksgiving.

...Judy...

Happy Birthday, dear Jake. 

 We love you to the moon.

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