Gone To The Beach: 2024/12

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Happy New Year!

*not me, not my pic but I love the idea! yum!

from Lizzy and Mo

"It was a good time, it was the best time! It was a party...!"

Monday, December 23, 2024

And so the Shortest Day came and the year died
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive.
And when the new year’s sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, reveling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us—listen!
All the long echoes, sing the same delight,
This Shortest Day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And now so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome, Yule!

Wishing all my blog friends a very Merry Christmas.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...

Sunday, December 15, 2024

Mid-December Miscellany ~ Christmas, Quilts, Weather Woes

Hi! I wrote this beginning ahead of last week's not so very big storm: December---not so cold but gale warnings have been posted ahead of a cold front.

I must go out and bring in any loose items, my deck garden's end of year cleanup has been delayed due to forced rest to heal hip inflammation. Hard to see work needing to be done, events unattended, etc. And I am so very tired of gale warnings, 60 mph winds predicted from the south, exposed big windows side of the house. brrrrr, gonna be shivering. Devices charged/laundry done/ online banking and food and gift orders in ahead of power outages/ easy to eat food prepared/ lanterns and candles at the ready. And so it goes. Mostly I fear the dark and cold though. And the wind. [Update--enough wind to undo my bungee-ing and blow stuff around/ not much rain]

The very last marigolds, a bit of late appearing alyssum, and a red clover. Summer's last smile. We had a light frost when the cold front passed through. Old beachcombed ink bottle, c.1880s?

More rain maybe tomorrow. I got oranges and apples to dry in the oven and make the house smell warm and lovely. And to the left a tall glass vase sidewalk scavenged, good for tall winter bulbs.

I puttered around and added a few more Christmas tweaks. Luckily I have things tucked in drawers and the Shaker boxes so the house is not entirely sad.

Got the red toile cushion covers on.

A favorite Snowmans bandbox found, and inside a tiny putz village.

Another village, this one a 1930s American Main Street by my dad.

And the crock got berries. Later I added a green shutter behind everything to hold the small Giraffe quilt

More little treasures--sorry I cannot yet get to the bin with the wooden folkart angels, or climb a ladder to get down the Noah's Ark.

Mo was snuggled in his bed. He has come to like his baby quilt more as it ages and softens.

I still love it, it was fun finding all the vintage embroideries.

More quilts aired and admired. I love this redwork quilt, but the red squares are not very stable, and fade quickly if exposed to brilliant ocean sunlight.

And this one, dated 1911.

The ABC quilt and a very old Irish Chain--the white fabric seems to be linen homespun.

I enjoy studying all the embroidered motifs, some are favorites: smug Kitty, the boy smoking the long clay pipe as so often seen on Mudlarkers' Thames posts.

This Kate Greenaway style shoe [was antique even when the redwork was popular/ c.1650-1800/ stylization], often seen as an applique or as the woman w too many children etc.

The hairpins I am always sure conceal initails, a name? a date? But no.

off topic slightly I'm adding this link for a fabulously adorable folkart quilt being sold on IG. Once upon a time, when I could afford it, I would have snapped this treasure up and loved it forever... Scissors and Baskets Quilt

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Do you get Christmas cards? I sent 8 this year, to older friends and to family. So far two have arrived here, one from my tax accountant, lol, reminding us that there's an extra charge for rush filing so Plan Ahead, people! We are not charmed.

No knitting has been done, yikes! One week left to knit this cowl. My TV is broken and my glasses don't focus right for monitor viewing, Kindle page turning breaks one's stitch rhythm. I need entertainment when I knit.

Happy holidays, as our year wanes.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...

Sunset was two minutes later yesterday, a hopeful omen. Mo and I timed it from the deck.

And the full moon rose in the ENE, most northerly full moonrise of the year.

Later last night--the air crystal clear and cold, the moon's light was enchanting. The beach and ocean glowed an unearthly blue and frosty white. As bright as dawn on a summer night. Mo cast navy shadows on an aqua tinted deck. And the stars and planets sparkled like 4th of July fireworks above our heads. Reminder to myself--winter is beautiful too.

Sunday, December 8, 2024

Keeping It Simple

Christmas! Lavish, festive, thrilling! I am all for an over the top Christmas. But times change. I sat down with myself to decide what really matters to me, what do I love most about decorating and cooking for these very brief few days of each year. Because why do it if no one cares but me, right? Two quotes to ponder.

“December is the time for remembering the past and reaching toward the future.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Traditions no longer work." How sad.

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The Quilts

December 1st I got out most of my red and white quilts and the stack of usually made each year tiny quilts. This is a joy but also practical, as the quilts need to be aired and refolded at least once a year. Here's what I found.

Redwork Single Irish Chain , pic for BB. Dated 1911, I think.

Not sure I will do a tree! The Christmas Eve get together may just feature pizza from the freezer. [Celeste's are pretty good/ no deliveries on Christmas Eve here]. I had my heart set on this tiny tree from Terrain. At $228.oo it was far beyond my budget, tho it did include a dozen tiny glass [repro] feather tree ornaments , "penny ornaments" that can run $20.oo each, so the price is not sooo crazy. I waited, waited for Black Friday, would the Tree be half price? Still would be too $$$, right! But no, it was sold out before Black Friday came.

As for looking forward, I had planned to make Jan Patek's Joy pattern this year, despite the irony of the word. Unlike the quote person, change makes me very sad

Inspiration pic/ Cheri Payne via Pinterest, if my tiny tree needs more ornies:

But rummaging for gift tags I found these two cuties--if not for Christmas-New Years home alone days then for the winter ahead? The tiny grid of 1" squares on the Whatnots always defeats me but I love it.

I am determined to stick to small quilts for now/ for the future. I just cannot iron and finish the big quilts I enjoy making.

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And the Christmas baking--simplified. My little artist friend will come after school one day and we'll make pre-formed rounds of Pillsbury sugar cookies decorated with wonderful holiday sprinkles and bright colored sugar. Always the funnest part. No rolling out, no cutting, no hours with royal icing. Just the fun of an hour together.

https://sprinklepop.shop/

No gingerbread house either! Not sure I miss that , they're a challenge. Though my son and his buddies loved stomping the G House to crumbs on New Years Day. Just in case you do want to try fancy cookies, here's a fun Quilt Block cooky. Scroll down, I apologize for the busy, ad filled, linked website.

Quilt block cookies

I hope your holiday preparations bring you joy too.