Christmas Quilts or Not?

 

Good evening! Happy Christmas Sunday, Happy holidays to all.

I worked so hard today cleaning and tidying for the holiday, even though it will be very reduced, with only immediate family on Christmas Day. Having my house all spick and span makes me happy, omigosh those ceiling fans were---I have no words, you do not want to know. Tomorrow--grocery shop/ meet friends; Tuesday --bake; Wednesday: dust/ prep food/ relax/ Thursday, all done!

On FB a woman was proudly showing off all her Christmas quilts. And yes they were so sweet. I don't really own any large Christmas quilts, just my antique red and white quilts---

and a few green and red.

I have not yet finished Shirley's Christmas Quilt. I got myself Season 1 of the BBC Vera detective series; I plan to sew Shirley's binding as I watch it. 

 And so, for December. instead of my usual choices---it was so cold, even snowy---I decided to use the Pokeberry quilt instead of my usual picks. It is flannel and velvet with wool and cotton applique, quite suitable for winter.

And it's a calendar quilt of sorts, starting with a snowy cottage, spanning the year with Valentine's day, spring birds, summer roses.

Fourth of July!

And ends with early autumn's black-eyed susans and blue chicory.

Many of the motifs are so similar to my Pennsylvania tin primitive cooky cutters:

The little girl---

the birds--

and this copper modern Heart in Hand cutter.

I love this scissors cooky cutter. I think I may add a wool scissors applique to PB, for winter again. 

Add flannels sheets and Oh so cozy!

Yesterday I switched out, though, just for this holiday week:

A vintage [early 1900s] red and white quilt, and La Grande Sajou [by me] with its warm European colors and charm used as a topper.

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As you know, we had snow. It then froze into glaciers that I think could last to spring.

Mo was very happy that his "ugly" Christmas sweater still fits nicely. I think it's very cute, but then I made my kids wear Christmas sweaters too when they were very little. And they weren't at all as amenable as Baby Mo. 

Best wishes to you all! I expect to be back with an All Around the House post on Wednesday, unless the incredibly opaque, incomprehensible photo systems in this new computer defeat me. 

As for the holiday--white Christmas? We'll see.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach......

At the height of the blizzard on???[I've lost track], almost dark, at sunset--I looked out and saw a guy toting his surfboard down to the beach! All in black winter wetsuit, very ninja style, It was so cold! 50 mph winds. I can't show you the private FB page but looks like the surfers had an awesome day. Night?

 

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays my friends!

Today I'm wrapping gifts and waiting for the snow to begin. 

My wrapping paper, from that seems-long-ago visit to Home Goods is  red and white polka dots, candy canes, and toy trucks.

Wine for friends.

I'm drying orange slices sprinkled with cinnamon today. More to keep the house warm with the oven going than  because I want or need this year's popular craft of dried oranges. The house smells nice.

Mo is snoring happily in his bed, hoping I won't make him go out and get his feeties frozen.

No snow so far...a hawk is lazily soaring over the dunes, looking for lunch with no success.

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Since it is such a quiet celebration this year I have time to notice and muse about odd happenings this Covid Christmas of 2020. For instance....

*This week at the store there were no pecans for my snowball cookies. And no cauliflower.

* People aren't sending Christmas cards even though many people are home more this year and should have the time and the desire to reach out. But no. On the other hand, outdoor lights are popular and everyone has a string or two.

*Wreaths are on many doors---but often people are deciding not to ''bother'' with a tree. I'm making do with my little tree 

and dreaming of someday again having a BIG Tree again.

*Gifts on Santa lists are expensive as kids get older. My mom would say one expensive. much wished-for gift [but within her and my dad's careful budget] was a better choice than a bunch of cheap knickknacks just to make the Santa pile look good.

*My town is showing outdoor drive in movies all month! Three shows a week, "stay in your car" at an oceanfront park with soccer and cricket fields. Bbbrrr! But I would love to go, how fun. Bring popcorn and a thermos of slightly spiked hot chocolate, blankets and even Mo could come.

*Off topic, the TRUMP flag is still up! Three days after the Electoral College vote. The man was smugly sitting under that flag, with no regard for democracy or our Constitution. And yet, Mo and I later saw another TRUMP flag. We need a local ordinance: NO political signs or flags. Please.

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My gift to me is the Pilgrim Landing 400 years ago commemorative fabrics, found on a Black Friday sale. [Judie Rothermel for Marcus Brothers]  Not sure what one might make with it, only many-pointed compass rose designs come to mind.

Or maybe  just to cherish, important memories and heritage meaning for me---right or wrong, history happened. The fabrics are softly colored with an anachronistic 1830-1850 look about them. There'sm a delightful toile with the Mayflower . plus a map print, lots of ditsies.

Later...as the snow has begun to fall and the wind shakes the old roof tiles and windows of our cozy cottage, I'll leave you with this letter I saw online, a superintendent closed the area schools [W VA] ahead of this storm. I think is is so beautiful, what a kind and thoughtful person this educator must be. And I send similar wishes to you all in this time fear and craziness, in the plague year.

A letter from Dr. Bondy Shay Gibson below:

''Dear Jefferson County Schools Community,

For generations, families have greeted the first snow day of the year with joy. It is a time of renewed wonder at all the beautiful things that each season holds. A reminder of how fleeting a childhood can be. An opportunity to make some memories with your family that you hold on to for life.

For all of these reasons and many more, Jefferson County Schools will be completely closed for tomorrow, Dec. 16, in honor of the 1st snow day of the year. Closed for students closed for virtual. closed for staff. It has been a year of seemingly endless loss and the stress of trying to make up for that loss. For just a moment, we can all let go of the worry of making up for the many things we missed by making sure this is one thing our kids won’t lose this year.

So please, enjoy a day of sledding and hot chocolate and cozy fires. Take pictures of your kids in snow hats they will outgrow by next year and read books that you have wanted to lose yourself in, but haven’t had the time. We will return to the serious and urgent business of growing up on Thursday, but for tomorrow---go build a snowman.''

Sincerely,

Bondy Shay Gibson, Ed.D.

Superintendent

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....

A Winter Walk

 

Hi! As I type this, slowly, slowly on my new keyboard, the first snow of this winter is falling gently outside. The young man who installs my air-conditioner covers has finally appeared. I'd feel sorry for him, working in the sleet and cold but he was scheduled [and paid] to come in late October, and just now is getting to work.

On a nicer day last week week before the computer changeover I took a long cobweb clearing hike on the beach. It was a fairly nice day and quite busy by December standards. Maybe ten or so people walking along the three or four mile stretch of beach?

The beach itself was windswept and not perhaps as beautiful as it is on a hot day in June. But refreshing and peaceful. Join me?

I was happy to see the boardwalk still in place.

And the bench to sit and enjoy the quiet for a few moments.

The Par Ducks remain in place, actually less buried, the sand swept away in the last wind storm. The other items all are gone, just one shell remains.

The Trump gathering of wood and flag have gone, only this last gallows-like tree remains. Trump's last stand?

[Oddly I have a neighbor who is still faithfully flying his Trump 2020 flag. It's enormous. No one mentions it. How polite we all are!]

Gully! The only bird on the beach today.

I walk home via the dune edges.

This is the beach view of the seawall, the hidey hole Mo likes to peer out from the other side, I enjoy seeing the winter weeds and plants: bayberry, goldenrod seed heads, dune grass, phragmites, tumbleweed.

Then home, with tiny roses still in hopeful bloom, dried brown hydrangea still beautiful to me; dense rich holly, in the height of its seasonal perfection, a stray light purple stalk of unknown flowers, happy in the December warming [hosta].

Hot tea and Mo are waiting, as the too early sunset arrives at 4 PM.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....