Last Day Of The Year

We decided to spend the last day of the year in town doing a little shopping, eating out, and then going bowling.We celebrated early so we could ring in the new year sleeping.....just the way I like it!

King Quilt pt. 8

Now that Christmas is over I have begun working on the King Quilt once again. The quilt was too big to hang fully on the clothesline without dragging the ground so 4-rows are draped over the line.My next step is to find a place large enough for me to spread the quilt top out so I can add the batting and backing. Maybe the library will let me borrow one of their rooms?...I'll have to ask them.

A Doll House

For the past 2-months Pat has been working on a doll house for Elizabeth for Christmas. He has been making it up as he goes along and wasn't able to complete it in time for Christmas so the plan was to bring it home on Christmas Eve, unfinished, so Elizabeth would finally know about it; but the unexpected snow prevented this from happening (the house was being built at the warehouse).

Yesterday we braved the snowy roads and Elizabeth received her final and biggest gift. Pat still needs to add walls to the 3rd floor and windows and chimney to the roof. Once he finishes this last section then Elizabeth and I will begin the journey of learning how to decorate a miniature house. Our plan is to work on shingles first and then decide if we should paint the outside or put bricks on the outside.

The house measure 40-inches long, 39-inches tall and 26-inches deep. Pat put a drawer under the house to hold the electrical equipment when it is time to run the various wires.

When finished there will be between 16 and 18 rooms; in this photo you can see another room through the door. The stairs leading up to the next floor will have a railing when Elizabeth and I learn how to attach it.

Elizabeth was anxious to play with the house so she dug out some of her plastic doll house pieces and put them in the house for now, then she and Pat began making a rustic wood bed frame.

When the bed is finished Elizabeth and I will make a miniature mattress, quilt and pillows. This is a gift that will be used for many, many years.

The Orchard on Christmas Day

This morning when we went to check on the chickens I noticed for the first time how the snow drifted along the north fence in the orchard.

The chickens are not happy with all our snow but the trees will benefit greatly come spring.

Merry Christmas Eve

Today has been a wonderful relaxing day of watching Christmas shows and movies. Once the wind died down we noticed our 3-foot drift had grown to almost 5-feet.With no wind blowing the kids were able to play for a second time outside and had a fun snowball fight; poor Elizabeth didn't have a chance against brother.

After supper Elizabeth opened her traditional Christmas Eve package and really loved her nightgown. This is the first year I didn't make Jonathan a traditional Christmas Eve gift; he's just too big/old for fun stuff.

I am looking forward to tomorrow morning, Elizabeth is so excited about opening up gifts and I am looking forward to a second day of doing nothing but watching more shows/movies and reading.

A Possible White Christmas

Last night while we slept Old Man Winter paid us a wonderful visit.
Along with the snow we have had a lot of wind which made many, many snow drifts. Here Elizabeth is playing in one of the smaller drifts.

The largest drift is about 3-feet tall.

Jonathan decided to try walking/playing in the big drift.

The sky is now clearing up and the sun has come out but unless it gets pretty warm it looks like we will have a White Christmas!

One Of Those Days

Today was "one of those days" where little goes the way it was planned. I couldn't find part of the pajama pattern I needed for Elizabeth's Christmas pajamas and then I discovered I hadn't purchased enough fabric either!I did manage to find a pattern for a summer nightgown so Elizabeth will at least get to open her traditional Christmas Eve pajama package.