Mom was There

Everywhere I turned this Holiday season Mom was there.
It all started with Thanksgiving. Mike and I had no plans with our immediate family so Sharen invited us down to theirs.

We sat around the family dining table for one last time.  The same table that Mom used to heap with so much food when we were growing up. It's on it's last leg and Sharen is replacing it.
Carrie showed up with homemade rolls using Mom's recipe of course. Mom would love to know that she has inspired Carrie into an awesome cook.

 I only made 2 kinds of Christmas cookies this year. One being Mom's bird nest.

Brian and Stacy lost their maternal Grandmother in September. I offered to make them keepsake teddy bears out of her bathrobes. I also make one for Mike's ex-wife. Yes we are friends and yes I really do like her.

But it got me thinking about my Mom and her cardinal sheets that I still had setting in my closet.
It's been 5 years. I got them out and made me a lap quilt for Christmas. I really don't know why it took me so long. I heard you loud and clear Mom.

Instead of going out for our traditional Christmas Eve breakfast, Erica offered to host it (it was right at Averie's nap time). I got out Mom's cinnamon roll recipe. I haven't made them in way too long.

Just like Mom's they were a big hit.

I sat around and watched the confusion and destruction of all the present and remember the Christmas spent in the basement of Kirk Ave. I understand now Mom!

Then I opened one of my presents from Mary. She had taken one of my favorite recipe from Mom and made me a coaster/spoon rest/serving dish with it. Her buttercream frosting that I still use. Yup, that brought tears. It's in Mom's handwriting.

Just like Mom, I want my kids to be home on Christmas day and make family memories to last. Mike and I had the Dupplers down for a quiet ham dinner.

Sharen told me I made to much food - just like Mom.

She even showed up in the wine we drank. She drank a wine high ball once in a while, but she was NOT a drinker.

I had a pretty good holiday season this year - Thanks for coming Mom.

Hallmark Books?

I'm really enjoying the Hallmark movies this year. My favorite so far is "The Christmas Train". Most of these movies are one time viewings, but I think I could watch that one again.

With our Christmas tree taking up the space of my jigsaw puzzle table (Yes, me without a puzzle to fix) I have been reading more. I know - I should be exercising not sitting.
I usually order my books online and go and pick them up at the Rakow branch down the street when they email me that they are ready.

While browsing for something different I typed in Christmas and it turns out all my favorite authors have written Holiday books. Lots of Holiday Books!!

So now I am reading "Hallmark Books"  - all with a Christmas theme. There was so many to choose from. I'll start with these 5.

Christmas Quilt

I was never too keen on quilt kits. Gasp! someone else tell me what colors and pattern to use. Some of the kits I see I'm like, really! I'm pretty sure I  could do a better job of fabric selection. I'm jealous of the people who get to do this for a job. Dream Job!

One of the most enjoyable part of making a new quilt is finding the right pattern and then go searching for the perfect material. I love that part. I can understand how some quilters have a large stash of different material. Mine is limited by the space in my sewing room and closet.
I am pretty sure I could spend more on fabric "to be used later" if I had more storage space.

Well, I got my first kit from Bryan and Mary for my birthday. A Christmas Quilt. I wanted something to hang in my living room for Christmas. (I did stir him to the correct website. Ha)

It was perfect timing with my birthday in September - plenty of time to get it made, quilted, and hung for this season.

Mike and I hung it yesterday!

My Christmas Quilt!
I found the perfect quilting pattern with poinsettias in it. I only got maybe 20 inches down and my longarm sewing machine started making funny noises. I didn't want to damage anything so I stopped. I called the shop and they couldn't get it in till January.
I wasn't about to go without the quilt hanging this year so I hung it up not completely quilted.  You can't tell it's not complete and I will go back after my machine is fixed and finish it.