Christmas Eve goodies

Merry Christmas Eve everyone!  Although we are still encased in ice, the roads are clear for travelers.  My old-fashioned, just-like-Mom-used-to-make-them sugar cookies are baked and iced (no pun intended). 

Our Christmas Bison cookies

And the animals are frolicking in the nippy weather.  A baby deer (well, not that much of a baby anymore) - running around in the back yard chasing the birds.

 

Have a Happy Day
~ Kat

Christmas Gift-Giving Dilemma

It's the last week before Christmas and I am in the same dilemma I am always in at this time of year - what to give for Christmas to those I care about. 

1.  I never seem to be able to think of things earlier in the month (...year) to get/make for people.  It is like my mind works best under pressure - which I just don't need right before Christmas. 

2.  My family is out to town - (see 1 - overnight postage - expensive !!!)

3.  I don't like crowds, which makes it difficult if I am out at the last minute (see 1 - if I start earlier, no crowds!).

4.  I do not like giving gifts just for the sake of giving...I like giving gifts that have some meaning to the gift-getter - otherwise I would rather wait until I think of something (see 1 and 3 - don't like pressure shopping).

5.  My family is out of town - (see 4 - I don't know what are they "into" these days since I am not around them much - I just don't know!!!)

5.  I would prefer to give handmade gifts - takes time, lots of time.  Well, that just ain't gonna happen (see 1, 2, 4 and consider job and health).  What's worse?  If I do start handmade gifts ahead of time, I usually choose a much more difficult project to make than I need to (read, takes even more time)!

So, here I am, in my dilemma, with only a few days left before Christmas.  I say a quick prayer and head to Hobby Lobby, hoping I can knock out (uh, I mean lovingly and meaningfully select) most of the gifts in one fell-swoop.  The Lord was answering today - got all but a few taken care of (though I am going to do a simple, I hope, homemade gift for a few).   

Oh well, off to the making and wrapping.  Pics of gifts after they are given!!!  Here is our tree this year - I really like it!

Blessings,
Kat

There Is A Time For Everything...

...and that time is not now for me!  Nor is this a season for every activity under the heavens, for me!  I have been really struggling with migraines (sinus or maybe other), my back being out of alignment, and catching every cold that I come into contact with - I have been exhausted!!!!   Thus blogging had been put on the back burner - didn't even have the strength to say "Be Back Soon".  


And of course with this being the season for every activity under the heavens (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Christmas parties, church pageants, open houses, making Christmas gifts, baking goodies, looking at twinkly lights), I am trying to do what I can to enjoy the activities, but not doing so much of that I am not resting and healing.  This "season crash" usually happens to me every Oct - Nov, but it is definitely dragging out this year.


I am going to put up a few Christmas decorations this weekend to help us get in to the spirit at home.  Trans Siberian Orchestra CDs are in the car, in the CD player, and in the house putting their special spin on this wonderful time on year.  A few simple decorations are going up on the mantle and the walls, including some of my quilts.  Went to a Church Christmas pageant last weekend with our friends in Choctaw - wonderful!!!  Hoping to go to Korn, OK tomorrow for their Barn Home Christmas Tour - Korn is a German Mennonite town west of OKC.  Bet they will be selling some beautiful homemade things.  But it all depends on how I feel. 


Started getting out my Christmas quilts this morning.  Here is one...

I much prefer Father Christmas to Santa Claus!

But, with all the festivities, Christmas frilleries, and lights and food, please do not forget the real Reason for the Season.

Quilt made by me for my Mom in November 1999

Have a very blessed holiday season !!!!
Kat

A Simple Pleasure - It's Just Like Christmas

Sometimes, it doesn't take much to make me happy - like coming home and seeing this in the mail -

My Quilting Arts magazine!!!  It feels just like Christmas when this magazine arrives.  This is one of only two magazines that I still subscribe to.  Two of my other favorites have been taken out of publication - Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion and Claire Murray's La Vie Claire - I really miss these.  When QA comes in - no matter what day of the week, I make myself some tea (iced in the summer, hot in the winter), sit down and just absorb everything in the mag.  I am never disappointed.


In search of more of these SIMPLE pleasures -
Blessings,

Kat
Thanks to Kev - he knew I was having a very tiring day at work and called to tell me it had arrived - perked me right up!  He loves me, he really loves me!!  :)