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

Simple Messages Meant from the Heart

My wonderful sister, Mary, sent me this as a gift - a Bari J Ackerman design - just because!  I have been wanting to start doing stitched works framed in an embroidery hoop.  She must have read my mind.  She knows I love TEA (hot or cold)!  And the sentiment, Stay Calm, always appropriate for my life!

Thank you Sis!!  BBH!!
Kat

Staying Positive on Staycation

We were supposed to be in Utah this week - specifically Canyonlands and Arches - hiking our hearts out and feet off. But I developed really bad tendonitis in my foot and ankle, and am having ongoing physical therapy - thus, the doc said that hiking or extensive walking was out. Bummer !!!!  So, we regrouped, decided to still take the much-needed time off and enjoy a Staycation (vacation at home - not fond of them, but any vacation now is much appreciated). We planned on making some local trips out and about around Oklahoma (which we haven't done much of since we moved here). Then, I wake up Saturday feeling pretty puny. Sunday morning, I go into the doctor and I have a full-blown sinus infection - fever & chills, congestion, sore throat - then antibiotics, nose spray. Really??? At this point our short trips are on hold until the antibiotics kick in.

I persevere - to make this feel more like a vacation than a staycation, Keven went shopping for easy meals that require little cooking and cleanup. We have a supply of library books and I have hand projects I can do while resting. Kev has projects in the garage. No house or yard chores - just FUN, SIMPLE, and REWARDING projects that we never seem to get to otherwise. We took a quick trip to the bookstore - Christmas magazines are out already!

And, what vacation would be complete without a stop at a quilt store? (yes, it was one of my local ones, which we are blessed to have two awesome ones in OKC, though it would have been nice if it had been the one in Durango, CO I had planned to stop at on the way to Utah).  A trip to the quilt store always makes the hurt feel better. Got some yummy fabric in bright colors to cheer me up - will use it to make a modern quilt over the cold, dark Winter.  And a new book out that offers simple sewing projects for every room - sweetwater's SIMPLE HOME by Lisa Burnett, Karla Eisenach & Susan Kendrick.

Off to an early night's sleep, praying for healing -
Kat