Christmas 2010 con'td

Lena, Allen & Barry sharing a laugh.

Abby modeling her quilt.

Katie with a bulletin board for her room.

A guitar strap & a Tshirt for Jared.

Chris studying his gift of a Bible.

Charlotte admiring the bed runner I quilted for her.

Sigrid loving her gift of flannel sheets.

Zac's Quilt

This is the quilt that I made for Zac.

 Zac spent Christmas Day by himself in the bathroom due to a bad case of the flu that hit him that morning. The next day he felt a little better but still was pale & wasn't feeling too good. We had turkey dinner leftovers on the 26th so he had some then. On the 27th, when his family left in the morning to return to Yorkton, his head was still feeling somewhat dizzy. Now, let's see if any of us will have caught the BUG!!

Christmas 2010

Nick with his excavator "sand toy" with cousins Brandon & Jared in the background.

Carly opening a gift.

Adam

Brandon

What a great time we had with our kids & grandkids celebrating Christmas. Barry, Sigrid, Zac & Abby from Yorkton. SK. arriving late Christmas Eve & left for home this morning. It was so good to have Barry, Sifrid & family here for Christmas as they had missed spending Christmas here for the past 2 years when they lived in Calgary. Allen, Lena, Jared & Brandon from Winnipeg came Christmas Day & spent 1 night here & Chris, Charlotte, Adam, Katie, Carly & Nick, who live 2 blocks from us, were here for Christmas Day & came back for breakfast on the 26th before going to Charlotte's family for the rest of the day. I'll post more pictures throughout the week.

Christmas Eve

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace
Isaiah 9:6

Happy Birthday, Katie.

Katie blowing out the candles on her cake while Carly watches.

This is the birthday cake Katie wanted & she decorated most of it herself.

Happy 9th birthday, Katie.

A Moody Manitoba Morning

This morning we woke up a winter wonderland of thick hoar-frost. In the middle of the afternoon the sun came out & the frost just sparkled on the trees. Some of the snow then fell lazily to the ground but most of it is still on the trees. Today was one of those days when I just love winter!

Building a House

Nick checking out the roof line.

Almost finished.

Time to taste.

Today it was the day to put together the Gingerbread House. To make it easy on myself, I buy the kind that has the walls & roof already baked & just needs to be put together & also has all the candies included. So I glue the house together with the icing, that is included & already mixed & just pipe it out of the bag. The grandkids do the decorating & the taste testing.

The Pink Quilt

I made this quilt for my granddaughter, Abby, for Christmas. I pieced it this summer & then quilted it during the fall months.The rag quilt I made for her 5 years ago is well loved & worn & I think she'll really like this one. I'm really looking forward to seeing her expression when she opens the package.

December 19,2010

This tree I made years ago & is still one of my favorites.

Yes, I decorate the bathroom too!

Remember, if Christ isn't found in your heart, you won't find it under the tree.
Charlotte Carpenter

December 18, 2010

It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you.....yes, it is Christmas every time you smile at your brother and offer him your hand.                      -Mother Teresa

December 17, 2010

This beautiful nativity set I bought for a good price at a garage sale. I had been looking for one for several years.

Thanks be to God for his unspeakable Gift -indescribable,inestimable, incomparable, inexpressible - precious beyond words.                        Lois Lebar

December 16, 2010

Christmas 2010 - just a few days away. Around here, I'm feeling pretty relaxed about Christmas preparations. Shopping is done & most of the gifts are wrapped, meal planning is done in my head so just need to make a menu & make up a shopping list. As far as Christmas baking goes, I decided not to do very much as my family is not a huge fan of the very sweet goodies so I'll bake a few favorites like shortbread & matrimonial squares & one other cookie. Our family enjoys a variety of appetizers like chicken wings & veggies & dip more than the sweet goodies. And then, I'll clean the house next week & then I'll be set. Makes for a relaxing week to spend time concentrating on the Reason for the Season. I have some reading to do about how people celebrate Christmas  while listening to carols. I attended 3 Christmas programs this past week presented by the schools our grandkids are attending. The true meaning of Christmas was very clearly presented  giving me cause to be thankful for the local school division. We have one more concert on Tuesday evening & the Sunday School concert on Christmas Eve. This sounds too easy! Better check my list. Twice!

December 15, 2010

In spite of the many benefits God has blessed us with, how many times do we complain about little difficulties and trials? We lose sight of the big picture and fail to appreciate the really important things. Just as we cannot benefit from a wrapped gift under a Christmas tree until we open it, so gratitude can be seen as our way of opening the gift of God's love intended by all the small and big positive events of our lives.
                                                                               Ronda De Sola Chervin

December 14, 2010 The Gift of a Quilt

Mys sister's two granddaughters cuddling under the quilt I made for her.

This is the nap quilt I made for my sister, Edna.

"Quilting is complicated work, skilled & tedious. However, creating the artist's inspiration, the marvelous results outweigh by far the work. Easy to forget that to many, the hundreds of hours put into a project, is not really appreciated or valued.....that's why quilts are gifts to only a few chosen recipients, who know the worth & treasure the creator. Don't cast your pearls before swine."                Treva Baley Traub

December 13, 2010 Christmas Gifts

This set of three pillows I made for my cousin as 'thank-you' for taking me with her on our trip to Ontario this past summer. They perfectly matched the musical "nap quilt" her friend gave her for Christmas. I was so pleased to see how these  two gifts so perfectly complimented each other.

December 12, 2010

Jesus is the reason for the season. You can deny it. You can get offended by it... angry by it... try to stop it.
But you can NEVER change it!

December 11, 2010

 

Christmas - that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance - a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved.      Augusta E. Rundel

An Evening of Laughter

Chris & Charlotte with Sheriff Don.

Albert & I enjoying a laugh with the Sheriff.

Walter & Debbie being entertained by Senor Beltrae Harder.

Most of the performers knew Chris so he got his share of attention.

Tonight we attended a Christmas Dinner Theatre courtesy of Precision Land Solutions  - our son's company who we both work for from time to time. A local theatre production company this year presented "The Mask of Torro" - a western comedy - romance. It was very well done with local actors who kept us laughing thoughout the evening while enjoying a delicious dinner.

December 10, 2010

"He who has not Christmas in his heart, will never find it under a tree."       
Roy L. Smith

December 9, 2010 Christmas Baking

This morning when Charlotte dropped off Carly & Nick for Daycare, she mentioned that Carly had asked to do some Christmas baking. So that was the activity for today. I mixed up a sugar cookie dough & then tinted one ball -red, one- green & left one white. Then the kids rolled ropes & twisted  them together & ta da-- candy canes!! Some dough was rolled into small balls & then pressed down with some sugar on the bottom of a drinking glass.After the cookies were baked, we enjoyed milk/juice/coffee & cookies. Then we spent some time decorating take-home cookie bags.

December 8, 2010

Christmas is most truly Christmas when we celebrate it by giving the light of love to those who need it most.
                                                                                                                  Ruth Carter Stapleton

December 7, 2010

This is the time of year, our hearts reach out and hold in love's embrace,
The hopes and hungers, dreams and needs of all the human race.
This time of year, we join our hands with hopes that we'll increase the circle of abundance
And create a world of peace.

December 6, 2010

This carolling family is another one of my favorites. I painted this in my "folk art painting" days & still have many favorites that I put up every year.

A Christmas candle is a lovely thing. it makes no noise at all, but softly gives itself away, while quite unselfish, it grows small.                                    Eva K. Logue

December 5, 2010

This sits under the poinsettia wall hanging & beside the carolling family.

 

In the same manner in which we clean & prepare our homes in the anticipation of welcomed guests & family members this Christmas season, let us also prepare our hearts in anticipation of the Lord's coming. Christ, our most honoured &  eagerly anticipated guest desires to meet us in a heart prepared for his arrival. So eager is He to meet with us that He offers to help us with our spiritual housecleaning, working with us; creating a resting place for Himself within our hearts.                 Katherine Walden

December 4, 2010

My mom opening a gift with Santa Adam beside her.

My sister Edna opening the nap quilt I made for her.

My sister Carolyn & her husband, Gord

 Today we hosted a family gathering for my side of the family which included my mom, 3 sisters & their spouses & also invited 2 special cousins to join us. Everyone brought food to share & that sure lightened the cooking load for me. For supper we enjoyed ham, twice baked potatoes, a cranberry yam dish, carrots & 2 salads. For dessert, there were 2 wonderful trifles. In the middle of the afternoon there was coffee & a variety of tempting goodies. We enjoyed an afternoon & evening of great visiting accompanied with alot of laughter. I am so blessed to have such special family in my life.