Merry Christmas!



Merry Christmas if you celebrate it, Happy Saturday if you don't!



Wired For Christmas

Even at 17, she still gets wired for Christmas!

And then, the crash!

Some Works In Progress

First, the house:

Next, the quilt:

And finally, the tree:

Ginny checks out the salad bar tree.



Weasley discovers a tree where his litterbox had been.

 Not really a nice trick to play on a blind rabbit.....

The Work Has Begun

On Sunday, the south side of our house looked like this.

On Monday, the workers got started. They were lucky that the predicted snow stayed along the coast. The siding was removed, and they were getting ready to shift the small downstairs window.  Both downstairs windows were replaced. 

This morning they were not as lucky, as it was flurrying a bit. They cut the hole for the new upstairs window, and are getting ready to replace the other upstairs one.

As of this moment, they are replacing the attic vent, and we are wide open to the outside, but at least the sun has come out.

Did you notice the ladder in the last picture? Patrick, the guy on the scaffolding, caught the ladder with his foot just in time! And for once, the camera was handy.

Do You Think It's The Testosterone?

Does anyone out there think it's a good idea to call a contractor to come start work on your house on the Monday of Christmas week? Some male living in our house thinks it's just fine.

Nope. Not Weasley. If the idea doesn't involve sleeping, or food, or maybe both, Weasley isn't interested.  No, the Man Who Lives In This House decided that after waiting three years, now is a good time to replace windows, add a window, and replace the siding on the south side of the house. I admit that it really needs to be done, but starting Monday??? And of course there is a snowstorm expected Sunday into Monday. Followed soon after by Holiday guests.....Yeah.

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Aren't the shadows on the house from the dead trees across the street cool? As you can see, some supplies have been delivered already, and will soon be covered with snow. This should be interesting.....

Christmas List

Out at the shops this morning, I was listening to the people around me talk. So many of them seemed to be in the same state I was in. That is, trying to buy gifts for people who really don't need more things. We seem to be trapped in this cycle of obligation, where love is equated with how many presents you can provide. I know that if we stop and think about it, this is clearly not the case, but we still let the culture guilt us into this type of action. We know it's the love, and the warm thoughts, that count, but we don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, either. I wonder how this cycle can be broken.

When I had some time, I made a list of what I am really looking forward to this holiday season.

Other than for the little kids, there is not much buying involved here. And we all know that the kids will usually spend more time playing with the boxes the toys arrived in! I hope that your holiday season is filled with lots of whatever is most important to you.

Check out Aimee's list to see her "pathetic Christmas houses", and to find links to more lists.

Time Out

It's gloomy here outside today, and that suits the mood inside, as well. I'm taking time out from all the things I am supposed to be doing today, and instead I am sleeping, and drinking hot tea, and eating chicken soup.

Seems the sick Daughter passed on her germs.

Moral of the story:  Do not hug or cuddle your children when they are sick.

You would think I would know that one after all these years, but I still let them climb into my lap and sneeze on me! Back to sleep now, until I have to take Weasley to the vet for a glaucoma check. Can't skip that one. Hope that all of you are feeling well today. 

Doing Some Printing

There was a little playing going on here yesterday, working on something that will be turned into birthday presents. Not Christmas presents. I can't seem to get a grip on the Christmas thing this year. Not sure why.

Anyway, here are two pieces of fabric that I made from some hand-dyes, and stamps that I carved this year. The first has swirls and stars, which are not as subtle as they look on camera.

The next piece is made from the window stamp I carved recently.

And then I tried out a new toy that I got at the junk  antique store on Thanksgiving weekend. I found several of these Indian(?) woodblocks in a back corner of the shop, and this one came home with me. It's slightly damaged, but that's OK.

Printing with it proved to be tricky. I think it might need a more padded printing surface than I use for the rubber stamps.  

When I have more time, I will try it again.  And maybe next time I will try adding another color on the border edge.

What interesting projects or materials are you having fun with this holiday season?

Before And After And Before And After

Over the last few days, I have been giving haircuts to Ginny and Weasley. They are both so fragile now, with their various illnesses that I was worried about whether they could handle the stress. If not for the threat of the dreaded GI Stasis, I would have been tempted to wait awhile longer. Luckily, they seem to have come through it without too much trouble.

This is Ginny looking coy, before her haircut.

Ginny again, with extra shine.

Ginny posing as the rare (in these parts) Jakalope.

Here she is looking tiny after her haircut. Don't you love the shadow?

And in this one, she throws her shadow onto Weasley. If you throw your voice, you are a ventriloquist. What are you called if you throw your shadow? 

Weasely, before his haircut, with a bird on his head.

Here he is, showing off his ear trumpet. "I can't see you, Mom, but I can hear you. I know you are up to no good!" 

The post-haircut grooming standoff, and requisite glare at Mom. How can he still glare so well, when he can't see?

And finally, the post-haircut nap. We are all relieved!

A Little Cheer

The Christmas tree at the Leominster Art Center was looking a little bare, so I made some ornaments to hang on it.

First, I carved the "Love" stamp, and stamped with red paint on white fabric.I stitched these hearts onto hearts made from strip pieced red and white fabric. Added a little stuffing, and some hanging loops, with little buttons, just for fun, and hopefully the tree will look much happier.

Just in time for tomorrow afternoon's Winter Stroll, with lots of festivities downtown, finishing with a laser light show, and a tree lighting. Should be a fun weekend, and I hope yours is fun, also.

Weasley On The Bunway

Weasley may not be able to see anymore, and he is having some other difficulties getting around, but he surely does perk up those ears at the sound of produce bags being unpacked after a trip to the grocery store.

We added some extra runners, to act as a runway for him, as he makes his wobbly way around the house. At first he continued to try to hug the walls as he moved, but he's got the idea now, and follows the paths pretty well. And he can find the food dish with no problems at all! Bunnies are amazing, aren't they?

List-It Tuesday, Ginny's List

Ginny decided to provide my list for today, on a very important subject.

This is Ginny, showing Weasley her list, wondering if she left anything out. I think she pretty much covered everything still out there.

For some more fun reading, check out Artseyville for Aimee's list, and links to many more.

A Happy Way To Start My Day

Just before my walk this morning, I jumped on the computer while waiting for my neighbor/walking partner.  Much to my surprise, I found that I had won the November Give-away from the wonderful Mandy Saile over at Bijous Whimsy. I had to do a little happy dance, because I loved this painting from the moment I saw it. Actually, I love Mandy's work anyway, because it is so joyful, but this piece really spoke to me.  She will be having prints of this painting at her Artfire shop, so hop over there and check it out.

Off to dance a little more, and probably scare the bunnies. Back later with a list.

List-It Tuesday, Enjoying A Quiet Moment

My list for this week was written Monday, just before a last push to get everything ready for a visit from the in-laws. It will be a strange Thanksgiving this year, with the older Daughter staying in Pittsburgh. I'm sure she will have a great time with my brother's family, but we will miss her.

Check out Aimee's list of mood indicators that she suggests wearing on post-it notes on your forehead, to warn people you meet in the morning. You can bet that bouncy and perky would not be on any foreheads around this house in the morning! There are links to a lot of other interesting lists in her comments, also.

A Little Bit Of Everything

Just a final word on my post about the word FOOT.  Maybe Weasley's feet aren't the hairiest ones in the house! These feet belong to the Second Daughter, and yes, they have had their rabies shots.

Last night, I attended a meeting of my quilt guild, The Material Girls Quilt Guild of Central Massachusetts. It was tool night, and we had demonstrations of many cool new gadgets, including the GO Cutter.   Since I'm not really into accuracy, I won't be buying one, but it was fun to see. 

The women who run Sew Fresh Fabrics were also there, selling gorgeous fabrics that literally had me drooling. Despite having just said two days ago that I can't buy anymore fabric, because the lids to the storage boxes no longer close, I was  unable to stop myself from acquiring these fabrics. I heard them say that they pick and choose from the newest fabrics out, instead of purchasing entire lines of fabric.These are from various manufacturers, which is OK with me. I don't worry about who made the fabric, as long as it does what I want it to do. 

That blue fabric on the left looks as if it should feel like barkcloth, but it is very soft. They also donated a packet of fabrics to be auctioned off to guild members, and I was excited to have my name picked.  I went home with these bright beauties.

I also bought this fabric, because it made me think of a fabric that I have had in my stash for a long time. Look closely. Don't you love the bird perched on the arm of the couch?

This is the fabric that the one above reminded me of. It came out of my husband's Grandmother's attic.What do you think, is it 1950's? Or maybe 1960's?  Anyway, I've never seen anything else like it. I have three repeats of this scene. Several years back, I donated two repeats to a guild auction. I never saw anything made from them, so maybe the fabric stumped the receiver as much as it has stumped me. I do love it, though.

Here is a close-up of the balcony.

And another of the orchestra. You know I love a tuba player!

Besides buying fabric, I have also been working on making my own design. I carved this stamp based on some sketches I did of church windows in downtown Leominster last week, while waiting for the marching band to perform on Veteran's Day.  There are a LOT of churches, and the range of architectural styles is amazing.

I wasn't sure how it would print on fabric, but it seems to be OK. I think I need a larger brush (there must be one around here somewhere), to get the paint on a bit faster, and more evenly, and then pay close attention to applying even pressure.

So now I have yet another piece of fabric that I need to figure out how to use! But that's the fun part, right?

Have a very Hoppy weekend, everybunny.!

Not All Rabbit's Feet Are Lucky

This week's Creative Cue is FOOT. I thought I would post a picture of a lucky rabbit's foot, or two.

Those are Weasley's feet, proportionally the largest (and hairiest) feet in the house. The Satin shine is really glowing in this picture. I always think that he and Ginny look like they are walking on marshmallows. Anyone want to clip those nails for me?

Ginny's feet are a little less lucky, although they are at least still attached, so that counts for something. See the dark spot on the left heel?

She had to go to the vet on Monday, for a check on another one of her lumps. She thumped during the entire car ride to the vet. When I pulled her out of the carrier, there was blood all over. She had another lump on her heel, and the thumping had split it open! So, we added yet more medicine to our growing bunny apothecary, and the foot is healing up nicely.



Weasley

Weasley says since I disturbed his nap, I should at least put something in his dish. His wish is my command. But you knew that already.

List-It Tuesday: This Is Not My List

It has been on the kitchen counter, giving my heart a little jolt every time I walk by and see it.

This is my youngest girl's list of prospective colleges. It keeps getting longer. She has yet to visit a school that she doesn't love. But, she is one of those wonderful people who finds a way to enjoy herself, no matter what she is doing, or where she is, so this shouldn't surprise me.  The background for the list is a poster that she made for herself that says "No Day But Today".

Having seen my girl consistently send the waitress away because she needs more time to decide when ordering from a restaurant menu, I dread the time when she actually has to narrow this list down to her final choice! And let's not even talk about how I am going to feel next August.

When all is said and done, one thing is true. I am very proud of the young woman she is becoming.

For more interesting lists, check out the links at Artsyville.

As for the notepaper, The Busy Bunny sent it along with an order awhile back, with a nice note on the first page. I love that touch. 

Is There A Blue Moon?

We've had this cottage for almost 6 months. I was getting ready to recycle it, because nobunny had ever ventured inside, except when I put them in (and at those times they refused to stay). Today I turned around and saw this.

That's Ginny's nose peeking out. She settled in for a long nap. Not much later, I turned around again, and saw another unexpected sight.

The toy that Weasley is licking has gone untouched even longer than the cottage! I don't know what is going on, but it reminds me of when my kids were little. They always seemed to know when I was getting ready to give an unused toy away. Must be some sort of primal mammalian instinct. We should find a scientist to study the phenomenon.

And guess what else? The fabric I ran out of on the project I was talking about on yesterday's list? I ordered a fabric that looked similar on my computer from the Fat Quarter Shop on Monday. It arrived today from Texas (only 2 days, by regular USPS!), and despite having a different name and number from the place I had ordered the original fabric from, it looks to be an exact match.   I was very grateful for this small blessing, and so now I am off to get sewing.

List-It Tuesday, Or Have you Ever Had One Of Those Projects

that fights you every step of the way? This is one of those projects!

I'm going traditional here, which isn't my favorite thing to start with. And, everything that can go wrong has gone wrong. Today I couldn't bear to look at it any longer, so I went off to the coffee shop with my sketch book. I made a list of all the things that have bewitched this project, hoping to release my frustration. I added a reminder of the one overriding factor that keeps me working on it. If you can't read it, it's not the photo. My handwriting is atrocious.

Then I spent an hour drawing my fellow coffee drinkers, and came home feeling much better. And, I have a helper now.

Ginny is doing double-duty here, helping me with my project, and eating helping my daughter with her homework. She actually carried this piece of paper in from another room. She's a dedicated bunny!

For more fun lists, check out Aimee's blog with its collection of links!

And tell me, if you've had a project make you crazy, what has kept you moving on it? I'd love to know.