Tuesday, December 22, 2020

A Christmas Like No Other...

Merry almost Christmas, my friends! Well, we did it--we've nearly made it to Christmas in this very difficult year... It will certainly be a Christmas unlike any the world has ever seen. So many changes and lives lost over this past year. This was supposed to be the year my 5-month-old grandson would spend his very first Christmas with us. But, of course, Covid took care of those plans--we just have to look ahead and hope he and his parents will be here for Christmas in 2021. 

But, I already got one of the best presents I could ask for--an early Christmas present so to speak. My youngest son, whom I had not seen in nearly a year (since he visited last Christmas!) is home!!! YAY!!! He took two Covid tests, four days apart, and he's been isolating so we feel safe having him home with us for five days. I have to admit I started jumping up and down when he walked through the door yesterday morning and ran over and gave him the biggest hug ever. I still can't quite believe I hadn't seen him in a year (especially given the fact that he lives only a four hour drive away). That's just the way this crazy year has gone...

Because of the uncertainty of the past nine months, I think traditions have become more important than ever. And one thing that remains constant year after year, is my Christmas tree--same old tree, just a dozen new ornaments added to it. 

2020 Christmas Tree

 

I feel like most of you have seen my tree many times (and are probably a bit tired of it!), but I know I have many new readers here who may be seeing it for the first time. Here are some close-ups... I sure wish I could sit down and share each individual ornament with you, but if you read back through my blog for the past 12 years, you will find details on each and every one. 

My taste in ornament stitching is quite eclectic...

I stitch everything from cute and happy to more traditional ornaments.

 

And just look outside the sunroom door... we're having a white Christmas for the first time in many years!


Lots of Santas and snowmen!


I love simply sitting in the sunroom and reading by the tree at this time of year.


Many of my favorite tiny ornaments decorate the top of the tree.


The tree takes on a whole new look at night time.


It's hard to capture them at night, but the ornaments sparkle and shine as they reflect the Christmas lights--so very pretty!


And then there is the reflection in all the windows and doors of our sunroom. Isn't it lovely?


One last look... day into night.


QUESTION AND ANSWER TIME!

I have had many questions about my cross stitch Christmas tree through the years and so I thought I'd share them, along with my answers today. Let me know if there is something else you are wondering about (in your comments) and I'll be happy to answer your questions... 

 1. Is your tree real or artificial? We always used to purchase real trees, but when my middle son's allergies got so bad about 20 years ago, we went to an artificial tree. And, believe it or not we've had the  same tree ever since!

    2. How tall is your tree? It's almost 8 feet tall. I sometimes wish it was even taller as our sunroom has a cathedral ceiling that would nicely accommodate it.

    3. How many cross stitch ornaments are on your tree? I counted them last year and there were 155, so this year, with the 12 new ones, the total is 167.

    4. Do you have a favorite ornament? I have several and I've shared four of them in the photo above. I still think the little Five Golden Rings angels by Cottage Garden Samplings are at the top of the list, though. 

    5. Did you stitch all the ornaments on your tree? Yes, all were stitched by me. I used to put those given to me by stitching friends on it, too, but it simply got too crowded. I now put my friends' ornaments on the mantle and on the garland going up my stairway. 

    6. How long did it take to stitch all of these? Although there are a few that I stitched back in the early 80s when I first began cross stitching, all but half a dozen or so have been stitched since I began blogging in 2009. 

    7. What will you do when you run out of room? Well, I have always said I wouldn't get another tree at my age, but I am seriously thinking of getting a thin flocked white tree to display my black ornaments. They really don't show up well on our green tree and at night, they take on a bit of a "black hole" look!

    8. How long do you think you'll keep up your "ornament a month" stitching? As long as my eyes hold up! In all honesty, I just take it year by year and I'm sure one of these days I simply won't feel like stitching ornaments any longer.

    9. Big or small--which are your favorites? For my entire life, I've loved tiny things. My family often makes fun of me because I remind them of our one grandmother who loved "tiny, darling, cunning, sweet" types of things. And that is me... The smaller the ornament, the more I like it! That's why I stitch so many of my ornaments "over one" or on 40 ct. linen. 

    10. What will happen to all of your ornaments some day? (Or as my oldest son once said, "Mom, what are you going to do with all these things?") Hmmm... it is my biggest hope that my sons and their families will divide most of them up and use them on their own trees some day. If not, I suppose they'll end up at a thrift shop after I'm gone--and that makes me very sad...

Stitching an ornament a month... I've had many people say they would love to stitch an ornament a month like I do. My advice--just go for it! If you don't complete all twelve, that's fine; at least you'll have a few new ones for your tree by the time December rolls around. It definitely gives me a wonderful feeling of accomplishment having done this each year for over a decade. It doesn't take that much time and yet, the reward is great. I'd love to have you join me in 2021... anyone up for the challenge?

Giveaway winner... There were quite a few of you who wanted to win the Santa chart that I offered in my last post. Sure wish I had more than one, but the winner's name drawn from the hat is...

AMARA (in Germany)

Congratulations, Amara!

Thanks to all who participated
and please keep your eyes on this spot--I'll be offering more charts in the future. Amara, please send me your mailing address and I will get this in the mail sometime next week--congratulations!

I hope each of you who celebrates can capture the joy and magic of this Christmas season, even while we endure lockdowns and quarantines, cancelled plans, and missed loved ones. It's not easy sometimes, but look to the future and also to the past; to those special memories of Christmases spent with loved ones long ago.

To honor my relatives, I baked only old family recipes this year for my cookie baking.  At the top of the photo are my dear mother's Date Bars, on the right are my maternal grandmother's Coconut Macaroons, the bottom cookies are my mother-in-law's Almond Thumbprints, next to them are my paternal grandmother's Orange Drop Frosted cookies (my personal favorite!), and the little green trees and red bells are my mother-in-law's Caramel Butter Spritz cookies. Every recipe brought back memories of special Christmas gatherings filled with love and laughter. I'll be missing my mom (and my dad, of course) ever so much this year, but I'll also be smiling at the wonderful memories that I will forever carry in my heart. 




Thank you all for stopping in today. A big thank you to those of you who take the time to leave a comment--that means a lot to me! Merry Christmas to each of you--I look forward to hearing all about your Christmases next week. Bye for now...

 

Wishing you much peace and joy!

53 comments:

Cheryl said...

What a lovely picture of the deer in the snow! I have been reading your blog for several years, with no comments till now. I credit you with getting me stitching again after several years off. When I got "older eyes", I stopped. I couldn't see the linen anymore. Then, I realized I could stich in the daylight, with strong readers, and on Aida and still enjoy the end product just as much as before. So, thank you.
About your Mom, so sorry for your loss, but you had wonderful parents. You were so lucky to have such a close and loving family. Many do not. Cherish all the memories and hold them close in your heart.
Looking forward to a better 2021.

Sandra said...

How wonderful to have one of your sons home for Christmas! That's the best gift of all! I haven't seen my son for a whole year either and I probably won't see him again before the second half of next year - all being well...

Your tree looks just beautiful all lit up!

Have a wonderful Christmas with your husband and son! I'm not seeing my daughter and grandson this Christmas either - the Covid situation is too serious.

Melisa- pinkernpunkinquilting said...

Carol , your tree is just amazing ,and I always look forward to seeing it each year. I so enjoyed reading through the questions/answer too. I am so glad at least one of your children could come in for the holidays. Hopefully you all will be together soon . Your cookies looked so yummy especially the frosted ones. Yum Yum. Have a blessed Christmas. Hugs, Melisa

Gabi said...

Hi Carol,
I can imagine how happy you are to have your son with you at Christmas.
Your tree looks wonderful. I love to see the tree each year with these wonderful ornaments. I think I need a bigger one next year for all the ornies and fancy things to put on :).
Have a blessed Christmas.
Hugs

Kay said...

Your tree is beautiful. Congratulations on having your son home for Christmas. This year is especially important and we realise just wha people mean to us. England is in the middle of severe restrictions at the moment, I am lucky that I will be allowed to have my daughter visit on Christmas day for a couple of hours, Christmas day is the only time allowed in our area and some aren't allowed even that. My other daughter lives abroad and isn't able to fly.Here's to making it as special as possible for everyone. Much love and thank you for sharing your happy blog and stitching gifts with us all. x

Sandra said...

I would love to stitch an ornament every month, but sometimes I don't feel in the mood for Christmas when the sun is out and it's hot. This year I stitched the 12 days of Christmas, but one after the other, in the summer. I'm afraid I haven't got them completely finished yet, as we've been so busy moving house, but I'm determined to get them all done over the holidays, I just have to sew the cords on and make tassels. I used to stitch ornaments from the JCS ornament issue, but they ended up huge, so now, like you I tend to stitch over one or on 40 count. I have an artificial tree with just my stitched ornaments on it, but nowhere near as many as you have. Enjoy your Christmas.

butterfly said...

So happy for you to have one of your sons home for Christmas this must have made your day.
Again what a fab tree always so beautiful .
You should send the picture to a magazine so many people can see just how beautiful it is.
Wow snow looks magical with the deer .
Enjoy every moment with your family , and wishing you a very Merry Christmas .
BIG HUGS .

Carolien said...

How lovely your son is able to visit! Merry Christmas and no, not tired of the tree, it's wonderful ...

xxx Carolien

CATHI said...

Wonderful Christmas tree! Wishing you a merry Christmas and hopefully a 2021 Christmas with your grandson! Cathi

Marilyn said...

You have the most gorgeous tree on earth!
We would never tire of your pictures of it.
So happy for you that your son made it home for Christmas, what a great surprise.
Your cookies look delicious.
Wishing you peace & love at Christmas, with hopes for s better new year.
Merry Christmas!
Marilyn

Annie said...

Your tree looks so beautiful...day and night. You’ve got a beautiful sunroom setting for it. I wish I could just walk into my computer screen and come out in your home so I could ooo and ahh at every single ornament you’ve stitched. They all look amazing. Then on my way out I’d put some of those delicious looking cookies in my pocket to take with me. Ha! Your white Christmas is perfect.

Mary said...

Carol, I'm so happy for you that your son came to visit, you need help eating all those tempting cookies!! I can't believe your grandson is 5 months already! Where does the time fly?? Your tree is stunning as always!! It's beautiful day and night but the night photo is extra magical. Merry Christmas and have a Happy and Healthy New Year!! Mary

Sandy said...

I am so happy your son made it home. I KNOW the made your Christmas. The snow is gorgeous outside your home. The tree is always spectacular and I really really think you should get a slim white flocked one for those black ornaments. I have a small white one for my Auburn ornaments and it only takes a few minutes to whip her out. I can believe you have had the same tree for that long. I had one for more than 20 years. I haven't found another one I liked as much yet or haven't pulled the pocket book out shall we say.
Enjoy your Christmas.

Anonymous said...

I love the idea of a white tree. Your black ornaments will stunning displayed on the tree. Already looking forward to seeing it next year. Miriam in Texas.

Arlene G said...

What a beautiful tree!! I would love to see it in person and to just take my time to look at ALL those lovely stitches. And SNOW...whil I do not like to have it here in Alabama I love looking at it up north. Merry Christmas Carol!! So glad you got to hug that big boy!!

Stasi said...

Carol, so glad, for you, that your youngest can join you for Christmas...I'm sure he is also very happy to be there with family after such a long absence.
As for your tree, it is truly magical, both day and night!!! I think I'd be tempted to leave it up all year--it is in such a great spot!
You may laugh, but I saw Terri's post on IG about a possible Christmas ornament SAL for 2021 and have already pulled over a dozen charts to consider. I think I need something, scheduled if that makes any sense, to look forward to...we'll see what actually happens! :)
A very Merry Christmas to you and yours--enjoy the spirit of the season!

Amara said...

Your Tree looks beautiful Day and Night, Carol.
And i'm so impressed, all the ornaments are looking so lovely and beautiful finished.
I'm so happy for you, that your youngest Son came home, and that you can hug him.
Your cookies are looking delicious and i love the fact, that you baked traditional recipes.
I cant belive i won the chart :)!! I'm so happy and will send you an email with my adress. Thank you :)!!
Merry Christmas to you.
Amara

Manuela said...

Hello Carol,
it has already become a Christmas tradition for me to see your wonderfully decorated Christmas tree every year. Without your post I would be missing something.
Today i decorated our christmas tree with a lot of silver bullets. We have a real tree.
I'm so glad for you, that your son arrived for christmas.
This year we will not visit our families. Only our three children are at home.
I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas.
Big Hugs, Manuela
I have a question. Who is the desginer from the Snowman with the umbrella? He is so cute.




Robin in Virginia said...

Carol, I am thrilled for you that your youngest was able to get home for a few days. Loved the picture at the end with the snow and deer! Your tree is gorgeous and I, for one, will never tire of seeing it in December in a blog post or two. The cookies look so delicious. Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday. Merry Christmas to you!

Vickie said...

Oh Carol to think that your little grandson could have been at your home! I do hope next year! I am so glad your youngest is with you. What treasured cookie recipes you have! I hope and pray you all stay safe and healthy and Merry Christmas!

Kate said...

Carol, how wonderful that your son is home and your grandson and his family are safe.

Martha said...

A very Merry Christmas to you Carol! I am a new follower. I reignited my love of cross stitch this year during the pandemic. I’m working through all the posts on your blog and am finding so much inspiration (and admiration!). You are a lovely stitcher and a lovely lady. Wishing you a wonderful holiday with your little gathering in your beautiful home.

Wanda McColl said...

Dear Carol, I so look forward to your annual ornament parade and your Christmas tree! It has been so fun to watch over the years. You have stitched so much love and memories and I am sure your children/grandchildren will treasure them for generations. I know I have said it before but want to tell you how much I appreciate the time you spend on your beautiful blog. I know that it is alot of commitment on your part but it is so loved and appreciated. I understand how difficult this year will be for many reasons but most especially without your dear mom. My thoughts and prayers are with you. We are having our own struggles as well with losing my youngest brother to colon cancer in July and then losing two of our beloved cats (Jerbear and Elsie) fifteen days apart. Jerbear was totally unexpected and Elsie has been failing all fall with lymphoma. It's funny how life works as a stray cat showed up one rainy night (beautiful black cat) and he has been living in our garage until last week. Wishing you continued health and happiness as you and your husband continue on your retirement journey. I am so excited for you that your youngest son is able to be home for Christmas. We will have a very quiet one with my husband and best friend (who lives with us). We have been doing outside visits all week with the rest of our families. Thanks as always, stay safe and happy stitching my friend.
hugs,
Wanda

Pat said...

Your tree is beautiful, as it is every year. I haven't seen my son since last Christmas, either. Will be taking a day trip to visit him and family after Christmas, though. Merry Christmas to you and yours, and may all your days be merry & bright.

NevadaStitcher said...

Your tree is gorgeous! I love how you add ornaments to the other greenery! I don’t stitch ornaments often as I like shiny ornaments on my tree but I do have a few stitched pieces in shiny frames on my tree! I know your ornaments will be much loved after you are gone. If nothing else, I hope your family offers ones they don’t want to your blog friends/readers! But I suspect they and their children will treasure them! I hope you get that new tree as I think your chalkboard ornaments will pop on it!! Merry Christmas and a Happier New Year!

Anonymous said...

Dear Carol, I am so taken with your Christmas tree and the view outside of a white Christmas. It looks incredibly picturesque. Merry Christmas to you and yours. With best best wishes for Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year Robyn Sydney Australia

Cathy H. said...

You have such a lovely sunroom for your Christmas tree. As a photographer, reflections always catch my eyes and the reflections of your tree are wonderful. I also love seeing the snow outside! How delightful to have snow for Christmas! I know you're feelings will be mixed this Christmas; missing time with your new grandson and then the joy of your son being home. I have enjoyed seeing how others are coping with a non-traditional Christmas. I think it is so special that you baked cookies to celebrate your family you're missing this year! Great idea! Wishing your a wonderful Christmas Day!
P.S. I'll take the challenge to stitch an ornament each month next year. I did that two years ago, but this year was stressful from the beginning with the death of my dad in January. I just couldn't get motivated to stitch.

Jennie in GA said...

Your tree is a beauty and I loved reading about your ornaments. Perhaps I can be inspired to stitch ornaments through the year....and to FFO them. Merry Christmas!!!

Karen S. said...

What a wonderful surprise to have your son home for Christmas--best gift ever. As always, your tree is beautiful covered with your lovingly stitched ornaments. Thank you for sharing your beautiful stitching and a peek into your lovely home with us every Christmas. I think your idea of a white tree to put your black ornaments on would be a very nice addition to your Christmas decorations.

Here's wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.

Barb said...

The tree is magnificent!!! I hope you all have a wonderful time with your son! Merry Christmas to you all!

Kathy H said...

How wonderful to have your son home for Christmas. We will have a Christmas on zoom this year and everyone is looking forward to visiting sometime next year. Still, there’s a lot to enjoy this year. Still baking but not as many different cookies. Driving around to see the Christmas lights, there are a lot more this year and they are beautiful. Have a merry Christmas.

marly said...

The lighted tree photo is just so wonderful. We all look forward to seeing this tree with your stitched treasures increasing every year. I've seen quite a few lightly flocked slim trees that I fell in love with. Sales start Saturday - go for it!! So happy for your five days with son. I wish our family was as careful about the virus as yours is. Merry Christmas!!

Marge said...

Carol, I so enjoyed seeing your tree and your collection of ornaments. Wow! Your blog is a gift of inspiration. Thank you. Merry Christmas!

Lillie said...

What a joy to look at your tree filled with beautiful stitched ornaments. Hope you'll have a wonderful time with your sons. Love the pic of the deer! Merry Christmas to you and all at home.

MartinaM said...

I am so happy for you that you were able to take your son in your arms again after all these crazy months.
Oh no, I'm not tired of your tree, I like to look at it every year and enjoy the new ornaments. Just beautiful.
How nice that you will be making ornaments again next year, I will do 6 too, that's already certain. And I want to try to process some of them as you do.
What a nice idea to bake the cookies according to old family recipes and have them around on these days. It's going to be a difficult Christmas after the losses this year, but we have them in our hearts and that's what matters.
Have a wonderful, Merry Christmas and stay healthy
Hugs Martina

Catie said...

I have written in my will and have it known to the selected executors of my estate that any cross stitch items and ornaments that they don't want or family & friends don't want are to be split up and donated to several Veterans facilities including assisted living homes. Many of the Vets who end up in these places have no families and nothing joyful to look at. One home we visited a few years ago only had motivational posters hanging up on the walls as it was what the VA provided! #SadFace Since that time I have spoken to several of the facilities managers about donations and will provide save the stitches found thrifting along with beautiful nature photos to be hung up in the common rooms and the bedrooms of our Vets. Particularly for the older Vets, those born in the 1970s and earlier, the cross stitch pieces bring back happy memories of being a child and the pieces their mothers, grandmothers, and great grandmother would work on and have hanging in their homes. As I have no human children and my father was in the Army I always thought this would be a wonderful ending for all my cross stitch pieces and I have a husband who supports this fully. :)

Christel said...

Quel bonheur pour vous d'avoir votre fils à la maison pour Noël. Nous aurons la chance d'avoir nos 2 enfants également, notre petite belle-fille et notre petite fille.
Quel merveille cet arbre plein de vos ornements. C'est un régal à regarder. Je suis certaine que vos fils mettront ces derniers sur leurs arbres, ils n'auront pas le coeur de s'en séparer.
Notre sapin est un artificiel, il mesure 2m10 soit 6,55 pieds. Il n'y a pas de coussinets au point de croix car je pense que nos chats se feraient une joie de jouer avec mais de jolies boules et guirlandes, ça ils n'y touchent pas.
Pas de neige chez nous mais de la pluie et du vent.
Je souhaite à tout le monde, paix, joie, bonheur en ce Noël si particulier. Espérons que 2021 soit plus douce que cette année difficile que nous venons de passer.
Amitiés de France,
Joyeux Noël,
Christel
http://toilesetfils.blogspot.com

Georgia said...

Carol, your blog is like reading a favorite magazine every month. I have to stop and re-read it several times. My mother passed away in 2017. She lived with us 18 years and in that time, I taught her how to stitch. While I was working and going to ball games she stitched away. I have several beautiful framed pieces she did and she loved to stitch ornaments. Even when she was living in the Assisted living apartment she continued to stitch. The employees and and other residents were often gifted one of her little ornaments. As I re-evaluate I have very little wall space left for pictures to hang. And, an awful lot of scrap pieces of linen and aida. So, I am constantly looking for ornament ideas appropriate for both. My old tree started falling apart the last couple of years and I had gotten a small 4 ft tree for "grandma ornaments," (that is another story). But this year I focused on hanging my children's and grands ornaments on that little tree. I do have some favorite cross stitch ornaments too. It is not big enough. I am so glad you are eclectic:) I am too. For those who wonder if they can...I stitched and finished 10 ornaments in 2 1/2 months. I lost that amount of time following my surgery in June. You have given me so many great ideas and goals for 2021. Thank you so much for all you do. Merry Christmas, to you and yours my friend. And may we all have a blessed 2021:)

Deb Mac said...

What a beautiful tree! Not a regular reader as I just happened across your blog but I think I ran across your tree picture once before. I have stitched for 40 years but only have 4 ornaments I stitched on my tree; 2 that I did stitch for me and 2 that came from my great aunt and my grandmother when they passed. Several hundred others adorn other trees so I haven't been a total looser in the ornament department. LOL That may change. I would love to see your stair garland. We just moved into a home with a 2 level open stairway and I love your ornament garland idea. My sympathies in the loss of your mother. It just seems you miss them most at the holidays. December is our funeral month. Three between the 10th and the 15th and with one each on the 21st, 22nd, 23rd, and 2 on the 25th. And yes, baking "heirloom" cookies does help. I do that also. Hope you have a lovely Christmas.

Mary - Lecoeurceltique said...

Having your son stay at Christmas is a wonderful gift to have this year with everything that Covid has prevented happening. Next year will hopefully be with your grandson.
I love seeing your tree each year and my hope is to make some ornaments and finish them like you in 2021.
Wishing you and your family a Happy Christmas, Carol.

Jocelyn is Canadian Needle Nana said...

Hi, A lovely post. Your tree is gorgeous made all the more beautiful by those amazing ornaments. I too wonder about what will happen to my stitching though with two daughters I'm thinking they will divvy it all up. However, I won't feel badly about some of it landing in thrift shops and I don't think you should either. As a thrift store shopper, I buy little hand made treasures all the time and love them and I would think that would happen hopefully for anything of mine. One of my friends has a tree just for hand crocheted ornaments, all bought over the years from thrift stores. Anyway, hope you have a marvelous time with the son who made it home and enjoy it all, Carol.

Barb R. said...

Happy Christmas Eve!
Just wanted to wish you and your family a very Happy Christmas Celebration. It is so wonderful that your youngest son made it home for Christmas - I do so wish all of you a joyful, special holiday.

Thank you, too, for sharing your Christmas tree - it is so beautiful and amazing! All of your hand stitched ornaments make it truly extraordinary. Your idea of a smaller, white flocked tree for all your black stitched designs would be quite beautiful and very unique - a great idea.

All the best to all of you!

Jill Jones said...

Merry Christmas, Carol. I love your blog posts and all the wonderful stitchery pieces that you have made. Would you consider posting a couple of your favorite family cookie recipes? I collect old family recipes and yours look delightful. All the best to you and your family in 2021! Jill, Sacramento, CA

April said...

Merry Christmas Carol!
I am so glad your youngest son was able to come home for Christmas. It is definitely a different holiday for us all. Prayers for a better 2021!
Your tree is so lovely-please don't stop sharing it with us. It's a tradition to see your beautiful tree with all of the stitched treasures. I'm sure your family is going to love all of your ornaments when it's their turn to have them. I'm like Jocelyn, I buy stitched items from little thrift/antique shops. I appreciate the time that was put into them and happily bring them home to be displayed once more.
Your cookie treats are so yummy to look at. What a wonderful idea to do cookies that have a special family connection!
I love that you had a white Christmas (that deer photo is too cool!) We had snow, but it left with the rain. We were just excited to have flurries this morning. LOL!
Blessings to you and your family this Christmas.
Hugs,
April

Leonore Winterer said...

Hi Carol, and Merry Christmas! I love to see your ornamtents on the tree, and all these cookies look delicious! Actually, my Christmas this year was very nice. Yes, it was sad not being able to see some people, but I enjoyed being able to relax and travel from one meeting to the next. Tonight we are having a video chat with some of our friends to catch up, which is nice as well!
I don't know if I'll make one a month, but I want to try and stitch more ornaments, Christmas or otherwise, next year!

Jennifer said...

So glad you’ve had one son home to spend Christmas with you - and you tell those boys that if they don’t want your stitched ornaments, they can send them on to other stitchers who would love them! My friend was so afraid her boys would do that that she put in her will that all her fabric was to go to me! She passed away much earlier than any of us wanted, but I have the gift of her fabric in my quilting all the time. :)

Meg said...

Merry Christmas, Carol! What a happy surprise that your son was able to come home and spend the holiday with you! Yay!

Your tree is lovely, as always. We decided the day after Christmas to buy a second tree for our TV room, one that will be just for cross-stitch ornaments. You see, every year when we go to the Oregon Coast (a tradition we hope to resume next year) we visit a Christmas shop and buy ornaments for our family. We want to buy them for ourselves but in recent years haven’t because our tree is getting too crowded. Solution—a second tree!

Have a wonderful new year! Let’s hope 2021 sucks less. 🤪

Jackie's Stitches said...

It sounds like Mother Nature is celebrating your son being home as well!

I sure hope your ornaments do not end up in thrift shops!!!

Katie said...

Your family better appreciate your work. Tell them if not your blog readers will find them and make them pay haha. I'm so glad to hear your son was able to join you guys. How perfect. I love every time you share your beautiful tree. Keep the photos coming. Every year I try to do an ornament a month. I get burned out in the summer. I don't want to stitch Christmas in the heat.

Ele said...

How fantastic that your son could join you for Christmas, hope you had a wonderful time.
Love your tree, so beautiful!!!
Have a Happy New Year

Sheryl said...

So pleased to hear that your youngest son was able to be with you for Christmas, what a struggle this year has been and so depressing for most people. We are all tired of the various restrictions which sometimes change daily. My daughter luckly was able to travel from Madrid to be with us in the north of Spain but she had to carry signed documents to prove she was visiting her parents. Your tree Carol is really splendid and I love seeing it every year - just perfect. Happy New Year to you.

Faith... said...

What a gift you received! I am glad he was able to come home and spend some time with you and your husband. I never tire of seeing your tree and all the beautiful ornaments on it. Thank you for sharing it with us; I think it is beautiful day or night. So glad you had a beautiful Christmas and may the new year bring you many days of happiness and baby snuggling.

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

What an incredible tree, I love all the pictures but especially the day into night images.
I love the idea of having one tree for your black Ornaments, those are some of my favourites out of them all.
I am glad that your son was able to come home for Christmas too.