A trio of Santas and a visit to charming Brunate, Italy

And another month comes to an end... just like that! 2025 is now one third over. Unbelievable...  I've been concentrating on one big project for the past few weeks and I'm pleased to say he's finally done! Yes, that rotund golden-robed Santa is finished and I just love him. Oh, I'm addicted to these Teresa Kogut Santas--they remind me of Prairie Schooler stitching. No surprises in the colors--easy, stress-free stitching. Just what I need with all that's going on in the world these days!

"Right Jolly Ol' Elf" is stitched on 40 ct. Vintage Country Mocha Newcastle with most of the suggested threads. I did change the package in Santa's sack to a lighter green because the darker one was blending in too much with the gray of the sack. I also used that same light green (DMC 3053) with the darker green in the wreath. As I look at my photos now, I realize that I need to add a long straight stitch for a hanger for the wreath and red star (even though none was charted). Without a hanger, I feel like the wreath and star appear to be floating in mid-air! I will be sure to add one before I frame it.

"Right Jolly Ol' Elf"--I loved every stitch!

I so love all of the cute motifs in any Teresa Kogut design, but that adorable snowman stuffed into Santa's sack just takes the cake! How cute is he?! I used straight stitches for his arms rather than the cross stitches that were charted.

Such a cute little passenger hitchhiking in Santa's pack!

And his big snowman pal is pretty lovable, too! Some people don't like stitching with white, but it doesn't bother me. I find big patches of colorblock stitching to be quite meditative. 

Don't you love the sweet expression on this snowman's face?

I'll be framing both this Santa and the red one that I showed you in my February post (right here) with the same black frames. The charts can be found in the "Hello Santa" book--love them all and now I need to decide which one to do next. I may take a break from Santa for a bit as I have a pretty Spring chart on my mind and also a very special project that I need to devote my time to. You'll just have to wait to see what's next!

Another Teresa Kogut Santa is finished... on to the next!

I was also able to stitch and finish two very quick Christmas ornaments for April and May. You'll recognize them as Prairie Schooler Santas, I'm sure, although they are not from the same chart.  

A pair of Prairie Schooler ornaments for April and May

My ornament for April is from Book No. 23: "A Prairie Year II." I left off the square border and substituted various snowflakes around the perimeter to make this a round ornament (my favorite kind!). The other big change was to remove the teddy bear in his sack that was originally charted and replace it with a small tree.

My April ornament from "A Prairie Year II"

My May ornament is from PS Book No. 215: "A Merry Mini Surprise." Like the April ornament, this one is stitched on 40 ct. woodland brown Newcastle which is sadly no longer available in the U.S. I have searched and searched :(  I changed the green to DMC 3362, the red to 221, used DMC 356 for the cheeks and mouth, and 610 for the tree stem. Again, to turn it into a round ornament, I added snowflakes. The greenery at the top is simply dried boxwood leaves and artificial berries that I glued onto the gingham bow along with a silver jingle bell. I'm so happy with these two new additions to my Christmas tree!

And my May ornament from "A Merry Mini Surprise"

For years, I've been finishing all of the PS Santa ornaments (both big and small) using the same burgundy gingham ribbon that was always available at Joann Fabrics. Now that that wonderful store has shut down, I can no longer find the same ribbon. If anyone has any extra that they would like to sell me, please let me know... I have searched high and low online and nothing seems to be available anywhere in this color and size (5/8 inch wide). 

HELP! I can no longer find this burgundy gingham ribbon (manufactured by Berwick Offray) that was once available from Joann Fabrics. If anyone has any sources, would you please let me know? I'm down to my last six inches!

I had planned on making this the final installment in my European adventure from way back in September, but I found there were too many photos for one post. So, this will be the next-to-the-last post on my trip. I'm not sure how many of you are reading this portion of my posts, but I really want to get everything recorded before I totally forget things and jotting everything down in my blog seems like the best way to do so. Anyway, today we'll still be at Lake Como, but in one very special area called...

Brunate, Italy

The village of Brunate, often called "The Balcony of the Alps," overlooks Como and Lake Como and has only 1800 residents. The only way to reach it is by a very steep winding road or by taking the funicular. We chose the latter. 

Although I was still ill, my fever had broken and I felt well enough to venture out for the day. The morning dawned bright and cool as we walked to the funicular for our journey up the mountainside.

My sister, brother-in-law, and husband entering the Funicolare Como-Brunate, which has been operating since 1894. The journey up the mountain took under 10 minutes.

When we reached the top... wow! Just look at these cliffside homes... so beautiful and what amazing views they must have.

Walking along the streets in Brunate was so peaceful and quiet. Elegant homes and gardens greeted us everywhere we looked.

I thought this mural was so very lovely. It was not painted on a church; it adorned the side of a building in Brunate.

  

View of Lake Como from Brunate

In addition to the many beautiful homes, there were some very special gardens.

Gorgeous vistas everywhere you looked!

 

This beautiful pink church, La Chiesa di Sant' Andrea Apostolo (The Church of Saint Andrew the Apostle) dates back to the 17th century although it has been rebuilt and added on to since.

Most of the elegant properties were gated, but you could peer through the iron bars and spot interesting sights such as this tiny grotto installed in the hillside by the homeowner.

Lots and lots of steps! We certainly got our exercise that day!

 

We trekked up a very steep road to reach the Volta Lighthouse. The 95 foot tall lighthouse was built in 1927, 100 years after the death of Alessandro Volta who is credited with the invention of the electric battery. The 143 steps up to the very top of the lighthouse were not open to the public the day we visited.

A final look from the lighthouse grounds. By this time, the skies had darkened and it was time to head back to the hotel for our final night at Lake Como. Our day in Brunate was one of my favorites of our entire 2 1/2 week trip... There was even more to explore and if we'd had more time, I think we would have gone back the next day. Such a beautiful, relaxing area!

So, did everyone enjoy a nice Easter weekend? We went to our oldest son's home in Maryland and had the best time watching our grandson loving all the festivities. We had wooden egg on the spoon relay races (I'm proud to say I didn't drop mine once!) and Mister B had an outdoor egg hunt. It was a beautiful sunny day and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. After so, so many years of hosting holidays, it was wonderful to be able to go elsewhere as a guest!

Mister B was so excited to discover that the Easter Bunny had hidden his eggs in one of his toy cubbies. In the upper right, my youngest son and Mister B race to the finish line in their "egg on the spoon" race.

 

Everything is greening up so nicely here in western Pennsylvania. And the spring flowers have been especially lovely--at least they were until a violent storm went through last night. So many trees were down and some folks are still without power. We were lucky here and only experienced some flickering lights, lots of flying debris, and strong winds and rain. I can't imagine being in a tornado--this was scary enough! Anyway, I had picked these flowers when I heard a storm was on its way and am so glad I did! 

My husband planted new daffodil and tulip bulbs last fall and this was the result! It always amazes me that the humble bulb can result in such beautiful blooms after a long winter.

Another long post... I do apologize! I just have one final river cruise post for next time and then things will get back to normal. No big trips are planned this year, but we do hope to get away for a week at our favorite Maryland lake with the whole family this summer. How about you? Do you have any trips planned for 2025 or are you sticking close to home. I always love hearing from you in the comments or by email--thank you for taking the time to write! I hope you each have a wonderful May--things are looking so green and lush here in my part of Pennsylvania. Take care now! Bye for now...