A new year begins...

The morning dawned bright and sunny on January 1st, 2026--a beautiful start to this new year. We received a fresh coating of snow on New Year's Eve and the shimmering brilliance outside was almost overwhelming (but very welcome) after a week of gray, dreary rainy days. It was a nice way to start the month and the sunshine encouraged me to begin packing away Christmas for another year. My tree will remain for another week or two--after working so hard on all those ornaments, it's hard for me to take it down. I've been concentrating on one room each day, carefully wrapping and packing away all the decorations in their boxes and bags to rest in the attic for the next eleven months. 

Yesterday, I took a little break from "undecorating" and spent some time creating a new display for my kitchen counter. This one will stay up through January and is perfect for what is, typically, a frigid, snowy month here in western Pennsylvania.  I love this corner so much and don't understand why I had left it fairly bare (other than a stack of blue plates) for the past 30 years. Yes, 30 years ago this year, we remodeled and added on to our home--hard to believe! My sons were just 13, 10, and 7 at the time and we lived in our house (along with our huge 20-pound black cat, Shadow) for the entire nine months it took to remodel. It was a crazy year, but we were rewarded with a larger, more livable home. After 30 years, it definitely needs some updating again, but that will come slowly.

This is the snowy display I came up with for January filled with smiling snowmen, icy looking stitching, and even a miniature tree... If you click on the names of each piece (underneath the photos) you'll be taken to my post on that particular finish.

My kitchen corner display for January

 

The stitched pieces on the top shelf are: JBW Designs "French Country Snowflake" and "Inverno" by Renato Parolin.

On the lower portion of the tiered tray are "Snow Sampler" by Country Cottage Needleworks (on black in the back left), "Heartstruck Friends" by Midnight Stitching (in the back middle), and "Snowmen" by Country Cottage Needleworks (on the right). Sitting in front of the tiered tray are: JBW's "French Country Snowman" and "A Year in Chalk: January" by Hands On Design 

 

To the left of the tiered tray, I added a miniature tree (just 12 inches high) with some white lights and tiny glass snowman head ornaments. The little snowmen ornaments mean so much to me... You see, I bought a set years ago and as time passed, they shattered one by one. I was left with only a couple when, unbeknownst to me, my middle son found an (almost) complete set of them on eBay and gave them to me for Christmas a few years ago. They will always remind me of him and his very thoughtful gift! They have the cutest little faces, don't they? 

To the right of the tray is the framed finish of  "A Country Winter" by Plum Street Samplers. I just love this peaceful stitched scene with the lovely white barn, and that snowman proudly showing off his pretty red and white quilt.

 

Lots of blue and white brighten up a normally dreary, long January in my kitchen.

 

Over on Instagram the yearly #12in26ornamentstitchalong has begun! This is the sixth annual stitch-along that I've hosted and I love seeing just how many people join in each year. People from all over the world are now stitching an ornament a month and sharing them with each other online. If you'd like to join the fun, all you have to do is post a photo of your finished ornament on Instagram each month using the above hashtag so everyone can see it. Hope to see you there! 

So, how was your Christmas? As you read in my last post, that nasty flu bug interrupted our family get together and my youngest son and his fiancée didn't make it. To say I was disappointed was an understatement--we have not all been together since July 2025. We hope to see them later this month for a late mini-Christmas (which is one reason I'm keeping my tree up a bit longer). Thankfully, Baby N (7 1/2 months) and Mister B (almost 5 1/2 years) were both here with their mom and dad for nearly a week. The baby came down with a bad cold  a few days after Christmas, but neither my husband or I have caught it. It was such a delight having them here along with my middle son and his girlfriend. There's just something about having little children around which makes Christmas morning extra special, isn't there? 

We still enjoyed ourselves, eating way too much (of course!), building a gingerbread house, having a birthday party for Mister B's stuffed panda (who turned 7 according to B), watching movies, and playing games. There was just an empty space in our hearts without our missing son and soon-to-be daughter-in-law. Luckily, the little ones kept us very busy and took our minds off our youngest and his fiancée. Baby N is almost crawling--kind of pivoting and rolling to wherever he wants to go. He's such a smiley, happy little soul! As is his big brother--what a blessing they are in our lives...

The stockings were hung (and no, I didn't make them--they were all purchased from Land's End or LL Bean and I've blurred the names for privacy). Mister B and Baby N smiling for the camera right before going up to bed on Christmas Eve. They had just placed a plate of cookies (just visible in the lower left) along with a carrot or two for the reindeer, on the fireplace hearth for Santa. And, finally, Mister B working on decorating a gingerbread house a few days after Christmas (I think more of the frosting ended up in his tummy than on the house and he got a bit sick to his stomach later that day). 

 

Nonna Carol showing Santa Baby N some of her favorite ornaments on Christmas night.

  

I made eight kinds of cookies this year and gave some of the goodies to friends  (along with some Pumpkin-Cranberry bread). Everyone seemed to enjoy them!

Gift giving update... I was very pleased with how easy it was to give gifts this year for my adult children. If you remember from a previous post, I had asked each couple to suggest 1) something they would like for their homes, 2) the name of a favorite restaurant, and 3) an experience or membership that they'd like to do together. I used to buy five or so gifts for each of the six adults (amounting to 30 gifts!) which took a lot of time to buy and wrap. This way, I only had to purchase 9 gifts in total and most of them could be done online and popped in simple gift bags. The requested items ranged from bath sheets to car mats to a co-op gift card to a couple's massage to pizza/ice cream night to an evening (or two) at the movies complete with snacks. I definitely will be taking this approach in the future! 

I received some lovely stitched gifts from four blogging/Instagram friends this year which I truly appreciate! I sent a few gifts out, as well, but I'll share those with you in my next post...

From Cindy C. in Virginia (an Instagram friend) came this joyful ornament. I love the simple beauty and message of it... Thank you so much, Cindy--it is lovely!  

 

From my friend, Robin (in Virginia), came this jolly snowman tag ornament. I love it, Robin, and really need to make those cute tag ornaments soon! Thank you so very much! 

All the way from jolly old England came this adorable stitched snowman card, Prairie Schooler Santa chart, and pretty Christmas ribbon. Thank you so much, dear June--you are so sweet!

From my friend, Vickie in Wisconsin, came this darling Advent Calendar ornament. Stitched over one, it is so tiny and delicate. Thank you, Vickie--I will treasure it this beauty!

  

And from my friend, Stasi in Virginia, came this exquisite needlebook. Such tiny, precise needlework--and she chose to stitch it because she knew how special cardinals are to me. I'm using it every day, Stasi--it is truly special! Thank you!

And thank you to those of you who sent me cards this year, too--I do love receiving a nice old-fashioned Christmas card! Thanks so much to Marilyn F, Tricia B, Cindy D, Theresa B, Barb R, and Rita H... I really appreciate your thoughtfulness!

I guess I'd better sign off now... My husband is having his right shoulder replaced in the morning and we both need to get some sleep. He's a bit anxious about it, but we are both hopeful that it will go as smoothly as his left shoulder replacement went three years ago. Thank you all for your kind comments on my tree and your Christmas wishes--such a wonderful community we have here and on Instagram. We are so lucky to have chosen this wonderful hobby of ours, aren't we? Wishing you each a new year filled with peace and happiness, love and laughter! Bye for now!  

200 and counting!

Ornaments, that is! Yes, this year, I reached a milestone as I passed the 200 mark (203 to be exact) with my stitched ornaments. There are actually only 181 on this tree, though, because 22 of them are displayed in my Pottery Barn cubby. My tree is up and the presents are patiently resting underneath just waiting to be opened on Christmas morning. In keeping with tradition, we'll let my grandson open one present on Christmas Eve and I bet I know exactly which one he'll choose--the largest one! Do you have any traditions when it comes to your tree or gift opening? We try to open our gifts one by one, but with nine people this Christmas morning, that may take a bit too long. We'll see what happens! I'm so looking forward to this entire weekend and the following week--family time with all nine of us present is so rare these days. I'm going to treasure each moment... (well, maybe not all of the cooking :) 

My cross-stitch Christmas tree: 2023

Here are a few close-ups for you from top to bottom...

Love the trio of Prairie Schooler angels

And here is the view from my sunroom  into the family room where I have another tiny tree on my bookshelf. 

 The little tree on the bookshelf  on the right is just two feet high and has a mixture of gingerbread ornaments and snowflakes.

Did you happen to notice the tiny elf peeking out at you in the first photo on the left? He is making an appearance after many years of being boxed up in the attic because my grandson will be here this year and I know he'll love him! This elf was a constant Christmas companion when my sons were growing up. When he is turned on, his arm moves back and forth as if he were sawing wood. (It actually looks like he's about to cut his own arm off, but... ) I can't wait to see my grandson's reaction when he first sees him. 

I'm sure 3-year-old "Mister B" will be enchanted by this 21-inch elf!

Love the view at night, too--my sunroom is filled with windows, skylights, and doors and the reflection of the tree lights is almost magical.

"Blue Christmas"... I mentioned earlier that 22 of my ornaments are not on my tree, but are displayed in my Pottery Barn cubby this year. I chose to pull many of the blue-themed ornaments and display them in the cubby in my family room. If you look closely, you'll see that most of them are snowmen or Santas, but there are a few houses and a pretty bird, as well. You probably know by this time that my favorite color is blue so this display certainly makes me smile each time I walk by!

My "Blue Christmas" cubby

Here are some close-ups. I'm sorry, I don't have time right now to identify each ornament in this post, but if you have a question about a particular one, just email me (make sure to include your email address, too!), and I'll get back to you with an answer.

What do you think? Do you have a favorite? I think mine is the crescent-shaped Prairie Schooler Santa in the lower left space. And you know what one of the best things is about this display?  I can simply replace the Santas with other snow-themed finishes and leave it up all winter! 

♥ And in the very center, as always, is the silhouette of my dear mother ♥

This is actually one of my favorite days of the year! Why, you may ask? Well, it's simply because, after today, the days will start getting longer again. I relish the extra light in the evenings, even though it may not be noticeable for a while yet. I still remember, very vividly, a moment with my second son who was born in early December 1985. Like any young mother, I was exhausted and a bit depressed. One January evening, while I sat in his bedroom singing to him as we rocked back and forth in the creaky wooden rocking chair, I happened to glance out the window. My eyes widened and my tired face brightened as I realized it was still light out--even at almost 6 PM! Somehow, that fact soothed me and I knew brighter days were coming. From that moment on, I always associated the Winter Solstice with the start of lighter, brighter days...

In four days another Christmas will dawn. I hope it's a very special one for each of you. I'll have my entire family with me this year so I'm sure it will be for me. But, I know some of you are far from your families or dealing with serious illnesses or worries. I'm sure it's hard to be "merry" under those circumstances. So, my wish for you is a peaceful Christmas, my friends. Take care now and I'll see you soon. Bye for now...

Wishing you a peaceful Christmas

Thankful for life's simple things

Happy Thanksgiving week to all of my friends here in the United States! I'm sure those of you who are hosting the feast on Thursday are busy shopping for ingredients, prepping what you can in advance, cleaning the house, and crossing things off your to-do list. I have to admit that I've relished the extra time I've had this year without any obligations at all for Thanksgiving. I've spent time bringing  Christmas decorations down from the attic, organizing card lists, planning menus, and even buying a few presents. I'm hoping that by the time December rolls around, I'll be able to just sit back and enjoy the beauty of this special season. Without a doubt, this is the earliest I've begun preparing for Christmas. How about you? Are you holding off until after Thanksgiving (as I usually do) or have you begun checking things off your list of holiday tasks? Or are you one of those rare people who have everything already done?

Before I get to my stitching, I just want to take a few moments to thank all of you who left supportive comments or took the time to send an email urging me to keep on blogging. Some of your comments left me a bit teary-eyed and all touched my heart. It wasn't just that one horrid comment that I received that has me thinking about signing off... there are many things that have been bothering me over the past year. January 2024 will mark 15 years of blogging for me--pretty good I'd say, as I've seen many blogs come and go during that time. But, I'm tired of adjusting to the changes to the Blogger format, fed-up with how difficult they've made it to comment on certain blogs (including mine I'm told!), and just kind of worn out. I'm getting older--I begin my last year in my 60's in two months.  For now, I'll keep going, but there will come a time when I'll say adieu and I promise--absolutely promise--that I will let you know and say a proper goodbye. 

I've never been this far behind in my monthly Christmas ornament challenge! But, I'm almost caught up and I thought you'd enjoy seeing my two latest cuties. For September (yes! I'm that far behind!), I stitched "Merry Christmas 2012" by The Victoria Sampler. This is one of the charts that can be found in the 2012 Just Cross Stitch Ornament issue (on page 71). It is stitched on 28 ct. dove gray Monaco with DMC threads. Although there wasn't a ton of stitching involved, this one was not my favorite to stitch... Do you see all those tiny reindeer and the sled carrying Santa? All are stitched over one. I love the final effect, though, and the sweet snowy town that they are flying over. To make it an oval finish, I added many more snowflakes. I like the blue checked backing fabric--it's nice to have an ornament now and then that doesn't scream red or green, don't you think?

"Merry Christmas 2012" from the 2012 Just Cross Stitch ornament issue

 

October brought yet another blue ornament and one I've wanted to stitch for many years. Just recently, a friend lent me her chart so I was finally able to check that one off my list. This is an older design by The Trilogy called "Secret Snowdrift." It's stitched on 40ct. woodland brown Newcastle using a variety of overdyed threads and DMC. I just love the six snowmen being blown about by the swirling snow--and check out those two little penguins peeking out! Adorable! This originally came out in kit form and I believe you can still purchase it. There is a lot going on in this piece so I kept the finish simple--the back is a blue flannel material from one of my son's old shirts and the blue cording is tied in a simple bow at the top. I also added a silver snowflake charm for a bit of sparkle. What do you think?

My finish of "Secret Snowdrift" by The Trilogy

Here are my September and October ornaments all ready for my tree... Just two more to go--can I finish by December? Yes... I... Can!

September and October ornaments for 2023

 

Since we aren't hosting Thanksgiving this year, I only put out a portion of my Thanksgiving stitching for a small display. The sideboard next to my kitchen table is perfect as we get to enjoy these pieces while eating our meals. I already posted these next photos on Instagram and some were surprised that this was just a "portion" of my Thanksgiving stitching. Yes, I only put out the easily accessed pieces this year--the ones I keep in an old dresser drawer in one of my guest bedrooms. The others are in boxes piled high in a closet and I was simply to lazy to get them out this month :)

Thanksgiving display for 2023

How about some close-ups? If you have any questions as to what the names of certain designs are, you can go to this post last year where I named all of my Thanksgiving pieces. Links are provided to each finish so you can learn more details. 

My favorite piece is the large Prairie Schooler turkey in the brown frame.

So, tell me... do you have a favorite? Mine is that classic Prairie Schooler turkey surrounded by the fall leaves  the last photo. I just love him! But, that tiny pouch stitched on black is a close second. Do you stitch for Thanksgiving? I try to do a piece or two each year, but, unfortunately, wasn't able to add to my collection this year.

Although we aren't hosting Thanksgiving, my husband and I were both craving pumpkin pie! That is a must-have for the two of us each year--along with pecan pie. But, I'll let you in on a little secret--I hate pie crust! I hate the taste of it and hate making it even more! I've never had a pie crust that I like and often leave most of it on my plate and only eat the inside of a pie. But, I've found a perfect solution--a crustless pumpkin pie! And a delicious one at that... It was so easy and saved so much time (and aggravation!) when compared to rolling out and transferring a tender pie crust into the baking tin. I found the recipe on the site "Cupcakes & Kale Chips" right here. I know this will become my new go-to for holiday desserts; in fact, I plan on making it again for Christmas! Give it a try and let me know what you think...

A yummy crustless pumpkin pie and an older (2005!) fall finish: Bent Creek's "Leaf"

I think you know by now that it's the simple things in life that I treasure... time with my dear family, a good book, the way the sunlight plays in autumn, a piece of music that moves me to tears, the smell of something yummy baking in the oven, the feel of the fabric as my needle and thread weave tiny x's while I sit quietly stitching. When we visited my little grandson earlier this month, I enjoyed another of life's simple things--something I hadn't done in many, many years: jumping in a big pile of freshly raked leaves. I think you can tell from the smiles on our faces how much joy this simple act brought us all. 

One of life's simple pleasures: jumping in the leaves with my sweet grandson

So, look for the simple things in life--they're all around you and bound to bring a smile to your day. I wish each of my U.S. friends a blessed Thanksgiving with friends and family. Through all the discord and disasters and discontent that the world has experienced lately, we still have much to be grateful for right here in our own back yards. And, as always, I'm so very thankful for the friendship of my fellow stitchers over the years. Whether a new reader or one of my oldest friends, I appreciate each of you. Bye for now...

Mister B (that tiny speck in blue in the lower left corner!) flying a kite on a beautiful autumn afternoon in Maryland

One month down, eleven to go!

The final day of January--can you believe it? And my third post of the month--even more surprising! How is everyone doing? Surviving the winter okay? I hope that those of you who were caught in that massive snowstorm on the East Coast fared well and that February will be a bit easier for all. In our area of Pennsylvania they are saying this is the coldest weather we've had in four years--subzero temperatures in the mornings and barely getting into the 20's during the day. Today we are getting up to 34°F--heat wave! But, you all know what the best thing is about our cold winter, don't you? It makes for wonderful stitching weather. Honestly, is there anything better than snuggling under a  cozy, fleece blanket and stitching, stitching, stitching? I have to admit that since I've been retired and don't have to leave the house for work, the cold and snow really don't bother me (very much, anyway)!

I've finished my January ornament--can you tell which is the new building added to my little town? Why, it's the local diner on the far right of the photo--something every small town has (sometimes even more than one!). The six buildings that I've stitched so far include, the train station, the tree lot, the firehouse, the needlework shop, and Grandma's house. In my mind, I planned on stitching one each year, but with 22 in the series, and only 6 finished, I think I need to stitch more than one a year if I ever plan on finishing. You see, I'm 67 now and with 16 left to stitch, I'd be 83 years old by the time I finished the series! Um... no! Not going to happen... I can guarantee you I won't be stitching "over one" on 28 ct. black Monaco at that age!

My Little House Needleworks "Hometown Holidays" finishes so far

Most of you will recognize the diner as part of the Little House Needleworks "Hometown Holiday" series. I made some color changes; the main change was to the roof as I wanted it to coordinate with the gold "Woolies Flannel" fabric that I had chosen for the finish. Other changes included leaving out the front portion of snow, adding two candles in the center of the two windows, and topping the tree with a gold star. I truly love how this one turned out!

The Hometown Diner--freshest pies around!

Here is a close-up for you...

Can you see the little candles I added to the windows?

As I was stitching the diner, memories of my first real summer job came flooding back. You see, I actually worked at my small hometown diner as a waitress in the summer of 1974. I well remember the night I came home from my very first shift: I was exhausted, my feet hurt, and I smelled like grease from the kitchen odors (where I also had to wash dishes when I wasn't waiting on tables!). I remember telling my mom that I just couldn't go back... But, then the tips started pouring in and I learned to enjoy my three month summer job. The two other waitresses were fun to work with and I even developed a soft spot for the crusty, old cook who constantly had a cigarette hanging from her mouth (yes, people were allowed to smoke at work in those days!). 

 

This is the actual diner I worked at in my small western New York hometown in the summer of 1974

Giveaway time...  I found this very pretty small sampler (it measures  just 98 X 70) and thought it would make a sweet giveaway for this time of year. I love the large thistle in the center--such pretty colors, too! This chart does have some specialty stitches in it so I would not call it a beginner design. If you would like to win this design (simply a chart torn from the March/April 1992 issue of Cross Stitch & Country Crafts  magazine. I will fold and mail it to the winner in a legal-sized envelope to save on postage), please: 1) Specifically mention that you'd like to win the "Thistles and Flowers" chart in your comment below, 2) Answer the "Getting to Know You" question below, and 3) Make sure to include your email address if I don't already have it.

I'm giving away this sweet chart called "Thistles and Flowers"

Getting to know you... It's been a while since I've had a giveaway and asked a "Getting to Know You" question! For today's question, I'm wondering what one of your first jobs was and what you learned from it or found interesting about it? Here is my answer: Working as a waitress in my hometown diner over 40 years ago began a lifetime of jobs working with the public. And it taught me so much... I still remember the well-dressed older couple who I assumed would be big tippers. Nope--they left me a quarter. And then there were the shaggy looking younger guys who tipped big (but that may have had more to do with my waist-length straight hair and short white uniform than my performance as a waitress--ha ha! I mean it was the early '70s after all!). My waitressing job taught me to be patient and kind with those in public service as exemplified by the four businessmen whose laps became the recipients of the four large sodas  that spilled all over them when I set down my tray too quickly! They were so kind to me as I teared up and apologized profusely--a lesson I always remembered and carried throughout life. I think you can tell a lot about a person's character by how they treat shopkeepers, waitresses, grocery store workers, etc.--anyone you come in contact with on a daily basis. Please remember to always be kind... Now, it's your turn--I'd love to hear about one of your early jobs and what you took away from it!

On Instagram, I posted my Pottery Barn cubby filled with snowmen and winter stitching for January and it was a huge hit! Unfortunately, Pottery Barn seems to have discontinued making the cubbies and I've had a lot of disappointed stitching friends who are unable to find one of their own. I suggest keeping your eye out for other cubbies like printer's trays at antique shops. Some folks told me Hobby Lobby also offers a similar smaller cubby, too. Anyway, I thought you'd like to see the snowmen display as I know all of you are not on Instagram... Do you have a favorite? I think mine are in cubbies #6, #10, and #12, but they all make me smile.

Snowmen have taken over my Pottery Barn cubby for the month!

 

Lots of blue--my favorite color!

Wordle... Okay, who else has become obsessed with Wordle, the online word game? My middle son told me about it earlier this year and I can't wait to play it each morning. My family often compares scores and strategies and dumb mistakes that we make in trying to guess the five letter word that is offered each day. (You have to go to the website to play--it is not an app). The idea of it, for those of you who haven't heard, is to try to guess the five-letter word within six tries. I usually manage to get the correct answer in four, but not all the time! I think what I like most about it, is it is only offered once a day and so you don't spend hours and hours playing it like some other online games. Also, there are no ads or annoying pop-ups (kind of like my blog!). Give it a try and let me know what you think. You can find the website, right here: Wordle website.

My Wordle game from Sunday

This funny deer made his way into our yard last week and we've seen him wandering around a few times since then. When I spotted him, I asked my husband what was on his antlers and he said it looked like moss, but as the deer got closer, I saw shredded ribbons and greenery. I think it was someone's old Christmas wreath that he had found blown off a door or been discarded for trash pick-up. Poor guy! It doesn't seem to bother him, but I hope it eventually falls off! I wonder if he is attracting any female deer with his fancy headdress?!

What a fancy deer!

We've been snow-covered most of January and although pretty, I am starting to tire of it! I'd say we have close to a foot on the ground right now because it's been so cold, the snow is simply not melting! Our pond at the rear of our yard has actually frozen over for the first time in years.

My backyard and pond after a fresh January snowfall

But no matter how cold the weather, kids seem to love playing in the snow, don't they? I found this cute photo of my oldest son recently and combined it alongside a photo of his own son (my grandson) as they enjoyed their snowy days. The little shovel my grandson is using actually belonged to my sons when they were little boys. I'm guessing the photo of my son was from 1985 or so when he was about 3 years old.

Snowy smiles for my oldest son and his own son, Mister B

I want to thank each of you for taking the time to visit and read my post today--and a special thank you to those of you who comment. I always love to hear from you! Hope February brings many relaxing stitching hours and much time spent with those you love most in the world. I hope to be back with a couple of Valentine finishes before too long--we'll see! Take care now, my friends. Bye for now...