Sunday, November 29, 2009

Five heavenly days

It is over entirely too quickly, but it sure was fun while it lasted. Five whole consecutive days off for Thanksgiving!

Wednesday was pretty low-key - some housecleaning because I hosted the meal (for 15 people) this year, some time hanging out with the kids, a bit of quilting done on my flannel juvenile quilt.

Thursday was great from start to finish. The kids helped me prep for the meal,


while the food was cooking, there was a raucous game of Taboo going on.

(the thinker is my brother, with his girlfriend on the right and my mom on the left)


(the beauty facing the camera is my younger sister who is pregnant for the first time - yay! She is high fiving my cousin's wife - their team kicked my team's butt! Twice!!)

The food was great - after all that work you'd think I'd take a photo, but I forgot. All but 4 people spent the night; I'm so glad we finished our basement - with all this room, you couldn't even tell there were 11 people engaged in synchronized snoring here that night.

On Friday, we moved the party over to my mom's house where we played dominos and bid whist (we LIKE games in my family - and we are VERY competitive). On the way out the driveway, I checked the mail, and I had packages from both Victoria AND Becky. I brought them with me to open at my mom's - I wasn't about to wait until I got home to see what goodies they had sent me. And when I got to my mom's there was yet ANOTHER package for me - a box of ties from my sister's boyfriend.


Victoria and I swapped some 4" squares. I asked for some of her bold, modern prints - the kind of stuff I feel you can't find around here, and even if you could, I'm not sure I'm brave enough to buy it. Boy, did she deliver! I can't wait to use these in something. Thanks, Victoria!


Then Becky had a whole mess of scraps she was looking to unload. Of course I sent her my address. Here's 22 pounds of scraps, sorted - first, some Christmas fabric, some patriotic fabric, some black & whites which I've pulled aside for a project I need to finish up, some orphan blocks, a piece of flannel that will make its way directly into my buzzsaw quilt, and some small scraps waiting to be cut to size.

Then, strips, lots and lots of strips!


Finally, some yardage, a pile of juvenile and a pile of non-juvenile.


Here are some of my absolute favorites. Thanks for sharing, Becky!


Saturday and Sunday, I vowed to not leave home. My husband's team had an away game on Saturday afternoon, so I listened online while I finished up my Gail Pan blocks and put them in a frame from Angela's Country Scrap Quilts. Another Christmas present done. (Oh, and they won the game - yay!)


Then, today I just couldn't resist those strips from Becky. I pulled out some of the brighter ones, tossed in a couple strips of my own, and started my version of that quilt I found online while in the hotel in Cleveland last weekend. I'm not sure about a border yet, but I love it so far - any suggestions?


One benefit of working with those new scraps is that I was able to get some cut into my scrap sizes (1.5" to 5") as I sewed.


Then tonight I sat down with my kids and watched the last two episodes of Gilmore Girls. We began watching over the summer, and we made it through all seven seasons. Well, Jason and I did. Donald is usually asleep halfway through any episode. Jason, however, is riveted. At the end, I was starting to feel a little weepy, and I glanced over at my son and he was wiping his eyes. That is MY son, Mr. Sentimental. I sure do love my kids.

I am so thankful for time spent with family and friends and time to pursue my passions. And also thankful that there are only 3 weeks until I get some more time off to enjoy them all again!

10 comments:

Stephanie Hughes said...

Vesuviusmama,

Isn't it nice to all your family around for the holidays! I know cos mine are all gone back to college except for one. I can't wait to see what you are going to do with the ties. I have a box full of them and don't know what to do yet.

I am having a giveaway on my blog of an antique doll quilt! One week left for the drawing! Thought you would like to know!

Thanks, Stephanie

Auntie Em said...

Erin! So much fun jammed into one post that I don't know what to say first.
What a fun Thanksgiving you had. It's so great to have family games when the gang is gathered around.
The stitchery blocks in the quilt frame is so pretty, and it sends such a nice message when you read the words.
You really scored with all those scraps, and your color block string quilt is just gorgeous! Can't wait to see more. :-)

Nancy said...

So glad to hear that you had a great 5 days off. Hopefully that will sustain you somewhat until the next amount of time off! Love the quilt top for your sister and your prairie points plan for the border. I've not done them yet, so will learn from you! Good to visit with you today and catch up a bit. Have a good week.

Angela said...

Sounds like you had a wonderful time off, with family! You deserve it, with how much you work and travel! :o)
The stitchery blocks are PERFECT for that frame! Thanks for showing it! :o)

Anonymous said...

I agree it was over way to fast. Don't forget to save me selvages please.

Maggie R said...

I thought I would pop in to see what you were doing. Looks like you had a wonderful time with your family. Love the ties. I will be anxious to see how you use them I have dozens that I have saved!!!
looks like you will have tons of fun with all those scraps too..
BTW Thank you for popping by my blog and entering to win the journal. Sorry you didn't win but do come by again as I am going to have a draw for my followers soon. Don't know just when yet.
Thanks again
xoxo
(((hugs))))
Maggie

Ms. Be said...

Actually, my team beat yours THREE times...

I had fun too, thanks for hosting. :)

Shirley said...

Sounds like you've had a busy 5 days. You need to get back to work so you can rest *LOL* The scraps and squares are great. I love your embroidery. No way does it look like a beginner! You must have a natural talent. They look great in the frame and it's neat that you chose the advent month ones to showcase.

Cheryl Willis said...

sound like a great week, I love the strip blocks. I have a set with red in the middle but am having a hard time making myself work on them. maybe soon. be good cw

Rachel said...

Wow, you sure have a lot going on! What a great Thanksgiving you must have had with all your family (and all those games). It sounds like a ton of fun!

You really scored with all the fabric you got - those beautiful prints from Victoria (love her stuff) and all those great scraps (22 lbs!). Love your projects. I've been thinking about doing those Gail Pan blocks but have already enough on my plate for now. Love the 'string' quilt.

Hurray for motivation and creativity!!!