Grandmama Llama

 It's finished and delivered!

 

I made and gifted this throw quilt to my sister as a surprise present. The purple minky on the back is so soft. The pattern is Lloyd & Lola by Elizabeth Hartman with one major change. The pattern makes two large llamas but I made the llama on the left 3/4 size to celebrate my sister's first grandchild who will be arriving in a few months.

My sewing machine is now at the sewing machine shop in line for a cleaning and check up. I'm kind of lost without a quilting project right now but I remembered an embroidery project which needs to be finished. I guess there's always housework which could be done too. Note the lack of enthusiasm.

 

The one traditional Christmas cookie I've been trying to master is my grandmother's Cream Cookie recipe. She did not cook or bake with measuring cups or spoons. We do have a base recipe to use but ingredient measurements are still a guess. After several tries this month, I think I've almost got it! They are a light, soft cookie with a delicate flavor. Tomorrow, I'll bake a batch for Christmas when our family is, hopefully, here. Unless someone gets sick or is exposed to Covid in the next few days, we are going to try to get together.

 

My Amaryllis shot up another stalk with four more beautiful blooms! Our cat, who is definitely not supposed to be on the table, loves the Amaryllis and has been scolded a few times already. Actually, what he is most interested in is the tie holding the stalk to the support and maybe even more importantly, he likes to sleep on the quilt!

Merry Christmas and my wishes for a happy and healthy New Year!

Mayleen

Christmas Projects

 I love flowers and while I do have some houseplants, none of them bloom in winter. I hadn't had an Amaryllis for years but when I saw them for sale at Lowe's, I purchased one. 

 

I was surprised it bloomed so early but three out of the four blossoms are open. I am also forcing some Paperwhites. Again its been years since I grew any. I'm hoping my Thanksgiving Cactus plants will bloom for Christmas. I need flowers!

 

I can't reveal what I'm working on because its a gift but you might be able to get an idea from the designer's name, Elizabeth Hartman. This is the first time I've made any of her patterns and my advice if you're thinking of trying one, label every piece and be as organized as possible.

Just a stack of quilts which need my attention.

 

Instead of stitching binding or doing whatever quilting task needed, I'm baking. This weekend, I made two new to me peppernut recipes. These are photos of Salted Peanut Peppernuts and I also made Molasses Peppernuts. More baking to come.

 

If I'm not careful, its going to be "Once over the lips, forever on the hips." I look forward to all the traditional goodies and treats but I'm always relieved to get back to simple foods in January.

 

Recently, a friend posted on Facebook asking about first Christmas trees. Photo is not our first Christmas tree, lol! However, today we were doing some decorating and we found the box of red yarn which we tied onto a houseplant the first Christmas we were married. We lived 6 hours from family and were going to be able to go home to see them so we didn't buy a tree for our apartment. Today I decided to decorate my ficus tree just for fun as a memory of 40 years ago!

 

We don't put up a Christmas tree anymore. Instead we put up what we call our memory wreath. Its all the ornaments which bring back memories of our children or events recent or years ago. The wreath hangs over our fireplace for the Christmas season. Every year, we have to repair a few ornaments, some break beyond repair, and, some are no longer hung but we always remember.

Until next time, Mayleen