The Little Everyday Things

 Hello Friendly Folk~

It is apparent that I'm not the only one struggling

to write when our world as it is seems to be in tumbles.

Over the past several weeks, I've started two different posts

but just couldn't finish them.

Blogland has been pretty quiet.

I hope people are finding home and heart.

Christmas was a new experience for so many this year.

When reflected upon,

may it be that kindness is chosen over the many alternatives.

It's been pretty quite at our home also.

We've been fortunate that we've been busy at work.

It's been a crazy, hectic, chaotic year, but we have work

and we are grateful for that.

It's only been the in past few weeks that we've been able

to have our winter evenings.

I love winter evenings~

Though, since the time change I've not slept through the night

more than a handful of nights.

(Things on my mind, I s'pose.)

So my evening activities usually end about 7:30-8PM 

when my eyes begin to water and tell me to go to bed.

We do wake about 4-4:30 so I guess that's eight hours.

I've been able to do a little stitching (finally!) and reading.

If you ever run across a copy of Della T Lutes "The Country Kitchen,"

snatch it up.  It is one of the funniest books I've read in some time.

She does share methods about the foods they prepared and ate,

but she has a knack for telling of the accounts in such a way

that has humored both Mr. LB and me.

When you laugh out loud while reading a book,

you know it's funny.

And right next to my book and glasses is a big hoop

with the quilt I'm quilting on.

This is the one on the hoop.

I told myself I had to quilt 2 quilts before I could start another. 

Did I listen to me?

Nooooo. . . 

Go ahead and roll your eyes at me.

I know.  Bad, bad, me.

I couldn't help myself.

Those Singers are like sea nymphs calling, luring me to stitch. 

I have yet to sew a whole quilt on Birdy.

I don't think you've met Birdy yet.

Here, let me introduce you.

She is a 1940 Singer Featherweight - my youngest Singer.

That's how she got her name.

Isn't she beautiful?

She was a gift from Hubby, and I love her.

(And him too by the way:-).

And go ahead and listen to that.

You can't hear anything can you?

That's one of the things I love about her.

She is soooo quiet and stitches like a dream.

I've only made a few blocks,

but I can't express how much good it did my soul.

I'm replicating a vintage pattern.

I kinda do my own thing so I have measurements like

2 1/8" x a generous 3 3/4".

It really doesn't matter as long as it's consistent.

It's just like cooking "a skosh more" or "just a smidgeon."

Heehee~

The Christmas decorations are gathered and ready to go back into the tote.

The tree will soon be out of the house.

I didn't do a ton this year.

More and more, I am finding that less really is more.

Not just in decorations, but in general.

Before Christmas, I finally went through a box of photos

from my friends who passed in '15 & '16.

I got all that I'm keeping into a very thick album,

sent some to their one living relative, those I thought she might want.

And the rest went into the burn pile.

There were lots of pictures of flowers etc. among the family pictures

so going through them took time.

I think we all have these projects.

I have a tote out in the garage that is full of photos

from when the kids were little.

Once the tree is out of the house, and I haul the Christmas tote out,

I will bring it in and begin going through them.

For some reason, I am feeling the need to get down to those things

that matter in the long run.

I still have a constant donation box though these days

it's slower to fill than it once was.

I still like to call it "editing."

I think I've mentioned that long ago when we were considering down-sizing.

I'm not sure we will ever go much smaller,

but I sure don't mind an empty shelf here or there.

And open space is refreshing.

Speaking of refreshing,

it's about that time~

A fresh new year.

Have you chosen a word of the year yet?

I've done this for several years now.

My 2020 word was "Grace."

God somehow knows what we need, doesn't He?

My word for 2021 is going to be "Flourish."

We don't know what lies ahead, 

but I hope whatever the year brings that I might find a way to flourish.

And for the new year, 

I'd like to wish every one of you a year filled to the brim with blessings.

Until next time~

Farmyard Christmas

 Hello dear friends.

I hope you are all enjoying a joyful Christmastime.

We are well here ~ life always seems to have curves.

Blessings yet to discover, right?

I have a Christmas poem to share but want to first share with you~

I wrote this a few years back and haven't shared it with many

since I was "kindly insulted" for it.

The "moral" however is something I feel quite strongly about

having had family killed by a drunk driver going home from mass Christmas eve.

So gentle reader, if you are sensitive to such things,

I mean not to offend.

Feel free to pass over this.

It is meant as an entertaining reminder of something we all know better.

Twas the night before Christmas

When all through the shed

Not a creature was stirring

They were all snug in bed.

The stalls were all made 

With fresh, clean straw

All was in order

Thanks to Pa and Ma.

They knew what Christmas

Was all about

By the end of the day

They were all tuckered out.

The critters were thankful 

And rested their heads

They were all warm and cozy

In their freshly made beds.

When what to their

Sleep eyes should appear

But a chuck wagon loaded down

With grub and gear.

Their eyes popped wide open

And they thought they should dash

As the wagon it landed

With an ear-shattering crash.

The driver was pale

And kinda looked sick

They weren't quite sure

But thought "It might be St. Nick."

A bit stunned and dazed

His team they came to

He kicked and he cursed 

And he hollered "Why you..."

Ricken, Fricken, Dirty, Dyin

Mangy, Mongral, Sonova, Brawl

To heck with ya, heck with ya

Heck with y'all.

As a drunken sailor

Who's just come ashore

He stumbled and fell

And broke through the door.

The animals were stunned

They were really quite shaken

This wasn't St. Nick

They were surely mistaken.

He fell near the cow

But the bull quickly stepped in

With a mighty Kapow!

He set him a-spin.

He lit in the grain

By the grace of a horn

Half-witted, in stupor

All covered in corn.

The mule took a turn

With nary a care

Offering two hind feet

Sent him high in the air.

Pa heard the ruckus

And jumped out of bed

He said, grabbing his gun

"You'll wish you were dead."

He could see out the window

By the moon's yellow tinge

It must be St. Nick

On a holiday binge.

They ran to the shed

And found oh what a sight

St. Nick in his long-handles

Running off in the night.

Now everything might not be 

Just as it seem

Pa and Ma got a new wagon

And an eight horse team.

St. Nick, he was lucky

He got out alive

And the moral of course is

Don't drink and drive.

Wishing you all a very blessed and merry Christmas

and much kindness and laughter in the year to come.