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~