Happy Holidays one and all

I am hoping all had a wonderful holiday season and I am wishing all a wonderful, healthy and prosperous new year.   

Here's a close up of two recent finished that are part of my tabletop collection of Lefton as seen above in my header photo.   On the left is a wool felt poinsettia I made at a class at a local quilting store.    So easy that of course I walked out with two additional kits to make.  And my Sampler Santa has found his place of honor.

As I close out the year and take inventory I find I still have a to-do list the length of my arm but I can also look back and be happy for all I have accomplished around the house, the yard and craft wise.    I just checked into my Goodreads accounts and I see I smashed my goal of 18 books by reading 35 this year!    I must admit there are a few audio books included in that count.   It is a good way to tick off those miles when I drive to western PA.  Favorite reads of the year, Where the Crawdads Sing, The Only Woman in the Room, Inside the O'Briens, The Great Alone.

I am not a resolution person for the most part.   I have the standard be a better person, don't fall behind on tasks, exercise, diet, volunteer more thoughts on my list......nah.....not going to do it.   Just going to try to make the most of each day.

I do have an overall long term goal that has nothing to do with New Year's.........I want to really pare down that list of half done projects......needlework or otherwise.    My 2019 EGA challenge has really helped me make a huge dent in that pile.  We are continuing the same challenge for 2020.   By year's end I may even be able to eliminate that basket of WIP's.....well at least make an even bigger dent in it.  Maybe I can target to complete one each month.   Now that is a fantasy for sure.

My current stitch is Jardine Prive's ABC on banding.  This is another project that I was gungho on and then it got pushed aside for something new and shinier.    But I am back at it.    When I picked it up earlier this month, I had this much done.

And now....

Wahoo!  Moving forward.  It is not a difficult stitch unless you are not a fan of one over one.

Also I close out the year, I have to be thankful for my wonderful family.   That includes my D-in-L who includes me in my grandson's life with countless Face Time visits between real visits.  Between work, classes at college and being pregnant, D-in-L never got to take Will to see Santa....once she was at my house for the holidays, I found local store that had Santa.   Thinking he would turn shy and not want to sit on Santa's lap, we were surprised he walked right up, sat down and told him he wanted action figures for Christmas.

We had fun making cookies for Will's daddy.

  Damma decorated his bedroom complete with Christmas lights and a few small trees.  He had his own wonderland.    What fun it was to scurry around Christmas Eve after Will went to bed and set all the presents out.   Christmas morning found Will having fun playing with his Uncle Miki and the magna tiles Santa brought.

My son had to work Christmas Day so he didn't arrive in NJ until 6 pm.    Will didn't want to leave his side once he arrived.  He really is a daddy's boy and my son loves being a dad.

And then we took Will skating at the Riverfront.   If daddy has his way, this is the start of Will's NHL career.

One other thing that Will did that all you grandmom stitchers will love.    He told his mom when he got to Damma's house he wanted to 'needle' with Damma.    So what's a Damma to do.....get out the DMC, a yarn needle and some large count fabric.     I will definitely have to frame this.

Life is wonderful!

As for tonight, I will be home in my pj's, under an afghan, stitching away.   I went out for New Year's Eve the first and only time about 7 years and ago and thought ....hmmm...what's the big deal.  New Year's Day always finds me cleaning the kitchen top to bottom.  (Why???....a fresh start I guess.)   Since I recently did the kitchen when we did the updates and the craft room was done with a I bought new shelves.......I am not sure what I will get into......maybe I will take on some much needed finishing.   Whatever you choose to do to start the year make is a great day and wonderful year.  Wishing everyone a fabulous new year with lots of family fun, great projects, much health, prosperity and happiness.   

Thanks for stopping by and indulging my grandson posts!  Keep on stitching.