December 2025 Wrap-up

So nice to escape the hustle and bustle of the holidays and take time to sit down to read other blogs.  It’s been a great year for me life wise and stitch wise.  Fun travel with family and friends.   Kiddos continue to entertain me and are growing up strong and talented.  Raegan was in the Nutcracker with her ballet class (all 2 minutes of stage time) and William scored 3 metals in his first gymnastics meet and performed well in his violin concert.  Life is good and I am enjoying great fun with family and great friends.

Always around Thanksgiving I amp up my gratitude meter.  Not that I am not grateful every single day but tend to focus on what cause I want to donate to this time of the year.  One thing I forgot to share from my trip to Stitching in the Smokies was the United Cajun Navy.   A quilt was auctioned at the retreat with the proceeds going to the United Cajun Navy.   The Executive Director spoke to the group and explained their origin and  mission.   They evolved out of necessity after Katrina hit New Orleans.   Owners of small boats banded together to help their neighbors and provide rescues.   It is a group that continues to work for those who have experienced issues from a natural disaster and need emergency response.  They work with FEMA and other government agencies to fill the gap in services needed.   Not just with boats but boots on the ground.   As of November, they were still assisting in California helping those who lost their homes in the California fires earlier this year.    As you can tell, I was very moved by their work.    Several years ago I stopped making donations to various charities when I found out what small percentage of my donation went to the cause.    I now only donate to the local fire and rescue department, Gary Sinese Foundation which helps wounded warriors, veterans and fire responders and the local homeless shelter.  I am adding United Cajun Navy to my list.  I had never heard of this group before.   They have a 3 star or better rating and donate 85% or more of donations they receive to their cause.  I am sure there are countless other worthy agencies others are aware off.     I am so blessed that I feel passionate about helping others.    Time can be donated, canned goods to a local food pantry, clothing to a homeless shelter.  ….there but for the grace of God go I…….  

Here is my latest group of boxes ready to take to the homeless shelter tomorrow.  

I rounded out the year with more purging - my interpretation of simplifying - my word for the year.    Every drawer and cabinet has been sorted, cleaned, culled and arranged at least once this year.   Now I have all-like things stored together.   It feels great.   Even some craft items were boxed up and donated.  We have two sheds out back - mine and his.   Mine was streamlined when it was rebuilt a couple of years ago.   His - is in need of a grand sort out and decluttering.   But alas, Mr. W doesn’t mess with my crafts so I don’t venture to declutter unless asked.  Two things I have not sorted are my costume jewelry - so necessary when I worked and my silk/silk like scarves.  And of course the attic!   I have started by bringing down 2 to 3 boxes at a time.   Better to make slow progress than no progress.   No worries, even with dropping off  30+ boxes this year to the homeless shelter, I am under no illusion that packing to move would still be a monumental undertaking. 

Here is my progress on Cornwall Cottage.   Very happy and I am feeeling good about a completion by New Year’s Day. Especially since I plan to continue with laying the ‘foundation’ lines in the basket which will leave mindless fill in.  When this is finished it will be the completion of the second big WIP this year.    Smalls WIP’s were done but these two big ones (Land That I Love and this one) are really a big hurtle behind me.   Next time you see this beauty, it will be in a frame.    On the left is where I was December 1st; the right, as of this morning.   I see the end in site!

Stitching goals for 2026 would more aptly be titled Stitching Fantasies.    Since I knocked out both of my large WIP’s in 2025, of course I fell down the SAL’s rabbit hole and will be doing an SAL with friends.  

American Sampler from Crocette’ a Go Go.     Yes and that is after I stated I wasn’t doing any more SAL’s!   Obviously I’d like the American Sampler to be done by the 4th of July but I am not putting the stress on myself.    I am stitching this with the called for colors, 28 count, one over one on  Vintage Country Mocha.   My plan is this will be my main focus until completed.  

I am sure other smaller  pieces will jump in the mix.   I hope I can keep to the pledge of working on the WIP’s in the basket.   Both older and ones I created this past year.  I hope to spend one month in 2026 doing some fully finishing.   I had toyed with working on focusing on a WIP and a class piece until each were completing and I moved to the next ones in the pile.    I haven’t decided I will do that or if I am going to join back with WIPGO  but I am drafting a tentative list of possibilities.  If I do decide to move forward with WIPGO, it will be more progress oriented than full on completion of a project each month.  Much more attainable then last year which discouraged me.   We shall see.

I had picked out a pattern for the January Blessings Sampler but then I was lured into snagging a Chantelles 141 Limited project.   Imagine that!

I also caved and bought myself a present.   My husband and I don’t exchange gifts anymore.   We get what we want when we want.    At any rate, I debated for a while but since I am somewhat of a tech nerd, I caved.   I bought a Skylight Calendar for myself.   I absolutely love it.   I am working to get everything in it.   All my random lists of shopping needs, birthdays, cross stitch needs, upcoming retreats - you name it, I had/have a list for it.  Some lists are in Notes, some on scraps of paper,  some tucked in my wallet, some in my spiral notebook, some in my pocket calendar.  I am still learning to color code entries.  At least now they are all in one place that I can access my Skylight calendar from my iPad, or my iPhone.  Mr. W can see any changes in real time.  He can even add to the groceries list if he were so inclined.  

Every Sunday I was giving my husband a handwritten list of my comings and goings for the upcoming week.   For me, a lunch can be canceled and a movie night added and dinner postponed.  I can’t count the times Mr. W has said to me, “that’s not on the list you gave me”.   We put the link on his desktop and now he can click it anytime to see what I am up to.   I can change something on my phone and instantly it is updated in my Skylight Calendar.   I merged my email calendar and my son’s.  I am slowly adding things out of my paper calendar, out of my book of birthdays, etc.  I was using a spiral notebook with tabs for WIPGO, Guild Program possibilities, Christmas lists, upcoming retreats, cross stitch needs, things to do, things to buy and more.   Now they are all at my fingertips in SAME place.   It is part of my need for everything to be in its neat little box.   A place for everything and everything in its place.  Not too OCD at all.

Future life plans, the same old get into a fitness plan.   No matter how vital that may be,  I am not making any empty promises on that front.  I need to contract a painter to paint by sunroom sometime in 2026.   I hope to do some changes to my vegetable garden in the spring,  I really want to get back to my Civil War quilt and complete it.  And I vow to get the 20 or so bags of stones I need to fill in and finish the Back 40 pathway next  summer.  These are on the list after enjoying time and travel with family and friends, and getting in my daily stitching!

Merry Christmas and Happiest of Holidays one and all.   May your holiday season be filled with wonder and joy and your New Year be a happy and healthy one.

Thank you for your continued friendship and …….keep on stitching.