Slow Stitching - Door Decor - Prairie Landscape

I am tired of seeing a snowman on my door so I made a new one.  I was thinking seasonal which nothing fell into that category so I decide not seasonal but just a bit of stitched art.

It is a prairie landscape with a canola field in the foreground with rolling hills in the background.  There is an agricultural building on the horizon with a big old sun shining.  A cloud and a few birds in the sky. 

Again, the art is 6x8 inches with a foundation layer of flannel. I did not invisible stitch because I did not want to change color of thread. I pinned it with applique pins and I put running stitch lines along all the top edges of the hills, the sun, and the small building.

I then started filling in the shapes with running stitch with same color embroidery floss to just create texture. A variety of green fabrics were used and cut with the rotary cutter. The yellow was placed in the front to which I added French Knots and Seed Stitches in yellow thread.  

I added a bit of bling to the sun with small metallic yellow E-Beads in a circle. I added a cloud and some birds in the sky.  

I cut the backer 8x10 inches from dark green cotton poly fabric.  Ironed the fabric to the front and folded it over to the inside to create the frame. Top stitched in dark green thread.  I hand stitched a hanger on the back.

DIY - Tape Dispenser - Multiroll

I created myself a multi roll tape dispenser with some wood and repurposed plastic parts.

The wood in pine boards. The base is 3 3/8 inches deep, 3/4 inches tall and 9 1/4 inches wide.

The 2 upright sides are 4' tall, 2 3/8 in deep, and 3/4 inches wide.

The ends are attached to the base with screws from the bottom.

I nailed a thin piece of pine wood across the front to which I wired the hack saw blade which serves as the cutter.

I finished the wood with a rub of Tung Oil.

The holder measured 9.25" W x 4" T x 2.5 inches D.

The plastic tube that the rolls slide onto and plastic ends were taken from a Scotch Washi Tape dispenser.  That dispenser only accommodated washi tape sized rolls and I wanted all my tape in the same place.

I used my Dremel tool with a cutter blade to cut the tube holders from the dispenser.

I used a drill to make holes in the plastic ends to attach them to the uprights at either end. I used screws and washers to protect the holes.  

The length of the tube determined the width of the holder because it needed to fit in the circles on either end. 

Slow Stitching Project - Cushion Cover

I bought a scarf at the thrift store thinking of repurposing it.  I was not sure it was synthetic but it felt lovely.

Unfortunately, when I tested it a home it is polyester.

I am thinking of an upcoming show I thought I could create at piece with the scarf despite the fiber content.  Wrong!

I cut the fabric to 16x16 inches.  I placed a 12x12 piece of cotton at the back and invisible baste them together.

I then started my Organic Blanket stitch with my focal area offset from the center.

I chose green blue colors. I started a circle around a 2" shape.  I did several rows in a turquoise blue then did a circle of yellow then moved to a deeper blue, then another shade of deeper blue and ended with a dark blue around the last rows.  I stopped putting stitches whenever I reached the 12" mark.  The fabric passed the needle test but it is unravelling a lot.  I did place a sewing machine stitch line at the edge of the 16 inches.  That seems to be holding so far.

For the flower focal element I cut 2 flowers one from batik blue fabric and the other from turquoise cotton fabric.  I stitched all around the edge with running stitch to hold them together.  I then put concentric running stitches in the petals with the same blue embroidery thread. I cut a yellow flower from yellow cotton fabric and stitched this to the blue one.  When that was done, I stitched the flower and the magenta button to the center of the space I had left when I started the blanket stitch. 

I think I will create a cushion cover with this piece.  It will need to be lined with cotton in order to be sewn by machine.  It will just be a fold over envelope type cover. There should be enough fabric to finish the cushion cover.  Keep you posted.

2026 Slow Stitching Project - Page 4 - B2 Boro Stitching Visible Mending

Another page in my 2026 Stitch Book.  I am following K3N Cloth Tales slow stitch project for 2026. 

I wanted to do a Japanese Boro Stitching inspired piece.  My stitching is quite a bit all over the  place. I just had to add bit of red in the piece and a white circle for a focal element. Not traditional at all.

I did use my long Sashiko needle and some heavy cotton embroidery thread on the navy back layer which worked really well.

I added patches as I went along. I used some lighter weight white cotton embroidery thread for the red pieces with the Sashiko needle.

Some red embroidery floss at 3 strands for the light blue piece in the top right hand corner.

Some light blue embroidery floss at 3 strands on the white circle with seed stitch in the middle and white floss 2 strands and the Blanket stitch all the way around.   It looks way more like visible mending rather Boro stitching.  I enjoyed it.

I am tacking my pages together so I don't lose track of them which is the navy thread on the left hand side. 

Card Making - Donation - IWin

I made some butterfly cards today.  These cards will be donated to IWin who assist women in distress.

I started by printing a small butterfly graphic from Pixabay onto 110lb card stock. 

I watercolored the image with Stmampin Up Watercolor Wonder crayons.  The background is a toned down color with blue and purple in it.  The butterfly is Marina Mist and branch Old Olive.  

Once it was dry and back to being flat, I adhered it to a teal A2 card base. 

I added a white quarter sheet insert.

This card base is Tempting Turquoise with a coordinated designer paper layer on the front.  It is cut 4"x5.25 inches.  It was adhered to the card front.

I cut the butterfly from watercolor designer paper with the Serendipity Butterfly die.  I cut another from Daffodil Delight card stock and cut it in half, trimmed a few bits and layered it behind the diecut offsetting to see the yellow layer.  I added the body and antennea wit a black marker.

The greeting is the same yellow card stock punched with the Modern Label and topped with a Word Window punchie greeting in white.

I added a flight trail with the black marker. White quarter sheet insert.

The butterfly was cut with the Serendipity Floral Butterfly die both layers.  The floral and the solid back.

The floral one is a but of a pain to remove from the die and not tear it.  Then gluing is another challenge.  It looks great when glued down.

I chose a blue card base to match the floral layer. I chose some vellum from the Stampin Up Botanical Gardens pack.  Cut it to leave a small border. I adhered the greeting and the butterfly to the front then could place double sided tape to the back to it would not show to the front.

The greeting was mounted with 3D foam tape.

A white quarter sheet insert was added.

The butterfly was cut with the Serendipty Stamps Floral Butterfly solid die from floral designer paper.

I chose an orange A2 card base to which I adhered a kraft and gold dot designer card stock. 

I then added a teal card stock strip on the left hand side.

I added a kraft body to the butterfly and glued it down to the card front and added antennae and flight path with a black marker.

I colored the Modern Label punchie greeting with a bit of watercolor to tone down the white.   It is adhered with 3D foam tape. A white quarter sheet insert.

The bright colors in this card.  I chose a Pacific Point A2 card base.

I layered a piece of green DSP from the Oh So Ombre DSP Pack cut to leave a small border.

The butterfly has both of those colors in the paster paper.  Cut with the Serendipity Floral Butterfly solid die.  

I added the body, antennae and flight path with a black marker.

I added white quarter sheet insert.

This A2 card is placed in the wide orientation.

The card matches well with the butterfly in a blue green card base.

The butterfly was cut from commercial decorative paper. Black marker to add antennae and body lines.

I punched a scalloped and smooth oval with Stampin Up punches.

Stamped the greeting with a small SU Stamp.

A quarter sheet insert added.

An A2 Marina Mist card base.

A layer of vellum from the Botanical Garden pack.  Cut to size to leave a small border.

A butterfly cut with the Serendipity Stamps Floral Butterfly solid die from watercolor paper.

Adhered the Modern Label Greeting and the butterfly to the vellum.  Then placed double sided tape to back where the elements would hide it.  Adhered to the card front.

I added the antennea and flight path with black marker.

A white quarter sheet insert.  Press overnight and these will be ready to go.

2026 Slow Stitching Project - Page 3 - B1 Organic Blanket Stitch

Another page for my stitch book project based on K3NCloth Tales slow stitch challenge for 2026.

K3N chose Organic Blanket stitch for B1 and I am so glad.  I love this stich. She had done this stitch before and this weeks video clarified for me when to go through the legs with my needle eye.

I started with a shell shank Button in the center of my stitching. I chose Blue thread in several shades for the organic blanket stitch. I need to make longer legs but my piece of fabric is 7" x 8" big so not a lot of room. K3N has several great examples on her channel.

I cut a bird from blue fabric to applique on my piece.  I was looking for a Border stitch and chose Bosnian. Done in deep blue along the binding edge. I added a line of Back stitch in Turquoise Blue just for fun. I added some seed stitches below the bird to ground it.

Sewing Project - Musical/Blue Dots Blanket

I am back to sewing!

I finished this blanket this week.

Music Squares with Blue Dots

Final Size: 41W x 67.00T inches

Technique: Front QAYG Mom Style onto foundation layer which is poly cotton.  Quilted the front to the backing traditionally.

Colors: Yellow, Khaki and Navy

Squares: 10.5 inches 

The squares came from the ReUse Center. Nice quilting cotton.

The yellow sashing is cotton poly fabric.

The backing is army green 100% cotton flannel.

It took 3 days to complete but after almost a 2 year break from sewing I am happy with that.

I added blue dots to fix a problem where the sashing seam had missed the fabric. I put heat and bond behind a blue batik fabric and cut 5 circles with my SB smooth round thinlets.  I adhered them to the quilt then applied hand stitching which was crazy hard because of the glue.

The flannel backing is dark and will be useful for needing less laundering.

You can see the quilting in the shape of squares.

The quilting was done with a thread that matched the flannel so they are not very visible and the same on the front. 

I used yellow thread when I sewed the sashing.

I had to pin it very well with my quilting pins as it had to go through the throat of the sewing machine.

I cut a 6 inch square of paper which I used for the quilting of the front to the flannel back. I angled the template so they are wonky and do not track the edges of the yellow sashing.

I followed the edge of the paper with my sewing machine foot which worked very well.

I did a variety of hand stitching on the blue dots but it was very difficult for 2 reasons.

I had to make holes in the glue with a large pin so I could get my embroidery needle through.

It was already all finished so I could not use a stab stitch and go through right to the back. I had to stay between the foundation layer and the flannel.  I did have to undo quite a few stitches because I caught the flannel.

Note: I was aware of the issue and did not think it through before finishing the quilt.  Would have been much easier to fix then it was just the front and foundation layer.

Sashing measured 2.50 inches between the squares.  I cut the sashing strips (3"x11") for in between the squares and sewed those in between to create 3 columns of squares. Then, I cut the tall vertical sashing strips 3 by 70" to go in between the square columns. Then I sewed the columns to the foundation layer.  My front was too small because I had missed the outside sashing.

Note:  When I started sewing the columns to the foundation layer I started with a musical square column but it should have been a sashing column.  I should have cut the side sashing strips as well and maybe I would not have missed them.

Now I had a blanket with no outside sashes at all.   After a think overnight, I decided the only choice was to cut the foundation layer to the edge of the sandwich I had and add strips of foundation layer and yellow sashing to top, bottom, left and right sides. The flannel layer was the size I needed for the final blanket so I just left that the size it was.

I sewed the extra yellow sash/foundation layer to the top and bottom then cut the side pieces to the 70 inches.  Then sewed those in place right and left sides.

Fortunately, I decided to fold the sashing from the front to the back for a binding before I cut the outside strips. Now the strips needed to be 5 inches wide instead of just 3 inches. 

Learnings: 

I have to reacquaint myself with Quilt As You Go so I get it right next time.  Pushing the bulk through the the throat of the machine was no fun.

Addressing the sash issue right away would have saved me a lot of headache.

This blanket will be donated to Project Linus. 

2026 Slow Stitching Project - Page 2 - A2 Arrowhead Stitch

This is my second piece of K3N Cloth Tales Slow Stitch Project for 2026. I invisible basted my linen and cotton together that measure 7 in T x 8 in W.

I chose the Arrowhead Stitch for my second "A" page.  The two A pages will be stitched together to make the first page in my stitch book. The pin on the right hand side indicates the binding edge.

The bottom line was my first line of Arrowhead Stitch done with aqua floss. Then going up I made them very close together which is the Stacked Arrowhead Stitch. It could be used as a fill in stitch. I love the pyramid of the stitch that migrates into the center of the square. The only example I found in my stitch book - Elegant Stitches by Judith Baker Montano pg 25. I mixed 2 shades of the blue green thread.

I moved onto the top line of the square with making arrowheads then just a small cross stitch coming down the left hand side.

I cut 4 diamond shaped pieces of fabric and placed them in an Argyll pattern and appliqued them with running stitch then added the thin diamond with aqua thread. 

I chose a green thread for the Algerian Eye Stitch placed at the center bottom of the square.  The bit above that is supposed to be a leaf done with Stacked Arrowhead Stitch but it did not worked out so well.

Cardmaking - Houses

Another house card.

I removed some of the elements from my printed house so that I could change those on each house.  I can hand draw them in with my fine Sharpie marker.

I put full frames around the windows, clad the gable end and the bottom of the house with live edge boards. I put straight boards on the rest of the house.

I added pink flowers in the front of the house.  A stone pathway to the front door.  A hedge at the back and lawn around the house.

Added texture to the sky by dropping clean water drops in a wet sky.

It was printed on 110lb paper instead of watercolor paper. Trimmed and mounted to Not Quite Navy A2 card base. White insert.

Another house photo card.

I created a small still life with a small ceramic house, bottle brush trees, and a watercolor background.  I processed it with a art filter which is AI generated. Not fussy about that.

For the time being I am printing the photos on my home printer. Printed 3.5x5 on a glossy 4x6 paper then trimmed as needed.

I mounted the photo onto purple card stock with a small border then onto a sage green A2 card base.

It's easier to add greeting to this type of card but it is hard coded and cannot be changed once printed.  White quarter sheet insert and envelope.

After my visit to the ReUse Center this week I brought home a blender pencil for colored pencils.  That prompted me to pull out the box of colored pencils.   I have a nice collection of Prismacolor pencils so I printed another house onto 110lb card stock and added a few customizations with marker and colored it.

This was a quick sketch with the Sharpie marker so it is a bit slap dash. Love the vibrant colors.

Once I added a couple of colors to the house, the bushes and the grass I used the Lyra Rembrandt Splender pencil to blend the colors.  It worked well. It does add a sheen to the piece.

White quarter sheet insert and envelope. 

2026 Slow Stitching Project - Page 1 - A1 Applique

I am following K3N Cloth Tales Slow Stitch project for 2026.

I am making a Stitch Book which will hold a sample of stitches as well as any techniques I would like to record as a reference.  I chose a piece of white linen for my background and a piece of thin cotton for my foundation layer.

The pages are ripped 8 inches wide by 7 inches tall.  The inch on the left is being left clean for the binding at the end to make it a book.  I tack the pages together so that I will have 26 double sided pages at the end.

I don't know how that will mesh with the prompts that K3N provides but we will see how it goes.

K3N's plans is to provide prompts based from A to Z.  One week she will provide the 1st letter prompt and the second week she will pick from the suggestions in the comments of the first video for that letter. 

The first prompt which I am labeling A1 is applique. Not surprising at all. I have added it to my piece as well.

I invisible basted my linen and cotton together.  Then I selected for small pieces of fabric from my stash to highlight the 4 stitches I had selected for applique. 

Top Left - Couching Stitch                       Middle - Overcast Stitch

Bottom Left - Blanket Stitch                    Top Right - Fly Stitch

The butterfly is a more realistic expression of what applique would look like on a project.  I had cut several extra butterflies for my cards last week so it was just sitting on my workspace so it was selected.

I chose the couching stitch to applique the butterfly.

There are some interesting suggestion for the second A prompt in the comments.  Will be interesting to see which one is chosen.

Card - Stitched Ribbon

 Before I brougtht my stuff back from the Christmas store I thought I would be making more Fold Over Card Wallets.  I tested out stitching on this Aida cloth looking ribbon. It works well but use a blunt needle. 

I put some pine trees in black and a bit of snow on the ground.

I did back this ribbon with a piece of black card stock to hide the thread transitions from tree to tree.

All was adhered with double sided tape.

I printed some new greetings.  This was black to match on a SU Decorative Label punchie then I offset a black punchie on the back.

A mounted on an ivory card base and gold gold decorative paper.  This is for a family birthday.

Cardmaking - Butterfly Cards

I made butterfly cards for IWin charity today.

I cut some of my bold watercolor paper with the Stampin Up Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die then I layered a MS Butterfly punchie over it. 

I chose a Brilliant Blue card base and adhered a layer of paste paper in yellows and oranges.  A strip of Botanical Gardens vellumm was adhered on the right hand side.  The butterfly accent was adhered near th bottom right hand corner and the Modern Label punchie greeting was placed higher up on the card.

I placed double sided tape on the back of the vellum hidden by the 2 elements on the front.  

White insert.

Another, Brilliant Blue card base in A2 size with portrait orientation.

I added a piece of blue metallic paper I made years ago. 

I cut a strip of the watercolor paper in the orange tones and placed it just left of center.  It was not long enough so I cut it where the accent was going to be and aligned both ends with the edge of the metallic paper.  I then adhered the butterfly with 3D foam tape and the Modern Label punchie greeting with tape.

Added a white quarter sheet insert.

I chose an SU Only Orange A2 card base to match the brightness of the watercolor butterfly.

I added a layer of SU Botanical Garden vellum to tone it down a bit.  I added a strip of gold decorative paper on the left hand side.

The butterfly accent of 2 butterflies was adhered with 3D foam taper and the greeting had a Modern Label Punchie from the watercolor paper layered to the back of the SU Word Window punchie greeting.

Double sided tape was placed behind the vellum where it would be hidden by the elements on the front.

A white insert was added.

I chose a lilac A2 card base.

I chose some bright orange paste paper to coordinate with the larger watercolor paper butterfly.  To the larger butterfly I added the MS purple butterfly punchie held with Scotch Quick Dry adhesive.

I added a scrap strip of the Elegant Eggplant cardstock to match the small butterfly and adhered it to the left of center.

I added the greeting with 3D foam tape which is a SU Modern Label punchie from paste paper and a SU Word Window punchie. 

A white insert was added.

Cardmaking - Fabric Butterflies

I stitched fabric butterflies yesterday.  They were cut from fabric scraps with the SU Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die.

For this card, I chose a matching blue banner piece of card stock and adhered the butterfly with double sided tape. It was mounted to a SU Wisteria Wonder A2 card base.

The Modern Label punchie greeting was adhered with 3D foam tape.

I added a wiggly frame with a fine black Sharpie marker.

A white quarter sheet insert.

I chose a SU Summer Sun card base then layered a piece of SU Garden Green card stock trimmed to leave a small border.

I added a piece of watercolor designer paper in similar colors again trimmed to leave a small border.

I adhered the fabric butterfly with double sided tape. Mounted the Modern Label punchie greeting wit 3D foam tape.

I add a fly trail with the fine black Sharpie marker.

White quarter sheet insert.

I chose a Rich Razzleberry card base.

I added a card stock strip of Marina Mist on the left hand side.

The white speckled layer is cut with the Stampin Up Clear Oval Accent Bigz die.  I adhered the label angled on the blue strip.

I adhered the fabric butterfly with d/s tape and the greeting with 3D foam tape.  The accent is Modern Label punchie and Word Window punchie greeting to match the blue strip.

A white quarter sheet insert.

I chose a black A2 card base.

I printed a decorative frame downloaded from The Graphics Fairy and sized to fit on the quarter sheet piece of Creamy Caramel card stock.  Once trimmed I adhered it to the card front in the landscape orientation. 

I adhered the fabric butterfly along the top edge.

The white SU Word Window greeting was much too bright so I mixed a bit watercolor and painted it.  Loving this black pigment ink in the new printer.

A white quarter sheet insert.

Cardmaking - Houses

I made a slow stitching card.  Very time consuming but relaxing.

I started with the beige background fabric. 

I created the body of the house with 2 pieces of paisley fabric. Then stitched it to the background.

After aligning the chimney to edge the house body I stitched it on before the roof.

I added the roof in olive green fabric.

I added the window and the door. 

Then I added the smoke and the bird in the sky and the green grass base at the bottom.  I used gold sewing thread. 

I mounted it to a Kiwi Kiss card base with some strategically placed stitches in the four corners of the card.  This card has a half sheet insert to cover the stitching on the inside of the card. White insert and envelope.

I used some watercolor paper I made a while back.

Using the house thinlits I cut the bright watercolor paper. I then cut a chimney by hand. 

I cut a Baja Breeze house in a smaller size. 

I designed a greeting which I trimmed to leave a small border when adhered to the blue layer.

I chose a deep yellow card base onto which the layers were adhered.

White quarter sheet insert and envelope.

I drew a house which I printed on watercolor paper. 

I watercolored it with Stampin Up Watercolor Wonder Crayons. Blue house, brown roof, red chimney, yellow windows, green door, flower boxes, a bush out front and a stone walkway.

The extras were drawn with my fine tip black Sharpie marker.

Trimmed to leave a small border on an A2 card base.

Adhere to the dark green card base.

White quarter sheet insert and envelope.

I started with a Tempting Turquoise A2 card base.

I cut the middle layer from a piece of watercolor paper I created a while ago.

I cut the white layer with the next size house thinlit.

I glued the chimney cut from an extra piece of the same watercolor paper to the back of the white layer on the right hand side.  Then adhered that to the card front.

I then distressed the watercolor paper with a bit of sand paper and then glued the greeting on top of it.

This was then adhered to the white layer.

A white quarter sheet insert and envelope.

Cardmaking - Houses

I made house cards today. 

I am meeting with a friend next week to discuss the type of cards she would like so I thought I should make a few more samples.

I bought a set of thin dies from the big arts & crafts store last week.  They are nested and there were 3 different sets in the one package.

The set I wanted was the one that cut a square with a point on top which looks like a basic house shape. House thinlits, yeah!

The challenge is how to translate that shape.

For this card I added a triangle for the roof with was cut at 2.75" on the sides.  I made the roof green.

The house is cut from teal textured card stock. I created the window with a 1" black punchie and a 5/8" yellow one and added lines with a black fine Sharpie.   The door is cut with a rectangle thin die, glue to the house and trim to the bottom of the house. I added dots and dashes on the roof and solid lines around the edge of the teal layer with the black marker.

The house mounted to 110 lb card stock base in white.  A quarter sheet insert and a white envelope.

Another option would be a still life composition I put together and photograph.  

Then, the image is printed on 4x6" photo paper and trimmed to the right size.  For the sample I just used the house still life I did for my digital Christmas card.

I added a bit of black paper to bring out the greeting on the image.

Again, white insert and white envelope.

These are the innards of the Cricut frame houses I put on the next set of cards.

Once the frame had but used I had shapes that could be a house.

I glued the pieces to a green A2 card base. 

I outline the full house shape with the black marker which worked really well.

I used a fine black Sharpie marker to add the details to the top and bottom windows.  I added a chimney on the right hand side as well as a triangle tree.

I printed a few greetings on white cardstock in several fonts and trimmed them as needed to add to the cards. I added this one just above the door.

Another card using the innards. 

On this card I put a layer of designer paper behind the house.  

This time I put solid shapes in the windows cut from the same card stock.

Added a yellow sun in the left hand corner by trimming a yellow circle and then used the black marker to add rays.

The greeting was punched out with the Stampin Up Decorative Label and mounted above the door again.

Again, outlined the house with the black marker.

A white insert and white envelope.

These cards feature a Cricut die cut.  I spent a long time getting the shape I wanted.  Of course, I have not used the machine in at least 2 years. Fortunately, I packed everything in the box so I was not missing anything I needed. Tools, mats, and the machine.  The cartridges has been unpacked too.

Just browsing Cricut cartridges to see if there was a house shape I could use, took a while. I have been working on that for at least a month.

I chose the Wrap It Up cartridge. The image I selected is the School House. The card feature cuts this nice outline of the building.  It took about 5 test cuts from scrap paper to determine the size on the machine the get the die cut I wanted. Once, I had the size right I cut it from good black textured card stock. I cut it 6x12 inches which is the size of my mat.  I can tweak that later. 

I chose a teal card base in A2 size in the portrait orientation. I cut a piece of Stampin Up designer paper to leave a small border.  Yes, a die cut this skinny is fiddly to adhere. I used dry tape runner adhesive so I could just pick up the extra glue with my rubber erasure. Leaves no mess. 

I die cut a heart from a scrap of red card stock with the Sizzix nested thinlits. The smallest one.  I adhered that over the door.

I added a trimmed greeting along the top of the card.  A white insert and envelope for this one too.

With a change of designer paper and card base I can create a card with a totally different feel. 

This card features classic neutral colors with a hint of metallic.  An ivory A2 card base, the house outline die cut, a gold metallic heart punchie outlined with the black marker. 

The greeting banner cut the ends of the greeting and mounted it with 3D foam tape.

A white half sheet insert and white envelope.

This was a long day of fussing but I have made good notes so I should be able to recreate the Cricut cuts easily.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

I had planned to attend a local church service on Christmas Eve but it had snowed enough and it was cold so I decided to stay home.  I then headed to the internet to find a Christmas Eve service I could enjoy.

Conception Bay Newfoundland had a great service.  Enjoyed it immensely.  So grateful to the technology available these days.

The Huron Carol sung by Tom Jackson is one of my favorite Christmas traditions.

With my plans changing for Christmas Day because my family was sick and turkey dinner was delayed I spent Christmas Day differently than usual.  That was okay with me. A chill day - yes - it was chilly -23C and snow fell.

A pristine layer of snow covered the green space beyond the patio.

The sun shone which was much appreciated.

So far, it has been a gloomy winter and I look forward to more sunny days.  Gloomy drags me down.

I had the last of this beautiful tea that my aunt gave me this summer.

Just look at that color.  Lavender Chamomile.

A chocolate bran muffin.

Turkey is planned for supper.

I worked on Mom's candelabra this week.  I want to convert to LED lights.

I did manage to get some LED bulbs at Rona but they are clear and not yellow.

I did color one yellow with Alcohol Inks by Ranger.

The bulbs are not quite the same shape so they need a bit of trimming.  

Maybe I should hold out for yellow LED which are the same shape. I expect it will happen.

I saved a piece of turkey from my sister's house so I thawed that.  

I bought brussel sprouts and microwaved them some and finished them in the cast iron fry pan.

Veggies and rice were added to the plate.  

Of course, high bush cranberry sauce (pembina) from my sister was the icing on the plate.  

I did make some gravy from my left over Better than Bouillion from house warming soup.

It was delicious.

I made Raspberry Bavarian that Mom always made for dessert.

Served with a white chocolate cookie.

A bit of dark chocolate and a warm large cup of tea finished it off.

The Skystone by Jack Whyte was the book I read this week.

It is set in 367 - 448 AD in the province the Romans called Britain.  The central figures are Roman soldiers Caius Britannicus and Publius Varrus. The Saxons (Germanic people from northern Europe) invade Britian and breach Hadrian's Wall and chaos ensues.

The story is told as a remembrance of Publius when he is very old. 

These men had served the Roman Empire in Africa in early 360s.  Now they are together again fighting the enemy.  After the injuries both men go their own ways - Plubius to the house he inherited from his grandfather who died while he was in Africa. Caius to his Colony - a fortified compound in western Britain where a new society is growing.

When things get bad, Plubius abandons his home and heads to the compound and is warmly welcomed. He meets Caius's sister Luceiia who he eventually marries. 

Plubius' father had found a stone that fell from the sky and learned to melt it and forged a sword where the metal was mixed with iron and a dagger made from the Skystone metal.  It was silver, beautiful and very hard.  Plubius is on the hunt for more Skystones to make some magnificent weapons.  In the hills near the Colony he does find the stones and works to dig them from the ground. 

In my opinion, the name of the book is not indicative of the story told. The skystones do not feature prominently in the story.  

The story of these two men is fabulous.

On the right, I have included a very interesting map of the world in this time.