Trial post using Blogsy

A brief post to start off the New Year - just downloaded Blogsy which I hope will be user friendly for this tech challenged 68 year old. It is supposed to allow posting to blogs from an iPad. Oh yes, my two favorite guys - Mr. Outback and our son, Dave surprised me with a new iPad. I am having way too much fun with this!!!

So, for now will try adding a photo to begin January 1, 2013

Dave & Jena walking in the snow and checking out their wedding venue by the pond. It should be a tad warmer in June!

Will be back later - so much to share.

Pat

 

Posted with Blogsy

Christmas Blessings to you....

My Dear Readers -  Our David and Jena arrived safely in the midst of the winter snow storm and our house is filled with fun and laughter and much comings and goings.

Tonight we celebrate with my parents and family gathered around the table. It has been 3 years since Dave has been home for Christmas and this is the first time we are blessed to have Jena with us to share in the holiday. Tomorrow they head to her family and continue the celebration.

We have a packed schedule in the days ahead so am taking a little blogging break. 

I wish each of  you, Dear Readers, a most joyous holiday season surrounded by loved ones and may the New Year bring you blessings and all that is kind and good.

   

Log Cabin in the Snow....

Our log cabin is just about ready for the holidays...the tree is decorated and presents are wrapped in peppermint reds & whites, Santas and green holly papers. A garland with cranberry wooden beads & tiny lights climbs the stairs to the loft. The 2 refrigerators and freezer are stocked and cookies made.  Stacks of firewood are stored in the rick outside on the porch and the fireplace sends out its warmth and glow on this damp and chilly night...

And we wait...for a major snow storm to begin around midnight with predictions that it will continue through late Thursday...and we wait...to hear from our Dave and Jena as they make their way from Anchorage, Alaska to Salt Lake City, Utah and into Minneapolis, Minnesota...and we wait...will flights out of Minnesota into North Central Wisconsin be on time or cancelled? Will blowing and drifting delay arrival times...for how long? It is hard to wait...

We want them here, safe and sound...to have them snug by the fire as they tell of their 8 hour flight home...and have a slice of my turkey pot pie and sip egg nog...

The guest room is ready...I finished the binding on the queen size Toad River Log Cabin Quilt and just have to share some close up photos of the machine quilting that Lori from Pine Needle Quilting did....

We have a pine cone theme going on in that part of the house - I stenciled a border along the ceiling edge years ago.

 

And in the bathroom, the sink and counter tiles along with the wallpaper all continue with more pine cones. 

 This quilting design seemed like the perfect choice for the quilt...

You can see the pine cones a little easier on the pieced backing

 And I love the little curly motifs that run through the lighter areas...

Thinking new valances might be in order after the holidays - perhaps something with a pine cone trim?? 

But for now...all is as ready as it can be and we wait... 

          

Pillowcases for Sandy Hook...

Good evening, Dear Readers...by way of my blogging friend, Judy over at Shade Tree Quilting, I have just learned of a project to make pillowcases for the students of Sandy Hook Elementary. 

The goal is to collect approximately 600 and if you would like to participate, please send your completed pillowcase to the following address:

  Attn: Becky
Quilters Corner
312 Danbury Road
New Milford, CT

We often find comfort in working with needle and thread, in all its creative forms...and that in turn can help, in some small way, to bring comfort to those young children who are experiencing something beyond our comprehension. 

  

Dear little quilts...

While the big log cabin quilt is at the long arm quilters, there has been time for some "little" quilts - both making and receiving...I am a lucky duck indeed!  Guess who won a sweet little flying geese quilt over at Maureen's Pursuit of Quilts...

Isn't this just the best - those little guys are just perfect and quickly found a home to be displayed by one of my miniature Christmas trees...Thank you so much, Maureen (you are a sweetie!!)

Up until this week, the only snow we had was the embroidered word on this little pillow...it's just a little spot of color for the guest room...

A Buttermilk Basin pattern

It's nice to see the ground covered with a white blanket now - there is more predicted for the weekend and if the temperatures hold true, we will have our white Christmas...

Our quilt history study group - aka The Liberty Ladies, had the annual Christmas cookie and gift exchange last week...

This is the heavenly hand knitted shawl that I received - isn't the color yummy...

And this is the little quilt I made for my exchange..."Brass Buttons" from the Civil War Legacies book by Carol Hopkins...

Have to get going on some serious baking in the next few days and finish preparing the house for the arrival of our Dave and Jena - next week! Seems like one stack of things-to-do lists gets taken care of and another list takes it place...and so it goes at Taylorsoutback...
This is linked to Miss Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday where the letter of the week is "D". 

   

The China Cupboard...

In the days leading up to the holidays, it always means a flurry of cleaning actitivity. First off is to head into the dining room. The horizontal logs above the shelving that surrounds the entire room are hazy with summer's dust and everything needs a good wiping down.

Once the logs and all the bowls, boxes, ephemera and even a basket of bears are dust-free and spiffed up, my attention turns to The China Cupboard. It looms at one end of the dining room and begs for a total cleaning.
 

You could say, I am the keeper of some of the family china. Pieces that belonged to our grandmothers, great aunts and my mother-in-law are joined with cherished things from my own Mom who has decided it is time to pass them on. Oh, so carefully, delicate china cups are removed and set aside for washing. I still marvel at the hand painted bouillion cups that graced the table of my husband's grandmother so long ago.

The tiny demitasse cups and saucers that were also hers are complete with monogrammed silver spoons. They all must have stories to tell from a long ago age of leisure and graciousness. 

My grandparents received these crystal goblets as a wedding gift when they were married in 1907.

There was a day a few years ago that caused me to wonder if everything was in a safe place.When we moved into our new home, I had never had a china cupboard before and with great anticipation I looked forward to filling it. The delivery men brought it in from the truck and assembled everything with us assuming they knew what to do. We did not notice how the glass shelves were supported and did not question the left over brackets they left in one of the drawers. Over time, boxes were unpacked and lovely items were placed on those glass shelves with our own 8 pieced wedding china set stored on the bottom wooden shelf. It came around to seasonal cleaning, and I started to remove things from the top shelf first. As in dreams, we don't recall sounds, but there must have been a tremendous crash as first the top shelf gave way and then the middle one and finally all of that falling onto the bottom shelf. I don't remember or have chosen to block the noise. I do remember staring numbly at the hundreds of broken pieces both inside the cupboard and those raining down around my frozen feet. This could not have happened...our wedding china smashed, my aunts lusterware luncheon set, a delicate decanter that belonged to my Grandmother - the list went on. My mind just couldn't take it all in as I retrieved an empty box and dustpan. The floor was picked up and I could do no more. My husband didn't know what to do or say to me -  taking my car keys, I simply said - "I am going for a drive." We live in the country with many quiet back roads so I did not present a danger to anyone while my head tried to clear. Eventually, I returned to the house and began to literally pick up the pieces. With a heavy heart, I called my parents - Dad had treasured Grammy's china too. But my Mom calmly told me to make a list of the wedding china and we would work on replacing it. Nothing could be done to replace the antique glass and china. Despite the often uttered words - "it is only a material object" - it is the memories that float up as a special piece is held in one's hands. That is what hurt so much. Years have passed. New glass shelving is in place and correctly held with All the brackets. One Christmas my Mom and Dad presented us with a large box containing replacement pieces for our china. I was able to locate some lusterware luncheon plates and cups in the same pattern too and they have become my Aunt Ruby's again.  I have been entrusted with other pieces since then and continue to be the keeper of the family treasures. They are enjoyed on special occasions and oh so, carefully cleaned...waiting to be passed on to the next generation...

I still hold my breath when it comes time to clean The China Cupboard...

This posting is linked to Miss Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday where the letter of the week is "C".