Purpose

Well, our youngest Son has gone back to Austin and back to the grind of school. My better half, for whom I still cannot think of a nickname to refer to him, (obviously I can't refer to him by the lovey dovey nick I use at home) has also left for work. I am left here alone, trying to collect my thoughts and seize upon a plan for carrying out all my Holiday commitments. I had planned, or rather hoped, that by today I would have already had the Christmas tree up and the Holiday cards sent out. It was not to be. But there is always tomorrow. I am in the midst also of finishing up my Holiday Traditions Exchange Swap package. I took a break on it due to the Thanksgiving festivities. As of now, I only have a couple little finishing touches, and hopefully, can get it in the mail earlier than expected. I don't want to feel angst or stress about this year's Christmas season, as in previous years. I want to enjoy every moment and every day, because all too soon, it's over. This year, however, I do have a different perspective. No more trying to please with elaborate or pricey gifts. I'm all for the handmade gift if at all possible. These really are times for cutting back and spending less. I think that helps in staying centered and focused on more important things, such as our Spiritual and Family life. I do look forward to the days ahead, and do so with a renewed sense of purpose and ''the Reason for the Season'' mentality. This is about celebrating the ultimate gift, the birth of a Savior!
Ezekiel 34: 23, 24
And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.
And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it.

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

I'm just popping in to wish one and all a very Happy Thanksgiving Day! May your plates be full of good food and your hearts full of joy. Thank you Lord for all the blessings you have given us! Praise be unto you always!

Happy Holidays!

To each and all I wish a very Happy Thanksgiving! May your plates be full of goodies and your hearts full of joy! We'll be spending the Holiday with my in-laws in San Antonio. Our youngest Son will join us there, but my married Son will be spending it at his in-laws.

Back Again

After taking a little blogging break (again), I made the rounds of visiting my blog friends and found I had been given an award. Tonya from Patchwork PJ's was kind enough to include me as a recipient of this award:

"Marie Antoinette: A real person, A real award."

The rules for this award:
1. Please put the logo on your blog
2. Place a link to the person from whom you received the award
3. Nominate at least 7 or more blogs
4. Put the links of those blogs on your blog
5. Leave a message on their blogs to tell them.

This is my list of recipients:

I. Oiyi from Oiyi's Crafts

II. Anna from Pleasant View Schoolhouse

III. Cheri from A Joyful Handmaiden

IV. Stefanie from Blue Yonder

V. Tracy from Wool Windings

VI. Tracy from Pink Purl

VII. Deb from Homespun Living

We're having a great week here in south Texas and hoping you'll are too!

Video!

Edited to add: I really do have to thank Renee from Painted SkyWoman for her very helpful video tutorial. She explains it so well and makes it simple to understand. Thank you Renee!!

Well, I did tell my buddy Gloria that I would try and make a post which included video. We'll see how this works...if it does. Here goes...




It worked!! Thank you, thank you Gloria!!
I just also wanted to add more to my previous post about spinning. I found this young woman's video and I have to say she is living the life I dream of! She offers how to videos on everything I have ever wanted to learn to do and then some! She has some really great videos. I just have to find the time to watch them all. Kinda like all the movie videos we've bought which are still sealed and unopened! What can I say?

Almost Like Rhinebeck

It's good to be back to blogging. Feels like I've been away forever, but it was just a little breather. Looks like the old 'puter is in good working order, so of course, I have no more excuses for staying away. While away, I had a chance to do something I look forward to each year. Held the second weekend of this month, we made a trip to the Kid'N Ewe fiber festival held in Boerne, Tx. Located just north of San Antonio, it's a beautiful scenic 'hill country' kind of town. While it's not as large as the annual Wool and Fiber Fest held in Rhinebeck,NY, it does hold its own in vendors and booths. This year, I decided to take advantage of the classes available. I wanted to take several, but since we only stayed one day, I was only able to take the spinning class. I wanted to try firsthand the feel of spinning with a wheel. I've mentioned before that I someday hope to buy one, but since there are so many different models, it's best to try one or two out first. I ended up trying an Ashford and a Jensen. It was so much fun!

But before I took the class, we walked around a bit. We got to enjoy a little bit of fiddle music from this fine ensemble. Very talented group of musicians! It was a beautiful brisk cool day, perfect for enjoying their serenade.


Had to check in on the furry alpacas and llamas. It was fun feeding them their hay.

There was such a beautiful array of fiber and yarn available. This year I opted to buy only fiber. Also made sure I bought some beautiful raw mohair. It's so soft and shiny. I'll have to work a little harder to spin it, but I've done it before. Drat! I should have bought the carders while I was there. Now I'll have to search for them on Ebay.I even bought some flax strick! I'll be sure to have fun spinning some linen yarn.

This young lady was in my spinning class. She sat right across from me. Her wheel is a "Kromski Symphony". Isn't it just a beautiful classic spinning wheel? I liked the lazy kate on the chair next to her.

There was just so much to see, I'm certain I missed some things. This man's wheels were very pricey! His store also makes some excellent wooden spindles. I liked how he was dressed. Very Williamsburg colonial.

And here is the class I was in. The instructor covered all the basics. She has an online site called The Pearly Queen. Great teacher with so much patience!

I wish I lived nearby so I could take all the classes I wanted. There was a workshop offered for learning bobbin lacemaking that seemed so interesting. I also wanted to take the lace tatting class. Oh well! Maybe next year we'll have more time. There are several yarn shops in the area. I will have to look into any classes they might offer. So the next time you hear about a fiber festival in your area make sure you stop by. Take the little ones too. There's always something fun for them too!

Giveaway

I wanted to give the heads up to another giveaway. It's over at J Casa Handmade, and it's for a gorgeous baby quilt. You can't help but fall in love with Alissa's little quilt! I need to learn to quilt!

Seeing as how our family is expecting a new Grandbaby next year, I thought I'd try and enter myself. I would love to specify colors, but since we don't know the gender of the baby just yet, I'd say any colors which work for either a boy or a girl. Maybe yellow or aqua shades and even brown would work too!

AND if that wasn't enough, Katie from See Katie Sew
is also having a giveaway. She will send one lucky winner some amazing 'designer' fabric from designers such as Amy Butler,Sandi Henderson, and Erin McMorris! It's beautiful fabric, and since we can never have too much of it, I thought I'd enter as well. Both of these giveaways are ending soon, so hurry over and find out all the details!Wishing all good luck!

Holiday Gift Swap

Looking forward to Thanksgiving and the Christmas Holidays fills me up with so much excitement and anticipation! So, first up on my agenda was joining Meg's gift exchange swap. You can read all about it on her blog Sew Liberated or by clicking on the button in my sidebar. I think part of the fun is just trying to come up with ideas for what to include in the gift swap. The deadline for signing up is Sunday November 9Th. This year I really want to start Christmas celebrating early!