Trying

Back in VA and trying to get back into the groove.

We drove all day Monday, unpacked and sorted and washed on Tuesday. On Wednesday we got Jimmy and Schatzi from the dog hotel. Sarah and Wade were on vacation this week and we had promised to have the grand dogs.

They are both good dogs but it started out with Jimmy finding a bag of gingerbread cookies. I found just a little of the bag left. Did that innocent looking dog really do that?

Well, a long time before each meal Jimmy would wait next to his bowl. If you would ask "where is Jimmy?" the answer was probably "next to his bowl"

They never refused going for a walk ... but the weather was so awful that week.

Cold!!! Nevertheless, one or two times each day. That was good for us.

And the daily visit to Edy to give her some loving. She did her nickname proud "Needy Edy". She purred so loudly you probably could hear it two blocks away.

Saturday I left a little welcome snack since Sarah and Wade were coming back around midnight. Not sure whether Edy approves or whether she is going to do like her brother Jimmy would?

Since I am not used to the dogs and they wanted to follow me whenever I got up to just get something, I settled down and did some lace projects. Finishing up some tatting I had started traveling.
This pattern "Heart's Desire" is from Susan Fuller.

This patter "Rosemarie's Heart" is from Rosemarie Peel.

Thanks to both for generously sharing!!!

When I made the first heart with this pattern my thread was too thin and it was very small. But I like delicate thread so I made it again and added a row before I made the edge (as the pattern suggested you could do). I felt though that I needed to add some extra stitches/picots in some places of the edge to give it a rounder look. You can see the difference because the right side has only three picots in the middle and the left side five. Some areas at the sides too.

I am very excited about this project ... Chrismons in Lace!

You can read all about it in the HLG newsletter.
(Actually, I posted that page on the left but unfortunately it is a bit fuzzy)
Info about the Heartland Lace Guild here.

The Butterfly is the first in the series of "Chrismons in Lace".

Yes, the second one is ready.  The Six-Point Star of David.

And the third too. The Dove of Peace.

Since the dogs are gone I am trying desperately to get some order into my "queendom". Some progress has been made! And the weather is helpful.
It is the 6th of March!
In like a lion ...

And now ... no more blogging! I have to work on the church anniversary banner. Wish me luck!

Posted with Blogsy

A line in Handel's Messiah ...

Yes, Advent time. Decorations and celebrations in anticipation of Christmas everywhere.

Wednesday December 7th

CR Women's Club Holiday Party at noon. CR stands for Crossridge, our community. Its a luncheon with entertainment. You can be entertained for a few seconds if you click here.
It is nice to spend some fun time with your neighbors and get to know them better.

Thursday December 8th

My friend Julie and her friends invited me to come along for their annual luncheon as in the two years before. This time we went to the VMFA. The "amuse" restaurant in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is a very nice place.

One of Julie's friends brought a door-prize and Julie won it.

 I loved that House Apple Cider Ginger Beer ... without rum of course.

Irma's dessert.

Julie's dessert.














Saturday December 10th

The Richmond Symphony performed George Frideric Handel's "Messiah" at the Carpenter Theater (photo taken of course before it started).

It was a most wonderful event. A lot of people were teary-eyed.

And here is the line which struck me the most:

"Why do the nations so furiously rage together ... why do the people imagine a vain thing?"


Sunday December 11th

Chrismon Sunday. Each child at Grace Episcopal Church in Paducah, Kentucky, receives a miniature Chrismon.
This year: The Rooster.

The maker of them all had them done by Easter. He wants his lesson for the 2012 Chrismon in January when we are in Nashville. Luckily I am done with the design already. I hope Grace Church knows how lucky they are to have him.

These are big ones I made for their church tree almost ready to be wrapped and mailed (last week). 

St Martin's  Chrismon for the children this year:
The Descending Dove
















Monday December 12th

Monthly meeting of the Colonial Lacemakers. This time of course the Christmas Party. Gretchen had invited us for lunch and beautifully decorated her house. This is the downstairs tree all decorated with handmade ornaments.

 Gretchen does wonderful embroidery. These are very small done with very fine thread.

How could I forget to photograph the second half of the table.

Lace luncheon with lace napkin rings!

 The upstairs Christmas tree.

Many unusual ornaments. How about that Roman in a toga?

Love "The Girl with the Pearl Earring".

A handmade lace switch cover. Great work, Gretchen!

Autumn starts off busy

Yes, it has been a busy week. It makes me happy when I feel I am accomplishing something.

Tuesday and Thursday I had two of my three golf lessons I have signed up for. I decided it is time to take it more seriously. I really would like to play well enough so I can count, record and don't have to be embarrassed.  If you want to play in Germany you HAVE TO HAVE a handicap. They take that very seriously there. James and I like to play together. I have walked with him in different countries but they don't allow you everywhere.

I like the golf pro Leighann very much. She gives me homework. I practice 'flipping tees' in the back yard. I can feel that it helps.

Worked a lot on Chrismons this week. Here are 3 of the 7 angels I made. Somebody wanted some from my 'charity shop' as gifts.










James had made an appointment to see his eye doctor at 8 am on Wednesday morning. Wow, that was early.
He needed a driver for afterwards (the dilating!). He was told it would take two hours and I thought instead of sitting there waiting I will take care of something.


Unfortunately the Tourist Center at the Capitol doesn't open til 9 am. So I just walked around and enjoyed it very much.

It was a glorious morning.








The sound of the birds.
The sound of the traffic.
People watching:
ladies heading for the office in business suits and sneakers.
Lovely old buildings. Lovely old trees. What they have witnessed?

The Bell Tower, home of the Tourist office.

Completed in 1825, the Bell Tower replaced an earlier wooden structure and served as a guardhouse for the Virginia Public Guard. The bell was rung hourly and as an alarm for fire, military attack, and other emergencies. Since 1934, it has been rung to call the Virginia General Assembly into session, and it announces special commemorations.

I stood right there at the bottom of the steps and took out my knitting (for William). The steps were too wet to sit on. So I had to do it standing ... for 40 minutes. The good news: I accomplished what I had come for and went to pick up James again.






Today, Saturday, lovely Autumn day. Took care of a lot of things.

Went to Sarah's to give Edy some attention.

Needy Edy !













Living up to her nickname. More, more ...

And here comes the funny part. It's Saturday evening, we turned the TV on and the game VA Tech - Clemson had just started. Well, that's were Sarah and Wade are. When the camera started panning the stadium I texted her: "Wave to us. We are watching" She texted the picture on the left back. May be I am simple, but I think that is super.




O.K. what else?
Bought the fabric for the back of William's quilt. Pleased with that.
Since there was such a good sale, had to buy more for the 'stash'.
Didn't win the Block Lotto.
Bought plums (package said prunes, Zwetschgen in German) and put them in the freezer ... for crumble. Aahh, mmhh.
Went to the church and printed the quarterly statements. Now I have to fold them and stuff the envelopes. Get to it, Christa!

The newest Chrismon

Aahh, the nice feeling of accomplishment!

Several weeks ago my friend John from our former church in Paducah, Kentucky, asked what the Christian Symbol Ornament will be for Christmas 2012. Yes, 2012 !!! Grace Episcopal Church has a wonderful program. Every year a new ornament is made for each of the children in the church, wrapped up with the meaning of it. I have been involved since 1991 and have designed many, many of them.

John's question reminded me that I should be working on my second book.

After several attempts (this is the fifth's version) my newest 'baby':

          The Lamb

And here is the explanation (which is more difficult for me to write than the design itself):

Agnus Dei is Latin meaning “Lamb of God”. The lamb is often a symbol of Christ, symbolizing purity, meekness and sacrifice, gentleness of character, patience under suffering.

Prophetic pictures and references to the coming Lamb of God are scattered throughout the Bible's Old Testament. Many times we read about the importance of sacrificing a lamb, an innocent lamb without blemish to atone for sins. The stories of Abraham (Genesis 22) and the Passover (Exodus 12-13) are important examples.

Christ became that innocent lamb to take away our sins. Since Jesus' crucifixion sacrificing a lamb is no longer needed.

“The next day John (the Baptist) saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

“For Christ, our Paschal lamb, has been sacrificed.” (1 Corinthians 5:7)

*  *  *
The step-by-step directions are also written. Now all I have to do is to figure out the material list for the bigger ornament for the church tree.

What I also have to do right now is put the washed bedding back on our bed or we have to sleep in the guest room. I get so carried away with my projects. Thanks, James, for having patience!