Already the 3rd

I cannot believe it is already the 3rd. We've been so busy around here. There's been lots of really good family time. We've eaten out a couple of times and gotten all the cmas decorations boxed up and ready to haul back into the attic. And, now it's time for regular Sunday chores and preparing for the first week of the year. Sydney has one more day out of school tomorrow and I'm working from home, then normalcy after that.

Here are a couple of pictures that I didn't get posted during the holidays. This is Rob's ceramic tree. He shopped and shopped in antique stores and on ebay for one and was just about resolved that it was going to be an expensive purchase. Then, we stumbled up on this one at a garage sale for $2. We gave the lady 5.

This is the second quilted item I ever made. I didn't think of it as quilting until we pulled it out this year with the cmas quilts. I have one more of these panels and would love to do it up too. I love the vintage look of the Santa. All the lines are hand quilted around in white quilting thread. BTW, the first quited thing I ever made was a tree skirt, but my definition of quilting was so narrow that I never thought that's what it was or that I'd be doing so much of it later.

Post holiday, and every thing is back in it's box. We've gone nuts for the bins and invest in a few more every year. We love how well the uniform sizes stack and they're so much easier to pass up into the attic than cardboard boxes. And, they keep the dust out. Gotta love that.

So, now I'm looking out into the new year. I see our old dogs and know that they won't be in our lives for another cmas. And, I look at Sydney, growing up and pushing us away, while at the same time pulling us near. I look at Rob and I and at our relationship. We just keep finding out more and more about one another. It's funny that we've been together for 10 years and there's so much we've never told one another...family therapy works in many ways.

And, I look at myself. What do I want to do in the upcoming year. I don't usually save my resolutions for new year's. But, this seems a convenient time to make some decisions. First, I want to lose 15 pounds. That means handling stress in better ways. And, I'm resolved not to start any new quilting projects until I finish some of what I have started (two days ago, that was finish ALL of what I've started). Okay. Anyway. Finish some quilts. I have some beautiful stuff started that just needs me to sit and finish it. And, I resolve to spend a little less time in the quilting room. I tend to retreat in here. More hand projects and stuff out with the family.

Okay, so that's the end of the holidays and my view of the new year, all rolled up in a nice little ball. Maybe I'll celebrate by locking myself in the quilting room with a bag of chips and a new project! Lane