Dear Friends and Family and Guests,
During our more frequent Fall rainy days, Mt. Hood collects more and more snow to the delight of skiers, snowboarders and those of us who just enjoy admiring the mountain when storm clouds lift.
Although we had steady rain this morning with a few flashes of lightning and a rumble of thunder, our neighbor's tree I can see out of one of my windows is a wonder, glowing with golden light, a beacon in the storm...
Even in the waning days of Autumn, there are still many trees in our neighborhood that are a joy to behold...I wish I could show them all to you.
However, outside or inside, we are doing a lot of celebrating in our household this month: My oldest granddaughter, Hayley is now ten! My youngest daughter Elisabeth is now 34 and she and her husband Gary just celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary!
On her birthday Elisabeth got stained glass making supplies and she made this lovely tree and has been mending three little stained glass pieces given to me which have suffered damage in the last forty years during our many moves. [her husband Gary admired her efforts...really he did!]
Elisabeth was taught by one of Gary's aunts how to make quilted ball ornaments and then she coached me to make one, which was fun. I found a Youtube tutorial for making a similar pattern
HERE if you want to give it a try.
November 23, 2017, is our USA celebration of Thanksgiving. It also happens to fall on my granddaughter, Sarah's second birthday!! I found a set of 24 little board books for her which I have wrapped and put in a little pink plastic basket for her, but I also crocheted this little book bag for her in which she can carry a few of her little books should she wish to do so.
My youngest son Tim grew a wonderful crop of tomatoes this year. I have the last of them in a basket on my dining table and they are so good I wish I could share them with you!
I have much for which to thank the Lord, even though, or perhaps especially because, I find myself an imperfect human being in an imperfect world, and yet miraculously, I am loved and can love and creatively pursue life, and I pray that you find this true for yourself as well.
Have you found yourself thankfully crafting?
Gracie xx
However, outside or inside, we are doing a lot of celebrating in our household this month: My oldest granddaughter, Hayley is now ten! My youngest daughter Elisabeth is now 34 and she and her husband Gary just celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary!
*H*A*P*P*Y* * *B*I*R*T*H*D*A*Y*!*!*!* to all that are celebrating in your home and *H*A*P*P*Y* * *A*N*N*I*V*E*R*S*A*R*Y*!*!* to your daughter and SIL! I love the crocheted book bag.. I'm sure that will be used for many purposes over many years. I hope to see you in the pool soon! I wish for your whole family to enjoy their Thanksgiving dinners wherever they will be. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteHello Gracie. Happy everything to everyone lol. I too feel lucky to be loved and able to do what I love and be with those I love. Anne x
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to Elizabeth, Haley and Sarah and Happy Anniversary to Elizabeth and Gary! A month full of celebrations. I love all of the sweet crafts happening in your happy home. The stained glass is beautiful and I've always wanted to try those quilted ornaments. The book bag is perfect for little hands to carry treasures, especially books. :-)
ReplyDeleteMt. Spokane opened last week for skiing. It was the earliest opening in the history of the resort! Although we've mainly had rain so far, the mountain has been getting snow. They can keep it up there! Ha!
Have a lovely Thanksgiving my friend. You are one of the blessings that I am thankful for.
Betsy
Wow so much to celebrate. Your blog was uplifting today Gracie, great to see you all enjoying family life with a liberal sprinkling of craftiness. Jo xx
ReplyDeleteI am thankful every day for my life and to me, crafting and making things for my loved ones is all part of that. I hope my little birthday buddy has a wonderful day. Your book bag for her is adorable. Happy Thanksgiving, Gracie!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthdays and anniversaries all around....and loved this special post today. Lovely crafting and yes I am slowly getting back to doing again xoxo
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful post! You have built a wonderful family, and you all bring each other joy. You just can't ask for more!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun month to celebrate thanksgiving and birthdays too! Your tablecloth looks very autumnal festive. I washed mine the other day so we can use it. I used to use tablecloths all the time but quit after not having a plastic cover. I think I'll change my mind on that this season and into Christmas. I've always liked those quilted ornaments. Right now I've got calendars to work on. Got some photos printed out last nite. Happy celebration time to you and family! Hugs and blessings! xx
ReplyDeleteHello Gracie - such a happy month for your family with so many wonderful celebrations! Lovely little things you have been creating for your dear ones and also nice to see your daughter's stained glass and pretty quilted ornaments. The scenes outside your windows full of beautiful blue glass are always beautiful, too. Right now I am crocheting tiny sweaters for my two grandson's and for the twins due in February. I love your thoughts on thankfulness! I hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving with the ones you love. Hugs xo Karen
ReplyDeleteIt is a joy to visit you today Gracie. I wish everyone with happy celebrations, be it birthdays or Thanksgiving. Thanks for sharing such an uplifting post, just what I needed to get me through the rest of this long working day. xx
ReplyDeleteLove the little book bag you made - what a great gift to go along with the board books. Those tomatoes look delicious! Summer garden tomatoes are just a memory for us now...until next year. Such wonderful celebrations in your family! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteSo much to celebrate and be thankful for Gracie. You are such a delight and I hope your family is grateful for all you do for them and of course how much you love them. I know I am grateful for your friendship. Happy Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely post filled with family joy and happiness. Your little book bag is an adorable gift, and the tiny books will be treasured too. Happy Thanksgiving dear Gracie xox
ReplyDeleteIt’s great that thanksgiving also falls at a time of family celebrations. Wishing best wishes to you all. Hope it was a good day. B x
ReplyDeleteGlad to see so much happiness in your post, dear Gracie, and it sounds as if you have proper weather to go with all your family celebrations. We still have too much sun and very little rain, but are happy nonetheless :-)
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Dear Gracie, thank you for sharing all these lovely things with us. Our autumn colour is long gone (but we have a little snow now to make up for it). A belated Happy Birthday to your granddaughter, and wow, how exciting that your daughter is learning to work with stained glass.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Those tomatoes look incredible. :)
Such a beautiful post, filled with love. The book bag was a joy such a lovely idea. Wishing you and yours a wonderful Christmas and best wishes for the new year.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a happy and peaceful Christmas! Jo xx
ReplyDeleteIt's been a while since you posted. Hope all is well over there and that you had a wonderful Christmas with your family. Love that little glass tree your daughter made. Sure looks like you all had lots of celebrating to do the last two months of the year. I hope the new year has started off well. Blessings to you and yours.
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