It's certainly going to be a white Christmas here! We had quail feeding in our carport where the feeder hangs, cleaning up all the fallen seed, plus whatever I throw on the ground for the ground feeders. We've seen them passing through our yard but never feeding. They must be really hungry to hang out for a long while--they left when I went outside to throw more seed on the ground, and then came back!
Wednesday was a momentary break in storms and we went to town. We needed a few things, and I figured it would be our only opportunity. They've done a great job of predicting these storms and were right on again. It snowed Thursday, and yesterday it snowed all day. Dale braved the weather, shoveled a path to the garage (sewing room) and within a couple of hours it filled in. Highways closed again all around us! He walked to the post office, and came home with my order from Keepsake Quilting. Woo-hoo!
This last storm tracked more south, and so I-25 north of us was open and clear even on Raton Pass. Looks like we may be able to get to Colorado! I finished a couple of last minute sewing projects yesterday and baked bread. I blogged about this bread here, and it has become my favorite bread recipe, always consistent. Yesterday I substituted the butternut squash with sweet potato, and it came out just as good. This weather is certainly great for baking! Happy Holidays everyone!
This was the scene outside our windows yesterday all day! Lindsay and I had a very productive weekend. We made our dipped chocolate candies--which still need their chocolate coating, mocha brandy balls, lasagne for her to take to a potluck, and cardamom bread for another pot luck as well. She works Christmas eve and Christmas day, and they have potlucks on both days.
We also did sewing and crafting. Got stethoscope covers made, and the little ABC Already Been Chewed--aptly named by Marcia of Quilter's Cache) wool gingerbread man ornaments. I was surprised that Geoff made it to pick her up from Albuquerque and then back home again. Shortly afterwards they closed I-40 from Albuquerque to the Texas border.
Seems like it will be a white Christmas here. This latest storm joins the snowfall that started December 3rd and still hadn't completely melted! Seems like we're going to get a bit of sunshine today, which will help a lot with gain for our sun room.
This sunrise picture is through the window in the sun room door--Too cold and I wasn't suitably dressed to go outside to snap it! Keep warm everyone!
Jackie asked me to make robots for the boys--like one she saw in a magazine. My first attempt wasn't it. It resembles the magazine robot, but the head is floppy, and I just wasn't happy with it. Of course I cut two at a time, so have arms and legs for another like this one.
I decided to use wool to make a different style of robot, after doing a lot of looking online. First attempt with this design didn't work out either. The wool was too thick and I couldn't sew through two thickeness of it. This brown one is going to be it. Now I just need to make another one just like it--well same size, shape, and body wool. Will probably change up the face a bit.
I also saw this potholder, and was inspired to make one. I thought the "girlie" western fabric was a good fit for the front.
I've been rather lucky this month entering blog giveaways... I got my copy of Stitch Gifts today which I won from Jessica at j.m.b. In my quick look at this magazine, there are a lot of projects I want to do.
This is getting to be a habit around here. The freezing fog settled in again this morning. Yesterday it kept us from observing the lunar eclipse. Bummer!
We spent the day in Albuquerque, where a visit with the itinerant (Brazilian) consulate will hopefully result in a five year passport for me. It warmed up nicely there.
Seems like we are under a heavy blanket of cold air, and we still haven't lost much of our snow with more forecast for the coming week. This is still the view out our sun room window of our street. We've been able to walk daily to the post office with adequate layers, sunshine, and no wind. Looks like it's lifting a little earlier today, which will make the birds happy I'm sure.
I was thrilled to hear from Dr. Kaufman that this quilt made over $5,000 in the raffle for JDRF. I'm so happy that it did so well. I can't thank my quilting buddies enough, and especially Colene, who gave me this top at last year's Phoenix retreat. This is just the impetus I needed to keep making quilts for newly diagnosed kids. Dr. K. also shared that she'd had 13 new patients in the past two weeks! We remembered this past week, the "anniversary" of sorts when Lindsay was diagnosed 14 years ago at the tender age of 12. Dr. K. is gifting her winning quilt to Lindsay.
We continue to enjoy a winter wonderland. The snow isn't exactly melting with our cool temperatures, but it sure is a lot more tolerable with sunshine. It hovered around freezing yesterday, but we were able to sustain comfortable temperatures without using heat and the house opened to the sunroom.
Back to the sewing room--I've had the heat on in there until the sun takes over in a couple of hours. I'm inspired to get more quilts done for my next delivery.
Saturday was the longarm meeting in Albuquerque and the roads between Willard and I-40 were not driver friendly, at least for this driver. However, Dale was nice enough to drive me to the meeting, 80+ miles, and entertain himself with grocery shopping while I had a good time. He came to pick me up just in time to enjoy our pot luck lunch.
We've had several snowy days now with freezing fog, blowing snow, and frigid temperatures. The temperature above is after a low of -14, but the best part is the little sun symbol. Our sun room is doing an amazing job of maintaining temperatures, although this morning it was a chilly 45 in there. However after less than two hours of sunshine, it's already nearing 60. On sunny days the temperatures easily top the 80s with the room open to the rest of the house. It's performing much better than we expected.
Yesterday we finished trimming out the windows with drywall. Today the plan is to clean up the drywall dust, and put up our Christmas tree.
I love the flocked trees outside from the freezing fog, but enjoy it more with sunshine! A couple of days of freezing fog and blowing snow without sunshine was more than enough. I need to turn on the heat in my sewing room so I can go out there.
