Stitching and Catching Up

Since, my last post, I have stitched another page to "The Shepherd's Song." Granted it has been almost two weeks since my last post. I am in love with this sampler. I haven't picked up something in such a long time that I can hardly put down. This one has been it.

Here are the first three pages across the top complete. I only have one more to stitch and the top row will be done. 

I must put it down for a bit because I have two smalls to stitch Lindsay for January and February. I wanted a clock for January, but I had so much trouble finding just the thing. I finally settled on The Prairie Schooler year stitches that were from the mid 1980s and shown stitched in a cubby shelf. I am changing the colors and time and all so I will just wait until I stitch it to share. I may do the February stitch as well. I am starting this stitch this evening.

To finish out my year of pictures on the bayou; here are December's pictures. The first one taken at 6:08 AM. I could see a beautiful sunrise through the window this morning so I hopped out of bed to grab my last pictures for the this yearly feature. The entire year of monthly pictures are under the label "bayou living."

This one was later in the day.

We made it through the shortest day of the year. Yippie! Now, we can start the climb back to long days...my favorite.

We have had mild weather thus far as I suppose many have had. I am super great with that. I have done some outdoor time which I will share a few pictures.

A few weeks ago, I went with Lindsay to the Destin Christmas parade. My job was to help with Palmer so she could have fun with Tucker. I happily obliged.

Tucker fully understands gathering candy now. Of course, Mommy has learned to make it disappear soon as well. 

I think Tyler was in a golf tournament and Jeff was fishing that day, but either way it was a bright sunny morning at the parade, so I stopped back by the beach on the way home.  Life had been pretty busy and nothing clears my head like a stroll on the beach. By the time, I got there the clouds had rolled in but it was still very warm, so I just dropped those shoes at the sand dunes and headed out.

The surprise though was the fencing along my favorite beach entrance. I am sure they are there to help with erosion. The sand will catch over the next few months and build back up. These fences were every so many yards. Rather than fight that and go to another entrance down the way, I just went out to the water's edge and dropped my little rear on the sand and sat for about thirty or so minutes and let the salt air do its job.

My friends, the sandpipers joined me and I had the most wonderful visit with them.

Grandkids make great blog fodder so here are a few more pictures of them.

At church the other Sunday, they had a cookie decorating station set up in the hallways and it was a huge success. Tucker had one thing on his mind; putting sprinkles on that cookie. I had fun watching.

This was also them grabbing a picture in the lobby. 

Palmer is 5 months old.

I have had a busy couple of weeks...just life. Mother wasn't feeling well. She can be down for a few days and then back up. She doesn't eat well and is weaker as the days go. I get so excited when she has a good meal. Jeff fried some fish the other evening and for some reason she ate well and had an Ensure that day so that was a win.

I had a huge sewing project for church which nearly did me in. All straight lines mind you. I made big slipcovers for lots of the wooden decorations. The poor girl was having to touch up paint each year so we discussed last year that I would help out with this. It turned out to be a bigger project that I thought:) My sewing room looked like a bomb went off in it. Gus would come to the door and look in like he couldn't believe it. He usually sits on a rug with me when I am in there, but I think he thought something evil might happen to him. Anyway, a good project is behind me and I got to put to use a lot of fabric I had hoarded and would never use. That felt good. I got the room put back together today and the fabric cabinet looks ooh so much better.

We are having our family gathering tomorrow evening as Tyler's parents are coming down from Atlanta Christmas Eve. We are treating it like Lindsay and Tyler would be traveling this year but they won't have to which is very good for them with the little one. Tyler's twin who lives in West Palm just had a baby so the other grands will head down after Christmas to meet their new little one.

Paul Allen and Katie will probably slip back over to sit with us old folks on Christmas Eve for a bit. We may even take in a movie on Christmas Day. Either way, it will all be good. I have the house ready for tomorrow. Our traditional Christmas Eve menu is always easy and fun. Beef tenderloin, potato soup in a bread bowl (I just get them from Panera Bread and add my soup), and salad. Of course, desserts too.

In other news, Jeff's bother has started to show some signs of the lung cancer. This is an important Christmas I think for Jeff and his sister. 

I am looking forward to my family time. I wish everyone who reads this little corner of mine a very Merry Christmas. I will be back sometime next week. Lindsay has her specialist appointment in Pensacola for those who have been praying for her. I will update you on what we find out then.

Merry Merry Christmas Friends, 

Sandy