Last Saturday night we had a small snowstorm that blanketed all the land including the icy paths. It was so pretty the next day in the woods. I am getting lots more enjoyment out of this winter maybe because of having Petey with us. He revels in the snow and the ball playing so much and also just romping all about on our walks. It is truly joyful to watch him. Here he is playing with his ball in the snow.

We never really think we accomplish much - until we actually look!

At least that is how I usually feel!

In reviewing all of my photos it looks like 2025 was the year to finish a few longterm projects for two guild shows. The Rhododendron Quilt show was in April and the Silver City Quilt show was in September.  

At the Rhododendron Quilt show "Garden Party Down Under" (pattern by Irene Black) received a second place ribbon and "Tilda's Delight" (pattern Afternoon Delight by Sue Garmen) received a first place ribbon and the Viewers Best of Show ribbon! 

 

This morning, Patrick wasn't up to going golfing. His stomach was acting up. 

I headed to moms. I had to stop and drop off the round robin at the post office. Cost me about $8 to ship. Put it in the wrong envelope. lol Oh, well. 

As I was getting my drink at Dutch Brothers, mom called and I told her I was on my way. I arrived around 10 mins after 10 am. No one was there, but I knew Geralyn wasn't coming because her mother was in the hospital. She's a year older than mom ...

I've made the list and in my case, I've had to check it not twice but three times. I've been wrapping and making note of what's for who, etc. I'm trying not to do what Mom always did and that was to find presents tucked away in a drawer somewhere the next July. Does that happen to you?

I worked really hard to get this Peppermint Trees quilt top to this stage with all the trees appliqued and outlined in blanket stitch. The trunks are not stitched down yet. I had to take it outside ...

Today, I was lazy all morning. I was waiting for the phone call from QOV. We needed to chat about things I needed for the NAMS program. I enjoyed my chat with Kathy. She understood where I was coming from and what I was doing. 

Then I goofed around for a bit while doing laundry. Once the Seahawks game started, I started to get a few things done. 

 This morning, Patrick was up way before me. He was going to go golfing, but the weather was still rainy and windy. So, he was watching the news. 

I was up and found the water was off. Patrick had to go check on the well. Then he called our systems "people" and they found that the motor was buried out. So, after 8 hours of no water, they fixed the problem. I needed to get my accounting updated, so I balanced the checkbook, and then wanted to add some income in there. EXCEPT I got a message asking me if ...

The lone rabbit is still hanging around. I glanced out the kitchen window and ears caught my eye amongst the old vegetation.

 This is an Eastern Cottontail and he will stay mostly brown/grey all winter. I wish he would move on into the forest but there are so many places to provide sheltar for him here; I understand why he wants to stay ...

Hope you are having a glorious Sunday.  I have a bit of news. This is the current issue of American Quilter.

My picture is from our Hawaii visit

Picture Courtesy - American Quilter

My quilt, Trillium Trail, is published in the January 2026 issue of American Quilter. 

Backing is Island Batik Multi - Marbles

Designed in EQ8, and made with the Island Batik collection Enchanted Flutter, Trillium Trail finished at 60" by 80".  

Enchanted Flutter

Orange Peel Units are appliquéd in threes forming the shape of the Trillium flower, alternating with Irish Chain blocks. A scrappy border ...

The world's oldest known bird, an Albatross named Wisdom, has returned to her southern nesting site for the 2025- 2026 breeding season. She is 75 years old at least now; this is an older video below. She had the same mate for 60 years but she is back this year with a new one. What a wonder!

 This morning, I was up before hubby. That's unusual. But was nice for once. 

I had my war game at noon and then back at 4:30 pm. So, I wanted to get some work done downstairs in the meantime. It was time to get back to my quilt tops. 

I had to trim some of the side borders. It wouldn't fit the blocks that go in the corners. I had to take a break when I was to this point. 

Came back downstairs and found that I had to take this apart and cut a longer piece ...

Stitching for Christmas 

Crochet Christmas Trees

Mouse of the Month

November in November 

Today, was one of those days where it poured! Rained all day! They are expecting flooding, so it's going to be interesting the next couple of days. 

I headed out to Georgie's house for embroidery. I pulled out my Round Robin piece out to work on. Yep, I forgot I had it and needed to finish it. 

I read that the last full moon of the year, called the Cold Moon, is tonight and it is going to be very special by how high in the sky it will rise. Such a height won't be seen again till 2043. It's dark here now at 5 o'clock. Yesterday I took this photo of the back yard bathed in moonlight at that time. Unfortunately, the clouds kept sailing past hiding the moon. Sometimes, clouds add much beautiful moodiness to a December winter sky but my photo didn't capture that sadly. 

I've been thinking about all the turkey dinners this week and put in an order to Farm Boy for our Christmas one. We've done this twice before and enjoyed it very much. Their turkeys are amazing and they even include dessert. Of course, I'll make a couple of our traditional side dishes too and a trifle. 

 Below are a few early winter photos while the snow is a novelty. While walking the dogs, I'm finding the air so wonderful and bracing. But I am a little shocked with just how cold it is already in the season. It was minus 12 with strong wind gusts that took my breath away one day, but it's back to mild and kind of damp feeling today.

Here is my usual kitchen window photo; it was dark enough very early for the big garage light to stay on. That's another thing; here in the Northern Hemisphere we ...

There are heavy frosts most mornings now and we have our first snowstorm warning for today. Who knows, perhaps it won't materialize. But it has snowed a tiny bit as I found out one very early morning out with the dogs. So far it has been melting. This morning most of the pond had frozen over, just a light skimming though. Home we would say it "caught over". 

I noticed how much colour is standing out in the landscape and still to be enjoyed before the white blankets everything. Here are my latest photos and these may be my ...

Well, it's November, a harder month it seems and more than a few steps closer to winter here in Ontario. We had a week of heavy rain which I think the earth needed but there were driving winds with it and so cold. It's freezing overnight regularly now here in the Ottawa valley. 

But I'm very thankful those rains have restored our little pond. It is very muddy looking from all the downpours. It will be interesting next spring if I hear the sound of peepers and frogs, etc. because we keep wondering where did they go ...

Time to get a binding on this quilt...

I started this quilt top in June...

feathers, flowers and swirls ...