The Season of Advent & A Trip to Vermont

Today, the first Sunday of Advent; could it be, already? Prepare Ye The Way of the Lord! Last year we were told to Wait... this year we are told to Watch!
I decided to make a new advent wreath as our old one was looking rather tired. I went to Michaels and purchased a new container, some floral foam, moss and candles. Frugal, easy and oh, so pretty...

I made this wreath for my sister-in-law this year. As I was heading out the door today, I thought I would hang it up on my front door to snap a picture before delivering it to her as an early Christmas present. To keep the wreath reasonably priced, I bought the bulbs last year and put it together the other night. This is a very easy wreath to make as all you do is shape a coat hanger into a circle, wire each bulb using florist wire and slide onto the hanger. When it's nice and full, twist the hanger top back so nothing slides off, make a pretty ribbon using wired ribbon and you're done! I made one last year for myself in blues and pinks. It looks very pretty above the mantle.

We recently took a trip to Vermont...

What a beautiful state Vermont is! We visited The Vermont Country Store. What a fun trip that was!

If you ever get a chance, go there! It's a walk down memory lane, that's for sure!

Knitted Bottom Drawstring Pouch

I have long wanted to make one of these pouches that I've seen on other blogs. I couldn't quite get the right measurements or pull the method together, myself. I ended up asking one of my friends from my cross-stitch group (who knows how to do every kind of needlework and has mastered them all!) how to make the bag. Just as I thought, not only did she know how to do it but gave me step-by-step instructions to make it! She surely didn't let me down!
I had this piece of embroidery from quite awhile ago. I did it on some monthly embroidery group but never put it together with the rest of the blocks. So, it didn't go to waste! Now that I tried my first one, I'd like to make a few more. Next time I'm going to use some of the vintage bureau scarves I've collected over the years. I think they are lovely and this project will showcase them well.

Stitchiing, Baking, Daytripping and Relaxation

One of my current finishes, Jane Austen Love Letter by The Sampler Girl
is finally hanging on my husband's closet door. I wanted to complete it for our 28th anniversary in August but didn't quite make it. Well, the intention was there... as well as the sentiment. I changed up the linen and colors a bit to better match our room. It's a bit dark but pretty just the same.



Just before bed, I've been reading quite a bit. I just finished Excellent Wives by Barbara Pym. I liked the book a lot; very Jane Austen(ish) written in the English style I love so much. Just thinking about it makes me want to make myself another cup of tea. The book is quite funny in the usual English, dry humor kind of way. It is a bit anti-Roman Catholic as a the characters are Anglo-Catholic but I found the degrading references rather funny. Nothing too bad, mind you, but to someone else more sensitive it may be annoying. If you can overlook that it's surely worth a read; very relaxing and funny. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

I've been promising my little girls that they could Ding-Dong-Ditch the neighbors with some kind of treat. Saturday morning we made the delicious baked doughnuts using this recipe.

They turned out wonderfully and were delicious. My neighbors really enjoyed their unexpected treat and the surprise game of ringing the doorbell, running away and finding a treat at their doorstep. My girls enjoyed the game immensely. All my kids have played this game about twice a year with our neighbors wherever we lived. We always pick neighbors that do not have children living at home any longer. It teaches my kids good will toward others and brings happiness to those that enjoy a little child(ish) humor now and then.

Sunday brought another beautiful day so we headed out to Marlborough, CT for a picnic and stroll through The Old Country Store. What beautiful things they have in there!
Today brings lots of sunshine and cool temps which equals a good incentive to get our schoolwork done early so we can go outside this afternoon and soak up what's left of fall. Mixie, our kitty is enjoying the sunshine on the windowsill right next to the little ones work table. Let the sun shine in! Hope your day is sparkling, too!

Storm Pictures

That nasty storm didn't stop my three littlies from Trick or Treating last night; all four houses! LOL... they came home with lots of candy though; our neighbors are pretty generous!

Playing cards on my bed by the solar lights we normally have lighting the walkway... they make great "candles".
A big tree down in our backyard, just barely missing the pool house...

but it did take down my clothesline. :( Luckily it didn't hit the snowmobile!

Gary and the boys had some fun cutting it down. They still have a lot more work ahead of them.

A line of traffic trying to get your 7 gallon ration of gas...

Someone's front yard with downed trees... Apparently they have a lot of work to do, too!

Trees down in the road...

Not fun trying to get around...

This is the main road going into town... we ended up coming back as the road was getting worse as we went...

Yea... it wasn't getting any better...

as you can see...

Lincoln doesn't seem too bothered by the snow...

Kyle's Jeep is as a bit buried.

One more shot from the van... this man was trying to cut some of the tree to let people go by, or maybe to get the firewood... either way, it was a help!
Well, things are not quite back to normal but it's getting there. Still no gas to be found but at least we have our power back!