I wish everyone a wonderful and blessed Christmas. 

We had a busy day even though three of the five of us are sick.  My mom and Jeremy both have what the dr calls the crud...hacking cough, stuffiness, sneezing, fever...you the Nyquil commercial.  Ashley and Lyric were also here...of course.  Lyric is sick and was running a fever.  I actually did pretty good faking being happy.  It wasn't til the presents started that I slipped and started to cry.  But we all survived it.

Lyric and Jeremy both got lots and lots of clothes.  Lyric's came from his aunt in Florida and Jeremy's came from Ashley.  Mom got two parakeets from Jeremy...which she absolutely adores.  She named them Sugar and Spice.  I got a gift certificate from Threadart.com from Jeremy.  Ashley and Lyric gave me a jigsaw puzzle and a tin of cookies.  Mom got the same.  Mom got Jeremy, Ashley and myself one of those digital frames.  I am so excited to be able to put all my pictures of Tommy in there.  Oh yeah, the babies got new food bowls from Grandma.

My gifts are still unfinished.  It has been a really hard month.  I was doing fairly good and on time until the 11th.  A dear family friend died quite unexpectedly.  We were all shocked by it.  When we went to visitation, I could have sworn it was Tommy in the casket.  His wife told me the same thing, before I told her.  It took me several days to be able to pick up a needle again.  I still haven't been able to get over all the depression and emotions.  I don't remember last Christmas at all, with the exception of getting Tommy's death certificate on Christmas Eve.

Enough depressing talk for one night, especially tonight.  God Bless each and everyone of you and yours.  Even if you don't read my blog, I am wishing it for everyone in the world tonight.

I just learned something tonight that absolutely pisses me off no end.  Did you know that it is against the law (probably just in the stupid state of Louisiana) to have a candlelight church service???  Apparently the powers that be don't trust us not to set ourselves on fire.  Every year my favorite service has been the one late Christmas Eve night where everyone gets a candle, lights it, and then sings Silent Night.  I mean come on, we are not children who need to be protected from ourselves.  I don't know anyone that would intentionally go to church on Christmas Eve to set themselves and everyone else on fire.  I mean, yes, I know accidents happen, but come on.  Next thing you know there will be a law saying we can't all leave at the same time cause someone might have a car accident or cause a traffic jam.  The really sad thing is that the people who a making these assine laws were elected by the people they are trying to protect from themselves.  Maybe we need a law prevent us from electing jackass into positions of power.  But then I'm from Louisiana...can anyone spell CORRUPTION.

Ok, I'm finished ranting now.

It's Zoe's 5th Birthday today!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday, baby girl.

March 2006 3 months old

December 2010 5 years old

Vintage Yoyo Quilt Giveaway

This absolutely beautiful vintage yoyo quilt is up for grabs over at Thearica's Pigtales and Quilts.  She is giving it away on Christmas Eve for your favorite Christmas memory.  Please be sure to mention that you found it here.

I have to share this picture.  This is Lyric.  Isn't he so adorable?????

I WON!!!!!  I WON!!!!
I entered a blog giveaway over on Orna Willis' blog Ornaments.  It is an Extraordinary Giveaway.  It is the first time I have ever won a blog giveaway.  I am so excited. 
We had to leave a comment on our favorite Christmas tradition.  My favorite tradition was, of course, with Tommy.  Every Christmas Eve we would sneak away from wherever we were and go to Cracker Barrel for breakfast.  We would sit and talk, hold hands and just enjoy being with each other at a very special time of year.  I miss that so much.

Here is a picture of what I won....doesn't it look wonderful!!!

Here are some pictures of my latest project.  It is a cq'd bible cover for my mom for Christmas.  I can show the pics cause she has seen them and knows what I'm making.  I have the motif for the spine completed.  I may add some beading to it, but my mom will worry about damaging it, so I may just leave it as is.  What do ya'll think?  The image came from one of the antique embroidery books that Sharon Boggon talked about on her blog.

It is done on a piece of satin.  The scanner was being persnickety so the pic is not that good.  I used silk threads for the leaves and wheat sheaves.  The flowers are done in perle 8 from Threadart.com.

The motif for the front cover is a work in progress.  I have some more details to add, along with beading, etc.  I think, though, that I will go ahead and piece the cover before I do anything else on it.  It is a large bible, which is why I did these two pieces before putting it together.

The Celtic knot cross is worked on dupioni silk with perle 8 threads from Threadart.com.

I'll show more as the project comes together.  Right now I just have to find the right fabrics to use.

Today is my birthday.  This is the second one without Tommy.  I don't remember the one last year.  My mom is getting me my first cake in 7 years.  Tommy and I always celebrated birthdays by going to dinner.

 I have noticed lately that it is getting easier to think and talk about my love without crying.  I still miss him desperately, but it doesn't hurt so bad any more.  Time really does heal the hurt, but that is truly the last thing one wants to hear.  We made so many wonderful memories over the years.  I kinda look at it like a gift from God and Tommy.  The pain has lessened and now the memories are returning bringing with them smiles, laughter, and a few tears.  I am so enjoying them

More to come.  Have a wonderful memory filled day.