Berkeley Springs at Christmas 🎅

A very belated pre-Christmas posting, but I'm trying to get it out before February!

This year, Kerri and I chose to visit Berkeley Springs, WV, about halfway between us.

It wasn't too cold and looked lovely there.

I got to join in with the carolers! 

Santa, here?! I know him! I know him! ~ Buddy the elf

The closest we got to snow.

The tree through the frame.

Isn't it beautiful?

The parking meters were all decorated differently.

A kitty and puppy tree.

This was in one of the shops, that hot sauce is potent.☠

A very attentive guy.

We stopped in at Almost Heaven Antiques Uniques and this was the checkout, an actual post office window. I love it!

Between that store and other antique mall there, these are some of the treasures I found. I didn't purchase any, but looking again, I really like the first one.

Who know where we'll be celebrating next year, so many choices between MD and VA.

Fully Finished Gallery - January 2024 🖼

Welcome to Rachel's Fully Finished Gallery SAL for January 2024. 🎉

Thanks to Rachel for the encouragement to finish my stitching last year. Maybe this year I'll finish even more?

Be sure to take a look and see what others have finished too.

This Mill Hill was changed to match Nathan's high school colours. His band teacher is his favourite teacher and he wanted to give him a little something.

I also added a magnet to the back so he could use it at work if he wanted.

I made this sweet little guy for my soon to be daughter-in-love since she loves giraffes.

May will be here before we know it and I need to start their wedding sampler! 

I should have more next time, lots to finish and a bridal shower to stitch for.

Our Beloved Ming 😢

 After not feeling well and bringing Ming to the vet last week, we got the results Monday that she was in renal failure.

This was before the vet came yesterday afternoon, getting loved by us all. She was purring that morning with me in bed, but just not herself and going downhill.

If only love could heal, she'd be with us always.

What you might not know is that just before the New Year, we adopted two kittens from a rescue. They are a Snowshoe Siamese mix, brother and sister. Mia is the lighter one and Maverick has the dark nose and ears.

More about them in another post.

In 2006, we went to visit Ming before we were able to get her. The Gmen had a soccer game, so we went as soon as it was over. She was so tiny and sweet, we were in love!

 

Soon after we decided to get her, we were blessed to find out I was pregnant with Nathan. She snuggled him before, and after!

She insisted on checking out every place he would be sitting or sleeping.

Mother's Day with newbies Nathan and Ming. 🥰

I think this is the last family photo we had taken with both Ming and Maximus, at my parents house.

Knowing they are together again is a comfort, but we still miss them both so very much.

Rest in peace my sweet girl, don't forget to tell Maximus we love him and miss him still.

December Stitchy Gifts 🎁

What a truly lovely surprise to receive this darling pin pillow from dear Stasi @Bee-mused and Bee-Stitching! It's always a treat to be gifted something unexpected AND, of course, handmade.

So thanks again so very much, Stasi, this will always have a place on my craft table. 🥰

Karen gave me these goodies for Christmas, including a gift certificate to The Stitching Post. There were delicious cookies she made too, but they're gone now! And the box is cute, I'm sure I can find something stitching related to put in it.

Nathan didn't know what to get me for Christmas, so I showed him my 123Stitch wishlist to pick something from. Sweet, he picked three!

My Salvaged Stitch friend, Deanna, had these in a box of goodies someone gave her. She thought of me, so I got them!

I think the only ones I'll be likely to stitch are the bears and maybe the sewing one. Does anyone have any interest in the others?

So December was a great stitchy month, the next post will be about some adventures!