The Growing of the Blogs has begun!

"A friend may be waiting behind a stranger's face."
~ Maya Angelou

Thanks to Vicki @ 2 Bags Full, for organizing this Grow Your Blog party!  
 

For those of you who don't know me, my name is Astrid, and I love dragons!  And mermaids!  And cats!  And polar bears!  And that's it... for now!

My DH and I have been married for 18.5 years, together for 23+.  We have identical twin boys, the gmen, who are almost 16 and are just learning how to drive - very scary!  Nathan is our seven year old and keeps us all on our toes.  Our furbabies are Ming and Max, and they are very loved!  We are in the process of rebuilding our home, but that's another "blog".

I was born in Wales, but moved to the States with my parents and older brother when I was two years old.  Thus, the love of dragons!  Growing up, we would travel to Germany (Mom's family) and Great Britain (Dad's family and friends) every two years for the summer and a couple of times I went on my own.  The last time I was in Wales was for my Pop's funeral, about ten years ago.  I know things have changed, but I would love to take my family there one of these days!

This blog was originally supposed to be just about stitching, but then I found more "stuff" to write about!  I'm hoping to get my mojo back to start this little guy from HAED.  I just got some new fabric today, I didn't like what I originally used - luckily it was only a few lines.  The artist is Randal Spangler and he's supposed to be at a craft show I'm hoping to go to tomorrow, too cool!  (Really, it's been freezing here!)

My latest big finish was my Trick or Treat Fairy, I just need to get her framed.

So even though this isn't a requirement, I will be having a give-a-way.  What you ask?  I have no idea!  But I do have a great LNS nearby, I'm sure I can find something fun.  And if you're not a stitcher?  No worries, I'm sure I can find something else just for you.  Just leave me a comment telling me your favourite dessert.  Why?  Because I want to know if I'm missing something good!  I would have to say my favourite is lemon meringue pie, yum.  
The winner will be picked on February 15th - along with all the other blogs participating.  Be sure to check them all out!  I can't promise I'll be able to look at all the blogs this weekend, but I'll definitely start.

A belated Christmas gathering

After being sick during Christmas up until the New Year, we were finally able to visit with my parents.  We have to be so careful with my Mom if we're sick, no visiting until we're better!

Nathan just itching to distribute and open presents.  (Notice the two pieces I stitched hanging on the wall?)

 

 

Of course he had to help Oma with her presents.

 

Dad insisted on us wearing Santa hats.  How lucky we were that he had five!

 

The happy family

 

Our most wonderful Christmas dinner complete with Christmas crackers that Dad had bought in 1985 while in New Zealand.  Most of them still popped!

 

Mug shot!



One of the best parts, Christmas pudding!  Nathan just liked it being lit.

Mom received this for Christmas and she's been having a bottle every night, at least she shared with me!

 

On our way home, we stopped by the house - looks so dark and lonely!

So close to starting the rebuild, then the excitement begins.

 

A TUSAL end & beginning and a Happy New Year

 It's that time again for Daffycat's TUSAL - Totally Useless Stitch A Long 2014.  You know, the bits of leftovers from stitching.  This is from 2013, it always looks like more in the glass!

As for my 2014 TUSAL... wow, it's already filled!  Ok I cheated, this is from all the floss for my HAED I've attempted to start started. 

Ready to start.  But wait, I did and I don't like the way it's going so far!  Any tips for those of you that have done them?  I'm using 27 count over one and think I should have used one strand of floss instead of two.

This is my first one, I have a bigger one to start after this is finished.

Despite being sick during Christmas, I'm on the mend and we celebrated New Year's with friends.  Pizza and chocolate fondue, can't go wrong!  They stayed the night and we continued our fun the following day.

Max and Ming must have partied too hard, they were exhausted New Year's Day.

Before I forget, look what DJ made for me for Christmas!  Isn't he awesome?  I love it and he'll always have a place on our tree.

And for the Saints fan in me, she made me this pin that now lives on my jacket.  I love it, thank you my chosen sister!

December Fun

 Here's December (so far) in picture mode...

Walking for my Mama in the Arthritis Jingle Bell Walk/Run, we are Oma's Angels.

Yahoo, we did it!  Unfortunately, without my angel friends from last year.  
Way too many surgeries going on!

DJ directed me to youtube to find out how to make these scarfs...  
Redskins vs Cowboys.  Oh, the things I do for my family/friends!

Spike, our elf, has kept us a little busy following him around.

Shopping in historic Ellicott City with DJ, this was our view from one of the windows in the antique shop.

Fun at St. Nick Night, making crafts.

Great sledding hill at the house for our first snow of the season.

Aww, our first ornament together, first one on the tree.

I finally made my Mom's German hazelnut cookies, I thought they turned out pretty good!

Nathan's "C" for Christmas, singing with the scouts at a nursing home.

Our annual visit to the National Christmas tree in DC.

The lake house tree up and ready for presents!

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and for the first time in I don't know how many years, I finished wrapping everything last week and can relax and make Santa his favourite cookies when he comes to the house - iced sugar cookies!

Day 11 of the Advent Calendar Blog Hop

 Oh boy, it's that time of year again, Jo @ Serendipitous Stitching is having her annual Advent Blog Hop and I'm Day 11!

Now I know I'm supposed to show you something I've stitched, but I wanted to honour my Mom and show you what she stitched before her rheumatoid arthritis ruined her beautiful hands.  My Dad has these hanging up in the house all year round, as well as the ones I have made them.
 

As for my festive food story, I've got nothing!  Well, maybe a hodgepodge of some small stuff... 
Growing up, we ALWAYS had turkey for Christmas dinner.  One year my brother was home from boarding school and wanted another turkey after we finished the first one.  I think we ended up having three or four total - can you say turkey overload?!  Since I've been married, every Christmas dinner is different.  DH gets to choose our main meal and we work the sides around it.  We've had steak, lasagna, Swedish meatballs, pork loin, just to name a few.  He'd better get thinking for this year, I've got to start planning.
As for the sweets, there's always iced sugar cookies for Father Christmas on Christmas Eve.  It's his favourite at our house!  My Mother used to make these awesome German hazelnut cookies, but it's been years since she's made them.  She gave me the recipe and this year I'm going to attempt to recreate them, wish me luck!
I normally bake bread as gifts - zucchini, lemon, and/or cranberry orange.  I've made banana bread in a jar before for teachers and I'm planning on making some this year.  On Boxing Day at my parents house, we always have Christmas Pudding with brandied whipped cream.  Or should I say my parents and I always have it, DH and the boys don't like it very much!  Oh well, more for us.

Thanks again, Jo, for organising this!  It's always fun to see everyone's stitching and maybe get some new ideas. 

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and an Amazing New Year!

December TUSAL

 I have totally been slacking in my TUSAL reports this year, but here's December. 

 

Ok, here's a better picture - got a little goofy on the first one.

LOVE this pic!  I can't remember where I found it, but I think it could be a t-shirt and now I want one!

 

Thirty Days of Being Thankful - Day 30

Day 30

I am thankful for shopping.
Let me specify -
The freedom to go shopping
The car and the gas to get me there
The clothes to keep me warm while shopping
The family and friends I have to go with me
The family and friends I have to shop for
My DH for working so hard so I/we can afford to go shopping
Being able to buy for others who are unable to do so.

Nathan and I shopping in Cumberland today.

Opa and Nathan

Supporting the book store!

Santa has his own postbox!

Walking to the toy store.

Hi there!

Almost ready to go home, it's cold out here!

 

 I saw this in one of the antique shops - it said, $30 vintage needlepoint.

And here's his girlfriend.  I'd love to know the details behind them!

If you've stuck it out for 30 days, WOW!  I really am thankful for so much more, but the month is over and I must get back to stitching for Christmas.  So thank you for your time and comments, I'm thinking a give-a-way is in order... just need to think about it!