More Holiday Orts

Not much crafting going on here, but lots of shopping and getting ready for the big day.  Here are some orts--bits and scraps of thoughts and events of the holiday happenings.

• Our former office crew met at a local restaurant for dinner and holiday cheer last week--at a brand new Japanese restaurant.  We had a lovely time though I managed to drop my 3/4 full glass of iced tea onto the table, splash a bit on my former boss, and soak myself quite well.  Nothing says Merry Christmas like a lap full of cold iced tea!
• Traffic Rant:  I took my mother in law to the store so she could buy some Christmas cards.  Some lazy dodo in a big pickup truck decided to wait for us to pull out of our close parking spot instead of going up the aisle a short way to clearly visible empty spots.  She actually reversed and blocked traffic in two directions in the main lane in front of the store.  I made little effort to hurry my 93 year old mother in law, I can tell you.
• I love to get holiday cards and letters and especially photos.  I hope this tradition never dies out, though it seems we get fewer cards every year. Ours rarely get sent out before Christmas and that is true again this year, since I just wrote our annual newsletter today and we won't all be together until Christmas Day for a photo.  But I haven't ever missed a year in the last 28!
• This year a reversal of normal events occurred:  I wrapped packages days before Christmas Eve and put them under the tree.  Maybe I'll blame it on the Mayan calendar prediction crisis.
• Speaking of presents under the tree: 

This one arrived from Arizona the other day.  Her dog has been keeping close ever since.  Don't you love the Grinch footie pajama pants?  I won those in a white elephant exchange and Erica was happy to have them keep her warm.

Wishing you all warm and wonderful holidays with plenty of friends, family, food, and fun.

Spooky Things

The crooked Haunted House slowly came together over the past few days.  It has been a long time since so many fused pieces appeared in a piece I've made--and this being my own composition and design meant decision making, drawing, and repositioning.

Before fusing.

And after fusing and trimming to size. 

The moon is a crackle fabric I just love.  Wish I had yards of it!  The instructions for the fusible product Steam a Seam2 say that sewing is not needed to seal the edges, and since this wallhanging is not likely to get a lot of handling, I'm inclined not to.  Perhaps just a backing, no batting, and a simple hanging sleeve at the top?  Opinions welcome. 

My spiderweb designer daughter, Erica, has been in town this week on fall break from ASU...here she is being photobombed by her dad.

Trying out a cobweb mustache.

And relaxing on the lawn with Russell after completing her front porch creation.

Another masterpiece of spookiness!

The Granddog meets Russell

Elaine came over with her 9 week old Boston terrier puppy, Scully, last Sunday.  It was his first meeting with his Uncle Russell, our Australian Shepard (9.5 years old).  Russell responded mostly by ignoring him but alternately rushing the little pup and barking a lot.  Not too friendly, but Scully didn't mind a bit--he barked and leaped at Russell just the same!

Scully watching Elaine kick the ball...

..and scurrying away as Russell brought it back.

More scampering ahead of Russell.

My favorite action shot--ears flying!

He's small but unafraid for the most part, our little Granddog.

Here he is dragging around Russell's big bone, nearly his same size! 

Elaine said she has already taken many photos of her dog, but I sent her some of these anyway, they were so cute! Her boyfriend's parents are happy to dog sit anytime, and Erica is also a dog nanny for her sister, so Scully is well sorted while his people are at work.  Elaine said Scully needs a quilt, which prompted Erica to say that her cat Amelie needs a quilt too.  That "Quilts to Make" list never seems to get any shorter, does it, but I never imagined I would be making quilts for animals!