Along about January, after the hustle bustle is over, when the Christmas decorations are put away and the snow is gently falling outside my window, I get a hankering to settle into a hibernation of sorts. I may cook a pot of chili, or grab my camera and get a shot of the snow piling up, or watch an old movie and crochet.  But another thing that I enjoy, only during this time of year,  is putting together a jigsaw puzzle.  I have fond memories of my sister and I spending hours over the card table that we set up in the living room, searching for the piece that goes here or there.    We may have had soup bubbling on the stove, or music playing on the stereo (at that time, it was 33 rpm  albums).   We were often in our jammies, and swearing that there is a missing piece in this particular puzzle.  So it is with a warm feeling in my heart, that every January I get a new puzzle and spread it out on the card table and work on it.   It usually takes me about a week, give or take, depending upon how intent I am.  It is a wonderful way to pass the evenings and brings back special memories.   And by the way, there was never a piece missing.  I love you, Sandi!

 

Enjoy your January! 

Here is the finished product and you will notice that Max is eyeing those birds on that clothesline.  He would like to get to know them a little bit better :) 

 

Taking a walk

We decided to take a little walk the other day and my Grandma took her camera.

                                        And we took the dog

                                                   And my mom went too

                                                          
                                                            It was fun!

My granddaughters are into American Girl dolls.  So, I made them a few doll outfits for Christmas.  It was fun and I really did get into it.   My 3 (soon to be 4) year old has a Bitty Baby American girl doll and my 7 year old has a Kit American Girl doll.  They got them last Christmas, so they have had them for 1 year.   As their interest progresses, Abby (7 yrs. old) asked Santa for a Molly American Girl doll for Christmas this year and of course, Santa delivered.   So now Abby has two and Lily has one (that she named Sophia – she has several dolls named Sophia- she loves the name Sophia).   Finally, they got some Christmas money and decided to pool it to buy the Bitty Twins and they would each have one.  Okay, so this is getting to be a serious obsession, right.   There are going to be five American Girl dolls in their household.   And I must also say that Carrie is not totally unhappy with this obsession.  In fact, have you ever heard the term “living vicariously through your children”.   Yep, that may be the case here.   She is enjoying it also.

 

So, the point is that I have much “fun” awaiting me in the next few months (should I decide to accept this “fun”).   I actually am looking forward to sewing for these little pseudo  great-grandchildren I have inherited.   First though, I have an airport quilt to finish for Jacob, our only little guy.   Guess I have plenty to do.   I wish I had taken pictures, but do have a couple of the girls with their dolls.   I will share the clothes and quilt that I make when I finish them.  I think I better start a photo album.   Yep, that is what I am going to do!  

Here are the girls with 2 of their dolls (dressed in my outfits).   Abby is holding her Kit and Lily's Sophia, because Lily was temporarily infatuated with Curious George and wanted to hold him.   

 

 And I have felt work for the kids too! Jacob has a felt board and I was making him so felt figures for it.   I decided to add Lily, so started making figures for her too.   Then I decided that I would not count my 7 year old out just yet.  So I added her to the list. So now I am making felt figures for all of them and we had to make flannel boards for the girls, so that they could use them.  Jacob already had one.   I made letters and shapes, stars and moons,  bacon and eggs, tic tac toe, Mr. Potato Head and  a gumball machine It is so fun being a grandma!  Busy, busy, busy!!