Happy New Year 2007

It's New Years again, and I would expect,
It's time for agendas, and time to reflect.
A time to take inventory, of the year just past,
And a time to confront, our errors at last.
A time to recall, those no longer here,
A time to remember, a time to revere.
A time to resolve, for the year now new,
To change or adjust, those things we will do.
A time to change habits, and really we should,
Convert them all please, from bad ones to good,
A time to thank God, who made night and morning,
To see a new day, and enjoy a new dawning,
It's time for us all, to seize the gold fleece,
Release sparkles of stardust, of love and new peace.
A time to embrace, all those we hold dear,
To hold them, and wish them, "A Happy New Year!"

- Jerry 1993 -

Merry Christmas to all, and to all ...

The final countdown to Christmas Day has begun and I hope everyone is ready!!! Personally I'm almost there - just a few last minute things to do but what else is new?

Last Thursday our DS arrived from Germany and we're having a great time with him here. We are so thankful that he was able to come and spend Christmas with us. It would have been great to have DD & her DBF here too but they couldn't come this year. Dearest 'E', we wish you and 'T' and his mom a wonderful Christmas Day.

Has everyone completed all their Christmas stitching? When I read your blogs and see what you have all accomplished this past month I'm simply amazed. Compared to the rest of you my finished pile is pretty small - only 5 pieces actually completed. I've already shown you the two tea towels I mailed out and 'Christmas Row'. No further progress has been made on Las Vegas Christmas tree so that will be a project I put on my 'to be completed' list for 2007.

The other two finishes are:

'Kisses from Heaven' by San-Man Originals and

'Traditional Santa' which was designed by Sue Cook and is a freebie from cross-stitching.com. The colors on this piece are actually much more vibrant than they appear on this image. I had to change his face a wee bit as the backstitching on his eyes & nose made it look like he was wearing sunglasses. Actually it made him look like a Mafioso - not good!!

In January 'B' and I plan to attend one or more lessons on the techniques of mounting cross-stitch for framing. It sounds like fun & I hope to do well enough in these classes to be able to frame the three completed Christmas pieces. Although I'll probably continue having any 'important' pieces framed at a shop it will be nice to be able to handle smaller projects myself.

Meeting all of you this past year has been very important to me. Living in a city which has no community feeling is no fun. After living in The Netherlands surrounded by family & friends and then moving to Santa Rosa, California where we met so many wonderful people & immediately felt we belonged, the shock of the move here was pretty severe. Then this past April you welcomed me into your community and made me feel right at home. Thank you all so much for your friendship. You have become an important part of my life and I will always cherish each and every one of you.

My wish for all of you is that you will have a very blessed and joyful Christmas and that the coming year will be filled with happiness, good health and of course plenty of fun stitching.

Hugs, Margaret

The Great Santa Run

Yesterday DH & I took part in The Great Santa Run here in Las Vegas.

The idea was to assemble 5000 participants for this run and in so doing get an entry into the Guinness Book of Records. We couldn't pass up the opportunity as not only did it seem like a fun activity, all proceeds were for charity.

Here we are on Freemont Street waiting for the race to start. Ho! Ho! Ho!

And we're off!! Hopefully we met our goal but the official results may not be known for several weeks. I'll keep you posted.

Sinterklaas - December 5, 2006

To everyone out there who celebrates Sint Nicholaas Day:

Have a ball with the poems & surprises (or is this only Dutch?).
Share good fun & much laughter.
Enjoy gifts both given and received.
Eat lots of goodies.
and most important of all.....
Enjoy this wonderful family celebration.

HAVE A GREAT TIME!!!!!