week of Advent III and "the weather outside is frightful..."

Well, as of this post, it's not so bad. 10 degrees, almost no wind, about a half foot of snow on the ground, soft flurries falling. Predictions have cancelled Jerome's weekend trip for some father son time with Phil in IL, my monthly meeting in Decorah at Red Roxy, and even our dinner in town tonight with Anne and Matthias. Yesterday coming home from town Jerome's car slid off the road into deep snow and though before we knew it a kindly (anonymous) passerby pulled us out, it reminded us how easily things can go wrong. With the possibility of 10 new inches of blowing snow and temps dropping to 18 below Saturday night, we're nesting in.
Speaking of nesting... I do worry about the chickens in such deep cold, but our senior birds have handled it well in the past and those that are just a year and a half should be able to, especially now that their feathers are almost all regrown. We bundle up and go out to check on them several times a day, getting brief exercise for ourselves and bringing them extra rations that can help them raise their body heat.

There aren't many eggs right now but we need to check for them before they freeze. Sometimes the girls will sit on their eggs for a while after laying them, or others will hop up to take a turn contemplating whether to lay one too. But we can't always rely on that. And of course their water will freeze so we need to replace that regularly.
Jerome did take his tractors out a bit earlier this week. A chilly ride.

Our indoor garden brings much joy. 8 lovely geranium plants, heavily pruned and tucked into new pots in October, have leafed out well and are in bud and bloom. They reside on a baker's rack in the sunroom that is Jerome's office. So cheerful, especially as seen against the view right outside the sliders.

When I sent my amaryllis bulbs into hibernation in September, they had a few babies attached. I knocked them out of their old pots, pulled off the baby bulbs, and replanted each in clean pots and new soil. They got their first watering recently to nudge them into new growth and the miracle of new life has touched each of them.
Dovey and Mya know just how to handle these winter days. If there's no sun to absorb, a cozy rocking chair or blanket covered love seat will do.

My Bernina and I have just a few little things to finish. I enjoyed making cardinal placemats for Mary, my sister who collects all things cardinal.

Before Christmas gifts became the priority, I had been working on barn quilt placemats for our antique library farm table. This is the first. The panel contained a dozen various barns. I've chosen a half dozen barns and fabrics and quilt blocks to go with each. After piecing they'll each be quilted.

I've also been happily working on my quilt guild's project for this year, personal round robins. We were instructed to begin with a center block any size or shape. Then at 5 of our monthly meetings this year 2 border techniques will be drawn from a hat. We can choose one or the other or both to add each month. We receive instructions for making the blocks chosen and these too can be done in any way we choose. I want to learn all the techniques so I am doing two quilt tops. Here are my beginnings.

Above is a paper pieced pineapple block with a 9 patch checkerboard border. The plain thin borders between help with the math needed to fit things as they develop.

This second is an 8 point star. My very first. I made it following the instructions given by Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts. Here is a YouTube of her tutorial. My star's not perfect, but I'm very happy with it. So far no outer pieced border, just this black coping border that I will cut down to help me fit the chevron border that will go next. I had such good momentum going before I had to pause for Christmas gifts. Can't wait to get back to them again in the new year.
The public library in Coon Valley has a remarkable librarian who hosts evening events of all sorts. Recently I attended a needle felting class where I learned to make a nisse, a mischievous domestic sprite. I love how he turned out, though I would make his cap a bit shorter next time!  As is, he looks a bit like a Christmas tree. He's made out of wool rovings and a few whisps of an old Santa beard. I am particularly fond of his nose.

I really enjoy decorating this old farmhouse for Christmas. Each day I add a bit more. Jerome took me out for lunch and some antique shop hopping where we found a few treasures. This little beanie baby reminds me so much of Winnie. He just had to come home with me.

How could he spend Christmas without a family?
Hope each of you will find some measure of quiet and peace in these hectic final days of 2016. Blessings on your endeavors. Be safe. Be of good cheer.