It's COLD in Minnesota!

Mr. Scottie Dog and I have arrived in Minnesota.....just in time for the temperatures to drop so low that our HIGH today was colder than the LOW in Fairbanks, Alaska! You know it's cold when the locals complain about how cold it is. Usually they, "Oh, ya know, it's not so cold out today. Ya, you betcha."

We arrived by plane last night after the plane had to circle the airport for about 20 minutes.....the runway had to be cleared of snow. Then the flight attendant announced, " We are beginning our landing. In the event of an emergency be sure to leave all personal belongings behind and proceed quickly and calmly to the nearest exit." We all looked at each other and wondered if we should worry.

First thing this morning we went to Target just down the street.....Grandpa found a sled for Jakob. We came home and ate lunch. Then the two of them spent a fun hour outside in the cold. I think it took Beka a good 10 minutes to get all the snow gear on Jakob....she asked what she was going to do when she has a houseful of kids and they all want to go outside to play. I told her maybe the older ones would help out. The snow is really dry but in the pile left by the plow there were a few icy pieces so they built a little snowman. The grandpa took a shovel to the snowplow's piled up snow....soon there was a Jakob sized sled run. The best part was that the icy road (Beka & Jason live on a cul-de-sac so they didn't' have to worry about traffic) was at the end of the run so the sled slid farther at the end. Then Grandpa pulled Jakob around the block. Grandma and Beka had hot cocoa ready (of course with tiny marshmallows) when they came in.

After nap time Jakob and I baked cookies...cars, boots, scottie dogs (of course!), stars & Christmas tree cookies. He wants to make more tomorrow......but I think we're going to try to go to Rogers, MN. My good friend Mary owns a quilt shop there called Quilted Treasures and not too far away is Cabellas, a mega outdoor store which Mr. Scottie Dog would love to check out.
Stay warm,

Christmas Program with the Pre-School

Friday morning bright and early I arrived at my granddaughter, Sydney's house. She was all dressed up like a Christmas Elf in her red velvet dress. Liz, Sydney and I drove to Sunny Brook Farm Pre-School to drive for the Field Trip. We got in the appointed cars and drove to Eureka Nazarene Church.
I'm actually not sure how many kids went on the trip.....we were only responsible for 2 (Sydney the tiny elf on the far left and Martina, the cutie in the green shirt) and I know all the kids weren't around when I grabbed my camera to take their picture in front of the tree in the foyer of the church.
We were privileged to see the dress rehearsal of "A Star is Born," the musical put on by Redwood Christian School. Oh, my....these children (kindergarten through 8th grade) did such a good job. The musical was thoroughly enjoyed by our pre-schoolers and the adults alike. An interesting story with all the songs fitting in perfectly about a group putting on a televised Nativity Play with a spoiled Diva set to play Mary...and all the fun consequences. The children all (even the kindergarteners!) knew all the words and even a bit of choreography!
If you have a chance you should go see it.
Sunday, Dec. 14 5 pm
Thursday, Dec. 18 6 pm
Eureka Nazarene Church
Humboldt & E Streets
Eureka, CA
After the field trip we took Sydney a bit early we girls could go out to lunch. We don't get a chance to do that very often anymore. What a treat: Gonsea for Chinese food. Sydney just wanted the "spaghetti" (chow mein noodles).

Guild Party

My life has been full of holiday parties and events. Thursday night Liz and I attended the Redwood Empire Quilters Guild Holiday Party. We brought our goodies (Liz makes the most awesome fudge--rocky road this time), several doll quilts for the Salvation Army and a basket full of Fat Quarters for all the members. Each Christmas I load up a basket of a variety of Fat Quarters from our store and we give one to each member of the Guild. Just a little gift from us. No strings attached, just a Merry Christmas and thanks for helping to promote quilting.
When we got there our 2009 Opportunity Quilt was hanging. Oh, my it's beautiful! All batiks in several different NY Beauty-style blocks. Denise Witte of McKinleyville, CA did the quilting. Each block is quilted differently! I got my packet of tickets to sell. They are selling for $1 each or 6 for $5. If any of you want them let me know and I'll make arrangements. Just email me at ScottieDogQuilts@aol.com The drawing will be held at the guild's 2009 Quilt Show in July 2009. But watch out! I'm buying lots of tickets because I'd love to have this one!
It was fun to see Pat Durbin and Jen Duncan both very talented women. Pat is working on a new book for That Patchwork Place and be sure to check out Jen's Etsy Store! The food was unbelievable....Kenny Fleck showed up with Bridgett..."I always come at Christmas," he said, "This is the best potluck in town!"
As usual, show and tell was awesome...I was so interested I forgot to take pictures.

The Singing Christmas Tree

For the past few years Mr. Scottie Dog and I have gone to Sacramento in December to see a performance of The Singing Christmas Tree. Capital Christian Center has been doing this for 52 years! They expect 30,000 people this year!!! That's right....30,000! I think their auditorium seats about 2300 people and it's been full every time I've gone.

I worked at Scottie Dog Quilts in the morning on Saturday and we left for Redding. Driving through the Trinity alps, we saw a bit of snow in the dark-where-the-sun-never-shines corners along side of the mountains, but mostly it was the magnificent evergreens.....redwoods, firs & pines. As we passed Whiskeytown Lake the madrone and manzanita appear and we are suddenly in Redding...the dry Central Valley of N. CA. We did some shopping at the "big" stores we don't have in Eureka, ate some dinner and spent the night. It was a beautiful, clear night and on the way back to the hotel we glimpsed a residential street with houses all decked out for the holidays.

The entire neighborhood was lit up and decorated like some Chevy Chase Christmas movie, each trying to outdo the neighbors. My pics don't even begin to do it justice, but here's one anyway.

We left Redding at 7 am in terrible fog. The freeway to Sacramento (2 1/2 hours away) is set at 70 mph speed limit...but with the deep valley fog it took us a "bit" longer. Mr. Scottie Dog is a good driver and I read a book the entire way. We arrived in Sacramento just as our good friends, Mark & Hilda Waters and family were leaving for Brunch so we tagged along (and of course, ate a fabulous brunch!). We had been invited to stay in their lovely villa in the guest suite. Hilda certainly knows how to decorate! Her style is evident in every nook and cranny of their home. We slept in the 4-Poster bed--check out this great leopard chair!

Bill and Mark were soon out of the house doing "boy stuff." The ladies chatted, Hilda put the finishing touches on their 16' Christmas tree and then at 4 pm we all had tea....and the most decadent chocolate cake. Ummmm, ummmm.
Then we all dressed for our evening. Two of the family's adult daughters have been in the show for several years, but not this time so we were all going to get to sit together and enjoy the production. The Singing Christmas Tree is a professional production. You won't see anything better on Broadway. It's THAT good. There are over 200 singers, dancers, actors & musicians every year and an additional 300+ people who build sets, run the cameras, lights & sound. There are wonderful ushers, greeters, people who do make-up, sew costumes and so very much more. Work on next year's production has already started. We saw this cute little poppet just before we went in. Her "ball" hat actually had an 18" curly gold spangle on top....she wasn't IN the show, merely ATTENDING the show!

The large spacious Church foyer is all decorated up too. There were jazz musicians playing beforehand in the church "cafe" area.

They have several Christmas tree "areas" where many families were having their annual holiday pictures taken. So we posed too.

Last week was Advent Tea and The Singing Christmas Tree. Christmas can come...my heart is prepared!

You can see last year's production in about 4 minutes! It's fun!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12MHUScgzcI

Christmas Blessings to you all!

Advent Tea

Tonight was a tradition for me. Every year, the first Friday in December is The Advent Tea at the Eureka United Methodist Church. Tonight was the 49th annual Tea. Let's see if I can tell the story right. 49 years ago several ladies at the church decided to have a tea to celebrate the Advent Season. They used their best china and crystal, sang carols and took up an offering for those less fortunate. Every year it grew and grew so that as long as I can remember (I've attended for more than 20 years) they had to expand to an afternoon tea and an evening tea.











Ladies of the church vie for the chance to hostess a table...and then each decorates a table around a theme. Beautifully fragrant pink roses with china to match. Each hostess makes an elegant dessert...the tables groan under the weight of nuts, chocolates, cookies, crackers and more.












Everyone comes a half an hour early to admire all the tables....each hostess has place cards to show where everyone sits.


Over the years all of my daughters have attended with me some of the time. Tonight Liz and Sydney came with me. We listened to the Redwood Children's Choir and a Christmas story told by the pastor. The ladies lit the Advent Candles and read scripture. And of course we all sang Christmas Carols with gusto.






It seems to me that beginning December with this wonderful reminder of why we celebrate the season is perfect for me. Alleluia! Jesus is Born!





Sydney loved looking at all the tables and especially all the goodies at her place. However.....she pronounced the candy cane as "too spicy!"

Turkey Day

I hope your Thanksgiving Dinner was as nice as ours. We missed those family members who weren't with us but Liz and Steve were great hosts.














Liz cooked a perfect turkey! Sydney decided the table needed place cards (where does a 3 year old learn about place cards?) so when we arrived she and Liz were putting the finishing touches on the leaf cards with our names on it. Sydney knew where she wanted everyone to sit. Our meal was fairly traditional. Turkey & stuffing, rolls, gravy, yams with marshmallow topping, cranberry sauce and cranberry jello salad. All Sydney cared about was olives and rolls....typical 3 year old. We all told what we were thankful for round the table, Mr. Scottie Dog asked the blessing and we ate...and ate and ate. Too much, I'm afraid.
Then Bill & Steve did some diagnostic work on a car problem while Liz helped me quilt 3 doll quilts on the big machine. Then we played cards and ate pumpkin pie & apple crisp. Umm, umm. Then Mr. Scottie Dog and I rolled home. Great day!