Looks Like a Cow

 

I've had four days off -- nice! -- and have done a bit of stitching on Isabella Johnstone.  I finished the top alphabets and dividing bands and finally moved on to the lower part of the sampler.  I've been working on the cow this afternoon and it's taking shape nicely:

I didn't travel over the holidays; DH had to work on Thanksgiving but was off on Friday, so we had Thanksgiving dinner Friday afternoon.  I spent a good bit of Thursday doing some tidying in my stitching room and in the process stumbled across this:

It started life as one of 50 potential quilt blocks of the state flowers.  I had a set of iron-on transfers; I cut the squares out of muslin and went to work one day with the iron.  This square was Arizona and I got it partially finished.  As you can see, the rest of the stamped design has faded over the years -- to put it in perspective, I started this project in the early 1980s, when I lived in Louisiana.  No wonder it's faded.  I don't know where the other blocks are.  I don't remember doing anything with them, so maybe they're just packed away somewhere.  I don't have much hope that the stamping is in any better shape on them than it is on this one.

I had a go at baking a pecan pie for Thanksgiving.  I cheated on the crust and used one of those Pillsbury things, although I must say it turned out okay.  I used the recipe on the back of the Karo syrup bottle for the filling -- talk about easy-peasy!  Dump the ingredients in a bowl, give them a quick stir to mix them up, and pour them in the pie shell.  Even I can do it!

Finally, today is the first day in December and the first Sunday in Advent.  I love Advent and the promise that it brings.  I'm guilty of getting so caught up in the frustrations of the "holiday" season that I forget what we're really celebrating.  My goal this year is to focus on the true meaning of Advent and Christmas and to not let myself be overwhelmed by the craziness that we've attached to the season over the years.

Best wishes to everyone for a good week...happy stitching!