Christmas, 2012

We're just home from a week of traveling.  We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at home, going to church, visiting family and neighbors, entertaining Sherry and her family for Christmas Dinner, giving and receiving gifts.

Here's a picture of the wonderfulness that I received from this year's SSCS swap -- I'm a charter member of this group and each year it is wonderful.  I was assigned to make goodies for someone on a different continent; I made her a tote bag and a hand-crafted ornament, but I've not heard back from her whether she liked them.  My name was given to dear Annette in Oz, and she sent me the darling stocking that held the blue FQ, the wee zip-tote, and the Australian birds calendar.  The main gift that she made for me was just amazing -- she made a block tote out of lovely CW fabric appliqued in a William Morris-like motif!  I was so delighted with Annette's thoughtfulness.

Bright and early on the 26th, Joe, Blackberry, and I left home to visit Richmond, Virginia.  We had to make a stop at the local camera shop -- Joe had given me a wonderful new digital camera but it had a bit of a problem that we needed to have fixed.  That took us some time, but soon enough we were on our way and we arrived in Richmond just it time to sit down to a delicious pasta dish Anastasia had made.

I couldn't wait to try out my new camera and this wonderful subject, Nate, was readily available!  We spent two nights staying at a motel that is very close to Tom and Anastasia's home.  It is a bare bones kind of place, but for $49 per night, we had a clean, well-heated room, excellent mattresses, comfy pillows, a fine shower, a free breakfast that we did not indulge in, and permission to have the dog stay!  One morning Joe helped Tom do install a new fixture in the powder room and the second morning they did some work under the kitchen sink.  Anastasia took me up to Quilting Adventures, where I'm a faithful but infrequent customer, and I bought some FQs and a couple of yards of "finish the bolt sale" Kona Snow.

We arrived home on Wednesday evening and on Friday afternoon we set south again, this time to Alexandria where Sherry and family had already arrived to spend New Year's with Andrew and his family.  Another most photogenic subject, Eli, awaited me.

We did presents again, and of course there was more eating and merriment.  Andrew's guest quarters were filled by Sherry's family, so Joe and I used our Holiday Inn points to stay at a nearby hotel.  It was more grand that most Holiday Inns and for some reason, we were upgraded to a suite!  That was kind of fun.  We received a complimentary breakfast one day but took most of our meals with the family.

One afternoon we went to the Botannical Garden to see the trains exhibit, which was really very nice, and then wandered through several of the other exhibits.  There were so many of us that we had to caravan in two vehicles, and the kids were all such good travelers.

We thought about going to see the National Christmas Tree and the MLK Memorial, but parking was an issue and some of our personnel were feeling a bit under the weather, so we elected to go home and some of us went over to run around in the park instead.

One night we went down to Old Town for dinner and after the meal visited a shop or two and then walked back to our cars by way of the marina.  I enjoyed trying out my new camera again.

Another night we went out to view some rather ostentatious Christmas decorations.  I forgot to take my camera, but Joe had his, and I'll share pics in another post.

So here we are at the start of a new year, having had a wonderful week with our children.  I'm fortunate to have another day before I need to return to work.

I wish my readers much happiness and only good, good things in 2012!


Comments

Salem Stitcher said…
What wonderful travels! Those are some sweet photo models youhave there! Happy New Year to you all!
Nicole said…
Didn't you have a wonderful holiday week? What beautiful grand sons you have! Best wishes to you for the New Year.
Janet O. said…
Glad you were able to have good times with your family through the holidays. Such precious little ones!
Denise in PA said…
Sounds like a perfectly wonderful holiday season! Best to you in 2012!
Lori said…
That sounds like a very nice holiday Nancy! Welcome to 2012!!!
Mrs. Goodneedle said…
I have a feeling that new camera of yours is going to get quite a workout in the year to come. Happy, happy 2012! Your baby boys are growing up so fast~ how well I recognize the passage of time at nothing short of warp speed.
Gari in AL said…
You truly had a wonderful Christmas week, didn't you? And how nice that you were able to be with so many of your family and could include Blackberry in all of it.
AnnieO said…
Oh, they are getting so big already! What a fun holiday outing, and your new camera works a treat--mine responds terribly to low light. Glad so much family time was possible, lucky you!
Jindi's Cottage said…
I hope you hear soon that your SSCS partner liked her presents...that is the hardest part, waiting for a reaction!
So glad you liked the block keeper and got the William-Civil War connection !! I hope you enjoy using it.
Great subjects there for your new camera...
Happy New Year!!!
suz said…
Sounds like you had a wonderful holiday. Your grandbabies are getting so big - and are beautiful. Wishing you and yours a happy, healthy 2012.
Nann said…
It looks as though you had a thoroughly grand holiday week....but your message header says "Christmas *2012*". Are you hinting at something?
Annette sent you a lovely present....I know Deb loves her gifts...........thanks for being part of the SSCS once again..........it wouldn't be the same without you.........