Christmas 2022

Christmas has come and is almost gone. Once again it was a beautiful time.

 

Ice candles, a craft we learned from our friends Beverly and Nathan who live in Minnesota. Every year they put them on their family graves in the cemetery on their land. 

This is Danish twist, that traditionally made in the Tappel household at Easter. But the family likes it so much, I made one for Christmas. The Christmas Jam, which is cranberry, and strawberries made it very festive looking!

The North Star quilt made for Jeremy and Lori. It is huge, California king, 120 inches by 120 inches, it was machine quilted by my friend Cindy.

Our grandchildren plus! Lizzie 13, Brady a Junior at S & T University, Alex who is in his first year at State Technical College, Alex’s girlfriend Josie, who is in her last year of high school.

I made Josie a throw, it has her name in one corner, a softball and bat in another corner, a stain glass window featuring a cross in another. 

 

Brady surprised both Grandpa and I with presents of T shirts from his college. 

Lizzie got a sunflower throw I made. The back was a minke fabric. The quilting by Cindy was outstanding!!

We faced timed the Floria family while opening gifts.

This is the Florida boys must be taken under the tree photo, with the night before Christmas book.

Grand dog Rosie came for the day. 

For our evening meal, I had a big pot of chicken soup. The blacksmith and I made Spätzle's. 

Lori used her new selfie stick we bought her to take a photo with us all.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.

My town

 For those of you that have never been to my town, here’s a great video on what it looks like.

Thankful

November is always such a meaningful month. The month is full of celebration and always good food.

It was sew special for me. 

Here's our noon meal taken in two shots. Note to self, use the selfie stick next time! Josie is in this shot. 

Josie and Lori traded taking photos. 

Of course, Rosie the grand dog came for the day. Here she models her security blanket from grandma. 

Meanwhile, in Florida our youngest grandson loves to help cook. Here he's peeling sweet potatoes!

Sarah sent us this picture of their dinner!

There are several surprises I am thankful for; my friend and fellow blogger Karen from Karen in the woods sent me these leg warmers. When I asked what I owed her, she wanted to barter. Her Etsy page is Karen in the woods Etsy. 
Check it out, she makes beautiful woven rugs, knits wool socks which are fabulous and so much more. Oh, Quilts too! I know because I have a rug and socks, and now leg warmers from her.

I had recently finished this small wall hanging. She has an RV too and thought maybe she's use it in there. Of course, that is exactly what she is going to do. I used colored pencils and then outlined with black embroidery.

Then this beautiful sewing machine arrived from the Blacksmith's cousin, Marjolein,  in The Netherlands!  What a surprise. 

*Just received a message from Marjolein, she has to pay €23.11 in customs to get my package! Why? 

This week, the first of December, my cousin Mary who lives in Bates City, Missouri sent me these gems. She saw the sewing machine pin first and before she could mail it, she found the RV charm. Both are darling!

As the old saying goes, it is better to give then receive, both cousins are being sent gifts too! More on that later. 

So much to be thankful for! God is Great.

Flat Stanley here. . .

I flew to Jefferson City, Missouri from Winter Garden, Florida. I was to visit a few days Logan’s Grandma and Grandpa Tappel. They really live out in the woods. It doesn’t look anything like Florida. Did I mention it’s cold?

The first day I sat on grandma’s quilting frame.  I got a little tied up in her thread. She’s sewing millions of stitches in a Christmas quilt she made. She has made several hundreds of quilts.

The following day I went a couple miles up the road to what they call Deer Camp. There is a certain time when hunting season is open. The little cabin in the woods is so pretty with smoke coming out of the chimney. 

The front porch looks a little crowed with coolers. 

Inside, which was small, I checked out Grandpa’s bed, or as he called it a cot. I decided I was worn out and soon I was snoozing away.

 When I woke up, they had saved me a little dinner. It was Pastalaya. I thought I was in Louisiana, with that Cajun dish.

Sunday morning, I woke up to 3 inches of SNOW!! Brrrr! It was cold. But it was beautiful to see.

Wednesday I went into the city. Did you know Jefferson City is the state capital of Missouri? The capital is a beautiful limestone building. All the stone was mined in Missouri. 

  

 This is actually the backside; it sets atop the river bluff on the Missouri River.

 We then went to the Governor's mansion. I knocked on the front door, but he wasn’t home, however his Christmas tree was lit up! 

Down the street we stopped at the old Missouri State Prison, which was established in 1836 and used until a new one was built in 2004. 

I never got to see Grandpa’s blacksmith shop, but he gave me this picture. He’s been blacksmithing for about 48 years.

It was a fun trip but I’m glad to be going home to Florida because I forgot my coat!

A few days of being free

We just spent 4 days with no cell service, no wi-fi, no radios, no televisions, and it was so dang enjoyable. We were 13 miles east of Eminence Missouri at an area called Powder Mill. 

 This was a panoramic view I took of our 3 campers. 

This will give you a better picture of how we were set up. Wayne and Brenda were across from us . . .

 

  . . .Terry and Debby were across from them. 

There are no marked camp sites, just drive in, park in the wooded area or go to the rocky sand bar. 

This is what we did all day long.

If not looking at the fire, we looked at all the beautiful colors in the woods. 

Terry and the blacksmith went squirrel hunting every morning of course. This I think was the day Terry came across 5 elk in the woods, one bull and 4 cows. 

More trees. 

The Current River was just over the bank, we could hear the rapids. 

Across the river where you see the 3 white trees is Blue Springs. We didn't go there this trip. We've seen it many times. 

More colors!

Yes, we all had generators; they were much appreciated Thursday morning at 38 degrees. 

Day fires took the chill off. 

More night fires. 

The end, insert sad face. 

Driving out of camp up the big hill!

On the road into Eminence.

Look out point north of Eminence.

Last trip of the season. Time to winterize now. Of course, we are already talking of making this an annual couples' trip!