Snow!!

Here comes December with the first snowfall of the year. It came on quickly, changing overnight from pouring rain to snow. I'm always in awe of the weather when that happens. I'm using a photo of last year's huge snowfall for my Christmas cards this year.

About a month ago, I discovered I had pneumonia, which seemed to come out of the blue. It made no sense to me that I didn't even have a cough and had walking pneumonia. I had chills and fever and a horrible headache for 5 days. I was so relieved that I didn't have to have a lumbar puncture to test for viral meningitis, that I was thrilled to be diagnosed with pneumonia.

I finished a quilt this weekend for my cousin's baby, Skye, who was born at the end of September. I wanted to make a tote bag to carry it and got thrown off my timetable by being sick. I particularly like the orange in the quilt. It was very simple strip piecing.

My quilt group and I have been trying to decide what to do for a Christmas celebration this year. Usually one of us has a party, but with our numbers dwindling, I thought maybe we could do something different this year. We've decided to go to a tea room this year, and have an afternoon celebration. December is such a busy time, we wanted to slow down the pace.

Back to Real Life

Hard to believe, three weeks ago, I was standing on a Glacier. How can it all be such a distant memory?

Ah, well, it's been an exciting week. I have to say, I'm relieved to not hear the hate messages on TV everyday. I'm glad the election is over for that reason alone. Obama has been elected and I'm filled with hope for the future. I was overcome with pride for the country on Tuesday night. I cried when he gave his speech and marveled that I was living History at this moment in time. It was sort of surreal.

Our Quilt Circle raffle quilt was won by a woman who lives in Freedom PA. Ironic on election night, eh? She came to claim it the next day and seemed very thrilled about winning it.

My husband and I are going away for a 4 day weekend in the heart of Adamstown's Antique District and Lancaster's Pennsylvania Dutch Country next weekend. We're driving (about 4.5 hours away) and staying at a Bed and Breakfast - Adamstown Inn and Cottages. I've never stayed at a B&B before. It ought to be very relaxing. Too bad it rained this weekend so the leaves will probably be gone from the trees - no great photos there.

Now, as a quilter, you know what being near Lancaster means, right? FABRIC!! At great prices. I have visited Lancaster twice before for the big quilt show they have and the prices of fabric are around $4.00/yard, unlike the $8.00-$9.00/yard we pay at our retail quilt stores. There are a few stores in particular I want to visit, like Sauders, and The Old Country Store. I can't imagine how the Amish make money if that's what the wholesale costs of the fabric is. It must be such a small mark up that they make money from the quantity of fabric they sell. There are antique stores and gift shops there as well, and I'm looking forward to the trip.

Till later.
MJ