Just another winter day at the Oregon Coast!!

These photos were taken last Thursday. It took me 30 minutes of freezing out on the deck,  and I had my heaviest long winter coat, stocking cap and gloves on!!   Waves are tricky!  

Those that look good, fizzle out.  The sneakers - well you don't always get them at their peak.  AND the best ones are when you've given up and turned your back! You should see the ones "that got away"!!

For those who don't remember our view ... This is Rainbow Rock Island.  Just north of our deck.  It's 100 feet tall!

What do you think?

Now that's what a call a storm surge!!

Do you want to build a snowman???

Yesterday was our Woolies Christmas party!!  Whoo-hoo!  It was such fun and we all got sewing done too!  Bonus!

Time to reveal one of my favorite gifts to give:  Christmas ornaments that are also adapted to be a gift card holder!  And as I mentioned last week, Gift card holders also hold a package of needles!

This is one of my favorite Christmas patterns!  I've made meadows of snowmen over the last years! I've only made the Snowman Head ornament!  I'm sure the other projects are just as easy - and when I've "ornamented" the world with this one, I'll try them!!  

Two finished ornaments from past years on top.  First you have to sit around and make faces!!  You could use buttons for eyes - but it's easy to machine blanket stitch wool circles and the nose.  The mouth could be beads as well as the hand stitched Xs in the pattern.  Make that grin a little crooked for Holiday charm!

After the faces are made :) Blanket stitch them down on the large background piece. I've noted that next time I'm going to make the background a skootch bigger and trim it back later.  It would be easier to add the back piece. No, the hat has not been added yet!

This charming guy has a ski type hat on - pick any color!  Trust me, it will look like Christmas even if it's not red or green.  This year I added bright color brims and I like them!

Machine blanket stitch hat and brim.  It's easy to chain stitch this project.  I made 12 this year - 8 for the Woolies and 4 for various other friends!

The leaves (don't wonder why - just add them!) are easy and fast.  Just a simple straight stitch down the middle of the leave.  Note that the black background has the horizontal leaf space coming off the hat. Start with that one and then add the 2nd one pointing to the face 

Machine blanket stitch the berry and you're done with the front. they each have their own little personality!  One year, I was out of shower caps and P a cruise fan collected some on her travels, just for me!!  I made her this ornament but added a "shower cap" over the hat.  Made me laugh the whole time I was working on it!  She loved it too!  Personalize as needed!

Now you want to add a wool back - copy the large background piece again.  Good thing about wool is that it is reversible!   Now is the time to add the back pocket for a gift card.  This is my addition to the pattern.  I use a hotel key card + a quarter inch. Now is the time to pay attention, hold it up against the other piece, make sure to match the edges.Check the back against the front, and sew the pocket on the correct side of the back.

As I mentioned, both hand needles and machine needle packages fit in this pocket!  Win-win!

Here we are, during the short break in the rain!  I told everyone that they could re-gift the snowman without hurting my feelings; and they all said, "But would you make me another one then??"  So I think they were a hit! 

It's raining, it's pouring, but ain't nobody snoring!!!

I mean really - who can sleep in this storm!  The wind woke me up at 4 am.  That is hard to do. Number 1 - I usually sleep very well!
Number 2 - My ear is stuffed up again. :(
Number 3 - we live in a "middle" condo - 2nd floor, condos on all sides of us.  But winter storms can sweep in from both the 'window sides' at once and this is that kind of storm!

We also have been known to be in our own little micro-climate out here in Paradise overlooking the ocean.  Brookings Weather station says that we've gotten .02 inches!  Not out here!  Maybe the wind blew their rain gage over???

I skipped water aerobics - the drive to Crescent City is too scenic!!  In other words, tall trees line the hwy and I'm a big chicken, it's a 40 minute drive and we have to start at dawn this time of year. Hmm, possible hazards in the dark???  Sewing day for me!

But first!!!!  I handed off the refurbished Advent Calendar to DS on Thanksgiving.  That brought up the subject that DD doesn't do one for Miss P and Mr M.  When I got home I looked on my Pinterest "Advent Calendar" board (doesn't everyone have one????) and found a Random Act of Kindness Advent activity.  I gathered all the activity suggestions (around 200 between all the links!) and emailed it to DD.  Hopefully, she'll get it going.  You cut out strips of paper with the activity written (typed) on it, put them in a jar, box, basket, bowl ... and have the children draw one out each morning.  That night they report back if they were able to do it.  Then you can staple the paper onto a ribbon and create a banner or garland to remember doing these.  Cool!

Then I read that RAKs helps whenever life is hard.  It's a good activity to get you out of your own head and focusing on someone else.  Sounds like a good activity for me too!  So I printed out my research and took it to my small quilting group.  We decided, "No pressure" but lets see how many we can do?  That was Monday night.  Tuesday I was under the weather :( but I DID unlock the door for my DH who was coming back from a golf weekend.  (He really hates trying to guess which locks need to be unlocked while balancing all the stuff from the car!)

Yesterday I went to the PO.  Poor planning on my part!  Our poor little PO has been under siege this year.  We lost our auxiliary office in Harbor. AND they downsized our Main PO - both deliveries and the staff!  It was a double whammy.  We only have one truck out of this burg with mail - 11 am.  That's when the truck brings the mail too. (Which adds a day to delivery time right off the bat!)  We already live at the edge of the world, Trust me, delivery was already slower than molasses!

The line was long, just one clerk working, some jerk in line was talking loudly on "this is why we have road rage ..."  When I got to the clerk I thanked her for keeping her calm and always being friendly even with a line in front of her the entire day.  I bought my stamps, sent my package and managed NOT to kick that guy in the shins on the way out!!!  I count that as double points!!!!

Here is the kid's advent calendar post that started all this! Follow her links to add more choices.

OR you can email me nequilter@gmail.com and I'll send you my research!!

We had a fun Thanksgiving.  The dogs were fascinated by the 2 yr old and kept trying to herd him into a corner!  Luckily Mr K was NOT intimidated - he has an older brother!!  But whenever he sat on the floor, the dogs came running to clean his face!!! It was a giggle-fest on Mr K's part.

Then trying to arrange a photo opp with that many people - well, we got some good ones, if you like blurry!!

Look at the lower left corner - Mr M is much faster after his first year of baseball!!

Here is everyone but my daughter, who is the photographer!!  Happy Holidays!! (I held the "photo bomber" in custody!!)

Tomorrow is my first Christmas party and I'm so excited!  It's our Woolies group and we exchange presents!  As a good friend in NE said, "this is my favorite Christmas - presents from people who "get me"!"  It will be a fun day.  This weekend I can show you what I made for them! Had to keep it a surprise, you know!

Other sewing lined up:
Finish a name banner for a new baby; and the flannel blankie that goes with it
Pillowcase 3 other flannel blankies for the Brookings Baby Shower
Quilt an I Spy baby blanket.

Hmmm, not too Christmas-y but this is all to clear the way for the last of the Christmas gifts that need to be made!! PJ pants for all kids in my life! and another secret gift for my small group.

Off I go to the Sweat Shoppe!