MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

We had a sweet weekend visit with our sons'family from Bloomington. His wifes' Dad had a Christmas Cantata on Sunday Eve so the gals were all dressed up in their sweet pillowcase dresses their Mama had made them...
The dresses had fuzzy ball trim and they reminded me of little Christmas Balls running around with their dollies, holding the kittens and walking babies in the stroller.
The snow keeps falling everyday. It all started just two days after we got home from Vermont and parked the RV behind the cabin to unload it. I seriously sent out Email Christmas cards with Bing singing....I'm dreaming of a White Christmas...!! as only he can sing it...and oh, so true...it has been snowing since I sent that out. God blesses us!
My Hub also received a late birthday gift....Silver...he has been talking with his son about that and so while we were in Vermont I talked with Kev and we set it up that it would be delivered to his home for safe keeping. It arrived there on Gary's 61st birthday, November 16th. So, we REALLY REALLY surprised him. That is HARD to do! he is such a good guesser of gifts!..so now, we are seriously going to get into precious metals as our government seems to want to unline our pockets these days!!
While In Vermont I was envoloped in GREEN MOUNTAIN..they sold everything that was possible as organic and green grown. I had found the Mary Janes Magazine while we had our precious time with our sons' Steves family. The TSC was a favorite store of ours while there and it caught my eye at the checkout. It is a find. I love it. That is how we met up with the Alpaca Turkey Farm here in Indiana, through their ONE time adverticement in the back of the magazine. Anyways, there is a sisterhood you can join...I did as a rural farmgirl. It is fun, earning badges in the Sisterhood. I have to buy a denim shirt to sew them onto to wear around town. Yep! why not!!...... so PLEASE be safe driving in this unpredicable weather...watch out for flying reindeers....HOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!!!! Yes, Merry Christmas!!! Quilted Christmas Bells!!! Kari

Warm Hugs

Summer Picture take by my DDinlaw gives us deffinately WARM HUGS and TRUE LOVE on a blustery, winter northern Indiana Day!! Hope it warms your heart too!! Busy Santas' Helper here on Hawthorn Road. Quilted, Crochet, Knitten, Felted, Sewn Up Love, Kari

What, No Lanolin?

Hey boys! What cha doin? We were so blessed this first Sunday of December! We visited the Turkey Creek Alpaca Farm and fell in love! The sweet couple that gave us a tour were very special folk. We talked a couple hours and chatted as we walked in the snow to the extra shelter they have on 2 acres across from their cabin home.
We had our first close encounter with the Alpaca. They are marvelous animals. Their fleece is so soft and is so compatible with the skin when enjoyed by a person in sweater form or scarves...no itch!!...no lanolin....and for those that want to harvest the fleece it is easier to card and make into skeins to be used by the knitting enthusiasts. This couple just bought their trailer to haul their products to winter events to sell their products. She knits with a knitting machine and makes gorgeous garments. Your imagination is your only limit. Being a crafter, quilter and person who enjoys yarns too the alpaca fiber is awesome!!....I wondered if you could use a knitting machine (Gary and I had thought of ways to make things with the fiber and had wondered if a machine would work with it) and she assured me that is how she makes so many things to sell, by machine!..of course she also enjoys doing things with hand knitting needles too. She also has a wonderful room in the cabin that is full of the fiber...and retail for purchase of socks, scarves, gloves, sweaters, capes...etc!
Now is a Buyers' Market, as in everything right now...they have 30 in their flock now..they had several fall births this year and have a couple crias due in May. We fit together with this couple like a hand in a glove!!...even our age....and...
As you can see their home..it looks alot like our cabin...hip roof...just not built as big. They enjoy a country home near the Amish and he has had farming experience. We had alot of questions answered and even the price can be recouped in a relative short time due to the interest in the Alpacas fiber now. People are wanting to get back more and more to the basics; using their hands to make purposeful things.
When we pulled into their drive we were struck with all the similarities,their home,their already mounted Barn Quilt on the porch...then we met them and had our tour of the farm...it was just a good day! We thank them for the time and so much freely given information. Yes, our horizon may have soft and furry Alpacas running into it with us....given the right time....and thoughts put into it. May we all dream....God Love You today!!....Be safe this holiday!!...and go ahead, Drink the Egg Nog!!....we will! Quilted Blessings!! Kari

Pass It On

We got settled back in our cabin this past week. It was fun to travel home knowing you could stop anytime in a Rest Area and hop into your bed that you are carrying behind your truck!...
We got home on a Sunny Day...beautiful blue skys...our Cabin Home was in good shape, no sign of anyone trying to get in to do damage it in anyway. We are thankful to God for protecting our Cabin this sprint out to New England. I enjoyed finding my Moms' Quilt that she made for us in a nearby tub; decided to start celebrating Spring at Christmas time! Mom would have been 96 this coming Spring...the First Day of Spring. So, we are enjoying her gracing our home..it is beautiful!! Thank you Mom!!
On the way home still in Vermont we happened to pass by a cabin on a lake...we said..."goodbye!! Vermont"...it was suppose to snow again the night we left and as far as we can tell from the weather channel they have had cold and snow since we left....as we have had at our place too!! It is ok, we are snowbirds, really.
The Campground was so full of color when we came a month before, now it is getting it's first thin blanket of snow. The other RV's that were still there had put 5 inch styrofoam insulation around their RV's and using heat tape; the manager had wrapped the water spikets, etc in the same blue insulation. We wish them the best! Those RV's are made in Indiana but they have very little insulation worked into the construction and the windows....well!!....I am just glad we are in our warm, LARGE cabin!
My last but not least store to shop in while in Vermont was Sams'. A great outdoor enthusiast store in New England. It has everything and anything WARM!! -20 was on alot of their warm winter wear! They were having a holiday sale and that helped this Granny out with tshirts, etc I still needed for my Gram Santa Bag!!
We would not trade our time together in New England for anything. It was an awesome experience to share...we will always talk about it ... maybe when we are OLDER and if we get a bit confused we may BORE our loved ones with our repeated travel escapades we have had together, which by now number in the 100's. Sorry, all you that sink down long roots!! Would not trade my life with my Gary and our kids and now inlaws and grandys for ANYTHING!!.... You can not take things with you when you pass on but you sure can try to pass on the love and a legacy into the hearts that you love!!......or have fun trying!!! Quilted Love here!! Kari