It's Christmas!

 All too early the kids woke up and realized that it was Christmas morning. Their giggles woke the grown ups.

Stockings were dumped out and presents were enthusiastically ripped into.

Neelie's Little Tykes equipment was a big hit. Santa must have had a tough time dragging that down the chimney!

The kids were busy with it, and their other new toys, all morning.

Which was great because it gave Zenawii a chance to get the turkey into the oven while Elfonda made breakfast.

Flame made sure that Zenawii and Elfonda opened some presents too.

He could hardly wait for everyone to open the gifts he had chosen.

 Elfonda loved the necklace Flame made for her.

Long Distance

Knowing that the next few days would be extremely busy Elfonda took a moment this evening to dial the long distance number for Flame to phone the folks back home.

She could hear the excitement in his voice as he stage whispered, "It's ringing!"

He chatted with relatives, 

and good friends, 

And made sure to wish each and every one of them a Very Merry Christmas!

Brown Paper Packages

Around Christmas time everyone seems to love a visit from the postal delivery man. Flame is no exception. He was so excited about the big brown box that he nearly pushed it up the stairs single handedly.

Not all December deliveries are filled with gifts though. Some are stuffed to the brim with supplies for making presents! In a house filled with crafty elves, that is even BETTER!!

Flame was quick to point out that this particular box is from Knitpicks so maybe Elfonda Schelf's yarn had arrived.

Elfonda is in her glory. All her favourite colours! Flame is thrilled too. Elfonda has promised him knitting lessons.

Elfonda Schelf's Plan

Elfonda Schelf's plan is to have me post a photo a day throughout the days leading up to Christmas. She and Flame will be up to the usual "Elf on the Shelf" activities and thought it might be fun to keep a photo journal this year.

They got a jump on the festive activities by putting the tree up on Sunday. That's a bit earlier than usual, (we usually wait until at least the first weekend in December) but time and opportunity made the weekend before more convenient.

Flame was thrilled to help out with the ornaments on the lower branches!



Today was Flame's first Home Schooling lesson. Elfonda is teaching him the fine art of Christmas ball gazing.

Apparently it's a lot like crystal ball reading but limited only to Christmas matters.

Things like:

• Will the weather on Christmas Eve be safe for sleigh flight without added red nose support?
• Best recipes for pumpkin pie and shortbread
• What is Johnny's favourite colour?
• Are the children all nestled snug in their beds?

Happy Halloween!

Neelie, Elfonda, and the weird, faceless new ghoul wanted to drop by to wish you a Happy Halloween!

Unless the torrential rain we are experiencing lightens up I don't think we will be having many Trick or Treaters at our door. Of course those that do go around might be getting more than the usual amounts of candy as people realize they have purchased too much.

Just an update to say that the final Trick-or-Treater tally was 27.

To Top it Off

Most of the time I am racing to catch up with all the creative ideas that fill my head and demand expression, but for a couple of weeks now there has been a serious lack of inspiration and motivation -- and that has been across all of my various interests! I haven't felt like weaving, spinning, knitting, crocheting, wire work, or embroidery. Such total lack of inspiration is REALLY unusual for me! I've been reading a few novels, but that's about it!

Well yesterday, finally, I felt a teensy, tiny bit of inspiration and got a new top sewn up for Elfonda. 

I adapted an Adams-Harris pattern for a crop top by lengthening it and doing away with the back opening. I think it turned out quite well. Elfonda may be getting variations of it. Maybe. Still not feeling all that inspired creatively.