{ yum }Have a very merry one y'all!
As The Year Draws To A Close...
Seems crazy that a whole year has already gone by. Now we're in full swing of the Christmas holidays, and just yesterday it was June 26th and my first child was placed in my arms. The day before that, it was April 19th (2008) and I was making my marriage vows to my husband. Wow. How much has changed and in so short a span of time. It never ceases to amaze me, this quick marching of the days. But with it, so many joys, eh?I went to our Ft. Washita reenactment last weekend, and boy we had fun! This week has been incredibly busy (work-wise) so I'm just now getting around to posting photos. Here are a few images from our trip. I didn't get to take near as many as I wanted, unfortunately.
My dear friend's husband, Mr. Hamilton, was caught unawares looking quite dashing on the stone porch of the fort. I'm tickled my camera took such a clear photo -- it was from quite a distance away. Hooray for telephoto. :) He was tricked out in his West Point uniform overcoat here -- and the dress uniform at the ball later that night. It was pretty cold (high 30s, I think) all day Friday and Saturday, so he needed all that warmth.The next photo is Paula -- my silly, darling friend who I road-tripped up there with. We got decidedly un-period for a short time there while we got on a Geico Pothole commercial giggle-fit. It truly is a hilarious commercial. :) And when you're from Texas...well, it's even more hilarious. Then again -- maybe we're just weird.
At left, two of the ladies of the fort -- Kathy and her daughter Ginger. Ginger is my Civil War dress mecca. She makes the most beautiful clothes. Seriously. And she had so many! We teased her a little bit about her perfectly-sewn and expansive wardrobe, but we think she forgives us. (Hopefully.)She regaled us all by the huge hearth with a reading of Treasure Island. Some of us listened and sewed. Some of us listened and rocked babies. And some of us just listened, watching the crackling fire as it warmed us all against the chilly gray outside the windows. Music, too, filled the rooms! We had fiddle and banjo and much singing! It was great. And Sunday morning dawned a beautiful, less-chilly day -- with the sounds of Christmas hymns at the church service.
Victoria was an exceedingly good baby. She played with Andrew, was held by many, and cried very little. I got a photo of her in her little coat and cap, and a photo of both Kerri and I with our babies. I was so distracted by the baby-watching that I completely forgot to get a full-length photo of my dress. I'm really a bad photo-journalist, aren't I? But I did get some compliments. It was my first time wearing a hoop or fitted dress in over a year -- so I'm glad it turned out pretty well.
This is Fort Washita -- one of two barracks; and the only one still standing.* * * * *
We got back home Sunday night and Victoria sat on her own for about 10 minutes without falling. Tee hee! Isn't she cute sitting there by herself? Little cherub.
* * * * *
Sneak peek of my Christmas/New Years card photoshoot:
Aside: I was truly hoping to have a family shot, but Keith's working all the time and I'm sick with a cold, so nobody is photogenic (or available) except for Victoria. :)
Sneak peek of my Christmas/New Years card photoshoot:
Aside: I was truly hoping to have a family shot, but Keith's working all the time and I'm sick with a cold, so nobody is photogenic (or available) except for Victoria. :)
A coat and cap for Andrew.
It took me long enough, but I finally finished the last of three coats-and-caps for the three new babies in our reenacting unit. I'm especially blessed that the other two babies belong to two of my darling-est friends, because now I get to pretend I'm "Auntie Amy". :)This last coat/cap combo is for Andrew. He's just turned 8 months. I fear it might have turned out a little too simple compared to the other two -- but I was trying out a different trim option. Nevertheless, I like how it turned out! I used a tan silk taffeta for the lining on this one and I think it'll suit little Andrew wonderfully. Plus it'll be super cozy!
I used my wool plaid bias as a trim. It just looked so good with the brown wool flannel -- hopefully Kerri will forgive me for looking "matchy-matchy" with her son! Haha! :)
That's all for tonight. We leave for the reenactment first thing Friday morning, so I will be spending tomorrow attaching my skirt to my bodice, adding hooks and eyes to close it, making a list, packing, and all that jazz. Have a lovely evening, my friends. May the Lord bless you and keep you.
Christmas Meme
What a fun idea to do a Christmas Meme! Here's mine:
1. Eggnog or hot chocolate? Absolutely hot chocolate, with a little nutmeg and cinnamon and very chocolatey.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? We don't do Santa at our house. But when we give presents, we usually wrap them.
3. Colored lights on the tree/house or white? White lights. Can't resist a beautiful display of twinkling white lights. So pure.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? Not in the house. But at our Christmas ball with our reenactment unit, someone usually climbs a nearby tree to pull a sprig down. It certainly can be fun. ;)
5. When do you put your Christmas decorations up? I used to put them up after Thanksgiving but the older I get, the smaller my decorations get. ;) Some years I'm afraid I end up running out of time to even bother. But I try to put them up as quickly after TG as possible.
6. Favorite holiday dish? My grandmother's cranberry sauce. Yum!
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Being about 8 years old and waking up at 4 am to see if "Santa" had brought me a Barbie townhouse. He had. And I woke up my sister just to brag about it. :)
8. When did you learn the truth about Santa? At eight. I had seen my parents' silhouettes from the light from the den, as they put the aforementioned townhouse together, so this was also the moment I realized Santa wasn't real. Thinking back on it, I kinda think I already somehow knew that, though.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Not usually.
10. How do you decorate a tree? My husband doesn't believe in having a Christmas tree up, so we don't decorate a tree now.
11. Snow! Love it or dread it? Considering we rarely get snow -- I love it!! I don't even care if it's preceded by ice (which is awful), because I'll take it wherever I can.
12. Can you ice skate? Yes, but it's been a while. Used to love to go.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? My most favoritest was probably my Baby Soft Sounds doll -- my first doll that was just like a real baby (to me).
14. What is the most important thing about the holidays to you? Now that I'm a mother, it's very important to me that Victoria grows up enjoying the holiday without the commercialism that has sometimes nearly destroyed it. It's a warm, honest, charitable time -- and I want her to feel that way. I don't want her spending the month prior just thinking up all the stuff she wants; rather, I'd prefer her think more about others, than herself.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Apple pie! Or Apple Crisp. Or Cheesecake...oh, my...how can I decide that??
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Driving around on Christmas Eve to look at Christmas lights, and then coming back home to make hot chocolate, and sometimes smores.
17. What tops your tree? No tree. :(
18. Which do you prefer-Giving or Receiving? Oh, I love giving! As I've gotten older, I rarely think much about getting anything, and most often I try to deflect any inquiries regarding my "Christmas list". I just don't need "stuff" anymore. Life is about the memories you make -- not stuff.
19. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night, hands down.
20. Candy Canes-Yuck or Yum? Not so much.
21. Favorite Christmas show? Muppet Christmas Carol.
22. Saddest Christmas song? Blue Christmas, I think.
I can't wait to see everyone else's meme!
-Amy
1. Eggnog or hot chocolate? Absolutely hot chocolate, with a little nutmeg and cinnamon and very chocolatey.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? We don't do Santa at our house. But when we give presents, we usually wrap them.
3. Colored lights on the tree/house or white? White lights. Can't resist a beautiful display of twinkling white lights. So pure.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? Not in the house. But at our Christmas ball with our reenactment unit, someone usually climbs a nearby tree to pull a sprig down. It certainly can be fun. ;)
5. When do you put your Christmas decorations up? I used to put them up after Thanksgiving but the older I get, the smaller my decorations get. ;) Some years I'm afraid I end up running out of time to even bother. But I try to put them up as quickly after TG as possible.
6. Favorite holiday dish? My grandmother's cranberry sauce. Yum!
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Being about 8 years old and waking up at 4 am to see if "Santa" had brought me a Barbie townhouse. He had. And I woke up my sister just to brag about it. :)
8. When did you learn the truth about Santa? At eight. I had seen my parents' silhouettes from the light from the den, as they put the aforementioned townhouse together, so this was also the moment I realized Santa wasn't real. Thinking back on it, I kinda think I already somehow knew that, though.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Not usually.
10. How do you decorate a tree? My husband doesn't believe in having a Christmas tree up, so we don't decorate a tree now.
11. Snow! Love it or dread it? Considering we rarely get snow -- I love it!! I don't even care if it's preceded by ice (which is awful), because I'll take it wherever I can.
12. Can you ice skate? Yes, but it's been a while. Used to love to go.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? My most favoritest was probably my Baby Soft Sounds doll -- my first doll that was just like a real baby (to me).
14. What is the most important thing about the holidays to you? Now that I'm a mother, it's very important to me that Victoria grows up enjoying the holiday without the commercialism that has sometimes nearly destroyed it. It's a warm, honest, charitable time -- and I want her to feel that way. I don't want her spending the month prior just thinking up all the stuff she wants; rather, I'd prefer her think more about others, than herself.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Apple pie! Or Apple Crisp. Or Cheesecake...oh, my...how can I decide that??
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Driving around on Christmas Eve to look at Christmas lights, and then coming back home to make hot chocolate, and sometimes smores.
17. What tops your tree? No tree. :(
18. Which do you prefer-Giving or Receiving? Oh, I love giving! As I've gotten older, I rarely think much about getting anything, and most often I try to deflect any inquiries regarding my "Christmas list". I just don't need "stuff" anymore. Life is about the memories you make -- not stuff.
19. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night, hands down.
20. Candy Canes-Yuck or Yum? Not so much.
21. Favorite Christmas show? Muppet Christmas Carol.
22. Saddest Christmas song? Blue Christmas, I think.
I can't wait to see everyone else's meme!
-Amy
Checking off the list...
Just wanted to show a few completed items from my {very long} to-do list for the upcoming reenactment. I finally put the ties on Mason's cap (which I've had done for 2 months now), and now the sweet little munchkin has a cute little coat and cap ensemble to brave the winter weather in. I made it to fit Victoria, because even though there is a 3-month difference in ages, they are the same size. :)
I'm currently working on Andrew's cap and coat now. He fit the jacket size, but the cap needs to be a little bigger as he's about 9 months old.
So this is the dress I just finished for Victoria. Took me a long time, because 1) I didn't have a pattern, 2) I wanted to make it a gathered-front bodice so had to do some creative drafting, and 3) I ran out of fabric and had to do a lot of piping in a contrast fabric to make the whole dress pull together. It isn't what I originally planned, but it's close. I think it'll look cute on her if I can ever catch her in a willing mood to put it on.
Scratch that -- she let me put it on her for a quick photoshoot!
Hope everyone is having a lovely day!
I'm currently working on Andrew's cap and coat now. He fit the jacket size, but the cap needs to be a little bigger as he's about 9 months old.So this is the dress I just finished for Victoria. Took me a long time, because 1) I didn't have a pattern, 2) I wanted to make it a gathered-front bodice so had to do some creative drafting, and 3) I ran out of fabric and had to do a lot of piping in a contrast fabric to make the whole dress pull together. It isn't what I originally planned, but it's close. I think it'll look cute on her if I can ever catch her in a willing mood to put it on.
Scratch that -- she let me put it on her for a quick photoshoot!
Hope everyone is having a lovely day!
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