Getting into the Christmas spirit

Oh my have I been busy. Eventually Hubby and I got in gear and took down some of the Christmas boxes from the elevated storage shelf in our garage. I should say that Hubby took them down and I stacked them along the garage walls. We did not bring all of the boxes down. The first box that we usually work from is the outdoor lights. Hubby did not want to "hang from the gutters" this year so our lights are just on our bushes and around the front porch railing.

A couple of the storage boxes weren't well labeled and are not see-through like most. These were my mother's Christmas boxes. I have moved some of my items into these boxes, but there is at least one box that is her nativities and Putz houses from when I was a kid. I hadn't planned on putting up my own Department 56 ceramic houses this year as they are a lot of work, but Hubby brought down my mother's box by mistake. I had never searched through it and when I did, I decided to put out the majority of the houses. 

Since they are quite old, I didn't add lights to them. I don't want to set my house on fire.  A couple of houses were really faded and looked quite forlorn so they stayed in the storage box. My mother always told me that my father painted the really tiny people. I assume they were designed for a railroad set. I have fond memories of these houses and people being under the tree when I was a little girl.

Yesterday I finally got around to decorating and baking the Christmas butter cookie dough that I made at the beginning of the week. Hubby helped! He's decorating the top tray.

YUM!!

Now on to the crafting! I have added just a few stitches to the Woodland Babies birth announcement. It will get more attention soon.

I have had other stitching that needs to get completed. I machine stitched the binding to the front of my daughter's quilt. 

Now I am hand stitching the binding to the back. I have completed 2 sides and 3 corners. 

I found a spot just to the left of the bottom clip that isn't quilted. The long arm quilter must have missed it. I have to decide how to fix that. It is about the size of a postcard. Any ideas? 

I also sandwiched and basted the second I-Spy quilt. Now I have to machine quilt it. 

 

That will take a few days to do.

Friday night Hubby and I went to the Milleridge Inn, a local restaurant and catering establishment to walk through the shops. Hubby and I had our wedding reception in the Milleridge Cottage almost 40 years ago. There is a little village of shops on site that is decorated for the holiday season. There is a Christmas Shoppe, a general store, a candy store, an ice-cream/lunch shop and a bakery.

Below is the view of the restaurant from the shops.

It was very festive and we bought a loaf of their cinnamon bread from the bakery. Years ago, when you ate at the restaurant there was always a loaf of cinnamon bread served with your meal. Hubby and I haven't eaten there in years since it has changed ownership.

I am joining Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching. Make yourself a cup of tea, coffee or cocoa and pop on over to her site to see what other bloggers are up to. 

Thanks for stopping by!