The Family Project: Merry Christmas One and All

This is a picture of the last of the 13 Gramma's Comfort Quilts that I made for grandchildren in 2009. It was more of an undertaking than I ever thought possible. It seems I got behind after the first couple were finished and every birthday seemed to find me further and further behind. This last one was for 8 year old Mia, who had a birthday in the summer. She was very patient. And I have to say, the last one was the best. All that practice just added up to experience that was for the good of the last quilt.

3 days ago we were in MI watching the weather closely to see if we'd get out of the state before the bad weather descended. We did!

We left home early on the 22nd to head for Florida to spend Christmas with my folks. This time we traveled with Little Gilbert, the little Jack Russell that is my contant companion at home. It will make the stay in Florida much less stressful having him with us. He traveled so much better than we thought he would. He is pretty high strung, noises and shadows especially bother him, causing him to shake and just be so distressed. However, the back of the cab of the truck was well packed with Gilbert in mind and hubby saw to Gilberts' every need. His little cage with his bed was readily available, plus pillows to prop him up to see out the windows. He traveled in luxury. And did well too I might add. So well in fact that he even ate when we did. Something that he has not done before because he was just too distressed. Now to convince him that people food isn't the preferred cuisine for a normal dog!!!! He has become rather a picky eater, dog food being the last resort if nothing else can be begged from the two footed creatures in his life.

Little Gilbert and Hubby

Gilbert stole my Mom's heart...............

heart pillow that is. She got that when she had the triple bypass surgery in June 2009

Oh, in that picture at the beginning of the description of our Florida trip....that is NOT Michigan snow. Take a real good look. It's white Florida sand. That's the closest we came to glistening white snow on Christmas this year!

Two of the 9 grandchildren we are proud to claim!!!

Preceeding the Florida adventure was our family Christmas gathering. Each year one of the senior Bailey siblings (we have achieved that distinction since these siblings are orphans now, making them the elders of the Bailey clan) hosts the annual family Christmas gathering. It was our turn this year. So the date was set for the week before Christmas, due to our planned Florida trip. Our immediate family was such a big help in preparing food and the gathering space. We used Jon's wood shop, minus the big woodworking tools and equipment that was moved to other rooms. The grandchildren did a fantastic job of collecting necessary supplies, decorating and getting the tables put together for the event. Food was prepared in the Summer Kitchen, the last major event before it was made ready for the winter. It's a sad time when the water lines have to be drained, and the heat turned down in the Summer Kitchen. It's a place where really good memories, and some exceptional food have been made. I can attest to that as I watched our granddaughters, ages 11, and almost 13, 13 make delicious pies, and cheesecake. They are the upcoming gourmet cooks!!!

Here are 8 of the 9 granddchildren and includes a great nephew, all lined up singing a Christmas carol for our party. The 3 oldest on the left are the ones that helped with the cooking.

We have had a good relaxing Christmas day. Our noon meal was a delicious turkey roasted on the grill, in 70 degree weather. Quite a change from what we are used to this time of year!

Here is Mom modeling the snuggie she got for a present, and Dad inspecting his new robe. The parental unit (as our kids would call them) we came down here to visit