I wish....

I wish it would just slow down a bit...that it didn't go by so fast and such a blur...I wish it would literally last a "Season". I wish you could bake a little longer ans slower...visit a little longer with family and friends who come form far and near. I wish to stay in the relaxed state that you experience for a moment or two during the whirlwind of preparation...and I wish now to share with you some of the still moments below

It was a great holiday once again...I made endless finger less gloves for many many little girls...the delight when they squeal, smile and put them on and keep them on all day! I love little ones who appreciate handmades! I have older daughters who help me with the baking and pasta prep now..whew thank god!! I have young adults...school age...and toddlers all at once on Christmas morning to watch open presents and let me tell you the young adults are just as excited as the young ones!
I had a Birthday 44 now yikes!!! I got a new computer YAY!! more blogging as it doesn't take me 4 hours to edit pictures!!! I got new fabric from French General Petite Prints Deux, Luxurious yarn from Bijou Basin Ranch...some Aurifil thread sets from Fat Quarter shop.
Our big night is Christmas Eve so Christmas day is Jammies and movies...Love Actually..the Holiday...and endless Hallmark movies<3<3<3
Then a fast trip to Upstate NY to visit my in laws the snowy photos are the views from the house..it was actually there first snowfall of the season..very rare.
The last picture is of my IG account with the #bestnine2015...my most popular photos! It was a very pretty 2015 in pictures.

So back to wishing...I wish more slow days for all...I wish for more stillness...I wish for safety for all who are in need...I will just keep wishing...

Peace and Love to you all in the New Year,,,
XOXO

Be well,
Ming

Ever so...

Grateful for a another wonderful (and a wee bit stressful) holiday season with family and friends...

We had a Holiday concert at school, a visit from our cousin from out of town and a great nephews first Christmas...lots of laughs,love and the editable stress but it was all good!

Gingy got his mate and added some adorable trees to go with them. these prototypes will go for sale in my Etsy shop as soon a I fix it. Some how it got completely deleted..arrghh. I am not that tech inclined so all this takes me a while.

I hope your holidays were warm and wonderful and I look forward to sharing and creating with all of you in 2015!!

Much love,

Ming

Note... I apologize if that last picture offends anyone ...I inherited this house with the animals and if possible I would remove them but its not ..so instead I honor them. 

Everything was AWESOME...

when we went on vacation to California for a visit with family in the Bay area...

 five days in the Sierra Nevada's in Tahoe

 

  

a day trip to Virginia City, Nevada...

 

 

a final Lake Tahoe sunset

then an eleven hour drive down the coast to San Diego area...

 

  

for a visit to his Mecca ...

 

 

 Oh Cali, I didn't realize how much I missed you! It's been 30 years since my last time with you (Geez, do I feel old!) How I forgot about all your splendid beauty and how your colors inspired me! We traveled the same route as I did when I was 12. The Bay Area, Tahoe, and then south to the San Diego area for the long awaited visit to Lego Land for the little man. He has been talking about it for three years now. So, we finally decided that this was the year to do it. We don't think we have ever seen him happier! I think the face in the picture above sums it up.. don't you? He never wanted to leave the hotel...we had a pirate themed room, very cool!

Our visit with family in the Bay area was so fun. Four little boys...8 and under...that was a bunch of energy in one house. They played extremely hard all day and night. Us parents just watched in bewilderment thinking

 "oh we are so in for it when they are older!!"  Then we were off to Lake Tahoe, Emerald Bay...gorgeous!! Hikes through the Sierra Nevadas. Hair pin turns on mountain roads...my stomach was in my throat much of the time!! Breath taking views all around us. I think I would definitely relocate to Tahoe someday.  We spent a day as well in Virginia City, Nevada...an old gold mining town about an hours drive from Tahoe. The little guy said to me "This looks like the Old West" ...yes child this actually is the Old West, I had to explain to him! Then we drove eleven hours south. It was a gorgeous ride seeing much of the state...but poor Cali, you are sooo dry! That drought is terrible! We saw some Army maneuvers on our drive down the coast...they were waving to us as they drove by...we saluted them back. And, of course I insisted we see a California Coast sunset. The youngin' wasn't happy about it as it took time away from Lego Land (a whole hour..god forbid!) but, he got into taking some pictures... the blurry one of course. Like any good mom I love it cause he took it! The four older kids you ask?? Where were they? Here, there and everywhere this summer. Yes, we left them behind this time...that was a first for us. We did miss them, 

really we did ;-)!

It was a great summer with lots of good times. Now it is time for school. I am always sad when summer ends. I love my kids home with me<3! Tomorrow we send the youngest daughter off to the other end of the world to New Zealand. Our oldest son moved out this summer to begin his "after college life". The older daughter is heading south to Florida and the middle son has been in Vermont working all summer and started his Junior year of University. So, we almost have an empty nest ...at least for us that is what it seems like. Down to one 2nd grader who can not wait to get to school...he got the "cool teacher" this year!

I hope you all had a wonderful summer too! Make sure you stop back later this week to check out my visit to Jimmy Beans Wool in Nevada! Really, did you think it would be a vacation for me without some sort of fiber or craft involved! As my little guy would say,,,"Seriously!"

Be well,

Ming

**the picture of the Lego bike rider, that is the reception desk...that is a whole wall of Lego Minifigures and the wheels are magnifying glass so you can see them!!!