Sunday, November 20, 2011

Sunday Morning

In yesterday's post I mentioned that I was going to attempt to string some old-fashioned Christmas lights on our little Christmas tree out front.  Some of you know that I am a perfectionist/OCD person in most aspects of my life.  It is both a curse & a blessing at times.  The weather was spring-like with a semi-warm breeze blowing from the west.  Quite nice actually if you like that sort of thing in mid-November.

Incidentally, my "dear friend" in North Dakota emailed me yesterday to let me know it was 7 degrees when she woke up in the morning.  She went on to say that the temperature then dropped throughout the day.  She likes to torture me like this sometimes.

Back to the lights.  I carefully strung them on the tree (50 lights were enough) & then stood back & assessed my handiwork.  I then repositioned the lights, stood back again, repositioned again ... well, you get the idea   : )   I finally got to the point where I was pleased with their placement.  I then attached the 75' extension cord & began to trail it up to the porch where I could plug it in.  I looked at these cords at Lowes & the dark green one ... my color of choice ... looked good.  I said to John "It's not more than 75' from the tree to the porch, is it?"  He said he didn't think so.  I'm 5'9" but I pictured myself being 6' & lying head to toe, toe to head, head to toe from the tree to the porch & figured 75' would be plenty.  So much for that logic ... the extension cord is about 5' too short.  Will need to go somewhere to purchase a short cord to add to the 75-footer.  Meanwhile last night we had what sounded like hurricane force winds ... totally unpredicted ... blowing the entire time.  It's still dark but of course I'm wondering if the 2 strings of lights are still on the tree.  Hope so   : )

John & I have started watching Christmas DVDs.  We enjoy BBC shows & John found a box set of various BBC Christmas shows for sale online.  We have quite a few Christmas DVDs & never tire of them from year to year.  I rarely find a Dicken's Christmas Carol that I don't like.  We love the old black & white Christmas movies ... The Bishop's Wife with Loretta Young, David Niven, & Cary Grant; It's a Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart & Donna Reed; Christmas in Connecticut with Barbara Stanwyck & Dennis Morgan; & The Shop Around the Corner with Jimmy Stewart & Margaret Sullavan ... just to name a few   : )   Last year we found a DVD at Walmart which had a beaucoup of old Christmas TV shows from the start of television.  All in all it was $5.00 well spent   : )   Some shows we remembered from when we were young; others we were quite surprised by.  Not all were wonderful but it was still fun to see them.  One of our favorite surprises was a show called Date with the Angels.  This show starred Betty White & aired in 1957-58.

After dinner & watching the Blackadder show on the aforementioned BBC Christmas DVD, I started my next cross stitch project ... the one I talked about yesterday worked over one on coffee dyed fabric.  I question if I will ever attempt another project worked over one.  Even with my Daylight magnifying lamp my eyes had trouble seeing to make those tiny stitches.  It's going to be quite a nice ornament when I get it done though.  The pattern is by With Thy Needle & Thread.  You will find some real primitive pattern treasures on that site for cross stitch, punchneedle, & working with wool.    

         
I hope you all enjoy this Sunday   : )

9 comments:

Angela said...

Shirlee, Don't that make you mad when you are several feet short of a cord? Happened to me last year as I moved the placement of my tree in the great room.
Hope your lights withstood the winds last night. Can't wait to see a picture with it all lit up.
You are a brave soul to tackle that beautiful tree. My poor eyes could never see that small. But it is so prim and pretty. I love her patterns. One of the punchneedle patterns is a design of hers.
Hope you have a blessed Sunday
Angela

prims by olde lady morgan said...

Shirlee, We have bee real windy here too! Finally all the leaves are off the trees, hubby is out there right now raking, I can't help with this back.... Love your tree ornie!!! OLM

Jessica said...

It was 10F here last night. :-D

It's been so windy here too. I am not a fan of the wind though. I hope your lights stayed on. :)

That tree ornament is gorgeous! I've not done over one yet. I did attempt once, but then undid it and went to two. I'm sure my fabric count was too small to do over one that time. It's so hard to see!

Happy Sunday!!

TheCrankyCrow said...

Hope your tree and lights survived...I am so not a fan of wind...and we live in one of the windiest spots I've ever seen. Love that little tree ornie - I've been tempted so many times with that one, but I have baskets of patterns for cross stitch and punch already waiting. Don't know if I could do one over one anymore...I'm struggling horribly with some of the higher count linens with over two...argh...I truly miss my eyesight.....Hope you're having a wonderful Sunday! Smiles & Hugs ~ Robin

Trace4J said...

Simply the prettiest ornamnet I have ever seen. Love love love!
Hugs Trace

www.grannytracescrapsandsquares.com

cucki said...

yup..it is simply so beautiful..i love it so much.
keep well dear and have a lovely sunday.
hugs x

Faye Henry said...

Hi Shirlee.. We are having quite the winds way up here in Eastern Canada, too.. I love the wind..
Hope your lights stayed put, though.. I just love that sweet ornament.. The photo is even lovely..
God bless..

Jan said...

Hello shirlee, I love that tree ornie . It's beautiful. Janice

BumbleBeeLane said...

We had warm temps yesterday too.Good for market as it was my last for the year.Now we have cold and rain all week which would be great if I could stay home but another busy week.I'll have hubby out putting christmas up saturday.We plan to have our break friday snuggle in with leftovers and movies.Warm Blessings!~Amy