Blue Moon December 31, 2009

As we say goodbye to 2009 we were able to enjoy a beautiful view of the Blue Moon this evening.

What a sight to help us celebrate New Year's Eve.

A time for reflection and anticipation

On this the last day of 2009 I like to reflect on the past year.
So many things have happened this year for which I am grateful.


Of course my solo show at the Anderson Arts Center in Kenosha was one of the highlights of my year. In this photo you see my siblings, their spouses, cousins and niece and nephew in law in front of The Colors Of My Life 20 - The Grand Finale in the series. This polymorphic quilt looks different depending on where you are standing when you look at it. There are 3 major views.

Once the show had opened it was time to head to Florida for a few months.

This quilt resides in Florida and it was the inspiration for my decorating scheme in the house.


When I am in Florida I have a mission! Ladies in Florida lunch and I put my efforts into this endeavor. Ladies in Florida also shop and I do my part there too!

March took me to Texas to a reception for Fiber Art for a Cause at Karey Bresenhan's Franch. A good time was had by all.

This was just the beginning of 2009 and there were many more adventures to come. If you'd like to see them you can just review my blog!

I am anticipating an even better year in 2010.

As 2009 comes to a close it seems like it just began!

Ten years ago we were all concerned what was going to happen when the Millennium changed our years from the 1900's to the 2000's.
Fortunately what we were worried about never came to pass.
When my grandchildren visited we discussed the time capsule we created on that New Years Eve at our grandparents/grandchildren party. The feeling is it is time to open it soon.
It may not happen New Years Eve but it will happen before our second granddaughter returns to college in January.

If you missed the story of the Millennium party and quilts here is some of it.



You can click on each of these document to see them clearly and also read the article.

Christmas 2009 Celebration with grandchildren - Part one

Sunday evening my local grandchildren came over to celebrate Christmas in a different way.
We started out having Pizza Fondue for supper. This was prompted by their father's fond recollections of enjoying it as a teenager. If the amount he ate was any indication his enjoyment hasn't diminished!

After dinner there were gifts to be opened. These were not the usual gifts you buy in a store for the most part. They were family treasures and memorabilia. Each child got one large bag filled with smaller boxes and objects. Each one also received a small notebook to write in. As they opened an item if there was a story to tell about that item I related it to them and they were able to write it down. They really seemed to enjoy the gifts and the stories.


Here is Heidi showing one of the gifts she received. It was a precious doll pin I used to wear when she was less than 2. She was so attracted to it as a child so now she has it as a memory.


Dana has loved monkeys including sock monkeys. She was the recipient of a sock bunny that used to be one of the toys I would put under one of our Christmas trees.


Jeff Jr. is writing the story of Grandpa Jerry's golf ornament.


Kierstin is reading the inscription I put on the bottom of one of the ornaments I passed on to her from my Christopher Radko ornament collection.


Cooper loves pandas. He is inspecting the Christoper Radko panda ornament. I had to hold my breath that he didn't crush it!


Jeff Sr. is showing how his father's ring that Jerry wore on his ring finger fits his thumb!


Always a favorite with this family is a Slinky. One of those toys that never goes out to style. Can you believe I NEVER had one as a child!

This is the first time I've included a recipe on this blog. Marcia asked about it and so did other friends. Hope you'll enjoy it. It is delicious. There was a tiny bit leftover and I am having it for lunch tomorrow.

PIZZA FONDUE
1 onion, chopped
½ lb. ground beef
2 T margarine or shortening
2 - 10 ½ oz cans pizza sauce
1 T cornstarch
1 ½ t fennel seed
1 ½ t oregano
¼ t. garlic powder
10 oz grated Cheddar cheese
1 c. grated mozzarella cheese

Brown onion and meat in shortening in Fondue pot at #9.
Mix cornstarch and seasoning into pizza sauce.
Reduce heat to #6 and sauce to mixture. Stir well.
When mixture thickens and bubbles, add cheeses by thirds, stirring well after each addition.
When all the cheese is melted, turn control to # 5 to keep warm.
Dunkers: Garlic bread cubes, toasted English muffin cubes, bread sticks

Serve over toasted English muffin for a luncheon treat.
Serves 4-6 as main dish
10-12 as appetizer

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

Santa's pack is full of special things just for me!

The fur is from my mother's mink stole.
The stole lining is his underdress.
The attention to detail is amazing.

Make sure to click on this photo to see the details in a larger view.

While visions of sugarplums......

danced in their heads!

All is calm, All is bright

Although I thought I was done decorating I found these ornaments and added them to the dining room chandelier for a festive look.
I hope your Christmas Eve is filled with peace and love.

Everything is coming up - Poinsettias! 2 more days

Poinsettias have always been am important part of our Christmas decor at Casa Sorensen. Somehow there weren't any this year.
When I came home from my afternoon appointments this one had been delivered and it is from my son's family - Greg, Julie, Blake, Nicholas, Jessica and Jared.
I LOVE the color and immediately found a special spot to showcase it.


I also decided I should take my poinsettia purse out of the closet and display it on the credenza. It is really a work of art and so appropriate for the season.

For those of you who are suffering puzzle withdrawal - here is another one for you!

I LOVE to receive Christmas Cards - 3 more days

I am amazed that I continue to receive Christmas cards from friends and family since I haven't been able to send them for a few years.
This year I am sending them. There was a delay since I was waiting for my Zazzle stamps which were miss sent and finally got here late today. Cards go out tomorrow and probably won't get to the recipients until after Christmas. I hope they're just glad to get them!
I also love to receive those newsy Christmas letters. I keep them from year to year in a RED notebook. I wish I had thought of this many years ago. It's so much fun to go through them and read the ones from a while ago!

This card was one I made in the 70's - 4 more days

I think I silk screened this card. It must be at least 20 years old and is a little wrinkled.

These colors were popular in the 70's! Today they are back but when things return there is always a little difference.

Or did you get this Christmas card from us in 1962? 5 more days until Christmas

I can't believe I hand inked a gazillion of these with a fountain pen.

And here is the inside.
This card did double duty! But how did I do this with a brand new baby and a 3 year old?
The brown marks are from the old Scotch tape that dried out and left a mark on the back of the card after 47 years.

Did you get this Christmas card I sent you - 49 years ago? 6 more days until Christmas

It's hard to believe it has been 49 years since we sent this Christmas card to friends and family!

If we put up a lot of lights Santa will be able to find OUR house! 7 days until Christmas

How many hundreds of thousands of lights are there? I found out: 120,000 give or take a few!

Sibling get together report!

You can see by the expressions on their faces that Clay and Bill are eagerly anticipating opening their gifts. Last year my brother Bill gave me a hard time saying the gifts are always for the women. So I made sure they each had a special man present this year!


When our grandchildren open each gift they hold it up and a photo is taken. Clay and Bill are showing their puzzles with various United States presidents playing poker. They each are looking forward to sharing and doing these puzzles. Bill has his puzzle table set up and Clay will do his when they spend time in Springfield, IL during the winter.


Now it's time for the ladies to anticipate opening their gifts. I thought I did a very clever job of wrapping their gifts!


They are each showing off their luxurious scarves made by my friend - Jane Steinberg Originals. I personally selected the colors for each one to go with their coloring and wardrobes. These are especially wonderful as these are some of the last scarves Jane made before she discontinued creating them. Left to right: Connie, Mary and Karen.


Here I am wearing my Jane Steinberg scarf. I love the feel of the silk and the way silk takes color. Each one is a very labor intensive process.


Like my friend Tommy I have the best intentions of taking photos of the food for my blog. Somehow in the hub bub of getting food on the table I forget. I will admit Tommy does a much better job of showing food than I do. Here are my 5 guests ready to enjoy dessert, a delicious lemon poppyseed cheesecake made by Connie. It is Karen's FAVORITE dessert!

The complete menu included a delicious Mexican dip with chips for the appetizer made by Mary, a luscious 4 layer salad by Karen and Cranberry Chicken, Cheesy Potato Bake and buttered brussel sprouts by me. Of course Clay brought some great wine.

Although I have featured over 200 puzzles on this blog I don't think I've ever been the puzzle. So tonight I'm a puzzle!

Were ready to nestle all snug in our beds .. 8 more days until Christmas

If color film had been available in 1955 you would know these are red and white striped. I made each and every one includng the dolls jammies!

Getting ready for the sibling get together

One of the first things I did today to get ready for our Christmas get together was to set the table.

I made sure I staked my claim on the chair I wanted to sit in.

When we were growing up there were a limited number of seating options in our living room. If we got up and wanted to sit there when we came back we had to say "I get to sit there when I come back." If you forgot to say it someone else was in your spot in less than a minute.

I put the finishing touches on the Christmas tree in the parlour.

I wrapped the gifts and put them under the tree.

I spiffed up the house and started cooking dinner.

Continued tomorrow!

I have a puzzle for your tonight with the tree and the chairs that would be occupied in a few hours.

One More Christmas Tree!

This is another one of my small trees. I get more decorating mileage out of these small trees that complement their surroundings than I did when I used to do 3 full size trees!
This one needs a few more lime green ornaments and they are in a box that is on it's way to me from Florida.
Today I have been getting ready for our 2nd annual sibling and spouse get together at my house for appetizers and beverages, dinner and dessert. It is just the siblings - no kids or grandkids. We really enjoyed it last year and it is a tradition I hope will continue for years to come. Our other get togethers include all generations - which at present is 3!
Each of us contributes to the meal so I don't have all the work.

I'd better post this and get back to work!

In hopes that St. Nicholas ... 10 more days until Christmas

As the family grew the living room was taken over by the gifts and there was little room for the family!

by the chimney with care...11 more days until Christmas

Nicholas hopes Santa fills his stocking too!

Twisted Log Cabin Christmas Card

This has to be one of my all time favorite Christmas cards I have every received.
My sister in law Sue makes really great cards each year for Christmas and other occasions. She certainly outdid herself with this Twisted Log Cabin quilt block.

The message inside the card reads:
Life's most beautiful things are not seen with the eyes, but felt with the heart. Wishing you a special season of the heart.

Handmade cards and gift items mean a lot to me.

Puzzles make great Christmas gift so this is a gift to all of you who read my blog.

The stockings were hung... 12 more days until Christmas

Jared is hanging his stocking so Santa can fill it.

I had my first visit to this blog from someone from Kazakstan yesterday. Some of these countries weren't even in existence when I went to school!

Riding in Style!

Thanks to the generosity of a family member I rode home from the airport in this stretch limousine all by myself! Usually they just send a luxury car. I told my neighbors I should have called them and woke them so they could see my mode of transportation.

My ride to the airport was also great. Our friend John drove me to the airport in record time. He drives the speed limit but he knows all the best routes ands shortcuts. I arrived in time to go through security at a leisurely pace and get to the boarding area about 15 minutes before boarding. Our plane had only 30 people on a 136 passenger plane. We got a lot of personal attention from a great cabin crew. I had a delicious chicken wrap on the plane for a late dinner. I actually passed on the hot chocolate chip cookies.

We landed 20 minutes early and the driver was waiting for me with his sign.

The shock came when I had to cross the road to the waiting limo - the cold almost knocked me over. I didn't think a 45 degree difference would be that hard to take. It was.

Today has been a leisurely type of day. I've unpacked since I only had my computer case and a tote bag with little in it. One of the two Priority Mail boxes I sent arrived today so I am now emptying it. It contained things I can't find in WI or things I just wanted to relocate to WI.