Of Christmas Past and the Year Ahead

I was nine when I had my first Christmas without snow. We had been in California for five months and still I hoped and prayed that it would, by some miracle...snow in sunny California come December 25th. It rained instead. I was devastated. I had gone through Christmas without my Dad, without my Grandparents, but never in my nine years, without snow. In the years ahead there would be more. As I grew I realized that Christmas was not about the snow, although my heart would like to see it, but about family and the spirit of giving more than just one day, but year round.

Christmas Past for me will always be at my Grandparent's home. After unwrapping presents, we would all gather in her yellow kitchen and help make our dinner. There was always an Italian dish, with or without a ham with all the trimmings. We would have either lasagna or manicotti. Manicotti was always my favorite, as I loved watching my Mom and Grandmother making the delicate macaroni crepes that we would roll the filling into. We, the grandchildren would sit at our "kid's table" located just off the kitchen and into the parlor, or the little playroom. My Grandparents are gone now. This year, my Dad decided that he wanted to make lasagna and braciole for us. As most of you know, he hasn't been well throughout the year. It took a lot of time and effort, but Dad came through wonderfully. As we ate, we reflected upon those years and memories past. We keep memories close and move ahead making new memories.

Tonight, I will be offering a couple of items on Lemon Poppy seeds. I will also be heading up to Saratoga for First Night which has become a tradition. The past year has had it's bumps, but all in all, it has been a good year. It was the first full year that I have sold finished items online, in my 11 years of doll making. Etsy has also become a good place to settle in with the patterns and I hope to bring finished friends there also. I will continue to share my dear characters with all of you this way. This year, I also started my graphic works, Until the Cows Come Home. I had to put it aside until a couple of months ago, with my Dad's health issues. I'm currently doing some free lance work, and I will move forward with note cards as I can. I'm also excited to see my new designs this year in the licensing world. Hopefully, you will see them in your favorite Prim Shop! There are a few more goode things to share, but not quite yet!

The New Year has not yet begun, but for this Good Wife, I have been fast at work through the few months to prepare for 2009. There are new patterns to be released this Spring, some you have seen and others will be new to you. I can't thank my dear friends enough for helping me out with new designs and letting me know how they work up and sell for them. I will also be offering a free Pattern again in March and hope to make it a tradition for all of you that enjoy sewing. It is everyone of you, new friend, old...family or someone that has just happened along here by chance; that inspire me to continue on. Thank you for being a part of my achievements and taking the time to stop by and see what's going on in my little corner of the world. May the New Year bring all Goode things to you