The Quilt Skipper

quilting makes me skip for joy

Jenny K Lyon

Quilting makes me skip for joy

Christmas 2020 style

I wasn’t sure I’d post today but I thought that I might bring cheer to some of my readers. I’m sharing my home with you today. Like most of you, we’re shut down and it’s a shame to not share our decorations with others. Usually our home would be full with our boys and my DIL and it’s so sad to be here alone. We certainly have many blessings, among them the impending birth of our first grandchild! Oldest son who works ER got vaccinated yesterday. Oh will the day come when we all have access? Soon?

Let me share and hopefully give you a smile and some cheer:

This is one of my favorite scenes. There’s something about a mantle with stockings that I find heart warming.

I know so many of you have trees overflowing with meaningful ornaments. The Lyon’s, not so much!

If only I could welcome you to my home for a lovely gathering!

Love this quilt made by local quilter Lana LaPlante.

My decorating style is to use “ploppers”, pre-arranged baskets or vessels that just need to be, well, plopped down. It works well for me. I am not one to fluff and puff my decor. A few of my favorite ploppers:

I kinda went wild with the fairy lights this year. I love the gentle light they give.

The boys still enjoy going through these favorite books.

Yes, He is Prince of Peace.

And this is my favorite, a sweet, tiny nativity with just a wee little light. Right now faith is what we need and what sustains me.

We are doing a spin on our traditions. Christmas Eve we traditionally have homemade Chicken Noodle Soup before going to church. I’m avoiding the service this year but maybe we’ll drive around looking at lights. Christmas Eve dinner will be Wild Rice Soup, soooo good!

Christmas Day we usually go to IHOP for breakfast, then catch the first showing of a movie, followed by a late afternoon dinner. This year we’ll be dining on Crab Cakes, Cauliflower/Pomegranate/Pistachio Salad and Twice-Baked Potatoes. The poms come from my yard and we had a bumper crop this year. It’s an odd menu, but one Hubby will enjoy too.

I am focusing on the joy that is still here in this Season of Hope. I pray that next year we will find ourselves attending large gatherings, hugging and traveling. Merry Christmas dear readers. I’m sending you a big, warm, virtual hug. We celebrate Hope.

If they are posting on Christmas Day, I’ll be linking up to:

Nina-Marie’s Off the Wall Friday
and
Finished or Not Friday

Comments

  1. Merry Christmas Jenny,
    I can’t believe all the things we have in common, beyond quilting. I have made the same stockings for my family over the years and make a new one for every new addition…..running out of room on the mantle. My son in law is a PA in the Johns Hopkins ER and he was vaccinated 3 days ago. We have Sicilian Seafood Chowder every Christmas Eve and have for many many years. We will be watching the service on TV….not the same, but something. We will have Rib Roast, Truffle Risotto, brussel sprouts and salad on Christmas day. We’re planning to drive and look at lights to have a little Christmas cheer too. And……looking forward to appreciating all we have now and in the future!
    I tried to up load a picture of my tree…..but couldn’t figure out how.
    Merry Merry Christmas!!!
    Sandy

    • Merry Christmas to you too Sandy! How funny, the things we have in common. We surely will meet in person at some event in the future, when it all opens up again. Same stockings, ER SIL, soup for Christmas Eve, drive around and look at lights – what are the odds? Your Christmas dinner sounds really good, especially the truffle risotto! Good to hear from you!

  2. I loved seeing your home and am VERY amused by your term “ploppers.” It’s perfect!

    It is, indeed, a different sort of Christmas this year, but it sounds like you’re finding blessings and silver linings in the midst of everything. I’m a firm believer in “If you look for blessings, God will reveal them.”

    Glad to know you’re a believer. Me too! I hope you and your family have a joyful Christmas!

    • Yup, I’m a plopper kinda gal! It’s been hard to find the good in all of this at times. Yes, a believer! Have a wonderful Christmas!!

    • Shasta I sure understand not decorating much – who would see it? Christmas is also about sharing and there wasn’t as much to share this year. We did have a nice, sedate Christmas and we’re looking forward to a raucous Christmas next year with a 1 yr old!

  8. Merry Christmas, Jenny! I felt the same way about the decorations this year. We scaled back a bit because it felt weird to decorate for parties that we wouldn’t be hosting. I’m glad we had both of our boys and my mom here, knowing that these Christmases together are numbered and “home for Christmas” will not always mean MY home for these young men. Lars turned 20 today, which doesn’t seem possible. Has it really been so many Christmases since he was born?! Ah well. We have not been attending in-person church services either, partly out of prudence since Bernie’s in a high risk health category, but also because the idea of worshipers spaced 6′ apart, no sharing of the peace, everyone masked, and no one allowed to sing besides the soloist does not sound like worshiping at all to me. Usually I’m at church for four services on Christmas Eve so it felt really weird to be staying home in my comfies. I suppose this will make NEXT Christmas that much more meaningful, since we will appreciate and no longer take for granted that we’re able to gather again!

    • Oh Rebecca Grace, how odd to be at home, especially for you! No one to share your voice with. Lars CAN’T be 20! I’m sorry to hear how much your life reflects mine right now. Son (works ER) has been vaccinated, maybe by summer we can all hug and travel?

  9. Wonderful decorations, mice are my favorites! Peace to you and your family in the New Year. Enjoy each of your blogs, lovely garden photos,too.