WE HAD SNOW!!! It is the second snowfall in England this year, but the first for us here in Suffolk. Keith called from Yorkshire Sunday morning and they had several inches. We only had about an inch, and of course it was nearly all gone within a few hours, but it still looked pretty.

The time is winding down to the holidays. I'm already getting nervous about Thanksgiving dinner and having discerning guests. After that, its hardly any time until we leave for Christmas in Michigan. I really hope we have some snow there this time as the last Christmas we had there, in 2005 I think, it rained.

There will be lots of fabric and other quilting things waiting for me to stuff in my luggage and bring back to England. I plan to start the Double wedding ring sometime next year.

I also have to start my new knee exercises this week to prepare for knee surgery in a few months. Not looking forward to that much, but I guess it has to be done.

Here is the snowfall from Sunday, 23 December.

Another week gone by and I am still trying to get used to Obama being the President elect. The inauguration promises to be some spectacle.
Went to an orientation meeting for knee replacement surgery yesterday and all sounds good except that they keep stressing that knee replacement is more painful than hip replacement. I don't look forward to that. Apparently, surgery should be scheduled about 18 weeks from the time of the meeting which would make it the end of March.
It is only a week until Thanksgiving and I am beginning to panic already. We will be having dinner for 6 and I am not sure if I can pull it off. Maybe a little sherry before the cooking would help?
Still working on the DJ quilting and also making star blocks. I have no idea what the star quilt will look like at this point, but it has a black background with rich bright color stars.
Also working on genealogy a lot lately trying to get my files in some kind of order to pass a copy on to my nephew who will inherit all the family history things (whether he wants to or not). I can't believe what a mess some of the lines are in. I also must do a lot of picture labeling. I have just realized that I am the only person in the family who knows who some of those people are! That doesn't make me feel old.
21 years ago tomorrow, that Dad died. It does not seem at all possible. But Christmas has never been the same.

Nearly a week now since the US presidential election. Barack Obama has become the first African American president elect! Remembering the Civil Rights movement in the 60's and various other racial problems in the States, I sometimes cannot quite believe that this has really happened. Other times, it seems perfectly normal and natural. It is certainly something whose time has come. In eight years, I would love to see a Native American woman running for President or even Vice President.
Last week the Monks Eleigh history group had a talk on our local historic theatre in Bury St. Edmunds. The speaker gave a lot of history of theatre in general and the evolution of the physical structure of theatrical buildings and settings--a central stage, audience surround and actually a part of the performance, backdrops, perspectives and arches, also side entrances. For some reason it all made me think of Stonehenge with its dramatic setting around a central "stage" and all those fantastic arches. Could it be that it was a place for sacred theater?
Two quilting classes this week and two next week and then its time for Thanksgiving. I won't be here for the December classes and probably won't do any work while in Michigan. I wish I could get the drive to finish more of my projects, but I guess they will come in time.
Have been taking lots of tree photos to plan several small tree quilts--also Hansel and Gretl and Chicago. Will have to live to be about 300.

Tomorrow is the U.S. presidential election. They say that the voter turnout will be the highest since the Kennedy election. I don't know if that is good or bad. I really fear for the country if Palin somehow becomes Vice President. I just can't believe she is even on the ticket and McCain doesn't look at all well, which makes it even more dangerous.
Even though I don't live there now, all of my family does and they need a change--some hope for the future. Bush had gone pretty far toward ruining the country altogether. Things must turn around or America won't be America anymore.
On the quilting side, still working on the hand quilting of the DJ quilt and not being very happy with my stitches. I have puckers on the back, but I am not willing to unpick and re-layer and re-baste the entire quilt. I have already layered and basted twice, as I had to remove the mountain mist batting because it was too small and was tearing. If I ever finish this quilt, I plan to USE it.
Have to order a turkey today for Thanksgiving. We will be having good friends for the meal, but, of course, no family. I feel sorry that England does not have a holiday like this. Halloween has just finished without much celebration and the Christmas decorations were already up! By the time Christmas comes, you are already sick of it and even so, it isn't so much family oriented here as in the States.
Enough grumbling, must get sewing.