It's the New year Baby!

I am here at 9:16 on New Year's Eve having just spent the evening with my daughter and her family on her birthday. How well I remember sitting in the hospital and watching the traffic late that night go to and from parties on the freeway while I drank lemonade and wondered when I would next get to see my adorable baby. Now she has babies of her own and I am making story quilts about the whole lot of them. I cannot believe I am sounding like my own Grandmother who I once thought of as out of touch. I feel as "hip and happenin" as ever and now have a little more wisdom. :-) I read a really good quote this week by Abraham Lincoln's wife "Mary Todd Lincoln" who said ,"So many of my troubles I bring on myself. That is the nature of true tradegy, isn't it, not what happens to us from outside but from externam fate, though heavens knows that can be bad enough but what through our own character, we make happen ourselves." This past month I had the true pleasure of visiting three countries in Europe. I was invited by Bernina sewing Machine company to come and see their factory, the town and the surroundings. Bernina had plans for 80 designers to come and have the time of our lives visiting Switzerland and the areas around Schtecborn and Zurich and they even took us to Metler in Germany to visit their factory. This was fun for me as we passed through Olm Germany where my husband lived as a boy and my Sister in Law Lindsay was born. Four of us went to Munich to visit and see the Christmas Markets and the shops and to enjoy the people. Everyone there was very friendly and different people stopped to help us with directions and luggage. It was a relief to me as I worried about how someone from the US might be treated these days. The children were adorable and people were smiling and happy. COLOR is alive and blooming everywhere there! I took many photos of the colorful windows and shops and Christmas decorations and buildings. One day we went to King Ludwig's castles in Austria and the next we visited the Christmas markets in Salzburg Austria. We enjoyed great restaurants on the trip and I have a real appreciation for what they did with potatoes and sauerkraut. In Switzerland we had racklet on potatoes.This is delicious if you have not had it yet. Christmas was alive and happy everywhere. Did you know that in Switzerland they have a character that looks like Santa except his beard is dark brown, his outfit is brown hop sacking, he carries a switch and a bag. On December 6th he comes to take bad children to the forest with him and he leaves the good children treats in their shoes that they leave out. His name is Schmootly. He and Santa both came to one of the dinners I attended. A Swiss man at my table said that when he was young that Schmootly came and tugged on one arm while his Grandmother tugged on the other one and said "you are not taking my Grandson." He said he was scared to death. It was fun learning about this and we laughed to think how we would feel! In all three countries, there were Menorah's that were large and beautiful. I came home with such a good feeling for the people in Europe. I hope to go back again. I have been working on Flower Power blocks for my new book which I had hoped would be done by now. I can see it will be a little while longer as I came up with new designs while I was gone. The book will be chock full of flowers and critters and beautiful ideas on using great colors to create one of a kind quilts. This book is a follow up to the Hoochy Mama book and technique I came up with. There are so many great things you can do with these and I hope you will try to do borders or whole quilts with them if you love color and flowers and things that make people smile like I do. I will be posting new recipes and ideas on my newsletter on my website www.Marylouquiltdesigns.com and so if you are not signed up please consider it. I will be posting different things on my blogs than on my newsletter. I will be posting photos on my blog as soon as I learn how to do it. I have a great web lady named Susan who helps me out with these things. I vow to name things different weekly that I am thankful for this New Year and I challenge you to do the same. I am thankful for a space heater next to my computer on cold days and nights, the color turquoise and lime green together, Japanese oranges that are sweet and juicy, clean drinking water, hot chocolate with that water, good friends I get to see on the road, my Grandchildren's smiles, good Smelling handcream like Ginger Souffle (Origins), warm socks to wear at night, heating pads, ginger ale, scotch tape, old postcards, sea shells, sharp cheese and colorful earrings. As usual, I also vow to watch more closely what I put in my mouth. Next month I plan to tell you about my new pedimeter and if it is working as I hope it will. I guess I need to move to make it move. I wish you the best of what life has to offer. If you are struggling at the beginning of this year, remember that it is through struggling that we grow character. Keep in mind the many blessings bestowed on you and keep a list. It is a great way to start the year. Next time I hope to have some photos in here! Happy Happy New Year to You Dear Friend, Mary Lou