Quiltmania Advent Blocks, Just Believe and Relax, Free Patterns

I find it a little harder to concentrate this close to Christmas. I'm not sure why.  I have it so easy compared to all the preparations, dinners, parcels to mail, etc., plus finishing up the school term as a teacher that would constitute my Decembers in past times. Now it's easy peasy.  Buy presents, wrap them, decorate the house with little guy's help, cook and bake a few treats for us. Oh and the very taxing- listen to Christmas music, remember to turn on the tree lights. Certainly nothing too consuming there. And I really do love it all.
 Maybe it is just the season and the millions of memories that bubble up that are diverting my attention a little. Or that on certain days I have the vague but nagging feeling that there is something that needs doing and I've forgotten what it is...a lingering post retirement feeling that I've almost shaken.  Hubby, the sage, says relax.

Accomplishing a few things in the sewing room and the therapy of it all is not lost on me.
Snowman Santa cross stitch is now a cushion- Just Believe...yes!

Hand applique is one of my favourite pastimes.
 Several more of the Quiltmania Advent blocks. More embellishments in the form of embroidery, beads and buttons to come for several of these. That bell needs a clapper. A free and truly fun project.

I've had this little free pattern from Jenny at Home Stitchness in my files for a long time.  It works up into a sweet little ornament.
                                                   
I'm on the look out for this jigsaw puzzle. The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady, winter edition. It keeps getting sold out so if you come across it, please let me know.
                                                 
I do have this one that needs to be set up. To Kill a Mockingbird, :)

Winter is a great time to do jigsaws with a little music playing; something I like to do while I'm waiting for the potatoes to boil or Hubby to get ready...for those kinds of moments. (No I really can't just sit and do nothing.)

It is our monthly SAL link up hosted by Avis at  Sewing Beside the Sea. A more kind and encouraging group of international stitchers you could not find.
Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Linda, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Jenny, Carmela, Jocelyn, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, Connie
I'm pleased with my progress on Swirling Flowers. Though not a section as such finished, lots of fleshing out has occurred.  Can you spy my initial? I didn't realize there was to be an initial in this one till I came upon it in the pattern. (Seeing the forest but not the trees??)

Being a little more adventurous in the kitchen today, a desire prompted by the horrid weather, pouring down rain from the heavens! Mixed with bouts of freezing rain.  Have a small beef bourguignon simmering in the slow cooker.
Sunday morning update...view from my stitching chair in the living area.

Winter returns!

Murphy says What the heck!
Next time I'll share three skin/beauty products that I'm enjoying and what we find on our big Costco run which we must do this week.
Hope you are enjoying this pre-Christmas time of year and you are not forgetting something important that needs doing!
Happily linking this post with Kathy's Quilts, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, The Jesh Studio, Viewing Nature With Eileen, The Madd Quilter, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, What A Hoot Quilts and Quilting is More Fun Than Housework.