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Tuesday, November 23, 2010

A Week of Thanks

This is the week I spend with my Mom.  Every year the men in the family are deer hunting over Thanksgiving week.  This has been the norm for me all my life.  Others wonder why I "allow" my husband to be hunting over the holiday, but this is how I grew up.  I believe I've only ever seen my Dad once in my life on Thanksgiving.  It's the way we roll!

Mom always comes to stay for the week, and we do some Christmas shopping, visit quilt shops and go out to eat.  We visit with eachother and with Mom's sisters - for this one time each year we just bum around together.  This year hubby is home - only the 2nd time in 28 years he's missed "the hunt".  Being out of a job doesn't allow the annual camaraderie, but we are thankful nonetheless.  We have a roof over our heads, food in the fridge, we are healthy, and have fabulous family and friends.  

Mom stopped at her sister's on the way here, and my aunt sent two tatting shuttles for me.   My aunt always remembers that I tat, and forwards me anything to do with tatting.  These may have belonged to my great aunt, or even possibly my great-great aunt.  Not sure how old they are.

The first one is larger than a Clover, and marked with TRADE-Gloria-MARK.  I have never seen this before, but it seems like a wonderful shuttle to use.




The other one is this blue marbled one.


This one is marked Susan Bates WHITE DOT, and is marked PATENT APP'D FOR.  The ends are loose, or "sprung".  I haven't seen a shuttle like this before and haven't had much time to research it, but I did find a little information by Teri Dusenbury HERE.  I will have to do some more snooping on these shuttles when I have a chance - but these were a fun surprise!  



I also received a Secret Santa gift from the Intatters exchange from Alizandria!  Some lovely tatting, an ornament, and some thread and beads.  I haven't had an opportunity to take photos yet, but will post that next time.  It's so fun to participate in exchanges!

I have only finished this one snowflake - and with mistakes at that.  This will be Motif #5 of my 2nd 25-Motif Challenge.

Motif #5
Snowflake #7 
Festive Snowflakes and Ornaments
Blue variegated thread, size 20

Mom & I will NOT be found shopping with the maniacs at 3 am on Friday.  We will be snug in our beds until we are good and ready to hit the pavement.  No deal is worth fighting the crowds at that ungodly hour for us.  Will YOU be shopping?

Happy Thanksgiving :)

7 comments:

  1. Interesting shuttles and lovely blue snowflake! Have a great time with your mom and Happy Thanksgiving!
    Fox : )

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  2. Very cool shuttles! I like that the blue shuttle matches the blue snowflake!

    Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you and your mom have a wonderful visit!

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  3. Both shuttles look pretty cool, to bad the blue one has sprung tips. There may be something you can do about that, but it's cool to have whether you can or not.

    I didn't grow up with anyone that hunted but I married one. Deer season (reg. firearms) starts the week after Thanksgiving here but our anniversary is that week so there have been a few years that were celebrated late or early because of that. He hasn't been out the last few years which is okay with me. But there is no sense arguing about it, you just find a way to deal with it.
    No, I will not be out shopping. It's possible I won't leave the house on Friday. I don't think I'm aggressive enough to shop on Black Friday :-)
    Great job on the snowflake.Hanging on the tree no will notice any mistakes, I promise you.

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  4. Lurve the shuttles and the blue motif. We don't have Thanksgiving here but I wish you a good one!!! I'm jealous - I love turkey and all the trimmings.

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  5. Your shuttles are lovely. How thoughtful of your aunt to give them to you. Holland does not have Thanksgiving, but we do have Sinterklaas, which is NOT the same as your Santa. THis Sinterklaas comes all the way from Spain by boat and he brings present to those who behaved good, and who did not will be taken back in a sack to Spain! So we have to watch out, because he has little spies who listen at the chimneys, the Zwarte Pieten.. So, when you do not hear from me anymore.... I'm off to Spain.. Enjoy your days together!

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  6. Wish I had an aunt that gave me shuttles! Very nice ones at that.

    I have never ever taken part in the Friday shopping frenzy. I don't like crowds. I don't like to get up in the middle of the night for anything other than the potty and nothing is worth changing my habits at this point. My DD and DDIL have gone for years but I think they've even started passing on it.

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  7. Those shuttles are TOTALLY awesome and you are so lucky to have them! How cool!
    I don't blame you one bit for staying snug in your bed until you are ready to get up and go shopping, LOL!
    Happy Thanksgiving! :D YAY! I only have to work a half a day today WOOT WOOT!
    (((Hugs)))
    ~TattingChic ♥

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Thanks for your thoughts - I read and appreciate every one!