A Mantra and a Quilt and a Christmas

After months of working on this quilt, it is finally complete! Unfortunately, instead of feeling elated about creating a masterpiece, an heirloom that will be passed down from generation to generation, I find myself picking my work apart. I can't stop seeing the mistakes! Perhaps all quilters do this. For the past 3+ months, the part of me that wanted to "jump in" and learn as I worked was at odds with the part of me that wanted this quilt to be a perfect work of art. After all, the fabrics were perfect so the quilt should be, too.

On a positive note, I learned a ton! Countless sewing lessons have been burned into my memory. As I mentioned before, I used the "loopy" quilting method and love the texture that the quilting creates.

The title of the quilt and my new mantra is Bloom Where You Are Planted. It seems appropriate and I am trying to live it out!

While we completely missed our friends and family back home, we had a great Christmas in Copenhagen. The fun began on Christmas Eve at Henrik and Ulla's house where we enjoyed the most delicious traditional Danish Christmas dinner. Henrik is a gourmet cook, so we were spoiled rotten. We ate yams, caramelized potatoes, herb roasted potatoes, roasted duck, sauteed red cabbage, and pork roast with a rich wine reduction gravy.



After dinner we ate the traditional "risalamande" which is a whipped rice pudding full of chopped almonds and topped with cherry sauce. In this dish there were three whole almonds that guests were supposed to find and conceal in mouths (if found) while eating this dessert. There were many false accusations and second and third helpings that were had. The winners revealed who they were after the serving bowl was empty and the last portion was eaten. The winners even got prizes! We also sang songs and danced around the Christmas tree. Aaron and I will take these traditions home with us.

Keeping with my family's tradition, we made the bread ring again this year. We used marzipan instead of almond paste and it tasted great!



Hope you all had memorable Christmases.