Now to make up for lost time . . .

. . . post a pic or two . .

. . . of a quick visit to Munich via Heathrow just before Christmas to visit DD3 and some Christmas markets, for which Germany is famous.

 Sun going down over southern England ... and beyond.

 Willkommen in Bayern . . . with a speciality or two.

 The view out the back.  Why the view of this field beyond the garden fence to the Stadtbahn rails by the line of trees fascinated me I don't know, but I had to keep looking at it!

 Visit to the Christkindlmarkt in Regensburg - angels in the arty section . . .

 . . .  nice blue house, one of the oldest in town . . .

 . . . a bit of snow . . . and more nice coloured houses . . .

 . . . a bit of Glühwein . .

 . . .  off to the oldest Wurst restaurant in the world, by the Danube, which was looking a bit generous . . .

 . . . and on the way home, a queue on the motorway.  I know its blurred, but its an interesting image! Try clicking on it.

 Next day, into central Munich, and the Viktualienmarkt for fabulous piles of food . . .

 It was a rather chilli day, minus about 5 degrees.

 Down in the Ubahn, lovely curved roof.

 Waiting for the train to the airport, orderly graffitti.

 And auf Wiedersehen snowy Munich.

 And hallo London, with the Thames looping away and the millenium dome visible in the first curve.

 Back home, now to try out these lovely Valdani quilting threads bought in the quilt shop I found right in the centre, behind the Stadmuseum - Quilt und Textilkunst.  They had a small Quilt Art exhibit there, some of the pieces that had been at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham back in August, and a lovely stock of fabrics.  Pity the euro was so high!

Has it really been so long . . .

. . . since I put anything on this blog?  I've been a bit preoccupied with too many other things, that's the trouble.  Anyway, this mixture of photos will maybe get me going again. 

Its going back a bit now, but here is a very brave little summer marigold, surviving in the December snow and ice.  (The eyes behind the glass are on a paper plane DH made - supposed to be the best flyer of all paper planes.  Didn't notice it when taking the pic.  It looks as surprised to see the flower as I am, considering how cold its been!)

 And this is Alvin, made and names by daughter and grandchildren.

 .. and a winter moon, nice and atmospheric . . .

 . . .  lovely frosty edges . . .

 . . .  and patterns of crystals . . .

 . . .  and a nice little snowman story, bonded appliqué, started at a Quilters' Guild workshop day in November and finished at home in time for Christmas.

 He came to the same end as Alvin, sad to say.

 And we also made this cute bag on that day, from the Omiyage book by Kumiko Sudo.

 And after some talk about couching on the CQ group list I had to have a go.  If only I'd made it bigger i could have used it for a book cover, but I just wanted to get stitching, not spend time thinking!  I never learn.  That's why there are so many bits of samples around that it is hard to find something to do with.

 This collection of hearts and hand-embroidered bags sat waiting to be posted to people for #christmas presents.