One honkin' big tulip

 And I'm halfway through with page 3 of RST 1779:

This is one humongous tulip--at least, when you compare it to the previous flowers.

I decided the most efficient way to manage the color changes was to thread up needles with each shade of silk and work back and forth in rows. And mark off each row as I did it. Otherwise, I do believe my head might have exploded.

Whoever RST was, she was masterful in shading, especially when you consider she has limited herself to Queen stitches all the way. Cissy said that she had never seen some of the patterns and techniques when she was charting the design from the antique she owns. And she's been collecting Queen stitch patterns for years.

Anyway, I'm going to work on the other big flower on this page today and hope to make significant progress, although this project may well be the definition of slow stitching.

And enjoy the tree for a few more days. And maybe watch/listen to White Christmas one more time. Along with Miracle on 34th Street, and A Christmas Story, and the version of Christmas Carol with George C. Scott as Scrooge.

It just goes too fast . . .