The year is ticking by . . .

. . . and I am holding on.  Again.

I'm wallowing in my annual 'holiday pity party'.

It starts the beginning of December but really takes hold of me the last week of the year.

It hasn't always been so.  But the last few years have left me anxious to see the season end.

I know the reasons why and I have resolved all of those feelings but I still can't help myself.

I truly have a good life.  People who love me.  Other people who care.

Believe me, it is all self inflicted.

I am usually content.

But I am not confident.

This new year will be different.  I mean it!  I really mean it!

I will struggle on whether to publish this post but you need to know the real me.  I don't know why I think you do, but you do.

I'll catch up with you all on the flip side.  The happy side.  The 'see me always smiling' side.  The 'making future plans' side.

Because this will pass.  It always does.

Blessings to you, my friends, in this upcoming, wonderful, glorious new year! 

I can show you in many ways . . .

. . . and I always mean it from my heart!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Now, go make sure you left cookies for Santa and carrots for Rudolph because I already ate their share at my house!

I'm scrambling today . . .

 . . . because I thought I was prepared.

Christmas Eve is tomorrow night!

And Christmas is the next day!  

Why wasn't I notified that the week was going to fly by!

I thought I was prepared.

But there is so much left to do!

Why do I do this to myself?  Will anyone notice the cobwebs?  The fingerprints on the windows?  If they do, they will have to go to a house with a maid for next year's holidays.

I'm going to enjoy the festivities today and anxiously await my family's arrival!

Wishing you a 'stress-free', 'no need to worry about the little things', 'take time to revel in the holiday' day!

Hmmmm . . .

. . . as I look back on my recent posts, I see a theme of sorts.

I'm very non-colorful this Christmas.

Very dark even.  Very blah.

I thought I was just being neutral but now I just see blah.

Hmmmm . . . I wonder what that means?

Christmas MUST go on . . .

. . . just like the postman, through snow, sleet or rain of night ~~ or the blah feeling of a cold.

Christmas preparations MUST go on!

This super woman got up, got going, finished wrapping the last gifts, fluffed the decorations just a bit and (I must of been delirious from a fever) even baked!

I've been wanting to try these bite size cupcakes for awhile.  

And I thought it is 'feed a cold' right?

I fed a couple (okay, I admit it, it was many) of these yummy, coconut filled, chocolate mini-bites to my cold. 

I should be back to healthy very, very soon!

ps ~~ if you want the recipe, go here.  but if you want the 411 on the necessary tweaking, email me.

A re-gifted early Christmas present . . .

. . . do you re-gift?

No?  Me either.

But my grandkids do.

Those sweet kiddos of mine gave me an early Christmas gift . . .

. . . my very first winter cold of the year!  (sniff, sniff, ah-choo, ah-choo)

And as I sit close to my box of kleenex, snuggled under my furry quilt, I can't help but think this snowman is smiling a little too sinister at me.  He knows how much is left to do before Christmas but he wanted the company today.

Not too fear though.  This super woman will rally and all will be well.

Wishing you a healthy, productive day!

Christmas at Grandma's house . . .

. . . is a tradition for many.

My family is no exception.

Except now, I'm the Grandma whose house is where everyone gathers for holidays.

And you know what?  Even though I may grumble to myself about all of the work from time to time (shame on me!), I truly enjoy it!  It just won't be the same when my children have homes large enough to fit us all and we start taking turns.  That IS the plan for the future, right kids?

The years take their toll on those we hold dear.  Absent loved ones are especially missed during the holidays.

We hold our old, sepia-colored memories close to our hearts.

And cherish the new memories we make each year.

Where do you hold your Christmas gatherings?

  Are you heading 'over the meadow and through the woods, to Grandmother's house you go'?

I think I can start now . . .

 . . . actually 'feeling' the season, that is.

The decorating is finished, the presents are waiting to be wrapped, the Christmas programs have gotten me in the holiday mood, the ingredients for baking are sitting on the countertop, the cards are addressed and ready to be mailed, the Christmas menus are planned and baby, it's cold outside.

Everything is as prepared as it is going to be.  I'm going to enjoy the last week before Christmas without the stress of not being ready.

How about you?

Have you gotten into the 'feeling' of Christmas yet?

Not all stars shine brightly . . .

. . . some are just as meaningful made out of paper.

Go here for instructions.

Hope the stars are shining brightly over you wherever you are today!

Plans for the next 10 days . . .

. . . I'm unusual.  

I have to plan time to make plans.  Oh, I can think on my feet alright but the big plans need a special time carved out to just sit and think about.

This morning was planning time.  

The next 10 days will be a flurry of activity.  Shopping, wrapping presents, baking . . . you all know the drill.

I have the written plans to ensure a happy Christmas.  And, as I promise myself every year, I WILL NOT wait until the last minute to accomplish those plans!

Hoping your Christmas plans include enjoying the season!

I hope Santa will be there . . .

I'm so excited!  

We finally have a grandchild old enough to be in the Christmas program!  I get to be the silly grandma in the audience waving and making funny faces as the J-man sings his pre-school songs.

I hope Santa will be there.  I have several things on my wish list that I hope he can help me with!

Wishing you a ho ho ho kind of day!

Joyful, joyful . . .

. . . we adore Thee.

God of glory

Lord of love

(don't you just love Sister Act?  both 1 and 2?)

And we are joyful that it is the weekend!  

Only 14 more shopping days until Christmas!  

Do you think I should start?  Yeah.  Me too!

Wishing each and every one of you a joyful weekend!

ps ~~ Miss Maggie's House is open again tomorrow!  Please let the roads be clear of snow!

From dark to light . . .

. . . and shiny and bright.

Don't ya just love vintage ornaments?  

I wish I had a bucket full! 

I wish I had enough to make those wreaths that I drool over each time I see one!  

Wishing you a shiny and bright day!

Just a touch of black . . .

. . . always makes it into the Christmas scenes around here.  Since most of the decorating is staying in the 'white' category this year, a touch of black is required.   

I don't 'do' traditional red and green any more.  There may be a little lime green thrown in the mix some years but not this year.  Three Christmas boxes came out and what was in those three boxes were used.  I didn't even dare to look in the other 256 boxes because then I would have wanted it all out!

"Simple" is the theme for me this year.

But I do enjoy all of your over-the-top Christmas decorating and wish I wasn't so dang lazy!

Teeny, tiny, glittery, white . . .

. . . houses.

Truthfully, these are last year's photos with a little more 'foofing'.

They look exactly like last year, only in a different area.  I couldn't improve on the photos so why try.

Time is of the essence.  I've GOT to get this decorating DONE!

Are YOU finished yet?

Overworking Christmas . . .

. . . sometimes, when you think you need to add more, you see the beauty in simplicity.

I'm leaving this just as it is.

I hope you are experiencing the simple joys of the holiday season!

Christmas tree delivery delayed . . .

. . . due to being stuck in the snow.

Maybe tomorrow.  

*sigh*  

Just a dusting . . .

. . . of snow so far.  

The nasty weatherman is calling for 3-6 inches.

I'm hoping for no more than this.

Wishing you all a warm and wonderful weekend!

The madness . . .

. . . of me thinking I could knit everyone a scarf this Christmas!

One down, two started and three more to go.

Do you think I will accomplish this goal?

No?  Me either!

The winter cold has settled in . . .

. . . and I am settled down.

Snug as a bug in a rug.

Under a fur lined, warm and cozy, made by me, new quilt.

Can't you just feel the lusciousness?

Oh wait!  Is it the first of December?  Does that mean that the Christmas decorations have to be put up?

DRAT!

No more snuggling in front of the fire for me!  Off I go to lug down the boxes, untangle the lights, move furniture, scrounge for batteries so the 'fa la la la la' music can be played, put away the non-holiday knickknacks, find places for my favorite Christmas pieces and generally get into the holiday mood!

Here's my plan . . . I'll show you snippets of the old farmhouse Christmas everyday.  It may not always be pretty.  It may not always be something that is actually finished.  And it certainly may not always be something homemade.  But it will be how we celebrate the holidays here on the farm.  Gosh!  I hope I don't have to show you how we shovel snow out of the bunks or thaw out the water tanks!

At least the weather is conducive to staying inside today cuz 'baby, it's cold outside' here in Nebraska!

I'm cold just thinking about what is bound to be coming so I am going back to hunker down under the cozy fur quilt and think about my Christmas plan for awhile longer.

Happy December 1st everyone!

Let the merriment begin!