Festive snippits . . .

When looking at my photos here, I'm a little embarrassed at how little I decorated this Christmas!  Especially after seeing all of your beautiful homes decked out to the nines!  But my home still feels cozy and warm with just the few festive touches.  I'll miss the decorations when they're put away for another year. 

I found a BUNCH of brush trees on sale that I bleached white yesterday.  I think I'll sprinkle some glitter on a few.  How should I display my forest of trees next year since this one is very, very lame! 

The big tree is all white, silver and blingy just like the little tree that I showed earlier.   

Since we had Christmas on Saturday, we are finished for another year.  My main man and I will be alone for Christmas Day.  First time.  I'm kinda sad.  

But I have good news!  My daughter Megan got engaged a couple of weeks ago!  I'm sure you will be hearing alot about wedding plans!  Any wedding tips, tricks and ideas will be greatly appreciated! 

May you all anticipate with wonder the coming of Christmas.  Act like a kid again!  Be gracious and forgiving with family.  Eat like it's your last meal because come January, it is back to beans and rice and rice and beans!  And believe in your heart the cliche' - Remember the reason for the season!

Christmas Blessings to you all! 

Merry, merry, happy, happy . . .

A few photos of my not-as-decorated-as-usual home.  I only unpacked what was white, or gold, or silver or sparkly.  Oh, and the box that was on top of all the other Christmas boxes that had a few red and lime green ornaments.  Those are in the kitchen and I'll show you those another time.

But for now, here is my sitting room (it's really the living room with the TV but this is where I do ALL my sitting!).  The big tree is in another room but I like to sit in the dark and watch the blinky lights so I put a small tree in here.

This little tree has the pearl garland that I posted about earlier (you can read about it here).  And the little mittens - they were mine when I was a wee, little lass.

The small bookcase is like it usually is - I just added a few touches.  Lazy, I know.

A new wreath, made by moi.

And these teeny, tiny houses - also made by me - are teeny, tiny!  My daughter and I were going to whip these puppies up before her cookie party but these turned out to be not-to-be-whipped-up-in-a-hurry type of craft.  Took me 3 whole days!  But too cute not to be finished, ya know.

The biggest house is only 4 inches tall and I cut the church steeple wrong so the steeple turned into another house.  Sorry folks, you can't go to church in this little village!

I'll post some more little vignettes of my holiday house another day.  We are celebrating Christmas this Saturday so there are things to be done.

So merry, merry Christmas and happy, happy holidays!

ps - I'm going to try to link up to Sherry's (No Minimalist Here) 'Share the Decor' party.  One of my goals next year is to play with others more often!  Step number one before actually joining a swap or going to a gathering with other bloggers!

How will my other gifts top these?

Sometimes you stumble across a blog that speaks to you.  There are photos to drool over, words to contemplate and a life that you are envious to emulate.  Gypsy Brocante is one of these blogs.  I visit Jill often and one of my comments won me some beautiful gifts!  Oh, I'm a lucky girl!

The little Charlotte's head arrived broken but her face is still intact.  All the more special.

Each present was wrapped deliciously.  My fingers caressed the cabinet cards, the wrinkled seam binding, the millinary flowers, the crocheted garland.

Inside one package was this scrumptious scarf that Jill created herself!  Silky on one side and shabby print on the other.  Not to mention the lacy goodness on the ends.  Yummy!

And the item that knocked my socks off!  A copy of Rachel Ashwell's new book!  Well, I sat right down and oogled each and every picture. 

But the best part?  Signed by none other than Rachel herself!  So special!

Gorgeous photos!  See?

 

Thank you Jill!  The new cookware that I suspect is under the tree pales in comparison to these gifts.  I am a lucky girl!

Run, do not walk, to Jill's blog and then get thee to the bookstore to get Rachel's lovely book for yourself . . .

I wanna be on etsy . . .

. . . I mean, I want an etsy shop of my very own!  And WHY don't I you ask.  Cuz.  Just cuz.  Oh, I'll get to it next week, or next month, or next year.  When the snow flies or when the daffodils bloom or when all the leaves are off the trees.  Yup, number one thing you need to know about me.  I'm a procrastinator of the extreme kind.  Especially when it involves really putting myself out there, ya know?

But before I go big cartel, let me interest you in a couple of ideas for stocking stuffers.

How about a CAMERA STRAP?  There are ALOT of camera straps out there to choose from but let me tell ya, mine are as cute as can be and are cheaper less expensive, a better bargain, more bang for your buck kind of strap.  They are magic straps -- guaranteed to turn your snapshots into award winning photos!  Well, that's not true at all but a pretty strap on your camera will make you want to get it out, show it off, and take lots and lots of pictures!  Not to mention that it feels better around your neck than that pesky ole 'came with the camera' strap.

Details -- it slips over a Canon or Nikon DSL camera strap (approximately 26" long).  $15.00 plus $5.00 shipping.  I'll wrap it as pretty as I can.  Email me - we'll talk.

Also for your stocking stuffer pleasure, fabric-covered NOTE-TAKERS.  I have 3 of these left (sorry, the blue one in the photo is sold).  Who wouldn't want to carry one of these to jot down all those ideas rumbling around in your head when you least expect it.  Paper and pencil right at your fingertips with a pocket to hold your coupons, receipts or secret notes from admirers.

Details -- approximately 6" x 8.5" closed.  $12.00 plus $5.00 shipping.  I'll even throw in the pad of paper and pencil cuz that is just how I roll.  Again, pretty wrapping.  Email me - we'll do some more talking. 

Even if you don't need a camera strap or a note-taker, you can email me anyway and we'll find SOMETHING to talk about!

Please excuse the blatant self-promotion of this post but I really must get used to blowing my own horn a little bit.  Some of my sewing creations are selling very well and I'm always asked where I sell my stuff.  It's all by word of mouth, baby, and that's a good thing!  No rejection required!

I'm done, done, 'stick a fork in me' done Christmas decorating!  Some areas are different than other years and some areas didn't get a thing.  Simplicity is my new mantra!  Photos will be shown at a later date when the boxes are returned to their hiding places.

Now, go plan that Christmas party you've been thinking about.  You wanna show off your decorating talents, right?

A garland of pearls . . .

I think this is the first Christmas item I unpack every year.  Of course, it is the first thing to go on the tree (after the lights) but it always puts me in the right mood.  Many years ago, I strung this garland made of pearls and other bits of broken jewelry. 

Contributions came from my mother, my grandmother and my mother-in-law.  My grandmother and mother are gone now.  Both leaving me within a month of each other - both right before Christmas.  Needless to say, Christmas has never been the same for me and I struggle every year. 

But this garland made of pearls reminds me of Christmas' past.  When we were all younger and family traditions were born.  The same traditions that I passed on to my children because the traditions were part of my mother and grandmother. 

As I hang this garland made of pearls on the tree and as it sparkles from the twinkling lights, I remember.  I am reminded of good times.  I am reminded that there are good times yet to be had.  I am reminded that I have been and still am truly blessed.

The Christmas decorations are spilling out all over the house.  I really should take a photo of the boxes because they will probably be out longer than the actual decorations.  Just like 'you have to spend money to make money' you have 'to have a mess before holiday decorating is accomplished'.

Get those Christmas boxes out, girls, and start foofing up your house.  Christmas is only 25 days away!

I guess I'm grateful . . .

. . . I mean, I really should be grateful for oh, so many things.  My family, my home, our excellent crop year, my church, my easy, peasy life!  Why don't I count my blessings every day rather than fret and stew over the things I can't control?  Why do I let hurtful comments or perceived slights bother me for days on end?  Why don't I do something about MY faults, MY imperfections, MY attitude?  Why can't I go outside my comfort zone and meet new supportive friends, find exciting avenues for entertainment, offer my services for a worthy cause, be invitational?  I truly think that I am a supportive friend, mother, grandmother.  I've always been the cheerleader in the family.  Urging committment, tolerance, perseverance.  Why can't I have my very own cheerleader? 

I've just been thinking about things lately.  Deep thoughts (so unlike me!).  There are people, places and circumstances that need to be changed.  Even my blogging needs to be changed.  And it all will begin with me.  These new beginnings in my life won't come easy, or fast, and I won't get them right the first time.  And probably not even the second time.  But I see a light up ahead that will guide me in the right direction.

Now, before you worry that there are major secrets I'm keeping, please know that there are none.  It is just that I'm not happy with myself.  And I'm certainly not happy with the lackadaisical way I've been treating my own blog and my bloggy friends.  There are a few loyal-to-the-bone friends that shoot me a comment every time I post.  No matter the silly, unamusing or down-right boring content of the post.

So, what am I truly grateful for this Thanksgiving?  My family, my home, our excellent crop year, my church, MY BLOGGING BUDDIES, my easy-peasy life!  I'm grateful that I can be a good listener to those that are going through really rough times.  I'm grateful that I can see through the gloom and scary parts of the world to find that compassion and dedication to make things better are still out there.  I'm grateful that little touches of kindness are meant to be shared.  I'm grateful that happiness can be a state of mind, no matter the situation.  I'm grateful that you let me ramble today so that I can write down my thoughts and feelings freely, without judgement.  I'll be reading this post periodically to remind me of my goals.  I'm grateful that so many of you are willing to share your thoughts, your families, your homes, your talents with me.  Inspiration is abundant here in cyperspace!

I'm wishing you all a blessed Thanksgiving!  I hope your turkey thaws in time to roast, your green bean casserole doesn't bubble over, your yams have plenty of marshmellows, your whipped cream sets up for the pumpkin pie and that your pants have an elastic waist!  I hope you are spending the day with family and friends that are grateful to have you in their lives.  I hope you are happy! 

Blessings - I got a million of them!  Happy Thanksgiving my lovelies!  

140 down, 500 to go . . .

. . . delicious Lutheran pies, made lovingly by good Lutheran women!

Rhubarb and a few apple pies today.  Peach, cherry and the rest of the apple pies later. 

Fellowship with other women always accompany playing with pie crust (which is made with 7-Up!).  We talk about our kids, our grandkids and some even speak proudly of great-grandkids.  We talk about the 'olden' days and about people who have come and gone in our lives.  We even gossip just a little, but being in the church kitchen, we sneak looks over our shoulders to see who is listening. 

There is nothing more satisfying than a good morning's work.  Knowing you contributed to a worthy cause.  Feeling that life's problems have been discussed thoroughly and solved satisfactorially.  We have caught up with each other and can go on with grateful hearts for our church family and our friendships.

Thanksgiving tables will be laden with pie. Each buyer has permission to take the credit and can honestly announce that the pie was made from scratch.

I don't like pie.

I have been burning the midnight oil sewing.  I have been invited to show my wares at an open house with 18 other vendors.  Oh dear!  I can't tell you how anxious I am.  I have sold so many of my creations this year that I can hardly keep up but I am still amazed that anyone wants the stuff I make.  Wish me luck girls!  If nothing sells, I guess I'll have a series of giveaways before Christmas!   

Better get back to work . . .