Good Morning

Yesterday was my first full day home in I don't know HOW long! It felt so good...even if I did have clean! I have a bunch of pictures to share from the last few days, so let's see what was happening...


We had DH's family over for Christmas on Saturday...I think there were 30 of us! We pack into the livingroom to open presents. This is the room we took the carpet out from, can you see the floors?








Sunday, my son got to use his birthday present; tickets to the Buffalo Bills vs NY Giants football game. He's a Giants fan. It was DH, DS, and Grandma and Grandpa...they should have took the Ark! Nancy Jo, do you recall the the weather in the Buffalo area Sunday? For those of you who missed it, it was about 30 degrees, raining BUCKETS of ice cold water and the wind was howling at a hefty 50 mph! DS LOVED the game! So sad to have missed all the fun (?), but DD and I stayed home to finish Christmas gifts that will be shown later. Yes, I seem to always be working at the last minute.

Christmas Eve was spent at my mom and dad's. It is a small little gathering as I am an only child. I may be partial to those two lovely people I am blessed to have as my parents, but it is my favorite gathering as they know with all their hearts the true meaning of Christmas. I have only an inkling of how they cried and prayed and labored until I knew the true meaning also.
We make a whole day out of Christmas Eve when the men don't have to work, and that was the case this year. The kids love grandma's stockings...and the goodies...



I even got ma's present finished; my first appliqued wall hanging:

My dad has the best sense of humor, I should find my prom pictures when he's wearing the funky painters hi-tech breathing mask!

Mom and dad floored me though with my gift: What a suprise...I did get some sewing in yesterday afternoon...it's dreamy!

DD got us up at 5:30 Christmas morning! DH loves his fleece tie blanket we made the Sunday he was freezing at the football game!

I think Jazzy had a good time too; she opened her gift Christmas Eve. She does look ready for the hustle and bustle to die down! I hope you all had as lovely and loving of a Christmas as we did. Now I must go visit my new baby...there are goodies to be made!
~Blessings!

A Gift of Love

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, I surely did. Lots of family and love and food and fun. I want to back up and show you a lovely quilt that was made for a lady that has worked in our school kitchen for 30 years. She is retiring as of Christmas vacation so another co-worker wanted to make her a quilt. I made some of the blocks, and Cathy made the rest and put it together. I loved how it came out and Lynda, our retiree, seemed to love it.

Ornaments

I thought it would be fun to show each other some of our ornaments on the tree. I can't necessarily say these are my favorites, I have so many, but they made nice pictures.

This is Linus from Charlie Brown Christmas...he quotes the Bible and tells about when Jesus is born like in the show...it totally melted my heart and had to come home with me this year.

This was a gift from a friend last year. I think it beautiful, especailly as it is lit up by putting a bulb in the back.

Yes, the moose find their way into the tree also!
Quite a few to remind me of when the children were small...



And bulbs to fill in every space in between!

We've had a good 6 to 8 inches of snow in the last 6 hours; but I suspect it will all be cleaned up by tomorrow and there will be school. A big storm coming in Sunday could change our plans for traveling to a family Christmas party.

Hope you are all warm and safe!
~Blessings

Beginning to Feel Like Christmas

We are having our first Christmas Party today... my BFF from high school, her hubby and 4 month old little guy. I went shopping for all the goodies last night. Traffic wasn't too bad, and the weather was good which is the most important for this gal! I made this stocking for my friend since this is her first Christmas as a "mom", and being a mom is something she has had her heart set on for as long as I can remember.

I filled her stocking with lotions, a little chocolate,cookie cutters and some scrap booking supplies. Having a new little one, a dog who thinks she's really baby #1 and a full-time job, she doesn't really have a lot of time to scrapbook. I know though she enjoys it, so I bought a baby album that has most everything laid out for her. Quick and easy, but still adorable.
We'll be having ham, mashed potatoes, corn, crescent rolls and a chocolate peanut butter pie tonight. YUM!

Here is the crayon bag finished! I really love how it turned out. I just need a couple of "Dora" coloring books and probably another box of crayons to finish it off. It goes with the Dora quilt I made...binding still has to be completed by next Sunday...I am starting to realize I DETEST binding.

And for those who need a snow fix....



Well, I best get going...I have to pick up DD from basketball practice and transport her to a snowmobilers course! Also have to drill her to find out where my IPOD cord is. I always leave in the computer and when she needs to plug hers in she should just switch cords, leaving mine nearby. I was going to fill my IPOD with Christmas music this morning and of course, no cord. She will say "I don't know", and ultimately, it's my fault, because apparantly, I'm not good with cords either. Between the camera and the IPod....I guess I'm just half a techy!!

Have a wonderful weekend!
~Blessings!

PS ~ Ok, So I'm a dork sometimes, I'll admit it! I pick up DD and ask her about above mentioned cord.
"Mom, you hook your Ipod directly to the computer; you don't HAVE a cord!" (as eyes roll!)
Does this mean I'm old?

Snow Day

Wow, here I am again! It's a snowday...yippee! I took this picture at 5:30 this morning. We got about six inches of snow with more to come. The worst of it is the 20 mph winds; makes for nasty driving. I have to sheepishly admit that I prayed for this last night..."God PLAAALLEEESEE (that's please in a winey NY accent!) I need a free day to get the house together and projects finished for Christmas." Now, I can't exactly say He did this for me, but I sure gave Him alot of praise this morning! I am having guests over ever weekend from now until after New Years! When did I become the hostess with the mostess? I do enjoy it, immensely, but I am no Martha Stewart! I do frantic power cleaning at last minute because I have been out at soccer/football/basketball games for weeks; or I chose the sewing machine over the vacuum cleaner!




So I started bright and early...cleaned the bathroom, dustmopped the floors...probably shouldn't waste time wet mopping til Friday night! And do some fine tuning on my decorating. I've got Denver and the Mile High Orchestra Christmas tunes jamming in the CD player and I am good to go! If you like Big Band high energy music, find this CD! It is fantastic.

Can you see my Christmas post cards on the shelf? The big one with Santa is from Nancy Jo last Christmas and the others are from the antique shop. I bought a handful last week along with a bag of old Christmas cards. I love them. I haven't quite decided what to do with them all yet, so if any of you paper experts have any ideas, please share.


Here is the top of the bureau I have in the kitchen. It came out a little dark, but I have some of my green glass out for Christmas. I love the Nativity; it was a gift to myself last year from Gooseberry Patch. And of course...the Moose are on the loose.

Speaking of Moose, here are a few more sharing the Christmas Spirit. They are joined by Snoopy this year...I fell madly in love with him at Hallmark...he plays Linus and Lucy and I have to hear it every time I pass him!! Gosh, I'm such a child sometimes!

Well, I think I'll go work on some mail art and figure out what I'm doing for a gift I need for Saturday.
~Blessings!

Happy December

Yes, it's December 2nd all ready! I am officially an adult saying, "my, my doesn't time fly?", cause it sure does! And busy....shoot we have sports banquets this Sunday and next, basketball games a couple nights a week, Christmas get togethers starting next Saturday and every weekend following. And yes, through in a few birthdays! I need to eat my Wheaties!!

I did get a lot accomplished yesterday. I sewed and sewed to my hearts content AND made some cards. I am not making all my Christmas cards, but I make a few to satisfy the need in me. I have to get some pictures taken of my projects because the little coloring book bag I made my cousin's little girl is TOO sweet.Here is the quilt I made, minus the binding.

Oh yes, I also have to show you what we did last weekend. Friday DH and I took the carpet out to the living room. I think the floor looks great, he likes it too. Then Saturday I put up the tree and started decorating. Sunday I could barely move!!! So I must get the camera out and start snapping some shots again. I think I get out of the habit b/c it's sort of a pain to get them on the computer. But it's time!!!

We have snow this morning. Probably about four or five inches. They've called for a storm warning through Monday. The teachers were even whispering about a snowday Monday! Can you imagine? I thought they were supposed to be the adults! LOL! Ah they are human too...and probably like me, looking at the calendar wondering how to get "it" all done between now and Christmas without any time off! A snow day would be grand!

We visited Grandma on Thanksgiving. It was a bittersweet day. A lot of chaos going on in her house on a daily basis. She's still tired and has lost a lot of weight. She's quiet too. I think she's ready to see Jesus. I hope we can give her a nice Christmas.

Well, I promise to get my camera out...let's show each other how we decorate for Christmas.

Until next time....~Blessings