Santa was Here

Yes, Santa was here and delivered as usual. Oh how fun to celebrate another Christmas season. OK, now I wonder where this photo will appear. Round and round they go, just where on my post they show up...i don't know.

We had a wonderful, blessed Christmas and looking forward to the new Year. Especially since Santa showed up a few places for us.

Another Holiday Season

A view of the front porch, it's a wonderful front porch!!


Wow...I have a lot to learn about formatting this stuff..










Well it sure has taken me a long time to get back here. I wonder, does any notice yet...it is so hard getting established and gaining new blogging friends. But, it takes effort on the part of the blogger, herself....as I know I enjoy certain blogs on a regular basis and wait to be updated. And then there are those who are so faithful to update even daily at times. AND I ask you....how do you do it with you time. I know, I need time management in a big way. AND a big THANK YOU to all who post so often and w/lovely photos and all!!!

I am finally adding some Christmas photos of our home and children this season filled w/lights and all the new and old holiday songs.
I am adding these photos and they just go where they want...So, I will try something different

Christmas Treasures

I wish you could see these red glass ornaments in person! I cannot capture them perfectly yet, they are about 12" long. I love them and picked up these white glittery "Noel" signs..(i wish I could be a better photographer!)

I went into a newly opened shop near my home this past week. They have a collection of all kinds of stuff, alot of vintage...I am calling it the "curiosity shop". Well, it was my lucky day. I found these plastic glitter snowflakes along w/some trim for Christmas projects and they are sitting upon luxurious red velvet fabric, a bit over 3 yards I believe, all of that great stuff for under $10!!! Well, the velvet was intended for my baby's (OK, well she has actually turned six as of the 15th! darn) birthday party....we were all gonna decorate homemade stockings that I was going to sew in time for the party on Sunday. That would have been 8 stockings. And that would have been created by my alter ego. (These were discussed on Arstymama's blog) She is the one who dreams big and is organized enough to pull it all off! (Some how we are world's apart, me and her). You guessed it, the stockings will be made, but some time in the future. We used little ready made fabric ones and decorated them, along with painting/decorating wooden snowflake ornaments.
Actually, I cannot even see my sewing machine right now, how sad. I have to promise for the new year to keep uncluttered and keep on trying to organize. Can I at least clean out one cupboard or little area a month! YES I CAN....in fact I was working on a stand in my dining room that has housed stuff for too many years that I no longer need. So far it has yielded one big bag of trash, one bag to donate, and another box of tiles and paint to another home! Some day when I get all cleaned up, I will gather a friend or two, the kind that know how to find sensible places for everything, and get it together. Trouble is I do not have one designated area for all the crafting stuff to be located in, so they are in many different rooms. There must be a way to something better girls. I sure do love to see all of your many crafting rooms and studios. If we get organized then the real crafting can not only begin again, but continue for a long, long, time...(Lord willing and the crick don't rise....so they say). But that is my battle. OK, one of many..

Surprises by mail

I have been unable to get back to chatting for a while. Wanted to post some pics of the lovely swap gifts I received in return in the mail last week. I enjoyed connecting w/other crafters and receiving their creations! This one was from my farmgirl friend Lonnie. She is a tree topper and arrived with some lovely pink glitter and a sparkling scarf. She looks vintage and pretty! And, on the top right... my other partner from the Snowman Ornament Swap, Allison, sent these 2 cute little snowmen, who are now hanging from our Christmas Tree.

SNOWMEN

Well here are some of the snowman ornaments I made, I managed to figure out how to get them here without having them take over an entire page, but I still need to figure out how to maneuver them exactly where I want them (without making them disappear) I am just so excited to be able to post some of this stuff because I am not a computer genius for sure!!

Accomplishments...at last!

Well, just as the heading says, I actually finished something and oh, how it has been a long time since that happened. Not only did I finish, but by the deadline. That feels so wonderful.

What did I finish--- my first 2 swaps ever!! (will attempt to post pictures soon). Well, here is a picture of my angel tree topper for my one swap.

The first of many to come I am sure. This has gotten me into the creative mode and it is all due to the inspiration that I see on the many beautiful posts of my new sites that I have come upon. Some are listed and more are to follow!! I look forward to connecting much more with the other girls out there who need and love to create (especially you glitter gals!)

Now, I must begin with decorating and cleaning up this home of mine. Usually I am the "winter wonderland" creator but the last 2 years I am so behind with that. My family is wondering what to do with me, as my house would have lots of lights and not just one tree up but two, along with all the little ones that like to sparkle and shine...every room would have stuff!! And of course there was even the other year where the girls each had a little tree in their rooms and I even baked many types of cookies. I must get a hold of myself. It gets more difficult w/so many December activities: school, church, sports, family. I vote for most of December activities in November so that when December comes, well that can be for celebrating, baking, visiting, just plane enjoying this special time of year. Anyone who would like to change this too???

Well, I must go, practice for the girls for our church pageant this morning, 9:30-11:30 (along w/basketball practice for one at 8:00, oh my, who would think of such an early time, at least Daddy was the hero to take her this morning)...and then there is that little birthday party to plan for Olivia next weekend (do I procrastinate or what, it is all due to my inability to make decisions while anything else is going on). Gotta run.

Thanksgiving is over and it is hard to get back into the swing of things. However, I am making progress on my swap items, well one anyway. Slowly but surely. I am still trying to figure out how all of this works on my blog with adding pictures, etc... so that I can attempt to post some pics of the things I make. I love to look at everyone's work and wish I had more time for that, but don't we all. Most times when I see other gals creations I get very motivated at that moment, and if I don't catch that moment and just go create something, swish....it disappears from el braino!! Well don't get me started that is not all that seems to disappear from my brain, but that is for another day.

I figured out how to put a picture on my site my own self just now (yes, I still have to download others from the camera on my own yet too!). I captured a picture of a couple of princesses at the bottom of this page. They are kinda big, I didn't say I have configuring all figured out yet. This was 2 of my girls from couple months ago, they just got back from a "diva" birthday party. Who would have known, my girls go to a birthday party and get all done up, hair, makeup, nails, and have cake and crafts. Now I ask you, where is the momma's "diva" party?? I would love to do that!! Seems like too much fun for one girl! Speaking of one girl, I gotta run in a moment to pick-up a little chick from 1st grade, school's almost over.

We are getting rid of (that means selling real cheap since it's not sold yet) an organ we bought many, many, months ago. It is huge, and right in our living room. The family was told (mainly DH) that if the instrument was not gone soon, there would be no room for a Christmas tree this year (no I have not lost my marbles, of course there is always room somewhere??, why we would never dream of that, but a girl's gotta make a point sometimes) So, anyhow we got 2 or 3 calls after posting on some on-line lists (and ebay and local papers) just today, lets hope this big thing can be off to a better and so much bigger home. By for now my friends.

Thanksgiving is coming.....

O.K. I can try this again...I lost my password then figured it out. I have to do this more often to really get the process into this brain of mine! Thanksgiving is coming, Thanksgiving is coming. My family loves it. Just sort of a small cozy sort of family dinner. Hopefully my daughter and son-in-law and granddaughter will be enjoying dinner with us. We all take part in preparing so it never feels like the work it could be. I do turkey prep (w/hubby's help) gravy and mashed potatoes (did them in crockpot last year w/that sour creme and cheeese thing w/hint of garlic etc.), sometimes make cole slaw and of course some veggies, usually corn. To all that we add, homemade whole cranberry sauce my husband makes every year and we like a little turkey w/our cranberry sauce if you know what I mean. Dad is in charge of pies, pumpkin and apple. Madeline took over the apple pies 2 years ago and does great (12 yr. old). The other 2 little ones (7 yr. & 5 yr.) will be Daddy's helpers w/pie and hopefully his bread. I can smell it now.... Every year I want to make it memorable but does not always turn out like I plan. Hope to have everyone write what they are thankful for...we have spoken it, but need to write it and if I were really together, we could take pics of them and scrapbook a little page for each member w/their thoughts....(oh I wish, got that idea from a magazine)

I have to get crafting for my swap partners. Can't wait to do this. Never swapped w/other crafters like this before. I don't have much of a crafting circle at all, so finding all you girls out there has been a blessing, encouragement and an inspiration to me.

Now, if only I could get organized w/anything so I could begin.....(I can relate to Vivian's blog about Adult Add....if I could stick to something and focus, I could go places. Instead of circles my entire life. Time to run another circle.

The adventure begins:

Yeah, we did it, well mostly me. (don't tell my husband) I am a computer genius (almost)
Today is the first day of my blog. I am really excited about the two swaps that I signed up for. I have never been in an ornament/tree topper swap before. Anyway, now it is my turn to sit at the computer for long periods of time.....heeheeeheeeee (take a number honey..)