Bouncing Along December

Whoa!  December is marching right along!  I've spent quite a bit of time reading this book for my book group that meets next week.  I can't wait to hear what my friends have to say.  They all love Jesus. They are all VERY good thinkers.  I love being in their company.  SO grateful!

I went to a craft fair to see a young friend's lovely makes.  Isn't this "love bug" adorable?  She is an excellent 18 year old crochet expert!

The "Who" tree below isn't bedecked as of yet.  When I look at my tubs of sparkle I get a bit overwhelmed.  I should have been more organized about putting the decorations away last December.  I'm sure I'll get sorted soon. 

Kelli brought this Father Christmas to me from one of her travels. He's squishy and cute and I was happy to find him in the mish mash that I mentioned earlier! 🤣

I'm trying to keep the pink going in the family room, but this involves moving all my Beatrix Potter stuff and also bears and rabbits.  Please pray the inspiration strikes and I can happily arrange the pink Christmas stuff! ❤️ I thought you might like to see my dolly collection again.  Aren't they sweet? 

Some days are hot water bottle days!  I have this polka dot friend on my lower back and I am enjoying a cup of PG Tips tea (thanks to my English friend Lynn who told me about it).  When Lynn and her nice hubby visited us, I learned how they like their tea.  I loved drinking tea with them. 

Trees and reindeer are perched up high so they CAN see outdoors.  

The "semi-boring, borderline ugly" tree looks good now!  All the bows and candy canes, green and white balls and white lights brought her to life.  Yay!

The skinny toadstool tree is looking a bit clumpy but that's okay.  I'll fuss a bit more. 

Sondra came for lunch and she read a lovely excerpt from a book she gave me and we looked over the Advent cards she'd given me another year.  Next week we are going to try to go to the campus chapel again.  It was locked for a while but I think it might be unlocked now.  I hope so. 

We've been having Sunday night Advent with the girls. Maybe Jeff and Christie and the boys will be able to come this Sunday.  They are swamped with basketball games.  😀

I've been using the Advent book that Brad compiled, too.  He also recommended some polka Christmas carols. VERY sweet!

So soon it will be my sister's birthday on St. Lucia Day.  I shall make a crown of rolls and light the candles.  I wish I could spend Karol's birthday with her, but she lives too far away. 😔

I still haven't set up the Nativity and I have not made fudge.  I will!

Have you been decorating little by little or is your festooning complete?  Have you shopped?  I'm nearly finished.  Have you gone to the post office and waited in line?  Are you thinking about the baby, born in a stable, coming to Earth, the visible image of the invisible God?  Oh, THAT fills my heart with hope!

Thank you for popping by to visit!  I pray that you are feeling lifted up and held fast.  Joy!

When the World Falls in Love . . .

Good day to you!  I am so excited that my friend Gretchen also has this folk song book.  Did you know that "Angels We Have Heard on High" was the first Christian hymn of the church?  I didn't.  Do you keep forgetting to listen to Christmas music like I do?  I aim to fill the air in our home with songs of Christmas today.  I have one tree finished and I'll take a photo of it soon.  The toadstool tree is next.  After that, the "Who" tree which is full of blinking balls and will soon be decorated with lots of pink. 

I'd like to finish this scarf I'm making for James.  He's tried it on, so I know it's almost long enough.

This is the end paper in the folk song book.  Wouldn't it make a good wallpaper for walls (not electronic devices?)  😂

Look at these cute carolers!  Do you ever have carolers in your neighborhood? We don't.  Would you go caroling if someone asked you to?  Hmmmm.  Let's think about that.

Last year I read this cute book and I might read it again.  I also have some Alison Uttley Christmas stories.  Do you have some favorite Christmas stories?

I'm going to put up this whimsical sign. Our halls are getting quite bedecked. 🥰

This plaid reindeer is saying, "When will you release me from this plastic storage tub and allow me to stand near the window so I can look outside?" Soon, little deer, soon!

Some of my photos are blurry because I forgot to turn off the "live" feature.  It's off now.  

"It's that time of year, when the world falls in love . . . "  What do you think that means?  I think it means that the Advent season excites us and feels like home and the reason it does is because it is a taste of Heaven which is to come, maybe soon.  I want to be so excited for Heaven forever, similar to how I feel in December.  I want that good feeling of longing, of homesickness, for my Heavenly Home!  

Today I might make fudge.  I so love that old Fantasy Fudge recipe.  I might find it too sweet, but it can go in the freezer. 

What Christmas task or delight will YOU enjoy today?  Oh!  I just remembered my gumdrop tree that I bought last year!  I'll order some gumdrops! 

Merry, merry, lovely ones! Thank you for stopping in! ❤️ 

 

Another Advent Day

I have an old folk song book and it has a section of carols.  I love the illustrations. Don't you think they are snappy?

I did get the less than beautiful fake tree put up today but I shall decorate it tomorrow.  Do you like the garland below with a cat like Timothy bringing figgy pudding?

This is Day #2 in my stack of Advent cards.  Pinecones are pretty, aren't they?

I came upon some Advent books and Christmas books in a box and this one has some lovely prose about the sacred and holy season.

 I've decided to go a little slow with the festooning of the house.  I don't have to hurry which is nice.  I had dinner with a friend this evening.  She is about the age of our girls and she said that she is tired now that she is in her forties.  😉 She said that there are things that she has to do that she just doesn't want to do because she's tired.  Hmmmmmmm.  I think she is tired because she has so much to do and she doesn't have the luxury of slowing down. She's a mom and a wife and she is homeschooling.  She is involved at her church and helps with other groups.  Every stage of life has its challenges.  I don't have TOO much to do, so I can poke along without feeling rushed.  I'm going to remember to be thankful for that. 

I'm sleepy and ready to crawl into our cozy bed.  I'm already looking forward to my morning cup of coffee ☕️.

I hope you had a happy December 2nd.  Did you do one or two fun things?  Did you eat any fudge?  When I was at a big store today, I went down the seasonal treat aisle and none of it looked tempting or special enough to buy.  I might go to another big store tomorrow and look for some special treats there.  Shortbread in the shapes of Christmas?  Mince pies?  Special chocolate?  We'll see.

Before I head to bed I'm going to say a little prayer for you.

Dear God,

Please may we think about lasting love, growing relationships, tender kindnesses.  Please open our hearts so we will give freely and receive humbly. Please help us cast off the burden of self centeredness.  Give us fresh thoughts that are astonished by ancient TRUTHS.  Thank you❤️ Amen.

Advent Begins! ❤️

Happy Advent Day #1.  This is Kelli's Advent boxes/calendar but because I was at their house last night for a sleepover, I took some photos of their decorations.  

Kelli received this snow globe for a Christmas gift when she was a little girl (and then it was dropped and broken, so we replaced it).  I'm glad we did since now it graces her fireplace.

I don't know where she got this lovely pillow.  Soph and I watch the end of Pride and Prejudice last night.  Now I have watched the whole series (old PBS) with Sam, Millie, and Sophie.  They all loved it. So beautiful.

Tonight we'll gather with the local kids for Advent.  How nice that December 1st is on a Sunday! 

Yesterday I found a bunch of strips for paper chains!  I made one (pastels) for the family room and I'll make red and white chains for the living room. I have such happy memories of pasting strips and adding to a long chain when I was in 3rd and 4th grade, decorating our classrooms back when everyone seemed to celebrate Christmas (but maybe they didn't 🤷‍♀️)

A friend gave me this cute tree candle holder last year.  Isn't it sweet?  I will try to decorate a little bit at a time this year instead of whipping all of it out of the boxes at once.

 

When the girls and their families arrived for Thanksgiving I wasn't quite ready.  I was still ironing tablecloths and I was rushing around in my pjs!  I hadn't even put out the veggies and dip!  Even though we had a frenzied (me) beginning, the food was delicious!  Yay!

Last year, I didn't like my new Christmas tree.  It seemed boring and I contemplated skipping the whole tree thing this year, but of course now I am not thinking that way.  Maybe I will make it a white bow and toadstool themed tree.  Maybe I'll put the bubble light tree in the pink family room.  Maybe the skinny tree can be laden with lots and lots of ornaments.  We'll see!  

The first thing I would like to do is set up the nativity scenes.  Most important. Maybe I will keep knitting my hand knit nativity. I only finished Mary and Joseph last year.  Timothy kept fishing them out of that particular knitting bag and using them for practice gophers (remember Beverly Cleary writing that in Ramona?). They are a little worse for the wear but still cute. 

Here we go, celebrating and anticipating this holy time of year!  Thank you for popping in!

 

PS:  Melinda, if you are reading this, I think you're thinking of Carl Larsson, a Swedish artist.

 

Soon December

Hello friends!  It's almost Thanksgiving Day.  It's freezing outside and in the span of a few weeks, almost all of the leaves have fallen from the trees.  I am very ready to decorate for Christmas but I'm holding off until after the turkey feast.

We've had so much happening with our family.  We had our oldest granddaughter get married!  I know!  Can you believe it?  She's all set to begin nursing school in January and she's happy as happy can be.  We've had families of ours traveling and the theater shows have been going on for weeks.  I haven't had as many outside commitments this fall but I have enjoyed a sweet book club with six wonderful friends.  We meet once a month and read challenging books.  I love it.  I've been reading a lot of Pearl Buck's old works (so fascinating) and too many other books to mention.  Have you been reading?

 I might do some advent blogging come December.  I like talking about and recording what God's teaching and showing me during the month of December.  I may take some well thought through photos of pretty Christmas things.

I'm not going to put pictures in this post because my photos of the wedding and the shows, the kids and the trees, are not that good.  Maybe I'll break out a few of my better cameras and take more time to focus on my subjects (LOL!)

 I do want to tell you that I found a fantastic mattress topper that has made our bed so snug and comfy.  It is from a company called Nolah.  I really don't know anything about the company other than that they make VERY cushy mattress toppers.  

Bill and I went to one of his yearly check ups today (the cardiologist) and he is all good and doesn't go back for a year, so that's very happy!

I had better go upstairs and put clean sheets on the bed now before I am too tired to do it.

Do you have any special plans for December?  

Do you send Christmas cards?  Do you shop anywhere but online?  Will you bake?

Thank you for checking in and reading.  Pictures of happy Christmas doings to come.

(BIG HUG!) 

Fall is Lovely

Hello friends!  Happy fall or spring (for my friends in the southern hemisphere).  I wanted to show you my pumpkins because I think they are so beautiful.  I can't believe one older envelope of seeds and a small space yielded such a lovely bunch of pumpkins!  

We celebrated my birthday yesterday.  I had quite a bit of cake! One of my sweet friends gave me a fleet of Squishmallows!  I love them! Do you?

Another friend took me to breakfast and the waitress gave us an extra birthday pancake.  Yum! My sister gave me a big gift card so I ordered a soup maker.  Have you heard of a soup maker?  It makes quick smooth or chunky soup.  I saw it on the Stitched by Mrs. D vlog.  She made it look like such an efficient way to make smaller batches of soup.  I'll let you know how it works when it comes.

I went to Bill's yearly conference up in the mountains and it was so beautiful up there and the friends there are so inspiring and so loving.  Pure joy!

We've had three lovely granddaughters staying here while their parents are in Europe.  It's been so much fun.  Bill and I both love every encounter we have with our kids and grands.  Brad and April came down here for a birthday dinner early in the week and we enjoyed their family's company very much. I go to Jeff and Christie's next week to stay with the boys while they go away for their anniversary.  I will love spending time there!

We are savoring our grandchildren as they grow up.  Sam and Liz go to homeschool/art school nearby and it's a huge blessing.  

Millie helped me move all my art stuff BACK upstairs and I would like to sort out my sewing and my ironing.  I have quite a few fun domestic tasks to do.  I'm grateful.

I have more birthday celebrating ahead of me (I love it when birthdays last a long time!)

I hope you are well and feeling encouraged about your daily doings.  Is there any specific project you are going to partake of this year?  Are you cooking or baking anything exciting?

We (the girls and I) are going to watch The British Baking Show on Netflix tomorrow night!  It's the first one of the season!  Yay!

God be with you, sweet visitors.  Thank you for stopping by! xoxoxo

 

Hello to YOU!

Hello!  Do you have some ironing for Mrs. Tiggy Winkle to do?  Kelli brought her back from England.  They enjoyed a two week trip and she brought me lots of sweet things.  She said, "Mom was born in the wrong country! Everything I see I know she would love!"  So true!
 

Do you like this blouse I bought from Walmart?  I do!  So cheap, too!

I've been painting some friends.  Do you like their clothes?  How about their hairdos?  😂

 

One day I ironed for a long time.  Yay!

 

I also made more pants.  The ones I made around the time of my last post have been worn and worn!  I love the pattern (Pants #1 from 100 Acts of Sewing).

 

And yesterday our Jenny had to go to the ER because she stumbled on her porch steps and tweaked her knee.  Poor Rose!  We are praying that she heals fast!

I love August even though I have been thinking I can't bear to wait for fall.  Everything grows in August and I know I am going to have so many pumpkins! We've been enduring such hot weather.  I know a lot of people have in this hemisphere.  

Soon I am going to go up north and see my mom.  I can't wait to see her!

Have you had a nice summer (or winter if you live down under)? 

A Soft Friend and Creativity Suggestions

Hello everyone!  Look at the peonies!  They pop out so fast!  Many ants traverse their leaves and buds so they really aren't allowed inside.  Tim likes tipping over vases so . . . 

I finished the dolly for the cute big baby who invited me to her birthday party.  I had taken a thirty year break from doll making, so I labored over her for quite some time.  She's cute, isn't she?  The recipient was nonplussed😂 and stared at Birdie the knot head doll with a confused look on her face.  Her brother buckled Birdie into the doll bed I found and then we concluded, "Okay, she's gone to bed." That was the end of that!  It was fun to sew, so yesterday I sewed a pair of linen pants and I really followed the directions and now they fit perfectly.  

The other day I was buying a Bundt cake from the fancy cake store and I had to wait for them to frost the cake (15 minutes) so I went to the doughnut store and had the doughnut below.

 It's already ten o'clock and I'm meant to be out planting.  I wonder if it will be fun 😂.  It's a wee bit exhausting hauling hoses and filling water cans.  We'll see!

I received a impersonal email that was about furniture, but it contained 5 ways to foster creativity and they are:

1.  Spend time alone

2.  Create every day

3.  Surround yourself with inspiration

4.  Stay organized

5.  Keep a creativity journal

Do those sound doable or interesting to you? They sound very nice to me.  

Thank you for stopping in to see my dolly make and I pray today that you recognize eternal peace and love.  I hope you can touch something pretty and experience refreshment.  (BIG HUG!)

A Bite on the Snout

Hello friends!  It's May and almost June and I have definitely had the garden guilt for not weeding more.  The peonies haven't bloomed so I figure I'm still okay.  Have you noticed how expensive plants are at the nursery and even at the grocery store?  Yikes!  I might just plant old seeds that are still in my gardening bucket, left over from last year.  

Anyway, Winnie is Kelli's dog (pictured above) and she had a scary thing happen the other day.  She was bitten by a rattle snake!  Kelli and her family are out of town and their house/dog sitter saved the day and took Winnie to the emergency vet.  I think the baby rattle snake had short fangs and wasn't able to get a good grip on Winnie's snout but it still swelled up a lot.  I went to see her at the ER and she panted, but also ate so she was okay.  The rattle snake was on the pool deck.  Yikes!  So much for swimming.  We have to get over the creepy snake fear first.

Do you like this sweet bowl?  It has a hole where you put in the little ornament.  You can change it when you want to.  I love it. I filled it with cherries and then I ate them.

What do you think of my new chair?  It's called a lazy chair, I think.  Jenny had one so I shopped for one, too. 

If you ever make a salad like this, find a good dressing.  I used a bottled dressing and it sort of ruined the taste.  I have two small boxes of strawberries that came in my veggie box that I shall eat for dinner.  I might share some with Bill. 

I MIGHT dabble in some cross stitch.  I have several "Animal Crackers" patterns.  Isn't Maggie Mae cute?

 What have you been up to? Are you excited for June to arrive?  I usually feel like June lasts a long time, so other than our anniversary, I think it will hold quite a few long days for playing in the garden and taking walks.  

I am knitting a hat for a friend who is having chemo therapy and I am going to make a doll for a baby (she's turning two and I'm thrilled that she invited me to her birthday party!) I'll show you when the dolly is completed.  I want her to be very soft with a cotton print dress and bloomers.  I might knit her a red petticoat like Tasha Tudor wore.  

I hope you are surrounded by opportunities to connect with others.  We ARE meant to love others and it is what is best for us.  

"I believe every single person deserves to be acknowledged, however simple or small the greeting." ~ Howard White

Thank you for coming by and reading my words.  I appreciate it.

April Stuff or Stuff in April

Hello April!  April showers bring May flowers!  We haven't really had showers, just a bit of snow and some wild wind.  At Noah's lacrosse game the wind was cold!  Christie and James bundled up!  We did, too!  Isn't Christie beautiful?  She's so beautiful inside, too!

Did you have a nice Easter?  I hope so!  We had a funny one because Kelli and her family got pink eye and the flu! Jenny and Sam came and ate with us (Scott and Plum were at a basketball game having gone to church on Saturday). Poor Kelli! 

I found two fat chicken toys at the grocery store for James and Noah. Isn't this a fine hen? 

I've been reading some books about how fairy tales inform our story minds so I've been dabbling in fairy tales.  Do you have a favorite?  I really like The Gingerbread Man and The Steadfast Tin Soldier.

I'm also knitting a chicken. The pattern is called The Emotional Support Chicken.  I am at the part where you increase and wrap and turn to make her breast.  I sort of stall when I have to keep count of rows and pay attention to the pattern.  😂

😂

Look at these silly Crocs.  One of my friends asked, "Do you buy shoes for comfort or because you like the way they look?" 😂

I don't think I showed you my big print Bible (I found it at Sam's Club) and the way I made collages in the front of it.  I do love to collage.  It's my favorite artsy thing, I think.

Are you excited for summer?  I used to be so excited for summer to come, remember?  Now I am less excited about hot weather  I usually buy some new summer clothes because I fear being too warm and then I spend most of my time in our air conditioned house and I really don't need island/resort wear!  

I am going to go take a walk, maybe to the grocery store to buy Cheerios so the preschool kids at Bible study can make necklaces.  

I'm trying to eat a low carb diet (boring info, I know) so I might look at nuts in the snack section! Do you like to eat nuts?

Thank you for stopping by!  It's always nice when you do! xo