coffee

After meeting Santa's Christmas deadline

I am ready to pick up an easy project or two.

Embroidery  always satisfies my need to sit and stitch.

I poured coffee scented candles...

and they may be my favorite so far.

~b



Christmas

We had Christmas lunch at this table

at my sister and her husband's house yesterday.

They really know how to set a beautiful table

(and cook a delicious meal).

What a treat for me...I felt like the queen!

Guess what else they had at their house?

Nine golden retriever puppies...6 days old.

OMG...so cute!

Sadly we didn't come home with one.

~b



Feliz Navidad

It isn't Christmas until I've had

NACHOS NAVIDAD

from Taco John's.

 

 

Today I made it official.

 

Merry Christmas!

 

~b

 

 



Friday post card

 

~b



solstice

Snow for Christmas.

 

 

It's the kind of day that calls for baking,

 gift wrapping and a little knitting.

 

 

Everything looks better covered in snow don't you think?

 

~b

 



treats

It's Christmas...

 

 

a good time (excuse) to treat yourself!

 

 

oven caramel corn

 

~b



busy-ness

 

It's a week before Christmas and Santa's Workshop is BUSY!!

 

 

 

These wooden toys he made are super cute.

 

 

 

Mrs. Claus has been working too...

but as you know Christmas is all about secrets.

 

~b

 

 

 



post card Friday

 

"All hearts come home for Christmas."

 

I have many fond memories of growing up in this big old house on the corner.

 

~b



crowds

Christmas shopping in the city always begins with a...

 

 

a grande margarita.

 

Ask for it in a to-go cup!

 

~b



gratitude

Candle day...

 

 

Figured I better get a few Christmas candles poured.

I love giving them as gifts!

 

 

"...for love casts out fear, and gratitude can conquer pride."

-Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

 

One of my favorite Christmas movies is Little Women.

It was the first book I checked out from the public library as a girl.

 

~b



Friday post card

 

The year was 1966 - my sisters and I.

There was no keeping us inside

 when there was snow on the ground.

 

~b



raggedy

My girl cousins...

 

 

'Annie'

 

 

and 'Fanny'

 

 

They look pretty cute in their bloomers too.

 

 

Making these Raggedy's is time consuming but very enjoyable.

They involve a lot of hand stitching.

I'm ready to start on another one.

 

~b

Today

there is homemade bean and bacon in my soup pot

and oatmeal bread in my bread bowl.

I love getting up early to make homemade soup and bread.

 

 

I'm going to turn this bowl of dried orange slices

into a wreath before Christmas. (I hope)

 

 

We saw a tufted titmouse (bird) at our feeders this morning.

Don't recall ever seeing one here?

 

Dakota Man has been playing with robots in his work shed.

So cute!

 

 

There is dolly making going on in my little sewing sweatshop.

 

 

One of them is for a young (87) birthday girl next week.

 

~b

 

 

 



flying high

Dakota Man put this wood burner in his work shop.

He'll be able to spend more time out there this winter making toys.

 

 

We are tucked in today waiting for a winter storm to arrive.

These airplanes he made may be grounded.

 

 

And talking about flying...

this small hawk flew into our front window yesterday.

We are assuming he was going after our cat Birdie who likes to nap there.

Mr. Hawk was dazed long enough for us to get his picture

before he flew off.

 

 

~b

 



Friday post card

 

Happy December!

 

~b



crafts

Grandma always has to have a craft planned

 when the granddaughters come...

these snow globes worked for the three-year-old

as well as the nine-year-olds.

 

 

 

I picked up the snow and little figures at Wal-Mart.

I had the wide mouth pint jars and hot glue.

 

 

Of course Grandma had to have one too.

 

 

~b

 

 



sweet dreams

I have a confession to make...

I did my Christmas decorating before Thanksgiving.

I am so glad I did as we will get to enjoy it a week or two longer.

 

 

It also frees my time up to do more sewing.

Todays project was this Christmas pillowcase

 for my mother in the nursing home.

 

She will need some extra cheering up this season.

If you have time drop in at your local nursing home

and visit a resident or two.

 

 

~b



bots

 Yesterday (Sunday) before our three-year-old granddaughter

 went back home she needed a robot from grandpa's workshop.

 

 

It was a hurried project and she loved it.

 

 

Our Thanksgiving was a fun and crazy day

with our kids and four granddaughters here.

 

Today is turkey soup making day.

 

~b

Thanksgiving

It's been a full day in the kitchen today...

 

 

Isn't Thanksgiving the best?

 

 

I hope your day is full of good food!

 

~b

 



time-out

I took time out from my Thanksgiving planning

 to decorate our front porch for Christmas.

I needed to do this while our temps are still bearable.

 

 

~b



Friday post card

 

Where are you GOING for Thanksgiving?

 

~b



forest friends

Four days = four forest friends.

 

 

With projects this small you better not be a perfectionist.

You will drive yourself crazy.

 

 

"I have gone to the forest."

 

Maybe I'm just a glutton for small projects?

I finished these yesterday

and today I was looking for another tiny animal to make.

 

They are three inch squirrels and rabbits for our Thanksgiving table.

 

~b