(to my blog friends)

(taking it down)

The cookies are almost gone, the rubbish (our word for candy) has been devoured by the big kids, the rich foods in the frig have been replaced with bunny food and all the decorations have been taken down and put away for another year.

The tree is last.

The hubs is taking the lights off the pre-lit tree.

What a process!

After seven years, the lights were beginning to go out.

Better to do it now rather than next year.

*

*

*

Just wondering...

Do you take your tree down right after Christmas or do you enjoy it into January?

Do tell.

(the Wednesday after)

Zach and family left this morning and arrived safely home a short time ago.

Rachel and her family plan to leave early tomorrow morning.

Things are slowly returning to normal.

We are thankful to have enjoyed a lovely Christmas celebration on Monday.

All were here but Tyler and Jenn.

We were able to connect with them on FaceTime.

The littles were fascinated by that.

You know I can't post without a photo.

The pillows were made from drop cloths and fabric paint stripes...for Lukas' family.

More later.

D xo

(twenty-five!!!!)

❤

D xo

(twenty-four)

Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree.

In the eyes of children, they are all thirty feet tall.

~Larry Wilde~

(twenty-three)

Kickin' back today...puttering and listening to my favorite Christmas music.

Zach and his crew are on their way.

I made this angel awhile ago.

I know I have posted her before, but she makes me smile.

It's the eyes.

The hubs is out shopping.

He likes to wait till the last day or so.

His thing.

I need to make some fresh coffee for him.

He's due to be back pretty soon.

Happy Friday, peeps!

D xo

(twenty-two)

We had the privilege of going to Jessica's class this morning...as extra grandparents.

The class was doing cookie frosting with their family members.

A couple of the children did not have someone available to attend, so we stepped in.

This little guy was the hubs' buddy.

Too.

Much.

Fun.

!!!

*::*::*

When we returned home, there was a break in the rain, giving me the opportunity to go out back and cut some greenery for the toolbox.

I think I am all ready for Christmas now.

And you?

(twenty-one)

(twenty)

There were a few of these left to finish.

Decided to use some spray adhesive and sprinkle the star (minus the center) with Martha's antique silver glitter.

The greeting was printed out using the Chopin Script font.

Now I can put away all the glitter/paper/felt/paint mess!

It feels good to have things tidied and ready for the weekend.

*::*::*

My sis-in-law is coming over for coffee this morning.

Looking forward to that.

Enjoy this day.

D xo

(nineteen)

Good morning, friends!

Are you enjoying this wonderful season?

Are you noticing the little things to be thankful for?

Hope so.

This time next week, our house will be full of our loved ones.

We are sooo looking forward to a precious time with family.

We are blessed!

(eighteen)

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven, and Heaven and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!

Let men their sons employ;

While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,

Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make His blessings flow

Far as the curse is found,

Far as the curse is found,

Far as, far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders, and wonders of His love.

~Isaac Watts~

(seventeen)

Busy, busy!

How about you?

Take some time to count your many blessings.

❤

D xo

(sixteenth)

We did these oranges with the littles the other day.

One attempted to do their name in cloves and the other made a dock with cloves.

See the upper orange with the two shorter lines?

That, my friends, is a dock!

I love the thought process of a five year old boy.

:o)

The hubs and I have some last minute shopping today.

We have a bunch to feed over the holidays.

Must.

Buy.

FOOD.

!!!

*::*::*

Nine days, folks.

Nine.

(fifteen)

Remember the corn topper wreath?

It bit the dust this week.

In between the painting projects, I took it apart and made this one.

It took some time, fiddling with the old hymn book pages and a bunch of glue sticks.

The best part of it?

Free!

I am liking the optical illusion that appears when standing at different places in the room.

Click the photo for a better view.

*::*::*

Ten days, peeps!

I have just a few things on my want-to-do-list.

I am continually inspired by the beautiful things shared in blogland.

Excessively diverted.

KWIM?

*::*::*

Need a hot cuppa?

Hazelnut coffee is in the kitchen.

Homemade cinnamon rolls, too.

Trying to stay away from those.

:/

(fourteen)

I finished the third set of matryoshka dolls yesterday.

I thought the largest one needed a little something.

Pine branches were added last night.

Much better!

*::*::*

Eleven days to go!

The littles were here yesterday while their momma went to the doctor.

They are getting excited!

We made gingerbread cookies with them.

Lots of fun!

(love this!)

*pause my playlist at the bottom of the page before viewing*

(thirteen)

Jessica brought these home the other day.

They smell wonderful with the Christmas greens tucked into the center.

(twelve)

It's my red-haired-girl's special day today.

Happy thirty-something, Rachel!

xox

❤

(eleven)

(ten)

Almost two weeks left until Christmas.

Wasn't it just yesterday that we were celebrating the 4th of July?

BTW:

This is my 1900th post!

Wha?

Thatsalottayakkin'.

!!!!

(nine)

Jessica and I have this "thing" for wooden German ornaments.

I had to get this one for her.

You know.

The red with the white polka dots.

❤

(more matryoshka dolls)

The second set is ready for the final spray of gloss finish.

Yay!

(eight)

In between painting matryoshka dolls, I made a few of these stars.

I saw the tutorial here.

Our church recently had some old hymnals on a table for the taking...and I helped myself...knowing that this project was in the back of my mind.

This could be done with any book pages.

Make them with or without glitter.

You know me.

I just HAD to do them with glitter.

*::*::*

Seventeen days, peeps!

(seven)

I really like the face and beard of this prim Santa.

*::*::*

I have another set of nesting dolls nearly done!

Yay!

Will post when finished.

(cha-ching)

One set ready for the gloss finish!

I hope they get easier as I go along.

It is so dark today.

Sorry about that!

(six)

Painting matryoshka dolls this week.

Time consuming, but fun.

I have always wanted to paint some.

I have four sets to get it out of my system!

:)

(five)

I bought this ornament from a local craft fair this year.

It is a perfect way to use up little bits left over from a "cutter quilt".

Don't you agree?

Just make a mitten template out of a piece of paper (3 and 3/4 inches long by 3 inches wide) , cut two (single layer) from your quilt, do a blanket stitch around the perimeter of each mitten and add some lace to the wrist area. Over lap the mittens a little and sew a button in the middle to keep the two together, add a ribbon and voila!

How about a sweet mother of pearl button from your grandmother's button box?

I have lots of those!

My favorite.

Happy Monday, my dears!

20 days until Christmas!

D xo

(four)

Somehow, not only for Christmas,

But all the long year through,

The joy that you give to others,

Is the joy that comes back to you.

And the more you spend in blessing,

The poor and lonely and sad,

The more of your heart's possessing,

Returns to you glad.

~ John Greenleaf Whittier~

(three)

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

~Romans 12:12~

(two)

I have long treasured these two ornaments, but even more so now.

They were gifts from my dear friend, Debby.

She went home to Jesus after Christmas last year.

The ornaments on a tree have so many memories associated with each one.

Every year, I get misty eyed as I place each one.

*sigh*

(one)

Hello, December!

Last year at this time, we were shoveling snow.

Lots of it!

Today, it is sunny and 40 degrees.

A green Christmas is sounding more and more appealing.

Shhh...

Don't mention this to my grands.