holiday decorating

I love Christmas decorating all the greenery, Santas, goodies and wreaths.  This year I've decided to go a little more natural and simple.  We're leaving right after our family celebration and I don't want to come home to hours of clean-up and packing.  More greens I can just toss, fewer Santas and a more natural look.  It's still plenty of work, but I have been doing it a little slower instead of thinking I had to have everything done the first week.

A few berry pieces, fresh greens and a bow are wired on a pretty frame.  I tied a snowflake in the center

large dollar store balls just stacked in a bowl and on a cake stand  I've had these for years and usually hang them out side

front door wreath, snowflakes, berries, twigs, large candy canes and a torn fabric bow.  Cost $0, I already had every thing on hand.

old sled and joy sign I've had for years

Look at waht you have before buying expensive new decorations when you're ready for a change.  Try to see things used as something else.  A wreath can also be a candle ring, a sign can be propped any where and those twig from your yard can be cut and added to a wreath or arrangement.

how I spent my Saturday

Last Saturday AH had to work, so I decided to stay home and try to get a few Christmas goodies started.  By 8:00 I had the critters fed, dog out, clothes on, bed made sudoku's done, paper read, kitchen and living room picked up.  I stated with cheater cakes, which are mixes I added extra goodies to.  This time it was chocolate pound cake, almond apricot pound cake and pumpkin bread, 12 loaves total. After I finished those and cleaned up after myself, no small feat, I stated boiling cans of condensed milk 4 hours to make turtles.  As those started I made 14 pounds of fudge.  Yeah, 14 pounds.  We won't eat it all, we give it away to friends, family, neighbors and AH's workers.  The pumpkin bread will be wrapped in a tea towel with a jar of homemade apple butter.  The rest of the breads and candy will go on goodie trays.  Plenty more to make, but this did make a big dent.  Next family ornaments, a wreath for the back door, table arrangements and swags.  Whew an elf's work is never done.  To me this is the best part of Christmas, being able to give to those I love, that and the fudge, I do love fudge!!!

new table

We finally said good bye to our old 40's table and chairs.  After paying $125 and using them for 20+ years we were ready for a new look.  Well not new but when this sturdy oak table and chairs came into the Habitat store I grabbed it up and brought it home. It has two additional leaves and is very sturdy.  When we do the kitchen rehab we're planning on starting this winter it will be painted black, but for now we will enjoy it the way it is.

Christmas decorating begins

large metal Santa, gold tray and candle

Just because we have a great amount of Christmas decorations doesn't mean I want them in the same places the same way every year.  No I want to mix them up and make it look different.  this year I'm in the mood for something calmer and simpler.  I decided to leave most of the Santas and decorations in the attic.  With the new skinny tree there is less room for ornaments.  I've cut but not arranged piles of greens that will fit into the red and crystal vases I already have out.  A few other touches here and there and I'll be done, well maybe.  you don't need to have all your decorations out every year and they certainly don't need to be put in the same place.

table vase of astromaria, mums and boxwood.  It won't last more than two weeks and by then I'll be ready for something different.

happy birthday

Happy birthday to my wonderful mother Betty King.  She is the true heart of our family and when (and if) I ever grow up I'd want to be just like her.  She was a pioneer for women s rights by being the first generation of working Moms when that was not common or cool.  She drug three kids all around the world following my Dads military career when she was in her early twenties and thirties.  She packed up and moved more times than I can count and always made where ever we were feel like home.  She had a decades long career while never making any of us feel like she wasn't there for us.  She is a caretaker, open, friendly and can shop my sis and I under the table.  Her pies and cookies are legendary.  At 80+ it amazes me that she can still get down on the floor, play with her great grand kids then get up.  In our family we call her the energizer bunny, she keeps going and going until she stops.  Then you will glance over and see her taking five as she calls it.  Sound asleep for just a few minutes gathering energy to go again.  Love you Mom.

cheat bread

I'm known for not following rules or directions, but usually when I bake I do follow the recipe.  Not this time.  I opened a box of Libby pumpkin bread mix, substituted apple cider for water then added dried cranberries and walnuts to the mix and baked as directed.  I served it for dessert on Thanksgiving with a smear of home made apple butter but cream cheese or butter would have worked too.

signapalozza

I recently stated selling my projects in a consignment store.  While I had a long relationship in the 80's and 90's with something similar I was wary of doing it again.  I had heard all the stories of places "loosing" products and significant damage to items being common.  Home Again in Charleston. is an upscale store with  everything  clean and beautifully displayed.  A friend who is one of their artists suggested I give it a try so I did.  I already had the merchandise, so I took a car load down to see what they had to say.  They loved what I brought and when I mentioned that I made signs they asked if I could have a few ready by small business Saturday four days away with Thanksgiving in the middle of it.  I made a quick call to my local lumber yard, they cut every thing to size then delivered it to my backdoor, what service.  Let the base coating begin, the longest part of the whole project is waiting for the paint to dry.  I hand painted the lettering, sanded, antiqued, added hangers then finished everything off with a good cleaning.  We delivered all five signs before noon on Friday.  I hope they sell well, I think any of them would make a great Christmas gift.

I added a Santa hat to this one

a small green wreath went over the O 

a small lace heat ornament was attached in the corner, I like to add little extra thing to add some interest

A new experience helps you grow.  Some times it can be scary or a little more work but is usually worth it.  And if it isn't you know not to do that particular thing again.