Christmas Music is a huge part of our holiday!

Here is Phil looking at our Christmas CD's. We also have a few cassette tapes, and some old fashioned albums!

We are hard pressed to listen to everything as much as we want to during the 30 days or so we listen to them! We have beautiful choral church music, fun Country Western songs, old favorites (Bobby Vinton) and even bagpipe music. We also have lots of classical type Christmas music and we enjoy it ALL!

My front door! Jonny made this snowman quite a few years ago as a Christmas gift for me and I always love putting him up. Sometimes he's indoors and sometimes he's outdoors. At the bottom, you can't see it but it says "Snowmen will melt your heart".

Notice the little plaque by the door, it says "The Shaves". Phil's folks had this at several of their doors in recent years. But, it was originally Phil's Grandparents! A true family heirloom to pass down to the male heirs (Walker!).

Here is another photo from the Christmas tree display at the Red Lion. This is actually a large wreath - Noah's Ark. Very beautiful.

Alan and Sara and Victoria came over for breakfast on Sunday. It was really fun - Phil and Alan whooping it up in the family room (male bonding) over a Seahawks game - Sara and I doing what we do best - yak yak gab gab - Tori helped me set out the Christmas village and had fun looking at the bottoms of the houses and people to see who painted what. We read a few Christmas books too. Tori travelled between the living room (girls) and the family room (boys) and gave Sara and I demo of a solo dance she is going to do soon. Very beautiful - lots of ballet moves - so elegant and graceful! I was so moved I forgot to take any pictures!

Tomorrow is December 1st!

Its beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

Decorating the house for Christmas! We started today. This is my favorite starting point! My treasures (gems)...Josiah, Jonah, Kyler, Solomon, Jonathan, Tirzah, Victoria, and Taliah... Beautiful or what?

Here is what I did with my little Teddy bear collection. Notice the stack of books they are on are all Teddy Bear books.

I took this photo for Josiah and Jonah to see OUR antlers and what we do with them at Christmas! Sometimes I tie a red bow on them too.

This is one of the Trees at the Festival of Trees tonight. I think there were a hundred trees - all elaborately decorated, then auctioned off to raise money for St. Peter's Hospital. They also raise money by charging a fee to come in to see them all.

Entertainment is provided! We got there a little early for Victoria's dance and watched the bagpipers. They were good. They were about half women, I was surprised!

A nice shot of Tori and Sara...This is what she wore for her second dance, dancing to "Rock around the Christmas Tree"...

I love this one!

Here is Tori in her outfit (and hair) for her first routine - I have forgotten the name of the music, but it was a rock and roll 70's type bell bottoms and paisley print flower-power kind of number. Very cute and energetic!




Claudia and Angela and the kids were there too so Tori had lots of family in the audience. You can tell she enjoys it and she is very good!

I have more photos of the trees and decorations around our house, but they will have to wait until tomorrow!

My Favorite Fabric Store and Scrapbook store treasure trove...

I forgot to show many of my treasures from today, so here is a supplemental entry! This beautiful snowy scene is on a piece of fabric!

This is the STACK of Christmas fabric I got from my mom's sewing room today! This is such a tiny portion of what she has, but she so generously told me to take whatever I thought I might be able to use! I need to make a stocking for Sara, and I might as well make an extra one now for next Christmas! and I am thinking of making some pillowcases and stuff!

A closer look at the beautiful stack!

And then to my scrapbook store finds! I bought these four books/magazines - priced between $1 and .25. I can get so much pleasure out of these!

Here are the rest of my treasures from the scrapbook store! First I just piled them all out for effect!

My biggest purchase was a set of 12 Christmas papers (2 sided) with 5 sheets of stickers, labels, tabs, etc. all coordinating, and coordinating brads (for Christmas projects I have in mind for this year!) ($5)

And, I found these cute flowers (.25), which look good with a brad or fancy buttons inside. I love using them on my cards now - and some colorful buttons (mine are mostly white-neutrals) .35
and these interesting rub-ons, which I am becoming fond of using.

These three kits are for little "books". They were .50 each, and have all kinds of supplies stuffed in. They are about 3 inches by 3 inches!


This is a book I am sure someone made in a class and then decided not to keep it (why not?). It is a "friend" theme and I could give it away or keep it as an inspriration for another project of my own. I think I paid $2 for this - less than the cost of a Hallmark Card!

I also bought a small black album for $1.5o and a file folder album kit for $1 that I can use as a pattern for cards.

Oh the joy of having lots of supplies to choose from. If only I could find what I want when I want it!

Tomorrow we decorate the house.

Now the Christmas Season begins!

Black Friday! I did not go shopping at 4:00 a.m., but the kitty did wake me up at 3:30 and I thought to myself, if I wanted to go shopping, I could go right now! Then, I went back to bed until 8:00!

These are the metallic colored pencils Claudia gave me (for a back-rub)! They are very nice and smooth coloring!

When we were at Jonny's, I admired this crabby plate (I bet C loves it too!) and when I admired it, Jonny said she got it at a garage sale and I should just take it! Are you sure? Do you mean it? joy its mine!

Now, what to serve on it - cheese ball? spicy pecans? star shaped Christmas cookies?

I went to Sharin Memories today and bought some really cool stuff at their used products sale. It was like a candy store in their basement with all the rubber stamps, papers, embellishments, and assorted scrapbooking goodies! I think I stayed almost an hour looking around to make sure I didn't miss something good!

Next, I visited Grandma and Grandpa, had a leftovers lunch with them, collected some Christmas fabric, and helped mom with her sewing machine.

We had a nice leftovers kind of dinner too and are cozy in front of a fire (again!). I am starting to dig out all the Christmas boxes to begin decorating! It is always a nice time looking at the special treasures that come out once a year!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! I met this turkey, who was obviously "pardoned" at Cindy and Eldon's house. Made by T-K at school. I think he made a great and humorous centerpiece! We went over to their house after dinner and had a nice time, just visiting with Cindy and Phil's brothers.
Relaxing after dinner at Jonny's. It was so yummy! John and Phil are in the other room watching a football game. Claudia brought along the photos from Tony's wedding for all to see and she displayed them on Jonny's kitchen tv. Claudia brought me a present too - Art stuff! She wanted me to give her a shoulder-blade massage...I told her she didn't have to bribe me - but thank you anyway for the gifts! I gave her an extra long massage!

This is a scrumptious appetizer that Claudia brought! Brie en croate: Brie cheese - Apricot preserves - all wrapped up like a gift in pastry. Warmed so the cheese is melty and YUMMMM

I thought my rolls came out very nice.
Oops, I am manipulating things and it looks like I finally got the brie how I wanted it and now I have deleted the rolls! Oh well, you've all seen lovely browned rolls...

And my Spinach dish. I also took seasoned carrots and ham and dilly beans and a yummy avocado and tomato salad. I brought lots of everything home too - we just had way too much food! Jonny set out zip loc bags and let us all go through the buffet again and take home whatever we wanted.

Here is Jonny's breakfast bar and all the food loaded on. She had lots of room. Jonny brined her turkey and it was fabulous! She is going to tell me how to do it and I'll blog it later.

This is what was on John K's dessert plate! cake AND pumpkin pie! See what happens when you are grown up and no one tells you "That's enough whipping cream!" Phil loaded his up too! OK, we all did!

Its been a rainy drippy day day here, not very pleasant to be outside, but inside is very cozy.

Walker phoned just before we left and had already eaten his Thanksgiving dinner. He likes the people he is staying with, has his own room and his own bathroom! He's trying to study but keeps falling asleep! He is enjoying his first real break from school.

When I got home, there was a turkey gobbling on my answering machine - and begging not to be eaten! TOO LATE! By the way, good turkey gobble, ALAN!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my loved ones!

Ten things about me (that you may not know) ...

OK, tomorrow I will put in photos of family members - Phil and I, Grandpa and Grandma, Jonny and John, Claudia, Jonny, and Judy as grown-ups (!)... but on Thanksgiving Eve I wanted to share these patriotic turkeys with you.

Please don't report me, but I took this driving down the freeway this morning! It was a beautiful and the sky was all blue and gold and the sun was so bright I put my sunglasses on. I was hoping for a beautiful sunrise photo of Mt. Rainier, but as I went around the curve on the freeway, I decided I better pay attention to my driving and not take any chances. It was beautiful though (the mountain).
And, leaving ORLA with AJ, I saw this bald eagle land in this tree! I know it looks small on this photo, but if you click on the picture, you will see it bigger. He wasn't that excited but I WAS!!!!

OK, Here are TEN things you may not know about ME!

1. Mashed potatoes are my favorite dish at Thanksgiving (with butter!)

2. One thanksgiving we had steak instead of turkey (I don't recommend it!).

3. My favorite part about Thanksgiving is after dinner we can start watching Christmas movies and listening to Christmas music. (house rules).

4. My favorite Holiday movies are THE SNOWMAN, HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (the old one); MUPPET'S CHRISTMAS CAROL.

5. This year I hope to watch: WHITE CHRISTMAS, THE BISHOP'S WIFE, the first CHRISTMAS CAROL (black & white).

6. I am GLAD I got to see a professional production of The Nutcracker in Seattle and I don't care if Walker and Phil thought it was a little weird (with all those little girls in ballerina outfits) to go see it.

7. I own a tapestry vest with Christmas-y teddy bears on it and I'm not afraid to wear it once in a while!

8. My favorite Christmas song is "Stop the Calvary" - its a WWII song sung by men wishing they were home for Christmas.

9. I still can't sleep on Christmas Eve.

10. Macaroons are my favorite cooky.

And that's the truth!

Thankful!

I am getting so used to blogging every night, even if I don't have anything to say, I have to put something in!

I am thankful for my lovely family, extended far and wide as it is this Thanksgiving. I am very thankful that everyone is happy and healthy this Thanksgiving, and we are sharing our holiday, even if we are not actually sitting down to the meal together!

Thanksgiving week to-do list!

Here is little Judy eagerly awaiting Thanksgiving dinner!

I do remember Thanksgiving as a very exciting day. My favorites were when we went to my grandparents house for dinner and all the relatives would be there. My grandfather set up a makeshift dining room table in the living room (as big as a football field in my mind!) and once it was covered with a tablecloth and the table set and chairs around, it looked like the nicest place in town! Ah the smell of the turkey, the rolls and the black olives! That is when I got my taste for ocean spray cranberry sauce out of a can too! My cousins and my sisters and I would play all kinds of silly made-up on the spot games to entertain each other until dinner was finally done. I remember it being a very happy cheery event.

Things have changed somewhat, but I still look forward to it, and I enjoy the food a whole lot more now! Here is what is on my mind this early a.m....

Tuesday the 24th: The ham is purchased; (Jonny is making turkey) I need to browse my cookbooks (I like that part) for a nice glaze or something to make the ham special; choose 2 vegetable side dishes - I am considering crustless spinach pie and crunchy pea salad and/or roasted vegetables. I need to make a shopping list for whatever I decide on. I will be at work in the a.m. and going to school with A.J. from 11:30 - 2:00 today. Then to Sharin memories for more paper for my journal project. Once I get home for the evening I am going to make doll clothes! dinner: pork roast

Wednesday the 25th: Remind Phil to go to New Market and pick up croissants and cheese ball (for Sunday); Bake Pumpkin Pie (for us); Mail ornaments to Blanchards. dinner: leftover pork roast Shepard's Pie.

Thursday the Turkey Day: heat ham, make vegetable dishes, bake rolls; If there is time, get out Christmas decorations. Jonnys at 2:00. switch dishes. Get out holiday videos/music.

Friday the 27th: Clean out car; clean house; decorate. Go to Sharin Memories UPS sale. No shopping! (focus on Sewing room!); Green chili turkey pot pie.

Saturday the 28th: Finish doll clothes; (focus on cleaning Walker's room); Festival of Trees - go see Victoria perform (dance); Dinner: fried rice with ham and turkey.

Sunday the 29th: (focus on cleaning/decorating master bedroom) Brunch with Alan and Sara and Victoria (here); Brunch menu: Croissants and home made strawberry jam; jalapeno pie, hash browns; sausages.

Ah, I feel much better now!

Totally out of control!

Well, even though I have tons of other things to do, after my class today, I came home and kept working!

I'm working on my December journal and one for Carissa too! It is so much fun to put together!

That is just the chaos in my living area, my craft room is also destroyed and very difficult to find anything in!

This picture doesn't look nearly as bad as the real thing!

And if that isn't bad enough, I am spreading out into Walker's room as well (sorry Walker, it will be all moved out by December 19 - I promise!) That just looks like a perfect place to set up my sewing machine!

Well, the weekend is almost over, but I have a four day weekend coming up and that is my goal, except for Thanksgiving day!

Treasure hunting!

Today is Saturday, and since Phil was out on an outing of his own, I spent a little time putting some more books on Amazon and then took off shopping myself. I went to Safeway and bought some food for T-day, and got a turkey for $.27/lb. It's out on my front porch waiting for me to rearrange things in my freezer. I have been enjoying our turkey meals so much this week, I wish I had room for FIVE in there!



Then I went to the Children's Hospital Thrift Store and found these great vintage looking postcards. I bought all ten of the type like this that I could find and I don't know exactly what my plan is, but I know they will come to an artistic end... This leopard is my favorite but all the ones I bought were beautiful!

At Goodwill I resisted temptation at many things but I could not resist this bundle of rick-rack etc. for $3.99. A gallon zip loc was stuffed with these! Even if I just take out the ones I really love, it was a bargain! They are old too - some of them have an original price of .10 or .15! Since I am going to be making doll clothes later today, I know these will spark my creativity! There is also quite of bit of red piping, perfect for holiday pillowcases!

I haven't talked to W but his team football season ended with a loss in Grand Valley State. They had a great season though. He told me 1/3 of the school bought tickets to go to that game. He was going as part of the pep band. I'm sure we'll get to hear about it later today or tomorrow when he calls.

November 20,2009

OK, here I am in the car (don't worry, Phil is driving!) for my before photo. My bangs are long as is my hair. Not bad, but really driving me buggy... Its not that easy to smile for the camera when you are holding it yourself!

Here's my "after" shot. I took it in available light in my bathroom - I found I could see my viewfinder in the bathroom mirror, so I could see exactly what I was getting!

I liked the new place I went to: Je Jeuns Enchanted Salon! I also got a parafin wax treatment on my hands and an offer of an "eyebrow" wax. They are trying to turn it into a pampering event. I was in there 2 1/2 hours - poor Phil. He liked it though and said it was worth it.

We came home and had turkey naan pizzas again. Very good. I'm heading to a High School play performing Donavon's Daughters (a version of Taming of the Shrew) in which my friend AJ plays the part of a lumberjack.

November 19, 2009 more turkey!

I love these little chefs. I wish they were cooks in my kitchen, but alas, I have to do my own cooking...

Tonight we had turkey-mushroom-black olive pizza! It was delicious!!! I put the mixture on "naan" that I bought from Trader Joe's, for individual pizzas.

Phil and I have been watching "Get Smart" an old comedy spy-spoof program (30 minute episodes). They are so goofy and silly and funny. You should hear Phil laugh!!!

Turkey meal #3

This is turkey meal # 3 - a turkey black bean chili. We really enjoyed it, with a sprinkling of cheese on top. You could make this with venison too!










I think tomorrow we'll have something with beef.

This is my "Y" card for the banner project. I am making 14 of them. I'm pretty happy with it - Y is for Yule. We exchange on November 25th and I'll end up with a MERRY CHRISTMAS banner to decorate my home with.

Here is Anne of Green Gables. Isn't she a beauty?

See the greenish smudge on her chin? I tried everything!!!! She looks a little like Taliah doesn't she?

Its pouring down rain, but we're nice and dry.

Happy Birthday Jonathan!!! November 17, 2009

Happy Birthday Jonathan! Somehow this picture made me think of little boys, and especially Jonathan.

This is DAY 2 of our turkey. I layered turkey/stuffing/turkey/stuffing and baked it all together. We had a little leftover gravy to go on top. We had cole slaw as a side dish. E-Z.

Here's another cute little boy looking through a Krispy Kreme donut!

These are the various parts of the Letter Y card for my Merry Christmas Banner I am working on - kind of a "before' view of it all.

I have until the Wed before Thanksgiving day to finish it up. Now that I have an idea, I think it will be quick and easy.

I worked most of today, but managed to get to a thrift store and to JoAnn's to pick up some essentials.

We are enjoying another nice fire in the fireplace and hoping the power doesn't go out, but if it does, we are prepared!