It seems like 2008 has flown by, doesn't it?

This past week has been difficult to say the least.

I'm not sure I've shared the fact that my 91 year old great aunt

(my grandmother's sister) "Aunt Polly" lives with us.

She has been with us now for 8 years.

Aunt Polly is an independent, feisty, spirited, southern lady.

Never married, with no children, and has out lived her 9 siblings.

She has aged "gracefully" as they say.

Her favorite past time is reading and

doing the jumble puzzle in the newspaper.

"To keep her mind sharp" she would say.

Aunt Polly's snack of choice.....

Little Debbie snack cakes with a cup of hot coffee.

In the past few weeks Aunt Polly became confused.

Over the little things.

She was sleeping more and eating less.

On Sunday we felt it necessary to call an ambulance.

She didn't have the strength to ride in the car.

Unfortunately, she has a urinary tract infection.

Quite common in the elderly the Dr said.

And was dehydrated.

She will be hospitalized for a week or so.

My hope is that she will be able to return home.

She has, for years, made me promise

not to put her in a nursing home.

I pray I can keep that promise.

But in this season it is well to reassert that the hope of mankind rests in faith.

As man thinketh, so he is.

Nothing much happens unless you believe in it.

And believing there is hope for the world is a way to move toward it.

~ Gladys Talser

Merry Christmas!

I'm getting down to the final fun details for our Christmas celebration.

Thought I'd share my centerpiece and place cards with you.

I bought a box of the small candy canes from Wally-World.

100 for $1.97

Used hot glue to hold 3 together for an easel of sorts.

The names are bussiness cards printed on the computer.

The left over candy canes went around the candle.

Here is a recipe for Pecan Cream Cheese Pie.

It was a big hit at a Christmas Open House this weekend.

Everyone wanted to go right home and bake one!

This, along with Pumpkin Crunch, will be our dessert after dinner.

Along with cookies-cookies-and more cookies.

And for Sunday breakfast
Pizza!

I hope you have a beautiful, blessed Christmas.
Stay safe and warm.


And don't forget.........

Merry Christmas!

A SPECIAL OFFER that's hard to refuse!

The publisher of EllynAnne Geisel's " The Apron Book",

Andrews McMeel, is offering a 35% off coupon

plus free shipping!

Click on the link above and read all about it.

The offer ends tomorrow, the 19th, so hurry.

I ordered mine on line Monday

and they arrived UPS today.

If one is good

Two must be better......right?

What am I going to do with 2 books??

Give one away of course!

My 100th post is fast approching.

Watch for details.

Speaking of aprons.....

I made this one for my granddaughter for Christmas.

I love the fabric, don't you?

It's a printed panel apron from JoAnns.

By Daisy Kingdom.

I used my 50% off coupon which made it

very reasonable.

Not that my granddaughter

isn't worth full price mind you!!

There was suppose to be a ruffle on the bottom.

But I choose to use red rick rack instead.

The black dots below are just to

show you the contrast.

We're expecting a ton of snow today.

The weather man said 8-12 inches.

Then another storm is heading our way on Saturday.

Just as well, I want to read my new book!

Stay safe and warm everyone.

Christmas Treasures

I hope you had a chance to visit all the lovely cottages

on Tracey's Holiday Home Tour.

What creative ladies we have here in blog land!

Thanks goes to Tracey, Notes from a Cottage Industry,

for putting it all together.

And to everyone who participated.

After seeing all the sparkle,

it makes me want to add glitter to all my decorations!

Speaking of glitter, did you know Martha is now

selling a line of crafts at Wal Mart?

Man, that woman knows how to market herself!

I must admit, I bought her glitter 3 pack

and glitter glue with her fabulous-fabulous brush.

I was asked a few questions about my Christmas quilt.

The center of the quilt, Santa & toys, is a printed panel.

The borders, surrounding the panel,

are scrappy "bricks" (3 1/2" x 5" pieces of fabric).

This wasn't a purchased pattern.

I just made it up as I went.

It is quilted with an overall clam shell motif.

This little box was made by my youngest son,

25 years ago, as a school project.

Each year when I sit it out I remember

how excited he was giving it to me.

I think the verse is so touching.

I'll treasure it always.

This angel, my Mom gave me before she passed.

For as long as I can remember,

Mom placed her on the mantle every year,

up and away from small hands.

She turns around in circles

as the music box plays Silent Night.

She's alittle worn around the edges....

just like me.

This tree is special for several reasons.

Because it's so tiny......a minature.

And it's covered with one my favorite things..

shells.

I am a California girl at heart. Forever.

And because my sister in law made it.

I've thought of you each year when

I unwrap it and place it out for everyone to admire.

Are you surprised I still have it?

Stay safe and warm.

We're expecting another ice storm tonight.

I'm off to watch a movie and stitch on my snowmen......

Holiday Home Tour

Brrrrrrrr....Hurry on in.

It's cold out there!

The coffee pot is on and I still have

a few of those wonderful chocolate chip cookies left.

Just for you.

Can you believe they're predicting

125 inches of snow this winter??

This basket, usually on the front door, welcomes you.

But with this bad weather I've had to bring it in.

Let's start with the Christmas tree.

It's so hard to get a good photo.

Don't worry, I've asked Santa

for a new camera this Christmas.

And, you know,

I've been a very good girl this year!

I use silver glitter wire ribbon as garland with a large bow on top.

A couple of new ornaments on my tree this year.

Aiden's little chair, with teddy bear and book, sits next to the tree.

I just realized I should have started a fire in the fireplace!

The fireplace mantle scarf is actually a window valance.

I've had it tucked away for years.

Sure I'd find another use for it.

A close up of the Jim Shore Santa & Reindeer set on the mantle.

I love the quilt patterns on the reindeer's blankets.

And Santa is covered by a quilt.

More Jim Shore Santas.

On the quilted table topper sits an old salt wood box filled with Christmas greens. Easy to take on & off for meals.

My boys favorite nativity set when they were little.

And, of course, a Christmas quilt!

Oh, I sure love Christmas and all the decorating!

I hope your Christmas to-do list is almost complete.

Remember to stop and smell the evergreen!

Thanks for stopping by.

I'm off to Tracey's to continue the home tour
.

Are you ready to bake this morning?

I have cinnamon bundt cake in the oven this very minute.

If I could release the smells thru the screen you would be

running right over for a piece. I swear.

Brewing a fresh pot of coffee, just in case.

Both recipes are Deee....licious.

And you know how we love "fully loaded"

chocoalte chip cookies at our house.

This recipe is our new favorite!

Sooo chewy you'd think there was

coconut in the recipe. But not.

Seeings how these contain oatmeal

do you think they'd count as breakfast food?

A few of my favorite ornaments.
Can you read the top left one?

I'm a Santa collector!

And last, but not least, my favorite Santa babies.

Quick page "Christmas Traditions" by LindsayJ

Next Wednesday, December 10th,

Tracey from

Notes from A Cottage Industry

is hosting a

Holiday Home Tour.

Your chance to see hundreds of decorating ideas

without going out in the cold.

So stop back to take a peek at my house.

Stay warm...........

I'm Baacckkk!

We had a wonderful trip to St Louis!

What joy, visiting family & friends over the holidays.

It's been 27 years since hubby celebrated

Thanksgiving with his baby sister and brother.

What a way to start off the Christmas season!

During the 6 hour drive I caught up on my magazine reading.

I love the Christmas issues! Don't you?

I don't "subscribe" to any magazines.

Instead I use my JoAnn's coupon

and "pick and choose" each month.

Whatever catches my fancy.

This is my first issue of Mary Janes Farm.

It is a beautiful magazine!

I'm not really a "farm girl" or gardener, by any means,

but I enjoyed the holiday ideas.

Mary Janes Farm free holiday apron pattern

check it out!

Isn't this apron just the cutest!

I love the fabrics!

The pattern looks simple to make.

Ohhh....to have a waist like that.....

Here is the apron I made for the national "Tie One On Day".

A simple "vendor style" with 3 pockets using cute coffee fabrics.

A quick gift to make.

Here is a link to 54 FREE apron patterns.

"An Ode to Aprons"...
The principle use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath,

but along with that,

it served as a holder for removing hot pans from the oven;

it was wonderful for drying children's tears,

and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken-coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs,

fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs

to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came,

those old aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids;

and when the weather was cold,

grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow,

bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling-wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables.

After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall,

it was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road,

it was surprising how much furniture

that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out on the porch

and waved her apron,

and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields for dinner.

It will be a long time before anyone invents something

that will replace that old-time apron that served so many purposes.

...Author Unknown

***********************************************************

Back to my magazines.....

"PORCH"

from Counting Your Blessings

Polly does a great job!

Lots of beautiful photographs.

And last, but not least, my old stand bys.

My Christmas decorating is almost finished.

I can't wait to show you a few of my favorite things

and share a couple of new recipes I brought back from St Louis.

Til Friday.