a few collages

A little home tour

 

I took my new camera on a little trip around the sunroom. Hope you enjoy.

Cookie making still going on

Did you hear me say that I wasn't going to make cookies this year?  Well, I just couldn't help myself. Ryan wanted his favorites...buckeyes and peanut butter blossoms. But I cheated just a little. I bought the peanut butter cookie pouches. A lot less mess and they turned out just great. I'll make the buckeyes later. 

   Today I made cranberry pecan bread, molten lava cookies and chocolate chunk with m and m's. I also made date Krispie balls   Here is the recipe in case you'd like to try them. 

RICE KRISPIE DATE BALLS 

1 stick butter
3/4 c. sugar
1 (8 oz.) chopped dates (with sugar)
1 c. pecans, chopped
1 c. Rice Krispies cereal
1 tsp. vanilla

In saucepan, melt butter and sugar over low heat. Add dates and cook 3 minutes and remove from heat. Add nuts, Rice Krispies and vanilla. When cool enough to handle, form small balls and roll in powdered sugar or coconut.

My grandson

Dan has become such a wonderful man. He was at my house a lot when he was a baby. Being a teacher I got out an old wooden calendar off the wall. Do you remember those calendars that had wooden number blocks that you could move?  I taught him numbers..remember that he was not even one yet and could barely walk. Soon he was able to arrange them in order. He was. Smart even at that early age. He also learned the letters quickly. I like to think that my early influence had something to do with his choice of a future career. He is a graduate of Penn State with a degree in mechanical engineering now working in Pittsburgh area   But his dad who is also an engineer may have had something to do with it. 

Take care of yourself

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At this busy time of year you may be feeling that you wish you had octopus arms to do all the shopping, baking, and decorating at once. This season can be frazzling or you can take time for yourself. I'm at the stage of my life...retirement...and my time is completely my own. Today I enjoyed a time out day. Of course that was after I made dozens of my son's favorite cookies and shoveled the six inches of snow off the driveway. 

Snowy tree

I WONDER IF THE SNOW LOVES THE TREES AND FIELDS, THAT IT KISSES THEM SO GENTLY? AND THEN IT COVERS THEM UP SNUG, YOU KNOW, WITH A WHITE QUILT; AND PERHAPS IT SAYS

“GO TO SLEEP, DARLINGS, TILL THE SUMMER COMES AGAIN.”

 Lewis Carroll

Childhood Christmas memories

At this time of year memories from long ago seem to surface as Christmas carols ring in our ears. The holiday time was such a special time for most of us that those memories never fade. I can remember the tree with the large colored lights all covered with silver tinsel. Mom always told us to hang every strand separately and not throw it in clumps. 

And then she got out the spray snow and created a wonderland on our front window.  

I clung to my belief in Santa till I was quite old because I had two younger sisters. When my mother finally had to confess to me I was so disappointed. As they filled the stockings that year I sat on the bottom step watching in disbelief. 

   Another memory of Christmas that sticks in my mind was when I was a teenager. I had a boyfriend...who is my husband now of almost forty eight years in January. Mom and dada had gone to a Christmas Eve party and my sisters were upstairs sleeping. Dad had gotten out a box for Don and asked him to put together a metal dollhouse. It was one of those with fairly complicated directions...put tab A in slot A. It took hours to put together but we work steady and got it done. 

What childhood memories stick in your mind?

The Burlap Bandwagon

Everywhere in blogland the use of burlap is big this year. Whether it was used in farmhouse decoration or combined with elegant pieces it was all I saw. 

But when I spied this burlap ribbon with French writing at Hobby Lobby I caved and bought a roll and of course had to have a roll of burlap,with pearl headed edges. I incorporated it into my frenchy scheme by adding it around some candles and making a bow for the top of the candler. 

Wrapping, wrapping everywhere

Paper and bows, tape and scissors, boxes and bags all over. Today was my wrapping day. I’m getting packages ready to deliver. How about you?  Are you done yet?




   It’s bitter cold today here in Bradford, fourteen degrees. A good day to stay inside. Sadie lays on top of the sofa looking out. Even she knows better than to beg me for a walk.  The cat is sleeping and won’t even go near the door to ask to go outside.  I don’t think they like the cold weather either.
   

The Nicest Present

Under the tree the gifts enthrall,
But the nicest present of them all
Is filling our thoughts with those who care,
Wanting our Christmas joy to share.

To you, whom we're often thinking of,
We send our holiday joy and love.

Everyone needs a little JOY

Jan Williams brought out the creativity in me.  Just watching someone put together wreaths and centerpieces right in front of your eyes using fresh greenery inspires you to create too. One thing that she demonstrated used the letters JOY. I immediately left the college and visited her shop where I purchased those JOY letters. Today I made my version of a JOY wreath. I also bought that lovely green bird with the ribbon tail feathers at Jan’s shop.

It was traveling again for me today as Don took me down to St. Mary’s (a town about an hour south of here) to get my eyes measured for my cataract surgery that I will have after the holidays. The weather is about twenty degrees and snowy but the roads were clear.
  All of a sudden I feel like there is too much to do and too little time. Tomorrow I’m working on wrapping presents and organizing what I have and seeing what more I need to buy. No obligations for the rest of the week so I should be able to catch up.  Whoops, I just remembered the laundry in the basement…got to go.
   Wherever you are please enjoy this evening. Is anyone watching Survivor this year? Don and I have watched every season and each time we say we won’t…but end up doing it anyway. I can’t wait till January for Downton Abbey to come back on.. and then there is American Idol. I love all the judges so it ought to be a good season. What do you like on tv?

   Sorry I seem to be rambling on…it’s just that kind of day. I’m stopping for a cup of tea.>>LOL.

Who-Hoo, it’s an early Christmas!

Santa came early at my house. I love photography and I’ve been using a point and shoot for many years. I started with a simple Polaroid then graduated to a pretty nifty Fuji with some nice bells and whistles. But when I looked at the pictures on other blogs I could see the advantage of having a DSLR. I had to wait till I was ready for the big step. Would it be too complicated for me? Would it be too heavy? Would I really use it? How much learning would be involved? Both my grandsons and my daughter-in-law had a Canon Rebel and so I ordered one. I was so excited when the box came. Could I really take my photos to the next level? I have a lot of learning to do but I wanted to compare. The top photo is with the Canon, the next my Fuji. Note the crisp detail in the first and the blurred background. The second set has the Canon on top and Fuji on the bottom. In these pictures I can see some subtle differences. I know as I get better at it there will be more.  I still need to up the shutter speed and hold the camera steadier but I can see the Canon takes amazing pictures. I am really looking forward to really giving it a workout over Christmas.
  Any of you out there who use Canon Rebels?  

Frenchy Christmas craft

When my sisters and I  used to get together a few times a year we always worked in a craft session. One time in our country days we made little stone houses using little pieces of shale for the stones on the side. We arranged spring flowers in a paper mâché rabbits. We tole painted little steps tools one time. We made gallery glass, button necklaces, stuffed Christmas ornaments and painted ceramics among other things. But lately we want to buy things already made. 

  But this weekend I brought down some Frenchy images that were postcard size, some glitter and glue, jingle bells and wire and we spent a few hours having a great time making ornaments. I even think I'm going to out some of mine as a garland. Here are some pictures of the results. Sorry about the blurriness,