Internets ..... You Make Me Proud!

Yes sir-ree internets ... you make my old heart swell. The Christmas Tour of Homes has been so much fun! I’ve not hardly looked at a tenth of the entries submitted but not because I don’t want to ... it’s just there has been so much other stuff on my plate to deal with as Christmas day sneaks closer. The good thing is, the page will still be there when I have some of that free time on my hands when I can really take it all in and enjoy. I’m just about to a point where maybe, just maybe, I can sit at the computer for hours upon hours and enjoy this bloggy tour to it’s absolute max! People have been so very kind with the sweet comments left on my page. Sometimes I’ve had to laugh because I really don’t go all out to decorate. So I was in awe of the nice things people had to say. From my perspective my house decor is simple. Nothing fancy. And cheap! Not only do our stockings not match but most of the decorations are either hand made, handmedowns, 30 years old, or are from the dollar store! But I realized my pictures must of showed something I take for granted. Now when I look at the pictures, I think to myself how cozy and warm it really does feel. And yes, I even see pretty now too. I honestly know I have very few followers that read my blog daily. My visitor count is never over ten in a single day. I have been amazed to have over 400 people visit my page in the last few days! And wow .... am I ever so grateful. It made the effort to join the tour really worth it. This is the first year of Christmas in an “empty nest.” Sure, Em is home from college but she’s not really “home”. She’s been living with one of her high school girlfriends when she is in town but she does drop by on occasion as do her brother and sister. Being that we don’t live near any of our relatives no one really sees our house decorated for Christmas. That being said, I wondered just how much stuff to drag out of the closet this year. I’m not sorry I pulled it all out. This was an awesome way to show how we do it at Christmas time and I’m so glad I participated. And to think I let those awful words slip out of my mouth, “maybe this is the year for a fake tree?”.... Oh MY, what was I thinkin’? No, I’m not quite ready yet to give that tradition up.

Many people have asked about the tin foil stars we have hanging from the ceiling. I will be more than happy to explain the details on how I made them to anyone who inquires by email. I thought about posting it here but rather than go to all that trouble and no one really be serious about wanting to know the details I’m opting for an email if you are interested. I have made these stars for friends as tree ornaments and embossed an initial of their last name in the middle to make them personal. The hardest part about making them is finding the foil cookie sheets that don’t have a textured bottom but rather a smooth flat foil bottom. My luck is usually finding them at a drug store or an outlet type store like Big Lots. The ones in the grocery stores around here have a design on the bottom which won’t work. Anyway, please drop me an email if you want instructions.

Now on to some stinkin’ cute things. First I wanted to share this picture of the little teenie tiny purses I made for my luncheon with the girlfriends a few weeks ago. Are they just adorable or what! I found this idea on a blog site many many months ago (and have no idea whose) and was just waiting for a time that I could make some myself. As usual I always end up changing the original design a little but the idea is the same. I’ve decided that next time I’ll punch holes for the purse handle because I really didn’t like the way it looked coming from out the sides underneath the top. (although it does look better when hanging from the handle, that stretches it out) I made my own designs for some of the paper and some I used digital scrapbook designs I already had on my computer. They called for a Hershey’s Nugget but I used the Hershey’s Miniature Chocolates, which at Christmas came in four colors of bright foil for the holidays. The girls loved them and even our waiter asked could he have one to take home to his wife! I need to make myself one to hang on our Christmas tree in memory.

Now this other stinkin’ cute thing is something I would have loved to have had during my room mom days. My sweet husband was at a church meeting the other night and these were there as a treat. He knew I would just adore this little fella so he brought one home to me. He is sooooo cute! So any of you mothers out there with small children remember this idea for that next school Christmas party! Half of an oreo cookie, a chocolate kiss, a chocolate covered cherry with STEM (which makes the mouses tail... how cute is that!), two sliced almond pieces for the ears, and what looks to be some gel icing for the eyes and holly berry on the side. It looks like the hershey kiss is glued to the cherry with a little icing as well as the ears stuck down between the two when glued together. The picture makes the tail look like it’s on the side .. which it is sorta but in real life, it’s towards the back end and really does look like the tail! Too cute to eat I’d say!

As the day wears on I have presents to wrap, one gift to finish making, the grocery list for Christmas Eve dinner, and two cakes to bake. Aside from those things and laundry I’m just about ready for Christmas! Happiness! In the event I don’t get back here before Santa comes I’d like to wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas. May 2008 hold all good things in store for you and yours. May God Bless You All!

There’s a song in the air
There’s a star in the sky
There’s a Mother’s deep prayer
And a Baby’s low cry
And the star rains it’s fire
While the beautiful sing
For the manger of Bethlehem
Cradles a King
by: Josiah Gilbert Holland 1819-1881