PUTTING CHRISTMAS A WAY AND A FEW CHANGES

We had a wonderful Christmas with our family.  Everyone came to our home on Christmas Eve for lots of good food and our family gift exchange. There are 17 of us in our family, plus this year we also had 4 new guests  – our teenage granddaughters brought boyfriends.  They were all adorable and fit right in.  Two of the girls and their boyfriends came early and helped get everything ready – it was great to have extra help.  On Christmas Day we all went to my parents’ home for dinner.  Not all of my siblings and their families were able to be there, but we did have a nice time with the 29 that came.

All of my Christmas decorations have been put away and I am working on changing some of my every day displays.  I still have a lot to do, but wanted to share what I have done so far.

Since I didn’t get around to posting any of my Christmas decorating, I thought I would show a few Christmas photos, as the before pictures, and then show you some changes I have made.

I didn’t get a picture of the entire TV cabinet so I will show the three areas I photographed – before.


 

After - I removed the pewter and rearranged my crocks – this is what I came up with.


 

Santa Display on old book case – before.

  

I like to use these shelves to display my Santas,  but I have not been able to come up with an everyday display that I liked for these shelves until this one.  I asked my hubby to cut some plate grooves in the shelving and it turned out just as I wanted. 

After - I moved my pewter collection from the TV cabinet to these shelves and I love it.

  


The top of my green dry sink – before.

After. 


 Pegboard and bench in entry – before.

After.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying these last few days of 2011.

Blessings,
Sue

BURLAP STOCKINGS & TREES AND PRIM CANDY CANES

I was a little late decorating for Christmas this year. I just don’t seem to have the energy this year to do as much as I have in the past, so I am simplifying.  I did, however, make time to do a couple of craft projects.

I had seen some simple table top trees made from printed burlap and wanted to try making them.  I found the printed burlap at JoAnn’s Fabrics.  After making the trees I decided to make some stockings to hang on my entryway hat rack. I am pleased with how they all turned out.





I bought enough of the burlap to make some throw pillows, but they probably won’t get made until after the holidays.

Another project that I had seen in a shop a while back is prim candy canes.  I found plastic candy canes at Hobby Lobby.

I tore strips of homespun to wrap around the candy canes.



After wrapping the candy canes, I dipped my fingers in liquid fabric softener and smoothed the fabric down.  Then I sprinkled them with cinnamon and laid them on paper towels to dry.



All dry and ready to hang on the tree.



Here is a candy cane hanging on our tree.



I still have a few more things I need to set out, but I am about ready to call it done.

Tomorrow is our city’s annual Christmas Parade.  My BF and I go out early and set up chairs to save our spot, then our kids and grandkids join us for the parade.  We have a great time watching the kids enjoy all the sights and sounds.

I hope you all are having a blessed holiday season and taking the time to enjoy family and friends.

Sue

A CHRISTMAS BLESSING FOR MY BLOG FRIENDS

God be with you at Christmastime
And keep you in His care,
God grant you peace and happiness
And answer every prayer,
God fill each day ahead of you
With blessings from above,
So you will know, your whole life through
The fullness of His love.
                                              Author Unknown


The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace. Psalm 29:11

Christmas Blessings,
Sue

A CHRISTMAS MEMORY AND A CHRISTMAS TRADITION

One of my favorite memories from my childhood is of our family’s Christmas Eve tradition.  My Daddy loved Christmas and could not wait for Santa to come – so on Christmas Eve my parents would load my brothers and me into the car to ride around and look at the Christmas lights.  But, just as we were ready to leave, my Mama would have to go back into the house.  Being kids and being so excited about our outing we had no idea what was going on.   We would ride around and enjoy all the lights and then when we came home we found that Santa had come to our house – on Christmas Eve!  (I didn’t figure out until I was much older why Mama went back into the house.)  We just thought that we were special because Santa had come early at our house.  

As our kids were growing up we did not choose to have Santa come on Christmas Eve, but we always set aside time to go for a ride and enjoy the lights together as a family.  Our children are all grown and now they are taking their children to see the lights.  Since there are 17 of us, with all of the grands, this is not something we can do together anymore.  So a few years ago my husband and I started a new tradition – we began taking my parents for a drive the week before Christmas to look at the lights.  Last year we were not able to do this because my Daddy was very sick, but this year he is feeling much better.  So last night was the time we chose for our Christmas lights drive.  What a special time it was for me to be able to share this with my parents and see my Daddy enjoy all of the lights and decorations.  I told my husband as we came home, “We just made a memory.”  We never know how long we will have our loved ones with us, but we will always have our memories.

I hope you and your loved ones are making special memories and that you cherish each one.

Christmas Blessings,
Sue

MY GIVEAWAY WIN HAS ARRIVED & A LITTLE BIT MORE (Christmas Decorating Part 4)

I was so blessed to be a winner of one of Carol’s Christmas Giveaways (Firecrackerkid Primitives).  What an awesome early Christmas gift – a Rolling Pin Dough Bowl Cubby!  When the box arrived my DH opened it for me, while I was putting the grandbaby down for a nap.  Thankfully he knew to stop when he took it out of the box and saw this beautiful presentation!

 
It was almost too beautiful to unwrap.

But I got over that real quick because I couldn’t wait to check it our further.  Here it is in all it’s glory!
 
Isn’t it gorgeous?

I put together a quick little gathering, just so you could see it with a rolling pin and bowl – and a touch of Christmas, of course!
 
Oh my – so many display possibilities!

Carol thank you from the bottom of my heart for blessing me with this awesome treasure.  I LOVE IT!

Check out Carol’s blog Firecrackerkid Primitives and follow her links to her selling sights.  Words cannot describe the treasures you will find.  You will just have to take a look!


& A LITTLE BIT MORE…the rest of my Christmas Decorations around the house.

The Kitchen and Dining table.


A Gingerbread Man display on Hoosier cabinet.


Adorable mouse I received in a swap.

 
Stove board.

 
A little cubby with candy canes and drieds.

 
Black goose in old trencher on Dining Table.

Snowmen in Guest Bedroom.

 
Love these pillows – I’ve had them for years.

 
Skinny snowmen on top of bookcase.

 
Display on dresser.  (Couldn’t figure out how to take photo without the flash.)

It is so nice to have all of the decorating done and be able to relax and enjoy it for a while.  I’ve also just about finished my shopping and have wrapped everything that has been bought.  I plan to finish the shopping tomorrow and will hopefully have a week to enjoy the season without a lot of stress.  I hope you are all enjoying this blessed Christmas season.

Christmas Blessings,
Sue

SANTA CLAUS HAS COME TO TOWN (Christmas Decorating Part 3)

The children of early European settlers believed that St. Nicholas would visit them in their new country just as he had in their homelands.  As a result America’s image of Santa Claus, like America itself, was a blending of many ethnic contributions.  Santa Claus is a beloved part of the holiday season…a spirit of sharing, giving and loving.  

MY SANTA COLLECTION!

I love this wooden Santa, kneeling to pray beside Baby Jesus in the manger.
 

Santas displayed on bookcase in the Living Room.
 
    
 

Little wall shelf in Living Room and wash stand in Bathroom.
 

Guestroom decorated with Santas.

    

Old cardboard and plastic Santas, and a Santa I made in a class many years ago.
 

I hope you enjoyed looking at my Santas.  I have enjoyed collecting them over the years.

Christmas Blessings,
Sue