Looking forward!

The end of another year is upon us. I'm looking forward to 2008 for a couple reasons but really expect my life to remain pretty much the same, and I'm okay with that.

The highlight of 2007 was spending time with my family and I certainly expect to continue that. I also plan to spend as much time as possible with my sweet Jerzie. Here she is 01/01/2007.....and today.
I'm looking forward to a growing relationship with her and even tho I know my children well, I expect our relationships to become even stronger and better. I'm also looking forward to becoming even closer to my favorite son-in-law and favorite daughter-in-law.
I'm looking forward to paying off my mortgage!
I'm looking forward to working in my garden!
I'm looking forward so household sales and "new" junk!
I'm looking forward to blogging and meeting new friends!
Some would say that I need goals to improve my life. I say I have achieved many goals that I thought I would never achieve. I have struggled in many areas of my life for many years. I believe that accepting my life as it is will make 2008 a good year. I will try not to feel sorry for myself for needing to work 2 jobs, for sometimes being lonely, for being in constant pain. My life will improve when I accept what is and focus on what I have. Great kids with super spouses and a beautiful loving granddaughter!
I'm looking forward to 2008!

Christmas morning.

We're having one more family get together today. My brother and his wife and all three of their kids and 6 grandchildren. These are some pictures of Christmas morning.I just covered this present for Jerzie with a blanket.She likes the music it makes but hasn't gotten on herself yet. Remember when we gave it a test drive?
I said Jerzie wouldn't be impressed with this gift but she played with it all morning. I painted and glittered a wooden recipe box and wrote "Jerzie's hair stuff" on the top. I covered the inside with felt. She loved putting things inside.
Her favorite Backyardigans. A book and figurines. We were just getting started. See all the stockings are still full.

Tabatha with her jacket she has been wanting and Jerzie's puppy.
Perfect fit. Kim with his miniature model (clock) of Sheas stadium. Jerzie's middle name is Shea and she went to New York City near her birthday to see the Mets play.
One of the new outfits Gramma bought. The tights even have snowmen on them.
After this the kids were visiting other relatives all day and I cleaned up a little and took a nap!

Tart pans

I got these little tart pans at a sale this summer, thinking I could use them as small Christmas gifts.. Six for $3. I saw some neat paper ideas in blogland but since that's not something I normally do I would have to buy all the suppliesInstead I used some stuff I already had.
I got a bag of pipe cleaners that looked like greenery for $1. I just used them as filler.
Then I wrapped around some small wired greens I had.
Added some pine cones and berries left over from other projects and a candle I bought. I wrapped them in cellophane and tied them with a strip of left over "country" material. Six easy, inexpensive, one of a kind gifts.

Technology

Right now, for at least a day or two, I'm higher tech than my kids! Thanks to Chris and Laurie I have a wireless mouse! I had no idea I wanted one but it's pretty cool! I bet it won't be long before they have one.

Gotchya!!!

I really surprised my daughter with one of her Christmas gifts this year and it was all thanks to blogland!

Lilli of Make Mine Blissful makes beautiful bags for her etsy shop. She puts fabrics together and posts them. You can buy the bundle and she will put them together into a bag. Laurie told me there was a beautiful bundle of purples (her favorite color) she loved. I went over to the shop, purchased the bundle and told Laurie I tried to check it out but it was gone.
Laurie visits Lilli's blog regularly so I let Lilli know who the bag was for. Lilli usually posted the process and the finished bags and I was afraid if she didn't post this one Laurie might catch on. The big problem is that the bags have your name on them. We decided Lilli would post the bag with Ann written on it, both mine and Laurie's middle name, so she wouldn't have to tell a fib.

Here is Laurie opening her present.

You got me! I can't believe it!
You lied to me! (but it was worth it!)
When Lillie posted the progress of "Ann's" bag Laurie commented

" You already know I like the colors of this bag :) It looks great."

When she posted the finished bag, Laurie was the first to comment.

"Lilli~ It really turned out pretty. I love all the different shades of purple you used. I'm sure Ann will love it."
"Ann" did love it! And what fun it was to trick her! Lilli even sent Laurie a note with the bag telling her what fun she had being a part of the surprise. You'll have to click on the link above to "the process" and "finished bag" to see how beautiful it is. The only difference is that the name on it is Laurie not Ann!
I got a rose shrub for my birthday this year because I commented on a blog that I had always wanted one. Laurie saw the comment and bought me one. Now I got her through blogland! Turn-about is fair play!

Merry Christmas!

I'd like to wish all my blogging friends ...... a very Merry Christmas!
May you have meaningful fellowship...
...with family and friends...
...during this wonderful Christmas season.
May your burdens be forgotten...
...if only for a short time...
...so you may experience....
...real joy and contentment!
May Santa be good to all of you!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

My Mantle

First I want Claudia for sending me one of her beautiful creations! I love it!All the detail is amazing! Thank you my blogging friend!

I did my mantle quite different this year. I used some of the old boxes I had and put on some antique look labels I found a couple years ago at AC Moore.An old tree topper in a box and an angel I usually have in my bathroom.
Another box, an angel candle, a white metal cardinal and a vintage red bell.
Another vintage red ornament and the bead angel my Mom made that I used as a tree topper.
Finished everything today. I have all day tomorrow to make my contribution to dinner. I hope you are ready and not spending your Sunday stressing.

Merry Christmas!

"Christmas Hoopla"

I got my wrapping all done Thursday night . Yeah!!! I dislike that the most! I also made my "easy frogs" and some Seafoam Candy. Now I've got the weekend to finish up making snack food. I'm feeling a lot less stressed.

Muum tagged me for the "Christmas Hoopla" so I'll try to come up with 12 things. Here are the rules:

List 12 random things about yourself that have to do with Christmas Please refer to it as a 'hoopla' and not the dreaded 'm'-word.

You have to specifically tag people when you're done. None of this "if you're reading this, consider yourself tagged" stuff is allowed...then nobody ends up actually doing it. The number of people who you tag is really up to you -- but the more, the merrier to get this 'hoopla' circulating through the blogosphere. Please try and do it as quickly as possible. The Christmas season will be over before we know it and I'd like to get as many people involved as possible.
Please give Andrea some link-love as the “Hoopla-Creator!”
1. When we were kids all we got in our stockings were "fruit, nuts and underwear. I fill a stocking for everyone every year and there will be NO "fruit, nuts or underwear (unless it's a cute pair of boxers or socks!).
2. I wrap all the presents that go in the stockings. Each person gets the same amount, usually around 15. I hate wrapping them but it's so much more fun.

3. We all went out every year to look at Christmas lights (until Jerzie came along and we can't all fit in a vehicle). We ate candy canes, listened to the Oak Ridge Boys Christmas and stopped at McD's for egg nog milkshakes.

4. One year I was so poor I sold my silverware to but the kids presents. My Grandma started me a set of silver but then I started getting girl cousins and she had to stop. I had one complete place setting and when silver was high I got $90. for it.

5. We always celebrate on Christmas Eve with my brother and his family. We exchange a few gifts with them but my kids and I do all ours on Christmas morning. I try not to be too demanding of my kids time but I do demand a couple hours Christmas morning (not that I have ever really had to demand it).

6. When I was young we always had Tom and Jerrys at Grandma and Grandpa's. My kids have brought that tradition back. One of them brings it every Christmas Eve.

7. I love decorating for Christmas. I take down all my pictures and knick knacks and replace them with Christmas stuff, in every room except my bedroom.

8. I still give my kids at least one ornament in their stockings every year.

9. We have macaroni and cheese every year on Christmas Eve. When the kids were young they all loved mac and cheese so we had it for Christmas so they would eat something good for them. Now everyone expects it. The only trouble is now the little kids want the boxed stuff and don't like my homemade!

10. When I was young we always went to the American Legion to see Santa. We got a box of candy from Santa. My favorite was the vanilla cream chocolate drops. Then we would watch the movie "A Christmas Carol". I didn't really like the movie but we got our candy first so we could eat it during the movie.

11. My son has always helped me make Christmas cookies. One year I did it on my own and he was mad. Now he, his wife and Jerzie help. It sure is more fun than doing it alone! He will come over early Christmas Eve to make the monkey bread, too.

12. I don't think I'll ever be ready for Christmas ahead of time. If I have more time I just find more things to make. There is always something I decide to do if... I often get cranky before Christmas because I get so tired but it is so worth it. Having all my family together in my home is as good as it gets!!

I know I'm supposed to tag someone but it is so close to Christmas and every one is so busy I'll understand if you don't get it done before. Sure won't hurt to read it after. I'll tag Nature Girl because she has a broken ankle and time on her hands, and Chris and Laurie.

Show and Tell

This picture is of me and my brother when we were probably 17 (me) and 19. I'm sure you all recognize the man in the middle. My stepfather won this Santa in a raffle around 1966. As you can see he is life size. His beard is spun fiberglass and his clothes are red velvet like material.Here he is 40 years later! As you can see he has aged some. He has been through a lot in 40 years. He has lived in several places, been attacked by mice and made it through a basement fire. Since the fire he actually looks like he could have been going down chimneys all night! At one point he was wrapped in sheets and suspended from the basement ceiling. After realizing that the meter men were making a run for it after seeing a large form in boots wrapped like a mummy and hanging on bungee cords from the ceiling, I decided he needed a better place to stay! That's when he was sent to the shed and attacked by mice. Poor Santa!
Santa is on the back deck of my house. The deck is on the second floor and the door to my beauty shop is under the deck. Santa greets all my customers as they come down the walk. There is a spot light on him and if you look fast you can get a glimpse of him from the street.
I really don't worry about him getting snowed on anymore and even though he's getting old, I just can't seem to part with him. I guess that will be up to my kids some day because I just don't have the heart. We've been through a lot together, Santa and I.

For more Show and Tell posts go to Kelli's House.

O Christmas Tree!

Thought I'd show you my tree today. It is hard to get a good picture.I love a real tree and this one is nice and full.
The next pictures are some of the bead ornaments my Mom made.
I'm not sure I appreciated them enough when I got them but I sure do now.
She made a different one every year.
She had a hard time finding something new each year. My daughter and I talked her into making these.

There was a story that went with it about the spiders weaving webs all over the tree and how beautiful it was. She never got to make these but I hang this one, purchased to be the pattern, on my tree every year.

Toffee

I got my Tassies (pecan tarts) done yesterday. All my baking is done! I took my last run to Walmart today. Now all I have to do is finish wrapping and make some snack food like Chex mix and white trash. Pea asked for my Toffee recipe from yesterday so I'm giving it today. It is easy to make and very good. Almost like a Heath Bar.
This is what it looks like after it is broken up.

Toffee

Base: 2 cups crushed Vanilla Wafers (we use the blender)

1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/3 cup melted butter
Mix and press into 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 8 min.

Toffee layer: 1/2 c. butter

1/2 c. brown sugar

Combine in saucepan. Cook over med. heat stirring constantly until mixture thickens. Boil for 1 min. Immediately pour over baked base. Bake for 10 min.

Let stand 2 min.

Sprinkle 6 oz. chocolate chips over top. Let stand 2-3 min. until morsels are shiny and soft. Spread evenly and sprinkle with 1/2 c. chopped nuts.

Break into pieces after it is completely cooled.

I don't know why we only make these at Christmas but it's probably a good thing!

Cookies!

Yesterday was cookie day! Jerzie and her Mommy and Daddy came over to help me. I had all the dough mixed so we had to bake everything. Jerzie wouldn't touch the dough. Mommy tried to get her to help make the Spritz red but she wanted nothing to do with that.
She decided to help as long as she didn't have to touch it.
She did enjoy the melted chocolate though.
Might as well put the whole spatula in your mouth.
Not too many people can smile with a spatula in their mouth!
Daddy making Spritz.
The new cookie press worked pretty good.
Cream wafers (we call them Julie cookies because we got the recipe from Julie) every ones favorites.
Peanut butter blossoms, some with peanut butter cups instead of kisses.
Toffee before it's broken up.
We got 6 kinds done. I just have one more to make and the baking will be done. Next, work on wrapping and making snacks.