Day #9 BBBbbbbbrrrrrrrrrr!

Today's box came from Michele at Something Special.

It is so cold here and this is the cutest little Eskimo!

Inside is a tiny little basket.....

maybe for the eskimo to put his fish in?

I wish I could get a better picture because this one really doesn't

show how darn cute this little guy is.

My box for today is of a Snowman Family

and on the inside I made some earmuffs and crocheted a little scarf.

Have a wonderful day and stay warm!

Here's Day 8.....A Day Late!

I didn't get a chance to post yesterday....oops!

The box I received for Day 8 is from

Michelle of Wood and Fabric.

Michelle made this little box to look like a book.

It is so cute and very creative!

Inside there is a beautiful little treasure.

A tiny bottle with magical snowflakes in it and a charm attached.

Thank you Michelle!

I love your creativity!

My Day 8 is a Snowflake box with what else, but snowflakes on the inside.

The box is all glittery and I like the cool blue color.

Day 7 and Reindeer and Happy Birthday to my Sister Robyn!

Today is Day #7 and it is a special day because it's my sister Robyn's Birthday!

Today's box is from Erica from Zunky Chic and it is so pretty. There is a little snowman ornament on the inside of it. I really wish my camera worked better because this box is so much prettier than the photo shows.

and this is my sister Robyn with Mallory last New Year's Eve.

They are both kinda crazy and always fun to be around!

Happy Birthday Robyn!

Here is the box I made for Day 7.

I made some little mittens out of felt to put on the inside

to keep Santa's hands warm!

Finally, here is the Reindeer stuff I made for my YOE monthly swap.

I made a little felt reindeer ornament, matchbox ornament, cards and tags and then a little hanging reindeer out of felt.

Have a wonderful day and stay warm!

We had some snow last night so Jace wanted to know if today was Christmas because snow means Christmas! I love 4 year olds and the magic they see in the littlest things!

Day 6 and Dear Santa I Really Need a New Camera

We had little snow flurries today, not enough to build a snowman but my Day #6 box is of a Snowman. Today's box is from Sandi at Musings of Samiam and it is a cute snowman box with the prettiest little pair of angel earrings inside.

I collected angels as a child and I still love them.

Thanks Sandi!

As you can see my camera takes terrible pictures. My camera has been dropped a few times and is literally held together with duck tape. It only works when it wants to and I really would LOVE Santa if he could bring me a new camera for Christmas.

Here is my Day 6 box. This is one of my favorite boxes that I made.

Sherry from Sherry's Simple Blog received it all the way over in England.

She said she laughed when she opened up the box

and found the little snowballs for a snowball fight.

Yay! I was hoping whoever received it would enjoy it!

Have a wonderful day and if you see Santa please tell him I've been a good girl this year!

Thanks!!

All Dressed up For Day #5 and Another Favorite Recipe

Shawnee from Shawnee's Tangled Tales made these

very clever, unique and elegant tuxedo matchbox ornaments.

There is a pretty little ornament on the inside.

I love this idea!

Thanks Shawnee!

Here is my day 5 matchbox.

I made a stocking box and then made a little felt stocking for the inside.

As a little girl my mom would make spice tea at Christmas time and I always loved it. The orange, lemon and spice flavor. MMMMmmmm! So as part of Cathy's Countdown to Christmas Sharing I thought I would share this recipe with all of you. It is a pretty popular recipe so many of you might already have it, but I'll share it anyway.

1 Pkg of Lemonaide mix (or I usually just buy a container and put whatever is equal to a

package)

1 Cup of Tang

2 teaspoons Cinnamon

3/4 Cup Sugar

1/2 cup Instant Ice Tea

1/4 teaspoon Cloves

Mix together. Store in jar. Stir 1 Tablespon into a cup of hot water or to your liking.

I also started adding some Red Hot Cinnamon Candies and Lemon Drops to mine for some added color and texture. They will melt in the hot water and make the mix look really pretty in a jar.

Enjoy!

CountDoown to Christmas Day 4 and Cathy's CountDown to Christmas

Today's box comes from Hope of Pixies Ponderings who lives in England.

She sent me this glittery little box with a super cute bottle top ornie inside.

It is so cute!

Thanks Hope!

Here's my day #4 that someone out there received.

It is a little Rudolph box with a "Nose cover" and extra red light bulb inside the box.

Cathy has been having a monthly Christmas ideas and projects blog-a-long going to inspire everyone to get an early start on Christmas. I can't really show any of the things I've been making because most of my family sees my blog......so I thought I'd share a recipe with you.

I started making Emerils Baby Bam several years ago and sending it to my family back home using it for as part of teachers gifts and giving it to my older kids in their bags at Christmas. It's easy to make and everyone really seems to enjoy it.

Ingredients needed:

3 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons dried parsley
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon celery salt

Place all the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Stir well to combine, using a wooden spoon. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Yield: About 3/4 cup

I make it in huge quantities because I give it to so many people. I usually go to Sam's to get the bulk spices and either save and reuse old spice jars from the year or buy plastic salt and pepper shakers at Wal-mart to bottle the Baby Bam in.

Enjoy!

CountDown to Christmas Day 3

Today my beautiful little mathbox came from Jan who lives all the way in England.

Jan covered the box in fabric and added some dainty lace and a red button.

Inside is the prettiest little angel.....a treasure indeed!

Thanks Jan!

I love the matchbox and angel!

Here is my Day 3 box.

I have snowflakes on the outside

and on the side I put a couple of little snowflake ornaments and snowflake sequins.

Have a wonderful December 3!

CountDown to Christmas Day #2

Having a little present to open everday is so much fun!

Today I received this very pretty little matchbox from Michele at Scrappy Cats.

I love the box and then she made this stunning button ring.

It is so pretty and such a clever idea!

Thanks Michele!

This is my #2 box. I crocheted a little scarf for the present and then put 2 mitten brads in as well. I'm not sure who has it yet. I hope they like it though!

Have a wonderful day full of surprises, sunshine and smiles!

CountDown to Christmas Blog-Along

Finally I got to open the package from Linda at A Swap for All Seasons with all 25 matchbox ornaments and a wonderful goodie bag from the amazing Linda. Linda had about 75 people participate in this swap. So 75 people each sent her 25 ornaments and she made sure that we each received 25 ornaments back from 25 different people.

What an undertaking!

Thank you so much Linda!

I received my package a couple of weeks ago,

but I didn't open it because I knew once I did I'd want to peak at all of the pretties.

My Day #1 Ornament is from Pam at Treasures-n-Textures.

I love it!

It's so pretty and my photo definitely does not do it justice.

I love the little guy that she put in for the surprise!

Thanks Pam!

Here is the Day #1 Matchbox that I made.

Sophia from Blue Chair Diary received mine.

I can't wait to see what beautiful little treasure I get tomorrow. Thanks Linda and Pam for bringing joy to my heart today!

If the Pot Fits

If the pot fits....make soup!

Earl has 2 big pots and the Jace and Anthony were playing in them so Jake put them on the stove for Jace and Anthony Soup.

I think they are cute enough to eat!

The She in Me

She sits in the house, the space that is her world. She has very little communication with anyone and has become lost in her own mind. She wakes up every morning and wonders what she is doing here, in this life. What is her purpose? Why is she so lonely when she has such a wonderful family around her? Why? Has she lost her mind? Her spirit? What?

I look in the mirror and wonder who the person looking back at me is. Who is this person and why isn't it my own reflection looking back at me? This persons hair is a mess and she doesn't wear any make-up. Her face is wide and she has a couple of double chins. I try to look at her, but .... she can barely look at me. She tries, but her pride won't let her. She is ashamed for me to see her. I feel like I should know her, but who is she?

As she sits reading or crocheting she can feel something inside her stirring. She can hear a voice deep down and feel something ...... like a little spark. What is it? She tries to listen and sometimes she can hear it and sometimes without warning ..... she disappears and I am the person in her body. I feel energetic and inspired. I fix my hair and put on some make-up. I go exercise and make plans to start eating healthier, I feel like me, the me I used to be. Suddenly though, without any warning at all ..... I disappear and she is in control again. She has me inside of her .... lost. Lost and I can't seem to find my way out ..... so I sleep, she sleeps.

She sleeps so much lately. She feels like she could sleep forever if the world would let her. She would sleep even more if I didn't struggle to resurface. I have to get into the guilt part of her brain to make her wake up and start moving again. Guilt .... Guilt seems to be such a big part of my life. So she wakes up and I can feel myself waking up too. I do the dishes and laundry and clean up a little and then I'm lost again ..... back in her world. Her small, self-absorbed world. I think she wants me to find me and to let me take control, but she doesn't know how. She has been in control for so long now that I have forgotten what it is like to be the dominant person. I have to find a way to take over though or I'm afraid I will be lost forever.

Some of What I've Been Up To

I am in Val's monthly Year of Enchantment Ornament Swap and September's swap was mice. Here are the mice I made for my partner.

I even stamped a little bag with a leaf and then colored it in with marker and outlined it with glitter glue. I am NOT a stamper so I was particularly proud of this little project!

October's swap theme was Owl's. So I made up some felt owl ornaments, an owl hot pad, and some different paper owls. I had to stick some Tootsie Pops in because of the old commercial

"How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll Center of a Tootsie Pop?"

Then I made 154 Christmas Stockings for my mom.

This is only part of them.

The place my mom works at are going to have kids paint and decorate the stockings.

I've been working on a couple of other big projects,

But,

they're for Christmas gifts and so I can't post them yet.


Well, I'm off to do some more Christmas stuff!

Have a wonderful day!

Fall Basket Swap

I am so far behind on blogging. I've just been in my own little world....pretty much keeping to myself and just doing my own piddling around here. I have been busy, yet feel like I'm in a rut. Weird, I know, but that's just how it has been.

I've really needed to post the Fall Basket Swap and apologize to Michele (the host) and Carol (my partner) both for being so late in doing so. It was really a fun swap and Carol sent me the nicest basket full of goodies.

Carol sent me this basket and it was filled with goodies. There is some ribbon, cool Halloween fabric, tea, a coin purse, scrapbook stuff, a wreath, post-it-notes, flowers, a gorgeous bottle, etc...... My absolute favorite thing though is the "Orphaned Clip-On Earrings". They are so pretty and in fall colors. They look just like ones my Nana and Grandma wore. They are such beautiful little treasures!

Here's the stuff that I sent to Carol. I made her a two little bags. One has cinnamon sticks and anise stars and nutmeg in it and the other is to hold some of the other goodies. I also crocheted her a dishcloth and tawashi in fall colors and made some yo-yo's and clothes pins in fall colors too.

These little squares and leaves can be used for scrapbooking or hung up on a banner. I made the leaves out of some collage paper that I made out of scraps of tissue paper, napkins and scraps of other paper. I think they turned out really pretty.

Thanks for a fun swap Michele and Carol!

A Brown Paper Bag Zine

After I had The Brown Paper Bag Swap, Lori Garver, contacted me and asked me if she could interview me regarding the Brown Paper Bag Swaps because she was making a zine. Lori was so sweet and sent me one of the finished zine's. She did an amazing job and so I wanted to share it with everyone.

The front and back cover

The contents, introduction, some beautiful flowers Lori made and part of the interview with me.

the rest of the interview with me and a picture of the roses my sister Robyn made for me, a wax paper art doll that Lori made and some different types of paper that Lori made.

A paper bead and a recipe for Brown Sugar Cookies, Fun Facts, links and Thank you's.

Lori did a really nice job on her Brown Paper Bag Zine and I really appreciate her including me and sending me a copy. She really does amazing work!

...and then there was 12!

My daughter and son-in-law, Lexie and Jake, are having another baby!

Their son, Anthony, is 3 now so they decided now was a good time to get pregnant with baby #2. Anthony is very excited to have a new baby coming to his house.

Lexie is 12 weeks now and doing great!

and this is grandbaby #12.

We're hoping for a girl

but

boys are pretty special too!

Congratulations!!

Cathy's Countdown to Christmas

Cathy inspired me to get busy on Christmas last month. I have been working on Christmas presents for other people, (but I can't show them yet!) and some stuff for my house. Did you know it's only 86 days until Christmas????

I bought this vintage looking Michael Miller fabric a couple of years ago on EBay and never knew what to do with it. So I made cloth napkins for us to use during the Christmas season. I ended up with 22 napkins.

and then I used the rest of the fabric for 6 patchwork hotpads.
I'm making a table runner too, but I don't have the backing fabric yet so I'll show that when I'm finished.

Thanks for the inspiration Cathy!

Family Day

I don't think I blogged about this before, but we FINALLY....... after 2 long years, got a car! Not a knew car, but a car that runs and holds all 5 of us!! So for the last couple of weeks we have been doing lots of overdue and much needed family activities. Yesterday the library had a Book Sale and Free Bouncy Bounces, food and a clown.

Here's Mallory and Jace at the start......

and here's how they ended up

Mallory turned into a cute and as always a very funny clown

and Jace transformed into a Red Power Ranger.

Ezie is to "old" now (at the age of 11 1/2) to participate in things like this so he went into the library and played on the computer. I would have jumped in the bouncy bounce if they would have let me....I'm not to old!

Apple Pickin'

Apple picking is one of our favorite things to do as a family. Every September we go at least once to one of the many area apple orchards and pick apples, buy cider donuts and just have a fun day together as a family.

This year was no exception!
I'm looking forward to going again hopefully next weekend!

A Fun Fall Banner

I participated in Cindy's Fall Banner Swap and these are the super cute, creative banners I received. My partners were Cindy and Tamera.

Tamera and Cindy made these 2 sets. Cindy made an extra set for someone who dropped out of the swap.

I have enough to make 2 banners so I can decorate 2 of my big windows. I'll take another picture after I string them and hang them up.

Thanks everyone who participated! I love the different creative styles and can't wait to put it all together!

and these are the ones that I made

Thanks Tamera and Cindy for a wonderful Fall Banner that will definitely make my house feel warm and Fall like!

A Giveaway!

Kelly at Kelly's Recipes for Life, is having a wonderful giveaway. Stop by her blog for a visit and Be sure to check out her giveaway....she has some beautiful things.

It's the First Day of School

Ezie and Mallory started school today.

Ezie is in 6th grade and starting Middle School......

lockers, changing classes, lot's of new kids, new school......

Mallory is going into 5th grade

and this is the first year she is in a school without Ezie.

She is very excited to be back in school though!

Jace is home for another year much to his dismay.

He does although go to his pretend "Little Kid's School"

and Miss Murray from the tv show Little Bill is his teacher.

Earl's hours change back to 10-7.

It was nice getting up with him and making him breakfast this morning,

but I hate him getting home after 7:00

and then having to still go to his other job.

Oh well, that's life.

I hope they all have a really great day!

Jace and I will be anxiously waiting for them to get home

and tell us all about their new year.

Thank you Cathy!

Guess who is getting this package in the mail?

Yep! Me!!!

I won Cathy's Christmas Countdown Giveaway this month!

Make sure you start workin on some of your Christmas projects and then check out Cathy's blog for the rules for next months giveaway. You can also be entered for leaving Christmas tip and hints so get in the Christmas Spirit and visit Cathy's blog.

The deadline for next month's entries is October 7.

Thanks Cathy! I'm excited to check out that pincushion

and I'm really glad I got started on making Christmas stuff!

I'm Starting on Christmas!!

Cathy at Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much is hosting a Christmas CountDown and a Giveaway for anyone who participates. Today is the deadline for this month and then Oct, Nov. and Dec 7 are the upcoming deadlines to enter. I appreciate Cathy getting me inspired to get started on my Christmas stuff!!

I made 13 drawstring bags for our family to use for Christmas gifts. I've made several of these in the past, but not any for our family. So I got out my Christmas fabric and got started. I have various sizes and prints. I also made some "Cars" bags for the little guys in my family. I still need to make more....some now and then I will probably add a few every year.

I think this will be a nice alternative to trying to find boxes, buying wrapping paper and tape and spending hours wrapping gifts every year. I think it will also be fun to get the bags out every year and remember what you got in that bag the previous year. A new family tradition that I think will be fun and a lot easier for me in the long run.

I have my next month's project cut out and ready to sew. I'm excited to get started and Thanks again Cathy for the inspiration!