Happy New Year and a Christmas Rewind....

Happy New Year Everyone!

Hello Blogger Friends!

 I hope this New Year finds you well and I hope you all celebrated

a wonderful Christmas with loved ones. 

 

So you all now know, that I never did make it back on here for a pre-Christmas post as planned but such is life these days.  We all had a beautiful Christmas and yes, my father was able come.  We anticipated the day with much concern and then his doctors gave him the clear to come.  I spent a great deal of time taking care to sanitize my home top to bottom before he arrived.  He was tired and stayed a short while this year but we were so grateful to see him! Amen! 

He had a bit of a set back this week as he was to begin another round of his chemo they discovered pneumonia and he is being treated accordingly so we are of course worried but grateful the doctors caught it quickly.  Thank you all for your continued prayers, we certainly need them and I so appreciate you all. 

Christmas came rather quickly this year and while I was able to capture alot of it on film (hmmm...no more film more like, captured on the computer instead) I couldn't find a minute to post it all so I am doing a Christmas rewind  today, I hope you are not sick of it all already, if so I understand!  This is a long, picture-heavy-catch-up post....just to warn you.

The kitchen was decorated all up in it's holiday finery....

This guy below was made by me many Christmases ago.  With each child he would end up missing a few parts since he is toddler height, lol.  Although, quite battered it reminds me of the christmases when my girls were little and he gets sentimental rights to stay and each year he takes his rightful place in the corner of the kitchen. 

All around the Christmas Farmhouse.....a peek.

Of course we set up the Christmas Village too.  I think these are my younger children's most favorite Christmas decorations.  They will sit there in the dim light of the evening looking the whole thing over in awe once it's all been put together. 

 We spent a quiet New Year's Eve at home with Family and friends.  We have done this for the past several years.  We get together with cousins and friends and celebrate together in the safety of our home.  This year we all held out until the ball dropped, another memorable one for sure.  Resolutions?  Oh, we'll talk more about that in the next post....lol.

I have been around to several of your blogs recently to catch up, however, blogger was giving me a hard time each time I tried to comment (ugh)...it was such a treat to catch up though. 

I will keep trying to comment though so you will know I stopped by to see you...of course I have so much to say too, lol.

Well, if you've stuck it out to the end of this post, thank you!  Thank you for making it worth my while to continue to post, thank you for your support and prayers and

thank you for coming back to read my posts! 

Be sure to leave a comment if you can to let me know you were here and what you are thinking, your input is important to me.

Happy New Year to you all!  May you all be blessed with Love, Health and Happiness in the new year!

Take good care,

Dee

Christmas Is Not A Day Nor Season

Christmas is not a Day or Season but

A Condition of the Heart and Mind.

I know it has been some time since I have posted.  Christmas is now upon us and our I hope all of your hearts are reflecting the essence of it.  Life has been moving rather quickly for me lately and it seems the more I have to do the faster it moves!  I'm sure alot of people feel that way.  We have slowed down this year and instead of the rush of Christmas we are focusing our minds on the condition of Christmas instead.....

My eyes have been opened this year to a Christmas of a different kind. 

With my father being ill and receiving treatments I will be grateful to see him on Christmas day like no other.  We are keeping prayers that he will be out of the hospital and well enough to see his family, that is his and all of our Christmas wish this year, that he will get well.

 I have seen another side of Christmas this year with my new job and the Christmas toy drive that they run each year.  All started by a grieving coworker who had to work through the holidays after loosing her son years ago.  Christmas for families, made by the generousity of others and hard work and dedication of those running it.  The amount of familes  that need help this year was eye opening, it brought out the true meaning of Christmas for alot of people. So many of them were just like me, anyone's situation could change in the blink of an eye.  I am so blessed to be a part of it.

It has made getting to the stores, rushing through the crowds at the mall, perfectly decorating the house so much less important.  Not that it ever really was the most important but it certainly set my priorities in order!  We have scaled back on everything.  What needs to get done will, simply put.  We need to focus only on what is truly important and that is FAMILY and LOVING and taking care of one another. It is not at all about presents that have been given out but about the love of Christmas that has been shown to me and I am so very grateful for the awakening, what a gift that is.

We have carried on with our Christmas Traditions of course.  Decorating the tree, sprucing up the house, wrapping gifts and baking of course.  Watching favorite Christmas movies and singing Carols. Only focusing on what should be done and narrowing down lists of what once was accomplished.  But this year, things have been scaled back.  Every single decoration did not have to go out, I chose only those that were important to me and that is what we used.  With all of that said, my Son still has the twinkle in his eye and excitement in his heart...he is so very excited by all of Christmas.

Inspite of all that is going on in my life right now, this is probably one Christmas that I will remember the best.   

Let me share a few things that we have prepared for this Christmas......

Pretty Papers

A new, antique, enamelware table. 

Set up as my wrapping center this year.
A large flower pail holds all the colorful wrapping paper next to it.

I keep everything within easy reach to wrap everything in a jif.  On Christmas day the paper will be put away table will be used to hold deserts.

Mixing and matching the wrapping paper, with plaids, polka dots and retro looking papers keeps it colorful!

  

A  Homemade Christmas

Homemade corncob potpourri to add to my holiday gift baskets.

Apple slices and cinnamon sticks grace the baked apple bags and orange peels and cloves are in the orange spice bags...mmmmmm they smell soooo good on the wrapping table while they await their recipients packages.

Homemade "snowballs" sit in an enamelware bowl all wrapped up to go in
other gift baskets with a candle. 

They make a cute centerpiece when placed around a candle

All Decked Out.....

The trees have been decorated,

and my great Aunt's nativity set out...I'll share more photos next post.

This is one of my most treasured holiday decorations.

 

This worn box has seen many Christmas'

A nice way to keep loved ones memories near at Christmastime. 

The ornaments have now all been hung.

The baking is still occuring...

I'm a messy, messy, baker....love baking with my kids.

I miss my girls being little with their little noses kissed with flour while they help in their Christmas aprons. 

My son occassionally strolls in and out to help, but he eats way more than he makes, lol. 

Rolled Sugar Cookies for my son's preschool class to decorate at their Christmas Party.

if you were a guest at my house this Christmas this is what I would serve you...some cute homemade Christmas tree and poinsettia pressed cookies fresh from the oven.

I hope you are all enjoying this Blessed Season, I miss you all!

This gal will be back in a few days to share a little more of

Christmas at the Farmhouse with you. 

 I will be back as soon as possible this week to share more of what has been going on at our house, thank you all for your emails and your prayers, they certainly have been helping!  

We are so grateful for your support.

There is still a Secret Giveaway going on....winner to be announced January 1st...New Years Day.

Take Care,

Dee

Summertime Signs

A few Summertime Signs just listed in the Mercantile....

Well I've been busy painting again.  Yes, I'm totally covered in the seasonal shades of blues, purples and pinks, oh I'm such a messy painter lol.  Painting into the evening hours I love listening to the crickets, they keep me company while I create.  I am a night owl, that is when I do my best work!

Want a peek?

Sand Castles

http://www.etsy.com/listing/51608215/sand-castles

Wiggle Your Toes in the Sand

http://www.etsy.com/listing/51609963/wiggle-your-toes-in-the-sand

Dreaming of Seashells By the Seashore

http://www.etsy.com/listing/51500845/dreaming-of-seashells

So, what do ya think?

I think I'm ready for the beach now....

I'll be back with a real post in a couple of days.

Thanks for peekin!

Take Care,

Dee

Happy Fourth!

 I hope you had a great Fourth of July!  Celebrate the birth of our nation and rejoice in the liberties and freedom we have here in America.  

I can't think of a better reason for a summer barbeque each year than that. 

 

Each year our small town hosts a patriotic parade and firework display over the lake at dusk.  We host a family barbeque and swim before heading out the door with picnic blanket in hand to find the perfect spot.    

 I like to doll up the farmhouse with some patriotic decor in time for the party but

it will all be left up until labor day to enjoy throughout the summer.  Here's a few photo's of patriotisim around our home and barbeque.

Mantel decor.... 

  

 

These lanterns were made from glass jars, I tied a gingham ribbon onto the hanger, a white candle inside lights up the night when the festivities continue into the evening.

Several are hung all the way down the trellis that covers our back deck.  When they're all lit they give off a dim glow, just enough light to see but not enough to attract bugs.

 

 The tables were all set with patriotic accents for the party. 

A vintage cake holder is put to use safeguarding the sweets.

A big bowl of watermelon quenches our thirst in the summer heat. 

What barbeque would be complete without some juicy watermelon? 

A fresh baked Strawberry pie....

An old crate makes transporting out the barbeque necessities easy.  My kiddos have hotdogs and burgers with their ketchup...so we go through alot  of it each summer.  I made a mason jar dispenser to hold large amounts.  I looks nicer and cleans up easier too.

The drink station is set up outside to avoid cleaning up any spills

when those little hands refill their cups.

My lil guy was also as festive as can be in his flag bathing suit....

picking me some daisies no less. 

  

So what did you do for July fourth this year?  Do you have any traditions, recipes you would like to share? 

Take care,

Dee