By Dickens I Won

One of my favorite Christmas stories is A Christmas Carol by Dickens. These are Byers choice figures in the Christmas carol. I collected these over several years. I recieved most as gifts.

This is Scrooge with Jacob Marley the first ghost that visits. That little sign stays up all year.

 This is the ghost of Christmas past.

 She takes Scrooge to see how life was. These are the fezzywigs who employed Scrooge when he was young.

 These are the ghost of Christmas present and Christmas future scary...

 And here are the poor Cratchits. I have this set up in my bookcase. I try to watch that movie after church on Christmas eve. I usually fall asleep.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my Dickens people.
I got some great news last night I WON! I WON! a 45.00 gift certificate to CSN from pandora's box oh I can't wait to spend it. 
I am still in cleaning mode be glad when that is over ha. Have a great night.

Snow, Shakers, and Santa

I hope you enjoyed your holiday and your weekend. No black Friday shopping for me I had to work.

We had a snow squall on Sat that caused accidents. Not a lot on the ground but it came very fast with the wind blowing. It was kind of freaky. That is a tree we cut in the woods, we plan on feeding the birds. I am going to make bird food ornaments.                                                                                                     

 Today we went to Canterbury shaker village to a craft fair. It was mortgage your house craft fair. 107.50 for a scarf. The way I lose things I would need a 1000.00 worth. I took some pictures while there. I do not know which building is which but I do know they are all wonderful.

 This is the Church, that much I know.

 I love this house and look to the right you will see part of the view the whole place has.
 This is the sugar house, where maple products were made.

 This had a sign saying Brethren house.

 On the way home we saw reindeer playing games! Getting ready for the big night. (it is an elk farm)

 and last but not least another decoration went up. This is one of my favorite  santas.

We have made some fun plans for the next few weeks. House tours and a weekend away. My daughter was not feeling well so  we didn't get together. She is in her last month of her pregnancy so she is having a hard time sleeping. She never did well with lack of sleep ever and this is really getting to her.
Welcome to my 2 new followers and all of your comments were wonderful. Keep them coming.
Have a great week.

A Little Decorating

I woke up this morning to this! freezing rain, sleet, and snow. Not fit for birds or beast.

 I was able to take a few things off my to do list. First I finished the christmas card basket.

 I did take it apart and I still have a problem, the bottom is not as nice as it should be. But  it is finished and I will make another one after the holidays.
We did have a chance to pull out some of our decorations. I found a lamp shade that I made a few years ago out of christmas cards. Not to bad on my dump find lamp.

 I have collected little vintage carboard houses, I now set it up in a little cupboard in the kitchen.

 This is a close up of one little section. My husband set it up for me while I was doing other things, He did a great job.

 My mom had found this fold out story card that has the night before christmas story printed on it I would say 50's

Our Thanksgiving was quiet, we watched a few old christmas movies, have you ever seen Going My Way with Bing? If not it is a must see. We also did a little bit of decorating. Welcome to my new followers leave me a comment so I can find your blogs. I love all of your comments. My daughter and I are making some batches of hot cocoa and gingerbread men mix to put in caning jars for gifts. I will share after. Have a great weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving

These are the pantry cakes that I made last weekend. I think they are so cute. I had more cloves than cinnamon so they are darker than dog trot farm's . I made 1 larger one and then 4 small that I put in a wooden bowl that I have filled with pine cones. I plan on making more for gifts.

 I was thinking I have this clay pan why can't I use this to make the next batch??? A yard sale find.

 

 I found these books last weekend. I just love the little book. the illustrations are so wonderful. I know nothing about Joan Walsh Anglund's artwork.

Icey roads this morning let the season begin. I got the new country living magazine today so my plan for thanksgiving is to eat until I almost explode then beach myself on the sofa and read. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone stay safe in your travels. Thank you for all of your comments and welcome to my new follower.

A Kitchen That Smiles

It has been a busy weekend. On Sat I went to one church fair then met my daughter and we went to Maine. The little town we went to was having ladies weekend. We kept getting little gifts or discount in each store we went into very fun. So since it is close to Christmas I did Christmas. I bought this wooden hanging. It is one piece of wood that is hollow someone put a bent twig on it to make it into a greens holder or flowers I love it, so simple.                                                    

 I found a few cute Santas and a vintage reindeer and snowman at the church sale super cheap.

 Also at the church sale 6 Christmas light bulbs. I looked them up on eBay 4 are going for 42.00 I do not know if they work yet but for 6.00 it was a buy..

 I found 5 of these winter glasses. It is very hard to get a good picture of them but they are very grama moses looking. I paid 4.oo Then my daughter and I went in an antique store and saw the same ones for 24.00 that made me very happy.

 At a hospital thrift store I found Talbots pants with all the tags that fit me. Score! and then I found the light weight red sweater with all the tags from Marshalls. Great Christmas outfit.

I have told you we are hosting a party in a few weeks so I have been trying to peck away at the cleaning list. First I cleaned the windows and changed the curtains. I have had these curtains for a long time and  I always go back to them, I still like them. I am not sure if you see the stars hanging in the window.                                                                                                                                        

 My husband cut out enough stars that I can hang them in every window.

the kitchen has exposed beams. That leaves a lot of space on the top of my cupboards. I have some tin picnic baskets a sled and birdhouse and few assorted thing. It gets dirty up there and I hate to clean it.  The cobwebs that I have been decorating with for years : ) were everywhere. And it was greasy from cooking so a good cleaning and my kitchen almost smiles Ahhh its done.

The weather was sunny but the temperature is dropping fast! we have the wood stove going as oil is going up again!  I made the pantry cakes I will show you a picture of them next time.

Welcome to my 2 new followers. and you comments were wonderful. The cookie cutters really hit home with people Thank you for each and every one of your visits and comments.Have a great night and stay warm.

Progress

I worked on my Christmas card basket. I have the sides together, I still need to stitch over the tops and of course I still need the bottom. I would tweak some parts of it next time but I am forging on.

 I got some thrifting in today. This little pile was 3.00, I wear an apron every night, the little mold I am going to make a pantry cake, how to at dog trot farm,The ornament is going to be a package tie, the cute silver dish is getting a candle, the little snowman plant pot is getting a boxwood tree that I will make, the little dish with the tree is spode and will be a gift filled with homemade chocolates, and last but not least the photo book is waiting for my grandchild's beautiful pictures.

 Then I scored a bag of cookie cutters for 2.00 and it was a good score! you could make a cookie farm yard or zoo.

 And if you are playing cards you could make cookies to match.

 oh and Christmas? I have that covered. check out those red handles!!!!

 I am not sure just what the 2 people are??? a businessman annnndddd I got nothing. The star is home made.

 Donut and small rectangle I think would make great cut out for short bread cookies.

 OK ARE YOU READY!!!!! AN ACORN!!!!!!!  The tin is full of small leaves great for that pie that Martha Stewart had in her magazine.

A few church sales this weekend that have little thrift areas set up. Have a great night and keep those visits and comments coming.

A Christmas Secret

I said I was working on a Christmas card project so here it is. This picture is of the vintage one I bought at a antique store. I love it and thought how hard could it be to make one???

 Well it is harder than I thought. I wanted to use this basket with out taking it apart.

 I cut out my cards ,punched them with the little holes, a hole punch is to large.

 I have started sewing them together using the blanket stitch.

  I will show you the finished product once I am done. I could make a thousand of these because I have a secret. I have kept every card I have ever received since we have been married, 35 years. No one can lift the box their in. But oh the memories in that box. Lots of pictures that were tucked in cards and all the cards my daughter made for us when she was little. and the cards sent by friends and family that are no longer here. I even found money that was tucked in a card many years ago for my daughter.
 My dump find is pretty cool this week. A Christmas wreath, a bunch of extra branches,

 and a pile of fake berries I am going to use on another project. All wrapped up nicely in a clear plastic bag. Very timely don't ya think!

 Thrift store finds today was a really fun Christmas stencil book. I also got some CD's, old Billy Joel and a Bon Jovi

I went to the dentist today and I have a cavity, the first one in about 25 years. A new dentist bought out my old retired dentist. hmmm. It has stopped raining and now it is blowing and getting pretty cold. My cat ran down to the basement when she heard the husband starting the wood stove down there. She is all curled up in a basket about 5 feet from the stove.
My husband has signed us up to host the Christmas party for his work in December. So I guess I better start cleaning I don't want them to see how we really live, ha.
I love all your visits and comments. Keep them coming I guess I am begging again. Have a great night.

Hanging Out

 I hope you all had a great weekend. It was so nice here I could let my underwear blow in the wind ha. Anytime I can hang my laundry on the line I am happy. I got a chance to do some yard work and housework. while cleaning out I found a penny rug I made some time ago and usually put out in the winter.                                                                                                                                                I did get to a yard sale held by a flower shop. I got some ribbon dark red with gold threads in it, and some picks I use off and on when decorating wreaths. And at  a thrift shop I found this cute little bottle opener I would say 50's -60's I found it on ebay for 14.00 I paid a cool .50. I love vintage santas.

A great big welcome to all my new followers. It is so exciting! and all your comments, I love them. I am busy working on my rug I want to get it done. I have also started working on a craft with old Christmas cards. I will share that later this week when I get a bit more done. Have a great week! Let me know what you have been doing this beautiful weekend.

Thrifting, Cooking, and Reading

Thrift store day and I found a few things. The two plates are very much like yellowware I am not sure if they are new or old. The little silver tray I thought it would look good with greens and silver Christmas balls. Total spent 2.00.                                                                     

 I found 3 blouses for myself 2 liz claiborne and 1 dress barn. I am trying to lose a few pounds so I have been on the treadmill every other night. I have lost 3 lbs, which is better off than on but it is slow to come off.

 Last night I went to my women's group Thanksgiving, (so much for the diet)16 if us around a table was so wonderful. I made a cranberry chutney to bring and it was a hit. I found it from beyond my kitchen window you should add this to your thanksgiving.

I have actually had some time to read a book. I am reading The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve. It is a fictional account of the true murders on Isles of Shoals March 5,1873,off the coast of Portsmouth NH. It is a Maine island but closer to Portsmouth. It is pretty good, I have read some of her other books and enjoyed them. Working in a book store I have a large stack of books that customers think I should read. I read the Girl With The Dragon Tatto that a customer said I had to read. I know a lot of people love it but I really didn't like it. To much weird violence for me.  Well I am off to get on the tread mill have a great night.