Pure Joy

Finally, we got a bit of snow! Glorious snow!

It snowed all day, but we only got a few slippery inches...

We stopped at the crest of the hill on the way to our daughters for the family Christmas. This is the beautiful Mt Chocorua. This mountain is sheer rock at the top and has a native American legend attached to it. It is beauty in every season. But this is breath taking.

My husband's family is so close and celebrate everything together. I love this family so much. Compared to my family who is pure dysfunction. 

Cousins who make me laugh. Daughter is on the left the other two are sisters. My daughter hosted in her lovely home and did such a wonderful job so proud of her and my son in law. 

My brother-in-law once in a while cleans out old houses. He gifted me this old Santa. Does he know me or what? 

Because I have been on a binge lately of eating all the sweets and the food, I usually don't eat I thought it was time to make a nice big pot of veggie soup. I just used up all the bits and pieces in the veggie drawer and made quite a pot of soup. I will freeze some of it as husband does not like vegetables all that much. 

***

That young football player is doing so well it was quite a week of recovery for him. I wish him continued success to good health.

Our patriots just lost to his team, so we are out, but they were the better team and I hope they go all the way and win the Superbowl

****

Have a wonderful week!

Can It Be?

 That Christmas is over! but there is a special

4th birthday coming up....

There were more goodies eaten than I care to remember...

and Santa sightings all over the place...

 Christmas crackers that held crowns and kazoos...

And lots and lots of Christmas presents..

(This was taken from a calender we received!)

Yesterday was the last of the Christmas parties but there is

one amazing little girl turning 4 very very soon!

It has been a laid back day of football and rug hooking.

Our weather has been very mild but I see the cold weather coming in from Canada. Hey, you Canadians keep your cold weather! (and you know who you are:)

The Christmas decorations will stay up until

after the New Year. 

I wish all of my sweet blog friends a happy and healthy new year.

Filled with lots of belly laughs and great surprises.

Cheers!

As most of you know this was our first Christmas with Miss B.

David had a bone marrow transplant last fall so we skipped Christmas

last year. We made up for it this year. Miss B and Pepe having a toast,

she loves to click glasses and say cheers!

Miss B and Gramie in the tent how would you know? by the tip of a toe!

I just love to hear her giggle.

Miss B was so over whelmed she could have cared less

about opening gifts. She had been opening gifts since the Sunday

before Christmas. Her birthday is Saturday and a whole other

Christmas is on the way with my husband's family which means about

30 people.

And I finished! I had it steamed by 11:30 on the 23 and took it

to work to bind it on the 24th. I made the star on the left a shooting star.

***

It was a wonderful healthy Christmas for us. We had much to be thankful

for this year. It is now snowing and blowing I am home from work with

no energy at all to clean. Maybe if I get dressed and get going I will get something done.

 

 

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree....

I thought I would get creative with the Christmas tree this year.

I removed every other row of branches and decorated.

I still have a bit more to put on but I really like it.

(My vintage lit tree stand)

I was busy baking this weekend.

These are the oyster crackers with an envelope of ranch dressing with

a bit of dill then it is baked. They are so yummy and a great gift in a

canning jar.

My women's group had a brunch on Saturday. I made some

lemon poppy seed muffins. A great easy recipe that is made with Bisquick and

some lemon instant pudding.

After brunch I did some thrifting. the Santa was free

the rest..

was total of 3 dollars.(Yes that is Sadie lurking:)

But the best purchase this weekend was this candle.

It has a timer so it goes on and off at regular intervals.

(That is David as an elf at polar express)

Here is what I ended up with for our Yankee swap at the brunch.

I don't usually make out that well.

***

I hope your weekend was a great one.

I am done with Christmas shopping except for a few gift certificates

I have to pick up.

***

If you have only one smile in you,give it to the people you love.

Don't be surly at home, then go out in the street and start grinning "Good

Morning"at total strangers.

Maya Angelou

 

Decorating

David said he had a surprise for me when I get home on Tuesday.

This is on his workshop right by our driveway.

This is a vintage poster he found years ago.It has stayed rolled up in the closet for years.

at one point I thought I had thrown it away. he built a frame and put glass in the front to keep

it safe. I can't tell you what a surprise it was and how much I love it.

It is at least 6 feet tall.

A few years ago on my way out of work I passed a dumpster that had this in it.

I tried to get it, but it was out of my reach. I went home got David and his truck we could stand in the back

of his truck and pull it out. He rewired it and now I have this amazing vintage tree stand.

My husband is so in the spirit. My neighbor came in to the store and said who is decorating? She laughed and said I think it is grand . Of course she has a tastefully lit wreath on the side of her house. I tried taking pictures of our grand mess, but they didn't come out so great.

I have been doing a bit of decorating myself. Some of my vintage Santas.

I made another batch of pantry cake and put it in a Santa mold.

It really is hard to see but he smells great! Julie said I could share her

recipe for it

1cup of water

4Tab of used coffee grounds

1Cup of salt

2 Cups of flour

3Tab of cinnamon

2Tab of cloves

 

Mix coffee,salt, and flour,and water well

spray mold and dust with spices.

I will tell you those spices lasted me 2 batches. I also

dust everything with the spices when it cools off.

Bake for 6 hours at 170degrees.

(Remember this is for smelling not for eating.)

 

This is Miss B's Christmas card. She is getting so big

She is coming to her gram's to see the parade, sit on Santa's knee

then there is a bonfire, and a huge cookout with fireworks to cap it off.

It should be fun and exhausting.

***

I am off to a church fair and out to dinner tomorrow night with a friend.

I am looking forward to that so much.

David is an elf at the polar express and just loves it.

***

I am still working on my rug I will show you the progress next time.

Happy Decorating!

**

The crisis of today is the joke of tomorrow

H.G.Wells