Celebrating Mom's 86th Birthday

Today Brady, Alex and I went to Mom's for her birthday. We were served a nice lunch of open faced roast beef sandwiches, mashed potatoes, gravy and my favorite broccoli salad. Alex liked the salad because it had bacon and raisins in it.






We stopped on our way to pick up the cake I had ordered. It was half chocolate and half white with whipped icing. It was so pretty, candles and all.


After lunch we walked the halls with Mom. The boys wanted to see the exercise room. It wasn't long before Mom needed a little rest and to get off her feet.




Guess I should have left Alex with her, because here is what he looked like on the ride home.







And while his brother was taking pictures in the back seat he took this one of me. I know it looks like I have a death grip on the steering wheel too!


We then went to visit BT at work. It was his last full day of work, before retirement on 12/31/2009!!!

Scenes from Christmas Day!

Elizabeth wants to tell you how sad she is that Christmas is over with.

Brady said I should show you how an 8 year old helps Grandma set up her new Wii fit plus.

Now that Christmas is over, Elizabeth is ready to go shopping.

What girl doesn't love to shop?

Alex, well he is just enjoying his new BHS hat.

Lori can't wait to get her new monitor all set up.

After that this is what we did. Here Bentley . . . leftovers from the girl in the high chair.

The kids posed for their annual christmas picture in front of their tree.

All this holiday stuff just wore her out.

Mother, Me, with the grand kids and my sister Lona at Mom's Christmas party.

I leave you now, to go reduce the age my new Wii fit plus made me. :(

Isn't this what Christmas is all about?

Receiving an unexpected gift!

We had an unexpected package in the mail box yesterday.

I recognized the return address of Tammy and PW. They are known in the blogger world as Flat Creek Farm.

It was in a bubble wrap envelope marked fragile. Now I know PW and my blacksmith hubby are always exchanging something. I really didn't think there was too many things a blacksmith made in a forge that would be marked fragile.

I carefully opened it, but as quickly as I could.

Tammy is a very talented artist when it comes to making jewelry. I know I have two of her rings. My daughter claimed one.

Here is what I found.

It was two pairs of beautiful holiday earrings. A pair of snowmen, and a pair of Christmas bulbs, which included a bulb for a necklace. The pictures don't show you the sparkles. They are gorgeous! I plan to wear a pair to my work Christmas party tomorrow. I could even wear both pairs at one time, since my ears are doubled pierced.



There was a small packaged labeled for BT. It was a retirement gift from PW, also a blacksmith. It was a soup spoon made from a horseshoe nail. I can't imagine working with something so small and fine in a hot forge. The bowl of it is so small it might hold 1 pea.

The package included a Leaning Tree Christmas card, plus a signed picture from Ruby and Gracie.

Thank you Tammy and PW. It was a wonderful surprise. These are the first gifts we have received. They will go under our tree.

Now about the retirement gift, BT is retiring from his office job in 4 working days. For 36 years he's been working in the IT field. Now it will be full time Blacksmithing. I am so proud of him. To be retiring at 59 is awesome! Love you BT.

It's a done deal!

Sarah got it done!

Here she is with Ree, a.k.a Pioneer Woman.

If you look closely you can see PW signing my book to Patti.
That's me!
You can also see our business cards just above the book.
That was my gift to PW.


Click HERE to read more.

PS Sarah, I bought you gold today!

It's a book signing . . .

Tuesday December 22, 2009

in

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
at 12:30
this daughter, will be taking my copy of this book (and her copy that I bought for her)

to

BARNES & NOBLE
13800 North May Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK

To the one an only PIONEER WOMAN

to get both copies signed!

I have threatened her within an inch of her life to capture it all with her real camera.

None of the cell phone camera stuff.

Should she fail at this mission

I might have no choice but to withhold all Christmas presents

Love Mom

Winners

Thanks to all of you who stopped by and paid a visit. I sure enjoyed making the paper mache Santa's. Years ago my sister and I did craft shows. I made bunches of these Santa's and had gotten out of the groove.

I think next year I might just have to make a few more. Maybe even try snowmen, or something for Halloween the list goes on and on.

When you have time check out some of my friends who came by.

Mel from Mel's place , Andrea of Rural Revival , Lisa of Michigoose's-life-quilts,
Betsy of Giggles & Bits , Dandy of Spontaneous clapping ,Becky of Becky's Photography ,
Jackie of Shoppes at Brasstown ,Tammy at Flat Creek Farm .


Ceeceeblogger ,Happy Cottage Quilter , SewGal who sent Shelley


Marlene from Stitchin By the Lake , Zoey from Perennial Passion or from
Perennial piecing ,Brandi from My Three bubs .

Even two from out of the country stopped in. Arlette from Costa Rica, Doina from Romania.


Zoey sent Betty R. ( no blog), Sarah from Hyacinths for the soul, Anya of Hills Creek Quilter, Quilting Fiesta, and Following the Narrow Path.


Those whose blogs I couldn't find were, Sue Cahill, Cindy Rangel, Little Eagle, Knittywhit's Mom, Sharon.

Anonymous posters, like Nancy from Iowa, Cheri from New York, and Julie and Lorie my friends from work came too.

But in the end there can only be two winners. Drum roll pleassssseeee . . . . .

Shelley from Maine, (who has no blog I can find) and Marlene from Stitchin by the lake. Merry Christmas girls. Shelly I will email you for an address. Marlene, I have yours!

Congratulations girls.

And thank you, all of you fellow bloggers, you make me feel warm and fuzzy and loved.

It's a giveaway

It's long over due. . . . but it's time for a GIVEAWAY.

Christmas is all about the giving.

So here's your chance(s). I made two paper mache' Santa's.

This big guys stands 12 1/2 inches tall. He loves handmade quilts. In fact he is holding one. He also comes with a quilt pattern from Cyndi Walker's Stitch Studios. The pattern, called Cottage Rose, makes a 54" by 70" quilt. To complete this quilt you will need a jelly roll and a sweet roll. For you non-quilters it's not something you can eat either!


This little guy tops out at 9 1/2 inches tall. The Moda Garden Inspiration pack wouldn't fit in his backpack so it will just be tucked in your box.

How can you win you ask? Leave a comment. That will get you 1 entry.

Tell a friend to stop by. She needs to leave a comment and mention your name. That will get you another entry.

For a 3rd entry you could bribe me with fudge with walnuts but there are no promises on that one.

Entries will be accepted until sometime Monday evening, December 21st.

I would like to mail them out Tuesday so they can grace your table by Christmas.

Making things

Last Tuesday, Karen at Sew Many Ways had instructions on making a Christmas Card holder. I thought I would give it a try. I looked for the over door hangers, however with Christmas wreaths sales going full force, the shelves were bare.

In stepped the blacksmith. He hammered out two hooks for me and I took off sewing. It was so much fun hot gluing buttons to large paper clips.

I see where Judy at Patchworks times made springerle cookies. I too made some. This is a cookie made with anise. It taste likes black licorice. It's a long process to make the cookies. After rolling out the dough and putting an imprint on them, they need to dry for 12 to 24 hours. You then bake them. They are hard on the outside and chewy on the inside. Excellent with a cup of coffee.

One of the cookie presses that I used is a blacksmith. (Imagine that) It came from a German craft show I attended several years ago. The makers are http://www.aslpewter.com/. Be sure to check out their beautiful wares.

The round cookie, I cut out with my donut cutter, minus the center. I then used a rubber stamp to lightly press the design in.

Next I plan on making some molasses puff candy. It is an old fashioned sponge candy (kind of like biting into styrofoam) that is dipped in semi sweet chocolate. Yummy!

Check back in the next day or two . . . I'm having a Christmas give away.

Hottie Husband

I've got a hottie husband. My friend Betsy over at Giggles and bits says she has the hottie husband. I beg to differ.

However I have the proof! Here it is.



Too funny. He was so into working on a motor last night in the shop. He had his propane heater going behind him. It's apparent he got a little too close for comfort.

I walked into the shop and said it smells like something is burning, that's when he turned around and showed me his backside!

What a shame to burn coveralls that are 25+ years old!

The Sisterhood Christmas gathering

The sisterhood held its first annual Christmas house tour party today.

Warning this is a long picture post, so I will make it very little reading.

This is our group picture.


The day started at 11:00 with brunch. Darlene then read "Twas the night before Christmas. Grace's reading included everyone wish list from Santa, her version.

As usual there was beautiful food, and way too much food. Alcohol was involved too.





The little girls always enjoy the dress up as much as we big girls. (I really love it)











Whether there was alcohol involved in this lap sitting picture or not, I plead the 5th.





After a quick kitchen clean up, we loaded 3 chauffeured vans for house tours.

There were trees, lot of trees to see.

This is Annie's tree.

This is Sarah's place, she lives in Edmond Oklahoma. It was too far for the sisterhood to travel. We missed you Sarah. Love Mom!










Darlene's rotating tree.












The first of Grace's 10 trees.










Janie's pink tree. She had more than 5 and less then 10, but I forgot the actual count. And alcohol was not involved on my part.

Jenny's tree.

Lorie N. tree.











Mandy's tree









Marla's real tree.







Larraine's tree. For the record, she was not home, but her house was left unlocked.











Sheila's tree. She too was not home, however her children were kind enough to let a bunch of crazy ladies come in out of the cold.






Here I am shutting the door after they left the viewing of my 6 trees.










I had even set the dinner table (okay it's really the kitchen island) with my Christmas best.







Santa left his suit behind in my living room . . .








Another great day!

When are those Sisterhood girls coming. . . .

I have my place all decked out for those girls. I hope they see me here . . . Bentley

Stay tuned

Remember this? The Sisterhood's first party?

Well I have my Mink.










Now I need to decide which purse to carry.











I have to decorate the pill box hat . . .

Gloves fit.






And are these boots not to die for????? Thanks little sister.




Stay tuned The Sisterhood's Christmas party is Sunday.