Back on the mend

It's been a looooong time since Christmas.

Elizabeth had the flu for 4 days.

The Blacksmith came down with it Christmas night and is still not eating, but is feeling better. I am pretty sure I had a touch of it too, just not as severe as hubby.

One good thing, it cut down on holiday calories and it saved on the grocery bill.

Today the kids stayed with us while Mommy worked.

The boys got some outside time.

While Grandpa was out they played with their new sleds.

Sorry it's not a closer picture, I didn't have on shoes.

I found aunt Sarah's old toy cash register in the closet.

It kept them entertained for a few minutes.

I'm looking forward to having a healthier New Year.

A few of my favorite things . . . and some so not.

Let's start with the not so favorite thing. Miss Elizabeth got sick Christmas Eve day. She continued it through Christmas day and today is finally keeping things down. This was supposed to be one exciting Christmas for her. It was a chore for her to even try to unwrap any presents.

And now her Grandpa has the flu.

As for favorites, just look at Alex's face when he opened his first BB gun!

Brady's face is beaming too, opening cartoon videos. This is exciting for them as they don't have cable or satellite TV.

At least we got to share some precious moments via the web cam with Sarah and Rusty. They look on as Elizabeth opens her doll.

A family meal together is always a favorite thing.

This is what the little Casita looks like outside now with all the snow.

I love this red granite coffee pot. It is just what I wanted to go in the Casita too. I'm doing the inside with red accents. Thanks Sarah and Rusty.

Jeremy and Lori got us this indoor/outdoor digital thermometer for the Casita. Jeremy thought it through enough that we just have to put a small cable outside to register. That way there is no driving off, with the sensor flying behind.

14 bars of homemade soap arrived Christmas eve from my cousin Mindy in Kailua Hawaii. She makes the most awesome soap. I will share it with my sister too.

A gift from the grand kids via their Mom. Adorable!

For my last favorite thing, it's a new tradition. The blacksmith's Mother has always made Danish Twist for Easter. I asked her if it was a sin if I had made it for Christmas. It's our new favorite thing!

Hope you all got lots of favorite things for your Christmas too.

From my house to yours

Merry Christmas to all the friends I have made in bloggerland.

Daddy, Me and brother Wesley

Christmas 1952

3 days until Christmas

What does Adam Puchta Norton . . . .

Pirtle Chambourcin . . .

and Les Bourgeois Riverboat Red wine . . .

All have in common? Yes they are all Missouri wines. But that's not the correct answer.

They were all enjoyed this afternoon by these two bloggers (picture taken last summer)
and their husbands.

Thanks Deanna and hubby for a very enjoyable afternoon. Good friends, good wine and good times. I love the holidays!!!

Merry Christmas to me!

Aren't these adorable??

And they are on the way to my mailbox as we speak.

How?

Annie from Real Life Living had a give away and I won it. They are from Novica.

Thanks Shane for picking my number!!

Still counting down

Here is the manger set I have used for the past 40 years. This too I bought. I purchased it at
T. G. & Y. where I worked while in high school. When I purchased this set it had a crib with a music box in the back of it. I still have that crib but it resides in the attic. My brother-in-law Pat made this oak crib for us several years ago.



On the piano are a few fat Santa's just waiting for the big day. Above it hangs a tapestry I had framed about 17 years ago. The frame was made by my co-worker Travis, using left over oak trim from our house.


Reindeer? Well that is what the blacksmith calls them. To me they are deer. Anyway they stick around all year on the bookcase, minus the greenery and Christmas lights.


I got my first deer shortly after we were married in a gift box from the Blacksmith's grandmother. Most these are Morton pottery that were sold in 5 and 10 Stores, aka dime stores. A lot of them have the price written on the bottom in black grease pencil. The original deer is marked 59 cents. I can always tell which deer came from Grandma, as it has a green and white cracker jack whistle left on it's neck.





And these are a few more of my favorite things.
Now on to baking sugar cookies. The new mixer worked like a dream!

Countdown week

This week will be over with quicker than any of us want.

So I will be brief and show you a few of my favorite things.


This nativity set was purchased by me. I was only 6 years old at the time. Mom said I had saved my money for this. She took me to Milo Walz hardware store. This was a family owned business on the south side of town, mostly a German community. It cost me $6.00 in 1958.

This is our rotating tree. I only wish I had taken the time to count all the ornaments on it. There are antique German ornaments bought 20 some years ago at the Blacksmith's grandmother's auction. There are new ornaments purchased from Hobby Lobby. Many are Christopher Radko's bought over the years. A lot are gifts from family and friends. None are your typical round glass ornament. Each one is individually wrapped in tissue paper when taken off of the tree.

Hope you all have a stress free week!

Look what I got for $9.00

You ask me how?

First you work at a place that rewards you with a gift card for years of service.

Each year is $10, times my 20 years, equals $200.00.

Then go to Kohl's where there is always a sale.

The kitchen aid artisan mixer was $349 on sale for $299.

I had a coupon for 30% off.

That made the mixer $209.00, minus my $200.00 gift card equals $9.00!

WAIT there's more, I got $40 in Kohl's dollars to go back after Christmas and buy some attachments.

Think I will go first for the meat grinder.

Merry Christmas to me!

Baby it's cold outside

Here in Mid-Missouri it has been darn cold.

Our geothermal unit keeps our house toasty warm. To top the heating unit off, we have panels walls wrapped around our timber frame, that are 4 inches of styrofoam encased on both side in OSB. It stays a constant 72 degrees inside. Yet I feel the need to add another blanket on the bed.

My layering goes like this; sheet, white flannel blanket, and a quilt. The first is a quilt made by the blacksmith's grandmother. It was given to him before we were married in 1970. I think it's a version of a postage stamp quilt.





I next layered my Aunt Faye quilt. You can read all about it here. It is a beautiful Dresden plate that she hand appliqued and hand quilted for her BFF. RIP Aunt Faye, I miss you.



Last I put my red, white, and blue quilt on. I made this quilt shortly after 9/11/2002. It is almost all paper pieced. It contains over 2500 pieces of fabric. It has 49 stars (I know there are 50 states, but I just didn't work it out that way), 3 eagles, many hearts and some checkerboarding. It too was hand quilted.

Now I think I will put on some flannel jammies and head for bed!

one step forward, two steps backwards

The holidays are fast approaching.

They come every year, faster and faster.

I got the front door decorated.


I got the mud room door decorated.
You see we live in the woods.
Almost a 1/2 mile off the main road.
So why put up much?



Anyway I've been busy working on my Casita quilt.
I hope to put it in the frame after the first of the year.
By frame I mean, hand quilting frame too.



Tonight I got Elizabeth's stocking finished.
I can't believe it sat in the drawer by my recliner all summer and never hollered at me.




I still have cards to finish. Some homemade cookies and candy would be nice too.
I'm am going to make every effort to keep both feet going forward.

Sisterhood December 2010

Yeppers, that time has rolled around again. Time for the meeting of the Sisterhood.

Host sisters Janie and Grace prepared a wonderful brunch.
If I remember correctly there was:
Bacon and egg casserole
Ham and egg casserole
Cheesy Potato soup
Blueberry french toast (stuffed with cream cheese and topped with blueberry sauce)
Link sausage
Cinnamon rolls
Coffee cake
Fruit salad
Potato breakfast casserole
as well as plenty of wine, mimosas, eggnog, coffee, hot tea and soda.

The table settings were so pretty with green tablecloths, lace doilies, crystal stem ware, too many forks, and lots of candles.

Before we ate Elizabeth posed in front of one of Janie's 10 trees.

Reindeer Callie and Santa Ellen smile for the camera.

Marla and daughter give a quick smile.

Annie, Ellen, Jessica, and Melissa serenaded us with Christmas carols.

Lori and Elizabeth are all decked out. Oh I forgot to tell you, the theme for today's event was gaudy Christmas sweater. Not that Lori's was . . .

Elizabeth is enjoying her powdered sugar donut while sitting on my lap.

Darlene is doing her annual Christmas reading. It went something like this:

HOLIDAY EATING TIPS

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare... You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog..

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by:
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand and wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

Grace is leading the nieces in a little song and dance routine.

Of which Elizabeth had had enough!

And then, we all, me included, performed a rendition of Rudolph the red nose reindeer.

The five sisters also sang for us.

Larraine's sweatshirt. (Sorry that's all that would fit in the space)

Our annual group picture!

Off we went in multi vehicles for the house tours. My house was first. We then called Mom on the web cam in Texas!

Another outstanding sisterhood party!



I leave you with Grace leading us in song.

Wearing my coat pays off!

If you know me, I like to go to auctions. Today was one of those days.

It was an indoor auction for the most part so I decided to wear a light jacket. It was between 2 coats. I asked the Blacksmith which one and he chose this one.

Now I've had this coat since Feb of '09. I talked about it here.

I had only been at the sale about 10 minutes when someone tapped me on the shoulder. He said "excuse me", and pointed to my back, "were you the one showing the blacksmith items on a blog"?

I'm sure my face lit up because someone had recognized our business! I said "I sure am". We talked a bit and then he started talking about his sister in law from Arkansas. I said, "wait a minute are you talking about Marlene"?


"Yes" he said "do you know her"? "I sure do, we are blogger buddies". I forgot to tell to him, that I even have an apron I won from her blog giveaway. I wear it weekly.


I explained that when she was up from Arkansas week before last we were to get together for coffee, but missed each other.


He was going home to call her.


Small world!

Before and after

Tonight I got a phone call from my brother-in-law, Pat. He's always been like my little brother. He was only 9 when we got married. Why at times I feel like I cradled him on my bosom. Oh wait, that's another story.

Anyway he wanted me to take an after picture of his meat tenderizer. You see back in April of 2010 we were at an auction and he bought this piece of equipment. The machine worked good, but it needed some deep cleaning.





So he brought it over for the after picture. It looks brand new. He insisted asked me to take an after picture for my blog, because he reads my blog everyday. It was important to him to show the finished product.

It was then his daughter, who was with him, asked me to hem a pair of dress pants for her. He said "No, don't you know asking a quilter to mend, is like asking a chef to do dishes". It was then that I really did believe him, because I have that quote on my side bar.



So Pat, this ones for you. The finished meat tenderizer.