#24 children sleeping

Tomorrow's the day! Hope you all are ready!

#23 A shining star(s)

I don't remember when or how I met Tipper at the Blind Pig and the Acorn. It's been several years. Some day we will meet in person. She lives in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains.
Her family is very talented when it comes to music (among many other things).  We have several of her daddy's and brother Paul's CDs, some that I won, and some that I bought. I currently have their Christmas CD that plays over and over in my car. When Christmas is over I am going replace it with a CD with songs from her two daughters, Chitter and Chatter, who are singing in the above video. It was something I won several weeks ago.

Be sure and visit Tipper's blog. You will find great stories, wonderful recipes, awesome music, and so much more.

Thank you Tipper for letting me post the girls beautiful rendition of Beautiful Star of Bethlehem!

#22 December daily photo(s) - Holiday greetings

Oh that Grace, what choir leader she is!

#21 Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow

Just a few more post to go Susan for 25 photos in December!

Hard to believe this is our little Lizzie 2 years ago.

#20 A winter wonderland

I'm still working along with Susan on December in 25 photos.

If only this was 2011, we have rain, rain and more rain today. This was December 2010.

Toyland Day #19

Here I am in my kitchen, I even had an electric stove. You see my Daddy was making the dish cabinet in the basement weeks before Christmas. I asked him what he was making and he told me a tool cabinet.

Imagine my surprise when I woke up Christmas morning and told him, "Santa put my dishes on your cabinet Daddy."

I still have my little pine cabinet. I am pretty sure it's made from pine fruit shipping crates, as there is part of a label inside. Here is a picture I took last January. Lizzie is playing with my dish cabinet.

These are the moss rose dishes that came with my cabinet on my 5th Christmas.

Children and toys . . . makes Christmas complete!

December in photos - HIPPOPOTAMUS

I couldn't for the life of me figure out why a hippopotamus was included on the 25 photos of December. That is until my co-worker reminded me of this song!

Being a quilter and being a participant in the 25 photo of December, I knew I had the perfect quilt block. Here it is on my Noah's Ark quilt!

Silver bells

So I've been MIA. It's really because I couldn't find any ribbons and bows (no presents wrapped yet), something sticky (no candy made), reindeer in Missouri (no way), or hallways (I live in a modified cape cod house with no halls).

I don't really have any silver bells either. Thank goodness for google and youtube!

Besides, I've been spending my time trying to figure out pinterest. Good news is, I am almost there, or so I think!

#10 Away in a manger December photos

I'd love to tell you about my set. My Mother tells the story of how I saw this at a local hardware store when I was 5 years old. Money was tight. My daddy worked in a shoe factory.  Mom was a stay at home mother. She told me if I wanted it I would have to use the money in my bank. Sure enough, the next time we went to town, (which sometimes was by Greyhound bus for the 8-10 mile trip), I took my bank along and bought it. It is showing signs of wear over the years, but I still love it the same as the day I bought it 54 years ago.

The other day my SIL had a luncheon for her sisters, sister in laws, and Mom. Grace can set one heck of a showy table. We all know Grace has many sets of everything. This includes her decorated Christmas trees, 15 this year. 

Starting on the left and going clockwise is Grace, Janie, Darlene, Mom, Marla, and me. One sister, Karen, and sister in law, Larraine, missed out on a great luncheon!

These sisters are all in love with the family recipe for hickory nut cake. I am proud to say the hickory nuts came from a tree in my backyard!

Another family tradition are shavings. These are basically the same recipe you use to made egg noodles. You roll them as thin as possible, cut into rectangles, make slits, and fry. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon while still warm.

I snapped this picture in the bedroom when I put my coat in there. I only wish I had taken pictures of the other 14.

Stay tuned, for tomorrow is our Christmas sisterhood party!

Day 7, 8 and 9 in other words . . . catch up!

Someone is falling down on their job, and I don't just mean me, as I am 3 days behind in my 25 photos of December posting. I wanted to get a particular picture for the red ribbon on a wreath. For years there were huge handmade natural wreaths hung on the Missouri State Capital. Today I knew I would be in town and my plan was to take that photo.  To my surprise when I got to the beautiful capitol, there were no wreaths. There were yards and yards of hand made natural garland with lots of red bows but no wreaths!

So I thought, surely a block over at the Missouri Governor's mansion, there would be wreaths on the double doors.  I'm not so sure I spy one, but it's the thought that counts. You can see lots of red bows and an added bonus is you get to see the beautiful Governor's mansion without leaving your seat!

Day 8, stamped and addresses Christmas cards. Not necessarily in that order! I will be first to tell you I'm not ahead of schedule.

Day 9, Santa Claus. I picked a table full to show you. These I made many years ago when my sister and I did craft shows. These are paper mache, done over styrofoam cones.

Lastly, I will show you a vintage Santa suit. It's your's for $20 plus shipping if you want it. I have it advertised on craigslist and so far no takers. It has a small rip in the top of the pants and the hair on the hat has some red fuzzing. Size is large 42-46.

#6 A candy cane, or five

Well here we are at day 6. I can't believe I've made it every day so far without missing a beat. Susan who is hosting December in 25 photos is MIA. (In her defense, I do think she said something about a business trip).

Anyway, today as I was putting out more Christmas decorations I came across this jolly Santa. Low and behold he has 5 candy canes in his arm!

The big tree isn't up yet, but the smaller 4 are. I am so close to getting the quilt out of the frame and out of the living room. There is still hope for the tree this week.

#5 Something warm and tasty!

Day 5 already of Susan's December in 25 photos.

My morning ritual is Mocha cappuccino, every day!  Today was no exception! It's a must to be in my favorite cup that Rita gave me. Every time my granddaughter dries dishes, she will tell me "this is your favorite cup dramma?"

Now I'm off to wash that wall behind the cappuccino maker. Yuck!

PS If you want some cute printable gift tags, stationary and cards, pop over to A Holiday Haven. It's one of my favorite blogs.

#4 Presents wrapped under the tree

Susan ,who's been hosting 25 photos of December, asked that today's photo be of presents wrapped and under the tree.

That's not happening at my house, not yet anyway. I've bought a few but wrapped none.

Today I didn't have time to wrap presents. The blacksmith and I went to an auction. I came home with a big smile on my face. If it were only Halloween I would be listing these to sell on Ebay or Etsy.

I got 3 unopened packages of Beistle Creation Witchs, dated 1984.

I got two Beistle Honeycomb Spiders, dated 1976. They were not in a package but are in pretty darn good shape. (There are some listed on Etsy for $24.99 each.

I got two packages of a dozen each of Cross leaf garland. These are 12 feet long and in fall colors. I'm not sure if they are Beistle.  They are in perfect condition.

I got this unopened package of a good luck centerpiece, also by Beistle dated 1984, free.  It sold, along with some baskets, for $3. I didn't want to give that for it. As the lady walked away with her purchase, I asked if she would take a dollar for the centerpiece. "Oh, this thing? You can just have it."  Score!  Good luck for me!

After the auction, I came home and pulled out some more Christmas decorations. Sooner or later, I will get my trees up and my packages wrapped.

#3 the Christmas Tree(s)

It's day 3 of Susan's "December in 25 photos".

Today's is Christmas tree. Who can stop at just one?

This is our living room tree. Did I tell you it revolves? It's super big, and heavy, and a real chore to put up too. Some of my ornaments are antique, some from the blacksmith's grandmother's estate, some were gifts, and some I purchased. I then have a pretty good collection of Christopher Radko's.  No round shiny balls for this gal.

This is what the blacksmith calls my Charlie Brown tree.  I set it up in my computer room.

In one spare bedroom, I have this little green metallic tree with all red ornaments. All purchased at the dollar store.

The Noah's Ark bedroom has what else, a tree decorated with all animals, 2 by 2!

Our bedroom has a red, white, and blue tree to match everything else red, white, and blue in the room. More dollar store ornaments.

And if you think I have all these trees up already this year . . you're wrong!  These are last years photos.

This is what it looks like now!!!

#2 A list

List, don't we all have them?  I hate it when I lose my shopping list before I even make it to the store.

Today I found these lists laying around. Don't you just love the honey do-list I left the blacksmith before I went to work today? You'll notice I sealed it with a kiss!

Now I do have a Christmas shopping list, with every one's name and what I think I want for them. But I can't show you that list, as most of the family reads my blog.

However after listing to Elizabeth's request in the below video I might have to change her present.

Yesterday I had quite a few of you ask about the rush light. A rush light is a type of  candle or miniature torch formed by soaking the dried pith of the  rush plant in fat or grease. For several centuries rush lights were a common source of artificial light for poor people. Candles were saved for when company came as they were more expensive and hard to come by.

The blacksmith sells his for $85.

25 December Daily Photo Ideas

#1  Something RED

Our RED front door

A Rush light made by the blacksmith, with a RED candle.