A Chrismas Start

I am slowly starting decorating for Christmas....I changed the washboard out for the holiday.....found the little cardinals at the Dollar store....am thinking of getting one of those strings of fairy lights and snuggle them into the floral picks.....the new battery ones are wonderful......

Happy Monday....

wow...can't believe I haven't posted since last week....hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving...we did...had 7 here for dinner...and everything turned out well.....a neighbor gave us a ham, so we had turkey plus  ham with all the trimmings.....I made two pies, apple and pumpkin..of course, they are gone now and everyone is asking me to bake more......but today was just too busy with 3 jobs and lots of driving...we got up and left early...and got back after dark....rather tired this evening....
I've been wanting to share some wonderful photos of an unusual artist.....his name is Christopher Boffoli...and he works in miniatures.....

He works with food and tiny miniatures...making ordinary scenes extraordinary.......he's based in Seattle, Washington......

Aren't they clever? If you'd like to see more...click here

Little Jayden is growing like a weed....getting cuter every day.....before I leave you, here is his latest photo...he just had his bath, wrapped in a fluffy towel...he has recently discovered his fingers and thumb...

Happy Thanksgiving....

wishing everyone a very happy Thanksgiving.....this has been a rough year for us...and we have much to be thankful for.....our continued home business,  being able to keep our home and our new baby grandson, just to name a few things in a year of ups and downs.....I know you probably feel the same...Americans have always been their best when things were at their worst...

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Cool and Rainy Monday

I am writing this in the evening...it was a cool and rainy day..lots of clouds and not much sunshine....we are thawing out our turkey, broke up two loaves of bread of dressing....and getting things ready for Thursday...only had one little job today. and only one scheduled for tomorrow.....slow this week but its to be expected.....
I wanted to share a wonderful blog with you..this crafter is so innovative and creative.... she can take ordinary household items that you or I wouldn't even consider and makes them into fun and delightful things...
for example...what would  you do with a yardstick and scrabble pieces?...
why make darling ornaments, of course!

or how about an old wire brush?

what amazed me was her eye for the unexpected........who would have thought of taking a old caster wheel and making it  into a paperweight.....

Now I know you will want to visit her blog and explore all the wonderful and fun posts...so I won't keep you  in suspense any longer.......say hi, to Jane and her blog is Mamie Jane's !

Giveaway Happenings!

I thought I'd post more giveaways that are out there on the web......plus my last post was about mine......I've been heavily cleaning the house, and getting ready for Thanksgiving and of course, Christmas..picking up a few gifts here and there, plus working on the ABC quilt..have it about half embroidered......yesterday with help from husband and son, took out most all the furniture out of the living room. I gave the carpet a through vacuuming...plus vaccumed the sofa and chairs......moved much of the clutter, old magazines, etc. and dusted too....it looks 100% better....we want to get some new flooring for the room, get rid of the wall to wall carpeting and put down some bamboo flooring.....our goal for the next year.
On to the Giveaways!

Brenda from the Rusty Thimble is giving away one of her clever Elves plus for a second winner a selection from her Etsy shop of a tree ornament....you can find her giveaway here....it ends December 1st.

Cyndy from Crafter Stitchers is giving away a sweet raggedy Anne doll plus some fabric...her giveaway ends on Dec. 10th........

Faith, Family and Friends is celebrated with this giveaway from Kim at The Barn Hollow...hurry on this one as it ends November 21st! I always love snowmen!

Willa from The Old Cupboard Door is having her November giveaway...this ends November 28th...the darling snowman makedo is wonderful......

If you like twinkly lights...this might be something  you might want to sign up for....a lighted Pip Berry garland from Hearthside Happenings.....this will end the first week in December.....please check out their website and blog also...lots of goodies to explore......
That's all for today......I am planning on making or at least trying to make some Glitter Houses just for fun if I get the time.....I did a blog post on my other blog about them...you can find that here...there are also links to free PDF files for patterns and directions on making them....what a great time of year!

Just a Reminder....November Giveaway

Just a reminder to sign up for my November Giveaway...there will be two winners this time....and the last giveaway for the year...I will start back in January.......the first winner will receive this beaded candle mat...the pattern is from Primitive Stitches....
and the second winner will receive a set of 3 fabric tags their choice from my Etsy shop....
this is just one of several choices......I will draw the names of two winners on the 30th....so please sign up! This is open to everyone, you do not have to have a blog to enter.....but I do need some way to contact you if you are the lucky one......

Jayden and the ABC quilt

Jayden is growing and is now almost 3 months old....making good eye contact and is just so cute....he's starting to play with a few toys too...of course, everything goes in the mouth as he's teething......we've gotten him a few toys for Christmas..I am also working on his baby ABC quilt...I am trying to get it ready for the big day but don't know if it will get done in time.....hustle, hustle....

I think the animal drawings are really cute......

I will be taking a break from my Etsy shop through the holidays so if there is anything you wanted to order..now is the time........going to concentrate on getting this project done and also crocheting some stocking caps for the young adults......

hard to believe next week is Thanksgiving! have to go through our supplies and see if there is anything else we need.....funny, I always seem to wait too long, thinking there is time....so many things to be thankful for this year...especially this darling little grandson.....what a blessing!

A Rainy Saturday..Online Christmas Craft Show

I was debating what to post about today...a gray rainy one...and getting cold too.....a atypical fall for us.....when I noticed that the Old Fashioned Christmas craft show is this weekend......all online....and from what I can see, its wonderful...so many talented people...and a wonderful way to get Christmas decorations and gifts, supporting our USA artists....just had to share...why buy cheap and not so cheap Chinese made goods?
Check out Olde Annie Primitives offerings...they are so wonderful...I especially like her wall hangings...would love one of these for the front door...would be wonderful to post a photo but alas...no copying....so go over there and see what I mean...

.Another one of my all time favorite artists is Carol Stuck with her wonderful mice and she has offered several for the sale...they are going fast though....Buttermilk Creek Farm

A new crafter I just discovered makes these wonderful cowl scarves...and as cold as its becoming here in Southern California..I might need one soon! Designs by GuKa

Another favorite of mine..is Ahl Cooped Up......just think these little ornaments (ornies) are wonderful...great for the tree too...

Another new (to me anyway) is Shelley at Shell's Vintage Charm...she has many nice things.....and is having a giveaway also so please check out her cute door hanging...and sign up for the giveaway....

Veterans Day and Ravioli

Although I am very fond of Thanksgiving...can't neglect Veterans Day which is this Friday......its a holiday to honor our Veterans..and was started after WWI by President Woodrow Wilson..I think this holiday was more celebrated in the past than now, although I am not sure why....most people now just use it as an excuse to get a day off....

In the past, ravioli was served on this day...as President Wilson invited 2,000 soldiers to the White House to have ravioli's as he thought the troops longed for good home cooked meals. At the time, in 1919, ravioli was a very popular dish...and a good excuse to make it again. I know its popular to make your own ravioli noodles with a noodle machine but with many good frozen ravioli products...I just use a higher grade bag of cheese ravioli from Costco....along with a green salad, and garlic toast..makes a wonderful supper.

I know its cheating to use the frozen premade kind..and if you want to  go whole hog,,, here is a site that will how you how to make your own noodles.....How to Make Ravioli Without a Pasta Machine...I am  not that ambitious...working as much as we do..there just isn't time...so much easier to go the other way...but I don't do that very often.. and it does make a delicious meal..after all....what did President Wilson say? "Hunger," he remarked, "breeds madness."

Oak Glen 2011

Today Alan and I drove up to Oak Glen and got our apples and other goodies for the fall.....yesterday it had rained heavily so there was snow...below are a few snapshots I took.....

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our first stop was at Los Rios Ranch....the walking trail was open so we took a stroll, being careful not to slip from the melting snow....

one of the side trails was called California tree lane....there we saw many types of pine trees..including  this beauty......there are also California Redwoods planted there that were huge....

It sounded like it was raining from the amount of snow, ice and water dripping off the trees........there were few people as we went early...so quiet and beautiful...the snow crackling whenever we took a step....

I took this photo from a floating bridge out on the pond.....the temperature was in the high 30s......we carefully walked back toward the shops, and only met about two couples walking their dogs...it was so peaceful. Such a wonderful day trip away from the maddening crowd.

We then went inside to get warm and look over all the goodies....here are some of the tasty preserves, syrups, and such......

Many different varieties of apples to buy.......and we did get 2 bags of the rare and delicious Arkanas Black apples....they had a limit......

 There is also a small room used as a gift shop with apple related merchandise.......I didn't get anything..as I have so much already but it was fun looking.....

We also brought home two bags of Pippin apples for pies and a gallon of fresh apple cider which is delicious...
Oak Glen is only about 45 minutes from our house and well worth the price of gas for a day trip....we often forget how close it is....they are  having a Apple Butter Festival the weekend of Thanksgiving which would be fun as there will be little bands playing and song fests going on  the entire weekend, hay rides too.....
Before I go wanted to post this cute sign that was inside the restaurant (which serves pulled pork and roast beef sandwiches grilled on an outdoor smokehouse barbecue)

November Giveaway!

I pondered what  to offer for a giveaway this month and decided I'd better go Christmas..this is a nice candle mat I made and heavily beaded...its a little puffy as I used quilt batting...for the second winner, will get to choose a set of the fabric tags from my Etsy shop......please go over to Sweet Home Stitchery to enter....and for more information.....
I've been looking for  homespun fabric but our local Walmarts are not carrying it any more..I dread going to Jo Anns as its so crowded this time of year...I don't have a phobia but really hate crowds....and waiting in line for long periods....plus its a 20 mile trip.
Our weather is getting cooler..especially at night....we've been raking leaves and enjoying the night air...rain is forecast for tomorrow.....it was cool enough this morning to put a sweater on!
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October Giveaway Winner

Last night, I drew the name of our October giveaway...and its..ta da! harleywife57......she has a blog ....Harleywifes57s LIFE and I hope you will visit and welcome her to blog land as she is a new blogger.....she has many giveaways mentioned there so you will have fun entering some of them.....
Tomorrow I will post my November giveaway...and this time it will have TWO winners so please check back on my other crafting blog....Sweet Home Stitchery...

We had quite a crowd last night and it was alot of fun seeing all the little ones in their costumes.....many Power Rangers, Princesses, and scary creatures which I didn't recognize...although my son did..guess I am out of the loop on some of the newest "monsters"..it all ended about 8:30 and we still have a bit of candy left which delighted the young people to no end......

and now its November..wow...another year winding down and what a year its been....we have a large turkey in the freezer we bought some time ago, and its time for his debut.....and while we were at Costco, bought a huge (I mean huge) bag of cranberries for Alan's annual cranberry relish he makes so well.......its alongside the turkey waiting for the big day...next weekend we are headed up to Oak Glen for some special apples that are rather rare and are only available for a short time...they are called ARKANSAS BLACK APPLES
We've never heard of them and it will be fun to see how they taste......has anyone heard of them?
well, better leave you for today......but can't resist posting one of my favorite Thanksgiving graphic photos.