Mamaw's Place

12/8/16

Merry Christmas from Rachel's house

Every year, I have my sister, Rachel, send me pics of some of her Christmas at her house. She is such a great decorator. Today, I want to share with you some of her favorite things she sets out at Christmas. Hope you have a great day.

12/7/16

Ugly Sweater Day

We are having an Ugly Sweater Contest at work today. Since I am a group greeter, I will only have to wear the sweater during the contest time. I wasn't going to fool with it, but decided at 6:00 this morning to see if I could throw something together. Checked my closet and found this sweatshirt that I bought for $5 last year that is not that comfortable so I never wear it.

So I rummaged through my Christmas craft stock to see if I could decorate it in any way.

Had some pretty Christmas ribbon so I made a bow.

Had some felt Santa's and Snowmen so I made one of each.

Took the pipe cleaners and twisted the red and silver shiny ones into candy cane shapes.

Tied the candy canes with ribbon that has peppermint candy and candy canes on it.

Glued the candy canes over top the candy canes screen printed on the shirt.

Glued the ribbon over the ribbon.

Glued some snowflake buttons over the snowflakes.

Stuck Santa and Snowman in the center of the wreath. And there you have it, my hideous ugly sweater.

12/6/16

Weekend wrap up

I am a day late on my weekend wrap up. I tried to post yesterday but got so sidetracked that I forgot to do it before I went to work. Our whole family went to Dixie Stampede Friday night to celebrate the December birthdays that are coming up in the next week. We had a blast. I did manage to get some pictures of the grandchildren during the saloon show.

L-R: Shelby, Alexis, Colby

Caleb

Garret and his girlfriend Hannah.

We had a wonderful night. On Saturday, I worked 12:00 - 10:00 but the phones were slow so I got to come home at 5:00. I took advantage of getting off early to finish the decor on my dining room table. I had not done the table yet because I couldn't decide what to do on the centerpiece on my tray.

I had some odd and end pieces that I pulled together and put them with my Santa cardinal I found at Target, I think. Can't remember for sure. But I did like how it turned out.

I was off Sunday and got a text from our Guest Services Department with a picture circulating on Facebook saying Dixie Stampede was on fire, which is understandable that people would think that when this is what they saw. In reality, the wreath on the front of the building had an electrical short in the lights and the wreath caught on fire, not the Stampede. Fire department had it out in no time since they are just a few blocks away from us. There was no damage to the building. It was no big deal. But as a result, the majority of our phone calls yesterday were just people wanting to know if we burned to the ground.

I wasn't working Sunday so I decided to make some cookies. I made oatmeal chocolate chip and brownie cookies. On the last batch of brownie cookies, with just 2 minutes left to cook, I heard a really loud pop from my oven. I went in the kitchen and smoke was coming out of the oven. I opened the door and my element had some flames on it but they burned out immediately when I opened the door. Now all that is left is a badly burned element and no oven...during cookie season! But my landlord is picking one up and replacing it today or tomorrow so I will be back up and running.

I have been making quite a dent in my Christmas shopping and have more to do. I plan to finish up by the end of next week. Then I can wrap everything on my day off and bake all the goodies that I'm giving as gifts. The week after that, I will be busy getting everything ready for our family party on Christmas eve. I just love family time. I am really looking forward to everything coming up this month.

12/4/16

A Christmas Story

I wrote this for my Mom in 1999.

Packages wrapped up with ribbons and bows,

Stockings over fires with embers aglow;

A tree in the corner strung with tinsel and lights;

A soft falling snow on a cold winter night.

Under the tree on a soft woolen skirt,

Sat a nativity scene of the dear Savior’s birth.

As I knelt down close to take a good look,

My mother would read from an old worn book.

She told of a mother, weary and worn,

Looking for a place for her child to be born.

The inns were all full, no room could be found.

They were shown to a stable with hay on the ground.

She read how the shepherds were watching their sheep

When angels came to them with voices so sweet.

She read of their messages of tidings of joy

As they told the shepherds about the birth of a boy.

We’d listen intently, eyes glued on that book

As she told how the shepherds went to go look.

How they found the sweet baby in a manger that night

And how they gave praise to God for the sweet blessed child.

We hung on her words, the picture so clear,

For this was a child the world would hold dear.

She flipped back some pages as we knelt at her feet,

While she read of some wise men and a star in the east.

She told of their journey to see the small babe.

She read of their worship and the gifts that they gave.

We heard about the frankincense, the myrrh and the gold,

As Mom quietly finished her story of old.

As she closed the worn book that she’d just read,

We’d get our kisses from Daddy and scoot off to bed.

As she tucked us all in and kissed us good night,

We’d think of that story as she covered us tight.

For we had been raised to know the Lord’s love,

And we knew that sweet Child was a gift from above.

We knew that a great sacrifice had been made,

That started with the birth of Jesus that day.

So forget all the presents, the ribbons and bows.

Forget all the stockings and lights all aglow.

For the greatest gift you’ll find on your Christmas morn,

Was given by God, the year our Savior was born.

12/3/16

Edgar & Eli

I have no children at home any more, but the granddaughters love when I blog about Edgar, who I have had since Daddy bought him to hang on my first Christmas tree in my new home about 36 years ago. So when Elf on the Shelf became popular Edgar came to life and has created havoc in my home for several Christmas's now. Last year, I thought he was lonely so I found Eli so he would have a buddy to get into mischief with. Yesterday, they decided I was procrastinating on my Christmas baking so they took it upon themselves to decide on my cookie recipes for this year. Edgar even borrowed my reading glasses and was making a list of the ingredients I would need.

They have decided that I need to make Pecan Crispy's which was one of my mother-in-laws recipes that she made each year. I haven't had them since she passed away 25 years ago. She made them to perfection so I have been afraid to try them because if they don't turn out, I'll be so upset.

I am going to make peanut butter cookies from scratch with Mom's recipe. You chill the dough for about 3 hours in the fridge before you make the cookies. They turn out to melt in your mouth. She always chilled the dough in the big yellow primary Pyrex mixing bowl. I have that same bowl so that is what I am going to use.

One of my favorites is the brownie cookie. You make it with Duncan Hines chewy brownie mix only follow cookie recipe on their website and it is to die for.

Of course Christmas is not complete without my no-bake oatmeal cookies. Going to make these a couple different times this month.

This isn't a cookie, but for the first time in years and years, I think I will try to make Mamaw Eden's Hershey Chocolate Syrup cake. It's very easy, but you have to time the icing just right or it won't set up.

Won't be long until I will be saying "Let the baking begin."

12/2/16

Friday Foto Friends

I've been waiting to share my Christmas decorations and I thought Friday Foto Friends would be a great opportunity to do that. So here it goes.

The Santa on this end table was normally our tree topper, but he is a little too big for the smaller tree I am using this year.

The water in the snow globe is starting to turn yellow, but this thing holds a wealth of memories. We bought it 15 years ago when the first grandchild was just 2. Papaw would set and wind it and Garret would be mesmerized by the train that runs around the outside. It became a tradition and every Christmas eve, the grandkids would gather around him while he would wind the train. I thought it was fitting to set my Santa with all my Grands listed on his list in front of that.

My Home Interior Santa bank that's about 35+ years old.

One of my Christmas tea miniatures that I got at a yard sale for $1.

One of my favorite miniature tea sets. I love the cardinals on it.

My candle Christmas trees that I have had since 1989. Hubby made them when he worked at Melanie's Candles in Gatlinburg. I picked up the two little carolers at a local antique store for $1.95 each.

I love Santa's and little tins to decorate with at Christmas. I've had the little rocking horse tin for about 30 years and the bear one I found at a yard sale for a quarter a few years back.

More of my Santa's. I love pencil Santa's. I need to find some more.

Some of my fave Christmas items. The big deer was made in ceramic class by my mother. The little tree was painted by my oldest grandson when he was about 4. The Santa was one my hubby bought me many years ago. The three vintage dear and the vintage sleigh are things I found on Ebay that we had when I was a little girl. But my favorite Christmas thing I have is the little plastic basket of poinsettias. Mamaw Eden took me to town on the bus when I was 5 and she bought me this for .10 cents at McCroy's Five & Dime. That makes it almost 55 years old. It is one of the first things I set out every Christmas.

More Santa's on a runner my mom made for me.

The pillows in Papaw's chair were made by my sister-in-law over 30 years ago.

Some of my bears.

My $1.95 special from Hobby Lobby last year.

My mother made me this about 3 or 4 years ago. She is 86 years old and still works on her crafts whenever she can.

One of my whimsical wreaths that has always been my favorite.

My baker's rack decor.

My candles like we had when I was a child and my Home Interior angels from over 30 years ago along with a big Santa that Mom painted in ceramics many years ago.

My little peppermint trees. I love these and anytime I find a new size or different pattern, I pick it up. Stuck some sparkly pipe cleaners in my Santa cup till I can get me some candy canes.

My coffee table. I have had the cat plate for so many years I don't know where I got it. But it says Franklin Mint on the back. Teapot was $2 at a yard sale and the Santa plate was .50 at a yard sale. Mom made me the runner.