Happy Thanksgiving!

We interrupt this regularly scheduled blog to wish each and everyone of you a very Happy Thanksgiving.



The Icicle Story



You might think that I was going to have some profound historical remarks to educate you on the common Christmas icicle. But no, this will be a story of my love affair with icicles for over 50 years.

When I was small, Mom always decorated the Christmas tree by draping icicles over it as the last thing to go on. I loved those shining little strips of silver. I thought they made the tree even more special and beautiful. I have such fond memories of her letting us kids hang the icicles. We were each given a handful and she guided us where to hang them.

Thus my love of icicles began. When I got married and moved out on my own, Christmas rolled around and I went to buy my own Christmas decorations. The first thing I bought was two boxes of icicles for my Christmas tree.

Every year, it is the same thing. As soon as the Christmas decor hits the shelves, I purchase two boxes of icicles. As I have gotten older, they have become harder and harder to find. When I take my tree down each year, I painstakingly pull the icicles off and store them in a plastic bag. Everybody laughs at me, but I live in fear that they will become an item that is no longer manufactured. Then where would I be. I figure if I pull them off each year, and add to them with the new stock. I should have enough to last me till I die if they become obsolete.

Don't get me wrong, they are very annoying little creatures. You walk by the tree and the static of your passing causes them to reach out like little fingers and latch onto your legs, feet, arms, where ever they can find. The 17 years we had K.C. (short for Kitty Cat), she never bothered the trees much except to lay under them. I could always tell when she had been laying behind the tree because she would be walking through the house with 5 or 6 icicles attached to her. I always called her Christmas Kitty when that happened.

When we moved last month, as I was going through closets and packing, a stray icicle would turn up here and there. So, yes they can be aggravating. But I love them and they bring back such fond memories of my childhood and that of my children when they used to like to help hang the icicles on the tree. Now, I let the grandchildren decorate a tree in my home office and they love hanging the icicles. Although I must admit they get as much on them as they do on the tree.

Miscellaneous Monday

This week kicks off the offcial holiday season for me. I get a five day weekend starting Wednesday. That is our big "prep" day. Getting ready for the family to come over for Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday. I'll be baking desserts and hubby will be doing his prep work and fixing his potato salad and macaroni salad.

Then Black Friday will be here and I'll join the mess heading out early that morning, armed with my list and sale papers. This year, I'm adding "scouting for a live tree" to my list. We need a new tree, but I'm going with a real one for the first time in about 15 years or more.

One of my friends is downsizing her Christmas decorations so she had me stop by to see if there was anything I wanted. I got a gorgeous new afghan and some cute litte Christmas tree salt and pepper shakers. They are so adorable.

My daughter is getting into the crafting Christmas spirit. She created a new centerpiece from a platter, a few candles and some stuff from AC Moore. I love it. She posted on Facebook, "For all my crafty relatives, I did not inherit the gene like everybody else but I'm quite proud of my little centerpiece."

I have to disagree. I think she did get the craft gene, she just doesn't bring it out to play very often. I think she did a great job.



On a recent trip to SC, I was making some coasters and I tried a new yarn I had and made my sister a new coaster for her desk at work. It's her favorite colors and I think it turned out pretty good. The picture is a little blurry, but we were traveling down the road and it was gloomy but this gives you an idea.

When did these become those?

Last night was one of those moments that made my husband and I look at each other and wonder "Where did the time go?"

I had just put the grandchildren to bed and walked back into the living room. I noticed the three pairs of shoes, all lined up against the wall. My mind raced back in time when my first grandchild was born. He is 12 now and growing more and more every day.

I aked Hubby "When did these.....

Become those?

They grow up so fast. They are not babies for long. Garret is our oldest and we couldn't be prouder of the way he is turning out. At 12, he is already respectful and courteous. You can see glimpses of the adult he will become. His parents are doing an amazing job raising him.

Yet, as we looked at Colby's (the baby) little baby shoes, we couldn't help but wonder where the years had gone. We watched Colby as he played and toddled all over the house.We listened to those little giggles and his precious laughter. Colby is the youngest and last grandbaby. It won't be long till his tiny little feet will be wearing shoes the size of his brothers. It won't be long before he will, too, be talking about fishing and hunting and learning to drive. They grow up so fast. We can do nothing but sit back and enjoy the years.

Their sweet little sister, the middle one, is growing up as well. At 7, she is developing her own little habits and personality. Keeping them tihis weekend has kept me in stitches. Things have been so intense with my computer tearing up, my car breaking down, and the holidays approaching that I've been pulled in a lot of directions lately. Nothing like some time with my grandbabies to get things back on track.

Of course, I never should have interruped Thomas the Train and expected smiles.

Everyone of the grandchildren have always loved sitting in Papaw's chair on Saturday morning. Don't know what it is about that chair.

Even with bed head, Alexis is still one of the cutest little Princesses on the face of the earth.

Garret had Colby laughing so hard that we were all cracking up.

I still can't believe he is growing up so fast. You can tell your grandchildren are growing up when you slip their tennis shoe on and it's too big for you!

A rare moment when a nearly teenage brother let's his little sister snuggle on him.

He kept finding it funny that since he's 5 years older, she fits under his arm.

Colby and his ever present car. Have you ever tried to dress a squirmy little one year old when he's clutching a Matchbox car. It's quite an accomplishment if you can master it.



Hope everybody has a blessed Sunday.

Scored a Turkey



You all know how I love a bargain. Yesterday was one of those "just gotta love a bargain" days.

Here was the deal.

First, I held a Pampered Chef party and my party was over the required $150.00. So Pampered Chef sent me a store check from Butterball for $15.00 off on a Butterball turkey.

We checked out the local ads and found that Food City had Butterball turkeys for .99 cents a pound if you have their Value Card. We needed a 14-15 pound turkey. That's what we get every year and it is just the right size. So we went to Food CIty and looked through the turkeys and found one that was 14.65 pounds and was originally $21.83. But since we have a Food City Value Card, we got the 99 cents a pound sale price. So our $21.83 now became $14.50. Not a bad deal so far.

So we went to the check out and the turkey rang up for $14.50. Tax on that type of food item is 8.25% which was $1.20 making our turkey purchase, $15.70. We gave them the $15.00 Butterball check and our turkey ended up costing us 70 cents. Now I ask you, does it get any better than a nearly 15 pound brand name turkey for 70 cents? What a deal.

Happy birthday to my beautiful daughter-in-law

Today, I want to wish my daughter-in-law, Jamie, a very happy birthday. I could not have gotten a better daughter-in-law if I had special ordered her. She is not only a wonderful wife and mother, but she is a very caring person. She always lends an ear when I need somebody to talk to. She knows my little idiosyncrasies...and loves me in spite of them. God really blessed us the day my son took her to be his wife.

She has a quirky sense of humor and a dry wit that just endears us to her even more because our whole family is that way. But I know that no matter what the circumstances, if I need her, she will always be there for me. She and my son have blessed us with three beautiful grandchildren. They each have little bits and pieces of each of their parents in them.

Jamie, I hope you have a very happy birthday and many more. I love you.





Craft Corner

My sister and Mom love to do folk art applique stitchery on homespun towels. They have made some beautiful towels over the years. I have made a few items myself, but usually end up giving them away. My sister sent me some photos of her three latest projects and I thought I would share them with you today. Every time her or my mother make something new, I want to rush out and get stuff to make something myself. I have plenty of material, Wonder Under, and thread on hand. I just need to find some towels. I have a lot of patterns, but you can also find printable patterns on the internet. Here are Rachel's latest creations.

Here is her pumpkin she had made for October. I love the way she embellishes it with buttons. I am a button fanatic. I buy them "just in case" I need them for a project.

Her Thanksgiving Turkey turned out very well. One of the fun things about folk art stitchery is the chance to mix and match patterns, colors and textures for the perfect look. There is no right or wrong. You just do what you like.

But my absolue favorite is the snowman. I think she may just have to send me a copy of this pattern. I love him. I bought some new placemats and a bowl for the dining room table for Christmas and there are snowmen on it. I would love to do a towel in colors to compliment my snowmen.



That's it for now. If she gets anything new done or if I get brave enough to try one. I'll post more picks.