I had big plans for today.  So much to do…and time is not going to stop for me.  However, my body would not cooperate with me today, so, I’ve spent it on the couch instead.  To pass the time, I’ve taken a little trip through the Internet.  Somewhere along the way,  I ran across these old ads.  I thought they were a hoot!  Couldn’t get away with running some of these today!  Enjoy!

Remember the days when you would gather your extended family and go look at typewriters?  🙂

Already wrapped in a beautiful gift box for your convenience!  Now, will someone please unwrap Santa?

I sincerely hope Mom and Dad don’t expect all 5 boys to share just one bike!

Have you ever tried to iron while sitting?  Could be why the Rid-Jid company went out of business so soon!

I would have been happy with one of these.  Wait a minute!  I HAD one of these!  Really!

We had a big white Plymouth Fury…but I don’t remember ever getting this excited about it!

So glad these went out of style before I was old enough to wear them…I’m afraid my OCD tendencies would have run wild trying to keep the seams straight!   But, cute shoes!

Two front teeth?  That’s all?  Sure?

I can assure you this would NOT be a beautiful way to say ‘Merry Christmas” at my house.

And remember…”Always use Christmas Seals.”

OH. MY. GOODNESS.  I am not fond of cold weather.  I WAS NOT created to withstand the onslaught of icy wind and freezing temps!  I don’t mind having to wear a sweater, BUT, to have to wear cuddle duds, t-shirt,sweatshirt , knee socks, jeans and a cape is not my idea of being fashionably attired.  And, then add ear muffs, and gloves…and you pretty much are rendered incapable of movement…much less ‘power shopping’.

I know…it’s really not pretty, is it?  But, it was 16 degrees, friends.  16 degrees!!!!!

We left Dothan on Monday morning in the very cold weather in Dothan, so we were sorta prepared for what was coming.  But the promise of fun and laughter, and time away with my sister, was overpowering.  Now, she has a broken foot…and has been wearing a big ole cage type boot on her foot.  So, I gracious offered to drive and let her rest her leg.  I sure didn’t want her holding me back when I got to the stores!  🙂  But, no-ooooo…she showed up at my house in her year old Volvo and shoes on both feet.    Yes…it still beeps when you are withing sight distane of any other vehicle.  Yes, it’s still supposed to stop if it gets close too close to another car…but one time, it didn’t. The great and powerful, invincible Volvo was a little down on its game.  We stopped at a big barn-type store (Sikes and Kohn) to peruse the shoes.  Let me just say that they had done a wonderful job of stocking their store with the shoes that make girls giggle with glee and swoon with silliness and start  a shoe trying-on frenzy!  6 boxes made their way to our car!

Well, getting back in the car, heading on our way, the year old Volvo started sending us a message.  “My tires are feeling a little flat!”  I told Joy it was just a cruel joke and to just drive on.  She did…but it sent us another message that said, “I TOLD YOU I’m feeling a little light in the rubber!”  So she stopped and called someone who knows most everything there is to know about anything you would need to know.  And, he said not to worry…check it at a gas station when we get to B’ham.  I told her again that it was because of the cold.  I know these things.  Really.  We made it on to our destination safely and missed the turn off we wanted to take…so we took the next one.  And, do you know what was staring us in the face when we got to the bottom of the exit ramp? 

And that was our first stop!  They were happy to check the tires.  They said the cold was the culprit!  That was NOT news to me.  But, the wonder car was, indeed, not holding his air.  4 pounds low in 1, and 5 pounds low in the other 3.  They were happy to give us aid and soon we were on the road to our first shop!*****Isn’t it amazing how God watches over us even when we don’t realize it?  We prayed, as we always do, before we left Dothan.  We asked God to keep us safe and station His angels around our car to protect us.  Obviously He did…and obviously He decided the car needed to be seen about.  We didn’t just ‘miss’our exit, it was closed to us by our Father.  And, because He loves us and knows that we are not always the wisest ladies when it comes to car maintenance versus shopping…He led us straight to the dealership and a man who was very happy to stop his work and be our hero.  Isn’t that just like a loving Father?  Isn’t it wonderful to know that wherever you are and whatever you do…He is going before you and preparing the way? Always leading us to what is good for us.  I love Him so!*****

And, so the shopping began.  All the top spots…the Summit, Homewood, Patton Creek, and a few in between.   We hurried from the car to the store and back to the car.  None of that leisurely strolling.  We stopped about 4:00 and headed to PFChangs.  How nice to sit quietly and eat and rest our feet!  We decided we were quite revived when we finished…and since we were at the Summit, anyway, made a quick stop at Pottery Barn.  Did I mention that it was cold?  Very cold. This is the fountain in front of Pottery Barn.  Isuffered in the cold just to take these pics for you!  🙂 

And, then, to the motel, get our things to the room, and crash!  Whew!  we were tired!  And glad to have some covers to get under and warm up!  Just a little bit later, Ian came over to the motel to visit.  It was so nice to sit and talk with him and hear about his new job.  He is blessed and happy and enjoying his life. 

Next morning we set about our appointed rounds…and then backtracked to a couple of places, grabbed a sandwich, and headed home.    We talked non stop there and back, and enjoyed the time together so much.  We made it back home about 8:00.  And, today, I am tired!

This morning, my friend, Lucy Jane, came over to make cookies.    She opened and poured…

and stired and cracked and mixed.

Unfortunately, we had to take a do-over with the egg!  We used this funky pan I bought last year after Christmas…I don’t know why.  It is made of silicon.  I scoop a small amt, and Lucy would press it into the pan.  After I went back over them…into the oven they went.  I was a little concerned.  I had never used one of these silicone pans before.  AND, the recipe on the back of the package say to roll these out and cut with a cookie cutter.  It doesn’t say anything about using a baby gingerbread pan.  But..I’m a rebel…and don’t mind living dangerously when the situation calls for it.

Out they come…smelling sooo yummy!

During the wait for the cookies to finish, she played with my scarf and these 4 little stools.  9 minutes can be an eternity to a little one!   You put this on the cookie sheet…and when they come out, we had to wait about another 10 minutes for them to cool!  And here’s the finished products.  A perfect sized to pop into your mouth for one bite!

Now, I’m heading to bed…fighting an allergy to something.  And, I’m keeping sweet John Thomas tomorrow.

Three days spent with people I love.  Nothing could be any better..such a sweet gift during this Season of Love!

OK…here’s the rest of the decorating.

As you come up the front steps, you are greeted by two large red bows and 5 foot lighted trees in bronze urns on either side of the door.  You’ll have to take my word for it, I didn’t get a pic of the trees at night…and they are not very pretty if they are not lighted.

The old butcher’s table in the foyer is filled with a collection of my silver mercury glass ornaments.

There are the 3 trees to the right…

And on the other end is a small lamp I found with a mercury glass base.  I really need to get a different shade, but no time yet…And next to the lamp is a set of bells that I found last year.  I finally found some hooks to hold them, but decided to only use one of them…

In the middle, is a big, very rustic box.  In it I put all the largest of my silver mercury glass.  Mixed in with pine and holly and all piled up high!

Moving on to the back foyer, I put up a tree with only top branches and a wreath and more balls at the bottom.  I used this table for the desserts at the party, and with the this tall tree it freed up a lot of space.  On the branches are a few of my favorite birds.

The big kitchen cupboard is the last place we will visit.  I so enjoy decorating this space for the seasons.  Here I put my Mistletoe Manor angels.  I had 3 of them, and had always wanted to add to the collection. 

But they were discontinued last year, so I thought there was no chance.  I had been on line looking and no luck.  Then, one day, on a stroll through TJM, there they were!  Sitting up high on the top shelf!  Just waiting for me to come and get them and bring them to their new home.  And, since they were waiting just for me…could I disappoint them, and leave them there?  Why, no…of course not!  I did the right thing and brought them home.  And, they seem so happy here, I’m glad I did. 

  And, lo and behold!  The next time I went, I found the Santa and Mrs. Santa.  They are from the same collection, but I had not intended to get them.  But, once again, I went all soft, and let them talk me into coming to live at my house. 

And, they look just perfect here in the kitchen, don’t ya think?  Yes.  Good decisions, both.  On the top shelf are three topiaries with colorful berries, and a decorative plate, vase and sign.  The little music box is a favorite treasure we bring out at Christmas each year.  We gave it to Alex on his first Christmas.

And, last but not least, in the studio, an old red pick up truck  bringing home the Chrismas tree!

I  have such fun playing with all my treasures, and placing them here or moving them there.  Nothing in this house is ever in the same place 2 years in a row.  I just don’t like ‘sameness’. (Is that even a word?)  And, it usually takes me several weeks looking at a particular vignette to decide if I like it or not.  Like the mantel…I do not like it this year.  There is not enough color, and it seems to fade into the stone.  So, next year…who knows where they will end up?

I’ve had several requests to show the decor I used for Christmas.  So I will show some today, and the rest tomorrow.

I must not take all the credit.  My sweet friend, Tina, took a day off work to come and help me decorate.  We have such opposite personalities.  As scattered and ditzy as I am…she is organized and focused.  She has tried over the years to help me work in an orderly fashion…start at one end and go to the other…instead of starting 6 projects and doing a little bit here and a little bit there.  And, I do pretty good, as long as she is with me.  But, when she is gone…so am I!  Her daughter, Amy, came over and helped us and ran errands, too.  And, my friend Patty came over and added her willing hands.  Patty helps keep me straight, as well.  I am so blessed to have friends like these.

First, the mantel.  I used the trees that I used on the table last year for the mantel.  I did not want the trees to be in the way for the party.  Remember these trees were the ones that Mom had bought for me before she died.  I love them as much this year as I did last.  And, friends, if someone tells you that your whole stone fireplace will crack and crumble and fall to the ground if you put a nail in it…..don’t believe it!  See!  safe and sound!

On one side of the fireplace, I put these 3 trees.  And, on the other side I used this lantern on a pedestal.

The buffet, I kept simple also.  My mixed berry garland, and the teeny, tiny seed lights, and these two very rustic candlesticks.  Oh, and two super glittered snowmen….guess, it’s not too simple after all…:-)

Now, to the table.  When we began building the Creek House, my sweet Daughter-in-Love, Suzanne, began getting me these beautiful pots.  I have had them sitting on a bakers rack, and have had plans to fill them with plants.  But, I had an idea that they would look good down the center of the table…filled with something.  After I had decorated the tree, I had quite a few mercury balls left over.  (Can we just say ‘excess’ here?)  Anyway, I gave Tina my ideas and away she went.  We tweaked a little here and a little there, added in some votives, and it was done.  What do you think?

And, speaking of the tree…here it is…

And, last for today, I reused the twigs from fall, and added ivy and holly to this tall basket.

That’s it for today.  I’ll show you the rest tomorrow. 

I just LOVE Christmas!  I love the colors and the smells and the sounds and the parties!  And, I love to decorate my home.  We are blessed, and give thanks to God for all he has given to us.  But, please know that as much as I love all these ‘things’ about Christmas,  that’s all they are…things.  All that will last, and all that really matters, is that one perfect gift…Jesus.  That must be the focus of all we do during this season.  It’s His birthday, and He deserves our praise.

Oh, what a fun and busy weekend!   That’s what helps make Christmas such a fun time, isn’t it?  On Friday night, Don and I hosted our Sunday School classes at our home.  We had about 35 people attending, and fun was had by all.  We ate, and talked, and played games, and prayed and laughed and sang and laughed some more!  It was cool weather, but the men were able to eat outside by the fireplace, and we ladies ate inside at the table…and on the floor…and on the couch!  Don and I provided turkey and ham and everyone else brought all the other food!  Yummy!

Just a few random pictures…I didn’t manage to get a pic of everyone…I kind of lost track of whose I had made.  Go figure!

Our teacher brought everyone a pair of Christmas socks.  Then she decided that this would make a perfect ‘class picture’.  And, she was right!  Can you tell which one I am?  🙂

Here is the whole group:

On Saturday, Joy had gotten us tickets to a play in Montgomery…about 100 miles north of us.  She has a broken foot…and Pop has macular degeneration…so I was the designated driver.  They arrived at my house around 10…and off we went…

We stopped and got a quick bite to eat and headed to the theater.  Montgomery has a wonderful theater called The Alabama Shakespeare Festival.  They have plays of all kinds, all through the year.  Many are suitable for children and schools from all over the state take groups there.

The play we were seeing was Peter Pan.

It was delightful!  There were quite a few children there and it was fun to watch them and their enjoyment.  But, it was very entertaining for adults also.  I don’t think I had ever really known the story of Peter Pan.  Maybe I did and just forgot, but parts of it were new to me.  Wonderful actors, and fun music.  The children really enjoyed seeing Peter Pan and the children flying through the air!

We went by a favorite smoothie place and got us all one for the road and took off for Dothan.  Pop had stories to tell and some we had not heard before!  So blessed to have this time together!

Great fun!  Great people!  Great activities!  Great food!   What more could you ask of a weekend?