Santa!!

We were visited by a man from the North Pole on Christmas Eve! Our nephew Zach helped with Santa's visit and was a hit with the cousins and young at heart grown ups. Thanks for your help, Zach! We love you.

Simple Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and peace to you and your families! It's going to be a white Christmas here on the eastern plains of Colorado.

Mother Nature does the best job decorating our outside trees! Colorado Blue Spruce.
Austrian pine with the gorgeous pine cones and freshly falling snow. The storm isn't over, yet. Wind maybe later.

Small, but favorite, Black Hills spruce. All taken this morning after clearing pathways to the car and the dog's bowl and water dish. BooBoo is my alarm clock--he knows lights should be coming on in the house about 5:30ish each morning. It doesn't matter that I'm on vacation. He still wants me up.

And, one small tree in the house. I'm liking the simplicity of it. Stuck a few glittered pine cones at the base. Now on to Puppy Chow, the cereal treat, for the gift baggies tomorrow. Requested by Sarah.

Popcorn and Pinecones

Between laundry, picking up and trying to clean, going to town because there's a storm coming, making two wreaths with ornaments (NOT a coat hanger--that wire is too stiff) I made EASY peppermint popcorn. I was so lazy, I bought this already popped corn.
Melted a bag of white chocolate chips with about 1/2 bag of peppermint crunch chips. It made such a pretty pink coating with a mild flavor.

Poured it on a cookie sheet of popcorn and sprinkled some m & m candies over the top. Broke it up into pieces, bagged it up, and it's ready for the treat bags on Christmas Eve. Easy!!

For the table decorations I glittered some pine cones from our yard. I love the glitter paint with nothing flaking off and getting into my eyes! It didn't take long at all. We always have a feast with so much food to eat, there's not much room for a fancy centerpiece.
If there isn't a blizzard, I can go out and cut some pine branches to put on the table, too. I'm not fond of going outside when the wind is howling!

Pink Christmas

Got the table cleared (amazing) and now I want to make cards for the Christmas Day table at my mom's. (Table will turn messy again). This pretty picture would look nice with our pink Christmas this year. And a little glitter around the edges! Must get busy now. We shall see if I can make things work together to get this girl printed on card stock.
Sarah's cookies are wonderful! Must post the recipe tomorrow. Chocolate and peppermint!

Christmas III

I really am trying to clean off the kitchen table! The makings for this wreath have been on a pile on the surface for over a week.

Got it put together and it's ready to take to the best set of parents I could ever have, other than my own. I found the wreath hanger at Hobby Lobby this week .
If I get really busy today, I could actually make up another wreath with the angel ornaments I've collected each year since Sarah was small. Here's 2009 "China Rose" that will join the 21 others. Or, maybe I will bake with Sarah, who is impatiently waiting for me to join her! TTFN!


The table...I've got to clean the table...no distractions!!

More Christmas

Here's another of my instant decorations...a wreath with my thimble ornaments that I've collected. If I see one, it looks like I have a few more spots to fill in. Many are Hallmark ornaments and I'm only missing one in the series. Others were added over time.
My thoughtful friend that gifted me with the wall hanging, also found these cuties last year at a fabulous church sponsored craft show. The members decorate the whole building and have a special room for sharing many Nativities. I just love that display! Getting ours out is still on my list.

These two join many others I have in my kitchen all year long. I am a story book/character collector and they fit right in!

Getting Ready!

This wall hanging is from a dear friend. Because there's a small leaded window behind the star and Bethlehem, during the day time the STAR looks like it is shining! Imagine!
One of several wreaths that I put out and take down each December hangs on a closet door. Sarah was surprised to discover that I made the ornaments--I stitched them before she was born. The needlepoint was done, one tiny stitch at a time, stretched over a half ball shape, and framed with the wooden rings. All from kits I purchased individually over a period of time. Unfortunately that yarn shoppe of long ago is no longer in Fort Morgan.

Living in a snow globe--REALLY!

This morning was unbelievable--while on duty before school the sun was peeking up over the building across the street. It was making the moisture in the air look like silver glitter falling all around us as we waited for school to begin. The kids and I were entranced by the beauty. We had the secretary and the principal come out and look. As they only looked out from the doorway and didn't come outside--they missed the miracle of the snow/ice rainbow we saw looking into the morning sun. The whole thing was spectacular!! We were in the middle of a winter wonderland snow globe.

That's MY girl!

Sarah's been busy with her knitting needles getting ready for Christmas. She learned to crochet with a friend's help and then went on to learning how to knit.
She does such a wonderful job and I am proud of her nimble fingers. Me, I don't like yarn. I did knit a six inch square for 4-H one summer, and I did learn to cover hangers with yarn--with my grandma's help.
I love this profile! She is as sweet as she looks, too.
Lots of snow melted today--look in the reflection of the window. It was about 80 degrees warmer today, than the other day when I went to school and it registered -31 degrees.

Cute as a Button!

Thank you Suzie!! These are the cutest hand made ornaments from one of the swaps I joined in for the first time. I have to keep my eye on this one because Sarah thinks it is so cool, too! It came with the holly paper behind it making such a cute package.
This was in the package, too. Just the sweetest little baby in a beautiful dress, perhaps a christening gown? Peace to you and what fun to be in the swap with this great partner. Visit Suzie to see what she is busy with lately.

Today was a peaceful day as we both were home ALL DAY! Wrapping and crafting, trying to make an ornament wreath. My coat hanger apparently was not the cheap wire and it was too heavy to go through some of the caps, so I gave up and went downstairs and found some 16 gauge wire that was more flexible and easier use.

31 Below!!

On the way to school this morning the temperature dropped to minus 31 degrees. That is below zero!!
Just picture one cold teacher standing by herself in front of the school with a stop sign. That would be me! Crosswalk duty was FRIGID!! In small schools, teachers must do all kinds of duties that those in larger schools have other people do.

Ornaments and Trees

These cute ribbon ornaments came from my 100th post winner, Megan. I admired them on her blog and was surprised when Sarah opened her package from her swap partner, (Megan!), and that she included something for me!! My partner from that swap hasn't sent anything, yet. :-(


Sarah and a friend, also a Sarah, went to our local Vision of Trees one Saturday. I love cardinals, but there aren't any in this part of Colorado, so all of ours are just decorations. These two pictures were just about the best ones taken that day, as we seem to be having a lot of earthquakes during photo sessions. We need a new camera! Or is it just the person that is pressing the button on the camera?! ;)
The soft glow from the lights on this tree is just heavenly. Different groups decorate the trees for the club that sponsors the event.

Now I need a snow day, but it didn't happen today. All we have is cold, and more COLD!! and the wind that makes it bitter cold. Maybe a personal day soon??!!

Sunday Bells

"What Child is This?" and "O, Come All Ye Faithful" were our two songs we played during the service this second Sunday of Advent. Although we have a fabulous director, notice how none of us look up! We concentrate so hard to keep together in the right place. This is literally the most demanding thing I've ever done--I only play the piano by myself and was never in band in high school back in the dark ages. I'm the second one from the right in green.

All the scenery is for the drama "Beyond the Star" and makes the sanctuary look like a small village of long ago.

I saw this ornament somewhere in blog land and wish I had one just like it. Peace to you all.

Majestic Eagle

On the way home from Wiggins, I spotted this eagle on top of the power pole! It was a miracle that the camera was in my purse and after halting on the highway and backing around and heading back to the perfect spot for snapping a photo or two, Sarah took some pictures for me.
She really didn't care for the way her mother pushed her out of the car to get the best pictures, but I LOVE seeing eagles close to home. A couple of semis drove past and the bird flew to the next pole down the road. We stopped again and he let us take more pictures.
The sighting was particularly nice for me since earlier in the week I had to deal with a population reduction of hundreds of starlings that died under and in the spruce trees in my yard. I did take pictures, but they are too horrid to post.

November Noel Fun

Our November Noel Literacy Night was great! Everyone listened to the staff's favorite holiday stories and made a craft to take home.
These little chimneys with Santa were made by the kids that heard "Santa's Stuck!"


"The Legend of the Silver Pinecone" and, of course, silver glittered pine cones. Oops, no picture of them, but they sure were sparkly!! Just sparkling smiles from mom and son.

Bells and beads on necklaces inspired by "The Polar Express".

A very happy mom with the door prize and two darling "prizes" by her side. Aren't they just the sweetest!?

Sparkles

The camera does not show how these snowflakes sparkle in the sunlight! Wish I knew how to show you how pretty these ornaments really are!
Before Sarah came home last Wednesday she stopped at Michael's and picked up some Swarovski crystals for me so I'd be able to work on ornaments this weekend. Only diamonds and new fallen snow on a bright sunny day sparkle more than these beads! I LOVE to work with these beads made in Austria.
We made ornaments in three sizes, but I think these are the medium and large ones.

This bracelet was made just for Megan! It also is made of Swarovski crystals in clear and Siam (deep red) with sterling silver beads. There are several shapes of beads on the bracelet that make it unique. Most of the jewelry I make is one of a kind and is created with love.

Giving Thanks

glitter-graphics.com

I saw this quote and thought it to be perfect for today.

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today.
Have you used one to say "Thank you"?
~ William A. Ward

SUNDAY SNOW

Eight inches of snow fell overnight! Big BEAUTIFUL snowflakes, just like the ones that fall in the mountains. When I graduated from college my first teaching position was in Granby. In the winter the snow used to fall DOWN in big fluffy flakes. Most of the time out here on the plains, it comes in sideways.
This is one of my favorite "Christmas" trees in the yard. It has the shortest needles. I think it was called a Black Hills pine or spruce when I got it at a farm store's garden center. And it was only a one gallon pot about 12 inches tall. I start them small and watch them grow.

Tulips in the Fall

I'm not a Fall fan, but I will work outside after school when it is still daylight and warm. I rushed home one afternoon to get these in the ground. I just dig one big hole and put all the bulbs in and cover them with dirt. It is SO much faster than one hole at a time with a bulb planter.

Because another snow storm is on its way, I didn't go to my mom's today. We only live an hour away from each other, but the weather is so different here than there. And, I am just a lot more cautious now that I am by myself. Now I need to get busy folding laundry and doing some craft work.

Congratulations Jennell and Matt!!

Congratulations to our newest family--Mr. and Mrs. J. !! The wedding was wonderful and since the camera was not in my hands, I could enjoy the ceremony. The bride is the lovely young woman in the red and black on the right.

Got the jewelry finished last Friday evening and the girls and Jennell's mom all wore one of the necklaces from the Swarovski pearls and crystals. I loved how everyone sparkled in the soft light of the chapel. Hope you don't mind another picture -- the previous one from earlier just has the bead stoppers to keep the beads on the wire.
I will be working on a silver, dark siam (red), and crystal bracelet for my 100th post winner because those are the colors she would like! Now it's time to practice for the program at school tomorrow night. TTFN!

100th WINNER, 62nd, and 78 Degrees

I just couldn't make myself draw a 100th post winner (wanting everyone to win), so I took the names to school in a bowl and had one of my 5th graders select one. Of course I had written the names in cursive so he couldn't quite read my 'fast writing', but I could!!

The winner is The Creative Housewife!! Congratulations!

Please send me your wrist size and I'll get busy making a personal bracelet just for you and get the book wrapped along with a little extra something that I promised.

This past week started out on Monday celebrating Wally's dear mom and dad's 62nd wedding anniversary. My nephew and I took them out to supper to celebrate. This picture is from earlier this year at our other wedding back in April.

And now the bit about 78 degrees. Remember the snow drift from just last Friday? This is what the front is looking like after a week of warm weather. The snow is ALMOST GONE! It is a good thing because I still have tulip bulbs to plant. I was a little concerned about being able to get them in last weekend.
Time to be getting things together to take to Jennell's wedding later today. Salad to finish and a dress to press.

#99, It's Halloween

This is my fall decorating for October and November. I am ready to start pulling out the Christmas things! I got the tray for $3.99 in Manitou Springs and am thinking I need to spray it that gorgeous Bronze something. I'm going to Greeley today, so maybe I'll stop in at Home Depot and look for it and the famous beadboard wallpaper. Roads should be dry judging by how many times the snow plows went by here yesterday!!

Please leave a comment and you'll be entered for my 100th post giveaway.

98, Snow, and Jewelry

One thing people may not realize about Colorado is that it is not all mountain ranges. Out here on the eastern plains where I live, the land is mostly flat with a few small hills. So when the wind blows during a snow storm, we get drifts! You can see the neighbor's place today!
We have had snow in these drifts last until spring, but the weather is supposed to warm up tomorrow and get into the 50's and 60's next week. It did melt today on the sidewalk and driveway where I shoveled the snow this morning. Lots more to go in the next few days!
This afternoon I felt better than yesterday so I did work on the necklaces for next weekend. They are not fancy, but the Swarovski pearls and crystals will sparkle and shine. Now for the most time consuming work...attaching the findings. I did take some pictures of my bracelets and will try to put them on the sidebar.