Change of Plans

Due to the bitter cold weather we have been having in North Central WI,

some plans had to be changed.

One of my dear grandsons wanted to build a snowfort, but we settled for

tunneling inside the house instead. This red collapsable tunnel is going on

its 5th year of fun.

When Aunt Mel came for a visit, we were working on PaperPlate Art, and of course, Aunt Mel pitched right in with this three minute landscape of the snowman that Syrus also wanted to build.

Instead of a snowman, he made a fish....to warm our day. Isn't it the cutest little fish you ever saw? He is so proud of his work.
Nothing beats a tub of markers and paperplates, good company and a cup of soup to while away an afternoon on a blustery day. Thanks for the fun Syrus and Mel.

Longing For Spring

Bill has been having to weigh down the bucket to plow our heavy snows

We are 'so' longing for spring but winter has just begun
We long for leisurely swinging in the hammock with our Wee Ones

In this 'oh so comfortable' one I made years back
And times shared with Teddy Bears and Puppies on the tire swing

With Ryele's loves
We long for green grasses and flats of flowers waiting to be potted
But these icy cold 8 below sunrises is what we have been blessed with

It is accepted only by it's awesome beauty at 6 a.m....

The fire in the woodstove feels warm and welcoming,

And the hot cappuccino my son just poured in my coffee cup warms

my thoughts for the day
So, my goal for this day, is to pour over the seed catalogs,

place some orders in the back of my mind,

keep the fire stoked,

do another 300 piece puzzle with my grandson,

bake some black cherry muffins and just stay warm.

It's our last day for awhile with my grandson, so we will play lots of games, read to each other and just 'cozy up'. Hopefully the day will warm enough for some fun in the snow. He wants to dig a fort in the snowbank....

You all stay warm wherever you are and

Blessings Be Yours

Jesus' Birthday Cake

Happy Birthday Jesus

The little ones eyes light up when Jesus Birthday candle is lit.

They all gather to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and learn the true

meaning of Christmas shared by their Great Grandma O.

Great Grandma then artfully cuts the cake in the shape of, ' The Star' that

shone bright that night of Baby Jesus birth.
No one ever wants to take the first piece. It usually is started with the youngest hungry child., this year, it was Ben and Maya.
Same Jesus Cake, different year., but same message, loved by all.
This has come to be such a wonderful tradition on Christmas Eve, that I know,

I, for one, will continue it for my Grands and GreatGrands. For now, it remains a tradition at the farm where I grew up learning all the important bits and pieces of

a good wholesome life.

I hope your Christmas was as wonderful as ours.

Blessings Be Yours

Oh, Happy Christmas Eve Day

Oh Happy Day

We are getting dumped on...

And love it? We Do...

The Chickadees are waiting

Waiting for Breakfast
A favorite memory of

A few of my GrandLoves

With their Wonderful

Mr. SnowMan

No More need to dream of snow for Christmas

We are getting our share

It is gorgeous out already

I shoveled the steps, walked my late cards

Out to the mailbox at 6 a.m.

And Smiled
It is truly a Snow Day

My fawn bit the nose off my sister Mel's Snowman...

So Cute

We have joy,

We have fun
Wish you were here

Have a wonderful,

Fun filled

Christmas Eve Day
Christmas and

New Year

Merry Christmas All

Our Wish For You is all the blessings our Lord can muster...and we all know that he can muster the world. Peace and Love to you all this Christmas as our world once again struggles to keep that peace. God will bless us all as He and He alone knows what is in His plan. I, personally, am anxious to see.

God's Blessings Be Yours

Merry Christmas All

It has been just beautiful out with the frost and snow...

Take a minute to walk with me

Seeds-a-plenty for the nuthatch and chickadees that frequent the feeders

Years ago I painted this artist conk, a mushroom variety of the woods

It turned out a cute ol' Santa, don't you think?

Merry Christmas from us to you all
Blessings Be Yours

Santa's Elf

Phew.....I do feel like Santa's Elf.

I just realized that I have only posted a few times in the past few weeks.

Truth is, I have been a bit busy like all good ol' elves at this time of the year.

The knitting needles are still clacking, and the crochet hook is trying my patience due to the 'itis brothers' visiting my joints. My hands are killing me even though I know that keeping them moving is the only thing that's 'keeping them moving.'

Scarves, headbands, slippers, vests, leggings, all the intermediate projects that are fast to complete,are nearly finished....only 3 pair of slippers and 2 scarves to finish before the 19th. "I can do this. I can do this.", says the Ol' Elf.

Just when I think I have reached the end of the list of things to do, "Oh, there is still baking to do and fudge to make.", "Oh, and the tree to trim and the house to decorate." And, of course, Let's not forget the brandy slush...

The past few years, I have not done 'all the extras', but Christmas is at my house this year. We certainly do not want to disappoint a bunch of wee ones. I love watching their eyes light up as they wander throughout the house, inspecting and talking to each trinket. Christmas is such fun for us all, but especially the little ones.

Enjoy inspecting the work of this Ol' Elf, but for now, she really must get back to her duties. Falalalala lalalala.

There are scarves and headbands and slippers, oh my, and vests and leggings and more, oh my.

These turned out so cute and so soft

I Love this Flapper Vest and Scarf Set...and the Leggings and Vest Set too
Some of the many Decorated Sugar Cookies...
I Love this Guy...HoHoHo
More Christmas goodies

and More SnowmenOne of the 'favors' for the wee ones to take home to remember the sledding they will be doing during their stay.

Merry Christmas to you all and to all a good night....

Blessings Be Yours

I

Starry, Starry Night

There is a beauty of a star shining on my barn. My dear man climbed as high as he could to please me. I have been wanting this star on my barn for 29 yrs. and this was the year.

I hope all of my neighbors enjoy it as well as the many passers-by on our busy highway. It cannot be seen from my own house, however, or if you come to visit from the west. You must drive past my place, turn around and head back towards town to see it, but it's there, shining its beautiful blue just for you.

Enjoy for the pictures do not do it justice. Our Merry Christ-mas to you, one and all.

Blessings Be Yours

Christmas Trees,Etc.

The past 7-8 years, it has become tradition for my Mother and I to go Christmas Tree shopping together. We have gone several places and think we may have found the best place yet at this Christmas Tree Farm just north of town a ways. It turns out that it is where her sister who passed away last year, always got her tree. In fact, these kind folks Always had picked out just 'the perfect tree' for her each year and had it waiting for her. It did not take Mom long before she had 'just the perfect tree' picked out to grace her living room this Christmas.

It's always a fun outing as we tug on the branches to see if any needles fall, walk around it several times to see it's prettiest side, make sure it has spaces to let the ornaments dangle freely.

The height has to be just right as she holds her arm up and we make sure the tree is at least half a foot taller because we always must cut a couple inches off the bottom so the tree can drink.

And then there is circumference to consider. It has to be 'just right' to fit 'just perfect' in between the caribou antlers on the wall.

Who would have thought picking out a Christmas tree would involve such detail.

Marge, the tree lady, also an old classmate of mine, told us to take our time. Besides, the record amount of time picking out the 'perfect tree' was two hours. We did pretty good then, because it took us less than 1/2 hour to pick out not one but three trees.

One for Mom, one for me, and one 'little shaver' for the wee ones to decorate for the birds.

As tradition has earned, we always end our outing with tea at Mom's, the perfect warm-up. I have come to relish this special time with my Mom. We get a lot of catching up done in that short morning, even though we talk every day.

Also included in this post you will see a few of the outside decor at my house, some of which I have made....

This is my beautiful Mom- isn't she just the loveliest? I can only pray to look as spry and wonderful as she when I am 80 years young.

Oops, I got these next two pictures reversed---this is the one- a beauty of a balsam with a blue hue
Mom picking out her tree at the Treml Christmas Tree Farm
Home for the Holidays
Welcome
Let it Snow
Keeping Frosty Company
The bird tree
Mr. BoughMan
One of our Guards