New Years Eve...quiet evening!

Since hubby is working late....thought I would update with a few pictures. This is a pic of my country tree in the diningroom. Still have both trees up and probably won't take them down until next week. Since I got fake trees it is no longer an issue with a dry tree!

I probably added a dozen ornaments to my tree this year but thought I would share a few of them with you. I love each and every ornament on my tree so just picked a few. Sort of messing around with my camera on a diffeerent setting too! I have had it for several years but just found my book (lol) in my craft room! Now if you ask my daughter Deb she could tell you why I could never find it!! LOL I am going to try to organize this mess soon here!! I guess when it starts to bother me...it is bad!!!

I have probably over 600 glass ornaments on my tree so could be here all night taking pictures...and there are always favorites...that is why I hate to take my tree down!

This is a picture of the egg (Rhea) I think it is, hand carved and painted by a friend of mine in the Christmas Goose. This is a large two day show we have in the fall, which I am a part of. I always say I am not going to do it the next year but after the show the next year doesn't look so bad! I am sure many of you can relate! Last year my husband bought me a beautiful santa in a sleigh..so this is the second to my collection.
Well, it is almost 8:00 p.m. and still alone so may as well go eat my dinner alone! DH is working in Sacramento (about 60 mi drive one way) and he called that he has to work late so may be saying Happy New Year to myself! Oh well..just another year, right! Hope you all have a wonderful 2009!! Till next time!

Running out of Time!!!

Not much time left and so much to do! I just put this little set of ornies on my shop tonight. I had started them while visiting my daughter in Oregon...brought them home and they have been laying here...so finished them up. A bit late but but thought..what the heck! I sold my last santa on ebay today so am happy about that! Now it is just wrapping the pile of gifts I have in my bedroom! I HATE that job and always think...where are my girls when I need them! But....I look around all I see is me....so you know what that means! At least I got out my Christmas cards today. That is always a last minute thing for me too.

Tomorrow hubby and I will do some fun shopping along with some things he needs to do. I want him to take me to the Antique Trove..it is huge and love going there. I am hoping to find some small things for my santa's bags next year. If I come across a great find I will let you know!

Well....it is near midnight and I am tired....so I think it is off to bed for me until next time!

Almost finished for the year!

Finally finished up my last santa for the year! I had found this wonderful old wool blanket while in Oregon a few weeks ago...so just had to make a santa out of him this year. I love this time of year....and making the Christmas dolls. The problem is, I am in a large craft show so spend most of my time sewing for that...which leaves little time for ebay etc. My promise to myself every year is...start making Christmas right after the New Year! Well...we all know that doesn't happen! I do want a few days to finish up the last minute things...wrapping presents and finishing up my cards so have to put sewing aside.

This jolly old santa adorns our neighbors front yard and has for years....sort of a tradition. Last year we had a nasty storm and when he didn't appear this year I thought...oh no guess he won't go up this year! But....to my joy he did appear on Sunday when we returned home from church. Not sure of the exact story about him but think he was from an old filling station probably in the 40's or 50's! I just love him and thought I had better get a picture of him this year as surely one day he will not appear!

Hope you are all having a blessed Christmas season...till next time!

Finally another Santa listed!

On the upside of my life right now....I have another santa listed today! He was partially finished when all my kids arrived, and needless to say he didn't get finished up until today. I hope to get a couple more items done before the final countdown..but who knows!!

If any of you have read my daughter's blog (Dollgiver's Attic) she has her share of problems and worries. We are all very concerned about her daughter, Laresa. Much too young to be having the heart problems she is experiencing. Along with that and our son-in-law's cancer, we are overwhelmed with anxiety this Christmas. Please keep both of them in your prayers...our family would so much appreciate it. Until next time..hope you are having a wonderful Christmas Season!

Where do I begin!!

What a past week it has been!!! On Thursday my daughter JoAnn arrived from Indiana. She rented a car so visited with me a short time then went over to my daughters home in town. She would spend the night there, then on Friday my daughter Deb arrived from Oregon. They had come to surprise their dad for his birthday. Anyway, come Friday evening the three daughters and myself were planning his arrival home from work when I hear a knock on the door! I remember thinking, who in the heck can that be!! I didn't see the Jeep in the driveway so thought it was a neighbor or a salesman. I open the door and there stands my son (from Indiana) saying "Hi Mom"!!! Now I am the one surprised!!! I can't believe my eyes!! Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to see him! You can see my surprised look! Anyway, then their dad arrives home and sets down his ice chest...goes in and takes off his shoes when I tell him he needs to come into the kitchen to see what happened and that I hoped he wouldn't be upset with me when he saw what happened! So...he goes in and the look was priceless!!! Needless to say it was a big shock but a good one! After our son-in-law Brian was the next surprised victim, we were all to the local mexican restaurant to eat and share our time together!

The next morning we were off to the quaint little towns of Grass Valley and Nevada City for shopping and fun. We stayed at a wonderful Holiday Inn Express...had three rooms so accomodated all of us quite well. That night we had a great dinner at the Kane, then on to a play "Santaland Diaries". After we had returned to the motel the girls, James and I sat in one room and laughed and reminsed! The next morning we had a great continental breakfast at the motel then shopped a little more then returned home. Sadly James had to return early Monday morning and shortly after Deb began her journey home also. She drove so was a 8 hr drive for her. JoAnn stayed until today so had a little more time with her. All in all, we had a wonderful time with all four of our kids at home together. Also, I know you have read Deb's post about our son-in-law having cancer, so that was also a time to be together as a family. James's wife Linda stayed home with the kids but also posted about Brian on her blog (Simple Tresures) Please keep him in your prayers as he is testing and will hopefully begin an extensive clinical trial treatment. What a blessing it was to have all four children home at the same time...something we once took for granted! Now on to my sewing...addressing cards...and the list goes on!!!

Work in Progress!

Wow....time is flying so thought I had better get busy with my Christmas decorating!! I finally got my tree up, and today decided to get busy on the rest of my decorating. One is my collection of 50's santas, etc. Some from my mom and some from antique stores, etc. The two houses are sitting on an old chest in my entryway. This chest one of my great grandparents brought over on a boat from Germany...filled with their few precious belongings they brought with them. Today I fill it with all my precious ornmanets...many made in Germany. I LOVE Christmas and have been collecting for about 35 years. I have continued this tradition by giving each of my kids ornaments each year and they have also continued to do this for their children! I will take more pictures after I get my second "country" tree up and decorated...then maybe a couple more here and there. Until next time....happy decorating!!! Oh yes..and still have to try to get a santa finished up here..something on our site and an ornie made for our swap!! gotta get busy!!!

Happy Dec. 1st!

Greetings and Happy Dec 1st! I can't believe it is already December and I am just now getting around to my first listing for Christmas! Looks like I won't be getting many things made this year! I did have a big show in November and did pretty well there, so that is where most of my time went. Anyway, I have added a pic of the santa just listed today. Have another body here so may have one to join him soon...hoping that is!! I am working on my tree, etc so when I have it completed I will take a few pics to share. Till next time!