Christmas in July

Howdy Everyone!


I'm joining Deb at Debbie-Dabble Christmas for CHRISTMAS IN JULY!!!  Why not head over there and check it out?! You can get loads of fun ideas for Christmas, which isn't that far away!  The more the merrier!

Click HERE...

Until I can get myself organized (sigh!), I'm going to share with you several of my favorites from Pinterest.  These are ideas that I'm really excited about trying myself.

Glass blocks, white/clear Christmas mini-lights, a little paint or vinyl...

Source: fivewhites.blogspot.com via Joy on Pinterest

Fabric Ornaments...

 

Source: kaboodle.com via Joy on Pinterest

Cool designs drawn & glittered on ornaments...

Source: imgfave.com via Joy on Pinterest

I'm also linking up with Bunny Jean's Wednesday Bunny Hop Party.  Bunny's a super lady and has a great blog.

Until next time, take care and God Bless!!!

Artsy VaVa: Burlap Christmas Trees

It's time to start thinking about Christmas Crafts!!! Check out this great tutorial on creating a the Burlap Christmas Tree!!!

Artsy VaVa: Burlap Christmas Trees: Burlap seems to be making its way into a lot of my projects lately. I love the simple, rustic look of it, plus it's inexpensive! I recently ...


Till next time...

Take care and God Bless!

XOXO

Happy New Year!

Stationery found at A Holiday Haven

Take care and God Bless!

Earth Wonders - Photographer's Choice

Well, this week's challenge over at Ana's Earth Wonders is Photographer's Choice.






Here's my favorite photo from this Christmas - our daughter Tiffany and granddaughter Kaylee. 

I used the sketch option at PhotoFunia to create this awesome effect from the same photo.

Why not join in?




Take care and God Bless!

Merry Christmas to All!

I want to wish each and everyone of you a very Merry Christmas!  I really appreciate you all, especially your prayers for my Dad.  He is getting better each day!

Thank you and "God Bless Us, Every One!"

Earth Wonders - Christmas Tree

Merry Christmas to All!

Ana's photo challenge for us this week is "Christmas Tree."  Why not join us?  You can add your photos to her flickr group, too!  The more, the merrier!  Link up below at the bottom of this post, or on Ana's blog by clicking the Earth Wonders button.  So happy to have you!



 
With all that has happened since Mom died 7 weeks ago (my health, my husband's health, Dad in the hospital this week), neither Doug nor I have felt like decorating.  I've been making a few things for Christmas, but that's about it. 

Saturday, DH brought up our little ceramic tree from the basement.  God Bless him!  That took him about 5 minutes, 10 tops.  It surely beats the all-day marathon we normally have during Christmas, and that's just the tree inside! :) 

I'd rather have our regular tree, but stuff happens.  I look at it this way, we won't have much to take down in January!

Here's our little bitty ceramic tree, all lighted up, and it even has tinsel garland on it!

I miss the Christmas lights of the big tree.  They always seemed so magical and fairy-like.  Maybe next year will be better, and hubby and I can decorate like we used to. 

We both want to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas!



Take care and God Bless!

Reindeer Food Package Label for you

Hey Everyone!

Thank you for your prayers for my Dad.  He is improving! Thank God!

I've made a little tag for you to use on Christmas Eve with your kiddos.  You can find it on my flicr page.

Add 2 tablespoonsful of Oats/Quick Oats (not instant oatmeal) to a 4" x 4" plastic bag and seal.  You can add a bit of glitter, as much or as little as you want. 

Personally, I didn't add the glitter.  Don't want any animals getting sick!  I'm going to tell our grands that the glitter is magical and only Rudolph can see it.  That will explain why they can't see it!

Score the label on the line between the white and tan colors, fold over the instructions for the kids, and staple wherever you think best.  I've stapled mine on either side.  I also left room at the bottom for you to add your name/names.  I found the instructions somewhere online.  I've tried to find the correct site, but...!  There are so many that are close, but no cigar. 

Sharing with Natasha's I'll be Home for Christmas Linky Party



 
and Jessa Irene's A Holiday Haven Christmas Party.

Enjoy & have a very Merry Christmas!!!

Take care and God Bless!

Prayer Request

I just found out my Dad was taken to the hospital today (from the nursing home) with pneumonia.  The doctor told my brother on a scale of 1-5, 5 being the worst, Dad's was a 5. 



James Hensley Logan, taken ca 1928.

 Please pray for my Dad, that if it be God's will to take him now, that he has an easy passage!  This has hit me harder than when Mom died about 6 weeks ago.  Dad was my friend, he taught me how to drive, we went to the library together, researched our family together, went to cemeteries together searching for our ancestors' final resting places.  We have the same, some say "warped," sense of humor. :)  My niece has it, also.



Dad on his 50th birthday 1977

 I know Dad's given up since Mom died.  They lived for each other, and without her, he has no purpose.



Mom and Dad at Grandma's in Pennsylvania 1968

 Thank you all!

Take care and God Bless!

Homemade Powdered Coffee Creamer, Unflavored

Happy Friday! 

My cousin, Pam, in Louisiana had this posted on her FB page, so I thought I'd pass it along!

Now, back to our regularly scheduled post...   :D

I've been wanting a good recipe for a powdered coffee creamer, like the original Coffee Mate.  I went to Pinterest and searched, but all I found were for liquid coffee creamers.

So, I googled "powdered coffee creamers" Wednesday and didn't really see much.  There was one that caught my eye, though, but I can't find it again.  I've tweaked the recipe a bit, so if you still recognize it (not difficult), let me know and I'll gladly give you all the credit!

Here's my version...

Homemade Powdered Coffee Creamer Recipe, Unflavored

2 cups powdered milk
1/4 cup + 1 heaping Tablespoon powdered sugar
3 Tablespoons melted Coconut oil




Powdered milk, solid coconut oil (melt before using), powdered sugar

 


Mix powdered mik together with the powdered sugar. The original recipe called for 1/4 cup powdered sugar only, but my coffee just didn't taste right.  There was a nasty bitter aftertaste, so I added another heaping tablespoonful of the powdered sugar.

 


This is the size spoon I used, a cereal spoon. Left over oil can be put back into the original container.

 


Blend the 3 ingredients together with a fork, breaking up any oil lumps.

 


I didn't like the consistency of this "powdered" (more like nuggets) coffee creamer, so I put everything into the blender.  Guess you wouldn't need to stir with a fork, if you used this method.

 


This looked more like Coffee Mate, or any of the other creamers.

 


See?

  

I reused the empty coffee creamer container for my new concoction.  I temporarily taped a wide-mouthed canning funnel to the container opening, so I wouldn't spill the powder as I poured it in and snapped this shot. 




Mighty fine for homemade, if I do say so myself!

 I used 2 teaspoons of the mix in my coffee.  My normal coffee mug is not this dainty little white dealie.  I have a HUGE coffee mug that holds maybe 3 of the these!  I don't care if it gets cold, 'cause I like it cold, too! ;D

If you try this recipe, let me know what you think!

I'm sharing this with Jessa's A Holiday Haven Christmas Party.

Take care and God Bless!

Earth Wonders - SNOW

Ana's Earth Wonders Photo Challenge this week is SNOW.  Why not join us?  You can add your photos to her flickr group, too!  The more, the merrier!  Link up below at the bottom of this post, or on Ana's blog by clicking the Earth Wonders button.  So happy to have you!



I managed to find a couple of the photos of our 2004 Christmas Eve Blizzard.  We got something like 38 inches of snow, with unbelievable drifts! 

This first photo was taken of our front porch steps during the storm. 

The second was taken on Christmas morning, after hubby Doug removed the snow.

Please add yours below!



Take care and God Bless!

Pet Parada - Bailey

Bailey is the oldest of our current zoo.  She came with the house almost 11 years ago. Yes, REALLY!  I don't want to go into the whole story right now. She knows she's loved, and is a real sweetie, in spite of the way she looks in this photo! :)  Guess she takes after me, and doesn't like to have her picture taken.

She does have her cantankerous moments, especially when the boy kitties start to tease her.  Yes, it's like dealing with little kids.

"Mom, he's looking at me!"

"Mom, he touched me!" 

If they aren't around, Bailey is a doll baby.  She's doing pretty good for her age, 11 1/2 years old.  In cat years, I think she and I are about the same age! I, too, have my moments! REALLY! :)

I'm sharing this with Bunny Jean's Pet Parade. Head on over and check out some more of our beloved friends, both past and present.




Take care and God Bless!

Pet Parade - Wacky Present

Hi All!

Don't forget about Bunny Jean's 1st Annual Pet Parade!  Click the button to add your best buddies, too!




Here's my Pyewackett, or just plain ol' Wacky!  He loved to help me wrap presents at Christmastime.  Looks like he thought he was next! :)

This was taken Christmas 1978, so please forgive the quality of the photo.  I just had a 126 Instamatic back then! :)

While you're here, why don't you head on over to Tiny Prints and check out their special going on right now.  They have a super special right now, valid through December 8th! Find creative ways to make festive and unique Christmas cards! Become a part of the TinyPrints community by visiting the blog for news, trends, creative ideas, promotions and more. Use the discount code 10TPSPECIAL and receive 10% off a purchase. Excludes gifts & calendars, photo books, stamps, and the William Arthur and Eric Condren products.

-- Link URLs --
"Christmas cards" (http://www.tinyprints.com/shop/picture-christmas-cards.htm)
"blog" (http://blog.tinyprints.com/)


Take care and God Bless!