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!

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!

Sundays with Santa - Felt Santa Pillow

I found this felt Santa pillow on Pinterest tonight.  There's a pattern provided, and directions on the website.  I may try to make this a bit smaller, for an ornament.  Santa's face is sooo cute, don't you think!

Source: bhg.com via Joy on Pinterest

Sharing this with Maureen's Sundays with Santa at Yuletide Seasonings!  Why not go on over and share your own Santa favorites?


Take care and God Bless!

Deck the Halls Friday & Pinning and Singing Weekend Party

This is my first time linking to Tinsel & Co.'s Deck the Halls Friday.  Thanks for having me!

Click HERE

I found this sweet little felt ornament on Pinterest the other night. 

It has "Christmastime" written all over it!

Source: beautyineverything.com via Joy on Pinterest

 

I think I might try my hand at making some of these for our tree this year.  There are a few other ornaments that I want make that I found there.  That's what's so great about Pinterest - so many wonderful ideas available!

I'm also linking with Natasha's Pinning and Singing Weekend Party.


Click HERE

For my song, here's one I grew up with...
There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays by Perry Como. 
It brings back lots of great memories of Thanksgiving and Christmas!



Take care and God Bless!

Christmas Past - Mosaic Monday

Here are a few pictures we took Christmas 2005.  Doug's parents were showing us some of Florida near where they lived at that time.  These photos were taken at Lake Okeechobee.  You can see how low it was that year!  

Lake Okeechobee, Florida Christmas 2005 Joy and Doug in Christmas colors!

Sharing these with the Little Red House's Mosaic Monday.

Click Here to join in the fun!

Take care and God Bless!

Christmas SewAlong

This will be sew much fun!!!  Make sure you sign up at SewHappy.Me in order to get the patterns, 1 each week for 7 weeks!  The 8th week we'll receive instructions for making the Christmas bunting with the 7 blocks.

Click this link for all the particulars:  Christmas SewAlong!

Linking with Debbiedoo's Newbie Party on Mondays.



Click HERE


Merry Christmas!

XoXoXo

Fantasia Faries - Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

Good Sunday morning everyone!  Can you believe this is the last day of July?  The year is going by so quickly!

Have you been over to Natasha's blog, 5 Minutes Just for Me, lately?  You can join in with us for Sunday Song each week, posting your favorite songs!  It's such a great idea, brings a little calm to a normally hectic life.

One of my very favorite pieces of music, especially at Christmastime (either December or July!) is the "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies!"  I hope you enjoy this rendition!


See you next time!

XoXoXo

Something Special: ANNOUNCING! A Giveaway and a Swap

Happy Saturday All!

I found this wonderfully creative person, Michele at Something Special today!  She honored me by following my Christmas blog recently, and I'm SO HAPPY to now be a follower, or a friend, of hers!  Her favorite vintage Christmas movie is White Christmas!  Mine too - check out my music selections at the bottom of my blog.

Michele's having a sweet giveaway to mark her 200th (WOW!) post, so check out the details at the link below!  I really hope I win - cool vintage items!  You must hurry, tho', as the drawing will be Monday, July 25!  Go on now, you know you want to!

Something Special: ANNOUNCING! A Giveaway and a Swap

While you're there, check out the post she has on her craft studio.  So very organized and...well, you just have to see all the wonderful things she has in it!

Take care and God Bless!  And, may all your Christmas be White!

XoXoXo

"SUNDAY SONG" Mormon Tabernacle Choir - Carol Of The Bells

HO HO HO! Merry Christmas in July!

Click HERE

Late last year I joined Natasha at "5 Minutes Just for Me" and her Sunday Song party.  She's celebrating Christmas in July this year, and since she lives in Australia, it does make sense!  Snow and cold go with Christmas!

Here's one of my favorite (favourite) Christmas songs, The Carol of the Bells, one I could listen to repeatedly.  The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sound like Angels, singing praises to our Lord and Saviour in Heaven!  I hope you enjoy it, too!

Pop on over to Natasha's "5 Minutes Just for Me" and join us in our favourite songs this Sunday!

See you soon - take care, my friends!


XoXoXo

Joy

Homemade Christmas Ornaments by Barb Brocaw

Hi All,

It's never too early to start thinking CHRISTMAS!  Here are a few ideas from Barb Brocaw at The Admin Family Library at MyFamily.com.  There are so many wonderful people here, generously sharing their talents.  If you're into Paint Shop Pro (PSP) or Photo Shop, you might want to check out this site.  You have to ask to belong, tho' and log on, but it's worth it! 

Cable-Knit Ornament

Paisley Gem Ornaments

Picture Frame Ornament

Salt-Dough Snowflake Ornaments

Seashell Ornament

Have fun!

XoXoXo

Crocheted Candy Canes Pattern

I found a really cute pattern for Crocheted Candy Canes at PlanetJune by June Gilbank!  Will definitely have to make some of these for Christmas! 

XoXoXo

ADVENT CALENDAR-CHRISTMAS AT SCHOOL

Boy, do I remember Christmas at School!!!

The first Christmas Pageant I remember was when I was in early elementary school, maybe second grade. 

Several of us girls were to be angels, so our moms had to sew a costume for each of us.  The teacher sent home precise directions on how the angel costume was to be made. 

 It was SUPPOSED to be long...down to the floor...ankle-length...below the knee, and white.  Well, mom hated to sew - with a passion!  She also didn't want to spend good money on fabric that could be used for other things, say like food, clothing, utilities, car payments, etc., etc., etc.! 


DO YOU SEE ANY SHORT GARMENTS HERE?
source: Dover Publications

So, she took an old sheet, which wasn't white, like an angel's clothing should be.  She didn't buy white sheets...she liked yellows, pinks, greens, blues.  Thank God she didn't like florals or stripes!!! 

I think that she used an old, pale (washed out), yellow sheet for my beautiful angel costume.  And, of course, it had to be done her way, so I ended up with a short, knee-length angel dress.  You can imagine the embarrassment I felt, especially when the teacher made such a big deal out of it.  I hoped I would never have to be in another pageant as long as I lived.

Well, so much for that!  In sixth grade, our class put on a pageant about "Christmas Around the World." I was drafted won the role of a Czechoslovakian mother with two children. 

I only had a six word line, easy enough to remember.  That wasn't the problem, though I was terrified at the prospect.  The problem was...I had to have a special COSTUME!!!  "Oh, please God, not another costume for my mom to have to make for me!!!", I prayed.  

I took the instructions home, handed them to mom, and ran!  I could hear her from upstairs, "Why do they always have to have something special?  I HATE sewing, and now I have to make her a skirt and apron for this Christmas play?!"

Every stitch was a chore, for both mom and me!  It's not that mom didn't know how to sew, or wasn't any good at it.  I don't know why she hated it so much, and didn't mind letting me know it. Maybe because she had to do it all by hand...no sewing machine.  The skirt was a beautiful long (yes, I think she learned how embarrassing it was for me the last time), turquoise-y blue wonder.  And, all she did was take a length of fabric, gather it at the waist, add the waistband, and hem it.  But, to me, it was beautiful! 

She wouldn't make the apron, though.  She bought a gorgeous sheer, red Christmas apron, trimmed in white lace instead.  I just recently gave that apron to my sister to hand down to her girls.  I wore these two garments, along with a white blouse, and a huge headscarf tied around my shoulders for a shawl.

I was scared to death of being front of people, afraid I'd forget that one, simple little line.  I can still remember, acting like I was working in the kitchen at a table, hearing loud footsteps off stage.  "That must be the children now!", I manage to squeak out.  The kids came into view, and we sang a Christmas song, probably something like Silent Night or Hark, The Herald Angels Sing.

Eighth grade I was in Choir.  Of course, the music department put on a Christmas Concert each year - go figure!  I had to have a long, black skirt and white blouse for this one.  The blouse was not a problem.  Mom asked my grandma if she had anything I could borrow for the concert.

Mom, Dad, and Grandma

Grandma had her mother's skirt from back in the 19-teens.


Grandma Jennie, her two daughters, and grandbaby around 1917.
This could have been the skirt I borrowed.

She let me borrow it, with the admonition to not ruin it. (Love my family!)

The concert was a hit!  One of the songs we sang was "Little Drummer Boy" and it's been one of my favorites ever since. 

On arriving home after the concert, I was getting out of the car and caught my heel in the hem of that ancient skirt.  It ripped and I could feel my heart sink to my feet.  Surprisingly, Mom didn't say much.  She managed to do a great job of repairing that tear, and Grandma never said a word to me, that I remember.

In high school, I was in concert choir and we did lots of plays and concerts, including Christmas.  None of these were really memorable, as I could sew my own clothing by now. 

I still was terrified of being in front of people, but enjoyed singing!  I was glad, though, to be in the alto section, on the back row! LOL!

XoXoXo