Christmas ‘Round The House & Merry Christmas Wishes!

Now that Christmas is all up, I can tend to other seasonal things – like baking cookies for family and friends and spend time enjoying the season. This year’s decorations are pretty much the same as last, except for a new rusty old black scale that, for now, is the base for two bottle brush trees. Below is the Scottie tree that sits next to the “great wall of Scots”. The tree holds many sweet gifts that many of you have sent to me over the years – and you may even recognize them! Enjoy the little tour…..

Our family wishes you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a bright New Year!!!

~~~~~~~

A note to friends:

I know that many of you have lost loved ones and have had health issues or hardships over the past year, or so. Each day I think of you….Claudia, Pat, Lallee, Shelley, Donna, Nancy, Karen,Penny, Kathy, Debbie, Denise, Shelia, Cynthia, Amy, Susie Q, Sharon, Pam, Jean, Laura, Alice, Melinda, Linda…and so many, many more. I pray that our Father’s love touches you and sustains you through this season and the upcoming year – and really, for always and forever.

For those of you who have lost a loved one, it takes time for healing and some days are better than others, however the memory and the love that is held deep within our soul is what can keep us going. For me, it is the promise that God gives to us that someday we shall all be together once again. This is the food for my soul. Could there not be any better gift than that? I really don’t think so!! This beats chocolate cake any day!! So when I get down and feel really blue thinking of my precious angel Jordan, I just remember that even though he is with us in spirit, there will be a day that Heaven’s door will open wide and he will be there to give our family the biggest hug that one could EVER give. That thought puts the biggest smile on my face and fills my heart with pure JOY! I just want to do a little happy dance thinking about that!!!

Be sure to light a candle for Jesus this season and wish Him a very, very HAPPY BIRTHDAY and thank Him for all of HIS GIFTS to us that He gives each day.

May God Bless you and keep you….

always and forever,

Me.

See you next year! I am taking a break to share the time with family and friends. There are cookies to be baked, presents to wrap, dogs to play with, movies and books to catch up on, a mound of laundry that is going to sprout legs soon and a yard that needs some serious tending to. Oh hubbbbbby!

Till then…….

((hugs))

Oh Gnome! Tis A Crime!!!

One of the most memorable Christmas decorations that my mother had were two tiny gnomes made out of pinecones. We didn’t have much in the way of Christmas decorations and those two little gnomes were my favorite holiday “fluff”. Mom always put them on top of a side table that was next to my favorite wing backed chair. Their sweet little faces, pipe cleaner beards and arms, mica bases and tiny little details made me smile. I would carefully hold them in my hands and study how they were made.

A few years back our family Christmas was spent at my brother and sister-in-law's home. My sister-in-law, Stacy, loves to decorate for Christmas and she had the family room shelves beautifully decorated with their collections of Snowmen. As my eyes landed on one shelf, there were two pinecone gnomes – JUST LIKE moms!! GASP! So I asked my brother where he got them………

…..and…….

what

he

said

made

my

heart

leap!

Mom gave them to him!!!! Oh gnome! That is a crime! A MISGNOMEANER!

Ok, not his fault…..he didn’t know that I had a deep and sentimental attachment to them. Can’t get hurt feelings either as I don’t think my mom even realized that I looked forward to seeing the two quirky gnomes make their way out of the storage box onto the table. (I was shy and quiet and kept things to myself….go figure!)

My heart still loves these jolly-good little guys. Over the years I have picked them up here and there whilst out shopping. They don’t go for the 25 cents that they initially were sold for at the local Five and Dime Store. But that is ok, they are worth it because they bring back a fond childhood memory – time spent in my favorite chair admiring the gnomes and our cookie cut-out ornaments on the Christmas tree.

Duhgall loves the little gnomes, too. He was at my feet whilst decorating the shelf and had to give them a sniff of approval as they came out of my storage box to display in our home.

I think he likes them as much as I do…..don’tchagnome!

Recognize This Little Scottie?

Does this jaunty little black scottie dog look familiar?

Yes….it is the little guy on my blog header! A little Duhgall dog!

Little did I know that my sweet friend from Arkansas, Miss Sharon (Fiber Doodles & Whimsy blog) commissioned the ever-so-talented Patricia Eaton (Bird Nest On The Ground blog) to make this BEAUTIFUL custom pincushion for me. Miss Sharon and I talk on the phone about once a week and NEVER did she even let a slip of a hint leak out about the gift. Sneaky little bugger……..

Just look at all of the tiny little stitches that Pat added to the pincushion. Delicate white daisies, trailing green vines, and a little red heart. **swoooooon**

And then there are the beads….

Ohhhhh….the beautiful teensy tiny black seed beads that grace the four edges; delicately hanging from the sides like beautiful jewelry.

Needless to say, I cried when I opened the box. It is just beautiful and very personal. The ladies created it to look like my blog – and that it does!

Thank you so very, very much Sharon and Pat. I will treasure it always and think of you each time I look at it. Of course, Duhgall and Fiona had to check it out and give it extra sniffins’, too.

You can see that I added it to my white ironstone bowl that is filled with a few of my favorite other handmade things. Next to the bowl is a picture of my precious son, Jordan.

Please stop over to Pat’s blog to see all of the other gorgeous pincushions that she made for other lucky women, like me! They are amazing works of art and make beautiful gifts.

xoxo

A Flurry Of Shopping At Fleuri

Yesterday my girlfriends and I made a trip out of town and one of our stops was to a beautiful shop called Fleuri. As soon as we walked up the brick path and through the pretty blue French doors, our eyes tried to land on so many exquisite things and soon our minds were on a fabulous sensory overload. Where do we begin? Lets follow the twinkle of the white Christmas lights and meander along the painted cement floors over to the handmade burlap pillows, French antiques, linens, soaps, candles, wire baskets, old suitcases, industrial zinc buckets…. and… and…and….. there is so much to share! So come along with me through the shop and see all of the lovely items that the owners, Sonia and Sylvia, have to offer you this Christmas season. The shop is filled with French and French inspired treasures, including items that they picked up from their recent trip to Paris.

Be sure to wear comfortable shoes because you will be spending a lot of time in Fleuri. It is worth the trip!

Fleuri is located at

7301 Fair Oaks Blvd.

Carmichael, California

(916) 973-9848

Shop hours are:

Tuesday through Saturday, 11 AM – 5 PM

**Christmas 30% off sale begins December 18th.