What I'd Like to Do

There's been something in my head going round and round and I would really like to do it.  It's sort of a Twelve Months of Christmas thing.

I've so much enjoyed this past Christmas with all the cool ideas out there, and I wanted to see if I could do one Christmas blog post each month. That means, I have to find make the time to actually do something Christmasy. Since this is only January, I'll just share what I bought at Cracker Barrel the other day. I had a little bit of Christmas money, and they were having a 75% off sale on all their Christmas items.

 These canvas beauties were $3.00 each. I am very much looking forward to hanging them up next year. I'm always drawn to black capped chickadees, so this was an awesome find in my opinion!

I also bought two ornaments that were $1.50 each. I thought I'd gather inspiration for next year.

Ever since I brought them home, I've been studying and studying and thinking and planning what I can make.  I lay in bed at night and try to figure it out in my head.  I have an idea perk-o-lating in my brain. I just need to figure out what it will take and gather the supplies.

I've bookmarked some cool ideas on other blogs too and hope to try some of them. Today at Walmart, they had their tiny little ball ornaments on sale for $.81. I bought two containers thinking I can use them. When I figure all this out, and get it up and running, I'll be posting it on The Seam Rippers.

Another Surprise in the Mail

Oooh, I received another ornament exchange package today and couldn't wait to open it. It was from Tonya, Seth, and Stephen. Mercy!!!

Such a package of goodies!! Beautiful Christmas fabric opened to an original work by Stephen, a beautiful ornament filled with goodies from Tonya, and a packet of herbal tea from Seth. I can't wait to taste it!

What fun this has been! I think this had really made it a wonderful Christmas season for me and I look forward to doing it again next year.

What I Did on Thanksgiving Vacation

Since our family gathering was last Saturday, I spent the morning in the process of decorating for Christmas. I'm not finished, and it usually takes me about a week to get it all like I want. Well, it never really gets there, but enough that I can relax and let it go.

I received a wonderful ornament from my friend Y. She actually gave it to me for my birthday in September, and I'm so glad she did! I L O V E it!!

Truer words were never spoken! Invariably, when I am trying to rush through something, the sewing machine starts doing weird things that slow me down. That ever happen to you??

I"m not going to show my entire tree yet, as I'm not finished with it yet. But, here are some odds and ends I did get around to this morning.

I got this idea from Pinterest. I didn't have different sizes of the same color, so I used what I had. It looks better in person.

I had this wreath last year, but when I unpacked, it looked a little sparse, so I added more to it.

I made this last week. I think it needs a little more peppermint.

My Mom loved Gingerbread folks, and had several little stuffed people in her decorations. I was blessed enough to get them. LMW likes them too, and they are something he can play with, and me not worry about him breaking them. When he gets finished, I just put them back where they were. I have a few more scattered around the living room.

Mom also had that little Christmas china set. I thought it would be a nice thing to remember her with, on this shelf in my bedroom.

I painted the "Comfort" and "Joy" plaques a couple of years ago.

Well, that's all I'm going to add for today. I took a "Morning" for Me instead of  Minutes for Me this time. I'm thankful I had the free time to do these things, and the freedom to do them. I'm also thankful for something else...

I'm thankful I didn't fall and break a limb. While climbing down from a step stool, I lost my balance when I put my foot on the floor. To catch myself from falling, I wound up sticking my foot in LMW's toy box. One of his blocks sheared the skin off the bottom of one of my toes. A bit of blood, wailing and gnashing of teeth, but otherwise I'm ok. Thanks be to God, because I was alone. I'd have been that famous woman who cries, "I've fallen and I can't get up!" if God hadn't protected me.

Fun in the Mail

Woo Hoo! Lookie see what I received in the mail the other day...

My bloggy/quilty friend Sharon sent them to me with lovely little stories about them. How she does that tiny work is beyond me, but she seems to like doing the tiny things...don't you Sharon?!

I had to wade the lake and streams in our front yard to get to the mail box. Here is an idea of how it looked outside our front window.

Poor little tike kept saying, "Ssssiieeeed" pronounced, " Sigh-eeee-d. He wanted out so badly.

Thank you Sharon. You rock!