Time Marches On, Even When We Are Dragging

For many years, after Christmas, I have gathered some of our many clocks from around the house to arrange with old New Years post cards.

As usual, we will be staying in tonight. Turner has all the old Thin Man movies on so we will be lost in another time watching them.

New Years' hugs to all my friends in blogland!

Resting Comfortably and Enjoying the View

That old Cold Bug finally snagged me and I am spending lots of time on the couch. I have this darling framed original magazine cover that was a gift from my dear friend Karen propped up on the hearth to enjoy. Isn't he just sweet as sweet can be? Illustrator is Annie Benson Muller.

Take time to SEE what you love all around you today!

Wise Men Still Seek Him

Love to you as you make Christmas Memories today.

My favorite thing about today was our 9 year old Riley reading us the Christmas story from Luke before we opened gifts. He and 5 year old McKinley are our greatest gifts.

Christmas Eve

Hoping you receive everything you NEED for Christmas and that you also GIVE what others need as well.

Christmas Hugs to all my blogland friends~~~~~~~~~~~Grammy Linda K

Crocheting Obsession-I Can't Seem to Stop~~~

My hands have been very busy this week---------I am now working on my 5th scarf! The pattern is simple---sort of a combo scarf/boa. I told my husband I could call them a SCOA, but he suggested BARF! Hope this finds you full of Christmas cheer and finding fun in your days.

Picture is another one from Jessie Willcox Smith and I post it in honor of my friend Gwen, who is also crocheting scarves right now.

Understated Christmas Decorating

Simple is the word at our home this holiday season. We lead very simple lives really and the small amount of Christmas fluffing seems very much in keeping with us.

Here I show pics of the dining room hutch that I change out so often. Although pearls and whites are big this year, I bought all of these many years ago when I did a White Christmas theme. I love the white candy canes peeking out of each of my little white baby shoes. And, I have always been a Star-Girl, so Christmas is their time to shine.


















The mantel shows minimal fluffing, with 3 large dinner platters and neutral candles. I also strung some cranberries and also hung one of my woolie garlands.










The dining room table has a very simple ironstone platter with candles. I used an
idea from Martha and rolled them in Epsom Salts, after coating them with Mod Podge. They also sit in a mound of the Salts too. I dug out a remnent of lovely cream colored cloth and cut it into strips. Tied it in a knot every few inches or so and draped it around the platter with more pearls.










Each year, the grand kidlets and I do a kitchen table display of a little winter village, adding to it each year. Last year, my Riley and I made a BIG igloo from sugar cubes. This year he decided to put the Holy Family in the igloo and then he made two lines of snowman, reindeer other bits and told me they were all lining up, going to see Jesus. This year I made a little sugar cube house and a sugar cube snow fort.


















I found a great huge silver tray at a sale a few weeks ago and it works great for a table display in front of the couch with my Miniature Snow Babies. They frolic around there in Epsom Salts too.





Simple and fun. (And, not as much to put away later!)

Christmas Book with Meaning to Ponder

As much as I read, I really ought to blog about some of the great books that I love.
I happened across this delightful one at my library used bookstore. It was written in 1886 by the same author that wrote Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, Kate Douglas Wiggin.



The Bird in the title refers to the family name and tells the story of the life of its' youngest child, Carol, and how she lived her short life with joy and meaning.

I do not believe in accidents. I believe that I was meant to find this, read it and share it with you in blogland. The story touched me and has made me reflect more on my own life. After all, isn't that what the best stories do?


Have you read any books lately that cause you to ponder?

Pot Holder Cuties

When we visited at our sons' home for Thanksgiving dinner, I discovered he had NO pot holders, but was just using towels. I came home and quickly found several of mine to give him. It also reminded me of an old stitching pattern given to me by my dear friend Sue. I bought 2 pot holders and after stitching the designs onto muslin and lining them underneath with some iron-on Pellon, I turned under the edges and neatly zigzagged them on. They will be a fun little Christmas gift from mom.

Stringing Wooley, Buttoney Garlands

While keeping warm and watching old movies and basketball this past weekend, I strung several garlands for Christmas gifts, made from scraps of wool and old buttons.

Here's' my method. Cut out a multitude of wool or felted wool scraps into squares. Just guesstimate the size as you do not want them to all be perfectly the same. I made one about 2 inches and another about 1 inch. Using carpet thread and a large needle, begin the garland with an old button. Make a loop at the end too for hanging. String about 25-30 squares, then add 7-10 old sew thru buttons. Continue until desired. I made mine about a yard long. Finish with another button and loop.

If you do not have carpet thread, string or a double length of strong thread would work too. Also, regular felt or fleece would work instead of the wool. Although fabrics that do not ravel are best, I think chenille with pearl and white buttons would be good too. I have some scraps of pink and white from a bedspread and Grammy may just have to do one of those too!

These are fun to make and a sweet little heart-warming gift.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk, KU !!!

We LOVE College Basketball and especially our University of Kansas Jayhawks! Last year, I made these fun little pieces for my son and two grandsons. KU has a chant that is connected to the local abundance of limestone rock that is native to our area. I used actual rock, piece of chalk, basketballs for the letter "J", Scrabble tile with a raised letter "K", pic of hawk and little toy ewe. Used some KU fabric over mat board, then mounted it over another piece, using three colors of wire to make the hanger.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk, Go KU!!!!! Number ONE and Undefeated!!!

Just Another Day~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yes, it is Thanksgiving Day, but every day should be a thankful day for all the many blessings we have. Today, I am thankful for coffee, a husband who helps to peel potatoes. popping back into my toasty bed with yummy down comforter and for all those who visit my little chunk of blogland.

Polly the Turkey Loves These Rolls

Polly is a sweet little felted wool Turkey that I made several years ago. It is so fun to pick the different bits of wool and do the hand stitching.

Polly thinks these Crescent Rolls are one of the best things about Thanksgiving. I have made them for many years as they are so easy to mix up the night before and do their raising bit in the fridge. No kneading and delish!

Easy Crescent Rolls Makes 32 Rolls

One 1/4 oz pkg dry Yeast
1/2 c. warm Water (110-120 degrees F)
3 Eggs
1/2 t. Salt
1/2 c. Sugar
1 stick real Butter, melted
1 c. warm Milk
5 c. Flour

Dissolve yeast in water. Beat eggs with salt and stir along with sugar, butter and milk into yeast mixture. Place flour in large bowl and make hole in center. Pour in liquids and mix thoroughly with wooden spoon. Cover and refrigerate overnight or at least 4 hours. Cut dough into 4 sections and roll each one into a large circle. Spread with melted butter and cut into 8 wedges. Roll each wedge, beginning at the wide end, into a crescent shape. Cover and place in warm draft free place until doubled in size. Bake in 400 degree oven for 10 minutes or until brown. Do not over bake.

My best baking advice is to handle the dough as little as possible and to not over bake to insure tenderness. These are so buttery, that you do not even need more butter on them to serve (unless you are my husband and he Always needs more butter!)

Poem in My Heart

So many things and ideas I want to do and so little energy in my day. I have to constantly remind myself of what is truly important in my life. My husband, kids and grandkidlets are top priority. This poem also reflects what I believe about our days on earth.

Blessings on all of you today~~~~~


Count That Day Lost

If you sit down at set of sun
And count the acts that you have done,
And, counting, find
One self-denying deed, one word
That eased the heart of him who heard,
One glance most kind
That fell like sunshine where it went --
Then you may count that day well spent.

But if, through all the livelong day,
You've cheered no heart, by yea or nay --
If, through it all
You've nothing done that you can trace
That brought the sunshine to one face--
No act most small
That helped some soul and nothing cost --
Then count that day as worse than lost.

George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans)

Little Bits of Love

The love of "LITTLE" continues. Little tins, little dishes, little bottles. "Littles" have a LOT to LOVE~~~~~~~~~~






STARS have always been sorta my signature symbol in life, so when this sweet dish called out to me, my heart skipped a beat.


And, EVERY family needs a Family Nail Box!



And, the LITTLE bottles~~~~~~~~~~~well, I have a sweet little idea for those that I will be making today~~~~~~~~~~~~~show you later.

Look for the LITTLE bits around you to love :)

A Heartfelt Wish

A little framed spoon piece that speaks my wish for my heart and yours. I love little spoons and think this is a sweet way to show them off.

Wishing you a big spoonful of JOY today!

Heads and Hearts

My very favorite children's' illustrator from long ago is Jessie Willcox Smith. This image of hers is not exactly my favorite but conveys my feelings of the past week. Sometimes life feels like the head on our best dolly has broken and our heart along with it. Life disappoints us in various ways and you just wanna cry. Then, you gotta pick up the pieces and keep on keepin' on.














I want to be one that helps stitch broken hearts back together, but sometimes I need help with mine too. Knowing that friends are there for the heart mending part is a true comfort.

I feel better already.

November 8, 1921~~~~~~88 Years Ago

Today is my mothers' 88th birthday. She has always had a sweet smile despite a lot of trials in life, including spending the past 6 1/2 years in a nursing home. 4 of her 5 daughters will be here today to eat cake and ice cream with her~~~~~~~~ Happy Birthday Mother!

The Simplest Things

I love making little groupings out of this and that. I got this sweet little very worn drawer in Indiana recently. It is only about 4 inches wide and deep. Filled it up with the fringe ends of fluff from my recent burlap drying session. Finished it off with a sweet metal heart and my childhood fork. I have very few things from my early years, so this fork means a lot. It is all rather sweet to view and fun to make little vignettes from what you have around. Think it needs something underneath to anchor it. Wanna come over and help me look around for stuff? We can also have tea and a chat. :)

Christmas Fun in Grammys' Workshop

Been making little Christmas post card collages this past week. I copy and print the post cards onto card stock and mount them over sheets of music. It is fun to add the little bits of this and that~~~~~ buttons and ribbons and stuff. The last one is done in a wood box. I used a bit of cotton batting to simulate snow and glued in some pearls here and there.

Working with these old images make me feel much better than I have been feeling lately. On a very personal note, I struggle with depression, big time. I have had several weeks of doing really well and the past few days I have really crashed. Today, for something TOTALLY different, my husband and I played Gin Rummy. Haven't done that in years and it has been so much fun! Hope today is good for you where you live.