Valentines on Parade

From my House to yours~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Sharing my Valentine display with you today. Hugs to all of you in Blogland!

Yea! My Giveaway Arrived

Oh, my Goodness! I won the 1st Giveaway given by Connie at She Dreams Big and it arrived today. A beautiful handmade bag with lots of sweet goodies in it. Old Valentines, buttons, trim and much more. So well done and so appreciated. Makes blogging even more fun. Thanks Connie!

New Blog on the Block

My friend Gwen has started a new blog this week, Golden Ponderings and Silver Linings, and I would love for you to visit her and leave a comment. You all know how good it makes you feel to be noticed, right? Please let her know you popped in and tell her that I said "hi".

Happy Wednesday to all of you in Blogland!

3 Years Later~~~~~~~~WIP FINISHED !!!

What a great feeling to FINALLY finish a much-loved project! I stitched the redwork part of this Winter Wonderland pattern 3 years ago! Just one of those things that got put aside. I knew that I should not begin another new project until I got this finished.

With all the gorgeous snow that we've had, it fits right in today.

Now, WHAT projects should YOU finish today?

Passing of Gumby Creator

How I LOVE Gumby! Art Clokey, his creator, died on January 8, peacefully in his sleep.

Gumby and Pokey have brought countless hours of fun to me and my grandchildren. These wonderful clay animations were quite astounding when first introduced in the
50's and are a breath of fresh air among the various bits we see made for kids today.
They encouraged values of friendship, honesty, helpfulness and so much more.

Long Live GUMBY!

Winter Time Gratitude

I have had this picture as my screen saver the past few weeks. I love seeing the sweet sheep and their shepherd who is there to feed them. They have to trust that he will always remember to come feed them. I need to be like these sheep, believing that God will be there to supply my needs.

I love the many snows we have been having! And, I REALLY love getting comfy on the couch in front of the fire, crocheting or reading or watching college basketball. I am so grateful for the comforts of home.

Hey, Check out this Giveaway!

My blog friend Connie, at She Dreams Big is having her 1st Giveaway to celebrate her 50 posts. Please visit her site and leave a comment and YOU just might win.

"The World is Too Much With Us"

How much I feel like this Wordsworth quote.
I am in need of change in my life.
How I would love to be transported to this little cottage. A new place to arrange, to settle into, to make a comforting haven.



Since that is not likely to happen, I need to resort to making little changes where I can. But, for today, I am going to travel to this little cottage in my dreams and set up housekeeping.

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.