Guest room fluffing

My son and family arrive at our home today!!

Yippee Ti Yeah! 

Our guest room is humble but cozy .

I spent one day just getting it all Christmasy for our honored guests.

An angel perched above the bed.

This was a gift from my blogger friend Chari .

A little string of holiday cheer around the window.

One side of the room an old shelf and vignette.

Back near the door another old shelf and vignette.

A different view.

An old pine chest with Santa and his reindeer.

And my .50 milk jug too.

I recently made this yarn wreath.  I used a Styrofoam wreath, yarn, and cut-out reindeer and trees from little sheets of felt.

I think it has a Scandinavian feel.

A little jar filled with Epsom salt and figurines.

This shelf holds an old angel and I hung some bags I bought at Wally World.  

Warm plaid flannel sheets...it's cold here!! 

And now that they live in Phoenix they have become a bit wimpy about the cold.  he he.

I purchased the quilt a few years ago from an E-Bay seller and I still love it. 

Now to go bake that ham and get ready to smooch my baby grand-daughter !

I am joining Kim @ Savvy Southern Style for Wow us Wednesdays.

Yvonne @ Stonegable for Tutorials and Tips

Met. Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Marty @  A Stroll thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday

Making Ice Luminaries

Hi friends,

We are about to get hit with a major winter storm!

Our weather man is predicting 8-12 inches for us and 16-20 for the counties bordering us.

Schools are closing, and blizzard warnings are being flashed continuously over the TV screen.

So if you happen to live in a frozen tundra like I do or in other cold climates you may want to try your hand at ice luminaries.

They are simple and make quite a beautiful statement lined up on the sidewalk or driveway leading up to your home.

Here's how I make them.

I use an empty ice creme bucket...I like the rectangular ones and a 1 quart plastic pitcher filled with floral marbles for weight.

Next I slice up some fruit.  I like limes but oranges, lemons etc. all work wonderfully.

Some cranberries.

And some greenery.  Mine still has snow on it.

Fill your pail with water and add your limes, cranberries and greenery.

Outside it goes, overnight will work for me right now.

There have been days when it was so cold they are ready in just a few hours.

I forgot to take a picture of the next part but I will set my frozen concoction in a sink filled with a few inches of warm water.

This loosens it up and then the juice container will easily pop right out.

 And the finished product!  Stick in a candle and enjoy.

Above view.

And at night!

So now I'm off to check the weather forecast.

It's been such a tough week for so many.  Our nations is mourning.    Our heart and prayers are with the families of those beautiful little angels.
Last week my Mom suffered a stroke and although she is expected to recover the whole week was just as dark as it could possibly be.
Then this morning I got my first glimpse of Addison's 2 year pics and I am smiling from ear to ear.
Children are gifts from God and we all need to love and cherish all of the children in our lives.
Hope to be visiting you all soon,

Doors and Wreaths and Sleds too!

It just doesn't feel like Christmas until I do at least a little bit of decorating on my front porch.  Simple little grapevine wreath adorned with an ornament I found at Wally World.
Total cost for wreath and ornament about $4.50.

Sorry for the glare here, but we actually had a sunny day!
I felt like a mole coming out for a peak, it's been so dark and gloomy here.

Usually when I pull my old sled out of the shed it snows shortly after.  Not this year, we are as brown and dry as can be.  Here I have my old sled, adorned with skates and a swag I purchased cheaply after Christmas last year.  A fresh wreath is on the door and fresh balsam boughs fill the old coffee pot.

The pine cone wreath was brown for many years.

But then I got my copy of the November Midwest Living.

And I thought, well that is simple enough!

And now it's a cheery red thanks to a little coat of spray paint.
Some ribbon, a candy-cane pic and some fresh boughs.
And that's my copycat!!
Enjoy your weekend everyone!  I just found out that my son, wife and grand-baby are going to be able to fly home for Christmas!  I am so so thrilled!

I am joining Ann @ Sutton Place for Doors and Wreaths
The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays
 Debbiedoos for her CopyCat Party
Between Naps on the Porch for Met. Monday
Tweak it Tuesday @ Cozy Little House
Cindy

Our Christmas Tree Story.

Can you guess what tree won out?  Faux or fir real?
Saturday was a cloudy day but quite warmer than usual for around these parts. 

After an early morning visit with Santa, it was off to the woods we go!  Addison waiting ever so patiently in line for her turn.

 Let me just say that little 2 year old Addison had no intentions of sitting on his lap!  She did finally agree to the chair and even smiled, but lest not let him get too close was her motto.

We have numerous cut your own tree farms within a few mile radius of us.  First things first, check out the variety we want this year.

We decided on a Balsam Fir.  Frasier Fir hold there needles really well and are considered the Cadillac of Christmas trees. However Balsam have a stronger scent, also hold there needles fairly well and I wanted a really fat tree.  The Frasier were just not that full this year.

 Next step, stand still and smile for the picture with the tree we have chosen and then....

pat Grandpa on the head while he tries to cut down our tree with a rather dull saw!
My hubby may be the most patient Grandpa ever.

Then it was off to check out our little towns Christ kindle celebration.  Every time I tried to take a pic of this camel and Addison he would move his head rather quickly back and forth.  He really did not want his pic taken.

Our small town parade wasn't too much but seemed to make a little 2 year old happy!  Then on Sunday, I spent most of the day decorating our 7.5 ft. chubby balsam fir.  Did I mention that she only cost $25!!  Trees are abundant and cheap around here.

And here she is in all her glory!  I am very happy with our tree and we made some great memories to boot!

Thanks for stopping by, I so appreciate your visits!

Cindy

Linking to:
Tidbits and Tutorials
Seasonal Sunday's with the Tablescaper

A Homespun Mantel

Homespun would be the best way I know of describing our fireplace and mantel.  Our stone fireplace was built by the original owner of our home some 50 plus years ago.  He was a mason with 7 children to feed and not a lot of extra money.  He collected the river rocks from our nearby river and hauled them back to his home.

So when planning my Christmas mantel I know it's best to stick to a more homespun or cottage feel.
Some elements include the child skates, the knitted ornaments made by my MIL.  Lots of red, a wreath with pine cones and apples.
Oh and I love that little house!  It lights up and changes colors inside the windows.  My only new purchase.

Grapevine balls and little gold candles.

Mittens,  Christmas card and a garland of red berries.

Today we are going on the hunt for a Christmas tree.  Every year I look online and in stores with the thought of getting an artificial tree.  But of course, the only ones I care for cost $300 or more.  So I decide that a real tree will work best for me.  That is until I am sweeping up needles in April!!! lol.
Enjoy your weekend friends.
Cindy
Linking to...

Met. Monday
Tabletop Tuesday
Homespun Christmas Vignettes and Mantels

Decking the Halls can poop you out!

Greetings my friends!
I have been trying to get a little Christmas decorating done this weekend.  I started before Thanksgiving by decorating the top of my old pie hutch.  Since I have my little grand-daughter most of the week while her Mommy works, I need to do a lot on the days she is not here.

Then I went to work on the top of this very tall armour that my hubby built for me.

I have to use a ladder to reach it!  But the more things up high the better for me with a toddler's busy hands always checking things out.  Plus she is so crazy about Santa this year that she wants to hug every Santa she sees!

I also made this wreath for my daughter this weekend.
I followed the tutorial on Kristens' blog and improvised a lot. Meaning I used what I had on hand and made it on the cheap!

We had a lovely Thanksgiving at my brother Matt's home.

Pictured are my niece Chloe age 3 and a half and my grand-daughter Addison age 2.  They love hanging out together and are becoming good buddies.  We had beautiful 62 degree weather that day but by evening it was freezing!  A cold front came through and we had temps in the 30's with wind chills in the teens.  Needless to say it was a drastic change.

And here is Addison's very kind and patient Grandpa building Lego towers with the girls!  My brother and his wife have this beautiful screened in porch and how unusual that the girls were able to play out there.  Normally it's too darned cold in November for that to happen.
Off for a little Christmas shopping today.
How was your Thanksgiving?
Cindy
Joining
The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays
Between Naps on the Porch for Met. Monday
A Stroll thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday