WINTER LACE

Christmas is a memory and the decorations are drooping a little. We usually wait until Jan. 1 to take our tree down, but this year I'm ready to do it early. We did have a great celebration with our family on Christmas Day. A few folks were missing--mainly my brother-in-law and nephew, both of whom are serving in Iraq now. My sister is without her husband and one of her sons. Although I'll say this about her, she handles it very well and keeps a good attitude. She did get to talk to them on Christmas Day tho' with the miracle of long distance electronics.
I received money and gift cards and they're really burning a hole in my purse. LOL Gotta get out there and get it spent.

I realize that a large section of the country is covered in snow and is expecting more. Here in middle Tennessee, we do have cold weather and even a wintry mix in the forecast, but these pictures show pretty much what winter looks like here. I always have thought the dark, bare limbs of trees look like lace against the winter sky. Hubby and I are shopping for a new camera with some of our Christmas money and then I'll have more dramatic pictures to show you all.

This is a maple tree and a Bradford pear tree next to it. Look at that beautiful blue clear sky. Makes for cold nights though.

Hope everybody is settling down for their long, winter's nap-stay warm!! Nerm

HAPPY BIRTHDAY & MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I'm completely recovered now from my unfortunate bout with food poisoning. Alas, I am hopelessly behind now, so I have scaled down my plans and expectations. Actually, I'll admit that the older I get, the more relaxed I am about holidays and entertaining in general.
Today was Morgan's 4th birthday. She's such a cutie. Can't believe it's been four years. I remember being in the birthing room with Wendy right after I had foot surgery. I had my cast propped up on a chair and was cheering from the sidelines! We'll celebrate the weekend after Christmas at Chuckie Cheese. Oh, boy!
Welcome to our home. Glad you stopped by. I copied this wreath from one at Horchow's for $96.00. I even bought some of the flowers at Dollar Tree. It's very rewarding to replicate something expensive with cheap-o things.

I've been wanting to share this St Nicholas/Father Christmas with you for a while. My mother made him for me several years ago. The face is soft sculpture with a wool robe and fur trim. She collected little odds and ends for a while including the lantern.

I especially love the toy sack filled with all kinds of little goodies. My mom has always been very creative and passed some of those genes on to me. It's sad now to see her diminished capabilities. I try to remember the way she was while I was growing up. I am glad she is living here with us and I can spend time with her and make sure she is taken care of.

Here's another Santa. Gail, my sister, found this on sale at Home Depot (of all places) and bought him for me. I have a large Santa collection which I haven't put out this year, but this guy will be a great addition. Maybe next year, I'll be more organized and I'll show you all my santas. I have several that are antiques and many that are more modern. I'm always on the look-out for ones which are unusual and different.

I think this will be my last post before Christmas. Have a wonderful and blessed holiday. Hope all your prayers and dreams come true. I'll be back on the 26th. Lots of love, Nerm

AAURRRGH!

It all started, as many things do, while we were going about our business and doing our Christmas duty. Hubby and I had been out Christmas shopping and enjoyed a nice Mexican dinner out. I had the crab enchiladas. Are the bells and alarms going off yet? Within five (5) --count 'em) hours, your truly was in the bathroom. I will spare you the gory details, but just let me say, this is the worst food poisoning I have ever had. Violent, I say! So now I am a limp noodle moaning and groaning on the couch and being waited on. (hee, hee)

Anyway, please give me a day or two to get my strength back and I'll be talking to you again.
Merry Christmas, ho, ho, ho! Nerm

CHRISTMAS BABY!

Hi everyone-how are your Christmas preparations going? Mine are slow as usual..must be a character flaw. Every year it's the same ole story for me, so I might as well relax and enjoy it! It always comes together in the end, so what's the problem, right? hee hee

Hubby has been sick for the last couple of days with a stomach flu. Now let me say this is MUCH worse than a 'man-cold'. This requires lots of moaning and complaining and pitiful looks. I know he has felt bad, so I am trying hard to be the patient, loving wife. But, gee whiz, doesn't he realize this is the Christmas season? I hope you all know I'm kidding-he's a great husband and I'll take care of him no matter what. When I had my foot surgery a couple of years ago, he waited on me hand and foot (no pun intended), so how could I not be sweet to him.

Now here's the good news. My new little great-nephew Slade. Weighing in at 8'3", he's a healthy big boy. Look at those beautiful eyes. Can't wait to get my hands on him. After hours of unproductive labor, his mom had a caesarean. Everyone is find now, especially my sister-in-law who is in hog's heaven.
Aren't babies wonderful, esp. at Christmastime? We'll talk again soon. Nerm

DREARY AND WET

We have had the gloomiest, grayest, rainyest (?) weather lately. The skies are leaden and if it were colder, I just know we'd have snow. You know how we here in Tennessee pray for snow and haven't really had a good one in several years. Seriously tho', all this rain is causing area flooding with some people being evacuated from their homes.
This is what the view from my back door looks like-this was mid afternoon and it looks almost like nightfall. My poor little dogs don't want to go outside to do their business and who can blame them?

On a happy note, my niece Callie is in the hospital as I type this having her baby. Hopefully, we'll have a picture to share tomorrow.
Stay dry and warm wherever you are. Nerm

ST NICHOLAS DAY

Happy St. Nicholas Day! This is also the second Sunday in Advent. Boy, December is whizzing by at an alarming rate.

When my girls were young and still at home, we would celebrate St Nicholas day by reading the story of his life and exchanging small gifts of remembrance. I always felt it was important for them to know there was a REAL Christian person behind the secular Santa Claus. He was a bishop in the 4th century in what is now Turkey. It's a very interesting life story if you want to read further about him here.





I hope all your Christmas preparations are coming along nicely. Hopefully I'll have some decorations to show tomorrow. Take a deep breath! Nerm

UNDER THE WEATHER

Sorry I haven't been around this week-I've been under the weather. Finally caught the nasty cold my whole extended family has had for a month. And I thought I was the lucky one! But today I feel ever so much better, so I wanted to say hi. Can you believe that Christmas Day is a mere three weeks away? This is no time to be out of commission. heavy sigh.

Even tho' I've been on the couch all week, I have had plenty of time to crochet and knit some goodies for Christmas. Here are some little ornaments. These were all done in Lily cotton yarn. Love that stuff. The ornament shaped ones came from here.


I made up the tree shape and the little dress. Isn't it cute? It'll be for one of my granddaughters.

Next you can see I've been making dishcloths. These are so wonderful to wash dishes with or even used as washcloths to bathe with. The red/cream one is crochet; the green is knitted. I like the pine tree design. I'm working on a yellow one with a star in the center. Fun, fun.

I hope you are all staying well and proceeding toward your Christmas plans with no obstacles.

Tomorrow I'm hoping to get some decorations up. Nerm