*Warning*

Long End of the Year Post

Christmas has come and gone and it is time to bring on the New Year.

We had to wake up the younger boys at 8 on Christmas morning. I can't believe they were not up at 4, like I use to be as a child.

Malik is so grown now and most of his gifts were clothing,

and video games.

Toot wasn't to interested in opening his gifts after he saw the tricycle and bubble gum in his brother stocking.
He took that bubble tape to every grown up in the house to open it. We looked at it and gave it back to him. he wasn't happy till Malik gave him a bit. Afterall it was Christmas morning.


















We got Ky the scooter he had been seeing on the TV. But it seems he wanted everything he had seen on the TV and News Papers since about October. He kelp wanting to revise his Christmas list. So we didn't know from day to day what he really wanted. He just wanted it all!

*

We woke up to snow on Christmas morning. It was the fist white Christmas since the 80's. (and this picture was on Monday after, all was about gone) Someone James works with gave him this gator for the boys and they love it! Toot wants out to ride all the time. We have to charge the battery while he is in bed so it is ready to go again in the morning.

I bought this gingerbread house at a charity bake sale and Ky wanted to get at it all month. I bought it strictly for decoration. So I let him at it before I tossed it. It was so hard I had to help. The baby just ate the candy lane, it made him happy.

So tomorrow will be 2011 and I can't believe we can add another year in the books. My boys and family are growing, happy and healthy. We have so much to be thankful for. My little shop will celebrate 5 years in January.

Thank you 2010 for a great year. Now bring on 2011!

Christmas Play at Church was a great success.
Malik had a speaking part as one of the wise men.
Terry was in the Choir- ( no picture)
And Ky ( below) was a Trumpeter, he stayed on stage during the whole play and blew his horn.
We were so worried about him, cause he said he wasn't going to go out on the stage.
But he did and was great.
Everyone was great.
And there was a few solo's that we never knew could sing.

As always Christmas week was a blur. Christmas play at church, cooking and shopping and
all that goes with it. And as to top it all off a white Christmas for Alabama. It was so pretty and cold. Still winding down and having family time. Will post more later.

It is all in the packaging.

I don't care what is inside, if you make the package look good, I am happy.

This simple white chocolate with crushed peppermints. couldn't be easier to make, but it is the package that makes it outstanding.

So all these post have been about thinking about the forgotten friend.

Take a minute and share one of these items and make them smile.

Merry Christmas!

We all have one special Neighbor or Friend that needs alittle nip now and then. This would make a wonderful gift anytime of the year. So simple and yet so Elegant.

I like this idea. The tree is always so big and takes up so much room. Problem solved with this tree.

Not alot of time left, so how about this one.

Perfect for a neighbor gift too.

So cute and you can hang it on your neighbors door and run. HAHA

Alittle too cute....

Pardon the break in Neighbor Gift Post for a Wonderful Easy Recipe.

Brown Sugar Pralines

2 cups packed brown sugar 1/4 cup water

2 cups pecans 1 teaspoons vanilla

3 tablespoons butter

Combine brown sugar, pecans, butter and water in saucepan. Mix well. Cook over medium heat to 240 degrees on candy thermometer, softball stage.

Stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add vanilla and mix well. Beat until mixture loses its luster. Drop by spoonfuls onto foil.

Stop me!

Give your neighbor Pace Salsa and chips with this note....

Is the hustle and bustle of the season getting you down? We hope this helps you pick up the "Pace" this Christmas!"

Another easy one.

Just buy Syrup and pancake mix.

Another cut idea

Here is "7" reasons why you are "UP" on our list of favorites.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7. Fill in the blanks

Easy Pleasee.

So So cute!

Stop me......I love finding these ideas. This one is for yourself.

S'mores hot chocolate.

Dip the rim of your cup in butter and then graham cracker crumbs.

Put a 1/2 Hershey candy bar in your cup and heat your milk to add.

Don't forget to toast up ( in the oven) a few Marshmellow for the top.

YummY!

Enjoy, you deserve it!!

Neighbor Gift #3

Cover a store bought can of hot chocolate with scrapbook paper or wrapping paper and add a bow. Done

I just love these Neighbor gifts........stay tuned!

For the remainder of the Holidays, I will be showing you easy Neighbor gifts. I am so blessed and I think I can even do a few of these...So think about just one neighbor and see how it makes you feel.

Merry Christmas!

This embellished dish towel looks easy enough and you could add in a package of cookie mix.

What a nice gift.

I love to snap this picture each year, I know, I know, it is blurry. But I love the way the light shines.

This was the same time and the camera was set on outdoor setting. The lights don't show up.

And the little wornmy light......

Merry Christmas!

Crafting Friday

Today I want to spotlight my tree at the shop.

This ball was a silk cover ball. You remember the ones I am talking about.

If they got a snag, they raveled.

So I raveled them and punched circles and glued them on and added a bow.

I made cones and ornaments from hymnal pages.

This is a old Zinc lid that was trash. It was bent and could not be used. So I punched holes with the crop a dile and glued in a circle cut from a old Christmas card. Add embellishment and wala.

This tree looks so small in this picture, but it is 5 feet tall and really pretty.

I love decorating at the shop.

It is a dream come true.

And I can go crazy.

I would never put present in my bath tub...or would I?

So the decorating begins.....

I got a late start this year, by my standers.

A little bit at a time, in the afternoon after work or when the boys are at basketball practice.

So different.

But i am getting there.

Happy decorating.

Wonderful JBS 3rd Annual Vintage Festival in Tennessee on Saturday.

Got our picture made with Jenni Bowlin and bought some goodies.

Went to Franklin to the Antique store Christmas open House.

All was good, and if you have never been to Jenni's sale, you have missed it. It is Vintage and Junk and I love it!!!! June just watches me hunt and gather and drool over it all. She doesn't share my junk obbession.

Crafty Friday

Yes. I had the sewing machine out again.

I love these flowers I found on someone else's blog. So I made them my own. The no perfect- ness of them.

As you can see, I added a smaller version of the ruffled bows we made last week as a center.

I wore the small on as a pin and added a larger one on a gift.

The ideas are endless.

You could make a banner or a magnet or a embellishment on a scrapbook page or on the cover of a journal.

Think about it, make 3 and wait for the ideas to come. You could even add a blingie broach in the center . As a gift you could add the broach to the center as part of the presentation.

The endless ideas........What is your idea?

Have a great weekend!

Can you believe today is December 1st?

And I am struggling trying to find a way to guide my grandson in remember why we celebrate CHRISTmas.

I have a few ideas, but would love any suggestions.

But today as i was ready my morning devotional, I had to pause and remember the past week.

My hubby had lost not one but two uncles .

One ill for quite awhile and the other enjoyed a drink or two or three.

But did it make it any easier for their families?

Daddy would not be there on CHRISTmas morning.

There would be a empty chair this holiday season.

A void.

So my way of thinking, has changed this morning.

Yes, the brothers maybe better off but the families left behind will have a difficult CHRISTmas.

So as you enjoy this wonderful festive time of year, pause and think of the ones that has lost a loved one.

Thanksgiving is over and so is the 3rd Annual Doty Kickball Game.

I came up with this 3 years ago to get us off the sofa and active after eating all the Thanksgiving food. And the kids have really got into it.

We even had Mom out there one year. As you look at the picture of the winning team, I have to tell you we ( the other side) was up by 11 at one time. Does that make it any better, I think not, maybe sadder. It is fun, we play to 20 and my brothers are the team captains. We draw names each year and you may be on the losing team each year. I found a old trophy at a yard sale last year and the winning team captain gets to have it in his house for the year. And oh, they are proud of it.

Black Friday

Crafty Friday

Need a book to jot down all those sizes and

your list of what you bought on Black

Friday.

I make one each year, and it is a great keepsake.

Start off with a book, think outside the box.

I found this old saving book at a Antique store, a few years ago.

So you gut it and cover with paper. Inside and out.
Round your corners, where they need it and score your paper. Remember, don't put glue on the spine.


I scored my paper so it would fold up and added it with ribbon, instead of brads. Decorate it and you are ready to add your names and sizes.

Sorry for the side way pic. But this is my finished product for this year.

Have a safe and wonderful weekend and slow down and enjoy the season.

I felt like I needed to show you my family.

From L to R

Back- David- Philip- Ramona- Jerri (me)

Front- Dad ( Jerry) Mom ( Eloise)

I have so much to be thankful for.

I hope you and yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Christmas Card Photo Shoot

This was my idea.

I can just see these boys trying to trap Santa.

But I wasn't in love with these Pictures.

So now you just have to wait and see what I choose.

What is so funny, I had the whole house helping with this photo shoot.

Baking cookies, finding all the red shirts and Santa hats, Wrapping the box, and finding a forked stick to hold the box open.

Happy Tuesday!

2nd Annual Christmas Card Photo Session

Today was over 70 degrees and a beautiful day.

So after church we prepared to take Christmas Card Photos.

I love my silly Willy grandsons.

Just a few to make you laugh.

Crafty Friday

We have had one more busy week.

3 day Revival, my dad is in the hospital, work, choir practice for Community Thanksgiving Program, and I hosted Bunco Last night.

I have had so many parties/ wedding this fall, that my hubs would scream if I spend more $ on decorations. So I can up with this.

I made the sweater pumpkins last year, cut of leaves from sheet music, I did buy brown paper from DG and made a brown paper runner. Place mats are sheet music with brown paper ruffles.

I think it was beautiful. So here is the Crafty Friday Entry today.

Just try it.

None of it took to long to complete and it is all disposable.

Everyone has a scrabble game. Personalize as place cards or just want Thanksgiving means to you.
Have a great Weekend.

I like Chocolate, candy and anything sweet!

I come running every time I hear the

mixer.

I know it has to be something good to eat.

Nanny has already

( it is now 8:30 am)

opened a mint Hershey bar,

a Halloween Sucker,

and a snack cake.

Now it is time for eggs.

Have a "SWEET" filled day!

Busy week and it will get more busy.

One close to me know, my dad started dialysis

and will have open heart

surgery with in a week. But last week before.......Barbara and I tried to completely change a booth in the shop.

We saw PINK and SILVER. So we went with it. What do you think? We will add as we buy and sell. Have a wonderful week.