Busy Time of Year!




My Desk at Work...

Eucalyptys Shower Soothers



Stacks of Fabric!

Hanging Towels...

So it's that time of year again.  You know when the cold,  dreary weather weather forces everyone inside.  We have been keeping very busy with many projects and activities.  I have been busy working many sewing projects, among other things.  I made hanging towels for our kitchen, some eucalyptus shower soothers, and these crazy rice filled owls to warm on the microwave.  The owls were such a hit that I am now selling them in a local store with another store interested in having them. How exciting!


 

My Owls...Lots of Colorful Characters

Princess Pea and her buddy R at Dance!

Cookie has been working 2 jobs, trying to get his car fixed and figure out what he is going to do in life.  I so wish I could help him more and I wish I had guided him better as a young child.  But what's done is done and I can only go from here trying to guide him and give him advice as I can.  

 

Princess Pea is active as usual.  She finished up her volleyball season and headed straight into dance.  She is also busy with FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America)  and Forensics.  She is on the color guard squad and in choir and jazz choir.  She also plays flute in the concert band and saxophone in the jazz band.  Whew... I get tired trying to keep up with her.  

 

Making Beautiful Music



Smiles

Last night she played in the District Honors Band.  This organization takes a few musicians from several local schools, gives them music to learn and practice.  Then they pull all the students together for a day to play the music together under a guest conductor. After a full day's rehearsal, they perform a concert.  It is an incredible experience for the kids.
 

Emma!



Getting in on the Selfie Craze! LOL

One of Cookie's friends has an opportunity for a wonderful job within the state corrections department. I am so happy for him, but during his seven week training, he needed someone to watch his 3 month old golden retriever/german shepherd puppy. Yes, seven (7) weeks and yes 3 months old... Meet our house guest - Emma! She has the sweetest temperament and disposition. She is gentle and loving and playful. She does however think she is a lap dog and deserves ALL attention leaving sweet Luna to feel a bit jealous at times. Mostly they play well and we laugh at them. She is learning manners slowly and has found great fun in a game of fetch (as long as Luna also plays). I'm not sure what the two of them will do without each other when Emma goes home...

Enjoy a cuppa!

  

We are also planning for deer camp this weekend. Rifle season for deer opens on Saturday morning at day break. It's a tradition in our family that everyone gathers at my home on Friday night(since it was previously my parent's home) to swap stories and look at trail camera pictures and plan strategies. Some stay at our house, others go home, but they all wind up back at my place for breakfast around 5 AM on Saturday morning. This means up at 4 to start cooking! :) Then they all traipse off to the woods leaving a mess in the kitchen and me to start the chili and chicken noodle soup. And then I spend the day making cookies and treats as they filter in and out to warm up and eat. Some spend the night again on Saturday night and more of the same (minus a 5 AM breakfast) on Sunday! :) It is really a wonderful tradition that I truly look forward to every year. To me it starts the holiday season!  Check out this post about last year's Deer Camp to see just what I mean!

So tonight will be a night of planning, taking inventory of groceries, making more owls, and doing some laundry.  I hope you all have a wonderful day and I will check in with you later!

 

Christmas 2013

This year's tree with gifts! 

Cozy Candlelight

So Christmas-Ing is done at the homestead for another gear. Well mostly. We celebrated with the kids on Saturday night, then with my Dad, brothers and their families last night. I am incredibly tired today and overslept making me 1/2 hour date for work, whoops!

Cookie and Princess Messing Around

Princess Pea trying to get the topper on straight

But it was so worth every single minute. To have the whole family gathered in one place celebrating together is humbling. I love it! Reminds me of years gone and how important family is!.I had a gift for everyone, even though we drew names.I just can't stand not buying for my family. My Mama was such a giver and it appears she has (thankfully) passed it on to me.

The tree was all lit up and the candles were burning, giving a beautiful glow to the whole house and making is smell just lovely. Everyone was in such a good mood and enjoying each other's company. 

I think Princess loved her One Direction CD from her brother

Honey had a few surprises for me! 

I did forget to get anything for Dad and Bonnie! I was going to get them a gift card to a local restaurant but it slipped my mind in the rush up to our celebration. I'm not sure if that is my subconscious or what but I really did feel bad! Normally I buy Dad a Calendar and put all the birthdays and anniversaries on it. I even forgot that. 

Princess got Honey his Marvin the Martian Hat!

Princess and Cookie each got Tablets - I think she liked hers!

Of course every family dinner or gathering has mishaps. This Year the dinner rolls were left in the kitchen and the Cranberries only made it to one table (out of 3.) But that is the worst it got, thankfully.

Last night was filled with talking and lots of laughter! Good food, candlelight, and wine! After a delicious meal of ham and Grandpa's meatballs, with mashed potatoes and gravy, salads, lefse, cranberries and sweet potatoes, we cleared the table while trying to cheer our beloved Packers to a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. They didn't win but it wasn't for lack of trying on our part

Having a Great Christmas!

Stealing Presents! Nice Shooting Stick!

Auntie says its a Musical Instrument!

Matching Hats!

After the football game it was present time. A few people only had one gift but in our family there is a long standing tradition of "Santa" Gifts. If someone pulls a boneheaded stunt throughoutthe year, they are likely to get a gift Under the tree from Santa. They get pretty creative and so does the wrapping. The year Honey broke his collarbone in the motorcycle safety class he received training wheels from Santa. And my sister in law got a can of "Fix A Flat" the year she ran over the boat anchor. It's all in fun and the memories these gifts create are priceless. There isn't anything quite like getting your own work boots back 5 years after you lent them out

Dad and his wife

Wood Burning kit - Awesome! 

Best Gift of the Night! A Case of Mt. Dew, each Can Individually Wrapped!

Gifts Waiting to be Napped!

Happy Laughter! 

We all played a dice game involving white elephant gifts that left us all battling in fun for the same box or bag!

A few rounds of scattergories on the living room floor! Watching heads bowed together, laughing at their own answers and howling in protest when it was voted down! I'm so glad the cousins are close in age. Only 10 years separates the youngest from the oldest and they an love each other dearly!

Scattergories with the cousins

Silly! 

It was a great holiday, spent with those I love most!

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day found Honey and I home alone. Sounds far worse than it was! The kids went to their dad's in Minneapolis on Monday while I was at work and managed to get there between snow storms.

Snow Church on Christmas Eve

Snow on the Birch - Christmas Day

Berries in snow - Christmas Day

Birdhouse Art

My Homemade Bird feeder with Cranberries, Oranges and Birdseed

Mrs. Cardinal getting a snack and taking shelter from the snow.

Mr. Nuthatch enjoying the homemade bird feeder

Time to Play Frisbee in the fresh snow

Her favorite game! 

Luna having a blast! 

It started snowing Christmas Eve morning and didn't quit until Christmas Day afternoon. Cookie had to drive home late Christmas Day but the roads were clear by then.

Luna and I snuck out in the afternoon on Christmas Day to take these pictures and play in the new snow!

I truly hope that this Christmas finds the Christ Child in your heart, Family in your home, Food on your table and Love surrounding you....

Merry Christmas from our Little Homestead!