Looking Forward To A Slower Pace

Hi gals, I can't believe the hustle & bustle of the holidays is over. Family has gone home, the presents are opened and wrapping paper is just a big pile for the garbage man to pick up. I had the day off today and worked on restoring order to the household. So much to do after the holidays.

I have been working myself into a complete and utter mess before the holidays so it is my intention to slow down the pace as I prepare for the New Year ahead.

 Don't get me wrong, I adore the holidays, family time, cooking, cleaning, baking, feathering our nest...........

But now that Christmas 2011 is behind us, I am looking forward to the New Year ahead of us and yearning to do more for me. If I don't take care of ME then I can't be the best wife and mother God intended me to be.

Smiles & Serenity,

Debbie

Now It's Time To Enjoy.......

Finished wrapping (most) all the gifts, I have a little mouse who tends  to shake, rattle, peel back the paper a little and well, needless to say, I save some of the gifts for Christmas Eve. I sneak out into the living room while he is asleep. 

Snuck out to make a donation at the Salvation Army and found this uh-dor-able bell. At first the cashier said it wasn't for sale but I found a price tag on it ($1.99) and she was like "ya well then I guess it is for sale". I couldn't get it in my bag fast enough.

The little red sleigh was just crying out for me.

My little Christmas goodies look right at home in it.

I bought these vintage Christmas cookbooks on Etsy a couple weeks ago. I love how old they are.Vintage cookbooks are one of my favorite things all year long.

Christmas 1959,,,,Gosh I wasn't even born yet

Such a simple time..... think I am an "old soul". Missing my dad this time of the year and every Christmas I miss him more than the one before.

Blessings & thank you for visiting,

Debbie

Gettin My Act Together

It's beginning to look like Christmas.......better late than never

Hello Ladies, I learned a very valuable lesson this year! If you don't get your tree up the day (or weekend) after Thanksgiving, the time gets away from you and it becomes an obligation rather than an enjoyable tradition. Sad to say that but I have had just too many things on my plate since Thanksgiving and when my son asked me "are we going to have a tree this year?" I knew I had to STOP and deck the halls.

This is the tree on the Pie Safe in my kitchen. I wanted to find the perfect little tree and just happened upon this beauty the other day at Salvation Army.

My daughter (she s 21 years old) made this Gingerbread man when she was in grammar school. I treasure all those sweet projects the kids made with their precious little hands.

These adorable Mr. & Mrs. Gingerbread were at the SA the same day I found the kitchen tree. I paid $1.50 each for them.

Cozy Country Christmas in my kitchen

Put out a little here and there around the house

This little old (looking) bible is actually made out of a resin-type material. Found it at the Goodwill and thought it was so sweet

Found these in the floral section at Von's. I need to find a sprig of greenery to put behind them don't I?

A cute little tree I found at Walmart, Just added little ornaments I found in my Christmas box

This is the "Non-Smoking" section. LOL

My mother bought this nativity for me over 20 years ago when I was a young bride. I have taken good care of it over the years and it always brings me such joy to display it.

Ending my little home tour with some "pink Christmas".

Hope you all are having a good week and I have enjoyed visiting your blogs and getting lots of inspiration.

Smiles,

Debbie

Twas The Night Before Jesus

This meaningful poem was on the newletter sent home by my sons school. It made me think real hard that the time of Christ return is drawing near. As we celebrate the season of His birth, we should anticipate His imminent return........I hope you are blessed by this.

Twas the night before Jesus came, when all through the house,
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house;
The Bibles were lain on the shelf without care
In hopes that JESUS would not come there;
The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And Mom in her rocker with baby on lap
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the East there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here,
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray
I knew in a moment this must be THE DAY!

The light of His face made me cover my head
It was Jesus! returning just like He had said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.
In the book of Life which He held in His hand
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;
When He said "it's not here" my head hung in shame.
The people whose names had been written with love
He gathered to take to His Father above.

With those who were ready He rose without a sound
While all the rest were left standing around.
I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
There's only one life and when comes the last call
We'll find that the Bible was true after all.
"It is not for you to know the times or the season, which the
Father hath put in His power." Acts 1:7

Jesus is the Reason for the Season.

With Love & Blessings,

Debbie

More about my amazing weekend

I wanted to share more pics from my weekend with "the girls" but I find that my little weenie camera didn't take very good pictures. This is a picture of Patty from Lemon Lane Cottage sharing the little sign I gave her. She blogs about her beautiful flowers and how precious they are to her so I wanted to have a little sign made that would confirm the beauty in her "pretty petals" and bring a smile to her face.

Elaine from Sunny Simple Life blogs about a variety of things and she affectionately refers to her patio as a place of tranquility so I wanted to have a little sign made up to bring cheer to her already "peaceful retreat".

Kris from Simplicity is the funniest, sweetest, most energetic gal and she loves her chickens. Yes she has real live chickens that give her fresh eggs. How cool is that? I can only imagine that the coop is as cute as she is so her sign was worded accordingly......

Kris is talented beyond belief, she made each one of us these fabric bloomies in festive red. I love mine, I will wear it all year long. Thanks Kris!

Elaine who is an amazing and frugal gourmet, gave each one of us a Gooseberry Patch Cookbook. Oh how did she know I LOVE Gooseberry Patch? Thank you Elaine, I will smile and think of you every time I open up that sweet book.

Patty made these adorable owl's for each one of us. She is a talented lady with a heart of gold. Thank you Patty for having us over to your lovely cottage and thank you for touching my heart with your friendship.

New Friendships, True Friendships.....A Blessing All Year Long.

Debbie

Farmhouse Mantle, While U Wait

I asked my dear sweet husband if he could build a mantle for our fireplace in the kitchen. It's kinda hard to tell in this picture but there is a floating mantle here.

Well he got up Sunday morning and 1 trip to Lowes for lumber, a can of stain and his loving hands, he built this! Ok gals, he built this in about 3 hours. I was speechless!!

He just whipped it up like it was nothing.

Looking forward to the entire kitchen remodel after the holidays.

Made my day and made our kitchen soooo farmhouse sweet!

Smiles,

Debbie

The Blessing Of New Friendships.....

I had the pleasure of meeting 3 of the most adorable, amazing, funny, sweet, thoughtful, kind, generous,...well there are just so many good things to say about these bloggin gals......whom I now call "Friends".

From left to right is Kris from Simplify, Elaine from Sunny Simple Life, Shelly (who doesn't have a blog yet but we are threatening her tee hee hee) and Patty from Lemon Lane Cottage.

Our day was chocked full of love, laughter, shopping, gabbing, oooohhh(ing) and ahhhhh(ing) and the best "girl time" that I think have ever had. It is amazing how much we all had in common and how we felt like we had known each other for years. I will share more photos and details this week. Thank you my friends for the gift of your time and memories that will last forever.

Smiles & Sunshine,

Debbie

Sweet Surprise

So when I arrived home from work today, my husband had a big surprise for me.....setting on my beautiful Hoosier was this collection of vintage cookbooks.

Well not all of them are "vintage" but they have that old charm & character that makes my heart go pitter patter!

Oh aren't they sweet? He was telling a friend of his how much I love old cookbooks and his friend said "I have these just sitting in my garage". Oh how happy I am to find a new home for them where they will be adored.

Betty Crocker...........my role model as a young girl. LOL

When my husband saw this one he said Any One Can Bake, but NOBODY can bake like my girl". He puts me on top of the world.

Hard to read (a photographer I am NOT) but it was priced for $1.50. Oh when times were so simple.

It's so funny to read the ingredients in these old cookbooks. Many recipes call for a cup of "fat" rather than the modern day "shortening". I also saw recipes that call for a "few granules of salt". I love that!

This tin was the icing on the cake....pardon the pun. It's an old storage tin for a floor mop. Its soooooooo cute, reminds me of my mom, she was always cleaning when we were kids.

"Maid of Honor".......giving a nod to the homemaker of yesteryear, and justly so.

So thankful for the smallest of gifts that always bless me in the biggest of ways.

Smiles & Sunshine,

Debbie

Hoosier Daddy?

Well I was surprised by my husband Saturday morning, we got up early and drove to the valley. He said he found my Christmas gift on Ebay and couldn't wait til Christmas to give it to me.

It needed some work and he lovingly labored on this gorgeous piece.

He hammered, he sanded, he stained, he gave it a lot of much needed TLC

There is NOTHING he can't do and he ALWAYS takes his time.

And when he was done.......

I was a VERY HAPPY wife!! Isn't she beautiful? It's a 1920's Hoosier.

A place for me to display all my vintage lovelies!

I spent all day playing with my new "bake center".

He took me to a little antique mall after Sunday breakfast and found this adorable rooster lamp.....looks so sweet next to my

"Hoosier"

He makes me feel like a beautiful queen, and there is no mistaking that he is the King of My Heart!

SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR INDEED!

Fall decorations are down, packed away and Christmas totes are on their way out of my shed......

Back to work tomorrow,

Debbie