Another Christmas has come and gone...feeling Blessed!

Yep another Christmas has come and gone. 
someone needs to put the Santa away...

and here I sit...

 We got home from Michigan last night...

 it gets harder and harder to leave my aging parents to come home after I visit them...

 My Arkansas son left this morning to go back home...

 my hubby left to go on a business trip...

It's quiet around here...which is sort of nice ...

but at the same time lonely...

I should unpack luggage...and repack Christmas...

but...

I may not get off of the couch...not even for church...

Thank goodness the sun is streaming in my windows...or I probably would be quite down...

Christmas always seems to come to a screeching halt...and I'm not really ready for the festivities to end!

apparently  Hallmark channel agrees, cause I'm still watching Christmas movies today!

We did have a wonderful Christmas! 

All 3 of my children were home...

I am so stinking proud of the adults they have become!!

Their beautiful families...

My Arkansas son's girlfriend and her 2 children were't able to be here...so I had to get random shots of him...of course he's the MIDDLE child, so I always get fewer pictures of him anyway!

We had a surprise visitor...

I don't know if I was more excited or the kids...and I took 1 million pictures give or take a few...but I'll spare you all...and  only show a few hundred of them...

(Princess) Sweet Pea was a little uncomfortable on Santa's lap...but otherwise loved him!

he brought small gifts, and did a great job with the kids...

he made it about Jesus instead of about him

The 3 Daniel Boone's

with a surprise in their back pocket...

The big kids stole them for a while...
and had a marshmallow fight!

little did they know...I got them each one to...we have had some kind of war at Christmas time for several years now...last year everyone got a bucket of pom pom snow balls...and we had a huge snowball fight...great for the wee ones!  One year before the little ones came along we used rubber band guns...didn't their mother ever tell them they might shoot their eye out? 
I bought them goggles to use...but they were to big and bad to listen to their mom and wear them...and yes one of them got it in the eye!

Great memories though!

I also wanted the little ones to play Santa this year...and since the older 2 just recently turned 4...and are only beginning to read...I used picture tags on the gifts...and that work out great!!

I wish you could hear this little one singing...
at the top of his lungs...
on my karaoke mike... 

"Deck the halls of falls with poll-ee
la la la la la....la la la la
tis the season to be chol-lee
la la la la la...la la la! 

I really should have recorded that!
ca...ute!

That was my Indiana Christmas...

Then on to see the family in Michigan!

I will show you just 1 pic to sum it up...
we are so blessed that my mom and dad are still with us this Christmas!
we were able to get everyone together for a picture...the first one with everyone in it...in many years...way before I had any grandchildren...
yes we were missing a couple of family members...but Mom and Dad's children...grandchildren...and great grandchildren...are all in the pic
(even if they are almost blocked by my big head!)

did we have more pics...yes
can certain individuals refrain from making goofy faces...no!

My husbands family also lives in Michigan...but I have no pictures...I was unable to go...since when I am in Michigan...I am full time care taker to mom and dad...and since I am the picture taker between my hubby and myself...there were no pictures taken with them this year...none the less we love them just as much!

This has been a rough year for my family with Mom and Dad's health...
all in all though...we feel very blessed!

May God bless you and your family!!

Sharon

Merry CHRISTmas!!

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,

 which is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:11

King James Version (KJV)

I pray each and every one of you have a very Merry Christmas!!

God Bless

Sharon

The Very Best Christmas Present!

Just stopping in for a quick moment....

I've already gotten one of my Christmas Presents!

I can't open it for several months though!

and I guess it won't really be me opening it...

I just wanted to to tell ya about it...

We're so excited!

 My beautiful daughter and her family!

We're all so excited...and praying for a happy healthy little one!

Merry Christmas!!

Sharon

Rustic Woodsy Mantel and Christmas Tree

My Mantel and My tree are done!

Nothing like waiting to the last minute!


I tried to go a little more rustic-y this year

A last minute decision I might add...

I was all set to go with lots of red...
as usual...
right down to the red and white poka dot wrapping paper

then I suddenly decided to change it up a bit

and ran around here looking for things to go with my more rustic approach

I still had to add a bit of glitter...
and this little white glittery deer was just perfect!

the old window I have had for several years....
actually I have 4 of them. When I saw them at a flea market...I had to have 'em...I didn't know why...but I could not pass 'em up! After all...4 old matching windows with all of the glass still in them and at a great price! They have been stacked in my garage ever since...
I tend to do that alot...just ask my hubby...he is the one that has had to move them every time he's cleaned the garage...for the last 5 years!

the plain window by itself was....well plain
so I ran to my craft room and found some white fabric...again purchased at a yard sale

I attached it to the back of the window with packing tape...so it will be easily removed...

and then added a short strand of white icicle lights that I use to use inside my windows years ago...like almost 20 years ago!

I love how it turned out!

I really like how it all turned out except there are 2 things I would like to change...one I can't...but I wish that pillow on the chair said Merry CHRISTMAS instead of Happy Holidays

the other being the star on the top of the tree...and that I can change! I didn't realize how bad it was until I uploaded the picture...but it will have to wait until tomorrow...cause I'm off to bed!

Good Night!

(a few short hours later)

Ok, I'm back...and I changed out the star on the tree

so much better...
and think I will sneak down to my husbands stash and grab a few more!

Have a great day...
I'm off to get some much needed shopping done!!

Sharon

your're invited to a Christmas Party at:
french country cottage
embracing change
green willow pond
jann olso
diy by design

A little bit of Christmas in a birdcage

It wouldn't be unusual to see a cardinal out our kitchen window. I am forever trying to get a good shot of one...but seeing as my camera skills are lacking... along with the fact that there is usually a window between me and the bird...this is by far the best shot  I have been able to get...and it was only this good

 due to a little boost in picmonkey!  

today...as I was putzin...

and by putzin I mean moving slow 

and getting much of nothing accomplished...

but enjoying every minute of it none the less.

The birdcage had been sitting empty in my foyer for a couple of days...it sits on my front porch during the summer with a geranium in it...but I had brought it in and left it sitting in the foyer. 

Today, when I opened one of my Christmas totes...

look what flew out...

 Good thing I had a bird cage handy!

and this evening...

 By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.

Psalm 104:12

Sharon

linking to:
home stories a to z
embracing change

cozy change to my Christmas kitchen!

Hey Ya'll

Just a quick post today to show you a little change I made to my kitchen.

Here is the before pic...now keep in mind I was in the middle of a project on my kitchen table...and had Christmas decor stuff laying all around...as well as other stuff...when I got the notion to make this change. So with out cleaning up...I grabbed the camera for the before shot.

when we got the new floors...and took out a weird placed cabinet...it gave us a huge area for a table...so I purchased this one...and always thought it needed to be placed as it is...just cause there was room.  But if you notice the bench in the front right side of the pic...you know the one with all of the photos sitting on it....
what?
You don't place your photos all over your bench?
whatever...

Anyway...I have always liked the look of a bench...and/or mixed seating at the table...so I changed things up a bit...and came up with this.

Now before I show you the pic...there is a disclaimer...

I know that the light fixture is all wrong...and it isn't centered...
bla bla bla...
you may or may not have banged your head on it if and when you were here...

no worries...it will get changed out...
one of these days I promise!!

so here is the after...

I would take a picture standing back further like the before pic...but Christmas decor and other debris...is still laying about...and I can't have that in the "after picture" now can I?
It's against the "reveal" rules
(light fixtures are not included in this rule!)

The bench is an old church pew...

I bought it in 1996...the year I moved to Indiana.

I was at the covered bridge festival...in Mansfield Indiana...I had them hold it...and my loving husband went back with me to pick it up. He carried it  among massive amounts of people for a mile to our truck...so you know it holds a special place in our hearts...
well my heart...
I don't think he was all that moved by the experience!

I 'm loving it for now...I think it looks so cozy!

here are a couple of other pics...just so you can see a bit better...
the wreaths...

and the little table behind the bench...

I will be changing out the center piece though...
that was the project I was working on in the before pic...and just threw it up there for the picture...I think it will end up in my dining room.

Until next time...

Sharon

linked to:
the thrifty groove

making the world cuter
home stories a to z.
embracing change

A White Christmas

We're on the right track...

Let it snow...

Let it snow...

Let it snow!!!

I LOVE it!!

Sharon

Happy Thanksgiving!!

source

I pray each and every one of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

We all...even in times of troubles have so much to be thankful for!

Our plan, this year,  is to have everyone in the family together...for the first time in many years...

as this Thanksgiving is especially special!

My dad turns 90

and my adorable grand daughter turns 1

Now my prayer is that illness...snow...etc...does not get in the way of our plans, but God is in control...and if our plans line up with HIS plan...it WILL happen!
I'm leaving it in Gods hands!

Enjoy your family and tell them you love them...you never know if this could be your last chance!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

Sharon

DIY...This Back Splash Rules!

Meet my friend and co worker, Tammy...

Nurse by day....

DIY'er by night...

Tammy moved into a new old house a couple of years ago...and being the DIY'er that she is...has been making some huge changes throughout. 
Today I'm going to focus on the kitchen!!

Here are a couple of pictures of it when they moved in...

do you see all of the hurdles she was facing?

They have come a long way since move in...

Here is how it looks today...

what a difference!! 

As you can see from the pictures...they got rid of the fluorescent lighting...removed the wall paper and boarder (seen only in the first picture) painted the walls...painted the kitchen cabinets got some new handles...and counter tops...replaced the floor...replaced the sink and the faucet...removed the doors from the cabinet above the fridge so now it is a showcase for her milk glass collection...reworked the cabinet over the microwave to move it up...and create an open shelf for her cookbooks...
(she loves to cook and AND is GOOD at it!!)  
And...they removed the decorative  ugly spindles!

jeez...I'm tired just typing it all! 
But what a difference these changes have made in her kitchen!

Did I forget anything?

Yes...
I did...

The window...has not been replaced yet...and that wood sash thing in front of it is coming down...but that's in the works...and not what I'm talking about.

 I'm talking about..

The back splash!

Her back splash rules!

lots and lots of rules!

Check this out...

What a great idea! 

Tammy used this product to glue her rulers on...but there are many products out there that would work for a project like this.

Since the counters were pretty level...she started from there...and moved up. At the top there was a small gap, so she "trimmed" it out with  rulers...to cover that. She also trimed the corners and the sides along the cabinet and the fridge with vertical rulers.

Other than a couple of oops!

It was a simple, quick and inexpensive DYI project! 
Tammy finished her's off with 3 coats of poly to protect it. 

It looks great in Tammy's kitchen the way that it is...
but I can also see it finished in so many other ways! Depending on the finish you choose...it could work in just about any kitchen from modern...to rustic! Here are some other idea's.

Painted with a brush nickle paint
stained...using a few different colors
painted white (or any other color) with a high gloss paint
color washed
could incorporate a design
could purchase vintage rulers, and leave them facing forward

What might work in your kitchen??

I know Tammy ordered her rulers online...and I'm not sure where she purchased hers from...but here are a couple sources I found very quickly... here and here.

If you have any questions about this project...please just ask!

Thanks Tammy for allowing us into your kitchen!!

It looks fabulous!!


Sharon

Let's Party with:


creative-inspirations
common ground
fabulous-creative-friday.