Happy New Year!!!

Only Rachel's hubby is missing from this group shot, fortunately he was able to join us a little later. It was a great day to have all my children and grands together at the same time.

Christmas 2011

 Me and three of my four children on Christmas Eve. 

Some of my grandchildren plus my brother's two....it's not easy 

making a good picture with five wiggly bodies.

You can call me the Traveler this year. First it was over to my parent's home for our whole kit-n-caboodle family Christmas Eve. Then it was off to spend the night with my oldest son and his family in Huntsville. Two of the grands rode home with me...good thing too....we (2 of us...one couldn't make it and fell asleep) had to sing the whole way there to stay awake!  Christmas morning and Santa with them, then back in the car to travel home for a 30 minute nap and then over to my  sister's house where I visited some more with family. Monday morning I went over to Rachel's for some breakfast and a look at what Santa brought. Last night I left work and drove to my Texas DIL's parent's house for a celebration with them. This Friday I will get to stay home. All of my children will be coming here for a day of gingerbread house making and presents. 

Keeping the Happy in Holiday

If you are looking for one quick, light and fun read between now and Christmas, try Mary Kay Andrew's novella, Blue Christmas. Yes I know there are only 2 days left until the big day, but this little book won't take you long. Just to give you a tiny hint of the kind of read it is I'm quoting a couple of the author's holiday tips....(please don't turn me in to the copyright police!)

Mary Kay Andrew's Tips for Keeping the Happy in Holidays:

• At family gatherings, do try to find something nice to say about your brother-in-law's new girlfriend--even if it's only that all her tattoos are spelled correctly. 
• The holidays call for cheerful, uplifting conversation. So remember--Christmas dinner is probably not the optimum time to announce a divorce, pending indictment or gender change. 
• When hosting a large family get-together, tactfully suggest that your guests leave firearms at home.

More tips follow as well as recipes and holiday music suggestions, but you'll have to read the book to discover them. 

Like most of Andrew's books, the setting for this one is Savannah, GA. And like her other books it's filled with old South charm and Gothic quirkiness, with a bit of romance thrown in for good measure. So if you've got a few hours to fill between now and the big day, try this book. I bet you'll like it.

Craft Night

With a wire wreath, assorted Christmas ornaments, garland  and a hot glue gun, you can have fun with friends and come home with a cute candle ring or a wreath for your door.  I used some of my shabby old ornaments mixed with a few bedazzled ones and voila.....

If I had it to do over I would choose silver garland instead of white, otherwise I think I like it. If you want to give it a try here are the instructions:

Turn the wire wreath so that the wires form a depression or gully. Arrange your largest balls inside the wires. When you've got the color combinations the way you like them, begin gluing the ornaments to the wire. Be sure to put a bead of glue between each ornament as well. Gluing them to each other as well as the wire stabilizes the whole thing. Once you've finished gluing from the topside, turn the ring upside down and add more glue to each ornament and wire underneath. As soon as you are sure you've got everything stuck together securely, begin weaving the garland in and out of the wire on the outside of the wreath.  Do the same on the inside of the circle. Last, use smaller ornaments to fill in any gaps that may be left and you are finished!

The only thing left to do is enjoy!

Just Chillin at Home and at Work

If you hang onto something long enough it becomes new again.

 K'nex Big Ball Factory...Christmas present for an uncle....13+ years ago. Fun again for someone new.

 Time to redecorate the work cubicle. A few little things to get me in the mood for the season.

Tale Retold

Imagine if Shakespeare wrote the Three Little Pigs.  This might sound a bit like his.

Open House

 This weekend is "Christmas at Arlington."  Each room in the house is decorated for the holidays and there is entertainment and refreshments. It was a perfect day to take a tour. 

The Greek Revival style antebellum home, located in Birmingham, Alabama, was built between 1845 and 1850. The house was not damaged during the civil war because Gen. James H. Wilson established his headquarters there while he planned his raid on Selma, Alabama to destroy confederate factories and munitions located there.