It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!I am linking this post to Susan's Deck the Halls party, http://thoughtsfromovertherainbow.blogspot.com/ I will share my attempts at decorating my home for Christmas. (I am experimenting with taking pictures with no flash versus flash. Sometimes I prefer one over the other,and it varies. So, some are better than others, but you will get the gist of the decor. )

Maybe Santa needs to bring us a nice, shiny, new DSLR camera for Christmas.

I've been good...pretty good...well, Ican explain...Ohwell, here goes...

I have placed 2 pairs of wooden shoes by the front door. Do you think Santa will fill them with goodies?

A little greenery under an ordinary birdhouse makes it look a little more Christmasey.

You all know we have dogs galore at this house, 6 to be exact. Their room is the laundry room, so this little nativity is placed fittingly on the washer. My aunt Jody sent the grandkids this set . You'll see the angel, Mary, and Joseph behind baby Jesus, and the shepherds on the left and wise men on the right. A few of them resemble a few of our dogs. As you can see, I'm doing laundry now-only 22 minutes to go.


I placed a chalkboard over my stove and painted it with those increcible chalk paint markers I have told you about. They are fun to use, and I got them at Michaels. Don't forget to use a coupon. I just found out that Michael's takes competitor's coupons, and also has a website you can print coupons from. You see 3 pans of banana bread. It was pretty good, but I am searching for a great banana nut bread recipe. E-mail me one if you have a good one to share at whitjsss@aol.com

I also used those Chalk Paint markers on the pantry door. This idea was from Ruthie of Sugar Pie Farmhouse blog. If you haven't seen her blog, you must check it out (after this visit), please.

http://www.sugarpiefarmhouse.com/

How about a cup of tea, cider, or hot chocolate?

I added some greenery and berries to the mantle over the stove. too. Just left it as it was and put that greenery on there.

A little more greens, berries, and candlerings to dress up the buffet in the kitchen.

A little skirted side table in the dining room is festive with a leopard print lamp, a centerpiece, an old clock, and some gorgeous Vaseline glass candlesticks. I keep some candy canes in my glass jar, and a little container that holds Bible verses.

The dining room table is decorated with a runner, greenery and berries, candles, redbirds, and lanterns. I am kind of enjoying the natural look this year.

I have a little buffet in my dining room where I placed my largest nativity set. I got it at Hobby Lobby several years ago.
Here it is in a closer shot. I think it is beautiful, and helps me to remember that Jesus came to Earth to redeem me. Thank you Jesus!

This little tree under the cloche is special to me. My mother and I made it about 35 years ago. when I was a teenager. We strung every one of those seed beads on wires, and joined them together into a tree, then glued and wired on miniature ornaments. We had a cloche all those years and didn't even know what a cloche was. Ha. We just called it a dome. It sits on our coffee table in the den unless the 2 1/2 year old grandson is coming over, then up high it goes. We decided that would be best last week, when he took the dome completely off and tried to play with the toys under the tree.
This little side table in the den was an aquarium stand in a former life (rescued from the side of the road). I painted a board in a giraffe pattern for its top. I also painted the little drawers with various animal prints. I seem to have a little touch of animal print in every room.

A little greenery does wonders for anything , doesn't it? Here is the fireplace in the den all gussied up for Christmas. I bought these deer at Old Time Pottery. The large vase belongs to my Mother, and the flickering candles give a nice glow.
We love to sit on the hearth when there is a fire lit. It is so warm.

Here is a little closer shot of the mantel. Even closer...

I just love potpourri, and this wooden bowl always has some in it, according to the seasons.

Thank you for visiting my home for the holidays. Wish you were here in person. We could have such fun. I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas with your families and loved ones.

This giveaway will knock your socks off. A computer. Not just any computer. A HP Touchsmart 600 . I couldn't even begin to tell you all the cool things this computer does. Go here to see

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_can_series.do?storeName=computer_store&category=desktops&a1=Category&v1=All-in-One+PCs&a2=Processor&v2=Intel&series_name=600t_series&jumpid=in_R329_prodexp/hhoslp/psg/desktops/All-in-One_PCs/600t_series
There are 5 chances to win it at different blogs. Check them out and leave a comment. If you post on your blog you can get a second entry.They are found here...
http://www.blogher.com/hp-touchsmart-review-and-sweepstakes?reviewer1
Good luck to everyone who enters. I hope my winning streak holds out.

I am a lucky girl! I entered in the Christmas Carnival giveaways hosted by http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/ last week, and I won again. I feel so blessed to win such beautiful handmade items from artists throughout blogland...
I get so excited when a package arrives...

opening... unwrapping... the anticipation...

and a squeal of delight. Isn't this ornament beautiful? It is handmade by
http://adriennedepitera.blogspot.com/ . She handpaints and preserves the silk embellishments. Much time and love is put into each ornament. Thank you Gina for the carnival, and to Adrienne for sending the lovely ornament so quickly. I will cherish it for years to come. I don't know about you, but I remember where most of my ornaments came from, and every year when I put them on the tree I think of that person or time in my life. I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas. And don't let the busyness of the season take away from remembering the reason for Christmas, Jesus Christ. Spend some time with your family and friends, but most of all spend time with Him during this time we reserve to celebrate His birth. " For unto us a Savior is born". Amen

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We did at our home. Here is our table. I should have lit the candles before I took the picture. We did light them for dinner, but Jackson just kept asking to blow them out . I think he's mixed up with birthday candles. Should have ironed that tablecloth, too, but our food was just as good with the wrinkles.

I copied an idea from another blog on the candleholders. I was at Dollar Tree and found the glaass cylinders and glass candlesticks and glued them together, plopped down a candle and some leaves inside and called it done. I'll reuse them at Christmas with something festive inside. There were 8 adults and 2 kids, so we all got to sit at the dining room table together. I wish I had taken a picture once we were at the table. I guess there was too much on my mind to think straight.

Here is the menu I printed out. It says: turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, lima beans, cornbread dressing,macaroni and cheese, strawberry pretzel salad, fudge pie, apple pie. Add to that sweet potato casserole and creamed corn. Toooo much , I know, but Shawn likes corn,

Shannon sweet potatoes, Joey lima beans,Mother mashed potatoes, Daddy dressing, etc. You get the idea...

Some serious cooking going on at the stovetop...

and in the oven...

We made Shannon's brown bag turkey and it turned out so moist and delicious. Yes it was cooked in a paper grocery sack. Click here, http://shannonhaynes.blogspot.com/2009/11/thanksgiving-traditions-brown-bag.html for her post with directions. You will be glad you did. Shannon and Jackson made some cute and tasty turkey cookies to bring.

Here are our pies. I made apple and fudge. Mmm...

While the food cooked we passed the baby around...

and played Pictionary Man.

A little more Fall decor.

Our sweet baby, Hudson in his cute turkey shirt.

And big brother, Jackson, sporting a cute turkey shirt Shannon made. He looks a little mischevious here , don't you think?

Mother got a reclining wheelchair so she and Daddy were able to join the festivities.

Buddy and his favorite boys.

Mimi loves these little fellows.

We truly do have a lot to be thankful for this year.

New Grandson

Introducing Hudson Bennett Haynes. He weighed in at 7 lb. 14 oz. 21 inches long. Welcome to the world sweet boy. All are well. Big brother Jackson did very well today. Here is a wreath I made for the door, but wouldn't you know it, that room didn't have a hook on the door. I am going to take one tomorrow to hang it. I made it by wrapping mewborn size diapers around a wreath form and tying on little baby toys for decoration.

Here is Hudson. Isn't that a little angel face?
Big Brother Jackson just wanted to hold him the whole time. He was a baby hog.

The whole fam.

Mimi and Buddy are proud.

Mother and Daddy were not able to go to the hospital today, but I downloaded Skype onto her computer, and they got to be a part of it all through cyberspace. It worked pretty good.
Thank you for all your prayers. Continue to pray for a smooth transition for their little family and healing for Shannon We difinitely have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Another Win !

Well, I have been a very lucky girl. I won another giveaway. I just love giveaways, don't you. Note to self, sponsor a giveaway soon.

My package arrived in the mail like this. I was so excited.

I won a cute vintage looking ornament from http://cupidscharm.blogspot.com/.

It was as beautiful as I expected it to be.

Joy does lovely work, and she sent me a gracious thank-you note tucked inside.

She uses glass, solder, old jewelry pieces, vintage postcards, and makes the most unique jewelry that just speaks to me.

I adored this one (she offered a choice of 3), and I got the one I wanted.

The others were great too, though
.

If you haven't checked out her jewelry, you should. Her prices are very reasonable, and the quality is excellent. She will even make a necklace any length to customize to your liking. Go check her out http://cupidscharm.blogspot.com/. You won't be sorry. OK, maybe your checkbook will be sorry. Well, thank you Joy. I will cherish my cute little ornament forever, and think of you every Christmas when I put up my decorations. I will give it a special place on my tree.

On another note, please pray for our daughter tomorrow, as she will be having our second sweet grandson. I am so excited.Of course my camera is ready, so I will have some pictures to share soon.

Santa? Jesus?

I can't believe I am posting 2 posts in one day. This was too cute to pass up. My sweet 2 year old grandson, Jackson, was at my house yesterday. He found a Santa I had gotten the other day at Dollar Tree and he brought it to me. He said, "Mimi, this is Jesus". I said, "no sweetie that is Santa", and he said, "Ho, Ho, Ho". From the mouths of babes...

I will definitely put that cute ornament on top of his Christmas present.

With the Christmas season approaching, we do need to remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.