A Fridge for Free & More

Thanks to some acquaintances that bought a new refrigerator, we got their old one for free.  It looks pretty new and spacious inside.  White is much better than the old gold one.  Best of all is the water and ice on the door.  We can't complain about one drawer that sticks, because overall we are so much better off than before.   

As you can see, the side wooden panel had to be removed because the bigger, newer guy just wouldn't fit in the old hole.  Jed and Allan took care of that.  They pulled off the panel, cut a short piece, moved the cupboard doors up and wa la!  You wouldn't even know if I hadn't told you.  Yeah, for ) expense changes.   A big thanks to Jed and Dad for cleaning the fridge from top to bottom, too.  That was a great Christmas present as well as the other terrific items our children so generously gave us that start with i & c.  What a great week it has been.   Much Thanks!

The Gift of Giving Christmas -4 Days

The Holy Family on an airplane?  Not your typical setting, but colorful and fun to imagine with an angel riding atop the ship.  This brighter than life artwork is definitely a one of a kind.  The perfect gift for a pilot, attendant or Christmas traveler.  

A generous gentleman in our town buys of hundreds of hand made nativities, from artisans around the world during the year.  He hosts hundreds of tours for locals to see the treasures he has found.  We are invited to buy or order at fair market value to provide a living for these talented artists.  No deals here, but good old fashioned service and love are in abundance.  He doesn't get commission and expects nothing in return.   

Set aside a certain amount of money this or next Christmas to give generously.  It will make you feel great and the recipient also. 

Crafty Corn Stalk Creche - 5 days to go

This corn stalk nativity reminds me of what the old country must have been like, when life was simple and slower.   Time was there for the taking and everyone knew their neighbors.  Young mothers with lots of talent, created collectibles from almost nothing.

Twenty plus years ago corn stalk dolls became the rage.  Every woman began making them in earnest and had at least one doll on their what-not shelf.  I bought the dried stalk stuff, but never got around to making them, because by then the dust was thicker than wool on all those fiercely fast makers of fritted fancy.  

I'm proud to say this is one of the many must makes, we didn't do.  For $2 I bought one, that graced our shelf until the top-heavy marm tipped over one too many times.  It got tossed.  

Ambitious makers in third world countries and perhaps even locally still make them to sell at Christmas supplimenting or providing their sole income.  Be generous when you see hand-crafted gifts and buy them.  You will be helping out on many levels. 

Six Sentimental Days of Christmas

Doing a Twelve Days of Christmas wasn't to be this year so enjoy our six sentimental days of Christmas.  Every year since the girls went to the Holy Land, we proudly display the carved olive wood ornaments they got there.  Although they can be found in every shop and street corner, knowing they originated from His home makes them special.  

Each tiny shape tells a story of love and sacrifice as it hangs from the branches of our tree.   Camels, shepherds, wiseman, sheep and most of all the Holy Family bring a warmth and feeling of what it was like so long ago to witness the birth of the Christ Child.  

Every tree in our family has these distinct wood ornaments that remind each of us of the great experiences Breann, Alicia, and Jennifer enjoyed traveling to that far-off land and walking the paths that Jesus walked.

Hail, Hail, the Gang's Almost All Here

 We remembered to get some pictures of the grandchildren, at least most of them this week, while visiting.  The boys all smiled and so did the girls, rare.  Maybe they didn't have time to think about being pouty. 

 Emma took to Brayle instantly, like super glue and wouldn't let go.  It was interesting to watch them together.  We are in second heaven with them here for the week. 

It's Time to Fall Back and Endure Election Day

Two great events to make one onery.  The change from Daylight Savings to regular time and Election Day.   Being swamped with candidate ads on TV, in the mail, phone call messages and newspaper ads for months has taken its toll on everyone.  Toss the mail, turn off the TV and ignore the phone.  Who else would be calling us?  

Most important of all get out and V O T E, with a capital V.  The polls are open until 8pm.  There is no excuse with mail in and early voting, not to get it done this year.   What a blessing to be able to do it.

Fall Back! Who me?  It doesn't matter if we are supposed to wake up later, our internal clocks take time to change.  Sleeping in an extra hour or going to bed early, makes no difference to our cycles.  No one can convince our little ones, to sleep longer, albeit early bedtime helps.  Aches, oneriness and adjusting is all we can do until we get used to the change. 

Now we have to listen to the numbers, opinions and theories from every candidate, reporter and swing state on the news all day long, until we are red or blue in the face. Don't fight it. Go to bed. We will see you in the morning.  It is the dawn of a new day, with new news.  Aren't we lucky to live in the USA?

Our Organic Halloween Ogre

These tall red-headed stalks seem to stand guard on the edges of our yard like ogres ready to attack.  Many people ask what they are called and say they have never seen them.  Amaranth is their name and come back year after year reseeding from the million seeds that fall.  Much like scarecrows with arms out-stretched, birds and such don't seem to like them.   It almost resembles the 'Venus Fly Trap' but in giant mode.

A perfect Halloween decoration with hairy arms and scraggley head, who needs ghosts and goblins?  Definitely organic with no plastic or party store preparations, here. 

Did it just say, 'He is coming to take me away, ha, ha! Repeat several times, and any child would hide behind their Mom to avoid this lanky beast afraid of being wrapped into its arms and gobbled up.  BOO!