New beginnings

Things are snowy here in the Inland Northwest...we awoke to more blustery conditions to start off the new year. It began with a very short night of sleep (like many of my readers, I am sure!) but we had loads of fun at a New Year's Eve Pinochle Party with 5 tables (thanks, Nances!).

Speaking of which...
...here's wishing all my blog visitors a very Happy New Year!

May the brightness of a new beginning
shine out and illuminate the true blessing
of good friends, loving family and security in the midst of uncertain times.
And may 2009 be marked by warmth and delight.

I offer a few collages of some holiday activities to bid adieu to 2008. I would be happy to share recipes for the our family-fav cookies (fudge puddles and eggnog logs). They're yours for the asking--use the comments section.
Sorry I don't have more pics of our 5th Annual Lefse Fest. We had about 18 guests and made over 240 rounds. Despite best intentions to have the bulk of it made before the party began, our production didn't get into full swing soon enough for me to put down the lefse sticks and pick up the camera. I should have assigned someone to take pics...something to remember for next year's party. This is an annual event and is loads of fun to introduce people in our sphere to the toothsome delight of fresh lefse. As you can see, even the Littles participate.


And finally, a holiday decor collage. I am not a traditional red & green gal, and I typically use the same decorating motif about 5 years before I make a change. This is year 5, but I'm not ready to switch yet. As you can see I currently favor greens, white lights, florals and gilded/beaded fruits. This particular tree design is my all-time fav and has elicited many comments and compliments from visitors to our home.

For a change, Annie and I did the lights this year instead of giving the men the "honors." (Yes, it's in quotes because neither hubby or son enjoys the process.) In contrast to their 6 stingy strings of lights, we used at least 12, maybe 15 -- I lost count. And let me just say, Rudolph has nothing on our tree--my oh my, this baby glows! There are 6 strings on the bottom section alone, many on the inner branches to illuminate the tree from within. When it comes down, we won't be taking the lights off, which will eliminate at least 4 hours from tree-trimming time. (Yes, we have an artificial tree. Though I LOVE fresh pines, this was given to us and is a significant$$ savings and better stewardship of natural resources. If we ever do go back to real pines again, I want to get potted ones that can be planted in the yard come spring.)

The tree will stay up a few more days...maybe until Epiphany. That's when the tree came down in my childhood home. My sister's and my birthdays are both in early January, which also may have influenced the tradition to keep it up.

The greens and lights on my buffet and piano will likely remain until Valentine's Day, simply because I love the soft ambient glow. Since it is just greenery with golds, it doesn't look especially 'Christmas' so I feel like I can get away with it as 'winter' decor.

Hope you enjoyed this small glimpse of our holiday home.

So, just curious....when do YOU take down all your holiday decor?

[Edit: In case you were wondering, the photo collages were created using a feature in Picasa 3 - a free program that I love for arranging/storing photos, simple editing, some special effects, etc. Check it out!]

Let the countdown begin!

Christmas Day box close-up

In November 2007 the girls and I selected some lovely coordinated ribbons and papers at Paper Pals (blog) many from the 2007 Bo Bunny line. The project was begun in December 2007, but holiday bustle shoved it back into a box where it sat all year. Last weekend, the girls and I dug it out and had loads of fun creating this coundown calendar for our fridge. These are small jewelry boxes (approx. 2.5' x 3.5') with a round magnet glued on each lid. The bottom of the box was covered with papers and decorated.I was the source for some of the ideas and a little technique help, but the girls did most of the work. Out of 25 boxes, I only did 4 (creator's initial is marked by each box) and managed to sneak in a little paper filigree. I plan to add a sprig of paper filigree holly inside each box, but its not a high priority with all the other decorating to do this weekend.


Each day the girls open a new box to discover the Christmas preparation activity for that day. The December date is located on the inside. The outside numbers count down to Christmas.

We are so excited to add a new twist to our family's Christmas traditions.

Celebrating our blessings

The fall colors were simply glorious this year and we decided to preserve some of the gorgeous leaves using a simple but messy technique. It involved laying assorted leaves on top of wax paper, covering with 1 ply of facial tissue, and drenching everything with a mixture of 1/2 Elmer's glue and 1/2 water. It takes a bit to dry, but when it is, simply iron the mat between layers of brown paper bag. Easy-peasy.

This project was marked by loads of laughter – usually directed at me.

"Oooh…did you see that tree? We’ve GOT to get some of those leaves!"

This frequently voiced phrase made the girls erupt into giggles—or sometimes groans--as I would circled the block or hit the brakes hard as we were driving around town for our various activities. But we’d all pile out and gather up leaves…in the rain, in the wind and once in heavy sleet balls! And me…the woman who avoids ironing like the plague…was often found oh-so-gently pressing piles of curled and fragile leaves so they would lay flat. Somehow ironing these beauties was much more enjoyable than ironing clothing. My iron was used more for this project than it has been for years. It was the height of ridiculousness! (I’m sheepish, as I suspect you are going to laugh now too! )

Our table was covered in assorted leaves and grasses for almost two weeks. As I write this, I realize what an apt metaphor it was, depicting the blessings piled around us, fallen from the hand of our loving God. We are especially mindful how, just like with the autumn leaves, we often neglect to stop and appreciate the unique beauty in each of the special people in our lives and how they color and bless our days.

Shown here are some of the cards hanging in the mirror - we made over a dozen.




Here is a close-up of the tea-light shades I created, and a small one cut from one of Annie's mats. These were often lit as they made my heart glad...a wonderful thing after the gray days of emotional struggle and a bout with the blues. It will be hard to pack them away until next fall, but we need to make room for the Christmas decor, which goes up today.

I plan to create some Christmas-season shades to replace them, so stay tuned!

Hand-me-downs and traditions

The tablecloth in the previous post was given to me by my mom when I moved to Idaho. If I am not mistaken, it was one of her wedding gifts from 1952. It is a small square linen luncheon cloth with several shades of blue stripes and a 3" blue border. The border is noticeably stiffer than the rest of the cloth...I am assuming it either is due to the dye, or the cloth was woven tighter and with more threads on the edges. Does anyone with vintage textile knowledge know if that was a common practice? At any rate, it's the perfect size for my round table. When I was a little girl, my mom would use it on the small table she would sometimes set for tea, warmed eggnog, or hot cocoa for my younger sister and me. I cherish the memories and mother's love interwoven into its fibers. And I am reminded again that I need to ask if she remembers who gifted it to her so I have that provenance info to pass along to my children.

The food is shown on a 1950s-era rose Fiestaware plate, one of 6 different ones gifted to our family by Bro#2 and his lovely wife. I need to shop for one more since we added another child. Actually, one suffered irreparable injuries at the hands of dishwashers-in-training, so I guess I need to shop for two more. And now that I am thinking about it, my daughter is getting married in July, so I guess I really need to shop for 3 more!

I have been trying to decide if I want to add antique/vintage Fiestaware plates for each new member of the family. Fiestaware sets such a festive, colorful, cheerful table and it has become a family ritual to use them for birthday dinners. So, if I am to continue the tradition, I must get more plates. Right now we supplement the Fiestaware with cheap pottery plates in similar colors. But they look clunky and ...well....cheap. So I guess the hunt is on. I don't know if I can find the extras in time for favorite son's birthday.

Are you shocked that I admit publicly that I have a favorite? !

As a mom of five...all boys except for four...it has been a source of family amusement to dub him 'my favorite son.' But when I acquire sons-in-laws, I will have to retire the expression. "We're not losing a daughter, we're gaining a son" sounds cliche' to say (and never fear, I shall NOT utter it at any of the wedding functions!) but I DO want to live that sentiment out. I called my husband's parents "Mom" and "Dad" just like I did my own. And I shall plan to 'own' all my kids-in-law in similar fashion.

I really wanted to find a photo of fiestaware, but I have grown weary of searching the 'net for one that I like. I might try my hand at snapping a shot of my few plates later on today...or I may just let your imaginations run free!