Weekend Celebration

This past weekend my Mom was able to come down and visit to celebrate my Birthday.  It was a belated birthday visit as we had a major snow storm in the state the previous weekend and neither of us felt it was a good idea to venture down.  What a wonderful weekend we had.  She was able to spend a couple of days with  us and we had a great time.  My mom, my daughters, and I all visited and laughed and quilted and crafted all weekend.  We had a lot of fun!

When DH arrived home he brought strawberries for me so I could make this delicious dessert that I wanted to make for my birthday instead of a cake.  The recipe can be found here.It was really good!!!

Mom brought a couple of lovely gifts for my birthday, and one of them was this adorable kitchen towel set.

She said when she saw it, it reminded her of me, and my efforts both here on my blog, and what all of us at the Down to Earth forum are working toward.  What a very thoughtful and practical gift!  I am very blessed to have such  thoughtful friends and family, especially my loving parents!  Happy Monday :)

Little Bits

I only have fun little bits to share with you today :) I have been knitting, reading, and enjoying my family and home.  One little bit, oh so delicious cookies made by my dd#1 and my dh.  They both make the most fantastic chocolate chip cookies!!!

 Bit number two... my dd#2 brought home this adorable mouse treat tonight.  It is made from a stemmed maraschino cherry, Hershey kiss, and two almond bits for ears.  The picture is blurry and I simply could not get one to come out clear.  I believe it is the reflection of the flash on plate.  What a cute treat for a party or gathering!!!

My final bit?  This really cute miniature fireplace dd#2 and I made for her diorama at school.  She said it needed something so we engineered a fireplace complete with fire and a beautiful vase of flowers on the mantel.  Most importantly we had a really good time together making it and I am so proud of her.  She is so talented!!!

Enjoy your day :)

Celebrating Christmas with Cash

I have made a few subtle changes to my blog. You may have noticed on the right hand side of my page is a nice large button for the Down To Earth Forum.  I am a member there and would like to encourage you to visit or join if you wish.  I have learned so very much from not only the forum, but it's creator Rhonda at her blog called  Down To Earth.  It is exactly as it sounds, a blog about simple living.  It is a lifestyle choice to live more simply.  DTE is full of advice, suggestions, and tips to help you on this path.  The Down to Earth forum is the same.  This is where you can go and share idea's and knowledge about all sorts of simple living idea's.  I learn something new each day and I am always eager to read there.  It is a wonderful gathering place full of support, encouragement, and very special people. 

Each Monday on the DTE forum, as we draw closer to Christmas, in different sections there are idea's posted about all sorts of things we can apply to Christmas or any other gift giving occasion.  From recipe's, to family fun, to money saving tips, encouragement, and ideas posted each Monday.  The whole world feels like one big Christmas ad here in the US, and this is a where I go and just relax and not feel pressured by ads to buy something I know we do not need or want every single day until Christmas!  It is quite overwhelming here in American.  Sarting with Black Friday, people are in a buyers frenzy and many are charging items for Christmas because they do not have the money to pay cash.  Many will take months to pay off what they have purchased for this one day event.  This grieves me as I know there are those that would never spend as much as they do if they did not feel guilt from others for not doing enough.  In simple terms pressure from others for not spending enough on people at Christmas.  Christmas guilt!!!

In our home, Christmas is about spending time with family and gathering together.  We choose to give gifts, but every household celebrates differently.  The point is, this one day should not financially cast a burden on people for many months to follow or even for the rest of the year.  I know of people that pay off Christmas all year until just before it is time to buy all over  again!  In this society if you cannot afford something then you charge it!  There are few who save and wait until they have the money.  Am I the only one that thinks that is a bit out of balance?  Several years ago after a credit card Christmas I stepped off the cc roller coaster of Christmas, and decided things had to change.   I was searching for an answer, and knew I wanted to do things differently.  I didn't know there was a term for what I felt other than the fact that I knew I wanted to simplify. That is when I found Rhonda's blog.  I am sure when I typed simple, or simplify, the web browser pulled up her blog.  I cannot even begin to describe the impact her blog, and the forum has had on my life.  I felt totally alone in this consumer driven society in the way I thought until I found others that felt the same way.  I do not feel alone, I do not think what I am feeling and doing is "crazy" for lack of a better term.  I feel that I am different obviously than the "average" American yes, but I know there are others that feel the same as I do and the support I have really helps me to be encouraged that I am on the right track where otherwise I might have very possibly gone back the way I came because I had very few around me that felt as I do.   I started implementing these changes over time and have never looked back.  I am ok with being one of few that thinks in simple living terms.  Taking responsibility and making changes in our life has made a huge difference.  The most wonderful difference is the feeling of stress you have when you have a CC Christmas and the peace you have when you have a Cash Christmas, there is positively no comparison.  My journey will continue forever as I make small changes and adjustments but that is the way life is, we are never completely set and change here and there to what we need.  I am just so thankful that my  journey is on this path.  The path I was on was heading nowhere in a hurry!

I had a very special day with my friend that I made the quilt for.  She absolutely loved it and I was so thankful we got to spend the day together.  We both have busy houses with amazing children so it was wonderful to spend her birthday together!

I am also very excited!!! I received a very special package in the mail today from my swap partner on the DTE forum.  For those that wanted to take part we had a Christmas decoration exchange.  My partner sent me this very beautiful flag garland, some tea packages for me to enjoy a wonderful cup of tea, a postcard of where she is from and a very kind card!  I took a picture to share with you and as soon as I did I hung the garland over my sewing area to enjoy.   It is lovely :)

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.  Here in the US we will be enjoying a day with our friends and families and giving thanks for that which we have been blessed with.  In honor of this special day my friend shared with me the materials needed to make this adorable little turkey shirt for our youngest dd.  It makes me smile!  She is looking forward to wearing it tomorrow for Thanksgiving.

A Two Goal Day

This evening I met two goals. I am slowly making small changes that will have a lifetime impact.  I decided starting today I would find some way to be active each day.  Even if it is only a short walk I would be active every single day.  On bad weather days I have exercise dvd's and a treadmill so I have no excuse.  I also promised myself to not miss playing with my family even if I'm out of shape.  So we played basketball in the driveway for over two hrs. tonight.  We worked up a sweat and had a blast!  I got my exercise and we all played together as a family and it was wonderful!

Wishing you the very best on your life journey one step at a time :)

Evening Outing and Old Seed Packets

I shared an evening out with my oldest DD and we had a wonderful time.  I really miss my children now that school is back in session and treasure the moments together with them listening to them talk about what interests them which changes quickly these days.  I like to listen to them talk about life and their perspective on things.  Children see things in life around us totally different.  They have a completely different take on things and it is refreshing and eye opening to take the time to listen to them.  I learn and relearn from their uncluttered minds.  Our minds with age and time can become cluttered and their little minds are fresh and new and they see life very clearly, they have usually three important things family, friends and school that are in focus.  I wish I had that same focus, I usually have millions of idea's floating around in my mind!

Late last week after a lunch date with friends, a couple of us went to a nearby flea market and I  found a couple of glass jars for my sewing/crafts area.  This one in particular was filled with 1950's era seed packets.  Some printed in color and some not.  I enjoyed pulling them out and reading them front and back.  Some of the pictures like the packet on the top is actually a painting or drawing printed on the package.  Now we see a lot of actual photo's of the flowers and fruits and vegetables on our seed packets.  I really enjoy things from years gone by and wanted to share these with you as well.  The friend I was shopping with wondered if any would germinate.  I wonder too, I am guessing they won't due to age and unknown conditions over the years but who knows?  It's worth a try next spring :)

Happy Anniversary

Seventeen years ago two high school sweethearts were joined in marriage.  Happy Anniversary to my wonderful husband!  Together we are a great team and I feel very blessed to have such a loving person to walk along this path of life with.

We will be taking a dinner cruise on an old fashioned steam boat in honor of our anniversary and I hope to post pictures of the ship when we return.  I think it will be fascinating and we are both looking forward to it.

Enjoy your weekend :)

Valentines Delights

Valentines Day, a beautiful day of celebrating the loves in our life.  I enjoyed yesterday immensely.  It was a wonderful day with my family enjoying the creative notes of love and kindness made by the most precious little hands.  The love of my husband and family and bestowing love upon all those I know.  There tends to be two camps on the Valentines holiday, one being it is too "commercial" and set aside by industry whom wishes to make money on cards, flowers, and candy.  The other to which I belong relishes a day of non "commercial" love to take the time to cherish these moments that we have with our dear loves.   In my mind it is almost akin to our celebration here in the states of Thanksgiving.  A time set aside to really be thankful and appreciative to all of our dear friends and family and a special day to really show them how much you are so blessed to have them in your life.  To me, there is nothing commercial about showing love and kindness to those that walk this life with you.  I strive to make sure, and I know, that my family knows my unconditional love but sometimes it's just nice to relish in this love, in the abundance of loving feelings floating around so magically all day long.  A day full of fun and festivity to celebrate kindness and the caring souls that are part of our journey through this life, for without them I would be so completely alone. This camp loves the celebration of kindness compassion and love to all those we cherish!

Below is a very special note written with freshly fallen beautiful snow by my youngest daughter on the window screen.  An impromptu note written a couple of days before valentines but I thought was so fitting for today's post.  This was the first snow that they were able to play in this year and I couldn't go outside and join them because I was sick.  So she left me a note on the window.  What a treasure :)

 These are the most adorable patterns I happened upon in our local quilt shop and immediately knew they were the perfect valentines to my daughters who love to bake and cook!  I made a set for each daughter. They were so fun to make and are so cheerful and cute in the kitchen!

Wishing you all the very best as you go about your day, and thank you for sharing in this blogging journey!  Feel free to join this blog by clicking the blue "join this site" button to the side if you would like to receive my updates automatically :) 

Bearing Gifts of Evergreen Branches

My youngest daughter collected these evergreen branches with their beautiful winter blue berries and brought this lovely gift to me.  You can't see it in the photo but I placed them in this stoneware vase with a blue rim on the top that is the same color as the berries.  They look so pretty in this arrangement.  I just had to share them.  One of several thoughtful ways my children make my heart happy and bring a smile to my face.  They are so precious!

I have really enjoyed browsing different blogs this weekend and looking at all the beautiful sewing and craft ideas.  I found an adorable pattern for an ornament that I will be making for my sewing bee this Friday and will post a picture and a link to the site I found the pattern on if anyone else would enjoy making one as well.


Wishing you a warm and cozy evening!