Silent Night...

A cold, soft rain is gently falling on this silent night.

The halls are decked.

The presents are wrapped.

The baking is done.

The menu is planned and prepped.

I'm just waiting now... waiting for the arrival of my loved ones.  I wish for each of you a holiday filled with the wonder and peace of Christ's love.

God bless you each and every one.

{Sigh}

I wish... my tripod would have held steady as a rock...

I wish... the clouds would have given me just a 30 second break instead of racing past in a supernatural smoke pattern giving the full impression of the plague in Charlton Heston's version of The Ten Commandments.

I wish... I had a better shot of this event, but I don't.  I do have the memory of seeing it... and appreciating another miracle of God's creations.  I have to say, it was worth setting the alarm for 1:45 to see the peak at 2:14.  I'm thinking I should have climbed right back in bed, but now I'm blogging because there just hasn't been enough time lately.

I've been doing the Christmas Crazies chores for the past week.  I am not the one with the perfect gifts bought for everyone by June 30th, wrapped and ready by December 1; baking and decorating checked off; cards sent; menu planned; groceries bought and calmly awaiting the celebration of the birth of our Savior at this point in time.  No, not me.

It is madness not to be more organized and not to get started sooner.  Every year, I resolve to do better.  Every year, I am rushing around like a chicken with my head cut off (are there any others of you out there who have actually SEEN a chicken with its head cut off?  NOT a pretty sight!)  Well, this chicken is about to have to hit it!  Or Santa's little people will be disappointed at the Bungalow! 

Hope you all have a very happy first day of winter and that you caught the beauty of this lunar eclipse with your own eyes... It was spectacular.

Merry Christmas to all... and to all a good day!  Ho Ho Ho... ;)

MaMaw's Plum Cake

Lately, I've had my MaMaw on my mind... alot.  As my siblings and I will from time to time discuss, we hardly knew our grandparents.  We always lived too far away for frequent visits; therefore, they never shared in our everyday lives.  At least not until the last few years of my MaMaw's life, when she moved to our area.  Unfortunately, she died at the young age of 60; so there were only a few years.  One of the fondest memories I have was of she and I going to T, G & Y (the old school Walmart-- my Dad always referred to it as Tough Grimy and Yellow.  Anyway, I digress.) to get my very first out-on-my-own Christmas decorations.  I still have many of those, but my favorite acquisition was a plastic Santa figure about three feet tall.  It was a little more than I should have spent on my budget at the time, but I so loved him.  She encouraged me to buy it and I did.  I still remember driving home with Santa perched between us in the front seat singing Christmas carols all the way home.  He STILL makes me happy.  We had such a fun time that day!  Sweet memory. 

MaMaw wasn't really a great cook, but she was plenty-good in our eyes!  Cakes were her best creations!!  Seems she always had a cake or homemade fig filled tea cakes.  And, she would always have the real Cokes in the small glass bottles!  Such a treat for us (we always drank milk at home!). 

I enjoyed making one of these last week.  The smells reminded me of her... and of that fun Christmas shopping trip.  Merry Christmas, MaMaw.

*NOTE:  there are no jars of plum baby food  with tapioca to be found.  I used prune baby food and it turned out just fine.  I am sure you could use applesauce or pumpkin or whatever. 

Wishing you a happy memory today...

Waistcoat Pattern by Sirdar

 

Finished this project up yesterday!  The yarn, Inca by Katia, is so very soft.  It is 53% wool and 47% acrylic.  (Please don't comment about the crepe-y, turkey neck... yes, I have some miles on me.  Should have cropped that business out of there, but I'm not going back to attempt that.  LOL)

 

 

The pattern is quick and easy, a waistcoat by Sirdar (#9320).  It is supposed to have one large button, but I decided that I liked it better belted.  It gave more shape to the back.

 

 

And, I think I am going to have fun wearing it!!  Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend.  Now, I have to stop my playing and get back to the chores!

** Adding a note:

• The necklace was an $18 find at Canton Trade Days!  I have never been a jewelry person, but I love this gaudy thing.  Go figure!!  Life change?  Who knows?  Menopausal mania?  Don't care.  Love it!  Love the $18!
• The belt, I've had so long I have no idea where I found it.  I'll be very, very sad when it finally wears out because I wear it with LOTS!

Rejoice.

Just checked my e-mail and I had the most wonderful surprise!!

A sneak peak of Christmas card options from Little Man and his folks!  Doesn't that smile just fill your heart with JOY?

He is wearing his uncle's "vintage" smocked Christmas outfit that his Great-Granny and his Noni made that 27 years ago.  My how time flies.

Thank you so much, Amanda!!  Just made my day!  XOXOXOXOXO

Heartstrings...

The tree is up and I am looking forward to a visit from the Little Man.

Our ornaments go all the way back to 1974 versions... added to over the many years... each with a story to tell, a smile to bring, a heartstring to tug. 

Little Man was scouting for his own tree this past weekend, wearing his Tree-huntin'-stocking-cap knitted with LOTS of love by his Noni!  LOL!

"It's this one, Momma!"

Oh, I can't wait!!

Trade Day Fun

I feel like it is getting time to say goodbye to fall... even though it doesn't officially end until December 20. 

Yesterday morning, a beautiful carpet of golds, oranges and reds welcomed me into the yard.  God's work is amazing.  So beautiful.  So perfect.  Fills my heart with gratitude and a deep sense of appreciation.  Won't be long until all the leaves are gone and Ol' Man Winter will be comin'.

I enjoyed the last of my birthday (almost a month ago... love to make it last) celebration by meeting my dear, dear friend Barbara in Canton for the day.  We used to go almost every month to meet up, along with Amanda, and enjoy a great day of visiting.

Food has always been a big part of the fun.  Not healthy food.  Fun food.  Man, the smells are just heavenly.

Amanda, we sure missed you... had to leave a few of these on the plate.  Couldn't take up all your slack.  =)

...so that we could have room for some other taste-bud delights!  Well, I need to end my break from decorating... Christmas is on the way!  Back to it!!  Happy weekend to all!