25 Days Of Christmas, Day 5

Dr. B gave me this bowl koozie a couple of years ago.  I didn't know I needed one until I got it.  

It is perfect to set a bowl in and heat it up in the microwave.   Or just set the hot bowl into it to keep it warm while eating.   It can also keep your hand from getting cold while eating ice cream.  

It is reversable too.  

I decided to make a Christmas version to add to my kitchen holiday decor.   Since it might go in the microwave, I needed to use 100% cotton everything.  I had some batting I thought was cotton so I did the burn test.  It burned instead of melting so I think I was right that it was cotton.  Next was finding cotton thread.  Most everything I had was polyester.  I did find a few spools of tread from my grandmother labeled "Will Boil", "Boil Fast" and "Merchandized".  A quick google search said these vintage threads were cotton.  I had gotten the fabric 36 years ago for a different Christmas project.  I am pretty sure it is cotton too.   

I think it is very festive.  

And perfect for a bowl of Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash soup Keiran had left for me.  Plus, I had a toasted slice of walnut-cranberry sour dough bread to go with it, yum!

  It was a wonderful meal to enjoy during our first snow day of the season. 

25 Days Of Christmas, Day 4

I saw an idea on Pinterest using logs as outdoor decorations. 

I procured mine early and used them for some fall decorations.  But I have thrown the pumpkins over the fence in order to get ready for winter decorations.  

I started with some Norway spruce that I got from next to the catch pens at the farm we rent.  I used fence staples to secure them to the logs. 

Next, I added some Frasier fir trimmed from the Christmas tree.  

I then added a lantern from my aunts estate and a metal box from my mother's shed.  

A few more branches and some nandina and Tada, outdoor decor.  (after I took the picture I realized that I needed for do something about the leaves, so with the help of the leaf blower, those are now gone.)

 

25 Days Of Christmas, Day 3

I finally came up with something to do with one of the $22 bird cages that I got last year at Dollar General for a penny. 

I have 4 and they have been sitting in a pile of stuff to go to the thrift store. Our clinic Christmas party is tomorrow and there is a white elephant gift exchange.  I was inspired to try to make something.  I first put in a plastic pillar candle surround but thought it looked too, well, plastic. So I got a styrofoam wreath that fit inside and disassembled a larger wreath and remade it to fit.  

I added a red glass, also a penny from DG and a big red bow.  Now I just needed a candle to put in the glass.  Surprisingly, I did not have a suitable one so I headed to Dollar Tree.  

I switched out the red glass for a white battery operated flickering candle. It was just the thing.  I’ll see tomorrow if it is a hit or not. 
 

25 Days Of Christmas, Day 2

When Emily was here she asked if I had any spare red and white paint, Q-tips and an egg carton.  Who does she think I am?  Of course I have that simple list of items.  What on earth are you going to make with them, that's the question. 

She said this was the proto type, a Santa hat.  

Apparently, if you make a bunch, you can string them together in a garland.  But i if you just have a few of the proto types, they make nice plant hats.  
 

25 Days Of Christmas, Day 1

I thought I would try to post something for Christmas every day until December 25th.  We'll see how that works. 

When Emily and Keiran were here for Thanksgiving, they got out the Santa mugs to enjoy with their coffee and tea.  I decided to leave them out on a mug rack that I had made years ago.  The mugs were all originally from Walmart, but I have been picking up mine at thrift stores.  It looks like I will only have 6  plus the big one, because I haven't found any more for a couple of years now.  

I just love the Santa face.  
 

Black Friday Shopping

 The most important thing on my shopping list this Black Friday was a live Christmas tree.  As you remember, last year, with my injury I was unable to decorate much and used my Aluminum tree instead of a real tree.   The tree farm I have been going to for several years is only open this weekend with a limited number of 5-7 foot trees.  Two years ago, I got there just before opening and people were already dragging trees out.  This year Keiran and Emily went with me and we got there at 8:15.  At 8:30 we trespassed and went looking for a tree.  When the owners showed up at 8:45 I ran to apologize for being early but explained that I was just too excited and really wanted the biggest tree they had.  

I also forgot to take a picture of the tree standing.  Emily and Keiran had done a great job finding the best one.  The lot owner cut the tree for us and we were headed out before 9:00.  Others had started streaming in at 8:45.  

Keiran got it loaded and secured for the 10 minute ride home.  

And guess what!  It was 10 1/2 feet tall!  I ended up having to cut some from the bottom and the top to make my 9 1/2 feet. 

  I didn't even need to set it up on cinderblocks.   Did I mention that they don't spray the trees and they only charge $30.  What a deal.  

Emily and Keiran started decorating after I put the lights on.  Then Sadie and Allie arrived.  Emily was an excellent ornament instructor.  

She has had years of practice.  

And Keiran was an excellent ladder.  Allie wanted to be lifted up to hang the ornaments up high.  

Then she requested "higher" and Keiran obliged.  We were no where near finished but I think everyone wanted a change so we started on Emily's Barbie tree.   

This was a huge hit with Sadie and Allie.  Sadie thought they were all so beautiful and couldn't get them out of the boxes fast enough.  It was so nice to have such good decorating help.   I think I had a very successful Black Friday. 

Thanksgiving Vacation

Sadie and Allie only had a half day of school Tuesday then they were off for the rest of the week.  Mike ended up bringing them over that afternoon to spend the night.  They had appropriate clothing this time and we spend a good amount of time at the barn with Clyde.  No pictures that day but don't worry, I made up for that today.

There was a beautiful sunrise.  An added bonus was Allie sleeping until after 7 am.  

I wasn't sure what the weather would be in the afternoon, so we went to the barn to ride Clyde in the morning.  Kit Kat was a bit of a distraction on the way out of the house.  

Sadie and Allie have gotten into a rhythm of sharing chores.  (there was no poop today) 

You can see that yesterday involved some braiding.  

Sadie wanted to try to lift Clyde's hoof herself.  I had to help but then she held it up and cleaned it herself.  She even held the other foot for Allie to clean.  

This was Sadie's first time at the barrel pattern.  Not quite there but close.  She ended up trotting so much that Clyde quit.  

So then it was Allie's turn.  She still doesn't want to trot and is fine with Sadie leading her around.  

Since Clyde is such a good boy, he got some treats.  I had an apple that I cut up for them to give him.  

Allie even gave it a try.  

Of course we had to play dress up back at the house.  

Sadie found the dress I got at Walmart after Halloween for 90% off.  She loved it.  

And lastly, a craft.  Allie didn't want to craft so she just played.  Sadie had picked out a picture of a wreath with a nativity.  After some trial and error, we came up with this.  She loved it and took it home.