Christmas Countdown!

My creative Sister-in-law just sent me this

darling Christmas Countdown

"Calendar" that she made.

She said it was late,

but that's ok with me!

My grand babies won't be here to

see it until the 24th anyway!
Thank you, Tracey! It is so cute!

From a mini muffin tin and her crafting

know how and tools, she cut cute little

circles and numbers!

She embellished each with a

bow or beads.

They stay in place with little magnets cut and attached

to the backs and each indentation is

filled with a treat!

Another suggestion was to have a verse behind

each day leading up to Christmas.

The girls and I are going to eat these treats,

but what should I put in it for next Christmas?
Do you have any suggestions for me for next year?

~*~

"Do not boast about tomorrow,

for you do not know what a day may bring forth."

Proverbs 27:1

Gifts

" Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him." And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he began to inquire of them where the Christ was to be born. And they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet, 'AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH, ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER, WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.'" Then Herod secretly called the Magi, and ascertained from them the time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, "Go and make careful search for the Child; and when you have found Him report to me, that I too may come and worship Him." And having heard the king, they went their way; and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them, until it came and stood over where the Child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh."

Matthew 2:1-11

~*~

Christmas gifts in the Sewing Room!

Fruitcake!

A different kind of fruitcake recipe in

The Pantry!

"...we should bring forth fruit unto God."

Romans 7:4b

Much Ado About Nothing

Or

Gone to Pot!

~*~

The day started innocently enough~

as usual, I arose at 4:30 am

to fix Gentleman Farmer's breakfast

and pack his lunch for work.

My routine then is to hop back into bed

and turn on the radio to listen

to the news from our little town.

GF sits on the bed next to me

and brushes his teeth while

we listen together.

When the announcer gets to

sports, GF goes to rinse

and I turn off the radio

and grab a book, magazine or Bible

to read.

(Not interested in the sports! Don't

have or know any kids in school,

and The Mariners....)

Hubby returns to kiss me goodbye,

and heads off to work.

So far, so good!

(TMI for you, I'm sure!

Are you still with me?)

~*~

After I did a little reading/study,

I got up and got dressed, tended

the chickens, fed and let out the cats,

and had a little breakfast while

I caught up reading the newest posts

on some blogs.

(Just a little longer!)

~*~

Then I made some home made laundry detergent,

the liquid kind. This took me quite awhile as

the borax and washing soda had been kept

out in the garage, must have gotten just a tad

bit damp and was very clumpy. Had to work

it with a pasty cutter to get most of the

lumps out. I finished making the soap in

a five gallon bucket. It should last me all Winter!

(I am sharing some with my mom and aunt.)

Let me know if you are interested in the recipe.

I will send it to you.

(Hang in there, not long now!)

~*~

Then I headed out to go into town (12 miles away)

to 'Soup and Sound'. This is a Christmas gift

to the community from the United Methodist Church ~

Free Homemade Soup and a Concert,

which has different preformers each of the

Fridays in December before Christmas!

This was their 28th year and I have

attended all but one or two!

For me, this is when the Christmas Season begins!

After a delightful concert and delicious soup,

I did some shopping and then came home.

I finished up my laundry detergent and then

began on this project.

(Finally! Here are some pictures for you to look at!)

This is something I had wanted to make for

a couple of years, but just never remembered

to get the pots.

(Got any ideas?)

You will need five small terra cotta pots

and one terra cotta tray, some craft paint,

bits of trim and fun fur, and some glue.

(I used a glue gun.)

Paint them to look like

toy soldiers

or

nutcrackers!
(Hope you can paint better than me!)

After your pots are painted,
Hot glue them together and
add some hair, a beard
and some braid trim on his hat.
(I just used what I had.)

Is it just me....

or does he look a bit like...

The Burger King?

(Now, aren't you glad you stuck around?!)

~*~

"...apart from Me, you can do nothing."

John 15:5