Friday, December 25, 2015

Funny Friday......Christmas Wishes

Merry Christmas Friday to you all...
Earlier in the week, I helped with
baking cookies...



Are all these for me?

I hope you're having a wonderful holiday
with family and
friends...
Wil

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

A Simple Woman's Daybook



For Today... Wednesday, December 23, 2015, 1:00 PM

Outside my window...It is cloudy with occasional showers, 64 degrees, there may be storms later....had to go out and run off a squirrel who had found his way into the feeder attached to the window....fed the fish, I think we have some babies, at least there are more than in the summer.

A Bible verse I'm sharing...Matthew 1:23: Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

I am thinking...Nothing about getting ready for the holidays has stressed me this year.

I am thankful...that I'm not one of those shoppers rushing around out there in the crowds and traffic searching for the perfect gift.

I am wearing...Pink knit pants, a turquoise T with rind stone snowmen on front, a flannel shirt and Christmas socks.

I am creating...nothing at the moment but there are projects ready for whenever the mood strikes.

I am going...to hang around home today

I am wondering...what it is Smokey is playing with on the carpet over there, looks like a worm: I probably tracked inside on my feet when I went to scare the squirrel off.

I am reading...Marc Cameron's State of Emergency

I am hoping...we don't have bad weather.....the weatherman said there's a possibility of a tornado

In his garden...this is the season when the garden is laying by, Spinach in the ground but not much else happening at this time

A song that stays on my mind...lately it has been The Phantom of the Opera which I listened to on Sunday.

In my kitchen...Sauerkraut and wieners, Mac and cheese and green beans for lunch....lots of goodies for snacking

A favorite quote for today..."You can't stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you. You have got to go to them sometimes." Winnie

From my photo album...


One of my favorite things...listening to non-stop Christmas music

Please link back to The Simple Woman for other day books.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Have Yourself a Merry Little Hodge Podge

 Hodge Podge is a little late today....
I did another post this morning for an
Ornament Exchange.....
I'm linking up over at 

1. What's your biggest 'first world' problem?
Using my time well.......I think of all the things I want to do (usually at night when I should be sleeping) but lack motivation to do them in the light of day......sometimes, I wish I could just chuck almost everything in the house and start over.

2.  Each year Time Magazine names a 'Person of the Year', someone who has 'for better or worse...done the most to influence the events of the year.' It was recently announced they've named Angela Merkel Person of the Year for 2015. You can read more about this year's selection here. Your thoughts? If you were in charge, who would you declare Person of the Year?
 It is the magazine's choice and not necessarily the world's and I'm not sure what their criteria was....I don't have a pick.
3. Do you have a nativity set in your home? If so share it's history and how you display the pieces.
I have an old one which was given to me as a gift in the 70s...the figurines are soft plastic and so the children could touch them. It has a wooden stable. Though cheap, I still like it. I bought a large one at Lifeway in 2006 and put it out for a few  years but I was always afraid someone would bump the table it sat on and break it so I gave it away. On my wish list is the Nativity by Willow Tree that is one piece, fingers crossed. I also have a few small ones.

4.  Do you make an extra effort to give back in some way during the holiday season? How do you encourage those who need encouragement this time of year?
Yes we do.....

5. Who is your favorite person to shop for? Why?
Daughter because her tastes are similar to mine.

6. What's the last delicious thing you ate?
I had some Pumpkin Bars at a gathering on Saturday night...I loved them. She said they were from a mix she bought at Aldi

7. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is________________.
Lend a helping hand, visit shut ins with a plate of goodies, help out at the Nursing Home, sing carols.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
Suddenly its a week till Christmas, are you ready? I have one little homemade gift to wrap...I have 3 types of sweets to bake plus the chex mix and I need to count the gifts for Wonder Boy and the Princess and make sure I have an even amount.

Ornament Exchange



Earlier in the Autumn, I joined in on an Ornament Exchange
at Sew we Stitch
my partner was Susan
at Supermom-No Cape
my package arrived last week
all the way from Michigan,
although she lives in Canada...
 And I was so excited to receive these
I love getting homemade ornaments
and I had seen the Prairie star on her blog
already...she did a tutorial.
I love all three of these ornaments.
Thanks so much, Susan
and thanks to
Mm Samm 
for hosting
stop by and see all
the beautiful ornaments.


Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Hodge Podge and A Christmas Meme


Thanks Joyce for hosting our favorite Wednesday blog hop.
1.  Many families have a story they love to tell every year around a holiday. Does your family have one? Are you the star of that story, or does another family member take center stage? Share your story if you want.
Can't think of a story we tell every year other than the story of Christ's Birth which we sometimes read from the Bible and sometimes tell.........one year we each read a passage from a different translation which was interesting. The important thing is to remember why we celebrate.

2. Are you afraid to speak your own opinion?
Very often, I am.....I do not like dissension. Wiki defines it as difference of opinion but to me it is much more, disharmony, members of a group arguing and angry with each other.....I like happy, peaceful gatherings.......I don't mind people disagreeing if it doesn't get heated and bitter.

3. Pantone has announced the color of the year for 2016, and for the first time have chosen two shades-rose quartz and serenity. Hmmm...did you know serenity was a color? You can read the thought behind their selection here, but essentially it's blending the warmth of rose quartz with the tranquility of a very soft shade of blue. So what do you think? Are these colors I'd find in your home or wardrobe? Will you add something in these shades to either place in the new year?
 I would have said serenity was blue so right-on. Yes, red is definitely a color in my house, closet and decorating..my favorite color and blue would be second favorite.

4. If you could be in a Christmas carol, which one would you choose? Why?'
Silent Night, Holy Night........don't you love to go for a walk in the dark in your neighborhood and see all the Christmas decorations..........we try to do this each year........when I lived in Huntsville before, our neighborhood did the bags of sand with candles in them and one night everyone would go out walking, even Santa who gave out candy to the children he met on his walk.

5. December 9th is National Pastry Day. Will you celebrate? When did you last purchase something from a bakery? What's your favorite treat that falls under the heading of pastry? Do you make it yourself or buy from the professionals?
Oh, that's today, isn't it? So no, won't be going out and buying anything. I do have those peach hand pies, I think there might be two in the fridge, yet...........I like the almond Bear Claws and buy them occasionally........and cheese danish if I can find it.

6. When it comes to holiday decorating_____________________________.
I used to go all out, but now I like it simpler. Mostly I am thinking ahead to getting it all put away again.

7. When did you last laugh so much it hurt? Explain.
There are often laughs such as this when my friend Rene and I get together.......tomorrow night is our clubs' Christmas party and we're playing dirty Santa with our gifts so I'm sure there will be some laughs......our members can often come up with unusual and wonderful gifts for this event, some even homemade.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
I'm joining in with Cindy for a mimi I discovered while visiting yesterday. Read on:


Web image
With Christmas approaching quickly...we have so much to do....But for fun, let's take just a minute...chill out and be nosy! LOL! I would love to know your answers to these question.
1: Do you prefer an Artificial or a Live Christmas tree?

We haven't had a real live Christmas tree since the 60s when we were newlyweds. I am allergic to them and found out the hard way....I never knew why I got ill around the holidays every year growing up.
2: Do you prefer colored lights or clear lights on your tree?

I like clear ones
3:  Would you say that your Christmas dinner is traditional or different? 
Sometimes one way, sometimes another......we used to have our immediate family gathering on Christmas Eve and get together with extended family on Christmas Day..at that time our meal was traditional and the one on the Eve was usually heavy appetizers...........that has changed and so we decide every year what we'll have for Christmas Day dinner.
4: When do you begin Christmas shopping?
In January. I don't make a firm decision to do that, but if I see something that I think would make a great gift for someone, I'll buy it then.......and I try to always be finished by November 1st.
5: What is your favorite Christmas movie to watch?
I don't have a favorite...........we used to watch ET on  Christmas night when the children were still at home....I know it isn't a Christmas movie.
6: Are you a Hallmark Christmas Movie fan?
 Not usually but lately, I've been watching some of them online.
7:  Do you travel during Christmas or stay home?
These days we stay home or go to our daughter's who lives less than 2 miles from us.
8: Who is the easiest person to buy for in your family?
That would be my Daughter or the Princess
9: Do you like to wrap your gifts or prefer gift bags if possible?
 I use both but bags make it so easy, don't they?
10: What is the one stress you feel you have at Christmas?  
 I try not to stress over anything........I tell myself nothing absolutely has to be done....
Bonus Question: What is one your favorite Christmas memories with your children? 
 One year, on Christmas Eve, we had gone to visit family or to church and when we returned home, Santa had already visited...I still don't know how that happened.

Monday, December 7, 2015

A Simple Woman's Daybook



FOR TODAY
Monday, December 7, 2015

Outside my window...
The sun is shinning, it is 60 degrees but will drop
back to 36 before daylight in the morning...Honey
Bear used the blower to get up leaves in the
front and back so we can see the
green grass again...no bird activity at this
time

I am thinking...
I need to go for a walk while its so nice outside

I am thankful...
for the reason for the season, Jesus, and salvation
he brought to the world

In the kitchen...
Cornbread baking, beans simmering
and corn ready to heat....
and part of a pineapple
upside down cake I baked
on Wednesday of last week

I am wearing...
a thermal Christmas shirt with red
velour pants

I am creating...
pretty packages

I am going...
no where today

I am wondering...
if Honey Bear is ever going
to get over his bronchitis

I am reading...
The American Lady (same
as last week)

I am hoping...
to do some baking this week

I am looking forward to...
my club's Christmas party this week


Around the house...
I vacuumed and swept...
some of the decorations are
up....

I am pondering...
sweet things to bake

A favorite quote for today...
"Hope sees the invisible, feels
the intangible, and achieves the
impossible." Helen Keller

One of my favorite things...
a Monday spent at home

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Baking and Christmas wrapping, parties
toward the end of the week

From my photo album:
the Princess and her Boy building a 
gingerbread house Saturday

Friday, December 4, 2015

Good Grief, The Hodge Podge


1. Did you watch The Charlie Brown Christmas special Monday night? Who's your favorite Peanuts character and why?
No, not watching much regular TV these days............Pig Pen or Schroeder

"Most psychiatrists agree that sitting in a pumpkin patch is excellent therapy for a troubled mind."~Linus  

Would you agree? 
Possibly, any quiet time is good when your mind is filled with stress

2. Describe a sound from your childhood. What does this sound bring to mind? 
When I was a little girl, our heating was from a coal burning heater in the living room.......Mother was the one who got up early and built up the fire.....it didn't seem wrong at the time but now I wonder why my Dad didn't do that but he was a truck driver and wasn't home all the time so I guess she just got in the habit......we never wanted to get out of bed in a cold house until after she had the fire going, then we would go stand in front of the heater.....it took a while for it to warm the living room and of course she would turn on the stove in the kitchen to make biscuits so that helped to warm things up too......so I guess hearing the first sounds of an awakening house brings this to mind.

3. You've won a trip to a winter wonderland...would that excite you? Which one of the following would you most want to experience (or which one would you dislike the least)-see the Aurora Borealis in Norway, stay in Sweden's Ice Hotel, go dogsledding in Lapland Finland, take a winter wildlife safari in Yellowstone or celebrate Winter Carnival in Quebec? 
I have to say that none of these appeal to me, being cold isn't fun.....

4. Who or what keeps you humble? 
Okay, I had to look up the meaning......I have always been a homemaker although I have done a lot of volunteer work and have had a few meaningless jobs but never a career.............I am humbled whenever I am around successful, well educated women.......I used to travel with Honey Bear and go to meetings where everyone had a career and was always being asked what did I do........during that time, a woman who stayed home was looked down on or at least that is the way I felt.

5. What part of preparing for Christmas do you like the most? Explain. 
Buying gifts for family..........I shop all year and it just makes me feel good to give gifts that make someone feel happy..........I don't enjoy shopping during the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas....I don't enjoy the business........besides it is easier to find the right gift if you shop all year long.

6. Gingerbread-yay or nay? Is making a gingerbread house part of your family holiday tradition?
We just never did gingerbread...................I've never made a gingerbread house...........my Daughter made one each year with her children until they were teenagers.......I think she mentioned they wanted to do one this year.....now they have the kits, though, but I think designing one of your own would be more original........
7. What's one thing you want to start, do, or complete before the calendar rolls into a new year? 
I don't have any thing lurking that needs to be done before the start of the New Year.........I don't make resolutions, I set goals.......I don't feel pressured to meet them, though............I do want to finish cleaning the carpet before the end of the year......I've done two rooms so for.........and there is some baking to do......but I don't feel pressured to get it done.

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 
Yesterday was my Daughter's Birthday........I remember so well when she was born..............where have all the years gone...........she is one of my best friends.........we had lunch together and went to the movie, Mockingjay 2.......did a little shopping and just enjoyed the day.......I made dried peach hand pies which she loves and managed to sew up some curtains for her kitchen as her gift.....
Honey Bear has a nasty cold and cough which has lingered for a few weeks.........he doesn't want to go to the doctor and so is waiting it out...........meanwhile his night time sleep is disruptive and he is miserable......I've not done much decorating but I might put up a small tree today and wrap some more gifts.