Christmas Favorites

I want to squeeze in one last post about Christmas before I take down the old calendar and put up the new! If I had to list my favorite Christmas related things, these would be my top five:

ornaments

Christmas trees
Santa

snowmen

nativities

My last post feature the stitched ornaments on my tree, but I love all kinds of ornaments! I especially love Shiny Brite ornaments. Several years ago I began seeing them at flea markets and fell in love with them. I display the ones I bought in a beautiful bowl that belonged to my grandmother. Max Eckardt created Shiny Brite ornaments in 1937. He worked with Corning Glass, a company that made light bulbs, to adapt their process to make clear glass ornaments. They were then shipped to Eckardt factories to be decorated by hand. 

I'm not the only one in the family that loved Shiny Brite ornaments. My grandmother had them on her tree. Her ornaments would have dated in the 1940's to 1950's. After her death, my mother displayed those ornaments in her house. Now that my mother has gone, I am honored to display some of those treasured ornaments in my home. 

Of course if you have ornaments you must have Christmas trees. Oh, I love Christmas trees from large to the very small! This year I have 24 Christmas trees scattered around. Along with my large Christmas tree I have bottle brush trees, wood trees, ceramic trees,  and  metal trees.

The only thing I know that could make a Christmas tree better, is for my grandsons to be gathered in front of it!

It's always an experience to get the Christmas pajama photo each year!

Of course Christmas trees must have some Santas on it!
This star-shaped Santa is one of my favorites. 

Although I have pleanty of Santas, I really like snowmen better. Sorry Santa! I have a small four foot tree that is loaded with only snowmen ornaments.

I saved the very best for last. I can't imagine having Christmas without focusing on the birth of the Christ Child.

"For unto you is born this day
in the city of David
a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

~ Luke 2:11

I've enjoyed one last look at Christmas, but now it's time for me to begin putting it all away!

Wishing you a Happy New Year!

A Year In The Making

Last December right about this time I set a goal for 2018. My goal was to cross stitch one Christmas ornament each month. I'm here to say . . . I DID IT!! Actually I exceeded that goal. I stitched 16 ornaments this year; nine for my tree and seven as gifts.

Here's a look at my 2018 Christmas ornaments . . . 

JANUARY

Toyland Sleigh

(Mill Hill)

FEBRUARY

Frosty Flakes

(Little House Needleworks)

MARCH

Quaker 9

(Kelmscott Designs)

APRIL

Chickadee Winter Welcome

(The Sweetheart Tree)

MAY

Tree Farm

(Little House Needleworks)

JUNE

Snow Forrest

(Just Nan)

In July I began stitching ornaments for my family. Each year I stitch one for each of my five grandsons. The oldest grandson now has a collection of sixteen ornaments that I've stitched. I also stitch one for my daughter’s and son’s family trees. My choice this year for the boys was Freezing Season which you can see below.

JULY

Freezing Season

(Foxwood Crossings)

In JULY I stitched the second Freezing Season.

AUGUST

Season's Greetings

(Little House Needleworks)

and the

third Freezing Season

In SEPTEMBER I stitched the fourth Freezing Season.

OCTOBER

In October I stitched the fifth Freezing Season. I also stitched a modified Freezing Season for me. While stitching the five ornaments for my grandson I made a huge mistake on one of them. I usually stitch at night while Jerry watches television. There must have been a good show on that night because when  I picked up my stitching the next night, I realized I had completely left off the section with the word Freezing in it! SO, I started another one for the boys and then finished this one for me without the words!

NOVEMBER

Warm Hands Warm Heart

(Just Cross Stitch Magazine)

I stitched two Warm Hands Warm Heart, one each for for my daughter's and son's family trees.

DECEMBER

Star Of Wonder

(Homespun Elegance)

Cross stitching is something that was moved to the back burner several years ago. I have enjoyed picking up my needle and stitching again this year. Pushing needle through thread is rhythmic and quite relaxing. I have several ornament charts already lined out for next year, but I'm not sure I'll push for one each month because I have run across several other charts in my stash that I'd like to stitch.

The inspiration behind my year of stitching ornaments came from Carol who has been stitching monthly ornaments for nine years. Not only is she a wonderful stitcher, but she has wonderful ideas for finishing her ornaments. If you would like to see her 2018 Parade of Ornaments please visit her blog.

Thank you for stopping by

and

Merry Christmas!

Autumn in Arkansas

Even though we've had a few cold days and even some snow, according to the calender it's still Autumn. Before winter is here to stay I wanted to share a few pictures of Autumn in Arkansas.

My sister, sister-in-law, and I took a day trip to Petit Jean State Park. Petit Jean is Arkansas' first state park. The land was set aside in 1923 before the Arkansas State Park System was even started!

There's a legend associated with the park. A young French nobleman named Chavet asked the King of France for permission to explore the New World. The King agreed to his request. Chavet was engaged to a young girl who asked that they be married so she could accompany him on the journey. Chavet refused her request. The young girl however didn't accept his denial. She disguised herself as a boy and applied to the captain of Chavet's ship to serve as a cabin boy, calling herself Jean. The sailor's called her Petit Jean. I can't imagine during all the time she was on board that her fiance didn't realize who she was. Either she had an amazing disguise or he never looked at her very closely!!

As they traveled down the Arkansas River they came upon a beautiful mountain where they stayed for awhile. The night they were scheduled to leave Petit Jean became very ill. Of course, during her illness her identity was discovered. She asked to be carried back to the mountain top to spend her last days and to be buried there. Legend has it that Petit Jean hovers over the mountain, giving it an air of strange enchantment.

Petit Jean is a beautiful park with hiking trails, lakes, and waterfalls. As we ate our lunch we listened to the sound of rushing water. We walked beside the lake until we found the source.

One of the treasures of Petit Jean is a 94-foot waterfall. There are trails that lead to the bottom of the falls, but it's a pretty tough hike so we choose to see it from the top where you only have to walk down a nice boardwalk!

The rock formations are massive. The area above is called Bear Cave. Although it's not really a cave it was named by a mountain resident who shot a bear in one of these small bluff shelters in the 1920's.

Stopping between the rocks and looking up made me feel very small and insignificant.

This was one of the prettiest autumn's we have had in a while. The moisture and temperatures seem to be just right to create gorgeous color. Looking across the Arkansas River Valley left me breathless and once again in awe of this world we've been given to enjoy!

It Snowed!

I had no intention of being absent from my blog all month!

My excuse is a simple one,

we've been very busy!

So, now I need to do a little catching up.

We had an early snow!

Across the state snow was falling.

Within 40 miles snow was falling.

I almost got in the car to go see the snow!

I didn't though, I waited and waited;

watching the windows as I went about my day.

Finally, I saw flurries!

The snow fell steadily for several hours.

The bushes and trees reminded me of children

stretching out their mittens to capture the falling snow.

It's not too often that you're able to see two seasons at once,

Don't they go beautifully together?

The next morning brought sunshine.

I stood for a very long time watching the wind blow the snow

and leaves out of the trees.

It was magical!

This was a quick snowfall.

Arrived in the afternoon.

Left before noon the next day.

It was just enough to make me wish for more.

You know me,

I. LOVE. SNOW!

"The first fall of snow

is not only an event,

it is a magical event."

~ unknown

A Closer Look

In my last post I shared the wonderful Me & McGee Produce Market I found.

I thought you might like to see a little closer look at the many displays.

Every where you looked there was a pumpkin peeking out.

This was one of my favorite displays.

I really like the metal flower in the middle of an old window frame.

There were pumpkins in every shape, size and color,

veggies,

Arkansas black apples,

 and flowers too!

These didn't even look real, but they are!

The pumpkin I brought home was a smaller one.

I loved it's color and it's bumpy texture.

This cut little guy came home with me because of it's wonderful little stem!

My rule: When buying pumpkins you must always find at least one with a curly stem!

I love autumn!

I love the colors,

the smells,

and

the cooler air!

I sincerely hope you are enjoying your autumn!

Me & McGee Market

It's cloudy, cool and windy, so grab a light jacket.

It's muddy from recent rains, so put on your old boots and

come with me to

Me & McGee Produce Market.

I needed a pumpkin; not for carving, but for a fall decoration.

I discovered this gem of a place on Facebook.

When I pulled in the parking area, my heart did a little bump, bump!

You know that "oh, this is perfect" feeling!

Me & McGee is a family run old-fashioned produce stand.

We were fortunate to meet several of the McGee family.

Mom McGee makes the breads.

Daughter creates the beautiful fall settings.

Granddaughter runs the stand.

Son makes a variety of pork rinds.

It's either a daughter or daughter-in-law that makes jellies and jams.

There are more members of this family involved.

I even met a future daugther-in-law.

They are a wonderful family and they've created a wonderful business.

So, I went for a pumpkin and came home with

zucchini squash bread,

peach cobbler jelly,

peach salted caramel jam,

a really cute jar of honey,

cookies,

two fried pies,

Arkansas black apples,

four small gourds,

and

my pumpkin.

I mentioned that I brought home fried pies.

Well, I ate one fried pie while sitting under a large pecan tree and talking with my sister. We decided we couldn't wait till we got home to try one.

It was OUT. OF. THIS. WORLD delicious!

Perfect pastry filled with a coconut cream,

drizzled in chocolate and topped with sliced almonds.

Appropriately named

Almond Joy.

Never will I buy a pumpkin at Wal Mart again!

I'll be retuning to Me & McGee!

Hmmmmm!

I wonder what fried pies they're making this weekend!!