Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!   I got this sweet photo from Megan's kids yesterday....they are all ready for the day!  Hope you all have a wonderful day with people you love.....

Santa Bags

The Santa Bags I posted about before are all filled and waiting for Christmas morning....the ones to Portland were delivered during my trip up there in early December.  It is so nice to be done so early!  One of the benefits of retirement I guess....:))))

    Today is the LAST day of the Primitive Blog Hop....and Stacy Of Buttermilk Basin...the creative mind behind this HOP has a great post for you....with a fun giveaway.  Be sure to visit her soon. 

     I hope that your weekend before Christmas is wonderful....and you get to visit LOTS with people you love......Merry Friday....Jo Ann

Still more to blog and a peek at Kathy's house

On Monday my sister Kathy hosted The Country Loft Christmas party.  We all look forward to it each year!  The food is always yummy; the company good and these are women who "get" what you like!!!!  Kathy's house is always spectacular and I knew you'd love to see it.

    This wonderful doll tree is in her bedroom.  Kathy collects black dolls and I love adding to this collection.  (It is so nice having a sister who loves the same things you do!)

This is the top of her dresser in the same room.....

....and another grouping in that room..

....the bed in the guest room.....I made her this adaptation of Lisa Bongean's Christmas quilt a few years ago.....

....and some Santas in her living room....

......even her sewing room is decorated.....and all neatened up for our visit....Kathy makes soooooo many of her presents.....she puts us all to shame...

.....and this is of course her main tree in the family room....it is full of wonderful ornaments she has collected over  the years. 

Every year Kathy also has Christmas at her home for all of our family who are in town ....there can be as many as 50 there for breakfast and dinner....It is such fun....We have a jigsaw puzzle going in one room and food spread out all day long. 

Be sure to click onto Lisa's blog today.  I have just gotten a peek of it, but it is FULL of great photos of her home and a wonderful penny ornament.....


I am going to try and finish my shopping today.  I finally started wrapping presents last night...the tree was feeling a bit lonely!

           Bye for now.....Jo Ann

Jeni's Blog

I just was on Jeni's blog and I LOVED all of her photos of past Christmas celebrations....I especially like the idea of a songfest. (Although Peabody's (my maiden name) cannot carry a tune in a bag)  It just sounds so fun. 

  
I hope that you all have a great Monday.  Gene and I leave in a few minutes to take my mom on some errands.   Then it is back here to finally wrap some presents.

Tonight is The Country Loft's staff party at Kathy's home....Her decorations are the best!  (I will try to remember to take some photos and share)  Fortunately these presents are all ready to go! 

Well, we are off.......Have a wonderful week....Jo Ann

Babysitting Lianna

I meant to post yesterday, but I was busy babysitting our newest granddaughter.  She is still being nursed and decided that she didn't like the bottle, so it was a bit of a challenge....but we finally found a solution.  Luckily for me (or maybe not) her dad was just like that and I finally got him to drink the  milk from a cup (not a sippy one).....it had to be a regular one....Fast forward to today and Lianna wanted a mini-water bottle.....with no nipple of course.

Here she is a few weeks ago....she loves the outdoors and so Gene and I took her on a LONG walk today!  Yesterday that was not in the cards, because we had a day of rain.  We loved the rain, but going around the house in a stroller is just not as much fun.....



I meant to post a link to Kathy Schmitz blog.....You will LOVE her project and her photos if you have not already checked them out....and I am so envious of her new stack of WOOL.  I visited Debbie's studio awhile ago and drooled over it.....the wool dying area was under construction, but I could already see how wonderful it would be too!


On a very sad note, my heart goes out to all of the families who lost someone in Newton yesterday......
              Hugs to all of you.....Jo Ann

Nick and Sophie's Tree

Last Saturday I flew up to Portland to see Nick, Sophie and their dad John.  It was a crisp day in the mid to high forties.....just perfect to go find a Christmas tree!    Here is Nick trying to find the best one....

  ......and now Sophie has made her choice!

   

John had Nick help saw it down....

.....and then carry it up to the "shaker"  (what a fun machine to watch as it shakes all those old needles out)  

 

...and here is the result!  We actually got TWO trees.....this one for all Megan's special ornaments and the other one to be in the family room with ones that can withstand playing children.  I helped them decorate the house too!  Christmas brings so many memories of their Mom and we talked a lot about her favorite things during the season.  I was so glad I could be there!

 
Here are a few more Christmas touches from my house....Santas are everywhere.

I hope that you are enjoying the blog hop.  Today was Ali Strebel's day to host.  She has a fun rug hooked ornament and a yummy recipe for you to try.

Hope you had a wonderful 12/12/12......we went out for pizza to celebrate!

On the fifth post of blog hop......Lynda gave to you.....

I hope you all visited Lynda Hall's blog yesterday to find out all about Christmas chains and see her wonderful photos.....Her home is just FULL of wonderful things!

Tomorrow you will be visiting Stacy Nash instead of Cheri Payne.  Cheri is off in Hawaii soaking up the sun....She will be back to post on Monday!

I hope that you are all having LOTS of fun and that your enjoying all the Christmas preparation.....

Happy Thursday....Jo Ann

Fourth Day of Blog Hop

Don't forget to visit Lori today at her wonderful Notforgotten Farm....and be sure to look at her last posting too.  She  has some wonderful photos of her Open House. 

 Hope you are all enjoying your visits and having a great start to your holiday season.....Jo Ann