A Little Christmas Jingle

I decided it was time to give the mantle in the den a little Christmas/Winter cheer.  It just looked so bare and sad with all of the autumn decor removed.  I kind of started on Monday when my new "free to me" chalk pen came in the mail.  I was soooo excited to have this, thinking it would look great on the chalkboards I have painted around the house.  The label and advertisement say that it works well on non-porous surfaces and is easy to wipe off.  It does work really well on the chalkboards and looks great.  However, it is not easy to remove.  I did a test spot before scribbling all over the board on the mantle, and I'm pretty sure I will need to repaint it after the Christmas season is over.

Notice how my "test spot" is more of a long, squiggly line in the middle of the word HIGHEST?  Yeah, I need to work on my test spot skills.

I didn't really think that the sign was going to be quite enough clutter on the mantle, so I set forth to create...something.  After much thought-mulling and wandering around the house with my hands behind my back, I had it!  A jingle bell tree!  Not only would this spruce up my mantle (pun ever-so-slightly intended), it would use up some of the 45,000 jingle bells left over from our wedding.

I promise, this is just a small fraction of them.

I spent a few minutes pulling them off of the wedding ribbon and lined them up in the shape of a tree.  My plan was to stitch them on and then find a suitable hanger.

After about 10 minutes, I realized I wasn't going to get the look I wanted with the needle and thread, so I went back to my old stand-by, HG2 (hot glue gun).  I seriously don't know why I even bother putting this wonder away.  I'm usually dragging it back out about thirty minutes after I do.

To give the burlap more structure with the heavy bells, I added a "frame" of craft sticks to the back.

I led myself to believe that it needed a little color, so I added this red ribbon (with a crazy amount of glue) to use as a hanger.

Annnnnd we're getting there!  The burlap is very similar in color to the board where I hung it up, so I may go back and add a little something more.

I have also begun to play that favorite game of Mary Poppins, "Let's Tidy up the Nursery."  Except that this is not a nursery, and with no Mary Poppins here, I'm sadly unable to accomplish my task by merely snapping my fingers.

Looking better, no?

Today::A Slow Day

We're having the rainy kind of day here that causes me to stay inside and take pictures through the windows.  

And wear baggy, poorly fitting jeans with paint on them.  And black Crocs, which I have been informed, by two people now, do not constitute as house shoes.  

A little redecorating never hurt anyone, right?

I'm marveling at small miracles such as the suction cup that is still holding the wreath on the front door.

Paper and tape can be quite relaxing.  This is a fact.  

I am considering wrapping gifts to add to these under the tree.  It is now not only sufficient for The Musical One to be ridiculously taller than everyone else.  He also wrapped his gifts first.  

Oh, how we love to stack.

Yes, this is a picture of crocheted snowflakes (I'm up to 24 now) and tomatoes.  Some of which, as you can see, are still green!

There are just no words for this.  It started out as a gift wrapping station and has morphed into The Flat Surface That Attracts All Things.  However, a rainy day with nowhere to go has presented itself, so I suppose I should tackle this....Or I could just enjoy a slow day with hot oatmeal and cocoa.  What would you do?

Advent

I started this little Advent project two years ago, when I saw the project journal over at Purl Soho.  I immediately went out, bought the felt, brought it home, and...Well, this is where I go all "bad-crafter" on you.  As you can plainly see, I am just now finishing this.  The squares have been cut out for two years and sitting in neat little stacks of colors, so it wasn't for a lack of trying.  Well, ok, maybe it was.  Excuse me while I turned my face in shame.  As I tend to do with so many projects, I got busy with life and lost interest.  I originally printed off Purl's numbers to iron-transfer to the felt and then embroider.  Somewhere in the Move Across Two States, Seven Months in a Storage Building, and the Forty-Five Minute Move Down the Road they got misplaced.  Imagine that.  I wound up free-handing them all.  I suppose I could have penciled them on, but where would the frustration fun have been in that?    I even used the original felt backing for another project.  Ahem.  The fleece I'm currently using for the back was also purchased for another project.  Guess that's not happening now...

Each of these little squares is actually a pocket.  The opening at the top is to allow me to put in a Scripture verse to read that day.  I'm saving that little piece of the project for another year.  *Shame face*

I'm hoping that the bright colors and numbers will be enough to interest Little Man for now.  He might not even notice it at all since he's incredibly busy turning the Christmas tree lights on and off and worrying over the fact that the Advent candles are not lit all day.  

On a side note, his class at school is having a Christmas party next Wednesday, and I'm supposed to take a gift for him to unwrap.  I'm pretty sure his teachers didn't have in mind the Boomwhackers or ant farm with live ants that he's getting.  I may just wrap up one of The Tall One's harmonicas and send that instead.  Don't you think that's a pretty good trade off?

Pinterest

I enjoy spending my evenings perusing the pictures and ideas over at Pinterest.  I find that after several hours I feel quite accomplished (even though I haven't done a single thing except use up electricity).  I have a good many boards over there with a good many pins, and I decided I really need to start making some of those things I have pinned.  I actually started over the summer when I took ideas from here and here, combining them to make my paper wreaths.

With winter and Christmas coming, I wanted to pull out my mad paper folding skillz and try my hand at some of the 3d snowflakes I had pinned.  I have now made 11 of these in three different sizes,

and last night I spent the evening cutting, folding, gluing, and burning my fingers to make two of these.

I used "vintage" sheet music for the two I made last night.  I showed the first one I finished to Mr. Chadwick, who's immediate response was, "Oooh, shaped notes!" which was followed by, "I like it!"

Now I can legitimately feel accomplished, and, who knows, I may settle in tonight (while we watch the Pats play the state final football game) and make a few more.  I might even begin to ooze accomplishment (or maybe that's just the blister from the glue gun...).

In December?

My pressure cooker is unaware of the fact that the calendar now reads "December". 

My Christmas tree, however, did receive that memo, and is now covered in the little paper snowflakes I have been making all week.  And there has also been much playing of the holiday station on Pandora.  Bring on the winter!

Symmetry Problem Solved

Now, I just need to get that shelf looking a little less tacky.

A True Holiday Spirit

While I was out shopping today, I wound up in line behind an older (but not elderly) couple.  There were two or three people in line ahead of us, and during the wait I couldn't help but overhear part of their conversation.  Now, while I don't consider myself an eavesdropper, my ears did perk up when I heard bits of what they were saying.  After a couple of minutes it became clear to me that they were debating whether or not they had enough money for supper and the gas to get them back home.  They wound up deciding they could only afford the gas back home, and even at that, they might not have enough money to fill the car up enough to get the entire way back.  They both were wearing well-worn clothes and the man looked as if he had suffered a stroke at some point in time.  After reaching their decision, he stayed in line with the few necessities they could afford, and she went off to gather her young grandson and his very pregnant mother.  As I left, they were all sitting in a very small car that looked as if it might not even make it out of the parking lot.  Our time in North Carolina taught me that unless people are out asking for money or food, they may not want you to give them any, so I offered up a quick prayer and went on my way instead.  

"For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat:  I was thirsty and ye gave me drink:  I was a stranger and ye took me in:  Naked, and ye clothed me:  I was sick, and ye visited me:  I was in prison, and ye came to me...Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me [Christ]."  Matthew 25:35-36, 40 KJV

Do I believe in the power of prayer?  Absolutely.  Do I doubt my decision to not try to do more to help this family?  Do I wish I could go back and and make a different choice?  Yes.  And yet, despite my guilt (and if we're really going to be honest here, that's what it is) that opportunity has passed me by.  Does that mean I can't do something now for someone else?  Nope.  As we head into this year's Christmas season, I implore you to consider it's origins.  As beautiful and enchanting as the lights and tinsel and brightly wrapped gifts are, Christ entered this world meekly in order to teach us how to live, how to love, and ultimately, to die for our sins.  He lived and loved with a servant heart, and so should we.  As you sit in your snug homes contemplating what gifts to give this year, I would ask that you take into consideration those who do not have the means to provide the comfort you and I enjoy.  Does your child need all three of those new, expensive toys that they will only play with for a few weeks, or could you get them just one, and in doing so, teach them the valuable lesson of loving others by donating the rest of the money you would have spent?  There are many charities and organizations this time of year asking for your money and compassion.  You don't have to donate to all of them, but please do find one or two you could support.  I know what it's like to have things be a little tight towards the end of the month, and if you're like my family, you do, too.  And yet, the cupboards at my house always have plenty of food, my closet is well-stocked with nice clothes that don't need mending, and my thermostat set at a pleasant temperature.  There are many adults and children alike who cannot say the same.  The face of poverty in this country is changing, and your friends and neighbors may not be as well-off as you think.  So, please, take time to think about the down-trodden, the hungry, the cold, the elderly, the sick, and the unemployed this year.  And during that pause, consider your blessings and how you can use them to bless others this CHRISTmas season.  You may find yourself pleasantly surprised at the surplus you find to share with others and the joy you receive from doing so.

A Month of Thanks: Day 29

It's impossible to read this story to my little one without getting quite teary.  The best way to end this month of thanks is to begin the Advent season remembering why it is and to Whom we are thankful.  Luke 2.  Go read it and remember.

A Month of Thanks: Day 28

I love having some green, growing plants in the house in the winter months.  They make it seem more like winter.  My parents have nearly an entire nursery that they move in each year as the weather gets cooler and days become shorter.  My grandmother did as well, so I guess it's only natural for this "moving of the greens" to be a comfort for me.  I think I'm one of those rare people who prefer the cold. I guess you could say I have SAD in the Spring and Summer, for once the cool weather gets here I breathe a sigh of relief...and bring in my plants.  

Fa la la la la!

Thanksgiving break is over, which means Mr. Chadwick is back at school and I'm left at home to my own devices.  Translated, this means on Mondays and Wednesdays I have about 5 hours of free time while Little Man is at school in the morning and taking an afternoon nap.  With no holiday meal to prepare and a dreary day outside, I set about to finish our Christmas decorations.  I wanted to start with a project I've been planning for several weeks.  My in-laws live in the old farmhouse where my father-in-law grew up.  It was full of old windows, and one of the screened windows upstairs was removed to put in an air conditioner.  I requested use of said framed window screen.  They obliged.  I couldn't wait to get my hands on it, but since we hosted Thanksgiving last week, I just didn't have time to begin the project.  I had started collecting the things I'd need for it, however, over the last couple of weeks.  After laying Little Man down for his nap, I dragged my stuff outside to begin cleaning the frame.  It had been in an upstairs window for years with the upstairs going unused for much of that recent time.  The paint was badly chipped and loose, and it had a good bit of dirt on it.  I scraped the loose paint, cut out the screen, and wiped it down with a damp rag.  After I deemed it clean enough to enter my house, I brought it into the den and put 11 tiny cup hooks into it.  From these hooks I hung at varying lengths some of my Mimi Gilliam's vintage Shiny Bright ornaments.  I really wanted to put the frame on our mantle in the den, but the frame is about an inch-and-a-half too tall.  I couldn't find a place in the Great Room where I would like it, so I decided to take down the rolled paper wreath next to the bookcases in the den and hang it there. 

 I really like the rolled paper wreath, so I wanted to make sure it stayed on the wall somewhere.  I hmmmed and hawed over it for a while before finally settling on the space between the couch and the mantle.   However, we have a shelf centered on that wall, and I'd rather stand on my head for an hour than have the decor not be symmetrical.  So, now I need to make another rolled paper wreath to even it out.  

I will probably leave the window frame in place after the Christmas season is over and place something seasonal in it for the rest of the winter, changing and updating it with each passing season.  

At some point, I may decide to put some glass in it and use it for a picture frame.  That is yet to be determined.  I'm sure that in looking at it, you will think it is upside down.  After all, I have the largest "rectangle" on top.  I assure you this is intentional.  I want to cut some greenery and place it across the center beam, so if you have some laying around your yard, feel free to holla and I'll be there in a jiffy to snip snip and bring it home.

Next up, finishing my mantle.  I'm a little overwhelmed and wishy-washy about what to do with it, so it may be a few days before that happens.  

A Month of Thanks: Day 27

Today, I am thankful for friends who have blessed us so much.  Dear church family, we are so thankful you allowed us to serve you.

A Month of Thanks: Day 26

This is the first Christmas that Little Man has been able to help decorate.  He absolutely loved picking places on the tree for his plastic, shatter proof ornaments.  I can't wait to see his face as packages begin to be placed underneath. 

A Month of Thanks: Day 25

I'm glad no one told him Thanksgiving is over.

A Month of Thanks: Day 24

I'm thankful for a home that shows a good time was had by all.

A Month of Thanks: Day 23

I'm not only thankful for but blessed by the story these pictures tell.  Two silly boys who love each other.

A Month of Thanks: Day 22

Ah, the canvas bin.  I have several of these in the house.  And baskets.  And boxes.  They are amazing.   Bless the one who invented them.  They keep my house and life organized and clutter free.  And that a happy mama makes.  

A Month of Thanks: Day 21

I'm thankful for the opportunity to have a house full of family this week.  It's a lovely chance for us to all get together to eat, catch up, and reminisce.

A Month of Thanks: Day 20

Today, I am thankful for this oddity of nature younger brother of mine.  Sometimes funny, most of the time a friend, and always someone I can call at 6:00 in the morning for that book title I just can't remember, he is the best little brother a girl could ask for.  Unless of course, you're asking my mom who has three little brothers from whom to pick.  Oh, and my child has a major obsession with all photos of "Uncle Cool."  So, Matthew, enjoy this day of thanks for you.  Perhaps this will be the start of your very own national holiday.

A Month of Thanks: Day 19

I'm thankful that this pot of tomatoes became several of these:

Jars of delicious pizza sauce.