Blessings

Am having a wonderful time in my NC mountains. Being here to watch the grands opening gifts,laughing, and talking on Christmas was priceless. Going to church with family for Christmas service was awesome. Having dinner and watching movies with Megan and family was fun. Giving baby grandson a taste of his first cookie, candy cane made my day. Giving him a bath and holding him as he fell asleep was perfect. Being in a wreck with Melody and both of us coming out unharmed was a blessing. Still so much trials and stress happening with my family but am so proud to see their faith stand strong as they face and not run from all that is before them. No matter what is going on in your life never forget there is a blessing in there somewhere. You just have to look and give thanks for it.

Merry Christmas

May each of you have a blessed Christmas. May your homes and hearts be filled with love and laughter. May your Christmas wishes come true and may Santa be extra good to you. Merry Christmas!

NC Mountains Here I Come

Salt dough ornaments along with cinnamon ornaments, and crochet snowflakes decorate our little tree. All made right here on the homestead. I would take a picture of the tree so you could see the beauty of a simple homemade decorated tree but I have packed my camera. Tomorrow at noon I head out for my beloved mountains and time with my family. William will be here on the homestead taking care of the animals. His daughter and family will be visiting right after Christmas. I am looking forward to spending time with daughters and grands. Looking forward to cold weather and maybe a little snow. I will be popping in from time to time to visit my blog friends and neighbors. Not sure if it will be everyday but know you are in my thoughts and prayers. Wishing you and yours a very, very blessed Christmas. It's not the gift wrapped under the tree but the love of family and friends that is our most precious gift....enjoy your gift.

Wednesday's Wonderful Blog Neighbor

 Because I think I have the most awesome blog neighbors I wanted to share some with you. Each Wednesday I will post one of my blog neighbors and hope you will drop by their blog for a visit. You don't have to follow them or even leave a comment (though that would be nice). Just stop by and check them out. Who knows you might like them so much they become your neighbor too!

Today I would love for you to visit my dear,sweet, friend Melissa. She has been a friend and a blog neighbor for several years. I love visiting her blog, "The Book of Common Life" because what you see and read is really her. She doesn't write fairy tales. She writes about her day, her thoughts, her ups, her downs, etc. She shares her life in its true form. I learn so much from her. Melissa gives me food for thought each day. She gives me the get up and go I need some days. Melissa is truly a wonderful blog neighbor and friend. Please pay her a visit and who knows... she may become one of your wonderful blog neighbors!





http://thebookofcommonlife.blogspot.com/

Simple Christmas Decorations

I have boxes and boxes of Christmas decorations but decided I like the simple decorations much better. More of a homestead Christmas look I guess. Went out in the woods and gathered some greenry, got out a few strands of lights, couple trees that have seen better years,few wreaths and ribbons, my vintage ice skates, and tiny sled and I was ready to decorate. William says the decorations make it look like a Hobbit house but I am okay with that. LOL No that isn't snow I just edited the photo to make me feel better.

Santa Came To Town

Harvey doing his "homework" his last day here at Pop Pops and Grandma's. He went home Saturday and sure is quiet around here.

William, Santa arrived at Tractor Supply Saturday in a horse drawn buggy. He had lots of fun all day having pictures taken with children, animals, and adults. He is going to be back there the 22nd. Think he is having way too much fun with this. I set up at the Craft Fair there and did really well . Much better than the last one.

Today has been a rainy day so I have been making and canning tomato sauce. Have parsnips I need to blanch and freeze sometime this evening. Laundry is almost caught up and house is almost clean. Hopefully tomorrow morning will have these chores finished and I can get outside and clean muddy chicken pens and the goat pens. Just simple life here at the homestead.

A Small Break

Sorry for not posting my blog neighbor posts or any other post for that matter. Some very sad, stressful things are happening to one of my daughters and her family so my mind and heart have been there. I am also spending my last week with Harvey baking cookies and making candy for him to take home this weekend. One more craft fair Saturday with William playing Santa for the kids and pets and we will be done for the season. I will be back blogging Sunday with pics of Christmas decorations (where is that Christmas spirit this year?) and with plans to blog at least a small post every day. It's just been a busy stressful fall and holiday season. When you say your prayers tonight please say one for my daughter Melody and her beautiful family. May God be beside them as they find their way out of this storm. Don't forget to count your blessings and don't forget to love and enjoy your family every second. We never know what tomorrow brings.

Happy Birthday Harvey

Have been canning and freezing all week. Got tomatoes, carrots, pickled peppers, apple sauce, collards,and tomato sauce canned. Froze parsnips and turnips. Still need to can pumpkin puree for pies. Harvey turned 5 while here and ask for a Bumble Bee transformer cake. Being I never heard of Bumble Bee Transformers it took awhile finding one for his cake but was worth the trips to stores seeing the smile on his face. He is with his mom and dad for the weekend to have a party and then will be back tomorrow for one more week. We have plans to bake lots of cookies and make lots of candy for him to take home for Christmas. We did finally get the tree up yesterday and I got it decorated tonight. Need to put the lights up across the front of the house and the outside will be done. Decided to decorate old fashioned this year except for lights. Looks kinda like Little House decorations and will post pics tomorrow. Love the simple decorations after years of going overboard. Going to box up and donate most of the Christmas decorations. Just don't like the clutter and closed in feeling when having too many decorations. Must be getting old. Will be helping William tomorrow with a customers yard and trees before going to friend Gerda's to take her a rooster and couple of hens. Have to build her a pen but she wants chickens for Christmas so she shall have them. No matter what happens in everyday life there are always blessings to be thankful for and I am very blessed.

Doesn't Winter Mean....

Things are suppose to slow down? Last week was spent getting ready for Craft Fair that was on Saturday. This week I was blessed with boxes and boxes of produce plus 2 pallets of pumpkins from the Farmers Market. I am going to be in the kitchen this week canning and freezing veggies. I love that we got so many wonderful vegetables but I haven't even had a chance to take the fall decorations down. The same farmers market gave us a beautiful fir tree and it is sitting by the back porch waiting to be put in stand and decorated. Grandson Harvey is spending a few weeks with us and he is anxious to start decorating for Christmas. He doesn't think Santa will show up if we don't decorate. I am also trying to cook and freeze meals for William while I am in the mountains. Animals are sensing my busyness and are getting into things or getting out. Life may be crazy around the homestead but its all blessings. Here is a photo of my and Gerda's craft booth and William playing Santa.