CHRISTMAS WRAP UP

Christmas is over for another year! I always thoroughly enjoy the season, but I'm always glad to start a new year, too. There is something about taking down all of the Christmas stuff, cleaning and reclaiming the house that invigorates me.
Our immediate family is small with just our two kids, our son-in-law and the two grandkids; but we always enjoy getting together for lots of food and to watch the young kids opening their gifts.

For some reason, we didn't take a lot of pictures this year. But, here are a couple of mosaics of our favorite moments. It is always special to celebrate a birthday or a Christmas with our daughter after she was diagnosed with the worst kind of brain cancer 3 1/2 years ago. Isn't is wonderful that a seven-year-old can still get excited over a new soccer ball? And, all boys no matter their age still like to play with legos.

And, a teenager is still filled with wonder?

And, now tomorrow, I will start dismantling the decorations to begin a new year. I'm excited, and I hope the joy and reason for Christmas stays with you throughout 2010.

I'm joining Mary at Little Red House
for her weekly Mosaic Monday party. Please go visit her blog for wonderful photography and for a list of the other participants.

JOY TO THE WORLD

THE LORD HAS COME!

May you have a glorious Christmas celebration.

FINISHING UP PROJECTS!

It is the beginning of Christmas week, and I still have some loose ends to finish; but I did manage to complete these projects this past week.

I made these two potholders using Irene Berry's paper-pieced patterns. They will be enclosed with home-made candy for a long-time friend.

It is so hard to shop for my 95-year old Mother-in-law, so this year we went through some old pictures of her ancestors and family. I scrap booked a small heritage book for her.

And finally, I actually managed to finish knitting our youngest grandchild his Christmas stocking. He has been neglected, in that I have made every one's stocking for their first Christmas. He is 7 years old already - bad Grammy!!

I'm about finished except for the mountain of cooking necessary for the week. How are you coming on your preparations for the celebration of the birth of Jesus?

SANTA SNACK MIX

Just a little snack for Mr. & Mrs. Santa as they prepare for Christmas.

The snack mix is yummy, especially with a cup of hot chocolate. Don't forget the 'snowman marshmallow peep'!!

I found this snack mix recipe in the new December 2009 issue of Southern Living magazine.

I substituted dried cranberries for the raisins.

I do believe Mr. and Mrs. Santa are becoming addicted to it.

I'm linking to Designs by Gollum
for Foodie Friday. Check Michael Lee's blog for a list of the participants showing off great food.

TOUR OF HOMES

Today I thought I would take you on a tour of our living room all decked out for the Christmas season. But first, let's look at Bob's and my very first Christmas tree. The year was 1958, we had been married 3 months and we were poor college students. We probably paid $1 for the fresh tree, and then bought one red ball to write the date on. We strung popcorn and cranberries and called it good. Those red blobs are some red net doodads I made.

Now, 51 years later the tree is basically the same - just more loaded and bigger. There are now 52 red balls with the year written on them, plus other ornaments with meaning that have been added over the years. I guess I don't decorate, I accumulate. That pretty well sums up my whole decorating philosophy - Christmas or anytime.

In the mosaic below on the upper right, you can see that 1958 ball.

We have been putting up a second tree for about 20 years now after we inherited Christmas ornaments from our families. This tree contains only blown glass ornaments - some old, and some new from travels and friends.

The huge (about 8" in diameter) green mercury glass ball below was made in Belgium and belonged to my parents.

Bob started the Hummel Nativity set for me 41 years ago. That Christmas he gave me Mary and Baby Jesus. He then added to the set piece by piece as finances allowed.

The Hummel Madonna and Child belonged to my mother.

The grandkids came home with us after church on Sunday. They were so quiet after lunch, I thought I should check on them. They were busy decorating the doll house!

I was happy to see that they considered the whole family around the table as part of the Christmas celebration.

What a joy it is to celebrate the Christmas season.

I'm linking this post to The Nester's Tour of Homes
and to the Deck the Halls Tuesday party at Thoughts from over the Rainbow.
Also, I'm linking to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch
for Metamorphosis Monday and to Mary's Mosaic Monday at
Little Red House,

So many parties to attend, but be sure to stop by these blogs for a whole lot of Christmas joy.

MOSAIC MONDAY & DECK THE HALLS TUESDAY

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here!

I'm joining Mary at Little Red House
for her weekly Mosaic Monday party. Stop by her wonderful blog to see what she has going, plus there will be a list of participants of the mosaic party.

Also, please check out Thoughts from over the Rainbow
for the Deck the Halls Tuesday get together.

THE LONG-AWAITED CLOCHE PARTY

Thanks to Marty of A Stroll Thru Life
for hosting this event. Be sure to check out her blog for a list of all of the participants. I'm sure there will be so many creative ideas for using cloches and apothecary jars in Christmas decorating. I can't wait to view every one's posts.