Christmas decorating has started with our gnome house!

Did you have a good Thanksgiving?

Christmas decorating started Wednesday afternoon with our gnome house.  

It now has a few Christmas trimmings, including a toadstool wreath and pine roping.

We think the house looks especially festive at night.

Do you think there is some Christmas magic happening inside this cozy dwelling?

It snowed all Thanksgiving.  A wonderful surprise.  

The girls and their cousins spent time after dinner sledding in our backyard.

“May this approaching new year be full of proud deeds and silly games, beautiful songs and hearty feasts, clever jokes, loving friends, and enough surprises to keep us on our toes.” -A gnome blessing.
 

 Enjoy the magic of Christmas, dear friends.

 

A miniature Thanksgiving...

Although I’ll be cooking a regular-sized turkey on Thursday, one of my many dollhouses is enjoying their own mini Thanksgiving feast. 

 Emma and I made these peg doll Indians several years ago when she was in the 4th grade. I can't believe how quickly time has passed.

This picture of Josie was taken two years ago.  It's still one of my favorites.

What are your plans for Thanksgiving?  We'll be having some of Chris's family with us and we're especially looking forward to having Emma home with us again.

 She's scheduled to arrive home late Wednesday night.  She'll have spent a zillion hours on a charter bus  from FL.  We flew back on Sunday so that we could return to work and school.

May you and your family find peace and comfort during this upcoming holiday season.

Wishing each of you a very Happy Thanksgiving! 

XOXO

 

A little work and a little play...

I've been keeping a secret.

A few weeks ago, I had shared that Emma's band would be heading to Orlando FL. 

 What I didn't share was that Chris, Josie and myself would also be traveling too!!

 We've known about this trip for quite a while.

 Back in May, I put in a proposal to present at the SLOAN Consortium International Conference on Online Learning that just happened to be scheduled during part of the time that Emma would be in Orlando.

Thankfully, my proposal was accepted and this gave us an opportunity to travel to FL!

After I was done working, the three of were able to enjoy some time at Magic Kingdom and Epcot.

 Emma doesn't return back to a cold and snowy MI until late Wednesday.

Thankfully, we were able to spend some time together with her Saturday at Epcot.  

Josie had been away from her big sister for 4 days and was happy to be reunited again.

Hard to believe in two short years, Emma will be off to college...sigh.

Disney certainly knows how to do it right for Christmas.

 Even Santa managed to find some time in his busy schedule to attend the evening parade.

Merry Christmas, Santa!

We certainly are counting our many blessings this year.

XOXO

Run to Target! $1 vintage-inspired snowmen are back!!

Last year, I discovered that Target was selling miniature vintage-inspired snowmen for a $1.

  I happened to stop by the store earlier this week and saw them again in their ornament section.

These are just two ideas that I made last year with these little cuties.  

 You better get there before they are all sold out!!  Happy "almost" weekend!
  

Saturday estate sale finds...

Before yardwork and laundry commenced on Saturday, Chris and I hit a local estate sale hosted by one of our favorite companies. There were two identical afghans left behind.

I grabbed them both.  The colors are fantastic and a gentle cleaning has them smelling nice again. 

The attic was full of boxes just waiting to be explored.  An assortment of Christmas treasures came home. The Night Before Christmas book is dated from 1938.   It's in rough shape, but the pages can be scanned and framed.

I'm planning on giving the handmade felt stockings a slight makeover and will  add them to the rest of my vintage stocking collection which will hang above my kitchen window.

 Floral picks and a stray deer will be used in some type of future Christmas crafting project.    The table runner is made of felt.  I love the sweet snow people graphics. 

I can never have enough reflectors and miniature trees.  The pink angels have the sweetest little faces.

Doesn't this light scream gaudy?   I've got all kinds of plans to glam it up a bit more.

Last but not least, these three pixies were just hoping to be rescued. They are currently sitting in my craft room shelf waiting to get into all kinds of Christmas mischief!
 

Elfin Magic!!

You never know where inspiration will strike.

I saw this box of animal crackers in my kitchen cupboard.

Then next thing you know, a miniature snow storm blew through.

And a bit of Christmas magic happened.

It's been a busy weekend, but never too busy to squeeze in a craft or two.

XOXO