…Things I Did This Week:
1. I made little soldered ornaments for this year. I like to stick with the Santa theme and I’ve been doing them for a few years now — I think they’re fun!
2. We have the neatest Christmas Tree man. He and his trailer come from Michigan each year and we’ve been buying trees from him since we moved here in 1999. The last few years, when we get our tree, he always asks how BigDaddy is doing because BigDaddy took him donuts one year. So, this year, I decided to get a selection of goodies and take BigDaddy down there for a visit. We went on a week night when I knew he wouldn’t be busy and it was really fun to watch them visit — I think it made both of them happy to see each other. He told us a really fun story too — how he had three girls and decided he wanted a boy, so they decided to adopt a little boy from Russia. Only, when they were filling out the paperwork, the people asked them what they were going to do about the little boy’s sisters. He’s skeptical that they really are the boy’s sisters, but they adopted the two little girls anyway. The children are all grown and gone now, and I loved getting to know more about our Christmas Tree guy. Everyone has a story, isn’t it amazing?
3. Today was the making o’ the gingerbread, in prep for our annual gingerbread competition. I can’t wait to see what everyone has up their sleeve this year!
4. Sample Spree fabrics arrived and I still have a Vintage Picnic fat quarter bundle available. It’s $110 + flat rate postage — if you’re interested, let me know.
5. If you’ve been around here a long time, you know there are two things I avoid discussing — politics and religion. I think whoever said politics and religion should be avoided at parties was a wise person. I do love a good political debate, but most people have their minds made up and all too often people get their feelings hurt. So. This is not a political post and I’m not endorsing anyone*! Presidential candidates rarely come to our little fly-over town, so when Ben Carson stopped by for a quick visit, I decided to go check it out. Long before I even knew what his political leanings were, I was a huge fan. I remember back in the 80’s when 60 Minutes, Time Magazine, etc. all wrote about his amazing gifts as a young neurosurgeon and I loved reading about all the children whose lives he was saving. Whether you like his politics or not, he really is an amazing man. Would he make a good president? I have no clue. I always told my boys to Be Kind and Work Hard, and I do know, if kindness and hard work were the criteria to be President, Ben Carson would win. Hands Down.
Ok Kids — that was my week — how has yours been going? Are your Christmas plans on track???
XOXO,
Anna
*No political comments please — I don’t want to delete you! ;-D
I love that fabric but I have too much as it is right now – I wish it was mine though you can send it too me LOL. I love your tree and what a great story – the ornaments you are making are great too. I haven’t made a gingerbread house in years – you do yours from scratch or do you start with the pieces all ready made and then decorate how you wish? My daughter is bringing her husbands great niece over on Thursday and we are going to do cookies – it is always nice to do something like that with a little child – it kind of makes it more fun if you know what I mean and the grandchildren aren’t here so little Aniya makes it more fun for me – a substitute grandchild for an evening. Looking forward to seeing your gingerbread house!
I look forward to your gingerbread house post every year! Would you share your recipe for the gingerbread sometime? I’m going to have my 3 year old granddaughter over this week to make some gingerbread boys and girls for the first time. Not sure if I should use a recipe that tastes good or holds up good. But I’m sure it’s going to be an adventure no matter what! Just hoping to make some memories !
Your tree is lovely!
Hmm…I preordered that fabric somewhere otherwise I would jump on it. I have a busy week finishin a few gifts, doing cards and getting the house ready for some little grands the week of Christmas. We are blessed. Love the Big Daddy story. And I am looking forward to the gingerbread post!
I love Dr. Carson. I think he would be a good friend to have. President….I’m with you and I NEVER EVER discuss politics or religion. I hate presidential election cycles for that reason. People have a hard time agreeing to disagree with civility. Love your Christmas posts. And thanks for asking…I have too much still to do and a huge snowstorm is on the way.
Sounds like you are having a good time getting ready for Santa :) What a great story, I bet your Dad loved going to visit the tree man. Your tree looks lovely too! Merry Christmas!
Love the ornaments. Can I ask where you found the 2 sided images? Thanks so much.
I love the Big Daddy story! Your Presidential election is fascinating to us, as your system is so different to ours (I don’t think that counts as a political comment!!).
How lovely that you took BigDaddy to see his Christmas Tree Man friend! I bet they both had a lovely time blethering with each other! Can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with in your gingerbread house competition.
What a wonderful man, your Christmas tree seller! Adopting an extra three children – gosh, what a big heart. I’m amused to see that your tree is almost as overloaded with ornaments as mine! I thought that Nicholas would be very excited by all the teddies and Santas and so on hanging on the tree, but no: he loves the coloured lights because they’re like traffic lights. It would have been a lot less bother just to put the lights on and leave it at that…
your ornaments are wonderful.
i loved the story about your tree man and Big Daddy. You are such a thoughtful daughter Anna. Your parents must have been wonderful because I think you turned out practically perfect. Your tree is just gorgeous. I made gingerbread MEN for a cookie exchange, and after rolling out 6 dozen of them i’m afraid i’m gingerbread-ed out!!! They were yummy though. and, apparently you don’t go to a cookie exchange for the cookies, because they all suck. yeah, you go for the titillating conversation and the dinner that was served. oh and the ornament exchange, and hope you get your own back. we may need to plan a soldering weekend this year. where we make crowns. wouldnt that be fun? one for my dolly and maybe you can think of someone special to make one for. i’ll have to read up on ben carson. idk enough about him.
well, off to save the world.
bye anna banana.
:waves madly
what very cute Santa ornaments. Is it a difficult craft? I’ve always admired soldered jewerly. Your tree is wonderful!! great ornaments and the shape and size is fantastic.
How wonderful to reconnect your dad and the tree man. How sweet!
gingerbread – mmmmnnnn nothing smells like it on earth!
xoxo
It is nice to see you so busy and festive – the tree and decorations are so pretty.
Amalia
xo
Mmmmm, the smell of gingerbread baking. Can’t wait to see the houses!
Well, as one who finds the American voting system totally incomprehensible, lol, and haven’t actually voted yet, I don’t have a clue either but I loved the movie, name escapes me, about him.
What a sweet story, but they may well have been his sisters, we had a gorgeous little Russian baby adopted by a family in our church in PA, and two years later E’s sister came to join the family!
Best to BigDaddy and MeMum X
I always enjoy your gingerbread house post too! Have fun and good luck to all! Hey, I would take that Vintage Picnic off your hands! Just send me a bill or whatever and I’ll get you paid.
I love your tree and your clever Santa ornaments! I don’t know how to do that… soldering will go on my list!
I agree with your perspective regarding Ben Carson. I avoid those subjects as much as possible. I had been a bartender in a 5 star resort… so I am pretty good at dancing around issues.
I haven’t got my shopping done and time is running out! I just asked for Monday off from work… but my twin sons have their birthday on Winter Solstice. Does it ever end?
I am looking forward to 2016…
Your tree is gorgeous! We finally got ours set up tonight and the lights on, but that’s it so far. Just ran out of interest. Plus Mr. Muddling went to take a nap. Right now I’m just enjoying watching the lights blink. I love Christmas! Your ornaments are pretty, too. Are they for your tree or gifts? I like Ben Carson. He is one of the most decent men I’ve seen in politics ever. Will I vote for him? I don’t know. Our baby girl Mary is our family Christmas present this year. We are flying her home from New York next week. Best present ever! Hugs and kisses and lots of Christmas love. Thank you for brightening my day every time your post!
mmm that photo of making gingerbread is making me hungry. That’s such a lovely story about the Christmas tree man and his children.
your tree looks gorgeous!!!
Wow, I just love the Christmas Tree Man story! I also have been a huge fan of your soldered ornaments for a few years now. Any chance you would consider doing a tutorial in the new year when things calm waaaaay down? Also looking forward to your annual gingerbread house post — always a favorite. Today we wrap, bake and watch classic Christmas movies????????????. Have a wonderful Christmas!
p.s. Guess emojis don’t work here. Those “?”s are supposed to be Christmas trees and such :)