No, not the book, but my unrealistic mental picture of what Christmas should be like. I do it every year as an adult. I remember those childhood Christmases. Though far from "perfect", they were always a day that was much anticipated and thoroughly enjoyed. I don't know what it is exactly that I am expecting out of Christmas. Something more Martha Stewart-like? Maybe Little House On The Prairie? I can't quite figure it out. This year, being what it was, I felt more disappointed in myself then ever before. The gift-giving dwindled down to 4 people out of the so many, many that deserved a gift ( if not 2 or 3!) from me.
I try to step back from it a bit, now that it has mercifully passed. I try to appreciate something in Nature everyday, be it bright sun, snow or freezing cold. I feed the birds, savor the walk to the mailbox and admire the pine trees. Maybe it shouldn't be what I expect out of Christmas, but what Christmas expects of me. An open heart, a forgiving soul, a joyous spirit. A creative mind and busy hands.
Gentle words and the abitlity to express them...out loud.
Thankfulness for all I have and humbleness to accept what I can not change.
I try to step back from it a bit, now that it has mercifully passed. I try to appreciate something in Nature everyday, be it bright sun, snow or freezing cold. I feed the birds, savor the walk to the mailbox and admire the pine trees. Maybe it shouldn't be what I expect out of Christmas, but what Christmas expects of me. An open heart, a forgiving soul, a joyous spirit. A creative mind and busy hands.
Gentle words and the abitlity to express them...out loud. Thankfulness for all I have and humbleness to accept what I can not change.
It will have a winding "vine" dotted with the stars and some crescent moon shapes.
This is mixed on medium heat until the liquid is clear and all the gelatin is dissolved. 
Then add 5 cups of mixed bird seed and let it cool slightly. I pressed my mixture into a bundt pan to make a wreath,
but the mixture can also be spread on to a cookie sheet and cut into shapes. Make sure to punch a hole to hang up the shapes. I strung my wreath on a wide red ribbon. After chilling in the fridge for several hours it was ready to unmold.
an adorable Barbara Ana Design I finished a while ago but just now got around to "decorating" it a bit.
Aren't the colors just beautiful. And to top it off there was the sweetest little card and more of the wonderful floss(Atalie "Ciuvre") in an amazing thread-keeper.
Thank you so much Harmien. Then there is this friendly friend from my fabulous friend Barbara.
Barbara knows how much cats mean to me and this smiling, delightful guy (or perhaps girl) arrived to me several weeks ago.
I've been so caught up in my own self that I forgot to properly thank Barbara or to post a photo of my new feline friend. Thank you Barbara. 
Yes, those are the chickens on the roof behind Carmella. How they got up there I'll never know.
Elliot prefers to bask in the sun.
Coal and Sammy share a drink from the urn.
The last of the corn waits to be harvested, 
and a single leaf hangs on for a little longer. 
That's all any of us can really do, isn't it..................
It was just me, Joe, Mom and Dad. I made them a cake and planted these birthday number candles on the top. Not very chic but the cake was tasty. Spice cake with pumpkin custard filling and cream cheese icing.
The main meal was a pork roast roll-up with cranberry stuffing inside, some gravy and Brussels sprouts sauteed with panceta.
"Be Thankful" by Barbara Ana Designs. I love it, especially the bead detail on the Indian Corn.
Barbara Ana is so innovative and a master of American-themed designs and expressions. That is a true talent for someone who doesn't have English as her native language. 
The lady and has already sold a few and ordered more from me. I still have to keep up with the doll clothes stitching for my Christmas sale the second week of December. I'm wanting to do some serious cross-stitching, but "obligation sewing" comes first. I really shouldn't call it that because I love to stitch in any form. It is also a chance for me to make a little extra money, which will of course be spent on more stitching supplies! 
I was at the gym swimming and Joe found him somewhere...............I passed by Joe on his way to work and he simply said"Remember what I told you last night?" Meaning, he said Sammy would be back today just in time for my parent's visit this weekend. There has been so much stress around here lately and my parents suddenly decided to make another visit this weekend. It is more of a "business trip" as they are giving us their old car. A gift we really need, but the timing was a bit off. Anyway, things are nearly back on track for this weekend. Had a scare with little Roy yesterday. There seemed to be some sort of "Black Hole for Black Cats" in our world the past week. Roy vanished on Wednesday and was gone for over 14 hours. When he finally came back very late Wednesday night I was overjoyed, but still so down about Sammy being gone. Then Roy went out Thursday morning and within a matter of moments I heard that dreaded 'thud' on the road. You pet owners know the noise I'm talking about; when a car speeds by and you hear that awful sound and you know what it means. I immediately ran outside calling for Roy. No sign of him in the road but I could hear him meowing frantically from the porch behind me. There he lay with his back legs in a very awkward position, panting and howling and covered with wet leaves and mud. I picked him up and brought him inside where he regained his footing (Thank God!) and now limps around a bit today. He must have bounced right off the speeding car and hurt his right back leg when he hit the ground. No blood, no wounds that I can see. He is able to go up and down the stairs, jump on to the bed and the couch and he just left me a nice healthy "gift" in the littler box! That is always a sure sign that a cat is doing better. Everybody settled down for a snack.....
Even Elliot got into the action from his usual vantage point, the kitchen counter.
My parents like nothing better then to sit by the wood-stove; Mom and I stitching or knitting and Dad reading. The baseball National League Championships are on this weekend though so Dad might find that hard to resist.