Family Traditions con't.

There is another family tradition that I so enjoy and that is our New Years Eve Tradition.  For the past several years Marianne, Stephen, Awbrey, Gary and I have spent the evening watching movies, playing games and watching the New Year in as a family.  I so look forward to this every year especially now that they have moved to Vancouver, WA.  We were so used to seeing them everyday and now we make the trip to Vancouver 3 or 4 times a year.

Family Traditions

Marianne and Kimberly were 4 years old when Gary and I were married.  Our first Christmas, together as a family, we didn't have a lot of money.  We brought our first artificial tree and a few decorations.  We needed a few more decorations for the tree so Marianne, Kimberly, Gary and I made red and green paper chains, strung popcorn and red berries to finish decorating the tree.  After that we tried to do something together every year to add to the tree.  We painted ornaments, baked the stain glass look ornaments, and made ornaments out of clay.   As the girls got older and moved away from home I really missed the little things we did together during the holidays.  Now they have families of their own and I am so looking forward to the old and new traditions we will have with our grandchildren.

When Awbrey was barely 3 months old we began our tradition of making Christmas candies and breads together every year.  Her first Christmas she sat in her bouncer chair, on the kitchen counter, and we made her first batch of fudge together and each year we continue to make our candy and breads together.  Even though the kids now live in Vancouver, WA, Awbrey and I will continue to keep our tradition.  I usually take everything we will  need with me and we spend a day before Christmas making our candies, breads and apple butter.  This is a tradition that I hope will continue through the years ahead.

Most Favorite Time of the Year!

In just 24 days we will be celebrating Thanksgiving and then it will be Christmas before we know it.  This year has just flow by and it seems the older I get the faster they go.  I love the holidays.  I love spending time with family and friends and catching up on what is happening in their lives.  The aromas that Thanksgiving and Christmas gives us are absolutely the best.  I love the smell of cinnamon, baked apples, pumpkin pie, breads and candies as they drift all through the house.  Since I am allergic to Christmas trees we have an artifical tree so I don't get the smell of cedar or pine in the house.  But that is okay as I can enjoy all the other smells of Christmas.

This was my Mom's favorite time of the year.  A time when all the family would come together and share our love for one another. 

Busy, Busy, Busy!

This year is just flying by and we are already at the end of October which means we have less then 2 months to Christmas.  I have been busy all day putting some finishing touches on some of the things I have made for gifts.  Although this time of the year is hectic I love it!  I love to make things for friends and families and I am really having a blast doing just that this year.  I'll post more pics later as I don't want to give away any surprises.

Working like Crazy!

  



This one is my favorite!

I have been working like crazy to finish up Christmas projects.  I saw an article in one of my quilting magazines for Yo Yo Christmas Trees.  So, I decided that I would like to make some.  I don't like making the Yo Yo's so I went on Ebay to see if someone had them for sale.  I found several different ones and statting the bidding process.  Here are the trees I made and I think they are really neat looking,   Let me know what you think.


I've been doing a lot of knitting this year and here are a few of my projects.


Purple, Turquoise, Grey
and Ecru Scarf



Red and Sage Headband
and Scarf



Teal & Ecru Headband and Scarf

Lemonade Headband & Scarf

There a lot of other knitting projects but they are Christmas gifts so will post them later. 

The Gathering of Friends

My baby sister Nellie gave me this wonderful cookbook for my 65th birthday.  Yeah, that's right I am now 65 years.  I love this book!  It has menus  and decorating for special occasions.  I can't wait to try out some of the menus and some of the gift ideas it has.  It even has a section on how to host a Cookie Swap Party that might just come in handy for the upcoming holidays.

Feels like Fall

Feels like Fall has finally arrived in the city with small town charm.  Today I had to turn off the attic fan and close the doors as, if you can believe this, I was getting cold.  My Roses really like the cooler weather and are blooming like crazy.  Since we are having cooler temperatures Gary and I are now taking our daily walks in the evening instead of early in the morning.

Hope Rose

Sterling Silver Rose

Pink Minature

Enjoying Life

Gary and I are enjoying retirement life and visiting family when time allows