Happy Belated 2009!

Wow...things are getting back to normal after an amazing Xmas! We had such a wonderful time and Xmas really lasted about 2 weeks this year. We had so many house guests......all of them so very welcome........so much snow ...and rain....poker games, sledding excursions, cookie and candy eating, secret keeping, teasing and laughing, of course music playing...........all the things I love so much about this big, hilarious family!!
Everyone is gone now and Jim and I are still basking in the silence and peace, but, at least in my mind, I miss everyone already! Such is a Mom's life!
Yesterday, however, we had another wonderful day of family . Marcy,Jim's sister didn't make it out here in time for Xmas ,,,,so we drove to Jim's dad, Jerry's house in Benicia to see Marcy. Jack and Donna were also there and Molly and Ross joined us . Granny drove over with us, so it ended up to be quite a crowd. We stayed all day and enjoyed great conversation, a wonderful pizza and musical entertainment by Ross. An awesome way to start off the new year!
Today I've spent the day on the computer trying to come up with some new ideas of things to make and sell this year. Any ideas.....send them my way!
Now that things have settled down I hope to get back to posting more on this blog.....I've missed sharing tidbits of my "so-called life" with everyone. For now......have a great 2009.....no doubt an interesting one!
By the way.....Blogger isn't letting me download photos right now......hopefully I'll be able to add them sonn.

White Christmas!

It's a winter wonderland here right now! About a foot of snow with more on the way through Christmas. Jenny is loving it .......she's a snow dog at heart, like her "Mom".
Molly and beau, Ross came last night and Josh and family will be here today. I can't wait to see them......it's been about 6 months since we've seen them. Seth just called from a rock climbing expedition in Bishop and will be coming home this evening before more snow sets in. Sooooooo... the house is starting to fill up. I broke open the mega 80lb coffee sack this morning!!!!! And we'll have a side of beef defrosting for tomorrow nights dinner!!
As it's going to be a hectic week I may not get a chance to wish you all a very Merry Xmas. So consider yourselves wished! I love Xmas.......the excitement, the hustle and bustle, the music and the food. I become quite the traditionalist at Xmas time ........I hope you all find time for your favorite tradition.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Xmas!

The lights are up, the tree is trimmed! I spent the day wrapping presents......Xmas must be just around the corner. It's even supposed to snow all weekend......at last......so maybe a white Xmas. Hopefully this weekend the kitchen will start smelling like spiced walnuts and cranberry bread, with a little Rice Krispie Treat scent thrown in for good measure!

As you can see from the photo we've decided to use manzanita again this year for our Xmas tree. It's so nice just to cut off a few branches and not destroy a whole tree......not to mention the money saving aspects of just walking outside and picking out "tree". We have quite a few firs, cedar and pines on our property and some year we might cut one of those if they seem to be in a "no win" growth situation.

Tomorrow I'm headed down to help my Mom finish her shopping......I LOVE Xmas shopping......especially if I'm just a consultant and don't actually have to buy anything!

I hope everyone reading this is cozy and warm......getting ready to soak in this wonderful mid-winter season.

Frazzled!!

I love this time of year , but since undertaking this little business it's lost some of it's allure! I'm sick of sitting up in my little "sweatshop"...so I've moved my operation downstairs for the day .......it makes me feel a little more a part of the household! What a mess I have down here, but I have gotten quite a bit done this afternoon. My last sale of the year is this Saturday...however, it's a huge one with lots of inventory needed. I'm actually in pretty good shape...I've gotten all my large orders done......such a good feeling! If I wasn't so greedy I wouldn't feel compelled to have so much to sell.......but greedy I am!

I'm just feeling a bit guilty about not doing more this weekend.......Molly, my Mom and I had way too much fun doing the Xmas shopping thing........but I'm willing to pay the price now........I wouldn't trade the fun times this weekend for anything.........even cash!!!!

Black Friday!

I didn't remember to capture the fun on "film" yesterday so I offer you leftovers!

This truly is about all that's left after yesterday's feast and tonight's dinner in front of the TV. We all enjoyed the day very much yesterday.....a rather small crowd, as crowds go up here.........I think there were only 8 of us, but we all possessed hearty appetites. The afternoon was very mellow, the dinner conversation very lively and then a rather sleepy dessert session! Everyone left by around 8:00 and I was ready to crash by 9:00.

Molly and I did a few errands today....braving the crowds and finding a few bargains. Tomorrow I think we'll go down and meet Granny for a few more deals we can't resist.

I hope you all also are having a great weekend......so much to be grateful for.

Molly's Belated Birthday!

Well, yet another group portrait and not a very imaginative one at that! This was taken at Granny's house the last weekend when we got together to celebrate Molly's 23rd birthday. My littlest baby girl!!!!! Molly .......sweet from the moment she came into this world......my darlin' red girl! Anyhow.........we had a fine time and of course a great dinner. The "men folk"......Denny, Jim and Ross set up Granny's new big screen while us women saw to dinner. After dinner , while Molly opened her many presents we enjoyed Freeport bakery's legendary Carrot cake. WE finally said our goodbyes around 11:00.........way past my bedtime!

Since the party I've been sewing and selling with a bit of Xmas shopping thrown in. I'm doing pretty well.....but my brain threatens to explode sometimes trying to keep everyone and their wants and needs straight. Santa must always find just the right item!!

Molly's been up here for a few days and today we had a fun day that brought up a lot of memories past. We just went down to Auburn ......got a few things at Target and then joined the throngs of people at Raleys to get groceries for Thanksgiving........something Molly and I have done together since I've been lucky enough to have her. I have so very much to be thankful for.........and you folks get ready for another group photo in a day or two...this time we'll be gathered around the old dining table!

Cozy Sunday!

Wow, a quiet Sunday with a nice warm fire going.......life hardly gets any better than this!.........but then I'm a really boring kind of person. I feel a little guilty that I don't have my sewing machines humming along......I was going to bring one of the machines downstairs so I could work at the coffee table.....watch football and keep warm by the fire, but laziness took over and I'm only using the coffee table to keep my Candy Corns on! Well, tomorrow I'll be back to my workroom making magic!!!!!

Yesterday Molly and I headed to Roseville to do a little Xmas shopping......and I actually made some headway......I pretty much got Jilly's family done and so I can start sending those off to Norway this coming week.

We're inheriting my Mom's 32" TV since she bought a new 42" set and so yesterday Molly and I also went to junk shop and bought a sweet little table to put the bigger TV on......it's a drop-leaf style, with a solid oak top, but it needs to be sanded and I'll paint part of it.......kind of a funky style. I also got a really cool old oak desk chair.......pictured in above photo. I never liked the modern fake leather one we had....isn't really our style.......I LOVE this one, so much more character than one made in China. Most of the furniture in our house shows some history of previous owners or it's furniture that Jim's made.........funky is for sure our style of preference!

Molly and Seth went up climbing with some friends today...they must be freezing!

I'm cooking a big pot of chili for dinner......I think I'll make it extra "hot" to help them warm up!