Happy New Year!!!!!W

Happy New Year!                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                     
This has been such a wonderful begining of a new year. And today is just peaceful and           lovely. It' s overcast and the sun is trying to peek out , but I'm inside cozy and comfortable.    
Quietly enjoying all my favorite blogs.  I love viewing blogs. I just love blogland although I     don't get much accomplished, but the "eye candy" is delightful. My head is full of valentine    ideas.  My favorite time of the year, when everything is pink and red. Although I live in      that   land all year long, it's nice to be able to collect  more pink and red goodies.                            
I think I will go put some Christmas stuff away and decorate for V day.                                   
I'm also working on teddy bears with a "tea party theme" for an upcoming show, that I       hope to participate in.  I also am excited about the doll class with Arley Berryhill, coming    up in February. The candelstick diva.  Big decision tho........what color scheme????????   It seems like RED is the obvious color, but I'm not sure.  I saw the most delicious fabric in     Joanns last night, and talked myself out of it, but while I'm sitting here, I think that may      have been a mistake.  Oooooooo I am glad they are open on Sunday,  I think that's where   we'll be after church tomorrow.                                                                                        
Well, I am off...(my rocker) no.... off to do a little Valentine decorating and cook up some  
Sheppards Pie.                                                                                                               
Have a great day and I'll be back later.                                                                               
loving blogland                                                                                                                     
lori                                                                                                                                

Holly & Jolly

n

Holly

My last project of 2011, finished!!  This is Holly's Confectionery Shop, which I had a great time putting together.  I have this on my dining room table to enjoy till I decorate for Valentine's Day.

Jolly

Candy counter

C'mon in front door

Red waiting to get in

Front window with poinsettas

just dreaming

Holly & Jolly at work

Candy wreath on front door

Chrysnbon Stove I pained white and glittered

not ready...

I'm not ready for Christmas to be over.  I have a had such a wonderful time.

Holly's- My fairy confectionary shop

front door

Amelia peeking inside

front window of Holly's

Last week I went to one of my favorite places....Ron's Miniature Shop,  in Orlando, FL.  I purchased this little "fairy House"  which I have decorated as a Christmas Confectionary Shop.  I have been having a great time.   The roof was red, but I had to "glitterize" it.  I have added fairy dust to the whole outside and working on the inside.  All the cakes are baked and the cookies are still warm and the candy is in the jars.  Holly fairy is getting ready for guests with a sweet tooth.  Here we are so far........
On Friday the inside will be done, come back and take a peek.


Merry Christmas from me and the fairies!!!!

A wonderful story!

I was just sitting and thinking about how blessed I am and Christmas presents and read this story that was sent by a friend.  I just wanted to share it with you.  I love Christmas stories!!

I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma.  I was just a kid. 

 

I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb:  "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered.  "Even dummies know that!"

 

My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been.  I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me.  I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her "world-famous" cinnamon buns.  I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so.  It had to be true.

Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm.  Between bites, I told her everything.  She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus?" she snorted...."Ridiculous!  Don't believe it.  That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad,  plain mad!!  Now, put on your coat, and let's go."

"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked.  I hadn't even finished my second world-famous cinnamon bun.  "Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked  through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars.  That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it.   I'll wait for you in the car."  Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's.

I was only eight years old.  I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself.  The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping.

For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for.

I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church.

I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker.  He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class. Bobby Decker didn't have a coat.  I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter.  His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough; he didn't have a good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement.  I would buy Bobby Decker a coat!

I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it.  It looked real warm, and he would like that.

 

"Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. "Yes, ma'am," I replied shyly. "It's for Bobby."

The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed a good winter coat.  I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas.

That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) in Christmas paper and ribbons and wrote, "To Bobby, >From Santa Claus" on it.

Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy.  Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa's helpers.

 

Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going."

I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma.

Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open.   Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.

Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes.  That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were  --  ridiculous.  Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.

I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: $19.95.


May you always have LOVE to share,

HEALTH to spare and FRIENDS that care...

And may you always believe in the magic of Santa Claus!

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!!

Santa at the Memorial Service

Santa with me and the elves at the Toy Run @ Jim's Harley Davidson St Pete, FL 12/4/2011

We're getting ready for Christmas....... I love decorating and dressing as Mrs Santa.  Today was the memorial toy ride at Jim's Harley Davidson and John and I were in full Santa attire, it was awsome.  A beautiful sunny day in Florida riding thru the beach with about 2,500 other riders.  Life is good!! Have a Harley Jolly Christmas! 

Amelia and me in our matching hats 2011

mmmmmm, which sleigh shall I take???????

TEA CUP TUESDAY OLD COUNTRY ROSES.

I have been having a wonderful weekend, and back to work today.  What a great day and it's gonna get even better. Tomorrow is Tea cup Tuesday and I just love reading all those blogs.  I have my favorite tea cup to share with you.  
I have service for 16 of Old Country Roses which I will get to use for Thanksgiving dinner.  I will be cooking for my family which I have done almost all my adult life.  For 3 years my daughter took over and I was just a helper, well with the turn of events this week, I will be getting my old position back. It may be temporary, but I love to do it.  Get up real early and chop all the celery, onions and get the stuffing ready to stuff in the 25 lb turkey my son is bringing.  Oh, one of the big treats is my son is coming to stay for the weekend and help me cook.  When he was just 2 he was in charge of "painting" the turkey with butter and seasonings.  He graduated to washing and getting the "bag"  out of the turkey when he was about 5 and now he does all the heavy work.  All this while we watch the parade and then Christmas movies.  My grandchildren are staying here too, and this will be my first Thanksgiving to share with John....(Santa).  Oh I have so much to be thankful for. I am so blessed.  My parents will be here to!!!  (pictures to follow)

AHHHH but for tea cup Tuesday.....Here is my beautiful Old Country Roses cup filled  with beautiful handmade kewpie dolls and silk roses and organza ribbon and tiny pearls made by awonderful doll artist,for me.

Is it to early for Christmas???? I don't think so.

http://www.youtube.com/user/saymerrychristmas

Hope you are having wonderful weekend.  I am!!!!! Spent the day with my doll friends, it was a lovely meeting.   It's about a 1 hour ride, so I had the top down and sang Christmas songs the whole way there and home. LIFE IS GOOD!!!! Work is good, I really like my job and it's getting more comfortable.  Sewing bears.  Watching Christmas movies.

Just back from  WONDERFUL  bike ride to Jim"s Harley Davidson, for the MVP party.  Great time and I got new gloves.  Then out to Cracker Barrell for dinner with John and great friends.  Gonna work on a Christmas project for a little bit and get ready for Sunday.  Hope tomorrow's weather is as beautiful as today.  It was 81 and sunny.  I love Florida!!!!

teddiesworldwide.com

Come see the wonderful teddy bears at www.teddiesworldwide.com

Where does time go??????

I haven't been here in a long time.  I love my new job and have been working lots of hours.  Still getting my teddy bears ready for Teddiesworldwide.com show next weekend.  Have been having a wonderful time.  The weather has been amazing, get for motorcycle riding.

I was so glad to have a cold day yesterday 66, I stayed home and worked on bears and watched Christmas movies. What a glorious day.
Just got a chance to stop by some of my favorite blogs and glad to see others getting the Christmas mood.

Last Friday I attended the lovliest wedding.  My daughter's BF Ashley married Daryl and I was so blessed to be included in the day. I LOVE weddings and must cry, it was just beautiful.
I'll be back soon.

lori v