Farewell sweet 2014...

...you are ending as you began...cold and a skiff of snow.

But that is what winter is supposed to be all about, at least on the plains! This was the best Christmas ever.  Not about the gifts (well, if you were 8 years old, it WAS about the gifts!) but for the rest of us, just being together and enjoying one evening ~ 























...maybe...a little about the gifts, even for the adults, come now, it is a beautiful sacred holiday but it is also a celebration, isn't it?  We spend so much time crafting or selecting our gifts that we give in love, I do believe it is also about the gifts. 

Speaking of gifts, guess what I received from Holly?...a hand drawn picture of Pope John Paul II - drawn by Sister Helena from the Carmelite Nuns convent in Oklahoma City.  The convent was closing so they had a giant estate sale and Holly got this for me plus two music books.  The 'singers edition' and the music for the Kyriale - Missa pro Defunctis - Published with ecclesiastical permission in 1937 ~ all in Latin...very cool.  But isn't this drawing just lovely, especially the eyes...

I need to get it framed right away so the wood smoke from our stove doesn't destroy it.  

Next project for winter creative endeavors ~ a few new clothes!  

(Another Holly gift!) Not sure which one - I love the upper right full skirt - but know it is not stylish now!  But it was the style in the 1950's and my Grandmother Glass wore that look to work everyday.  She favored dark colors with small polka dots and contrasting white colors.  (Or at least that is what I remember!).  The lower right short sleeved version could be really cute for spring and the way my sewing progress moves that is about the right timing!

But ending on a note of what is even way more special to me:

...til next year!  

Dear Santa...

...

...from my desk to yours.  No snow yet - but I know your reindeer can make it through the fog if they have to...one of the multitude of miracles this special time of year.

I have tried to be good.  I don't know if I succeeded but my goal was for over 50% of the time to be good.  You be the judge.

Therefore, I will make my list modestly ~ including only the top 50% of wished for items, as follows:

#1 - Milk Cow Kitchen by MaryJane Butters ~ available on line @ shop.maryjanesfarm.org/Milk-Cow-Kitchen, $35 + shipping ~ (hint: top item on list!)

#2 - fuzzy socks ~ Dollar General store

#3 - a plant - Boston fern would be great to hang in the bathroom ~ (Note: no orchids.  I don't think they would do well in our house ~ too drafty.)

#4 - another clay garden pot (lemon trees are saying "help! we need separate pots" - can you believe they have grown this much since last Christmas?!)

That's about it ~ I might have to add a post script when something else comes to mind.

P.S.! #2.a. (>second in importance!) - a postal scale for my Etsy startup business ~ available at office supply stores (Office Max, etc.) or online at usps.com (probably the best buy) either 5 lb. digital or 10 lb. digital ($24.99 or $49.99, respectively) at the usps web site (usps.com > postal store > shipping supplies )

Thank you Santa.  I love you.  Kate

(I'm getting ready to bake you some cookies...promise.)

I think it is finally autumn in Oklahoma...

The native trees don't turn red - many oaks and not even sure what species this one is but as you turn into the driveway, there it is and when the lowering sun shines through all the other green trees, this one just sparkles.

Meanwhile, last Saturday Holly, I and the kids set up a booth at a local Country Fair held at the Busy Bee Nursery down the road.  We didn't make any money to speak of, but we did have a fun day.  

Our table first thing in the morning...we all wore aprons.  I thought it was pretty darned cute!

Holly had the jewelry - Christmas style.  I had the fabric items:  apples and pumpkin pincushions.  Ivy had salt dough tree ornaments and gift tags.  Then we also had some real mini pumpkins covered with glittering epsom salts.  (Only sold one of those so the rest are now home lined across my window sill.  They look so cute and preserve very well! - Can't believe no one else wanted one for $2!...oh well :) )

Late in the afternoon everyone had fun with this very large toad that decided to hop through the greenhouse!

Here he is peeking out between Ivy's hands...

Devlin was a doll all day.  Took a few short naps and jumped a lot!  He was amazed but also a little confused by another little one who decided he liked Devlin's jumper too!

I am going to post the instructions for the apple and the pumpkin as soon as I take some photos for uploading!  Will get to that soon...until then blessings sent via the air waves!...