Away in a Manger

Last year right after Christmas, I bought this bitty Nativity set at a half off sale.
Since I live in a RV small cottage, everything has to be in miniature form for display as I don't have much shelf space.  I love the childlike faces and thought my my grands would like it.
It came boxed like this.

I set it out on my mantle which also holds my bitty tree.
It just looked kind of lost and  I knew I needed a Creche. I looked on line, but everything was too large, expensive and would take too long to get. I needed it NOW.
What was I thinking...looking on line when my personal, very own carpenter was in the shop working on something for my friend Suzanne for Strawberry Patches. After all...he is my personal, very own carpenter. I do loan him out once in a while (we have to eat, you know)
But this was important.
I printed off something I sorta liked and headed out to the shop. I told him I wanted a Creche and it needed to be rustic.
Now if you new Mr.SS, you would know, he doesn't do rustic willingly. He cuts meticulously, sands forever and paints or stains to a brilliant shine. Rustic...not so much.

An hour later. and I'm not kidding you, I walked out to the shop to remind him I wanted rustic and he had just finished this.

He even distressed the edges. It's stained and I probably would have said to leave it natural. But I love it. It is just what I had in mind. It is rough, distressed and yes...rustic.
Okay, my personal very own carpenter, Mr. SS,can do rustic.

I didn't have any straw, but added some Excelsior left from fall decorating.
Did I tell you...I LOVE IT!!
It is my very favorite decoration this year.

I finished the last skirt on Wednesday night.
This is my biggest girl, Madi's skirt.

We have been to kid's Christmas activities every night this week and tomorrow we go down south for a gymnastics competition for 6 yr. old Jack. 

Hope to get some pictures.

I am taking pictures with my new 4s iphone now. They are a lot clearer and lighter than with my point and shoot.

But I'm still learning. All the Nativity shots were upside down, so I struggled with that but I'm getting faster at resizing them with Pic Monkey. 

Christmas shopping is almost done. What to get an 18 year old boy??

I start baking this week and hope to do a little more Christmas sewing.

I'm feeling pretty relaxed and am going to enjoy the next week and focus on

what Christmas is really about...the birth of my Jesus.

Hope all of you are getting things wrapped up so you too can relax and enjoy the season.

God is Good!!

Life is Good!!

Chocolate Fun

Last night was our traditional "making of the fudge" night. It started thirty some years ago when my youngest son started helping me make the fudge. His older brothers were never interested, but Brandon had figured out there was a reward at the end of this task. You'll see!!

It makes sense that Brandon's kids would want to help, so what started with one helping, now adds up to five pair of hands. (Emmy, the 20mo old not included yet)

Drew does the measuring and everyone gets to add something to the pot.

Then we start stirring

and stirring

And then there's the licking tasting.

And more licking tasting.

Then we beat it

And beat it some more.

Until we have one pan of fudge without nuts.

And one pan with nuts for all the "nutty people".  (Don't know why they look different colors)

And then it's time for clean up!!

After clean-up and the fudge making five went home, I stayed up until 2:00am and made my oldest granddaughter, Madi, her Christmas skirt.

Made from the same blue velvet, glitter satin and sheer snowflake fabrics that the 6 Christmas dresses were made from.

Madi is 15 and I couldn't find a dress pattern I thought she would like, so she opted for a skirt.

Her other grandma picked it up today so she could wear it to the family party on Saturday night and match her cousins.

I can't wait to get pictures of them all...and the boys too of course. If I was a really good Mamaw, I would have made shirts for the boys too...maybe next year.

One more picture and then I'm off to bed. Wrapping presents and more baking tomorrow.

This is a tiny tree with houses and train that Dept. 56 put out the year the "Polar Express" movie came out.

We were living in our little blue and white trailer then and this was all we had room for. It has become a favorite of the kids. There is a little ticket on the front. If you pull it, the Train Whistles and starts around the track while the conductor (Tom Hanks) voice says "Aaaaall aboard the Polar Express" That's it! But the kids just keep pulling that ticket.

So see...I have a tree. Just the right size for my RV small cottage.



Just in case I don't get back before Christmas, I want to wish all of my friends in blogland and those of you in my real life who read my blog a very Merry Christmas and may you receive all the blessings of the season.

God is Good!!

Life is Good!!

All American Christmas

I honestly don't remember where I found this, but thought it was so cute and wanted to share since I don't have any decorations to share this year.

It is the first year I haven't put up any decorations in my whole life, but with my sewing marathon and Mr. SS being out of town I just haven't gotten around to it.

No one to see them but me. But it is just not like me, so next year will be different. This  little RV cottage will be decked out.  It's  very "ungrandmaish" not to decorate for Christmas.

BUT while we are on the subject of Christmas. I have received the following in several e-mails and thought I would share it. Maybe some of you have seen it around too.

Most of you probably have your shopping done, but there are some good ideas here especially for that "hard to buy for" person on your list, or for the "one who has everything"

Just a thought...



As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans

with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense
of American labor. This year will be different This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for
other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced
by American hands. Yes, there is! It might be difficult to give up Dollar Tree, Wal-Mart and the like.
At least look at the sticker before purchasing. Look for the American flag.It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?
Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber? Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement. Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned
detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.
Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down the Benjamines on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course. There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. If your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about
a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open. How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy? Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a
local cleaning lady for a day. My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running. OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes. Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.
Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands. Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of lights , about
fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip. You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine. THIS is the new American Christmas tradition. Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups! your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?

As I was cleaning up my sewing room today, and folding and putting away scraps of satin and velvet, I noticed this:

Yep!! All that yummy blue velvet came from Korea..

Well, there's always next year!!

God is Good!!

Life is Good!!