Thrifty Tree Trimming

                                          
                                        Merry Christmas. 
                           I hope your having a Fabulous week. 
                     
                I've been adding bling and sparkle to the Cottage

The cocoa is simmering on the stove. Come on over to the cocoa
bar and grab a cup!
                 
Little plastic cups from Walgreen's (cheap) for the kids.  
And really, really cheap thrift Mugs from Kirklands after Christmas
70% off!  I paid $4.00 for a set in a really cool hat box!  They sat waiting in the back of my kitchen cabinet till Christmas!
The spoons I think I got at Walmart. I love the plastic handle decorative spoons for parties.  
                                Love the polka dots! 

Isn't that cocoa wonderful?  I know it's a little warm here today but 
we can pretend there is beautiful snow outside. 
               It's Christmas time.  Christmas is magical . . . 

                   Source Available at Etsy
Oh did you see the neighbor children have built a snow man.
Let's take our mugs out to the patio for a bit . . . 

       Oh please sit down.  Just move Marvin over!  He's been waving at the neighbors and just had to sit for a few minutes!


The Cowboy does enjoy decorating the patio.  We have  a new woodland theme this year.  It started when I settled into the chair covered up with the moose/cabin throw.  

                 We had a woodland theme on our mind.  
               
   Daisy and I have been collecting pine cones on our walk
The Cowboy and I went thrifting a couple weeks ago and everywhere we turned we saw Moose's.  Marvin was stalking us so we had to bring him home.  Along with all his friends! 
           We've been adding more friends every week! 
        
All of our patio decorations were thrifted.  We didn't pay more than $4.00 for any.  Marvin was marked $10.00 but he was half price.
                He has a tag from Cracker Barrel.  

My cocoa is cooling!  Let's go in and see the Snowman tree!

     Yes your right!  That is the the Elephant tree from last year!
                                                 Click Here
Our daughter loved being surprised with finding all her Elephants from storage.  They are now proudly displayed all over their little apartment.  

I enjoyed the tree so much that I decided I wanted another one this year.  I really wasn't too happy with the Snowman collection last year. 
 I know seriously tacky!  Look at all those cords. That idea didn't come together!
                               I knew I could do better!
                  
My collection of snowmen proudly decorate one little tree.
My collection includes some store bought, gifted and crafted.  Each one has a story . . . 

              
Painted by my father.  Daddy and Mother sold crafts at the 
Opryland Country Christmas for 15 years.  A lot of my ornaments were bought from other vendors.  Mother can never pass up buying an ornament.  And helping a fellow-vendor!           
Another Kirklands find . . . $2.50 after Christmas.  It's actually a candle holder.  See the star cutouts?  I just stuck the branches through the openings to hang it.  
The glass ornament above came from Pier One years ago.  
                                  Of course on sale!  

Love this sign.  It used to hang on our door.  But it was really too small.  He is perfect on the tree.  He was purchased at my favorite local shop.  Golightly's Gallery.  A lovely shop and tea room.
Over to the left is a snowman doll my DIL made.  She is talented.
Did you see my Blue Monday post?  She made me a cake!
                    
                                             Blue Monday post Click Here


Our daughter also has a collection of Snow Babies.  This one ended up in with my ornies.  (insert wink)


The tree is standing in a thrifted wagon.  I put lights in the bottom and covered with tule to display a few Snowmen that I couldn't put on the tree.  This was a gift from a friend when we lived in Missouri.  It brings back special memories.  Come by Wednesday for my Wit and Wisdom post.

I have no idea where we got this vintage Snowman.  He actually smokes his pipe!  It's wooden.  The Cowboy and I have had him for forever! 
               
I love this little guy.  I love hat boxes!  He is so cute.  I was glad I could put him the collection sitting in the wagon. Do you remember the story from last year?  The Cowboy found the wagon on the side of the road!
He passed it at about 8:00 that evening.  Silently he prayed that when he got off work at ten it would still be there!  It was in fact they had added another one! Two free vintage wagons!  The didn't have wheels and the axles were broken but the Cowboy found wheels on line and fixed them!   
    What a guy!  He sure does make me happy with all his finds!  
                      Do you have a thrifty husband?
                       
Gosh I know it's been a long tour.  I know you have other visits to make!   I'd love you to come over again.

Tomorrow we can sit by the fire and I'll tell you all about the Santa's! 
                                            Come over anytime I'll be here all day!

Bling came from 
Here,  Here ,  Here , Here  and Here

Linking with:
The Art of Homemaking, Busy Monday, Amaze Me Monday, Metamorphis Monday
Make It Pretty Monday, Show and Share, Tuesdays @ Our House, Party In Your PJ's













  

Happy Homemaker Monday

             Happy Homemaker Monday                                                12/07/2015

             Good morning dear friends, how are you all this Monday?

My weekend was super!  You can read about it Here on my Blue Monday post!

        I'm joining Sandra today so here's a glance at my plans for the week                  

                        The weather outside today is 

Beautiful/Perfect!  The sun is shinning and it is 54 degrees but warming up.  

                                  On the breakfast plate this morning::::

I'm home today. Took a day off from work.  So, no breakfast today. 

Just too many glasses of ice tea!   I'm out of Dr. Pepper.(insert frowny face)

            As I look outside my window:::

The sun is shining. The patio door is open and I'm enjoying the
decorations on the patio.  

Right now I am::::

Thinking I have a lot to do today and tomorrow.  And trying to get 
this post finished.  I'm eating lunch out! I'm excited.  
And listening to my phone blow up with FB messages.  Todays my Birthday!

                 As I look around the house::::
It's Christmas!  I love to decorate!  

                       On today's to do list::::

Too much to write! LOL. Just trying to finishing tweeking and tidying the
decorations.  

                                Lunch at 12:00

                                                      Happening this week
Monday.....My Birthday Lunch
Tuesday....Finish getting pics to post of decorations

Wednesday....Start New Job!
Thursday.....Work on Daughters Christmas presents
Friday....Ditto

Saturday...Go see Christmas Lights

                   Currently reading
Nothing I'd love a new book to review! 

                  On the TV today
The Cowboy recorded a couple of Christmas movies for me.  (insert Kiss)

               On the menu this week::::
Monday - Gosh huge lunch Not sure about dinner!
Tuesday - Pork Roast/Stuffing Green Beans
Wednesday - Meat Loaf, Mashed Potatoes, Salad and Carrots
Thursday - Talapia or is it Halibut? It's in the freezer.  Need a recipe
Friday - Homemade Pizza
Saturday - Chicken Tenders
Sunday - ??

                                What I am doing at the moment?

Listening to my phone and realizing I am loved!

New recipe I tried or want to
 try this week::::

Last night I made Potato Gnocchi soup.  It was sooo good! 
I need to look for a recipe for the fish I'll cook on Thursday!

                      Favorite photo from the camera::::

                                                              I love them!

                                                Prayers, Inspirational Quotes, or Devotional 

                                                  

A sketch in progress!

                              I hope your day is wonderful!

I'm linking with Sandra for Happy Homemaker Monday.  Go over and join the fun!  Click Here.

Blue Monday--Happy Birthday To Me!

                                           I got Cake!
                                         
                                      Sorry Spell check isn't working. 
My super sweet DIL made this adorable cake for me.  She said I would 'always have cake'.  I don't always get a cake for my birthday and I love birthday cake!  

I had a super fun weekend and took some Blue photo's!
                               .  
My super fun weekend began Friday night when this super silly 
7 year old and I trekked to our towns Christmas Parade.  
I use the term trek because I thought the parade would go right down our street.  But No they changed the route.   I get the boy (in a wheelchair) and the dog and we go out.  And wait and we see a few people going to town ctr. but I didn't think anything about it. Because the tree lighting was just after the parade.  The police are at the end of the street blocking off traffic from our street.  
Finally when it was only a few minutes to parade time we go down and ask and find out the route was on the other end of town hall 3 blocks away! 
   Well when you have a boy and a dog ready to see a parade you walk 3 blocks to see it.  
It worked out o.k. though.  The crowd didn't really know either what was going on.  We figured out that the parade would come toward town hall and then loop around back to where the started so we went over to the street in front of city hall and much to my excitement there were bleachers.  There were only a few people.    We had super seats and we saw the beginning of the parade! 
                                             The ba-jillions of people all saw the end! 
(I just to realize I didn't tell you.  This is an annual event with just me and the boy. 
Our daughter and the Cowboy both work evenings so they miss the parade)
I took a bunch of pics.  Here are a few. . .  
   
Lot's of Blue.  The boy in the box was really cute.  There was a whole group of them.  This is the only shot I got.  My camera is acting up.  I think I need a new battery.  It's really slow.  Grrr..
                . 
I did manage to get a couple of shots of Daisy. It's hard to manage a big dog and a wheelchair and maneuver around people.  And yes she is dirty.  She needs a bath!  Bad hair day for the dog. 
It was a super fun time.  Saturday I spent the day finishing the decorations.  Climbing ladders and hanging garland.  Adding a few ornaments to trees.  I got the commission quilt off the table and got it decorated.  
         And on Sunday after church we went to a horse show!  

Our daughter was working.  So our grandson spent the night Saturday and then we went after church.
We got to see her last student perform.  She was in a class of 50 and got 2nd place!  Everyone was so excited.  This is the first year my daughter has had a show team!  Many more pics to share!

But that will have to be later.  I have another post to write and 
then I am off to have a birthday lunch!  And buy a cake.
                  Did I say I love cake?
Linking this super, silly Cake post with Sally at Blue Monday.

Merry Christmas

                                    

                         Have a Blessed Day 

We're off to a horse show after church.  Pics later!

Critters On Parade

Last night was our towns Christmas Parade. 
It's become an annual event for me, my grandson and Daisy.
And a few Critters . . .
                         
The parade was a lot bigger this year.  Filled with critters . . . 

I bought myself a birthday present the other day.  I upgraded my PicMonkey account!  See the Holly in the corner?  The snow effect is from PicMonkey too. 
It was a beautiful night.  Perfect for a parade.  We just pretended it was snowing!
                            
There were probably 2 dozen dogs with this group.  The one in the red sweater isn't on a leash.  
Actually I'm not sure that any of these dogs are on a leash. 
I'm having trouble with my camera.  I think I need a new battery.
It's running really, really slow.  I wish I could have gotten more shots.  
See the cute little holly in the corner? I just love PicMonkey!

And one more just to tease you to come back over on Monday for more parade shots . . . 
                              

                      The fire trucks always lead the parade.   
It was a fun night.  I didn't get a good photo of Daisy but she had a great time.  We saw a couple of neighbors with their dogs. 

 I love living so close to city hall!  I/we are Blessed to live in a place that we can enjoy things like the Christmas Parade!

Linking with
Camera Critters
Eileen's Critters
Make My Saturday Sweet

                 Come by on Monday for more parade photo's!

How Rude

I gave Daisy a special treat tonight.  She left her bowl of milk for this . . . 

She kinda got in a little trouble last night.  She's a real helper with the decorations but she is always 'In The Way'.  The Cowboy said that should be her name.  

                             How Rude!
                                I just love Full House
                      
I have no idea why this is so grainy.  It looks like I put texture in it.
Kinda cool looking.  
She cracked me up she left her bowl of milk (Yes she's spoiled)
For what was in that box!
                     
Hmmm.  Can it be?  It smells like Chicken!
 Chicken, Chicken, Chicken! I could so be in a comercial!
                    
  Yep! It was Chicken. And it's all gone.  Back to that milk bowl!
                                

Good Fences

Today I'm sharing a couple of photos from last years Christmas
Parade.
But they are all new because I bought myself a birthday present 
and upgraded my PicMonkey account.
Enjoy the parade . . . 


It was a little funny last year.  We didn't even know there was a parade.  I had taken Daisy out for a walk and a bunch of neighbors were walking through the parking lot and jumping the fence and walking toward City hall.  I asked someone what was going on they told me about the parade. 
                              
I happened to have my grandson which was great!  So we took Daisy and joined the crowd.  Now we kind of have a tradition.

The parade goes right down our street; We don't even have to drive.
                      We hop a fence and we're right there!

  The weather is expected to beautiful tomorrow night for a parade!

Linking with Good Fences
Linking with Create, Share, Inspire

Wednesday Filled With Words/Random

                        I hope your Wednesday has gone well!
                           Are you getting ready for Christmas?
                                     
     

                                I've been working on my trees. 
                         I've decided I need to invest in new lights.  

                       'Cuz you can never have too much Bling!

              I have some Big news I wanted to share with you. 
                        And, ask you for a few prayers please. 
                                  
Here's the news . . .                             
                                        I got a new job!

                                    
It's exactly what I want.  I think.  I'm just a little worried. 
I'll be teaching at a different center.  I've always taught at a preschool.  This is actually a day care center.  So I'm a little bit anxious.  I've never taught in this environment.  

I turned in my resignation on Monday.  I was able to begin telling my parents.  My last day is Friday.  It's getting real now.  Some of my kids only come 1 or 2 days.  Today was the last day for a few.  


I know that this is the right thing.  I don't want to go into details but I was so 'worn down' and 'worn out' at work. 

                         I am so ready for a fresh start!
                     
      I need a little happiness.  I need a little 'bling' in my day!
                                  I'm ready for a change
And, speaking of change.  There will probably be a few changes here on the blog.  I'll be working 8-5.  That's a little of what I'm worried about.   

I know that this is do-able.  We'll just have to make some life-style
changes.  

So do you mind saying a prayer for me.  And a prayer for Cowboy. 
He'll have to do a little more around the house!  

I'll still be posting daily.  Maybe not in the early morning.  I may not be linking as much but I'll be here.  I'll be around.  

                                      I hope you'll be around too.  
                   Please come over and let me know your there.     
                                                 I need you.