Showing Off!! ;)

This is a Santa I made years ago when I was doing stained glass.

Nearly every year I forget to get him out because I don't keep him with the rest of my Christmas decor.

I was so pleased with myself for remembering to get him out and putting him up BEFORE Christmas is over.

It's not that he is intricate or anything, he certainly isn't but I like him anyway.

I tell you; I am going to get into the season!!

CHRISTMAS IS COMING!!

I love Christmas!!

I couldn't always say that, but I'm working hard to get my heart back into it!!

My FAVORITE thing is to get out my Nativity and set it up.

My Nativity isn't elegant, it isn't huge

but it's mine and I LOVE it!!

Laurence and I bought the ceramic nativity set when we first got married.

We got it at that famous, chic boutique...... Costco ;)

However, it is the stable that I LOVE!

My dad made the stable years and years ago.

I remember him and mom going out to the honey house (which doubled as a shop in the winter),

and coming back with a stable for mom.

He had used a wooden box that some sort of bee supplies came in.

I wanted one so dad went back out and used the other half of the box and made one for me.

The other stable and nativity set will go to Aisling at some point in the future.

I made the ceramic nativity set that Mom has.

But hers isn't fancy either. I'm not an artist so hers is all cream colored with an antique wash on it.

I have shown this pot holder in the past.

In the summer each pot holds pretty flowering plants.

At Christmas it is all decked out with 3 arrangements my friend Kit made for me.

They don't look as goood this year as they did last year when they were fresh, but they're still great!

 (And she has moved so there went my on demand florist:)

These are a Few of My Favorite Things!!

I never have been, nor will I ever be accused of being a a wonderful decorator. I wish I was. I wish I were able to put cherished things together and make my home look like it came out of some wonderful magazine.
Instead I simply collect the things I like and enjoy them for myself. Perhaps when we move, my talented neighbors will help me to do it beautifully!! (Hint, hint....)
For now let me share a couple of things that I cherish.
These are two shaving mugs. The first belongs to Laurence's dad, Lawrence. It is a "proper" shaving mug. It has the inside lip and the brush. So cool! 


Laurence's father's (Lawrence Pitt) shaving mug

Thursday Laurence put up a couple of shadow boxes for me to they could each have their own little nook. Thanks sweetie!!
I jokingly told Laurence that I should get my dad's. He agreed. Then I told him that dad used an old melamine teacup and brush. Nothing real attractive. I wonder if mom still has it...

This little item is one that every girl that went through Primary in our church when I did and before will recognize. It says "I will bring the Light of the Gospel into My Home". It was all cross-stitched except for my name at the bottom. I had it framed in a cheap, cheesy metal frame and it had gotten a little damp. I restored it and had it framed. I believe that we did this when we were 10 years old. I am so glad I still have this little momento. AND it has my name on it so there is no confusing who the owner is..... there must be literally thousands of them out there.

I Looked Out the Window and What Did I See???

I took these today from my bedroom window.

Sheri and Janice Came to Visit!!

Shortly after I got home from Seattle Sheri, Janice and little Ellie came to visit. They were on their way back to Arlington after visiting their parents who are serving a mission for our church in Nauvoo. They were here less than 24 hours and we LOVED every minute of their visit!!! I took them to Castle Rock Lake (more affectionately called the surge pond around here). It was fun to get the feet wet. I think Ellie particularly liked it as she was tired of that darn car seat. (And who can blame her?)
Next we went to the Rosebud Mine. After a brief safety training, Laurence took us on a tour. Ellie graciously slept through the entire thing, bless her heart. Here are Janice and Sheri inside one of the smaller buckets.

I love the sight of a silouetted dragline. I know that's corny, but it is really a sight I've come to love. This was taken from the bottom of the pit. Unfortunately we weren't able to get permission to take them onto the dragline. RATS!
Gotta love these Kress haulers. (They hold 250 tons of coal) They always make you feel so insignificant. However, Sheri and Janice have too much personality to let even a Kress make them insignificant!!

I was hoping to see some wildlife to show off, but all we saw was this guy and lots of deer. They frequently see bobcats, mountain lions, fox, coyotes and many others out there. (Laurence had a bobcat outside his office window last week.)

With plenty of bribing with Mickey D's happy meal toys, Ellie finally warmed up to me. What a cutie!!

As a GRAND FINALE, Janice did my toes!! She has no idea how badly I have wanted her to do that. I feel so girly!! AND here we are weeks later and the flowers and the jewel are still perfect!! Thanks Janice!

And thus ends our wonderful visit from Janice, Sheri and Ellie. Come again really soon!!

We Love You!!