Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. I hope you enjoy your day and your tummy's get plenty of turkey and trimmings. I'm planning to hit the shopping tomorrow more for the fun of it than for any "Black Friday" sales. It just seems to be one of those traditions that I have. A day away, by myself, enjoying the sites and sounds of Christmas, getting a jump on my own shopping but I definately do not go at 4am. I enjoy my sleep. We will also with sticking with traditions and starting our Christmas decorating while our bird is cookin'

Christmas Fun

Here are some pics of the things I've been working on for a few weeks now. They were from some free patterns of various places, one item was from a pattern by Sweet Pea Primitives and another from Moonchild Prims. I've really enjoyed working on so many different things. My 7 year old son tells me that we have to keep some of them for ourselves. I'm thinking he might be right.

These candy canes were quick and fun. I baked them in the oven and scented them with coffee, vanilla and a little cinnamon.






These little guys look so great in my wooden bowl with some primitive greens.


These prim snowmen were fun but I'm not completely sure if I liked how they turned out. I didn't coffee stain the pure and natural batting, I only tea stained it. I think they should maybe be a little bit darker.






I made two of these one in green and one in red.

These were also baked in the oven. I left them a little crinkled. I didn't iron them I just smoothed out a little bit and then stuffed them. I think the crinkled look helps them look a little old. I love the graphic that is pinned with rusty pins.





I made 3 of the following little ornaments. I think they came out really nice. It was my first attempt at sculpted noses.


These little tea light holders were really fun to make. The brim is sprinkled with german glass glitter. I'm pretty pleased with these.


I made three of these also. I finished them up last night.
Now I'm finished for a few weeks and have boxed up my supplies. It's hard to find the space in a small house to keep the projects I'm working on out until they are completed. It's been awhile since I did so much crafting but these are for a good cause. Our church is doing a fundraiser on 12/5 a cookie and craft sale. I don't really think they will get what they are "worth" the way you would at a craft fair or a prim shop. I think whatever is left over I will try to sell here, on ebay or maybe even open an etsy shop of my own. When my oldest girls were little I had a very successful crafting business doing fairs and renting booth space in craft malls. That was a long time ago or at least it seems that way so it's been fun working on crafty things again.

I'm thinking too that I might do a Christmas giveaway. I've been enjoying reading other blogs and seeing what they have to offer this time of year. So check back around December 7th or so I might have it together by them. I certainly need more blogging friends/followers - it's lonely out here in a small town. I'm not a small town girl, somethings just won't change, no matter how much one tries.

Simple Woman's Daybook November 23

Outside my window...gray, kind of a misty rain

I am thinking... of how many of the kids will be able to get in to see a doctor before the holiday

I am thankful for... that our doctor is just down the street. I like him alot and we see things the same way.

I am wearing... my red bathrobe still.

I am going... to be cleaning up the house today in the event that everyone feels well enough for Turkey on Thursday.

I am reading . . . email and blogs, haven't had much time for anything else the past two weeks with sickness.

I am hoping... that everyone gets better soon

On my mind... the lack of sleep has caused nothing to be on my mind right now

From the learning rooms... oh my gosh, last week was a complete bust. That's when all the sickness started. So I guess our learning will have to wait. And we were on such a good roll with our writing program and history.

Noticing that...life can be very lonely in a small town where you are not originally from plus the homeschooling. We live so far away from our homeschool support group that it is hard to make friendships easily and then friends that you can connect with often.

Pondering these words . . . God works all things for our good. I've had some doubts some days

From the kitchen... nothing

Around the house... lots of cleaning up and piles of craft things that are waiting for the churches craft and cookie sale on 12/5 - it should be fun.

One of my favorite things . . . is the crowded stores at Christmas time. I just love the listening to carols over the intercoms and the decorations.

From my picture journal...these two just had birthdays this past weekend

Stop by Peggy'sto read other daybooks. Have fun!!

Happy Birthday Micah!

My son Micah turns 7 today. Unfortunately he is still sick. So it won't be much fun today. We had to cancel his first birthday party with friends. He would've had 3 of the kids he knows over for the afternoon. So now we will have try again next year.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my Arianna. She turns 14 today. Some of us are feeling a little bit better so I am going to take her to see the Twilight movie this afternoon.

I know, I know

I know it isn't Christmas yet so I shouldn't be changing my blog background before Thanksgiving even gets here. But we are transplants to the midwest and around her people seem to go from Halloween to decorating for Christmas unlike New England. I suppose a lot of the New England tradition comes from the history back in those states and the founding of our country. But I am just itching to get my holiday decorations up and out for viewing enjoyment. With everyone being sick, myself included, I decided to change around my blogs a little. I'm not quite sure I like this background but it will do for now.

It's Official

Well it's official the flu has arrived at our house. Not just one or two of us but all of us have the flu to one degree or another. Annaliese even had the vomiting part to go with it. So we did end up canceling the two birthday parties schedule here this weekend. Micah was so sick that he really didn't care anymore. Arianna only had one friend who could make it that day but who wants to share the flu with anyone. It has sent our school week down the toilet and probably part of next week too. It seems to take a number of days before you get any of your strength back. My sickest child even wants to know if we will still put our Christmas tree up on Thanksgiving weekend and if I am making gravy. Hopefully we will all be doing better in time for Thanksgiving dinner.

Birthday Blues

My daughter Arianna will be 14 this Friday and my son Micah will be 7 on Saturday. It can be a kinda crazy weekend with birthdays back to back like that but now they are sick. We've been fighting colds and sore throats around here this past week and now it has hit the two of them. Micah might even have a little more going on stomach wise so I'm waiting to see. He's looking very pale. Arianna is suppose to have a sleepover party on Friday that might get canceled now. Micah was planning his first birthday party with a couple of friends on Sunday afternoon. So now we will have to see what happens with either of them. So we might have some birthday blues around here.

A little bit of Crafting

I've been working on a few items for our churches cookie and craft sale held in December. I thought I'd share a few of those photos.


I had so much fun working on these little guys. I made 8 of them but I'm going to keep 4 of them for myself. The pattern is from the Old Glory Company. It was the first time that I tried baking things in the oven. My hubby and kids would come in and ask what I was cooking. The smell of coffee, cinnamon and vanilla just waffled through the house. They were quite disappointed when they couldn't eat these little guys. But boy did the kitchen smell good.

Here's a whole pan of them. Don't they look great!



This snowman isn't really all that prim. He is lightly tea stained but I thought I should have a mixed variety because ya never know in such a small area as where we live right now how many are really into the prim decor.


I have some other items that I've been working on but they aren't finished yet. Mostly Christmas ornaments hopefully I will get those finished and can post them for next week. I figure if they don't sell very well at the church bazaar then I will either open an etsy store (never done that before) or sell them off my blog. Years ago I had a small craft business and did pretty well selling out of a booth and at fairs. Now with so many kids and the homeschooling I have really run out of the time needed to invest in something like that so that you have enough inventory to make the booth rent each month.

Daybook - November 2nd

Outside my window... the sun is shining (yeah) and the yard is covered in leaves

I am thinking... now fast the Thanksgiving and Christmas are approaching

I am thankful for... my children

I am wearing...I'm still in my red bathrobe about to get into the shower

I am going... to the grocery store this afternoon and maybe Goodwill to see what they might have for new Christmas items

I am reading... A Legacy of Grace. Just started reading this last week. Some homeschool mom's are going to do a book group/discussion using this book by Francine Rivers. I think it will be a good group.

I am hoping...to get back on my diet and our eliptical machine. I've gained back some of the weight I lost and I really need to get back onto taking weight off. I find this time of year harder for me than others because of the cold and lack of daylight hours. I sometimes I think I have some of that seasonal affective disorder.

On my mind...when will we be able to move on from this location. I feel like the Israelites wandering around in the desert crying out how long?

From the learning rooms...finishing up World War I and moving into the Great Depression for a couple of weeks.

Noticing that...the kids are moving a little slow this morning. They must be tired still.

Pondering these words..."I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer. 29:11

From the kitchen... don't know yet

Around the house... lots of piles of craft items and some of the finished items for the church's Christmas sale

One of my favorite things . . . primitive and country decorating

From my picture journal...

If you'd like to read other woman's daybooks then hop on over to Peggy's and join in the fun.