Beautiful daughter has outdone herself in decorating her lovely home this year. This is but a few of her delightful Christmas things that I wanted to share with you.
Of course, she loves Santas, too........
Her stairway is just breathtaking...
She has little decorations like this tucked around all over her house....
Such a cute and very happy cookie jar....
A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL ~
A BIG WELCOME TO ANOTHER NEW BLOG PARTNER....SHA over at
WON'T YOU ALL PLEASE WELCOME ONE OF MY DEAREST AND OLDEST FRIENDS......
This is an original Christmas Meme from HOOTIN' ANNI'S over at hootin--anni.blogspot.com/
When our children were small, my hubby had a large construction job in Tuba City, Arizona, the Navajo Indian Reservation. He moved all of us out there for about 6 months and I had the time of my life. I had always liked Navajo rugs, pottery and especially the silver and turquoise jewelry. AND...to be able to buy it directly from the Indian makers themselves was such an experience....and VERY cost saving, as well. No middle man, ya know......:)
This is but a fraction of the jewelry we have. Although turquoise is VERY popular now, the Indian turquoise and silver pieces aren't. It will come back around someday and when it does....I'm ready for it!
Silver and turquoise and shells called wampum......
These are called Squash Blossom necklaces. They are made out of all silver and turquoise stones and they are HEAVY. Uncomfortable to wear. I wore them, tho, back several years ago when all the stars in Hollywood were wearing them!!! Haha
We sat and watched for about 3 hours while an old Navajo silversmith finished this necklace. I was so scared I wasn't going to get it, I could hardly sit there!! :) See the little tips coming off each turquoise stone around the sides?...they are shaped like squash blossoms, hence the name.
A post card of an Indian lady, selling her wares......
The pottery, for some reason, was my least favorite of the Indian crafts. The Navajos weren't big on pottery making so I really didn't find too much. They did shine, tho, through their rugs and jewelry.
Since I didn't understand their language very well , I couldn't ask "Where would I find someone making rugs?" so I just drove around until I would see these wooley sheep. 9 out of 10 times, I would find a rug maker at that hogan (ho-gan...house, dwelling) and "work a deal" with them for a rug. My heart would get to beating so fast I could hardly breath...just looking at those beautiful, artful rugs made me sooo excited.
An old postcard of how the rugs were made......The actual Indians wouldn't let me take a picture of them....they believed that the camera would rob them of their soul. I respected that and always just left my camera at home. I understand that one reason these rugs have risen in value so much is that rug weaving is becoming a lost art in the Indian culture. It takes so long to weave a rug and I suppose the younger people would rather be doctors, lawyers instead of Indian Chiefs. :)
These beautiful Navajo rugs are such works of art and the rise in value has just gone sky-high. We had more than three at one time, but over the years, we've given some to family, keeping the three shown. I wouldn't put one on the floor and walk on it for love nor money. Too priceless to me. They are all wool and all natural ....no dyes. When you look closely at them, it is really hard to believe that they are every bit handmade. And, a fact that I just love.......
I am really getting into the Christmas spirit. ...I just wanted to show you a few things scattered around my house. I am TRYING my best to hold off on showing too much, tho, for the Christmas Tour of Homes that is rumored to be happening sometime in the middle of December. I don't know if I can wait, tho.......Does anyone know for sure who is hosting and just when it is happening? It sure sounds like a lot of fun and I can hardly wait to see all the pretty, decorated rooms!
This white, good lookin' Santa, carrying a little snow covered Christmas tree and carrying a lantern is one of my all-time favorites. He's been with me about 12 years.
I've had this Santa for about 16 years. One year, hubby put my gift in that small, green, felt bag. Now, anything small enough to fit in that bag is BOUND to be a GOOD thing. "GOOD THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES", right? It WAS a good thing...a diamond and Sapphire (sp?) cross on a gold chain. I loved it then and I still love it. THANK YOU, HONEY!!
I just love all different Christmas coffee mugs. These are a few of the ones I've collected over the years, mostly from thrift stores. I need to get out and look for some more....a few of mine have been broken over the years. I think I am down to about 8 or 10.
Well, this is my LAST, little sliver of Pecan Pie that we had at Thanksgiving! I slipped it in a zip lock and stuck it in the freezer. I tried for days to ignore it...I wanted to save it just a little longer so that when I took it out and sit down to eat it, I would REALLY, REALLY enjoy it. This morning, I could stand it no longer..(I LOVE pie and coffee for breakfast !!) I yanked that piece of pie out of that zip lock bag, poured my coffee in a favorite Christmas mug and I ENJOYED EVERY SINGLE BIT OF THAT PIE !!
Some very good friends in our church group gave this CROWN OF THORNS plant to me several years ago. It was soooo tiny. I've kept it in a sunny, Southern window, watered when dry, fertilized lightly so as not to burn it and FINALLY, it has a few, little tiny red flowers on it. And, right here near the Christmas season, too. I just love that!! This all just serves as a reminder about our relationship with God. The more we care for it, the more it grows into something so beautiful.
Just look at those wicked thorns !! They always make me think of the CROWN OF THORNS our sweet Jesus wore and it reminds me of all HE went thru for you and for me.
Such tiny little flowers and such HUGH thorns....I wonder if I keep putting it in a larger pot if it will continue to grow larger and larger; like the way HE puts us in different places in our lives that make us grow stronger in HIS spirit.
Every thing I've read about this pretty plant says the flowers will be tiny in size and few in number; like the Christians of God's great world. We are growing in number by leaps and bounds. It just thrills me to death each time I see a new bloom; the same feeling you get when you see a new Christian being born in the love of God. I have the urge to give this plant twice the fertilizer it should have so there will be many more of the beautiful, red flowers. I'm afraid I'll kill it, tho, so I try to refrain from using too much. Just like when I want to PUSH someone towards God but I know if I take it slow and easy, it will happen, through the Glory of God. I do love this plant, thorns and all.......I do love our Saviour, through the good times and through the bad.
Last night, we had our gathering of our home church at Handsome Son's home and our group ALWAYS shares a meal together, each Sunday night. And, talk about great meals....everyone trying to outdo the other...you know how that goes!! This was more or less a potluck dinner and since it was a cold evening (a very light sprinkling of snow), a couple of the sweet ladies made homemade soups. Talk about hitting the spot.....Ummmm, UM!!
Sweet daughter*in*law made the BEST homemade stew that I've ever put in my mouth..EVER!
A homemade Italian soup that was to die for. I don't have the recipe but when I get it, I'll be sure to pass it on to you! Spicy...but not TOO spicy. Just right and so full of flavor.
AND.....of course, CORNBREAD........ hot, buttered and delicious. What would a bowl of homemade soup or stew be without CORNBREAD?? AND....a HUGH slice of onion, OF COURSE!
OH !!!!!!!! And, did I mention the Vanilla Creme Pie, Pecan Pie, Angel Food Cake, Fudge Cake and Sweet Whipped Creme????? GOOD GRIEF !!! I am STILL full..............
We have a nursery here that has a beautiful array of Christmas decorations, trees and flowers every year. It's so much fun to go and I've NEVER been that I didn't come home without at least one new Christmas ornament!
They have the best assortment of MARK ROBERTS FAIRIES and I had been wanting to start a Christmas collection of his fairies for a long time...just never did. BUT.....
THEN I SAW HIM. That one....with the pink hat and the red boots with a jingle bell on each toe....
He came home with me that day! Mark Roberts Fairies are hand painted and always wear the cutest clothes. A friend says they are so ugly, they're cute but, I just think they are cute!!
I'm excited about getting my collection of Mark Robert's Fairies finally started. Each one stays in production for awhile and then he is "retired". I'll collect enough of them to make sure ea. grandchild has at least one (if they like them or not!! :) Ha) 
This is where all my family gathered.....
What a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving Day we had. Most of our family members were here as well as some good friends. Let's see.....we had about 15 people to share our turkey and all the trimmings and everyone had such a good time. Lots of laughing, eating and playing around.
Good-bye THANKSGIVING.....Hello CHRISTMAS !
