I'm Dreamin' of a White...

New Year!

We may not have had

much snow for Christmas...

But we sure made up for it

this week!

We woke to about 5 inches on Thursday...

Which turned to rain

by daybreak and washed

most of it away...

But, as they say on the coast...

If you don't like the weather...

Just wait 5 minutes!

By nightfall we were back to snow...

And picked up another 6 inches.

We barely got that cleaned up...

And got another taste of winter

unexpectedly on Saturday...

About a foot of new snow!

Everything looks so clean

and pretty and fresh and white...

 

A new beginning...

For a New Year!

Dear Friends,

Here's wishing you all 

the most blessed of New Years...

May your hearts be filled

with the peace and joy

that only comes from knowing

our Lord and Saviour...

 

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ

 he is a new creation;

 old things have passed away; 

behold, all things have become new..."

2 Corinthians 5:17

Deck The Halls With Boughs Of....

Fir, Spruce, and Pine!!!

We were blessed with a 

 lovely blanket of snow

the other day...

Each year,

I usually make wreaths

for family and friends...

Fortunately, this year,

I had a whole truck load full of supplies!

We cut down several trees

that were close to power lines

and saved the limbs...

So, no need for "tipping" this year!

 In case you didn't know...

I'm not talking about leaving a little "extra"

 for the waitress!

"Tipping" also means to cut the "tips"

off of the evergreens to use

 for wreath and such!

This year,

In addition to wreaths,

I decided to try my hand

at making "boughs" or "swags"

to hang on our sign post.

 

I decided to use some of the "float rope"

that I make mats out of 

to attach the greens to...

It is strong and flexible!

 

Not really certain just what I was doing

I decided to make the "boughs"

just like I make wreaths... 

I was pleasantly surprised with how

my first attempt turned out!

 Then, it was on to wreath making!

I like to make my wreaths 

double-sided...

It makes them really full!

I take three springs of evergreen

at a time...

And wire them with one continuous wire...

 

 It usually takes me about 1/2 hour

to make a wreath...

I made this one for my parents' front door!

Don't you just love all the festive songs

played this time of year...

like "Deck the Halls"

and "Joy to the World"?

Seems as though lately...

I've been hearing more and more

 songs with the theme...

"Why Can't It Be Christmas All Year Long..."

My dear friends...

It can be...

It should be...

I heard this song the other day

for the first time...

 "A Christmas Song for All Year Round"

 sung by Aaron Sprinkle...

Wonderful words to ponder

this day...

 

  I wonder if this Christmas
They’ll begin to understand
That Jesus that they celebrate
Is much more than a man

The way the world is I can’t see
how people can deny
The only way to save us
Was for Jesus Christ to die

And I know that if St. Nicolas 

was here he would agree
That Jesus gave the greatest gift 

of all to you and me
They led him to the slaughter

 on a hill called Calvary
And mankind was forgiven 

when they nailed him to a tree

But most of all the children
They’re the ones I hope will learn
That Jesus is our savior
And he’s going to return

And Christmas isn’t just a day
And all days aren’t the same
Perhaps they’ll think about the word
And see that it spells his name

 

A Day of Gifts...

A typical Thursday...

My "list" was a mile long...

~laundry to wash and hang on the line

~firewood to split and stack

~cookies to make for shut-in baskets

~grocery shopping

~a few wreaths to finish...

Instead...

I called my parents...

Told them to get their coats on...

We were going on a trip...

I spent 8 hours on the road

driving...

 To see my brother...

A day of gifts...

We didn't phone ahead...

I like surprises!

And boy oh boy,

were Gary and Nancy surprised

to see us!

Me, Dad, Mom, Nancy (back) and Gary (in front)

We spent the afternoon...

just talking

and laughing

and eating!

Dad, Sluggo, Mom, Nancy and Gary...

We were there about  an hour...

When my oldest brother

showed up...

Dad, Sluggo, and Gary!

 Boy, was he surprised

to see us as well!

 

Nancy had a pair

of Christmas socks

she had been saving for me

to make some 

Christmas doll lovies!

As we said our good-byes...

Gary hugged me

and whispered...

"Thank you, this was the 

best gift ever!"

A day with Gary...what a special gift!

As we crossed the "big bridge"

back into Maine...

We noticed fireworks

off to our left...

Perhaps they were just for us...

A gift...

To help celebrate a special day...

  When we got home...

I found that my husband 

was full of surprises as well...

Something warm to wear when we walk!

 For on the island...

I found flowers

and a new pullover...

Two gifts just for me!

A day packed full of gifts...

On our ride home...

We listened to the 

24/7 Christmas music

radio station...

How appropriate...

Randy Travis singing

"The Gift"...

"He was the Son 

God sent to one and all, 

put on this earth 

to hang there on that cross,

 born to die so we could live. 

He had the birthday, 

we got the gift..."

 

I "Lovie" You All Dearly!!!

I just wanted to take 

a moment to thank all

of those who took part

in my little give-away 

this week...

 

It is always so nice

to meet new people 

and make new friends...

We tend to do things the

"old fashioned way" 

around here...

So...

I had my sweetie

pull three names out

of my little basket...

And the winners are...

Holly Rae of

Just a Niche in My Time...

 
Sherry of

Blessings From Our Nest...

and...

Trish of

Love of Quilts...

Congratulations, Ladies!

Please send me an e-mail

with your address

and I'll get your "lovie"

right in the mail!

I  also want to take

a moment to thank all of you

who have been so 

kind and supportive

with your prayers 

and encouraging words...

I love you all dearly...

We don't know what tomorrow brings...

But we do know Who holds

Tomorrow in His hands...

^" Fear thou not; for I am with thee: 
be not dismayed; for I am thy God:
 I will strengthen thee; 
yea, I will help thee; 
yea, I will uphold thee 
with the right hand of my righteousness..."
Isiah 41:10

Up A Tree...

This time of year
we find Christmas trees everywhere... 

Bet you'd never guess that I
live in a little coastal community...
 

This tree is constructed
from wire lobster traps...
The decorations are lobster buoys...
And the top...well...
it's a red lobster holding a star!

This tree is constructed
from driftwood...
washed ashore after a storm...
The decorations are also lobster buoys...
And the top is a styrofoam boat mooring.

Today I worked
on some very simple trees
to use as tags for gifts...
or they could be strung
 together as garland...

They are oh so easy to make...
First, cut a pattern
from cardboard...

4 inches across bottom, 5 inches tall

Next, cut out two
triangle shapes from
assorted scraps...

and one square
from brown felt...

Great way to use up scraps!

Make a sandwich of
triangle, felt, triangle
with right sides together...

Then, sew across the bottom...
I do a whole bunch at once!

Clip the threads
and then open up
and iron
wrong sides together...

Starting at the bottom...
Sewing up one side,
pivot, then down the other
leaving about an inch open...

I used white thread to see more easily...

Stuff with fiberfill...
Then sew up the opening...

It's much easier if

you do them all together!

Next,
cut both sides with
pinking shears...
Too easy!

I also thread a big needle
with silver string
to make a hanger at the top...

I've found it helps
to "paint" the sides
and the hanger end
with mod podge
which dries clear...

Ever feel as if you are "up a tree"?

"Up a tree" is an idiom that
refers to being...

"in a difficult situation without
an easy way to escape..."

How often we find ourselves

in situations such as these...

misunderstandings or hurt feelings...

financial woes...

a loved one sick or in pain...

Sometimes it appears

that all is hopeless...

When I feel like this...

As I have this week...

I remember that our Lord 

never promised that life

on this earth would be easy...

^" Beloved, do not be surprised at the 

fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, 

as though something strange 

were happening to you. 

 But rejoice insofar as you share 

Christ's sufferings

, that you may also rejoice 

and be glad when his glory is revealed. .."

I Peter 4:12-13

But He did promise

to always be with us...

Through every trial...

and every heartache...

  "When you go through deep waters, 

I will be with you.  

When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.
 When you walk through the fire of oppression, 
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you..."

 Isaiah 43:2

For no one knows any better

than our Lord  

what it felt like...

To be "up a tree"... 

"The God of our fathers raised up Jesus,

 whom ye slew and hanged on a tree..." 

Acts 5:30