The Homestead

This blog post is for my Mom and Dad. I sent them email files to copy but I can't seem to get it in the right format for them to copy. At least you can look at it here. I may have to get Amy to make another photo copy and send it snail mail.

This is in a jpg. format and may be too big to copy, but if you enlarge you will get a good view.


I got some really wonderful Christmas gifts this year and I want to thank everyone for them all....from cookies, candy and bread to gift certificates, scrapbook supplies, clothes, tools etc. Amy gave me a Christmas gift of a framed photograph of my Mom and Dad's home. It's the one I grew up in and miss so much at Christmas. It made me cry and although I blogged about it a few months ago with pictures of the inside, here is the house from the front.

Except for the occasionl frost on the inside walls in my bedroom and the pipes that regularly froze up, it was a great place in which to grow up.

“Christmas, my child, is love in action.
Every time we love,
every time we give, it's Christmas.”


Dale Evans.

Favorite Quotes of the Week

These are the things some of my grandchildren have said this week that I think are pretty darn special.

From Emerson: (turned two in Sept.) Can we go to the mountains and look at the skyline?

From Millie: I just love you Grandma!

From Toby: age 9...I want Santa to bring me 5 cans of black olives

From Alex (age 15).... For Christmas what I really, really want is a CTR ring (Choose the Right)

From Isabelle: age 9...I will say the blessing at each meal because I want the blessings

More Christmas Cheer

Here are some more of my decorations. This is not all of them by any means, but I am posting this mainly for my Mama so she can feel of my Christmas spirit. I haven't been able to be with her for Christmas for several years and she is the one who gave me MY Christmas spirit. I know some day it will become too much of a chore to decorate like I do now, and that will be a sad day for me, but until then I "go for it". Once again, some of the photos are small so you will need to enlarge to see the detail. Merry Christmas Mom and Dad.

Porcelain Village

1950's Primary cardboard pop-up nativity

White porcelain nativity that Shon made me when he was in Alaska on his mission.

Santa...almost life size. The grandbabies like to try to sit on his lap and adjust his glasses.

Felt pillows

Eye brow window display above front door

Some of my collectible Santa's. I made the one on the right. It was a paper mache face that I painted, sewed the velvet hat and glued on the raffia beard.

Small collectibles in the bathroom

More collectible Santa's

Christmas print of Dean Morrisey given to us by Colett. He is my favorite Christmas painter.

My shelf elf

Shelf elf #2

Santa in sleigh

Rudolf I made from felt, brown raffia and styrofoam

Large Collectible Santa...about 31" tall

Stacking boxes that Amy and I made and Santa candles

My cherished ceramic Santa's made by my mother.

Arch leading into the living room

Cinnamon broom that I decorated

Santa with real working clock

Wreath with NOEL plate

Mantel with all my carolers

I don't know what this is but I like it. It's just a hanging thing with bells and Christmas berries

Archway in the front entry

Bannister with bubble lights

I always think of Grandma Eyre when I look at it. She had bubble lights that fascinated me so much when I was little.

My elf Barney

My Homemade Chrsitmas Decorations

This wooden mouse is wearing a Mickey Mouse watch although I am not sure you will be able to see it.

I have had a few people ask me to post my Christmas decorations. I did post a lot of them last year but I have since acquired a few and rearranged so I will post them again. This post will just show the things I have painted or made over the years and I will post the other things later. Just so you know, I am not posting these things to boast or show off although I am proud of my work and am happy to share. Some of the items are rather small so you may have to enlarge to get detail.

I painted all the skinny Santas but not the chubby one.

I painted the two tall ones but the smaller one is a collectible from an artist in Cheyenne, Wy.

This is a relief tole painted item. The tiny socks actually hang from the mantel as does the wreath.



This is a large Santa head that I painted on cut out wood. It is made of 6 different pieces of wood.



I painted the the children from around the world on a wooden plate

Painted wooden sled of candy canes and a rose.

The glittery Santa on the left is a new one from Broadbents.....a wonderful general store in Lehi. The other two I painted.

This is a new plaque that I painted and covered with scrapbook paper.

I painted the Mrs. Santa, the advent picture and made the angels.

I painted this Santa on fabric so the paisley that you can see is actually the fabric showing through.

Wooden angel

Santa cookie jar lid.

Elf stocking holder. His left leg protrudes from his body by a dowel.

Thanksgiving

I couldn't let the time pass right into Christmas without remembering the gratitude I have in my heart for all the blessings I have been given. I would be praying all day if I had to name each item and person that I have been blessed with in my life. Suffice it to say, that I have a great family, all the necessities of life, some of the luxuries and great hope for the future. I love my Heavenly Father and know who I am and what is expected of me in this life. I don't always meet those expectations, but I have the gift of trying again and again.

That said, we had a great Thanksgiving Day at daughter Colett's. She is an amazingly creative and her Thanksgiving table was no exception. She combined the whimsical with the elegant. She covered the table with plain paper and drew place matts on it with a marker. She then set the table with china, gold utensils, goblets and the centerpieces were twigs from the yard. We also ate with candlelight. I loved it.

We each contributed to the meal and although the turkey took longer to cook than anticipated, we had appetizers to fill the void. It was kind of nice to draw it out a little instead of eating everything all at once. You didn't feel so bloated.

Amy and Colett in the kitchen

Once again, Wes was at the fire station and had to miss out.

My place setting. Notice the napkin ring made from a tag and stamped with my initial.

Amy and me

Chef Matt and Nicholas

Grandpa Wayne and Amelia

Colett and Isabelle

Carving the bird

The kid's table with coloring crayons so they can write and color while waiting

My place setting

I don't have pictures of us sitting around burping after it was over....it wasn't a pretty site. We did discuss that in some countries, it is an insult not to burp after a meal to show your appreciation. So here's to you Colett.....buuuurrrp!!