Christmas Pics

It just occured to me that I never got around to posting any pictures of my feeble attempt at decorating for Christmas this year. I'll be putting everything away tomorrow, so...here are few.
( Can anyone explain to me how to do pictures side by side but not touching like these?)

Hugs,

Shari

2009 is almost here!!

Whew! Can y'all believe it will be a brand new year in a few hours! It's exciting for me...I always look forward to the new year as (almost) a new beginning. I always make a few resolutions, but keep them to myself. But, for the most part, I usually end up keeping most of the things on my list. All in all, 2008 was a very good year for me. My relationship with my husband continues to just get better, and keeping my mouth shut to my children has also improved. My web site continues to do well and I am so blessed to have such wonderful customers. And here at the last minute, I've learned how to do a few new things including needle punch. So, I have no regrets and I am really quite pleased with where I am and who I am.......

Not all folks make resolutions on paper, but I think that most, at least think about it as a time to make changes. Some of us, (like me) use the new year to really reflect on our daily lives and what we can do to make them better.

Bill and I are planning a quiet evening at home. He's been out of town again this week and he's a little tired. And I think I might be coming down with a cold or something. I went to bed last night not feeling well at all and woke up this morning not much better. I am making steaks and shrimp for dinner ( a tradition for us on New Year's Eve) and later we'll watch a movie, have some wine, cheese and crackers to welcome the new year. Sounds boring to some, but we love it.

Another tradition for us is to have baked ham, black-eyed peas and turnip greens on New Years Day! I also take down my Christmas tree on Jan. 1st. I wish I had a tradition to put up my tree, cause I never seem to ever get decorated for Christmas as soon as I would like too. And this year was the worst ever. I never made it up to the attic to get all my ornaments, but oh well, it was fine without them....
Well, I have rambled on and on more than I had planned. So, I'm going to wish everyone HAPPY NEW YEAR and best wishes for 2009! Be safe and be happy!
Hugs,
Shari

FABULOUS CHRISTMAS!!!!

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! Ours has been fabulous this year! I have to tell y'all about my most special gift of 2008....

Several weeks ago, a friend and I were talking about what we would like for Christmas this year. We both agreed that we would really love to get something that would Wow us! Or at least we would think WOW when we opened it. I told Bill about the conversation and the hunt was on!! After being together for 30+years, it's a difficult task to come up with something for me, period. He started asking questions and looking at all the sale papers on Sundays. We did this for several weeks, and even went out shopping together several times and I still couldn't think of anything that I wanted. I couldn't come up with anything and the poor guy didn't have a clue.

He went out of town on business the week before Christmas and apparently went shopping there. This is what he came up with! I love it and it was definately a WOW! I have always loved hearts and have several different ones that I have gotten over the years. But, this one is really a little more special though....the meaning is different than all the rest!

He did good, huh??

Well, after working on this for several days, I am finally getting this to post...

I'll be back soon with some new pictures.

Until text time.

Hugs,

Shari

I'm ready for Christmas!

Christmas Eve and it's after 9:00............you'd better be ready cause the big day is tomorrow! All the hustle and bustle and it's over so quickly. I wish (so much) that it could last longer. Such a wonderful time for me; I love shopping, cooking, crafting, wrapping presents, even watching all the corny Christmas movies, old and new!

We spent the afternoon/evening at my parent's house with my family. We had a huge meal with fried turkey, baked ham and all the fixens! My Mom made two of her famous chocolate cream cakes! So yummy!!!! I don't think I'll eat again for days.

It was so nice this year. It's always a little hectic there when we all show up at once ( 25 or so), but today, we kinda showed up in shifts. My brother didn't make it at all...he was still working in Florida and decided to wait and come home for New Years instead. We missed him, but we're going to try and get together for a meal or at least a visit on January 1st.

One of my favorite gifts today were little ornaments made by my great-nieces. Shyann (2) and Skyler (5) put their (snowman) fingerprints on shatterproof balls along with a little poem explaining about them. Just too precious!!

The poem reads:

These aren't just five snowmen,

As anyone can see.

I made them with my hand

Which is a part of me.

Now each year when you trim the tree

You'll look back and recall

Christmas of 2008

When my hand was just this small!

Tomorrow, I'll make a big breakfast and we'll have a leisure morning. Then we're off to Graham to have lunch with Bill's Mom and brothers. Not nearly as chaotic as my family, but still really nice. Later in the afternoon, we'll spend time with the Grandkids. A busy day, but it's over way too soon.

I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2009!
Until next time.....
Hugs,

Shari

Tired of Ham & Turkey???????

It's only a few more days till Christmas and I am spending today doing a little bit of shopping (grocery and gift), baking a little, craftin' a little (one gift left to finish) and restin' a little (been really unusually tired these past few days)! LOL!! Another Doctor's appointment tomorrow, if I don't change my mind.....

I ran across this recipe the other day and thought I would share....it's very easy and very tasty after eating ham and turkey for days as we do in NC. I have made this off and on for years just to have a change. It's a little different than just regular spagetti. My kids used to love it on the 26th or 27th of Dec. A bag of salad greens and garlic toast and you have your meal.

Skillet Spagetti

serves 6

1 lb. ground beef ( I use ground chuck )
3/4 cup chopped onions
1/3 cup chopped green pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon shortening ( I use vegetable oil )
Salt
4 Cups water
1/2 pound spagetti, broken into 2-inch pieces
1 16 oz. can tomatoes, cut into bite size pieces ( or I buy the diced kind )
3/4 cup ketchup ( I use Heinz )
Parmesean cheese

Brown first 4 ingredients in shortening. Sprinkle with salt; stir in water. Bring mixture to a boil, add spagetti. Cook, uncovered 12-15 minutes or until spagetti is tender. Stir in tomatoes and ketchup, simmer about 10 minutes to blend flavors. Serve with parmesean cheese.

Hope you try this!

Until next time.

Hugs,
Shari

Something to contemplate......

As some of you know, I get on these cleaning binges and really get carried away. This usually happens after I have been to the doctor and want to make sure that everything is in order! LOL !! Nothing like a doctor's appointment for me to get my closets cleaned out and organized!!

Anyway, during one of my late night cleaning jags, I ran across this. Someone sent this to me in June 1999 and I liked it so much, I saved it. So, here it is. Most of it is still so true in 2008. Hope you like it too! Something to think about....almost 10 years later

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buldings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints; we spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy it less.

We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conviences, but less time; we have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgement; more experts, but more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life, not life to years.

We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor. We've conquered outer space, but not inner space. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've split the atom, but not our prejudices. We have higher incomes, but lower morals. We've become long on quantity, but short on quality.

These are the times of tall men and short character;steep profits, and shallow relaionships. ( This part isn't true for today, but) These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition. These are days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes.

It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stockroom; a time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can chose either to make a difference, or just hit delete..........

I would like to think that I can and do make a difference, at least sometimes.

Love you guys!

Hugs,

Shari

What a shame!

I was sitting here last evening with my friend, Retha and Kathy from Just Plain Country ( I have a booth there ) called and told me that part of the building had collapsed! Thank God no one was injured! But, it is devastating for Kathy & Tim. At this point, we can't even get in there to get our "stuff". They are having engineers come in this morning to check it out and hopefully they can fix it quickly. The building is around 100 years old so there's no telling what they might find. My thoughts and prayers are with them and the folks that work for them....I'll let you know what happens.

Until next time.

Hugs,
Shari

Home Cookin' Sign

I just finished this up and wanted to see if I could get some opinions! This will be new for 2009 on my web site. What do y'all think? I was looking for something to sit on my stove top and a daughter, of a friend of mine, Miss Lauren, suggested this! I love how it turned out!

Hugs,

Shari

Yipee! November Winner!

YIPEE!

The winner from my Web site monthly contest has come forward. I had almost given up on her! LOL!

~November 2008 Contest Winner~

$25.00 Gift Certificate

Kathrine Oakley from Sumter, SC.

Congratulations!

I'll post pics as soon as she makes her selections! Come on over and enter December's drawing! No purchase necessary!

Can y'all believe that it's only 16 days till Christmas? This year has flown by! I went to Walnut Cove today to deliver a special order sign and take a few things to my booth there. There are soooo many nice primitive items there. I didn't find anything for myself today, but my friend Retha found an antique sled. I can't wait to see it...

Tomorrow is the DAY....that I am going to get my main Christmas tree up and decorated!!! In the morning, I am going shopping with my Mom & Dad so they finish up some shopping, but basically I am all done!!

Gonna go run the vaccume and get ready for tomorrow! Until next time....

Hugs,

Shari

November Winner

Hi y'all! I know I have been MIA for too long, but I just haven't had the chance to be here like I would like to..........BUT

I know a lot of folks are waiting to hear who the winner for the November contest was...I picked a winner, but she hasn't gotten back with me yet. I will give her a few more days and then I will pick someone else. Just wanted to give her ample time in case she was out of town, sick or something.

As soon as I get caught up on orders, I'll be back here posting and sharing as much as I can. The Christmas orders have been a little overwhelming for me this year and I had to make TODAY the cut off for Christmas delivery. I feel so blessed to be so busy, but sometimes I wish I had a little crew of Fairies to help me. Folks are really looking for and asking for the made in USA goodies. Next year, we are really going to focus on those types of items, plus more custom and personalized products.

My homemade Room Sprays are one of the most popular items that I am selling at the moment!

Folks are lovin' these! The scents are fabulous! And they make great gifts!

I can actually personalize the label!

This is a special order that I did for a customer. You can't imagine how CUTE this lantern looks with the greenery and the grungy pillar. It has glass on the front and will sit or hang.

Just wanted y'all to know that I am still around and until next time.

Hugs,

Shari