Hello all....today it is back to "normal" here in our world. We were blessed with a white Christmas this year and we loved it! Today, the snow is still flying and we have about 8" on the ground. It reminds me of winter when I was a child! (Only now, I do not play in it until my toes are numb ;)



This year we had a daughter-in-law to share our holiday!That made it extra special! She and our son spent part of Christmas Eve with us and we ate Christmas Dinner at their house! This was our first Christmas "alone" since we were 22 years old....hmmmm....talk about laid back! We ate when we wanted, napped several times during our days off, kicked back at every opportunity...LOL. But I will admit....I had a few moments of "longing"....longing for those days of twinkling eyes and wide smiles...of waiting for Santa followed by days of putting toys together and playing with every one! Little boys (and girls) grow up waaaayyyyy too fast...and leave our homes way to empty, especially during the holidays.



Hope that you all enjoyed a beautiful Christmas with those you love! I am heading for my craftroom today and looking forward to playing with some great Christmas goodies!

Christmas Love.....

We had an early Christmas with my family this past weekend....the picture below touched my heart: two chapters being written in the same family book , one by my Dad, the eldest at age 81, one by Baby Brody, the youngest at age 1! A lifetime of living in between the two.



I wonder as my Dad held his great grandson, did his mind go back to when he was a little boy? Did his dim eyes look back and see other arms who held him and pointed out the glittering lights and brightly wrapped gifts. Did someone hold him close and whisper "Poppy loves you"? Did his small hands touch the faces of his family and did his sweet smile warm their hearts? This pic made me wonder...

We are blessed this year to have a Daughter-in-Law added to our family! She is a wonderful addition to our family and we love her. She completes our son and in doing so, completes us! She is such a perfect fit, it seems like she was born to be ours!



Last year our "family Christmas" was cancelled due to the weather. A huge snowstorm knocked the power out for over a week and none of the out of town family coud make it in. This year we were all together and it was wonderful!



This picture speaks "LOVE" to me....so much love in one small group of people..that's what "family" is all about...and I am so Blessed!

Yummy!

Just a quick post today to share a very pretty and easy idea for a beautiful homemade good gift. This is my White Chocolate Gourmet Popcorn:




A few years ago a pharmaceutical rep would bring tiny bags of this to my office and I ate a few just to find out the ingredients (joke) and decided that it was so delicious I just had to make my own. I am going to post the recipe. Be sure to pay close attention. I wouldn't want you to miss an important step in the process:
1. Pop microwave popcorn of your choice.
2. Remove from bag when cool and place in single layer on wax paper covered cookie sheet.
3. Add a few handfuls (for this size container)of any type red/green etc type cereal. ( I use the red crunchberries in Captain Crunch or Red/Green Fruit Loops) Sprinkle over popcorn.
4. Sprinkle a few almonds over popcorn.
5. Melt 1 package White Tree Bark( or you could use white chocolate morsels. I have found that tree bark works better for mr). Stir until completely smooth.
6. With a fork (I don't know why, the fork just works better in this instance for getting nice long strips of chocolate) dip chocolate and with a flicking motion of the wrist, fling gently over popcorn mixture until nearly every popcorn morsel has SOME chocolate on it. (it is perfectly acceptable to let it land more heavily in some areas and people often tell me that these are the BEST bites ;)
7. Place cookie sheet in refrigerator until chocolate hardens.
8. Transfer into pretty bags, boxes, jars etc and decorate for any holiday.
9. Enjoy...enjoy....enjoy.

I made this large container for the girls in my office this week. They have passed it around and thoroughly enjoyed it! One of them, that I have worked with for many years, said, "oooooh yummy, Tammie's gourmet popcorn." Isn't it nice to do things for people when they appreciate it! (I almost forgot, in this batch I sprinkled red and green nonperils on the chocolate before putting it in the fridge...it made it look so festive.)

Of course the ingredients can be adapted to your own taste...the only two that are required are the popcorn and chocolate. Afterall, with those two firmly in place, how could it possibly go wrong? And, may I add, that I enjoyed decorating the container almost much as eating the popcorn. I used scraps of cardstock, ribbon and couple of ornaments lying on my desk. Viola...a gift worth giving!

Thanks for stopping by. After an icy/snowy morning which closed my office today, I think that I will venture out this afternoon for a bit of last minute shopping.
See ya soon!

Christmas Time's Comin'

Hi friends! Tonight I am sitting in the sweet glow of the Christmas tree, nibbling on homemade Southern Pecan Fudge and basking in the knowledge that I have completed my Christmas shopping! Whew....what a relief. Now, perhaps, I can enjoy the remainder of the season!( FUDGE NOTE: This is the first good fudge that I have made after trying diligently for 27 years!!! My DH is always supportive and so generous with his praise, but the other night, after my third failed batch, he said so sincerely, "honey, you just can't make fudge, can you? LOL. Well you know what...NOW I CAN....and it is delicious! Oh, and yes, I will diet after the holidays :)

I wanted to share a couple of Christmas cards that I made this week. I have thoroughly enjoyed having some time off work and getting to create again...my craft room is my "happy place" and I go there every chance I get.



Sometimes when I finish a project, I look at it and am amazed that with a bit of ribbon, paper, glue and embellies, I have "created" something worthwhile....and it gives me pleasure...it relaxes me and makes me happy!

As we are under a Winter Storm Warning this weekend, I am settling in with a new recipe for "White Hot Chocolate" (yummmmm...I will share it later if it is as good as it promises to be ;), a few good books, some Christmas music and a warm, sweet Packer Puppy sitting by my side. Oh yeah, and PLENTY of new paper products to play with from my last shopping trip to Michaels. What more could a gal ask for?

Thanks for taking a moment to visit my scrappy world.....until next time.

Let it Snow!

Here in Kentucky, we have enjoyed a cold and snowy weekend and beginning of the work week! Pictured below is sweet Packer Puppy enjoying a romp in the snow on our deck! He comes directly inside for a warm towel and my lap :) He loves a good cuddle!

I have been in the most unbelievable crafting slump for months! Actually since my son married this past July and I moved my scrap space into his bedroom, I have not been able to settle in a create anything! Fianlly, this week, I have moved everything into a "workable" arrangement and I am thrilled!




Inspired by Mish's blog, I have developed a love for brown paper sac designs. So country, sort of shabby and soooo much fun! The above "sac cards" will be filled with goddies, baked and monetary, for those on my Christmas list this year! Fun, fun, fun! This week, I have made a mini album, Christmas Cards and my sweet little sacs....whew, it sure is good to have my creative mojo back! I was getting stressed!
Here's wishing all of you a wonderful "crafty" week and thanks for stopping by!