SNOWMEN

All my Christmas decorations have been put
up for another year. Now I have my snowmen
collection out for the month of January. Pictured
above is a towel to wipe your hands on that my
daughter, Kara gave me a few years ago. Needless
to say I do not wipe my hands on it, it is just for
decoration.

Many of the snowmen I purschased at yard sales.
This is one of them.

More yard sales finds. These little one line my

ledge over my kitchen sink area.

This basket was given to me and for the life of

me I can not remember who gave it to me. The

2 cute little snowmen are more yard sale finds.

Another yard sale find.

This I also got at a yard sale many years ago.

The hand painted tin can was given to me by

my daughter-in-law, the snowman is another

yard sale find.

The tea set is and mugs are another yard sale
find as is the cute snowman in the background,
which is one of my favorites.

This snowman was given to me by my daughter, Deann.

Another yard sale find.



Daughter, Deann, gave me these cute snowmen.



Bought this cute snowman years ago.

Another of my yard sale finds.

This crystal snowman is another yard sale find.

Tin snowman sits on my kitchen counter top. Another
yard sale find

The top snowman made of tin the bottom one is a stuffed one and yes they are more yard sale finds.

The tin snowman on top is a birdhouse, the bottom one is another stuffed one both are yard sale finds.

More yard sale finds.


The snowman in the background holds a
tea candle . I hope you have enjoyed seeing
my collection and that I have not bored you.
Have a blessed day this last day in 2011.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

To all my relatives, friends and blogging friends

here is my wish for you:

"May you have the gladness of Christmas which

is hope; the spirit of Christmas which is peace;

the heart of Christmas which is love."

~Ada V. Hendricks~

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Sincerely Madeline

WELCOME THE FIRST DAY OF WINTER

"On the first day of winter, the earth awakens
to the cold touch of itself.
Snow knows no other recourse except this
falling, this sudden letting go over the small
gnomed bushes, all the emptying trees.
Snow puts beauty back into the withered and
malnourished, into the death-wish of nature
and the deliberate way winter insists on nothing
less than deference. Waiting all its life, snow
says, "Let me cover you."
~Laura Lush~

PUMPKIN COOKIES

If you like soft cookies you need to try these

pumpkin cookies. I really think you will like

them.

Pumpkin Cookie Recipe

2 cups shortening

2 cups sugar

1 can pumpkin

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

4 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

2 cups raisins

1 cup chopped walnuts

Cream shortening and sugar. Add pumpkin, eggs, and vanilla;

beat well. Stir together flour, next 6 ingredients, add to batter;

mix well. Stir in raisins and nuts. Drop rounded teaspoonfuls

2 inches apart on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees

for 12 to 15 minutes. Cool on rack. Makes 7 dozen cookies.

Happy baking.

ENJOYING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON

Decorations all up, packages wrapped
and under the tree, Christmas cards
and packages mailed and all the goodies
that I give to relatives and friends all
baked. Now all I have to do is enjoy
the rest of the time until Christmas is
here. On Christmas day I will enjoy
the members of my family that will be
here to celebrate this blessed day.

PEARL HARBOR -- DECEMBER 7TH

Today is the 70Th anniversary of the
bombing of Pearl Harbor. I was
only 5 years old when this happened.
My dad who fought in WWI wanted
to go once again and serve his country
but because of his having a family they
would not take him. His brother did
join up and fought in WWII. I remember
the rationing books, saving the tin foil
from chewing gum and the flags that
hung in the windows of the families that
had loved ones fighting in the war. I honor
all the service men and women who help
keep this country free. God Bless America.

OUTSIDE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

Pictured above and below are some of my
outside Christmas decorations. This is my
storage house that I keep all my decorations
stored. The little Santa's and deer are some
of the wood craft that my husband and I did
when we were in the craft business.

More wood craft that we did when we were
in the craft business.

This is my little house that I keep my garden

tools and material stored. My husband built

it for me. I love decorating it for the different

holidays.

Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus have a special
place. The real reason for the season of Christmas.

The snowman was a gift from my daughter,

Debbie, a few years ago. The two little deers

are yard sale finds. I purchased the candy canes

after Christmas last year at a very good price.

They line my walk way in front of the house.

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

I have gotten all my Christmas decorations
put up. I want to share with you
some of my trees. I have one in
every room of the house ranging
in size for 2 foot to 6 foot. Pictured
above is my newest tree it has clear lights with gold ornaments, gold and white
garland and a crochet white angle for
the tree topper. This tree is in my
Victorian living room.

This tree is in my great room, It has
colored lights and the ornaments
are ones the children and given me
plus ornaments with pictures of all
my grandchildren and great grandchildren
decorating the tree.

This is my silver aluminum
pom-pom tree. It was one
of my yard sale finds a few
years ago. It has the color
wheel. This tree is in my computer room.

Another yard sale find.

This 4 foot tree is in

my little room off the

kitchen.

This tree is in my bedroom.

It has clear lights and is

decorated with purple ornaments

and white and lavender ribbon

garland.

This is a gift from my son and

his wife. It is a Christmas gift

for this year but they gave it to

me early so I could display it

with all my other decorations.

They thought since I bake

gingerbread cookies every year

for everyone I needed a gingerbread

house. It lights up and I think it

is so cute. I love it.

WELCOME MONTH OF DECEMBER

"I heard a bird sing in the dark of December
a magical thing and sweet to remember.
'We are nearer to spring then we were in
September,' I heard a bird sing in the dark
of December."
~Oliver Herford~

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY KARL

Wishing my husband a very happy
anniversary. 57 years. I hope God
will continue to bless us with many
more. Love you with all my heart.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I want to wish my family, relatives,


friends, and by blogger friends a


very blessed and Happy Thanksgiving.


May God continue to bless each and


everyone of you.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY DEANN AND BRIAN

Wishing my daughter, Deann and
her husband, Brian a very Happy
Anniversary. Twenty years, may
you have many many more. Love
you.

FALLING LEAVES

This is what my front yard looks like now with
almost all the leaves off the trees . I am hoping
when my family comes for Thanksgiving they
will take pity on us and come back and help
rake and clean up the yard. There are still some
trees that have a lot of leaves on them.

More of the yard that needs raking. We have

over 2 acres and have a lot of oak trees so in the

fall we have quite a lot of leaves.

As you can see some trees in the front yard have

lots of leaves left on them.

Trees in the back of our house that have lost

all their leaves.

VETERANS DAY

Freedom is not free

There is a price we pay for freedom
for it is not truly free but rather paid
by contributions of veterans to buy
our liberty
As their blood drains from their body
and runs like a river through the grass
Over the years it's forgotten, was is
placed in our past.
I don't think we all realize the importance
veterans play as they voluntarily serve
America each and every day.
We should honor the veterans for they
act like a shield protecting us from danger,
keeping America healed. So if you would
take a second to commemorate you will
instantly see we owe veterans our gratitude
for they are the reason we are free.
~Ashley Persyn~

God bless all our service men and

women who serve to keep us free.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Two of my daughters and their husbands
are celebrating anniversaries today. Debra
and Bob and Kara and Alex. Have a great
day and may you have many more anniversaries.
Love you all.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOGAN

Here's wishing my grandson, Logan,
a very happy birthday. Eleven years
old and in a couple of years you will
be a teenager. Hope your day is full
of fun. Love you.

VISIT WITH SOME OF THE FAMILY

Yesterday was a wonderful and great day. Our
grandson, Eric and his family (pictured above
on the left Ethan, sitting in rocker Eric who is
holding Aaron, Eric's wife Summer and last
but not least Abigail) came for a visit before they
leave to go back to Texas. Our daughters, Debra
and Deann and Deann's two boys were here also.
We had a wonderful visit and we got to meet our
newest member of the family Aaron who is 4 months
old.

This is Aaron, he was so good while he was
here. He smiles all the time a very happy boy.