A Cold Quiet Evening in Helen, Georgia

Tonight after work, we went to grab something to eat, went to the Dollar General store to look through all their stuff and then decided to go get the pictures of all the lights in town as we rode through the other night and they were all so pretty! We had fun playing with all the talking toys in the store that I think the clerk was glad when we left! ;)


I took 81 pictures according to my camera and about 8 were clear enough to post. So disappointed because I wanted to share with you the beautiful lights everywhere.
Body Guard and I went to several spots and our hands were about frozen by the time we got through. I think my face was froze by this last one here.

This is a random picture of Miss Abbie tonight. When we got home she had a bath and I'm drying here in front of the TV. She likes TV. Funny. How do you like that wavy, wet hair?

Ok, back to some lights. This is the gazebo at Pete's Park. They were really so much prettier than I could take pictures of here.

A glimpse at part of the town.

We were about the only people in town but we took the spot of the horse and buggy so the driver threatened us to move our car or pay a 300.00 fine. So, we quickly took this picture.

We were running around like kids. I wish this pic had turned out clearer because it is a good picture of my hubbie.

And here is where Santa will sit! Santa Baby! I started my wish list on ABC stitch therapy and 123 Stitch online and maybe I will go back this week and whisper this in Santa's ear.

The little Alpine village is so beautiful at night and I hope to get some really good pictures. Seems that after we got home, I had the camera on the wrong setting but one night this week, I'll go back and get some more to post! Promise!

After taking care of all the animals when we got home, we finally have sat down to take a breath.

We are catching up on world news now.

I know my morning started out quite bizarre as in my commute a woman, dressed as Santa with a hat was weaving all over the road. There were double lines but I finally tried to get around her and she waved a gun or a cellphone in the air at me/ I couldn't tell and had rage all in her face while I was flooring the car to pass around her. She was so mad I could see the veins in her neck while she was yelling at me. In my rear view mirror she was back to weaving and then the State patrol who probably clocked me, thought it was the person in front of me and he turned his lights on and pulled over the person in front of me. I was so hoping that he would see the maniac lady/Santa that I passed.

When that lady saw the cops, she turned her car around and went the other way, so I guess she was in her mind enough to know to run when she sees blue lights!

So, stay safe out there! Hopefully, there is an APB out for weaving Santa's who are not driving reindeers, according to BG! LOL

Till later,

Jennifer

Double Dutch - Cross Stitch Pattern

Double Dutch - Cross Stitch Pattern

This is incredibly beautiful and awe-inspiring! Take a look at this Dutch sampler.

Savoring Sundays Simply

Sundays are for slowing down. Slowing down from the hustle and bustle of life especially at this time of year.
It's quiet here in the house. I've been playing with a few things.

Working on Clara's Christmas Dance Sampler by The Sampler Girl. I'm using a piece of linen I found in my stash but was unlabeled so I believe it's 32 count cream linen, but not absolutely sure. The threads are a combination of Crescent colors and DMC in lovely blue and gray shades with hints of gold.

Believe or not, I ironed this linen piece and I can't seem to get the deep creases out. I'm imagining this when finished as a pillow keep in a rocking chair right by the tree this year.
Earlier, I tried to use my sewing machine to keep the edges from fraying. I punched the wrong button I guess and instead of serging it, it got hung in the machine and went so fast that the footer broke off. It was a mess. Body Guard had to actually take the metal plating off the machine with these intsy, wintsy screwdrivers to save my precious linen. I tend to stitch near the edges on my pieces so I was really in a tizzy for a minute. But he fixed it and I could breathe again.......I still have alot of basic sewing to learn. I'm still confused on how it all happened.


I wanted to make sure I stitched past the "drank" word to "punch" before I posted a progress pic. I may have a glass of wine at Christmas this year instead of punch, or spike the punch without telling the guests! Ok, it's time to quit thinking.......

But dazing into the Christmas tree at teatime this afternoon just calms my spirit.

While Santa is working on his workshop outside with 2 reindeer eager to help!

I'm looking at a couple of things I got yesterday at the quilt shop. Yesterday the quilt shop had a big Christmas sale, so as it's conveniently located next to my hairdresser........she was running late on appts. I had planned to avoid the shop because I just didn't need to go back in there. I this pretty green flannel fabric last week which looks so much like Weeks Dye fabric and I needed it for a project.

But, she only had to say this when I walked in, "Hey, I'm running a little late, you wanna go look around at the quilt shop. They are having cake and a sale today" Yes, mam, I caved right on over there and got this little snow hanger.

And by the time I was in 7th Heaven looking at the dazzling fabrics, my 15 minutes had expired and in front of about 20 women, my hairdresser, in full robing holding my hair color in a bowl with a brush, said, "hey, are ya ready? I could do one more hair cut that just walked in if you need a little more time?" Everyone laughed and I was embarrassed but I've known her for almost 10 years so I had to laugh too.

That led to getting this fabric here because I said......"yeah, a little more time, I'll be over."

They are so soft and flannelly (is that a word?) :0

The pretty green on the right just reminded me of the BG. He loves green! I don't think I can really do much with this for him but I will have it on hand in case an idea pops up.

And today, pulled out my OPI nail polish in the reddest red. I hope to get a pedicure and a manicure in this red someday this week. It's been a very long time that I splurged for that so a Christmas one is in order!

Now, here is the difference between night and day, guns and roses, apples and oranges, and all the other opposites you can think of. While we were at Wallie World last night, we both got a magazine. You can see which one is mine right? Yep, like I said, we are guns and roses.

Now I love, love the Country Sampler quarterly magazines. I can look through them and drool a hundred times. Almost too much, probably would classify for seizure meds if I looked through them too much.....but I love this one.

Old book article.........

my dream kitchen........with a small table in the middle not a huge kitchen island to navigate around! LOL

All the Christmas decorating in this book is so pretty. I have a weakness for red doors.

And I'm dreaming here of the back porch being converted to a lovely dining room one day......like this! ;)

Do you know I got one of these Hoosier cabinets like in this picture for 75.00 last year? At the end of an auction where almost everyone had left but me. Of course mine is painted but I've always wanted to move it somewhere inside. Right now it's on my back porch with some primitive things on it. I love Hoosier cabinets.

And then at Walmart, I also grabbed this book. Because The Thornbirds is my favorite book and movie, with Gone With the Wind a close 2nd..........I knew anything by Colleen McCullough had to be good. Anyone read this yet?

The Thornbird writer combined with Jane Austen has to be good!

Speaking of good books........ya heard of Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman Blogger right?

If you haven't you must go to her cooking section of her blog but warning: you will comb the pantry afterward to cook!

Anyways, I just read that she will be in Atlanta for a cookbook signing tomorrow night at 7:30p. Oh, I wish I could have gone to that!

Abbie says "Mommie has too many distractions now!"

For the life of me, I have no idea why her eyes are so green in photos. It's naptime for Abbie while mommie enjoys her goodies and stitching........

So, now it's 5:30p and already dark. I'm going to try to find a good Christmas movie on Lifetime while I work on this sampler. I can't take anymore of the Tiger Woods and Obama stuff on the news channels. Not on Sunday. Sunday we will simplify and rest.

Hope your Sunday has been restful and full of peace!

Jennifer

Benji

SinterKlaasavond

In the Netherlands, Saint Nicholas Eve is Dec 5th traditionally and this is when the children leave their shoes by the door or the fireplace with a carrot or hay for the horse and they will receive a present in them by morning! My husband is Dutch and he can remember doing this when he was little.

Supposedly, SinterKlaas wears a white bishops dress and carries a big book that tells whether the child has been good or naughty for the past year! ;)

Well, I guess you could say we have participated in a partial SinterKlaas Eve today as we went to the outlet stores and shopped till we dropped for presents. In between we ate chocolate covered something in between meet-ups. We both had White Chocolate Mochas with whipped cream and chocolate chip cookies this afternoon. This gave us the sugar and energy to get through the crowd at the big Walmart in Dawsonville. This one is the super, duper of Walmarts!

We lingered in the pet section of the store for a good 30 minutes, met up with a lady who started a conversation and she told us all about breeding chichi's. She used to do that and she loved them. She gave us some tips on some of their behavior issues and all, then we moseyed over to the book section and browsed through the magazines and books.

We passed many cars with Christmas trees strapped to the top today! The rush is on at the stores too!

My weakness at the outlet mall is the Ann Taylor outlet store. I honestly have an adrenaline rush when Ann Taylor has sales and they were really having some good sales today.

I even got stopped by a state patrol once for speeding and they asked me what I was in a hurry for and I told him, Ann Taylor is having a sale! It was not an impressive response but it was truly what I was thinking at the time.

So, yeppers, Body Guard went with me but we would keep meeting up at different times. He had some shopping to do too. And I think he likes analyzing all the people and profiling the shoppers in a crowd! LOL

We are home and trying to take care of the furbabies. They have loads of energy now as we are low on energy.

Hope all are having a great weekend enjoying the rush of the season or even better sipping on a cafe mocha with extra cream and white chocolate.

Jennifer

Signs of the Season

Well, it was a silent night here until Abbie started chirping a while ago. We both stayed up late to find some snow. But only a few flakes. I think the ground is a bit too warm to stick plus as I write this the sun is beaming.

Angels are among us. I just know they are and I hope each and every one of you has a busy angel today!

I did clean out more old pocket books and put more change in the jar. I'm excited over leaving this at someone's door this Christmas! I'm also excited to read those books Sandy sent me and listen to Andrew Bocelli. His voice is angelic in and of itself!

I have a busy day planned including trips to get a hairtrim and do some shopping. I really have most of my shopping done. But......you know how it is around Christmas! There's always a place or two to stop in an say Hi!

And also I got out my Christmas cards to start addressing for tonight as well. I love to send Christmas cards out. I found a few this year to send from a thrift store. They are quite old but still as cute as ever.

So, a busy Saturday for me.............stay safe out there shopping. On the news 2 nights ago in Atlanta at one of the malls, a man dressed all out as an elf, stood in line for Santa and when he got to him, he told him he had dynamite and was going to blow him up! What a nutcase. He didn't of course after they checked his bag but he is in jail. I'm sure Santa is very nervous now.

So, stay safe out there in this season!

Talk later...

Jennifer

Around the Christmas tree tonight are true blessings

The forecast for North Georgia is 50% chance of some snow flurries early in the morning, like 3am-6am, then clearing by noon. The clouds on the way home looked like snow clouds were forming. In the distance on my left as I was driving through the mountain roads, the most beautiful sunset ever. It was the most layered, orangey, bright beautiful sunset I've seen in a long time. To the right were snow clouds forming and gray. A strange but beautiful ending to my day of work.

We're hoping to see, even if a little, of the white stuff in the morning!

Bodyguard said, "you've got a big package here" when I walked in. Oh my, I went through it in so much excitement that I didn't take a picture of how beautiful they were wrapped when in the bag. Each one was wrapped neatly and separately so the joy of opening each one was pure excitement, like Christmas morning!

We were both amazed at the thoughtfulness and the absolute kindness of someone I've never met before sending 2 books and a CD. When I saw the CD I couldn't believe it! Sandy from New Jersey sent me these wonderful items, 2 of Jason Wrights' books on the Christmas Jar AND a Andrew Bocelli CD! His Christmas one too! Body Guard instantly said, someone is looking after me. I love Andrew Bocelli. His music just sings to the soul. Sorry, I'm not good at opening packages neatly......;)

Sandy sent me a beautiful card too and she said she would be going to a concert to see him this weekend! OH MAN! I can't believe that! I'm so envious! What a gracious gift, Sandy! Thank you, thank you thank you!!! And it couldn't have arrived on a better day for me. How in the world did you know I love Andrew Bocelli? Are you an angel?

In fact, I love this CD so much that me and the BodyGuard danced to one of his songs just a minute ago. I love this man. Well, I love both men! LOL

This CD is so uplifting. I love his music so much that in 2000 I bought an Italian dictionary to try to interpret some of his lyrics. Sandy, you are an angel. I just know you are.

I'm listening to him right now while I"m writing this.

Sandy, you are a special treasure and I don't know how I can tell you how much you lifted my day.

Here are the other listeners too! We went out tonight to try a new place to eat and then came home to play with the puppies. I really wanted to get them posing still right by the tree in their Christmas attire but they weren't cooperating.
Ren was a little grumpy tonight. He says "this is my 17th Christmas tree!"

The sweet lump of sugar here is still amazed at the ornaments......well, some of them are about as big as she is.

In my lap she plops all the time.

This couldn't have come on a better day.

I was at work today and my cell phone got a message which I didn't get until I was finished for the day. Actually, there was no voicemail message, it just said I missed a call. I looked at the number and I really panicked because I figured out finally it was my dad. He never calls me unless somebody has died. Of course, I thought that something happpened to Brandon and I really didn't know until we got home that this was indeed his number.

BG called him back and he answered and said, "oh, no, I dialed the number by accident." Oh, he's talked to Brandon alot of times while he is in Afghanistan and even though I was at the begging stage to let us know just that he is ok, he will not do it if he hears from him. So his accidental call was indeed not only a put-down and a shame for his own daughter, he didn't leave a message so that we wouldn't think of all the awful things that could have happened in the meantime.

My hubbie asked me tonight what did I want for Christmas and I really feel like Abbie is my Christmas. But what I really, really want is a letter from my son and that really doesn't cost anything. Maybe I should be specific and say a positive letter from my son, as his last one was full of anger.

If not, I know he will have to deal with his own karma in his own way, just as my dad should be dealing with his one day and I will deal with mine and my daughter will deal with hers.

I think the sad part of Christmas holidays is that almost all families have family members that are toxic or dysfunctional, even though we don't want to admit it. And it's hard really, to get through it. Maybe it's the economy this year, or I don't know what, but I'm seeing alot more people who are quite frankly depressed during the holidays.

I don't know why it's different for me but maybe this is the first holiday I've really admitted the falseness of Christmas's all along with my family. I've in some ways come to peace with the fact that if they can live with their hatefulness, then that's not my problem anymore.

I'm just kind of sad that I made it my problem for as long as I did in my life.

So, Sandy, your gifts were angel sent and delivered to me at a special time.

Back to more Andrew Bocelli and a cozy fireplace~~~~

Miss Abbie and her new found toy

Her eyes look green and I couldn't remove it in my picture folder.......but maybe that's the reason she is shredding her paper lately.........I couldn't resist getting her picture today while she was totally giddy with a pair of men's tube socks all in a ball there. She played with them longer than her chew toys. They were the pair that Body Guard took off last night......I will digress........

either way, she says, socks are a cool thing! It's way better than her tearing up potty paper to shreds due to separation anxiety.

Her hair is resembling a lamb at this point! A lamb with a lion personality.......too funny.

A Few things to cause happy dances~~~

You know, mail can change a day from misty, gray blowing rain to sunny with just opening a package! ;)
Yesterday was a gloomy day indeed indoors and outdoors. Many, many issues to resolve in such short time but this morning after a 10 hour hiatus of sleep (which is extremely unusual for me), I am opening my mail to find this:

Northanger Abbey pattern by The Sampler Girl. This will definitely be a 2010 stitch. I'm going to stitch this for a special friend.

She had a Thanksgiving sale so I also got this piece of material, Jane Austen fabric which will back a pillow lovely for the above pattern!

And I was oh so grateful for the free chart she put in the package. Yesterday I had troubles printing it all on one page so, there ya go! Another happy dance!

yep, I'm guilty in the first degree of having too many scissors this year. Santa may leave me with a lump of coal this year for this one reason!

I got these scissors from her as well and already they are my favorite of all. I really, really liked the Tudor rose scissors which are very similar but silver in color. I know I will love these because they are shorter and will travel with me well. My fingers are small and these fit perfectly. You can pop over to her website and order a pair of these Kelmscott scissors for you or would be great as a giftie for a stitching friend.

Here's another find this week. I did a happy dance in Target when I found this. It is green frosting with the little bitty Christmas trees and other candies to sprinkle on top. Vanilla flavor. What a great find for a Christmas cake!

Pine-scented candle also from Target, helps keep the house smelling nicely like Christmas, or........at least it counteracts the poopie pads from Abbie right now! LOL

Yesterday my dear friend at work, Debra, gave me these. She makes Dat'l pepper sauce and sells on ebay, as well as her own website. I usually get a couple of sets of 3, which she will make and cater to your liking, for gifts for family or friends.

Debra uses the Dat'l peppers from St. Augustine, Fla, where she grew up, to make this special sauce. I got a group of 3 in honey mustard, hot, and mild. If she is not working, she's making Dat'l pepper sauce. I will tell you though that if you get the Hot, it will be HOT!

Her website is: dixiedatil.com

I'm doing a little inventory on my stash to see what I may need before making a trip to the big city soon. I think I'm low on linens. I also found out that Michael's craft store still has DMC floss for 35 cents a skein so I was jumping for joy there! Everytime I think I must have every color of DMC, then I run across a pattern that calls for it. It's almost like going grocery shopping! Even if I make a list, I usually forget at least 1 critical item I needed. I know there's always substituting colors and I do that occasionally but the Virgo in me wants to do it just right, so there ya go!

But, that's what keeps Walmart in business because when I drop in to get groceries or food items, soon I'm over to every other department looking at other stuff. Bad girl! ;)

Today it's nice and sunny outside for a lovely change! That's another reason for a happy dance. I have several things to catch up with on this day off but hopefully tonight I won't fall asleep over my laptop and wakeup the next morning.

I heard yesterday that there is a 50% chance of snow on Saturday here!!!!!!! We'll see. I'm crossing my fingers! I love snow.

Well, sipping the rest of my coffee and finishing up my morning routine here.

Talk later,

Jennifer