This is a special Christmas gift that I gave my husband's grandma "Chickie". Her real name is Edna, but my children started calling her grandma "Chickie" when they were little because she raised chickens and sold eggs. The name has stuck over the years with all the grandkids. She is 96 years old and still lives on her farm. What a lady! Wish I had half the mind that she has! Anyway, this is a print that I had framed for her for Christmas. It is a painting that I did of her sister Mattie and Mattie's daughter, Shirley has the original. The lilac bush in the picture is from their old homestead when they were children. Mattie now resides in heaven where I'm sure there are many beautiful heavenly scented lilac bushes.
This little painting is titled "Moonlight in Pilot Grove" and has been scheduled to list on eBay Thursday evening, Dec. 20th. It measures 4 inches x 4 inches.
This painting measures 6 inches x 6 inches and is scheduled to be listed on eBay Sunday evening, Dec. 23rd. This painting is titled "Moonlight in Cottage Grove".
I haven't blogged for a while because my husband and I took our daughter to Branson, MO to go shopping at the new Landing Shopping Mall. These beautiful silver deer were everwhere.
We got a lucky shot of Mrs. Claus talking to a youngster outside of Santa's house.
This is a shot looking down through the mall. Condos are on one side and the Hilton is on the other looking out over the shoppers. I have two more smaller paintings that I will be adding to my auctions possibly tomorrow night or Thursday evening. One is fall and the other is summer.
Have a Merry Christmas everyone!
This little painting was listed on eBay this evening. The above title will link you directly to this auction. These little 4 inch x 4 inch paintings are my favorite to paint. I have a new Christmas decorating idea that I'm finishing up and will share soon. 
The lights in these little cottages come on as the sun sets and the moon takes center stage. The moon and lights from the cottages are reflected in the icy cold water below. Smoke drifts lazily from the chimneys and appears to freeze in midair. Then just when you think the snow has stopped, tiny glistening flakes appear like magic and sprinkle onto the earth as if spilled from a salt shaker. Believe in the wonder and the beauty that God provides for us each and every day.
You can click on any of the photos for a closer view.
This is my last large painting before Christmas. I may get a few smaller ones done, but I reallllllllly need a break and time to spend with family. I listed this one on eBay Monday evening. For a closer view, click on any of these photos. To go directly to this auction, click on the above title. This is not a Christmas painting, but if any bidder who reads my blog would like the evergreen, wreaths, and red bows added, I will gladly do that after the auction free of charge. Just email me and let me know.
The Winter Festival in the village of Pine Grove is an annual event that draws people for miles around. Snow has covered everything in sight just in time for this exhilarating event! Chili cookoffs, ice skating, snowman contests, and the Winter Swimming Championship are just a few of the scheduled events. Yes, I said swimming in the winter! This is the biggest event of the festival and big John Hanley, the light house keeper, has held the title for the past 6 years and he plans on keeping it. Smoke drifts from the chimneys into the brisk evening air and seems to hang there above the houses like small clouds, frozen in time. Lights from the distant buildings reflect and sparkle in the water below. Snow continues to gently fall and floats gracefully drifting toward the ground where it will glisten untouched until the villagers awake to the promise of a cold crisp day.
Winter has arrived in our little town. This really helped get me in the mood to finish decorating. I love the way everything looks with a fresh blanket of snow on it!
Snow always makes everything seem so peaceful and quiet.
Snow caps off the roof of this butterfly house.
I will have at least one more painting going on eBay before Christmas. It is a 16 x20 winter snow village scene. I didn't add Christmas details because I was afraid it was too late to sell another Christmas painting. But, if the winner wants evergreen and red bows, I will gladly add them after the auction ends. I hope to have it finished and listed this evening or by Monday evening. I may or may not have some smaller ones before Christmas. I would love to just relax and take it easy through Christmas, but I say that every year!
My sister sent me these photos of my fuzzy niece Holly. Holly has a nice little Christmas story that goes along with her name. Two years ago she showed up at our house and would always greet us as we got out of the car and would follow us to the back door. We have large french doors and she would sit there and watch us through the glass and stare at the food in the dog's bowl. We started taking food out to her and she ate it ravenously. She was starving. We already have two cats and I have allergy problems, but she broke my heart one evening when it was snowing and she watched me through the window shivering. Then when my husband and son decorated the front of the house with Christmas lights, she followed them like a little puppy back and forth with excitement. She is such a people cat, very social. I brought her into the basement, out of the weather and begged my sister to adopt her. Thankfully she did and since it was Christmas, she got the name "Holly".
Adorable!! 
Fairies abound everywhere in my dining room. Simply using what is already in the room is a great way to decorate without a lot of work. A bow tied around her neck and an evergreen wreath placed upon her head adds just the right Christmas touch in this blue and white room.
This is my mystical white fairy tree. New this year, I've added the sparkly glass church ornaments and the glitter snowflakes.
Add a touch of greenery to the chandelier above your dining table and some dangling ornaments!
A closeup of my tree topper. Isn't she elegant?
Lots and lots more glitter and sparkle!
I still have to have just a touch of the traditional green and red to brighten up the room. This lamb was purchased on eBay last year from a lady who uses her own special mix and makes these from old molds.
I painted these blocks years ago when I first started painting and have always had them in the kitchen. But, this year they just seem to look better on top of my hutch. I added a touch of evergreen and then the blue and white china ornaments and blue and white plaid ribbon.
This wreath has always been in the entry. But, upon closer inspection the sparkles in it look great with all the other glitter in the dining room. I centered it over one of my hanging transferware plates.
This fairy was given to me by my neighbor and dear friend Linda. I placed a wreath on her arm and an antique ornament is attached at the bottom. She is blowing the glittery mica that I poured in her shell. I've seen this same fairy in one of Nell Hill's books on a buffet with sugar in the shell and a tiny sugar spoon.
Upon arriving home from church on Sunday, I quickly changed clothes and got to work dragging out my Christmas decorations for the kitchen. I turned my little television on the Hallmark channel and the commercials and the Christmas movie that was playing, got me in the mood to bake cookies. So, I quickly switched tracks and made a batch of Chocolate Chip - Coffee Cookies while my box of decorations lay on the floor with my cat Bailey nibbling on the evergreen. She will most likely leave me an undesirable result on the floor later.
"Chocolate Chip - Coffee Cookies"
This is my tiny bathroom off the kitchen where I've added a tree in the corner of the sink. The little antique cheese grater has a tiny night light attached to the back with wire and plugs directly into the outlet. It looks nice with the light glowing through the tiny holes.
Today I spent the afternoon decorating my kitchen for Christmas. While working on some cookies to put in the oven, I remembered that I needed to get this auction listed on eBay. So, here it is! You can click on the title above to link directly to this auction or click on either photo for a closer view. Mmmmmmmmmm, I've got to get back to my Coffee Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Susie and Tommy love to spend Christmas with their Grandma and Grandpa. Their family arrived today at their grandparents home that sits high on a hill overlooking the countryside below. Susies loves the aromas that come from her Grandma's kitchen. They've been busy baking cookies and other goodies all day. Grandma always lets her roll out the cookies and decorate them after they are baked. They hang some of them on the tree and wrap up others to give to friends and family. Tommy and Grandpa have been busy in the workshop building a jewelry box for Grandma as a surprise for Christmas. Anticipation mounts as Grandpa gathers the two youngsters on his lap and opens his Bible to read the story of baby Jesus who was born in a manger long, long ago. Then he reads The Night Before Christmas with his jolly Santa voice. Once again memories are made and stamped in the minds of two sleepy little children.
