Merry Christmas

 I still have presents to wrap and food to prepare so I wanted to take this spare moment to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas!  May God bless each and every one of you!

How to Hang Christmas Wreaths on Windows Outside

 This is a picture of our home during Christmas of 2009.  We had a beautiful snowfall with lots of wind as you can see from the flag.  I wondered how I would be able to hang wreaths on the windows and keep them from blowing around.

This is how I solved the problem:

I attached heavy fishing line to the top of the wreath and ran it through a button.  We have new windows that drop down from the top so they can tilt in for easy cleaning, so I slid the top of the window down and dropped the wreath out, carefully holding on the the button at the end.  We don't have upper screens, so if you do that could be a problem.  I shut the top of the window catching the button on the inside.

I still wanted to anchor the bottom of the wreath so they wouldn't fly around in the wind.  I raised the lower half of the window and the screen.  I had previously tied a long length of fishing line to the bottom of the wreath.  I grabbed the fishing line attached another button at the length I needed it as you can see in the image and then cut off the excess fishing line.  Shut the screen down on the line with the button just inside the window.

Now I don't have to worry about my wreaths flying around!

I'll be busy decorating my real tree in our tv room today, making peanut clusters, and wrapping a few packages before the busy weekend.  What are you finishing up this week?

How to Galvanized Christmas Tree Stand

When I found out that Chip and Joanna Gaines had galvanized tree collars in their Target collection, Rick and I made our way to three different stores.  I even tried online, but there were none to be found.  At the last store, we pulled into the parking lot and there was a man walking in front of our car with the "target" of our mission hanging from his arm.  Rick walked up to him and asked him if they had more and he informed us that this was the last one and someone had brought it back to the store.  In the "spirit of the holiday", I asked Rick if he thought he could tackle him.  That poor man had been to four stores trying to get one.  Who knew galvanized tree collars would be so "in" this year!

Needless to say, we gave up and went to our local Orscheln Farm and Home store and purchased a galvanized tub for much less.  All we had to do was wedge the tree base into the tub and then put the tree together.  

I could see the stand of the tree through the branches, so I made another trip to the store for 3 yards of burlap to lay over the stand inside the tub.

I love the reflection of the tree in the window and on the hardwood floors!  The reason for the galvanized tub is that I didn't want my Roomba, known as Hazel, to eat my tree skirt.  This way she can vacuum up all the snow droppings from the flocked tree all the way around.

We also went to Riverwood Winery in Weston, MO to start the season off with a reading of The Christmas Carol.  My son in law, Scott, is on the right and plays Ebenezer Scrooge. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm dropping by today to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving.   I will be busy cooking tomorrow and feel so very blessed to have my family with us on Thursday!  Feeling thankful for God's blessings and His sweet grace.  What are you thankful for?

My dear friend, Sharon, lives in this little cottage across the street from me and I took the liberty of adding a brick patio and lawn furniture.  I painted this several years ago and completely forgot about it.

Christmas Red Truck Painting

 I've been wanting a red truck with a Christmas tree painting for a while and here's my rendition of this popular subject.  

Everywhere I go shopping whether online or actual store fronts, there are trees on trucks, volkswagens, woody's, etc.

Here is my haul from Target a week ago including a Woody with a Christmas tree.

I just adore the little camper and don't even get me started on the buffalo plaid!  

My Autumn Folk Art Painting I Started Over a Year Ago

Before I say anything else, I have to tell you how blessed I am to be able to get back to painting and the joy it has brought me.  I started this autumn painting over a year ago and life got in the way.  I'm not complaining, because things just happen and we do what needs to be done.  I know that painting is my calling because as soon as I finished my art room, orders starting coming in from my Etsy store even though I had not added anything new.  I'm hoping to change that soon.  

I will keep you posted as this painting developes, because the next stage is like adding the frosting on a cupcake.  The magic and the fun is about to begin!  

I'm also working on a small Christmas painting that I have to finish first.  

Having a brush in my hand once again is something I'm so very thankful for.  

What are you thankful for today?

 My prayers go out for the families who suffered so much this past week in Texas.   Please join me in prayers for healing in this small community.  It's a place just like in this painting with a small church and hard working families who know their neighbors and help each other when needed.  We need to get back to the basics of strong faith, prayer, grace, love, kindness, and the list goes on and on.

Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted..."

Autumn Morning Pondering

This morning I woke up following the dogs down the stairs into the kitchen.  

As I turned on the lights the dogs ran to go outside.  I picked up their bowls and filled them with food and turned around to see their smiling faces at the back door wanting in out of the cold.  Before they get their food I have to give Jersey, my little black and white cattle dog, her heart medication because she won't take it if I give it to her after she eats.  

I then grab a cup of coffee that I started the night before and sat down at the stools by the counter.   Lady, my Golly (Golden and Collie mix)  won't eat unless I sit there at the counter. 

This is our morning routine that we do each and every day.  My dogs are aging and have health issues and they are our a huge part of our family.  We have a rountine and we stick to it which makes the rest of the morning go so much smoother.  

As I was sitting at the counter looking out at the backyard which is west, I was amazed at the golden glow that was cast on everything.  I ran to the front door on the east side of the house to see the most amazing sunrise.  Long ago I gave up trying to photograph and capture the colors because I simply can't capture God's amazing handiwork.  So, I'll just take my time and then continue the rest of my morning routine and be thankful that He brought it to my attention on a simple morning while sitting at the counter drinking my coffee. 

Halloween Folk Art

Stop by my Etsy shop to see my Halloween prints!  

I wish I had gotten my paint room finished sooner! I would have loved working on a new Halloween scene this year.  Check out my Halloween cupcake prints too!  

Autumn Painting and Crochet Shrug Project

This morning I woke up to temps in the 40's.  I made my way down the stairs and went straight away to the thermostat and turned on the heat for the first time this fall.  I love the scent the furnace gives off when you turn it on.  I'm sure that aroma is hot dust, but I love it just the same.

I made my daily trek (this is now considered exercise at my age) back upstairs and sat down at my paint table to work on one of these two projects.  I keep my sketch on top of my painting to protect it while I crochet.  As I slid it down to remind me what I started working on over a year ago, I realized the colors in my crochet shrug match my painting!  I think I'll just paint for a while and then go back to working on this shrug later in the day.

What are you doing this fall?

Plaid Crochet Pumpkin

I finished this plaid pumpkin this morning and these are my only autumn decor so far.

Plain and simple decorating has become my style now and I'm not sure if it's age related or pure laziness.

But if I were truly lazy, I would just go and buy some pumpkins.

Art and Craft Room Makeover

I'm finally back!  I've been away from blogging for so long that I was rather embarrassed to start back up.  I also couldn't figure out where to start.  I was posting on Instagram because it was so much quicker and I could do it from my phone.  During the time that I was away from blogging we've been busy putting on a new deck (the last post I did), had new treds and risers put on our staircase, new floor put in our family room, had a large crack cut out and repaired in our kitchen ceiling, made the attic into my husband's listening room and office, and redecorated my art room.  Needless to say, I've been exhausted and couldn't keep up.

These are not the best pictures because I took them with my phone.  My husband, Rick, and I shared this room for several years and it's just a tiny room.  This was in such disarray for so long that I had quit painting entirely.  

It's nothing fancy but it's organized and it's all mine!!  I started out by painting the room with Benjamin Moore Coastal Fog.  The blinds are from Blinds.com and the rug is from Ikea.

The desk belonged to my sister and brother in law and was gifted to me when they remodeled their home.  

All the storage is from Ikea and my favorite is the 6 drawer unit that even holds my large canvases.

Rick made the apron holder for me.

I didn't want to share the before first and scare everyone away.  

This faze was actually during the time that we were moving Rick's office upstairs and he was trying to figure out what to get rid of and what to keep.

This is definitely my "happy Place" now and I'm ready to get back to work.

I'm picking up a brush for the first time in over a year and can't wait to see where it takes me!