Happy New Year ♥...

I wish you HEALTH

I wish you LOVE

&

PEACE

within your HEART

I wish you the BEAUTY of NATURE

that you may ENJOY the work of GOD

I wish you WISDOM

to choose priorities

for those things that really matter in LIFE.

I wish you GENEROSITY

so you may SHARE

all the good things

that come your way.

I wish you

HAPPINESS

&

JOY

&

BLESSINGS

for the

NEW YEAR.

Happy New Year Friends!

~Author Unknown~

Thankful {things I love} Thursday...

I'm in love

with the potential

of miracles.

For me

the safest place

is

out

on

a

limb

~Shirley MacLaine~

***

I use to walk by these trees every day, a few times a day, with Ben & Ernie.

It was our "special spot" and some days I wondered who looked more forward to our walks.

When Ernie passed in May, I changed my walking route, and stopped going to our usual spots.

The woods had lost their appeal and felt cold and lifeless to me.

Wanting to try out Kim's fabulous "friday" texture (on a Thursday), I went through some old photos and as soon as I saw these trees, the memories came back. Lots and lots of great memories.

Once the texture was added, I noticed right away, the form of a heart next to the word love.

The text really sums it up for me ...

WHERE THERE IS GREAT LOVE

THERE ARE ALWAYS MIRACLES

It's snowing. Has been since I woke this morning.

I think I'll go walking through the woods today.

***

Thank you Kim Klassen for your wonderful 12 days of Textures.

With Tidings of Comfort & Joy...

Recipe for A Happy Christmas

***

FILL a house with EQUAL parts of

LOVE, HOPE and PEACE

ADD the JOY of CHILDREN and the

STRENGTH of OLDER PEOPLE

SEASON with the MUSIC of LAUGHTER

and some mistletoe KISSES

WARM before a crackling FIRE

and serve with

TIDINGS of COMFORT and JOY

~author unknown~

***

From my home to yours ...

♥Merry Christmas ♥

Yuletide decorations ...

The bottom branches of our Balsam Fir Christmas tree have been put to good use & turned into little mini sprigs tucked here and there around our home.

The decorations change with the season for this metal lantern. It's filled with pine cones at Christmas.
The bird's feeding station is decorated. This weekend, we'll drape popcorn and cranberry garland around the branches and hang heart shaped seed covered bread.

I love to sit here, with only the twinkle lights on in the kitchen and a hot cup of tea and watch the birds (and squirrels). The feeders have been emptying at a rapid rate.

Mostly because of this :-)

Even being outside and walking around with the camera didn't phase Chuck in the least (yes, we name all the squirrels) :-) He kept nibbling away seeking out the sunflower seeds.

Can you see the little sparrows on the grass? They have to be VERY patient waiting for their turn at the feeders.

It started to snow ... ever so slightly.

A little tease really...

I am longing for a really big snow fall...

I don't mind waiting ... just as long as it comes by Christmas Eve ♥

Perhaps

the best Yuletide decoration

is being wreathed

in smiles

~Unknown~

Yarn Along...

As soon as I picked up Knit Your Own Dog, I looked for "Labrador Retriever".

The one in the book is a golden lab, but I pulled out my black wool. Thinking of Ben & Ernie which each stitch knit. I think Bernie is a good name for him ♥

Yes, dogs are allowed on our beds :-)
Picked up this gorgeous coffee table type book at our local animal shelter store.

In Praise of Labs is filled with heartwarming Labrador stories & beautifully illustrated.

Our Ben ♥
1997~2008
Our Ernie ♥

1998~2011

***

It's not just that animals make the world more scenic
or picturesque.
The lives of animals are woven into our very being ~
closer than our own breathing ~
and our soul will suffer
when they are gone
~Gary Kowalski~
"The souls of Animals"
***
Linking with Yarn Along.

Fabric of Friendship...

This simple apron is an idea I had to celebrate my daughter's Housewarming a few years ago.

Buying your first home is so exciting, and there is nothing nicer than holding your first dinner party and having friends over to share in the excitement.

To create the original, I used a 49 cent tea towel from Ikea, added a few fabric rosettes to each corner, a little ric rac and lace trim all along the top long enough to tie in the back.

Simply pass the apron around the room throughout the evening and have friends write a special housewarming message.

It's an idea we've used since ~ creating an apron, and having friends write messages,
then tucking it into a basket filled with kitchen items.

A cookbook, Red Velvet cupcake mix, paper cupcake holders,

measuring cups & spoons, a set of pretty dessert plates,

oven mitts etc ... along with the apron makes for a gift from the heart ♥

Constant use
will not wear ragged
the fabric
of friendship
~Dorothy Parker~

Cheers!

You could also add a sleeve of cookies to the parcel.

Here's one of our must makes for the Holidays.

Jam Jams

1 cup butter ~ softened

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 free range eggs

1/2 cup corn syrup

1 tsp vanilla

3 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

3 tbsp jam or jelly of your choice ( a great way to use up those little bits of jam left over)

***

Cream butter and sugars in large bowl. Add eggs 1 at a time beating well after each addition. Add corn syrup and vanilla and beat until smooth.

Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Add to butter mixture, mixing well.

Roll out dough on lightly floured surface. Cut out circles with a lightly floured cookie cutter (these will be the bottom of the cookie) . For the tops of the cookies, cut out circles ( hearts or stars) from half the centers. For a nice tiny hole, I use an apple corer which works really well.

Place on a parchment lined cookie sheets and bake at 350F for approx 10 min. Allow to cool on wire racks before adding a little dab of jam on the bottom of each cookie. Top with cut out center cookies and give a generous dusting of icing sugar.

Makes approx 18 jam jams. Enjoy ♥

3rd Advent...

3rd Advent ...
Sunday dinners call for pie :-)
Today's is apple.
One was set aside for the birds & squirrels.

I have a couple of these old portable mechanic lights. I keep string in one in my studio ~ perfect for wrapping gifts.
The other is outside hanging in our "bird feeding tree".
It's perfect for holding fruit ~ the back is covered, the birds can sit on the bars as they nibble at the fruit, and it already has a nice big hook at the top.
While I went outside this morning to take a photo, two little black capped chickadees flew to it :-)
sadly, I was zoomed in on the feeder and as I tried to adjust the lens, they were fluttering around from branch to branch.
The seed and suet isn't lasting very long and every feeder needed a refill this morning. I'll watch it today and see just how long it takes for them to empty.

If we try hard to bring happiness to others

we cannot stop it from coming to us also.

To get joy

one must give it

and to keep love

we must scatter it

~John Templeton~
***

Thank you to everyone that added a comment for my giveaway ♥

The Winner is ~ Donna (Otis & Riley). I will send you an email Donna.