Blue Christmas

Happy Blue Monday!

Blue is my very favorite color. However, I don't think that I'd want an entirely blue Christmas tree

I do like blue Christmas baubles...

And blue glittery ornaments...

My favorite blue of the Christmas season is Elvis Presley's Blue Christmas. I was fortunate to buy this album at an auction. We have a CD/record player that is a replica of a vintage phonograph. I love to play this album on the record player. The music isn't today's quality - but it's beautiful. It brings back memories of Christmases gone by.

I’ll have a blue Christmas without you

I’ll be so blue just thinking about you

Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree

Won’t be the same dear, if you’re not here with me

And when the blue snowflakes start falling

That’s when those blue memories start calling

You’ll be doing alright with your Christmas of white

But I’ll have a blue Christmas

You’ll be doing alright with your Christmas of white

But I’ll have a blue, blue Christmas

Sallie at http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/ hosts Blue Monday. Each week there are more participants. Get a good start to the week. Visit Sallie to see the wide array of shades of blue. Thanks Sallie!!!

This is my 96th post. All my friends that submit comments between now and my 100th post are eligible for the drawing. Each time you comment, an entry is made into the drawing. If you do not have a blog, please leave your e-mail address.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

"Linus, I just don't understand Christmas. Instead of feeling happy, I feel sort of let down."


I think that someone needs to shake some sense into me. I am usually an enthusiastic person. I love to bake, shop, decorate, and wrap during the Christmas season. This year I just can not seem to "get with the program." I am about two months behind where I usually am at this time of year. I have some gifts bought but haven't even started wrapping. I really need to finish up the shopping. Last evening I thought that I'd at least wrap the grand children's pajamas in tissue paper and put them into boxes. I could wrap them with wrapping paper later. I managed to put eight pairs of pajamas and one nightgown in boxes. I need to go up in the attic and see how many gift bags that I have from last year (now how hard is that?). Today Daughter Amber came to help with the outside lights. Thanks to her enthusiasm and hard work most of the lights are up. I won't be home most of tomorrow so I hope to finish the lights on Monday. These are a few of the gifts that need wrapped.

Girls Pajamas

Girl's Nightgown

Boys' Pajamas

Please don't forget to sign up for my 100th post give away. Your name will be submitted each time that you comment. If you don't have a blog, please leave your e-mail address. I will announce the winner on the day of my 100th blog.

100th Post Giveaway

This post is my 94th post. Very soon I will be celebrating my 100th post and am doing a giveaway. The drawing will be made on the day of my 100th post.

A lovely dry flowered wreath made by Sue of Sue's Floral Art

I really think that this journal is lovely.

A Berry Wreath

Bath and Body Warm Vanilla Sugar Hand Sanitizer and a Wonderful Scented Sachet

An Amish Doll (the Amish do not have faces on their dolls)

A Wonderful Roller Skate Ornament (notice the bobbins for wheels)

All my friends that submit comments between now and my 100th post are eligible for the drawing. Each time you comment, an entry is made into the drawing. If you do not have a blog, please leave your e-mail address.

Our Grandchildren - Segment 8

This is Seth. Seth is the 12 year old son of Jennifer and Rich and the brother of Michael. Seth is a sixth grade student. He is involved in Student Government and is an honor student.


Seth is very precise and serious. He loves to read and is very computer literate. When we were having problems operating our GPS, Seth showed us how it worked.

Seth is very active in sports. He plays baseball in the summer and football in the fall. He has been selected for All Star teams.

Thankful

Traditional Thanksgiving Hymn

(A translation by Theodore Baker: 1851-1934)

We Gather Together
We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;
He chastens and hastens his will to make known;
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing,
Sing praises to his name:
He forgets not his own.
Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, wast at our side,
All glory be thine!
We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant,
And pray that thou still our defender wilt be.
Let thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy name be ever praised!
O Lord, make us free!
Amen

I wish all of my blogger friends a wonderful Thanksgiving. I hope that you all are basking in the glow of family and friendship. Thanks to each of you for making me feel welcome.

Hugs,

Sweetie

Bloggy Goodness Award

This wonderful award was given to me by Chris at http://chrisscorner-chris.blogspot.com/. Please visit Chris. She loves to travel and has had some great adventures. Her blog is all decked out for the holidays.

I am to pass this award on to six special friends.

Mama Bear http://bearsinexile.blogspot.com/. Mama Bear's blog is a wonderful combination of many topics. I love her writing - it is so elegant.

Nancy of http://knittingpathsoflife.blogspot.com/. Nancy and I share a common bond. Nancy is an artist in her own right.

Kathy at http://mimisgarden.blogspot.com/. Kathy's talent is shown in her art work. This month she is sharing things for which she is thankful.

Becky at http://bechindblueeyes.blogspot.com/. Becky provides thought provoking topics and shares some wonderful Greek recipes.

Terrie at http://terriedj.blogspot.com/. Terrie's blog has a beautiful new design. She recently wrote a wonderful tribute to her mother.

Pea of http://peascorner.blogspot.com. Meet Pea's beautiful new grand baby Lily. Pea also posted some delicious candy recipes.

I am quickly approaching my 100th post. I hope to post my giveaways at the end of the week.

Snowy Morning - Apple Dumplings

There was a fresh layer of snow on the ground this morning when I woke up. It seemed like a good morning to make apple dumplings. A friend of Hubby's had given us a box of apples. They are a cross variety that he grows himself. Daughter Stephanie recently gave me an easy recipe for apple dumplings. Ingredients: container crescent rolls, apples peeled and cored, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup butter, 1 cup orange juice, 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon vanilla.

Peel and core apples.
Put sugar, butter, orange juice, and cinnamon in a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Add the vanilla.

Separate crescent rolls into 8 pieces of pastry.
Grease pan (I use cooking spray)
Wrap apple slices in individual crescent rolls and pour liquid mixture over it.
Bake 30 minutes. Hubby and I tried them warm. Delicious!!!

Our Grandchildren - Segment 7

This is Joey. Joey is the 17 year old son of Michele and Joe. Joey is a junior in high school. He is an honor student. He works part-time at Hoss's Steak House to help with the expenses of his truck.

Joey is very quiet - which is kind of refreshing in our loud boisterous family. He is also very goal oriented.
Joey's hobby is racing. Every Saturday night from spring to fall, you'll find us at the speedway cheering Joey on. This evening we will be attending the annual track banquet where Joey will receive a trophy for being the track champ.

Box of Treasures

I bought a box of vintage doilies and linens at the family estate sale. These are just a few of the things that were in the box. There are also several sets of napkins and tableclothes. I'll show you those later. I need to spend some time taking photos. Each of the dresser scarves had stains on them. I used my Mother's trick to remove the stains. I washed the dresser scarves by hand in cold water. Then I made a mixture of half Ivory dishwashing liquid and half color safe bleach. I put the mixure on the stain and rubbed it in with a toothbrush. I then hung the dresser scarves ourside on the clothe line. I checked them daily. By the fourth day outside on the clothesline, the stains had disappeared.

I really like these doilies but the color does not match anything in my house.

This dresser scarf was hand embroidered. The stitching is beautiful. This dresser scarf was also hand embroidered and the edges were hand crocheted. I really like the flowers. The trim is pink and white.

This dresser scarf is my favor. The crocheted edges are wide. The intricate embroidered pattern is a vase with flowers.

This is a closer shot of the embroidered vase.

I think that embroidery is almost a lost art. I seldom see people engaging in the craft. I embroidered years ago. I am so left handed that it is pathetic. My mother tried to teach me the basics. I know that I must have frustrated her. Finally, I bought a book for left handers. The book was really helpful.

A Request

Please keep in your prayers the family of our good friend, Carol, who passed away after a long courageous battle with cancer. This was Carol's second bout with cancer. Carol leaves behind a husband, two daughters, a son, and three grand-sons. Also, Gladys, the mother of a very dear friend of ours passed away. Gladys was also a second time cancer patient. Gladys' husband, died when she was only 49. She leaves three daughters, a son, eight grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren. Carol and Gladys were both very special. I know that both are looking down at us from heaven.

We are going to a viewing this evening, a funeral on Thursday, and a funeral on Friday.

Surprise Party

Our granddaughter, Ashley, had a surprise birthday party for her husband, Justin, on Saturday evening. Justin has reached the quarter century mark. This was my first attempt with my new camera. I decided to forego the special effects until I become more familiar `with the basics. Erin did help me take the photo of Kellie with the special effects. Ashley did a great job of planning the party. She fell down the steps last week and tore a ligament. The baby is fine.

Ashley and Justin are expecting their second child, a girl, in February.

This is Brooke with Mason, Ashley and Justin's son.

Grandsons Dawson and Wade

Daughter Sheila holding g-grandson Jacob, Wade, and Payton

Kennedy, Brooke's friend, granddaughters Brooke and Payton

Granddaughter Payton

Granddaughter Mallory

Daughter Stephanie and granddaughter Kristen

Granddaughter Kellie - note the special effect with my new camera

Granddaughter Erin

Grandson Dustin and his sister Granddaughter Kellie

Grandsons Wade, Benton, and Dawson

Grandson Dawson

Granddaughters Brooke and Mallory, G-grandson Jacob, Brooke's friend Kennedy, Grandson Wade

Daughter Amber and Fiance Brian

Everyone had a great time. I wish that I would have taken more photos. I guess that I was too busy having fun to take photos!