Father Christmas, Sana Claus, Kris Kringle...

... whatever his name may be, it is the Spirit of Giving that make Christmas Special...
And there are so many ways that we can share...
Someone I know said they received this in an email.
If you might of read or seen it before- wouldn't hurt to read it again...


I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!" My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her "world-famous" cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true.
Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus?" she snorted...."Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad!! Now, put on your coat, and let's go." "Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second world-famous cinnamon bun.
"Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's.
I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church. I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker.
He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class. Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough; he didn't have a good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement.

I would buy Bobby Decker a coat!

I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that. "Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. "Yes, ma'am," I replied shyly. "It's for Bobby." The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed a good winter coat.
I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas.
That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) in Christmas paper and ribbons and wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on it. Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy.
Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa's helpers.
Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going." I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma.
Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby. ...

Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were -- ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.


I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: $19.95.

May you always have LOVE to share, HEALTH to spare and FRIENDS that care...

And may you always believe in the magic of Santa Claus!

~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~

My thoughts exactly !!
xoxo

Ho Ho...Ack !!

Rather than subjecting my precious fingers, skin, frayed nerves, and peace of mind...
I will not try to put Christmas outfits, hats, reindeer horns, elf hats, plaid ruffled collars, stockings, twinkling light garlands, or candy canes used as earrings, on the Girls this year.
Instead, I am choosing to 'virtually torment/decorate/adorn them.
Uh Huh...

Kuchi voicing her approval (?)... I hope-



Alice being ever so festive !!

Babylon in her fine attire...

Now... wasn't that much safer ?

xoxo

11-11-11

To all those who served...
To all those that were wounded...
To all those who suffered...
And for all those who have died...
For this great nation...

Thank You !!

Mmmm.... Diluted Glue !!

Yep...
Thats right...
My Mod-Podge was un capped and with a nice brush, leftover Birthday wrapping Paper, various sorts of Tissue paper, glitter (that manages to get EVER-WHERE. Honestly... there are just these glittery trails all over the floor. Which I refuse to clean up. Because I think it looks like Faery Dust ThankYouVeryMuch !!) Q tips, and assorted cuss words- and a few bought on sale last Christmas Foam pumpkins and I got Alll Gluey ---Uh--- I mean creatively crafty.
Behold my Brilliant results !!

Okay...
Some are eh... Not So Brilliant...
In example:

This Poor poor Lil' thingy looks like it was attacked by an irate 4 year old... Who has a Major in Finger painting. And eats paste.

Not quite the Look I was going for...

Lookit Alll that glittery glitter !!

Then we move on rapidly to my red & green Tissue paper Extravaganza...
Looks more Christmasy eh ?

And for some odd reason I am craving a nice Grilled Cheese Sandwich...
Or Onion Rings... Hmmm...

tomato-esque perhaps ?

The 'Oh white Tissue paper embedded with sparklies should look like glittery cobwebs...'
Right ?

Black pepper onna Punkin Any-one ?

This one is rather cute I think. B-day wrapping paper... It even has some wrinkle-ridge detail too. I do love me polka-dots !!




And saving the bester-ish for last... More B-day wrapping paper... It has a certain Primitive Cath Kidston Charm dont'cha think ?








So Very Talented...

:Okay !~ You can stop with the Laughing-Out-Loud !!:

;0)
xoxo

Cozy & Good

Fall has Settled in Forthwith !!

Just a Cozy note with Quick Pic's of...

Babylon inspecting a nice Bowl of Mandarin Oranges and a couple of limes... Her new Bouncy Citrusy toys.
Trust me... they weren't long stacked so neaterly !!




A fast evaporating plate of Shirleys home-made Lemon bars... Especially Tart to make you Pucker and get the "Jaw Shivers"- Just the way I Like.




Soft new Dish towels... Can't I just rub my face on them ? Snuggly !!




And if you look at that brown rump- that is Ms. Doe, who had triplets this year, who makes her home in my overgrown yard- and the teeny tiny valley/wilderness behind my house.
I talk to them and call "Hello Dear Deer" and she just stares at me while I wave to her and the babies.




Oh... have gotten word that my Practical Magic prettys have made their way across the county (and across our Northern border !!).
That was so much fun !!
Both the Party and Ever-Afters !!

xoxo

Gieaways are out going--->

Whew...
Slacker me got the 3 giveaway prezzies in the mail... So watch for the Postman Kiki, Bird, and monkeycstars !!

When the girls 'help' me, it seems to take longer... Wonder why ? Hmmm ?
But I had such fun getting the trinkets ready... I do enjoy 'fiddley' craft it out-of-thin-air jobs like those.

And Moving Briskly into October---
Looks like I am starting to get that "Lets cram as much Orange, Leafy, Glitterish" Autumn stuf feeling...



Sigh... I am simply wild about this time of the year. All fleece tunics, crocheted Afghans, hot cups of Pear tea, and getting the flannel sheets on the bed.

My friend Gobnart found a small Sweet Afghan for me at Goodwilll the other day.




Alice has claimed it for herself and prefers to snuggle under the fold- she looks like she has lumped herself at the bottom of a sleeping bag...

(Mama !! I'ze NOT a Lump !!)

Odd kittheh that she is !!

All the seasonal fruit and veggies I crave are beginning to truly find their way to market. Bosc pears, Krimsom-Kist pears, and new crop apples.



Thinking of maybe a cheese-pear Rustic tart ? With Turbinado sugar ?



And then the Squash... Oh My !!



Acorn, Hubbard, Turban, Butternut, Blue Hokkaido,




and my Favourite at the moment... Spaghetti squash.



Hacked this one in half the other night. Into the microwave for 10-12 minutes. Scrape all that stringy goodness into a bowl. Add a knob of butter, garlic salt, fresh ground pepper, several good shakes of Parmesan (yes, the keep-in-the-fridge stuff) and mix fluffily with a fork... Then top with a chopped tomato...
Heaven I say...

For desert I simply sliced a White Nectarine in half. If you haven't tried one...



Please do. They have the most light sweet nectarine/peach flavour. But it is their sweet scent that can make me inhale so deeply... They smell of late Summer evenings, an amiable breeze carrying the essence of unknown flowers, and you just know there will be a succulent pop of flavour when you bite into it.
Tasty I Say- Tasty !!

Did I take time to photo-op my supper ?
Nope.
Does anyone else ever kinda forget that you have a Digi camera ?
Sigh... I do...

Well, Must get a move on here. A load of Laundry with my name on it.
Several pillow covers to cut out and hand sew to fit foam mattress square beddys for the Girls...

All that jolly Lady of the Mansion type occupations that if I had staff, they could handle it.

Just call me Staff from now on !!
xoxo

Wasn't That a Party ?!?

Helooo...
Any body still 'Partying' out there ?
Hope everyone had a Delightful time.. 'Cause I know I DID !!



My First foray into a blog-party and what a Marvelous way of getting my Pointy Shoes wet...
And Many Blessings to Anna at Frosted Petunias for getting us all Gathered for a Enchanting time !!



Thank You Anna !!

As I mentioned in the last little bit of my PM post I was going to have a Give-away...
I had my cache' of loot all fixed and just awaiting a new Hearth to go to...
And, honestly... I expected perhaps six or eight comments.. At Most maybe - Maybe fifteen...

Well !!
There were forty-nine... Yes 49 comments that were posted before the Midnight deadline !?!

Dang near rattled my bones and knocked me clean off my Broom !!

And because I was so honored to have so many comments- I changed my mind and came to the conclusion to have three- 3- winners...
All will get Practically- very close- comparable gifts. No one will forgo a Goody... I will simply make more !!

This Party thing is harrrd- I say.

So, I printed the comments (taking out a couple of accidental double posts), cut them into strips,


folded them, tried to put them into a basket...



Oopsie !! Sorry Kuchi !!

Put them into my Ample orange bowl... shuffled them about and after rootling about three separate rootles-




Came up with these 3 winners...




In no particular order we have:


Kiki aka Victoria




monkeycstars




Bird




I have contacted them and am awaiting their responses. (Who-where etc).

Every one of you that left a comment for me and my Girls... a simple Thank You will never express my Gratitude...



Blessings for All of You...
xoxo

Broom Fell...

...Company is coming !!!

Oh My... Nothing like Flying around the house trying to get ready for Company...
Just getting my self organized is driving me batty !!

Okay... Lets gather out thoughts and think about what we need to have ready...
Me for starters !!
Get my best Oxfords out and shined bright with Stove Black...
And Stockings of course... Hmmm, the black and purple I think !


Oh- and my black velvet shawl with the looong dangley fringe. (I love the reverse side too. All red roses and Flamenco Dancer looking.)

Need to get All the Aunts Dusted in their frames.
Dear Aunt Bernadette...


She was such an Avant Garde' and Fascinating Lady. Traveled the World gathering Treasures & Knowledge. Silks and Satins. Glamorous and Colorful trinkets. Dapper & Delightful Companions.



And My Dears... She Smoked !! Such a Daring role model for a young girl to have !

Then there was Aunt Bitty...


The menfolk always called her a Saucy & Bewitching Belle. Actually she was Most Proficient in Binding Spells and Cloaking ones Countenance. She always did enjoy a nice Disguise !

And Aunt Rosemary and Rosamund. Always quite Dignified and Aristocratic...




Both Full of The Old Knowledge and long Forgotten Tales of Wizards and Conjurers. They were most excellent Practitioners in Divining ones future...


Then there is Aunt Carlotta. Well, what can one say about her...



She was a Magnificent Figure of a Woman. Her Skin was as smooth as Creme.
As Luminous as Alabaster... All over... As you can see.
Oh how she cherished Dancing Naked under the Moon at Solstice !!

So... Find the Book.
Ah, here it is !



Now where is that page..







No, thats not it. Although you could learn quite a bit if you were to study it...




No... but I must be Getting Closer...



Keep looking...







What ? That would have a Totally different Outcome... he he.. Might be worth it tho !




Ah-Ha...
Yes !! There it is !!




Check the ingredients...





Looks like It is All here...




And Beware of the Hair of the Cat Tomorrow Morning... This brand of Tequila can make any Body want to Dance !!



Let me Gather My Girls...

Alice

They do so admire a good party and are so Curious...

Babylon

Besides they have been Known to be Familiar with all sorts of Enchantment and Spell-casting...

Kuchi

Trust me... They always know how to get exactly what They Want !!


So... Let me Grab my Hat and Let The Party Begin !!






Oh... and There will a bit of a Goody-bag afterwards... Just leave a comment by Midnight Sunday the 25th and a way to get in touch and one name will be drawn... and that Lucky Guest will Soon have a Memento of the Evening Winging their way !!!

xoxo