Just one more photo....

Good family shot... without Mr. D of course.  This was at my work this morning just before Heather left to go back home.

We all had boots and warm clothes 'cause it's a breezy 20 outside and fresh 10" layer of new snow.

Christmas at the Millett Farm

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"Millett Farm"... doesn't that sound grand?  Actually it is a beautiful little spot on a hillside overlooking a valley and distant mountains.  I don't want to say that too loud or soon they'll be taxing us for the view, but it really is beautiful.  We get to see some glorious sunsets and though the hills on that side of us are not too large, they look beautiful with their cover of snow.

We had a wonderful, fun Christmas with our family here.  Heather and Brandon came in on the 22nd at 6pm and stayed till this morning at 11am.  They took the train all the way which is a relaxing way to travel these days and not so dependant on good weather like air travel.

Here's a few pictures of our Christmas Day.

Auntie Heather with Norman and his new "hunter's hat".



after dinner treats.... yummy stuff you only have once a year.  Brandon is 11 now, yikes, he's growing old so fast.  Notice the coat.  He was continuously cold though it was warm... bordering on hot with all those bodies in the camper and cooking dinner and all.  Just a little change in climate I guess.  He did spend a lot of time outside in the snow.  They went sledding on our driveway on Thursday.

come on give me a big kiss.  Norman loves his squash.  I think it's his favorite meal.  He had a little cold and was a bit fussy... but not too much.  When they stopped in to my work this morning he was all smiles.  Cutie!

Merry Christmas... a little late... to you all and hope you have a wonderful New Year too. 

just had to add this funny picture... hey Mom... what you doin' to me?
Norman with his "basket hat"... he's a man of many hats.

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God bless you at Christmas and always!

HODGEPODGE WEDNESDAY

HAPPY WEDNESDAY

Link up with Joyce for Hodgepodge Wednesday.....

1. So, when did you last take a walk in the woods? A stroll along the beach? A drive going nowhere in particular in the car?

It's been a while for a "stroll in the woods" or a "stroll along the beach", but I do once in a while take a ride in the car for no particular reason then to get out of the house.  Mr. D and I went to purchase some tires on Saturday and ended up doing just that.  Stopped at a thrift store and spent $.50.  I need to take a stroll in the woods, but probably won't again till spring.  I get home after dark and weekends are way to filled with things that must be done right away.


2. Are you sending Christmas cards this year? About how many do you send? Photo card or something more traditional? How do you display the cards you receive?

Hmmm the $.50 I spent at the thrift store was for a big bag of Christmas cards... all sorts.  I will send some out to friends and family, but don't send too many.  It has become rather expensive to send out cards, so we don't usually send to everyone.  For those who have email I send ecards.  There are some really cute ones with music and all.


3. What's a word you've heard too much of in the past week? 

I can't think of any... probably others have heard too much of the same thing from me.  Since I work in customer service maybe "have a nice day" or "have a wonderful holiday" or words similar to that which I say about 200+/- times per day.


4. December 13th is National Cocoa Day-are you a fan? Plain or flavored? Marshmallows or no marshmallows?

My new favorite Hot Chocolate is "Mint".  I like the one at McD's but also Swiss Miss has just come out with a mint instant hot chocolate and it's yummy too.



5. What is something you do to help alleviate the hectic pace of the Christmas season?
I just keep in mind that my daughter is coming to visit for a week starting the 22nd and that it'll all be over so quickly.  We try to do our shopping over the whole year and not wait till the last minute.  I love perusing through thrift stores looking for treasures.  We recently picked up a little shelf with about 6 drawers.  It's tiny and was dark brown and coming apart, so spent very little on it.  My daughter painted it up white and stenciled some little designs on it.  It is so cute... we're going to fill it with kisses (the chocolate kind).

6. Besides jewelry, what's a favorite sparkly-glittery item in your home or closet?

I'm not a sparkle/glitter girl.  I'm really so very plain, but I recently purchases a couple T shirts that have glitter and have been wearing them quite a bit.  Helps that they fit really good and are comfortable and that I don't have to look at the glitter when I'm wearing them.  :)


7. Share a favorite line or two from any Christmas carol.
Nat King Cole "chestnuts roasting on an open fire...
or Bing Crosby "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas....



8. Share your own random thoughts...

I've been working on crafts at home.  Finished two big projects this past weekend even though we spent most of the day driving around on errands and such.  I wish I had more space so I wouldn't have to put everything away before I'm all done with my project.  I've learned to adapt, but it hasn't made me very happy **humph**.  I used to have a nice big sewing room where I could leave all my stuff laying about as long as I wanted to.  I'll probably have that room back some day.  It's looking good for next summer.  I'm hoping something will get done then, but not holding my breath in anticipation.

Just think, when we get to Heaven we won't need to worry about any of this we'll just be in the presence of Jesus looking at Him and worshipping Him.  No more scurring about trying to clean, cook, get gifts ready, send letters and cards and all the other things that need to be done around Christmas time... we'll be worshipping the one we celebrate on that day.  I'm looking forward to my home in Heaven and seeing all those who are already there.  Seeing the Christ of Christmas will be the best.  It could be any day now.  What a wonderful thought!

It's all about perspective.

Getting Close to Christmas

I'm afraid to say I haven't done much preparing for Christmas except work on homemade Christmas gifts.   My outside lights are not up.  I haven't done the deep cleaning that needs to be done.  I haven't even caught up with balancing the budget for the last two months.  Thankfully we aren't overdrawn.... yet. 

Normally we spend very little on gifts and many things are handmade or bought at thrift stores or discount stores.  I try to shop a little all year long.  The hard gifts are the ones we have to get for parties that draw names and I don't know who I'll get till the last week or two.  I try to prepare for a man or woman or child, but then the gift never seems quite appropriate.  Maybe you have a hint on how to deal with this as I seem to have problems with it.  Plus, my husband who is totally against giving baked goods with sugar (poison) in them to anyone, will not let me make a batch of cookies for the neighbors or anyone he chooses in a gift exchange. 

I have some plans for the weekend though.  I have a gift for Mr. D's Mom and Dad that I want to finish and then I want to wrap some stuff up so it doesn't get put off till the last minute.  I also want to get the house clean and some small decorations up.   There's only so much you can put up in a camper, but I do have a few little things I like to have there to show it is Christmas.  I'll try to take some pictures over the weekend to add here and a few of little Norman who really isn't so little anymore.

I want to get a picture of him in his Corn outfit "cornboy".  He was just adorable and Joanna has the picture. 

So more to come plus some pictures of stuff I'm working on. 

If I have a Sunday School class next Sunday we are going to work on an "Advent Tree".  The symbols tell a little each day of December about the birth of Christ working up to Christmas Day.  I've looked around for some lesson plans, but haven't found any yet that I'm really happy with, so I'll be teaching my own lessons which I'd like to post here if I have some time to do it... maybe after Christmas.




Hope you all are doing well with your plans for Christ mas.