A Christmas Tree Party!

How COOL is this?? I love all the linky parties each week and lately seem to spend more time looking at all the other blogs in blogland instead of doing anything with my own! haha! There are so many wonderful Christmas decor and handmade crafts and foodies and so much more out there during the Christmas season.

This is a link party for Christmas trees! There's over 500 links so far. Check it out here:

Thrifty Decor Chick: A Christmas Tree Party!

I used to decorate quite a few Christmas trees and each one had a theme of some sort. Now that we are in a smaller home, space is an issue so I only have one tree up. It's a "slim" tree! I have to admit that as much as I enjoyed the years of multi-trees and a house full of decorations -- it's rather nice to have my tree up and decorated in record time!


Birds are my favorite ornament.



Especially clip-on birds, and more especially, glass birds.



Glass birds with feathers!



The Three Wise Men is my other favorite.



More Three Kings.



Clip-on butterflies in the aqua color I like.



Glass Partridge in a Pear Tree.



One of my cherished glass birds. A gift from my mother-in-law.



Mostly copper, aqua and gold on my tree.



Peacock feathers at the top.



This little tree is on my kitchen counter. Clip-on gold butterfly for the top.



Tiny glass Santa with cute ornament hooks.



And of course, more birds!


Thanks for visiting!

World War II mural on US Post Office wall

The post office in our town has a unique piece of art on the wall!

"Conservation of Wild Life" mural on post office wall.

Painted in 1940 by artist Lee Allen, the mural on the U.S. Post Office in Emmetsburg, Iowa is called "Conservation of Wild Life."

Throughout the United States—on post office walls large and small—are scenes reflecting America's history and way of life. Post offices built in the 1930s during Roosevelt's New Deal were decorated with enduring images of the "American scene." (read more here)

Artist's signature and date

The dark square in upper right corner behind the squirrel's tail shows how dark and damaged the mural was before cleaning/restoring it approximately 15 years ago.

What I initially thought was a WPA (Works Progress Administration) mural, I discovered was actually funded through commissions under the Treasury Department's Section of Painting and Sculpture (later known as The Section of Fine Arts or The Section) -- and not the WPA.

The "Section's" primary function was to decorate public buildings with selective high quality art to make the art accessible to everybody.

While in the post office to take my photos, one of the employees gave me a little more information. About 15 years ago, the painting was professionally cleaned and restored. Over the years, contributors to air pollution (cigarette smoke, etc.) had dirtied the painting. She pointed out a dark square in the upper right hand corner. The square was left to show the damage before the mural was cleaned.

There are less than 40 of these murals in the Iowa post offices. It is pretty awesome to have one in our town.

Thanks for visiting!

Do you peek?

I am not a peeker.

When I was a teenager, I wanted a pair of Topaz earrings in the worst way. For whatever reason, I thought those earrings would make my life complete. I begged for those earrings. I recently had my ears pierced (my parents made me wait until I was 15) and the only thing that mattered to me at that time were earrings.

My parents told me that I wasn't getting them. They said the earrings were too expensive and they already had my Christmas presents. I was absolutely positive I was not getting those earrings. Especially because my mother couldn't keep a secret. If I were getting those earrings, her eyes would've given her away even though her lips were denying it. But not only was she denying it, she was getting a little angry that I kept asking.

One of my friends came over a couple of weeks before Christmas. We were just hanging together. She asked if I had peeked at my gifts yet and I replied that I had never done that. My friend couldn't imagine not peeking! She convinced me (rather easily I might add) to peek at a few of my gifts.

She was definitely an Expert Peeker. She knew how to unwrap and re-wrap the gifts without any indication they had been touched. I was impressed! (Today, I know know how to wrap gifts so that this cannot be done as easily as we did it that day.)

I had several gifts under the tree and picked out a smaller one that felt heavy. I undid the tape, opened up the paper and slid the box out of it. Even before I opened the lid to the box, my inner voice was telling me "This is so wrong! Put it back now!" Being a high school freshman and 15 years old, I tended to ignore that smart little inner voice many times -- and this time was no different.

When I opened the lid to the box, there was a black velvet pouch inside. I opened the pouch and found  .......... a rock!?

It was a rock the size of my hand and on the top of the rock were tiny little figurines playing instruments. The side of the rock was painted with the words "ROCK BAND" and it was absolutely adorable! I already knew where I wanted to put it in my bedroom. I couldn't wait to show it to my friends! The ROCK BAND rock was one of the coolest things I had ever seen!

Then this horrible feeling started to come over me. I felt soooooo bad. Sick to my stomach bad. I think it was guilt. Oh, the guilt! I secretly opened a gift that was supposed to be a surprise. I had been badgering my parents for such a silly gift like earrings when I had plenty of earrings already and here was something they knew I would love. What a rotten daughter I was.

I carefully began to wrap up the rock to be re-wrapped. As I held it from the top to move over to the tissue paper, the bottom of the rock fell off. Not only was it a cool rock -- but it was also cut to make a box.

Inside the rock box was a tiny black velvet jewelry box. The kind that holds earrings. My stomach fell. I still picked up the velvet box to open it. As you have probably guessed by now, inside were the Topaz earrings I wanted so desperately.

Now I really felt bad.

For the next two weeks right up until Christmas I felt bad. Sooooo bad. During that time, I turned into the Perfect Daughter because I felt like such a horrible person. I cleaned my room, did my homework, emptied the dishwasher, folded laundry and put it away... all without anybody asking me to.

That was the first and the only time I have ever peeked at a Christmas present! I have never been tempted to do so ever again. Well, almost ever again... there have been a few times...

I still have the earrings and each time I see them in my jewelry box, they remind me of my parents. Yes, I peeked. And although I won't do it again, I love the image of my parents it brings me when I see the earrings.


Thanks for visiting!

Pretzel Rolo Turtles (easy candy recipe!)

These little candies have to be the easiest things to make - the hardest part is unwrapping the Rolos!

 Only three ingredients are needed: Pretzels, Rolo candies and pecan halves.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Place pretzels on foil-lined baking sheet. Put a Rolo candy on top of each pretzel.  

Bake for 4-5 minutes until Rolos are soft but not melting. Place pecan half on top of the Rolo candy and press down slightly. 

Place in refrigerator for about 20-30 minutes until cool.

See how easy?? This is a great recipe to make with children or for a quick snack or just to have on hand. You could drizzle a little white melted chocolate over them to make them fancier. Color the white chocolate with red and green for the holidays. If you don't care for pecans you can use any kind of nut -- or substitute something else. I've seen them made with crushed peppermints, M&Ms and dried fruit. 

Here is the recipe again:

Ingredients:

Pretzels (I like to use the square ones but any will work)

Rolos Candies (unwrapped)

Pecan Halves

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line cookie sheet with foil. Place pretzels on foil-lined baking sheet. (You can put them together fairly close.) Put a Rolo candy on top of each pretzel.  Bake for 4-5 minutes until Rolos are soft but not melting. Remove from oven and immediately place a pecan half on top of the softened Rolo and press down slightly. Place in refrigerator until cool.

These can be stored in an airtight container. I usually keep them in the fridge in a container and remove as needed.

Thanks for visiting!

I am linking to the following parties:

Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop at Homemaker on a Dime
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

A Christmas Cactus story

Christmas cactus plants are so beautiful. I have admired them for as long as I can remember. I have tried to keep one alive for as long as I can remember as well. I usually fail... my plant dies... but I do get an "A" for effort.

When I was a little girl, my grandmother told me a story about a Christmas cactus. Well, it may have been about a rose. I can no longer recall much of what she said and nobody else in the family remembers the story either...

I do remember this part: "Whenever you see a rose blossoming, it is honoring Christ our Lord." And then she said "Don't ever forget Jesus -- because He loves you and He will never forget about you."

I've always associated the flower blossoming with a Christmas cactus. Since I was a teenager, I have had one of the plants in my home. They never stay around for more than a few years because unfortunately, every single one I have had has met its demise under my care. 

About 7 years ago, I picked up yet another Christmas cactus. It was the largest one that I had ever dared to bring home. Its blooming time had ended for the season and it was on clearance for a great price and I couldn't pass it up. I brought it home, re-read all the info I could find on caring for one, and put it in our living room with prayers that this one would do well. It was in a room that we didn't use very much, but according to the care instructions, this is the place where the plant should flourish.

And flourish it did! This cactus grew larger each year and was absolutely beautiful! However, it never - not once - bloomed with flowers. Not even a hint of a bud appeared on this plant. I finally came to the conclusion that I bought a flawed or disabled Christmas cactus. I continued to take care of it and loved it just the same. I was so happy I hadn't killed it.

Starting in 2008, we lost a lot of people in our lives. Hubby's best friend died that year from cancer. A few weeks later, his dear sister passed away. A month later, his uncle passed away. A few weeks later, my grandmother died. Six weeks later, hubby's aunt died. (He considered her like his mother as she raised him for most of his life.) And six weeks after that, my mother passed away.

It was 7 straight months of losing many people we loved so much.

My grandmother was 96 years old and the first person I had lost in my immediate family since my father died 21 years earlier. That day, my mother and I talked on the phone for over an hour, talking and reminiscing about my grandmother... it was November.

Still thinking of my grandmother a couple hours later, I went into the living room to look at the Christmas cactus. After all, my grandma's story is the reason why I always have one...

When I stepped into the room and saw the plant I was stunned! The plant that did not have a single flower in almost 5 years was in a complete and glorious full bloom! The color was stunning -- it was a peach color instead of the usual red or pink. I didn't even know they came in that color! Surprised and shocked doesn't begin to cover how I felt seeing this familiar yet strange plant in my home! I just stood there staring at that gorgeous plant in all its glory!

I watered the plant maybe a week earlier and I did not see any indication that it was on the verge of blossoming. Looking back, perhaps the buds were not noticeable since they were a peach color. I don't know. 

Of course I immediately thought of my grandmother. How wonderful and eerie and amazing that the very plant I have -- because of the story she told me 35 years earlier -- bloomed in full glory on the day she died.

I wish I could say the plant continued to grow and became larger and more beautiful -- but alas, this Christmas cactus died just three months later. It seemed to have given everything it had with all those beautiful blossoms and wore itself out. I actually bid it farewell the day after my mother died in March 2009.

After that, I didn't buy another Christmas cactus for over a year.

Last December, in 2010, I saw some pretty little ones in a store and they had many blossoms. I couldn't help myself and picked up one with pretty red blossoms. Within 7-10 days, all the blossoms fell off. And the little buds that tried to grow fell off. I was destined for another dead plant. Yet... the plant continued to stay alive... for an entire year... but it never bloomed again.

Until last week. My little Christmas cactus has a flower! One little flower! I try to contain my excitement since 35+ years of history with these things has not worked out well.

But check it out! Isn't this the prettiest little bloom?
 

If I look very closely, I can see 5 more teeny tiny little blooms beginning.

This could be my year.


Thanks for visiting!

First snowfall!

The first snowfall of the season arrived on Saturday, Dec. 3!
 

The lake has begun to freeze... as the temperatures remain low, it will continue to freeze heavily.
Soon there will be ice fishing huts on the ice!

Snow: another love/hate relationship I have... for the most part, I do adore the snow in the winter. It is incredibly bright and pretty and 'cleans' things up when it blankets the ground. Especially when it comes down without the wind to blow it and cause drifting. 

On the other hand, I dislike driving in winter when the roads are coated with snow and/or ice. Often times, the snow remains on the road, melts during the day, but freezes again when the sun goes down making for slick roads. The main highways are kept dry with salt (requiring twice as many car washes to keep the salt off the car) but the roads around the lake can stay rather slick.
 
Regardless of the driving conditions, I love living in an area that receives snow!
 
Thanks for visiting!