Holiday Bliss: Days 27 and 28~SNOW

We STILL have snow here~in fact, it's been on the ground three weeks~but yesterday we had a lovely time tubing on Mad River Mt.  SisterT didn't tube, but her kiddos and the youth group did~woot! Loads of fun for them...I got the play MOM and hold stuff while they went at it~here's some pics:  BTW~THANKS for praying me up a NEW camera~woot!  Read Mo BLISS
HERE

Youth Group...

Girl Thing One cold~brrr....!

Girl Thing One Tubing...

Sunday on our way to church.

Winter countryside...

Roads were pretty bad...

Holiday Bliss Day 26: AFTERMATH...lol!

Yo, it's SisterT here~Christmas Survivor reporting that the family represented by this faithful, artful, FULL..LOL..blogger has just returned from the slipperyslide of auto travel via US I-   returning home from morning worship~Yeah, you GOT THAT RIGHT~ but we are home safe and sound...

Christmas was relaxing~I crocheted and hand sewed most of the day...kiddos interneted...the rest of 'em just did the day..ha!

Here's a funny~Atlanta ROCKS!  Enjoy!  Mo Bliss                 !

Holiday Bliss Day 25: Christmas Day

Merry Christmas to you and your precious family!

Right now, my little ppl are snug in their beds thinking Santa just doesn't come around much anymore b/c they are soo grown up~HA! Not sooooooooooo...we opened gifts last night, but this morning they have some surprises to find! I can't wait!! They will really be excited! Shhh,,,don't tell 'em, okay?

It's going to be a lazy, easy day today.  No big meals~No muss or fuss...biggest thing will be homemade waffles for breakfast for the kiddos~their request!  SisterT is going to relax~hitting the last bit of shopping yesterday causes ME to get a day OFF today~ha! LOL...wonder if one of Santa's elves will keep the kitchen clean?

Sooo what are you doing today?

Merry Christmas! God rest ye merry gentlemen (women-folk too ;-))

Mo BLISS                   !

Holiday Bliss Day 24: Christmas Lights and Caroling

SisterT loves music~loves to sing, despite her voice being all messed up these days~but last night we rode looking at pretty Christmas lights singing in the car as we went~EVERYONE...was such fun!

Tonight we are going to our Christmas Eve service at our church...I just love our church family...my son will be doing a trumpet solo~Away In a Manger..LOVE this song!

Merry Christmas dear Friends! You all mean so much to me...sending you all a GREAT BIG HUG!!

Oops~heading out to shop some mo~

Read MO BLISS HERE!

Holiday Bliss: Day 22 &23~Youth Group

Well, the shopping's done and  all wrapped up~friends came over~wow this was fun! Tonight the youth group met for Bible study and then a snowball fight~woot! How about some hot chocochip cookies and cocoa??  Feeling pretty blessed and BLISSfilled...

Cookies~fresh and hot!

Cookies didn't last long!!

Hey, it's all counting down...just a few mo days til Christmas!

Suiting up for snow!

WHAT are you doing??

Read MO Bliss                 !

Holiday Bliss: Day 21~Company Coming

No need to panic when inviting friends over~they'll be here pretty soon! Sharing a meal and spending time..IMPORTANT!

Sooo who's coming to YOUR house this week?  ENJOY!

Merry Christmas!
Read mo BLISS             !

Holiday Bliss: Day 20~Shop Till I Drop

SisterT HATES to admit it~but she loves to shop...only problem~money! LOL...Got any spare bucks hanging around? NO? Didn't think so...most of us are short on cash this time of year~sooo I get creative in my shopping. I like to begin early and will most likely start right after Christmas for next year~purchasing cards for the church card exchange and gifts that will hold all year long...I let my fingers do the walking too~I internet research most things~Coupons and money backs are great~I make stuff too..but this is another post...But my shopping definitely consumes me~like today hub and I are heading to the stores~for some last minute deal finding~AND I am hitting the web too~our kids don't mind if it comes a day or two behind the frey...

Sooo did you finish your Christmas shopping blitz yet?

Read mo BLISS HERE!

Holiday Bliss 2010: Day 18~Visiting and Guests

I can THANK my daughter for this!lol

You wanna get SisterT in a panic? Just call and say you're coming by or worse YET..show up! LOL...we are a messy bunch, and well, I just get all nervous when ppl come over~BUT...on the other side of that, I LOVE company~go figure! LOL....All this emotion EITHER way has got to be tied up in feeling like the home is a true reflection of ME...my skills and care for my family...and how in this world can I DO it all? It's nearly impossible, but when we get that call, IF I HAVE THE TIME, I will spruce it all up~even vacuum if I can~we have animals who are more human than some appreciate, and often this is a help...

Yesterday a precious couple came by and I had the time~kiddos helped...such a blessing! When they arrived, I was fully able to enjoy their visit.  I know it's shallow~perhaps this all stems from growing up in a home I was ashamed of? A home that was somewhat run down by my friends' homes?  I really disliked 'company' growing up for a good deal of it~but there did come a time when this superficial aspect improved..just so you know it wasn't always dismal...Anyway, there are so many societal expectations in visiting other ppl's homes...I truly hate visiting~no joke~and avoid it mostly for fear of embaressing ppl~or MYSELF...LOL...

But THIS YEAR~I'm prepared. I know that certain loving folks are coming~yes, and I'd be sad if they didn't...sooooooooooooo I'm preparing to have 'something to offer' like coffee or hot tea and something yummy...IT'S a southerner thing..."ya'll want a glass of tea?"  LOL...OR..."Have a piece of cake!"  LOL...it's really true,,,the south is all about sharing this way, and I KNOW...I'm not living there right now, but...I'm a true southerner~whoot!!

I deeply enjoyed our friend's lovely visit.  It was very relaxing and special.


Sooooooo who's coming to your house?  OR where are you going???

BTW~I'm hunting some sugar free candy canes~seen any?? ;-))

This is Day 18 on the Holiday Bliss journey~you can join up and read mo  HERE!

Holiday Bliss 2010: Day 17~Christmas Snow

I think the lights this year are the prettiest I've EVER seen...could beeeeeeeee SisterT is getting a little senile...LOL, but the Christmas lights are just gorgeous this year! Maybe it's the lovely snow we got earlier this week~gotta be somethin' positive about all that cold white stuff! LOL..Here's a few pics..ya'll still prayn' for that camera? THANKS!

Our house looks neat all in a blanket of snow!

My fave house in our neighborhood.

There's loads mo B L I S S                 !

Holiday Bliss 2010 Day 16~Shopping and Planning

SisterT is heading to the stores today despite ice and snow~3 mo inches last night, and to go get a hair cut...gotta look my best for the Christmas program on Sunday..LOL...Snow pics coming soon!

Yesterday was Boy Thing One's birthday~He baked cookies and had a gathering at church with the youth~woot! Happy Birthday Son!

And nope, I didn't eat any...LOL...
BTW~ Are you still prayn' for that camera? Let Santa KNOW just how bad I NEED (want) one...when you go see him at the mall, okay?? LOL...
Read more BLISS               !

Holiday Bliss 2010: Day 15 ~ Humbug Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

The holidays are the most difficult time of the year for some of us.  Grief, illness, limitations like finances and evern famiy discord can really create a terrible situation with all of the holiday expectations that are out there.  I mean, WHO can be happy about all the goodies and fattening foods when on a diet?  LOL...Especiall IF you wanna STAY on that diet and not fall prey to the guilt and shame of over eating and eating foods that are damaging to the body.  Ha~CAN you imagine I just called all that good looking and tasting stuff damaging to the body? Well, it's true...and the key, of course is moderation. But for me, it's not possible.  I flat out just don't KNOW how to moderate goodies...no, SisterT doesn't.  AND my health depends upon me staying out of them...oh yes it does! AND also I can tell myself it's just a pipe dream that a "little won't hurt" which is a lie...some of us in this world are facing such odds...

Then there's family stuff.  Anybody had discord in the family?  Sometimes ppl and I mean, our kids, spouse, mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts, cousins...ANYBODY just BE in a funk?  This time of year can breed that stuff~lack of sunshine and then the isolation of cold winter's chill..snow, ice, uh...YOU get the pic...

Alrighty~TIME TO STOP from my negative rant~LOL...and head into that Holiday Bliss~
Yeah, even when ole Scrooge is about~there's so much to feel and be blessed with~

First~I am here.  Oh yeah.  I am here. Sometimes, I'd rather be elsewhere, but for today and right now, I am here~born in this season of time...living as God has intended and walking one minute step at a time...I'm thankful that as interesting as it would be, that I am was born in THIS time ...the modern age of technology and modern convenience.  As a lover of history, my curiosity often gets me where the past is concerned, but to have LIFE in this way and time is just AMAZING~I love all the modern things~having those glinty LED lights on my tree this year..I know what no lights is like (all had burned out and choices kept us from purchasing new when money was tighter...) but yeah, NEW LIGHTS is so cool! 

Second~God has blessed me with a wonderful family.  Yes, He has...INDIVIDUALS is just what He designed. Not a one of us is alike no matter how close our relation.  AND not only individual, but uniquely gifted.  Oh the talent God has instilled in His creations...Talents like art and music and well...there's so many!  But I am soo blessed by this in my family and what I can SEE in me...yeah, I think SisterT has a little herself..LOL...(okay, ya'll~no wise cracks!! LOL)

Third~Health.  Can you imagine the distress of illness this time of year? Well, God is good in that while I am not overtly healthy, I do have health...and happiness too...and a restricted food plan doesn't mean I can't eat AT ALL...did you know some ppl out there can't EAT A BITE?  Sooo I am thankful for what He has given...the ability to take insanely unhealthy recipes and reconfigure to something better for me and the family.  Sugar is insidious and can kill...ask any diabetic who fully understand the gravity of their situation...no, PTL SisterT isn't diabetic, but sugar is a problem...but He allowed ppl to come up with Splenda and all the other lovely substitutes..and this works well for all sorts of goodies...you get the idea~I'm not eating sugar for health reasons.  I can bemoan this, or I can accept it.  I choose to accept it.

Money, money, money! Anybody suffering from the lack of it?  I definitely don't have ...okay, I am having trouble typing E N O U G H...b/c it's a lie...I DO have enough...but I am like everybody else: I WANT more! Yeah, I do.  No matter how blessed we are...and we are...I struggle with DIS-SATISFACTION...but, in my soul, God has told me..and I am working to accept it~I HAVE enough~that it all comes from HIM...and who is SisterT to question that? Well, I raise my head up defiantly and often will have the nerve to question...such sillyness~ooooh boy...that's dumb, isn't it?  Yeah, dumb...I have enough...yes, yes, yes!  Food, shelter and PLENTY of all that I need AND WANT...thankyou, God! (My mother REMINDS me that I have MORE than I WANT to clean...LOL...and she is soooooooooo right...yeah, she is! LOL)

Okay,,,I'm done being SCROOGE...baaaaaaaaaaaaaa Humbug!  LOL...back to B L I SS~
Check out the positive posts                   ! There's some really great crafts and eats and inspiration as well as decor posts...YOU WILL be blessed! (Even a Scrooge would be! LOL)

Holiday Bliss 2010: Day 14 ~Choir Music

I always look forward to hearing our church's Christmas offering each year, and my friend, Jennifer posted up her church's gift~WOW! THANKS JEN! BIG HUGS!
BTW~we are snowed in snug and tight. Got some mailed packages off today..whoot!

Holiday Bliss 2010: Day 13 ~ Homemade Sausage

Silly as it sounds~but is GREAT for someone like me who doesn't eat pork~
BUT if you gotta have pork, you can substitute ground pork for the ground turkey~whoot!
I LIKE it with sourkraut with cinnamon, onions, applesauce and Splenda~oh yeah! I KNOW it sounds weird...TRUST ME~LOL!

Sooo good on a cold night~or eat with eggs for breakfast! Ya think Santa would like it??

Homemade Sausage
3lbs ground turkey
2 tsp blk pepper
1tsp red pepper (cayanne pepper powder)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground sage
MIX really, really well.  Let set 24 hr before use for best blend...yum!

We had some of this on our homemade pizzas.  Here's what we did:

Boboli crust~whole wheat.
cooked peppers and onions.
turkey sausage cooked
mushrooms out of can
mozzerella cheese shredded
homemade sauce (premade or bought)
Place all items on Boboli in order of sauce, items and top with cheese
Bake on wire wracks for crispy crust..yum!

More  HERE !

Holiday Bliss 2010: Day 12 ~ Homespun Christmas Gifts

Sorry abt the short posts~wrist n splint so the going is very slow...want to share the pics...ya'll still praying for me to get a camera?? LOL...here's pics from a borrowed one~

Hand quilted pot holder~my design. (back)

(front)

Crochet work on dish cloth...almost done!

Pot holder (front) back is the tan/white verigated.

(Back) Front is sage green and shown in pics

(Front) Back is tan.

(Front) Back is chocolate and shown in pics.

100% cotton crochet dish towel.

Close up floral arrangement. Milk glass: Wild Rose w/Berry.

Wild Rose With Berry milk glass 1950s Indiana Glass Co.

I just had to include this~the box cover from the kitchen linens I'm giving~

Merry Christmas!

Read mo                            !

Holiday Bliss 2010: Day 11 ~ Inspirational Emails

I've gotten a few neat ones..
Inspiring!

Awesome links to crafts and recipes!
hugs,
SisterT

Read more: HERE!

Holiday Bliss 2010: Day 10 ~Cinnamon Ornaments

eHow to make them~simple!

I like to paint them with puff paints using an outline around the edge abt 1/4 inch...with white...looks like gingerbread!

These smell nice and hold up a good while! Enjoy!

Don't forget the DVD contest HERE ENDS TONIGHT!

READ MO HERE!

Holiday Bliss 2010: Day 9 ~ Maxine

Merry Christmas To All My Friends

If I were ol' Santa, you know what I'd do
I'd dump silly gifts that are given to you
And deliver some things just inside your front door
Things you have lost, but treasured before.

I'd give you back all your maidenly vigor,
And to go along with it, a neat tiny figure.
Then restore the old color that once graced your hair
Before rinses and bleaches took residence there.

I'd bring back the shape with which you were gifted
So things now suspended need not be uplifted.
I'd draw in your tummy and smooth down your back
Till you'd be a dream in those tight fitting slacks.

I'd remove all your wrinkles and leave only one chin
So you wouldn't spend hours rubbing grease on your skin
You'd never have flashes or queer dizzy spells
And you wouldn't hear noises like ringing of bells.

No sore aching feet and no corns on your toes
No searching for spectacles when they're right on your nose.
Not a shot would you take in your arm, hip or fanny
From a doctor who thinks you're a nervous old granny.

You'd never have a headache, so no pills would you take.
And no heating pad needed since your muscles won't ache.
Yes, if I were Santa, you'd never look stupid
You'd be a cute little chick with the romance of a cupid.

I'd give a lift to your heart when those wolves start to whistle
And the joys of your heart would be light as a thistle.
But alas! I'm not Santa. I'm simply just me
The matronest of matrons you ever did see.

I wish I could tell you all the symptoms I've got
But I'm due at my doctor's for an estrogen shot.
Even though we've grown older this wish is sincere
Merry Christmas to you and a Happy New Year. 

Friends are the marshmallows in the hot chocolate of life.(sugar free of course!!!!!)
More HERE!

Holiday Bliss 2010: Day 8 ~ Family Stress

The holidays are supposed to be picture perfect~gorgeous decor, sweet and savory smells, cheer from everyone all through any gathering, and loads of EVERYTHING our little hearts desire~NOT...reality hits: Mama has to get Daddy to check all the bulbs in the string of Christmas lights b/c they're not working and it's necessary to hunt down the offending bulb!  The tree sits crooked b/c when the kids decorated it they failed to properly balance the ornaments~oh, and the ornaments are facing backwards, much less a little heavily concentrated in areas all clumped together...the house needs dejunking and decluttering! All those gifts and gift wrap are causing extra mess much less the fallout from all the crafting junk everywhere as gifts are finished up...the cat box reeks, the oven smokes and smells bad, well, the house just plain needs cleaning!  Laundry piles up as extra commitments take us away from our duties...and then, Great Auntie shows up to the holiday party with her exhusband who is a thief...yeah, and the family is a little put out with Auntie for bringing the sap along!  The baby cries extra and our tree is a little bare...no fancy schmancy gifts for ME under that tree~boohoo!

The word, "supposed" is the key here~It equals our expectations! BTW~SisterT might have some dire situations, but she didn't not air her dirty laundry just now~the above is ALL made up (thank the Lord! LOL)  But our expectations can put us in a pretty sour mood if we're not careful.  We can actually fail to see what blessings we have and enjoy all that is around us! Laying aside holiday expectations can go a long way in keeping our minds and hearts focused on the real meaning of the season, the Lord, Jesus Christ.  Looking up is the best vision ever!

Sooo are you suffering from EXPECTITIS this holiday season? Send the Great Physician a knee mail and hand it all over to Him for His great work.  He has a great payment play and the benefits are outta this world!

To read more holiday bliss HERE!

Don't forget The Narnia Code DVD ends 12/12~let others know HERE!

Holiday Bliss 2010: Day 7~Busy ness~

It's either good or bad, but busy ness is rampant this time of year. Everything from shopping to event attending~there's something to be done or needs doing.  Whew~Sister is ready for a break, already, and it's only the 7th! LOL...Seriously, we are pretty busy during the holidays~church activities and family. We have no extended family living near, but sometimes travel and then folks visiting us here...we like to entertain too.  Oh, wait.  I gotta clean for that...NIX entertaining...LOL...

What keeps you busy this time of year?

I'm crafting and cleaning and schooling and churching, and and and and and...

READ MO               !

Don't forget my giveAway for that film: The Naria Code HERE ENDS 12/12!!

Holiday Bliss 2010: Day 6~Crafting Gifts

CAN you PLEEEZE talk to Santa for me? I NEED/WANT a good camera! I am sooo lost without one LOL! Okay, not really! But it'd be so nice to be able to SHARE with you what I am doing...I am a crafter...another hat among my many~and I am making some of my gifts this year!

Here's the list...and hopefully SOON it Santa comes through..LOL..Maybe I can talk a kiddo into using their equipment for some pics~ya think?? I'll post them up when I can and let ya know~HOPEFULLY before I have to wrap and send!LOL!!

1. Crochet kitchen sets: dish towel with matching pot holders (cloth is purchased b/c some of my recipients dislike thick cloths.)  100% cotton yarn makes it very nice and better for this purpose.  Besides, I hate acrylic yarn for the most part!!

2. Floral arrangement with candle. This is a re-purpose of a gift I'd gotten that I found broken evidently broken during storage. It's a milk glass bowl for my friend with a chip (chip was present..and not there when purchased) inside the dish, making it unusable for food. I discussed with my friend~TALK about spoiling a surprise! AND then she wanted the bowl...loves it~sooo making an everyday floral centerpiece.  Candle is cinnamon and a dark pumpkin color. Using silk ivy of differing hues of green...should  be pretty!

3.  Quilted pot holders for those who like pretty over sturdy.  I am applying fabrics on quilted tops and quilting the whole potholder.  Looks pretty cool!

4.  Finished up a fleece throw in primary red for my daughter.  Her room colors are black, grey/cream and primary red.

5.  Finished up a crochet blanket for my son in baby blue/chocolate brown and cream 100% cotton yarn.  I hate acrylic! So all my projects are cotton.

I don't make all my gifts, but I do like to craft.  I bead, crochet, quilt, sew, food preserve, write, paint, draw, refinish furniture~restoration...I dunno...if I wanna do it~often I try...

I'd love to learn how to do stained glass art and make glass beads...oh I forgot~I do ceramics too! LOL

Christmas is a special time of year where we just get to have so many warm and inviting things in our lives~remembering the REASON for the Season!  It's a favorite time for our family! Last night we were blessed to a Christmas concert with a musical group and area talent.  What a fun time!

Head HERE to read more Holiday Bliss!

GiveAway:  Family film: The Narnia Code  HERE!  Ends 12/12  11:59 EST.