MONDAY'S MUSINGS

I just can't believe that Christmas is just less than a couple days away.

Oh how we plan and prepare and shop and wrap and then only to have it over with so fast. I wish I could bottle these feelings up and bring them out when I need a warm cozy feeling.

I honestly don't think there is a more magical holiday out there - I know we all need to think more about the true meaning of Christmas ... and we do ... we enjoy both aspects of this wondurous holiday.

Today we went for a ride to Janesville to finish up our shopping - we didn't need to but I felt the need to continue this feeling of preperation. Yes, I need to start wrapping but I have Tuesday and Wednesday to take my time with it - it's this way every year with my wrapping. I'm not putting it off, I just like to do it at the end and all at once.

We got the single item we drove all that way for and then had some lunch and then headed back home which is an hours drive! I had full intentions of visiting an Aunt and Uncle while there but that just didn't happen.

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I made a wonderful pot of Vegetable Beef Soup yesterday and we had it for dinner last night but don't you think that soup or stews need to be eaten the next day for the best of flavor - I do! It tasted so good tonight after being gone all day and so beat.

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A few weels ago I received a bag of wonderful Hickory Nuts from Lea of Farmhouse Blessings and I am now just getting around to taking a picture of them! Aren't they packaged so cute with a little birdhouse tied to it. I just can't wait to get crackin!

COLD SUNDAY

Well Christmas is fast approaching and I'm anxious!

But at the same time don't want it to come this fast....I'm like a little kid at this time of year - I want it here but not - guess I want to savor the moments.

Yesterday we went to do more Christmas shopping and why I try and go on the weekend is a mystery to me - busy, busy, busy!

And I guess that's a good thing for today's economy!

I was like a chicken with its head cut off....going in circles in the stores looking for STOCKING STUFFERS....why this is so difficult for me is puzzling.

I guess I make it a chore - but I will not stop the tradition...it's just that when you are looking for little items for 12 stockings it can be undaunting!

On our way home we stopped at our sons/family home and her mother and sister were there - they had a cookine baking day. How fun is that?

We had a taste of some really good cut-out cookies and then headed home....the weather was turning bad again with more snow and it was dinner time too.

Today will be a relaxing day - no shopping! Plus it's minus 4 below zero and windy!!!

I might wrap gifts and sew on a couple orders that just came in.

BY THE WAY.....I HAVE PUT MANY, MANY

ITEMS ON SALE ON MY WEBSITE

so come on over! www.kmprimitives.com

In regards to the post below....with our Stepfather, well we received a note card yesterday with this message in it

"We can't thank you enough for your thoughtfulness in treating us to a Christmas dinner.

We may not show it, but you are very special to us.

YOUR MOTHER would be very proud of you!

Love you much!"

Now wasn't that just sooooo nice!

I added some pictures of the mess I need to start wrapping that are in our guest bedroom!

Plus there are 3 huge boxes with Craftsman Tool Boxes in them in the screen room and a set of Pots and Pans in the basement that aren't even included in the pile! lol

Still need to shop for more stuffers but that's all.

Here are some not 'so interesting' pictures of Fridays snow


On our drive shopping Saturday

Doug doing what is becomming the 'normal' around these parts

Not many more places to put the snow on the bridge until they can remove it

Downtown

Downtown

That's it for today - hope you are all staying safe and happy!

Karen

MY WONDERFUL THURSDAY

Are there some days that are just more fun than others? Today was one of those days…well, I guess I can’t say FUN as in frolicking kind of fun, but more meaningful and full of personal rewards and family fun.

We had lunch with my Stepfather ‘Boots’, and his wife Virginia, my brother Gene and his wife Gail and my sister Shirley.

Story is; Boots married my mother 5 weeks before I married Doug….they were married 5 years when she got Lymphoma Cancer….she was battling it for exactly a year before it took her at age 49!

About a year after he married Virginia and I must tell say I was a bit sad by this - seemed she was taking moms place. Virginia was my mothers friend and co-worker so I felt a bit of a betrayal plus she divorced her husband upon moms death.

Over the years we visited with them and it didn’t take long to accept Virginia. She couldn’t have been more gracious and accepting of us kids in Boots’ life and it has been like a family since.....which has been 40 years now.

Mom was Boot’s first love and to this day when we’re around she is brought up with love, and Virginia carries on the conversation with us. So lesson is don’t judge before you know.

We get together now and then for dinners and we visit each other, so today was one of those days….we had our holiday lunch and it was also my brothers 71st birthday….he has the crew cut and I sure don’t think he looks 71, do you????

We met at the restaurant at 12:30 and finally left at 3:30.…by that I meant it was a FUN DAY!

Here we are waiting for Boots and Virginia....they were a tad late!
Left to right: Me, my brother Gene, Doug, Gene's wife Gail, my sister.

Finally at our table...Boots and Virginia are there now.
Can you believe she's 86 and he's 85!!!

I promised a surprise didn’t I?
Wednesday night at our holiday get-together dinner here, one of my guests gave me a gift and when I opened it my jaw dropped and I do think there was a tear in my eye when I saw what it was….THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS BOOK!!!

Can you believe it after I just posted all the versions of the book over the last 200 years?

And the cool part is….she didn’t even know that I had a blog or that I had posted this. It couldn’t have been a more appropriate gift for the time.

The book is on very heavy glossy paper and is about 10 x 12

This is the original version of the book

My darling little faceless doll arrived today...she traveled well and was happy to be home.

Thanks Dawn, from The Forgotten Barn, she will be well cared for!

I so hope you enjoy my posts...they aren't anything special but just a journal of my days.

Hugs to all.

LATE WEDNESDAY

Evening everyone - sorry I'm so late posting today but we had a holiday gathering here tonight for some of my former co-workers....remember the baking yesterday???

What a wonderful fun evening we had with lots of delicious food, well appetizers actually. Each person brought one and then we did the chichen, salad, rolls, beverages and desserts.

I decided to set the table and we could all sit around and talk and eat at the same time rather than holding plates on our laps and possibly not going back for seconds because it's difficult to hold plates and drinks - this was a sure way of getting the food eaten.

My gosh the different dishes they brought was so much fun and sooooo tasty. Then for dessert I sereved the 3 different ones that Doug made yesterday on really cute long plates...very festive!
So that was my day and evening.

Oh, and tomorrow I have a surprise for you...I received a hostess gift and if you have read my posts this month you will see the relation to it. So tomorrow I'll post it....right now I'm too tired to take pictures.

Well, I finished decorating this morning FOR GOOD! lol.....NO MORE!

I want to be able to finish my shopping and get the gifts wrapped before Christmas has come and gone!

Tomorrow we are going to Janesville to have Christmas lunch with my Stepfather/wife, brother/wife and my sister so that will take the day and then Friday we head back there again to have a Christmas evening with Dougs cousins.

It's so much fun to have lots to do but the time goes by too fast then!

Okay, so here's the final on my decorations.

LONG DAY OF WORK!

Today started out soooo cold and then by 11:30 it turned to snow and oh how beautiful....we had snow three weeks ago and then last week with all the rain and wind it was all but gone! So I was happy to see some more new white fluffy snow again.

Tomorrow night I'm having my former co-workers here for a Christmas get-together so we had to go grocery shopping first thing before I started cleaning.

While I was cleaning Doug, bless his heart - he always pitches in - he made the desserts! I had to stop what I was doing once in awhile to guide or 'stop him' now and then but it all turned out just great.

He made Mini Lemon Tarts, Chocolate Almond Torte and Pinia Colada Torte.....and they all looked very nice when he finished....OH, PLUS HE MADE A MEATLOAF for dinner tonight. Am I spoiled or what - but I gave him his choice....help clean or bake! lol

I finished my decorating yesterday but not happy with it and I don't know why - it just isn't making me feel comfy but it will have to do because doing it twice is more than enough!

I will take pictures of the group tomorrow night....there's only going to be 3 men here in the group of 15 - most of the women have been single or divorced for years.

Here are a few more pictures of my Christmas decorating. I have kept it very, very simple this year....after decorating for the show and then putting it all away I sort of lost my interest in getting the rest of the decorations out.

HAPPY SUNDAY

Morning everyone....I'm going to do some or should I say the last of my Christmas decorating!
I have finally finished up all my website orders and can now concentrate on ME!
Oh, that sounds so selfish and self centered....hmmmmm Guess I had better say I can concentrate on the family and the holiday! There, that's better....lol

I have spent the very wee hours of the morning visiting all my friends blogs and posting comments. I am so sorry I have been so behind in posting here as well - but the business comes first especially at this time of year.

I'm so anxious to get rid of all the little dust bunnies or should I say 'fluffy snowballs' floating on my hardwood floors....and when I look up sometimes I think I see little floaties coming from the baskets on the beams! lol Should I just pretend it's fairy garland and leave it there????

There's boxes of decorations sitting in the basement just calling out my name to come and let it all out so it can enjoy the holidays as well....it wouldn't be very happy cooped up for another season without seeing the light of day!

So off I go into decorating wonderland today....hopefully if there's something to take pictures of I will do so...if not, you will know I made a mess of things!

Thanks to everyone who has come to my blog and left messages even thought there was nothing fun to read. You are all very dear and I am glad I have made so many new friends. There's so much to be happy and thankful for this season and throughout the year.

Bless you all.
Hugs, Karen

I GOT OUT OF THE HOUSE!

We're knee deep in snow right now. It started to rain on Sunday and Monday and by Tuesday morning it turned to snow and snowed most of the day, sometimes light, lots of times hard. Doug shoveled 4 times in between our going shopping. I tell ya, I haven't really been out of the house much and so what do I do but pick a snow day but it was so much fun!

Right now he's out shoveling again from the snow late last night. Thank goodness he has a snow blower and used it a couple times yesterday. The picture he took at 5:30 this morning...pretty isn't it?

Well, I'm half packed up from the show. I left everything up mainly because I just didn't have time to organize it to put it all away.

Bought some gifts on-line yesterday. I got up at 5 because I woke up raring to go! LOL

So bought a set of Rachel Rae pans for our daughter in-law (ones she wanted) and a Craftsman triple tier tool box for our son (he wanted that as well) ... so they're finished! And FREE SHIPPING AT THAT!!!

Then while I was at it I decided to shop for our 15 year old granddaughter on-line with the huge list she sent us...so got her clothes she wanted at these certain shops! So basically she's finished! Just going to get her a couple little special things to add in.

Then while at Kohl’s yesterday they had a 2 day 50% sale on all toys so we bought little Aidan his gifts....not much you can get for a 6 month old that DOESN'T NEED FOR ANYTHING....but we did get him some wonderful learning toys by Fischer Price and a Baby Einstein book. Looking for a snowsuit now. Guess I'll have to go to an actual Children’s Store for that because you just can't find like a 12 or 18 month suit at Kohls or Walmart.

Oh, and while at Kohl's I have been looking at the Hoover Windtunnel vacuums (one's with the bag) and the one I wanted was on sale so we bought it.

Well, here's the thing...we have a Hoover Windtunnel BAGLESS....but I hate it! I think they are dirty!!!!! You have to pull the canister out and dump it and there's all that dust and dirt flying about! It’s not contained like with the bags...I don't see the super clean concept there...but anyway...I digressed, sorry.

We bought it - I put it together (had to attach the handle) and I tried it out!

WELL....I DIDN'T LIKE IT....it just didn't pick up the pile like the other one....so back it went. Well, here's the funny thing. I FORGOT TO PUT THE HANDLE BACK IN THE BOX...I found it last night on my dining room table mixed in with all my merchandise last night...LOL.

Guess I'll have to drop it off today! They're going to think they are working with a ding bat because when we returned the vacuum I didn't have my sales receipt - I had the one from our first visit there and presented it to her - she said it wasn't the correct one - no vacuum on it....arghhhhhh - I had forgotten we had just been there an hour before and made purchases and then decided to go back after the vacuum....anyway - she took care of it and I felt like a fool! NOW I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE SAME WOMAN WHEN I TAKE THE HANDLE BACK....lol

Really - I'm not usually this incompetent! Do you think I'm overworked in the head right now!!!!

So when we took it back I bought a Hamilton Beach Brew Station with the no hands pour...you just put your cup under and push the lever with the cup and WALLA...coffee in the cup! Love it. Now mind you, I don't drink coffee! LOL Only now and then and that's not often! lol Anyway - got it, love it, making a pot as I type....lol

So that's myTuesday and Wednesday for ya! Going to work on the last of my orders so my customers will get them in time for Christmas!

Not a very interesting post I know but just wanted you all to know 'she still lives'....

See ya, have a great Wednesday!

Hugs to all,

Karen

BEEN BUSY

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to come on and say hi to all and hope your week and weekend was wonderful and filled with lots of family gatherings and Christmas decorating and shopping.

I found Lolla this morning under our little tree! I couldn't find her when I came out to the family room and heard this real faint tinkle and looked and there she was....she finds the most weird places to sleep.

I have been out of the loop so to speak for a week now and miss all of you so much so had to get on and say HI!

I have nothing new to report except that business has been wonderful and for that I am grateful that I don't have the time right now to post fun things!

I'll be on now and then reading everyone's posts and commenting but there just isn't anything going on here!

See you a bit later,

Hugs to all,

Karen

SOME SPECIALS

Happy Wednesday everyone!

I don't have any super fun WHATCHA WORKING ON WEDNESDAYS PROJECTS that I can share because I'll be in my sewing mode to get orders out....many, many of them waiting to be stitched and sent....but I do have some great specials running right now so check it out.

Yesterday I added over 60 new merchandise items to my website and more to come later....beside the great SPECIAL.

From December 5 until December 18th we are
GIVING YOU UP TO $30 WORTH OF FREE ITEMS OF YOUR CHOICE
of any of our products….with a $75.00 or more merchandise order…..WOHOOOOO!!!!!
Shipping is not included in any of this special,
buyer will still have to pay shipping fees.

We can’t get any better on this offer
so please come and take advantage NOW!

THE SHOW AND AFTER

Morning everyone!

Well it's Tuesday already and things still look like a store in here...lol

We decided to leave things up until Sunday when we'll pack everything up.

I was going to re-take pictures because my first batch before the show turned out somewhat blurry but decided enough was enough and things have been sold making for bare spots and re-arranging so you'll be able to view them in my Photobucket Slideshow.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR COMMENTING ON MY HOME AND DECORATING. We had such a great time doing it all - now we'll have to do a bit more actual Christmas decorating when all the products are put away. Not much though.

We decided to leave the tree as is and not put our own traditional decorations on i - most decorations were sold from the containers below and along side the tree so it was mostly left undisturbed and we rather like the looks of it.

Well, tonight we have or interview for the Country Sampler magazine article - rather excited about it. The photographer, Pilar, and her mother came to our show on Saturday and we were able to brag about her to some of our customers who were here at the time. Fortunately Pilar lives right near us so she's the one coming to do the interview.

Yesterday we took the day off to go to Janesville and pick up some products from The Spinning Wheel Wholesale that customers ordered from the show....our little Angel Tree Toppers were a huge hit. We sold what we had and needed 7 more.

Then after that we did Walmart and then met my brother and his wife and their daughter for lunch at Applebees and then Doug and I went to the mall and I bought some things for myself. I got 2 1/2 price sweaters at Christopher & Banks and some more tops at another shop...and socks! Then we all went to a cute little Primitive shop and I got to shop for goodies this time!!!!!

Have a wonderful day and again, thanks for always coming and reading my blog posts!

Hugs, Karen

http://s151.photobucket.com/albums/s125/kmprimitives/?action=view&current=84d58589.pbw?nocache=135