| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Nov 02 2010 : 08:18:55 AM
*<|;)} Only 40 days 'til Christmas!!!
('Changed the title in the subject box to make things easier...)
We're expecting snow within the next few days - I am so excited, I am beside myself! When the snow hits, it's going to be hot chocolate and mittens for everyone!
Today it just feels so like Christmas in my heart! I am not one bit prepared for the holidays, but something is just stirring me deep with within! 'Must be the anticipation of snow!
Warm hugs - Nini
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Sandra K. Licher |
Posted - Nov 15 2010 : 5:28:56 PM
Oh how I miss the North and the snow especially now that I'm retired and don't HAVE to go out in it or commute. Darn! For those of you that want to live in the South....I am selling my house here! LOL! It is TOO hot for me in the summer and you have to stay in while it looks beautiful out and in the winter it is cold enough where you can't be out all day but no snow or interesting weather unless you count the ice storm 2 years ago with no electric for over a week! Up North I survived that all the time during blizzards and my Vermont woodburner that heated my whole house. Here there is a fireplace insert and some guy sold me green wood and I about froze to death!
Thanks for the pictures and keep me informed of your snow situation! I will live vicariously through your snowstorms! I think I'll go make some hot cocoa...I feel the wind picking up outside! Brrr!!!! But cozy inside! Everyone snuggle up!
Sam in AR..... "It's a great life if you don't weaken!"
Farmgirl Sister #226
www.farmgirlsam.blogspot.com |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Nov 15 2010 : 09:23:41 AM
Oh my gosh - just a little over a month til Christmas! I am so so so not ready! But I have to tell you, I've been participating in a few swaps and they are really getting me in the spirit - SO much fun! Last week we had unseasonably warm weather - this week, dark, dreary, rainy days are ahead. Not feeling much like Christmas outside. But you know - how beautiful the remaining autumn leaves glow during the rain! I love that - almost flourescent!
Alee - how is your scarf coming along? Sounds lovely!
I meant to tell you, Annika - I used to go all out for a Victorian-esque holiday, too. But we cut back because the holidays were just breezing by and we had so little time to really enjoy everything. Just as we'd be pulling everything out and decking the halls, we'd suddenly be slinking into post-holiday funk, pulling everything down and packing it away for next year. I wish the holiday season - just the air of it all - could last longer! Not the commercialism - just the lights, the sounds, the love, the joy! If I can find time, I just might try to do the whole thing again this year. Everyone is feeling the pinch with the economy, and I think we're going to put even that much more emphasis on celebrating the meaning of the holiday as well as celebrating its beauty. The feelings and the friends are what we remember most - not so much the gifts, you know?
When do you all start decorating? Are you doing anything different this year? - Nini
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
| knittingmom |
Posted - Nov 15 2010 : 07:44:37 AM
I'm getting excited about Christmas too! We're supposed to get some snow this week (finally). It's a little late this year :)
"There is no foot so small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world" |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Nov 12 2010 : 5:08:38 PM
That's great, Alee! I'm working on gifts tonight, too. I just wish there were more hours in the day, though! Sometimes it seems I'll never finish! Thank God we've still got 43 days left! :) - Nini
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
| Alee |
Posted - Nov 08 2010 : 2:47:52 PM
So I decided I am going to jump in and make a gift for some female in my family. We haven't drawn names yet but I am going to to tat a fashion scarf out of cherry red yarn! I am thinking about 4 foot long and 3 inches wide (so 3 rows ish). It's going to take a while but I have gotten almost 6 inches done here today at work. I'll post pictures as soon as I get my batter charger back from my parent's house!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| Annika |
Posted - Nov 08 2010 : 08:09:02 AM
Yay! It was down to 30 this morning and frosty! My snow may come soon! I'm starting to get excited about Christmas now too and can actually hardly wait. We are having a very simple Christmas this year which is exactly what I've been trying for for some years now =)
I used to try to do this Victorian-esque horror of a Christmas celebration, which included just about every thing, but as the years have passed, I find myself more drawn to the simple things of joy. Thank you for the count down Nini, it is helping me get into it this year!
Annika
Farmgirl & sister #13
Palouse Prairie Girls Chapter
http://palouseprairiegirls.blogspot.com/
http://prairiegirlsjournal.blogspot.com/
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. ~Leonardo DaVinci
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| Ninibini |
Posted - Nov 08 2010 : 07:58:38 AM
My sentiments, exactly, Alee! But you know, your post with the link to the homemade gifts for men site has really inspired me! I can't thank you enough! :) - Nini
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
| Alee |
Posted - Nov 08 2010 : 07:50:30 AM
Eeek...I can't believe that Christmas is so close!!!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| melody |
Posted - Nov 08 2010 : 07:33:45 AM
Sherrie,
Thanks for the suggestion-I have heard of them but never tried them before and will look into getting some of those-I'll try anything to ease some of the symptoms.
Melody
Farmgirl #525
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| knitnpickinatune |
Posted - Nov 07 2010 : 8:46:00 PM
Melody,have you tried full spectrum lights to offset the SAD in winter? While I don't have SAD,the shorter days can affect me. I have full spectrum "sunshine" lights in my room and they help a lot.
No snow in southern CA,but we do have a "winter" of sorts.
http://www.mandolinbabe.info
http://www.mandolinbabe.net
http://www.mandolinbabe.biz (Etsy Store)
@MandolinChick on Twitter
mando pickin,uke strummin, & fiddle sawin' Farmgirl #702 |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Nov 07 2010 : 6:24:58 PM
Oh! Thank you, Melody! I am definitely going to make this - maybe for the game tomorrow night! Can you believe after all the cold weather we've been having, we're expecting weather in the high 60's this week? Geez! I bet you we'll all have colds before the holiday!!! RRRRRRRRRR!
Have a great week! - Nini
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
| melody |
Posted - Nov 07 2010 : 2:16:43 PM
Nini... Here is the Ginger Snap recipe and the Pumpkin Dip recipe from my good friend Oggie:
Pumpkin Dip
1-package (8-ounces) light cream cheese, softened
1 can (18-ounces) pumpkin pie mix
2-cups confectioner's sugar
1/2-teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4-teaspoon ground ginger
Beat cream cheese in a mixing bowl until smooth. Add pumpkin pie mix; beat well. Add sugar, cinnamon and ginger; beat until smooth. Serve with cookies. Store leftover dip in the refrigerator.
Cookie Jar Ginger Snaps
3/4 cup shorening
1-cup sugar
1-egg
1/4 cup of molasses
2-cups all purpose flour
2-teaspoons of baking soda
1-1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1-teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
Additional sugar
In a large mixing bowl, cream the shortening and the sugar. Beat in the egg and molasses. Combine flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Roll teaspoonfuls of dough into balls. Dip one side of each ball into sugar; place with sugar side up on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 350-degrees for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned and tops are cracked.
Yield: 3-4 dozen
These are the best ginger snaps I have ever had!
Melody
Farmgirl #525
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| Ninibini |
Posted - Nov 06 2010 : 8:49:20 PM
That's so funny you say that, Mary Beth! When I moved to PA, I had to force myself to say my "ahs" - people had no idea what I was saying othahwise! LOL!! - Nini
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
| Okie Farm Girl |
Posted - Nov 06 2010 : 8:47:25 PM
Oops. I forgot about telling you where Camden is. Veazie and Orono are near Bangor but Camden is further south on the coast.
www.OklahomaPastryCloth.com
The Sovereign Lord is my strength - Habakkuk 3:19 |
| Okie Farm Girl |
Posted - Nov 06 2010 : 8:43:58 PM
Ninibini, they are near Bangor. I learned to drive on the road between Veazie and Bangor and my poor grandmother lost a few years as she rode with me! :-)
Melody, Camden is beautiful with all of the boats in the harbor. Being from the south, I always loved the accent there and would jokingly tell my friends from Tennessee, "We pahk the cahs in the bahn." :-) And Bangor! That is where we did our shopping. I have a picture of me and my sisters standing in front of the Paul Bunyon statue!
Mary Beth
www.OklahomaPastryCloth.com
The Sovereign Lord is my strength - Habakkuk 3:19 |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Nov 06 2010 : 8:26:05 PM
Ooooo! Melody! Yes! Please send me those recipes - I would love them! That would be awesome! Thank you! Lucky me - I was able to get out of the gingerbread men tonight. My son remembered that Dairy Queen closes tomorrow. All you have to say is "ice cream," and the kids forget everything else! LOL! We all headed over to DQ for a sundae after church instead (Phew!). My nephew and I are going to plan a gingerbread man marathon day sometime early in December - just the two of us!!! And he's still looking forward to pumpkin pie tomorrow, too. :)
'SO glad you are doing so great with your shows, Melody - I just knew you would! You have the best soaps and lip balms. And I love the gift sets you offer, too! Such perfect gifts for the holidays! :) I saw your towels on the blog and thought they were so cute! I used to embroider when I was a kid <I'll try to remember to tell you in my letter - I got yours the other day and smiled from ear to ear! We have so much in common! ;)>, but haven't really done anything in years. I would love to get back into it, though. I had to use my reading glasses just to thread the needle earlier, though! Eghads! LOL!
Don't feel bad about the Christmas countdown - I think I confused everyone! LOL!! But yes, I'm counting down with you all! :)
Yes, I agree, Mary Beth - Maine is absolutely breathtaking! And it's like you have the best of all worlds wrapped up in one - ocean, forest, mountains, fresh water and farmland. I have no idea where Camden or Orono or Veazie are, though. What part of Maine are they located in, girls? I know we were in Bangor once when I was very small, but I really don't have any recollection. We absolutely fell in love with Ogunquit, though. I'd love to move there someday. Everyone talks about retiring in Florida and heading south... not me! I want to be further North! I just love it up there. You can take the girl out of New England, but you can never take New England out of the girl! ;)
Hugs - Nini
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
| melody |
Posted - Nov 06 2010 : 6:36:06 PM
Mary Beth...I have always dreamed of "retiring" in Camden!!! We were stationed at Dow AFB in Bangor when I was a young girl and I cried and cried when I found out we would be transferred to another base. I went back when my son now 26 was about 5 years old. I didn't recognize anything except the flight-line, but it was just like coming home for me...
Melody
Farmgirl #525 |
| Okie Farm Girl |
Posted - Nov 06 2010 : 6:01:18 PM
Wow. You all are really getting me in the mood for Christmas. Snow? My goodness. That would be pretty early for us!
I used to live in Maine too and loved it. It is my very favorite place that we lived when I was young. My dad taught at the University of Maine in Orono and we lived in Orono and Veazie. I took my husband there back in the 90's to show him my old stomping grounds and in 2000 we had a family reunion at Camden. There is just no place like Maine. God certainly created a beautiful thing when he created that place!! :-)
www.OklahomaPastryCloth.com
The Sovereign Lord is my strength - Habakkuk 3:19 |
| melody |
Posted - Nov 06 2010 : 3:52:41 PM
Nini----Are you counting down till Christmas? It took me a few minutes to catch on to your post "Now Just 49 Days" What a goose! I am laughing out loud right now...
I am working on more Redwork Embroidered Flour Sack Dishtowels-I had an art show today at Bonifas Art Center in Escanaba, Michigan (HUGE---HUGE) success, but I have four more shows to do before Christmas and I only have 2 individual towels and one days of the week set (Sunbonnet Sue---They are just darling)...I display my embroidered towels in a vintage suitcase and it was packed solid when we left this morning at 5:00 a.m. so....I will be stitching fast and furiously over the next week! I do love to embroider Nini!
Since you already have plans to back tonight Nini....I have the very best ginger snap cookie recipe with a pumpkin "dip" Interested??
Melody
Farmgirl #525
P.S. Loved seeing your contribution to MaryJanes magazines latest issue-Made me smile! |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Nov 06 2010 : 2:57:11 PM
Okay - still waiting on the snow. They've been predicting it and predicting it, but all we have is extremely cold, wet weather. Geesh. But I'm really, really excited, because I've been working on my craft-y gifts all day! Yeah! I actually tried my hand at a blanket stitch for the first time since I was about 8 years old - and it actually came out pretty good, thanks to MJ's book!!! (Thank you, MJ - I'm learning! I'm learning!!) I'm almost done making my gift tags for that swap, I finished my farmgirl sister's ornament for another swap, I'm almost done decorating the stocking for the stuffed stocking swap, I finished a gift for my Secret Sister and for another gift to be sent out next week! I even was able to send out a bunch of Thanksgiving cards this morning! Today is a very good day, and I'm having such a great time! 'Wish you all were here so we could be having fun together!
My nephew is here visiting and I guess he's getting swept up in the spirit, too. He asked if we could make gingerbread cookie dough tonight for baking and decorating tomorrow! How fun! I'm trying really hard to talk him into letting me do a pumpkin pie instead, but when he looks at me with those bright, hopeful eyes, I see his Christmas spirit and I just can't resist! LOL! 'Looks like my kitchen will be getting a light dusting of flour snow tonight, even if it doesn't happen outside! ;) I just wish my guys would get into the spirit of things! They keep smiling and saying, "That's nice..." but it's not really a big deal to them. It's okay, they're guys, after all. I am just so thankful for my Farmgirl Sisters, though - you all bring out the best of the girl-spirit in me! :)
I can't believe we're just 49 days away from Christmas. Time really has flown this year, hasn't it?! What are you all working on today - anything?
Happy weekend!
Nini
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
| Violets November |
Posted - Nov 03 2010 : 8:23:12 PM
I'm in Central California and by comparison we have the mildest winter.
But now I want a big cup of hot chocolate! And I'm so looking forward to the Christmas holidays!
We live next to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and they become breathtaking with the snow!
~Violet~
Farmgirl Sister #1669
My blog, http://hiddenacre.blogspot.com/
Our Organic Jewelry, http://www.etsy.com/shop/GaelicForge |
| melody |
Posted - Nov 03 2010 : 7:13:24 PM
Too soon Nini!!
I know what you mean about it smelling like snow-I too have that uncanny gift! My DH just laughs when I poke my head outside and proclaim..."Smells like snow!" and then quick dart back inside again-LOL!
Maybe I was a gopher in a former life? Won't peek out until spring is nigh!
Melody
Farmgirl #525 |
| Mommyswanson |
Posted - Nov 03 2010 : 1:48:12 PM
My son is so jealous!!! He LOVES the snow! I think it has something to do with having a January birthday & growing up in northern Illinois!!! I love the snow too, it's so pretty on the trees & everything just smells so clean & fresh!!!
Laura
"That which does not kill us makes us strong!" "I cast all my cares upon you Lord." |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Nov 03 2010 : 12:31:28 PM
I can literally feel and smell the snow in the air, but nothing yet. Homemade cocoa mix is ready in a jar by the counter; salt is waiting in a big old tub along with our shovels by the door; we've dug out our box of hats, scarves, mittens and gloves... And tonight, in the spirit of the holidays, I'll be working on a couple of homemade gifts... Still, with the change in the weather and the hints of the approaching holidays surrounding me, it feels so surreal. I can't believe we'll be celebrating Thanksgiving so soon! I can't believe Christmas is so near! How the 2010 time has flown! Part of me is feeling it and yet another part of me feels so unprepared and uneasy. It's such an odd feeling ... Is anyone else in the spirit, yet? - Nini
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
| ceejay48 |
Posted - Nov 03 2010 : 07:55:24 AM
I, for one, LOVE the snow. I grew up right here in SW Colorado and it was part of our winters. Since my birthday is in December and that's when you could get your drivers license I learned to drive in our snowy climate. I've had some scary moments driving in snow and on ice, but because that's when I learned to drive I think that made a huge difference.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE to bundle up and go on my power walks when it is snowing! I LOVE IT!!! And, I usually don't miss an opportunity to do that. We can cross-country ski around our place and there is the BEST sledding hill just north of our house . . used it as a kid and then again just recently. I hope to buy myself a pair of snowshoes for this winter . . to increase my options.
However, I wouldn't appreciate it in extreme amounts or conditions . . . .and I don't appreciate it when it comes with biting winds.
But for today, it's a beautiful, sunny fall day with gorgeous blue sky, fruit trees in their fall colors . . and I will be out on a power walk with my little poochie friend, Bramble.
CJ
..from the barefoot farmgirl in SW Colorado...sister chick #665
From my Heart - www.fromacelticheart.blogspot.com
From my Hands - www.cjscreations-ceejay.blogspot.com
From my Hubby - www.aspenforge.blogspot.com |
