| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Annika |
Posted - Oct 21 2015 : 10:26:37 AM
..and a few days  Any old timer will know how bonkers I am for Christmas. The wonder and joy, the silent night and Christmas choirs, the candles, cookies and carols, the house lit only by tree lights and the moments of fellowship and warmth that seems to extend like no other time during the year. Christmas is a magical time.
This morning mom in law went home with the companionship of one of my sis in laws to keep an eye on her. We've had a wonderful few weeks together, had tea, played with old photos and scrap booked them, gone antiquing with my niece/her granddaughter and in general had a blast. She and I sat down last night with the Christmas planner and looked through recipes and made Christmas card lists, decided on Christmas gifts for family and worked up a Christmas baking schedule to do in rounds as we travel back and forth in the next couple of months. If you don't have holiday planning sessions, you are missing something! It was lots of fun. We had spiced tea and low carb snickerdoodles and laughed like school girls.
I'm sending out big decorated food storage buckets full of gourmet popcorn again. This year it'll be sea salt caramel, white chocolate candy cane and chocolate truffle. Nothing like making huge batches of fancy popcorn to make you feel like you're in Santa's workshop!
The 5 gallon food storage containers are very easy to decorate. They seal tightly, are sturdy and not at all expensive and you can pack quite a lot in them. If you're sending food gifts, they're a good way to go.
I'm trying to come up with more clever small things to tuck in around the food goodies too!
64 days!!! http://days.to/until/christmas
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| 23 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Denise Ann |
Posted - Nov 17 2015 : 04:13:10 AM
My daughter asked for me to make her a pin cushion as one of her gifts... She mends things but doesn't sew. I made her a lovely purple pin cushion and bought her a package of my favorite pins. Maybe I'll add a needle case to go with it. She hasn't given me any other ideas, but she is completely finished with all of her shopping for christmas. Not sure where she got that organized, but oh well...
Denise Ann |
| hudsonsinaf |
Posted - Nov 16 2015 : 10:41:33 PM
My kids just realized recently how close Christmas is...talk about stress ;) Our gifts include something you want, something you need, something you wear, something you read... And then we make gifts for one another... Which basically translates to everyone helps me make something from them for everyone else.,, my eight year old has decided he wants to decorate mugs for his siblings this year. My six year old wants to sew blankets for everyone (which means mommy has to do it!) my nine year has no clue, and my twelve year old has been working hard on plastic canvas projects. Hubby's mom and one sister called earlier wanting ideas for the kids. I have no idea what we are getting them, let alone able to give them ideas!
~ Shannon
http://hudson-everydayblessings.blogspot.com/ |
| MaryJanesNiece |
Posted - Nov 16 2015 : 8:32:49 PM
Oh Bonnie I am so the same. I am always finishing Christmas wrapping at midnight on Christmas Eve. I am making effort to be done early but to be completely honest I still have yet to cross someone off my list. It’s not looking promising.
Krista |
| Bonnie Ellis |
Posted - Nov 16 2015 : 7:47:47 PM
There always over-achievers in every group...you know who you are, tee here. Done with stuff? I won't be done until Chtistmas. I really like the doing of it.
grandmother and orphan farmgirl |
| bramblerose |
Posted - Nov 16 2015 : 11:33:22 AM
I have all gifts (but one) either made and ready to wrap or ordered and on its way.
I've been playing Christmas music when the Cowboy is out of the house. (He's a little Scrooge-ish until at least the middle if December.)
Love, LOVE Christmas.
Ann
My life on the ranch ... http://a-thousandhills.blogspot.com |
| Denise Ann |
Posted - Nov 08 2015 : 7:03:15 PM
Bonnie,
I like the idea of having some smaller trees around the house, they sound lovely.
Denise Ann |
| MaryJanesNiece |
Posted - Oct 28 2015 : 7:41:33 PM
Christmas is my favorite time of year but I can’t seem to get in the mood for it until after Thanksgiving. This year though I am going to work my hardest at getting all my Christmas presents done before Thanksgiving and the decorations up the week of Thanksgiving. I’m only changing up my norm because I want Christmas all ready to go before my baby comes!! I’m sure I’ll be able to manage starting early!!! Who knows, may change my opinions for future years. |
| Lowrider |
Posted - Oct 28 2015 : 7:05:08 PM
I'm all done! I'm ducking as I type this! Hee hee. I already have my cards and Christmas stamps too. I also signed up to sponsor a family and a senior this year at Christmas too in my county. Plus I just moved 6 weeks ago and I'm still decorating and unpacking. Did I mention I'm hyper and have OCD? I get a lot done! I'm dead and in bed by 9
ArtSeaFartSea Me!
https://www.pinterest.com/lowrider04/
http://lowriderchic.wordpress.com
#6629 |
| Bonnie Ellis |
Posted - Oct 28 2015 : 6:15:34 PM
Christmas is really so very special. Love to decorate too. I have small trees. The one in the kitchen has food and kitchen related items ? The backside faces the dining room and I have birds and wildlife on that side. My small Scandinavian tree has Norwegian decorations and birch bark. We also have a larger tree with the kids stuff and other sentimental ornaments. After Christmas this tree goes outside sans ornaments and is decorated with food for the birds. I also have a small tree in my sewing room.
grandmother and orphan farmgirl |
| Annika |
Posted - Oct 28 2015 : 1:10:51 PM
I over extended my elbow yesterday, so I'm in planning mode not doing mode today. It's so wonderful to see so many of my fellow Christmas-a-holics again
This year Drew and I want to have an old fashioned Christmas cartoon night with grown-ups and kids. Rudolph, the original Grinch, etc. Everybody can just bring jammies and a quilt and camp out in front of the big screen tv and eat goodies  I know I'm just one in a vast crowd to bemoan this, but Christmas is so commercial and such high stress. Fun nights with no pressure, crowds or traffic are so needed any more.
I was out looking through the brush and limb pile hunting for long straight sticks to try my hand at making rustic twig stars. Wish me luck, I'm Annika the anti-crafter  |
| AuntJamelle |
Posted - Oct 28 2015 : 09:31:11 AM
I am SO excited for Christmas this year as it will be our first back in the house after the fire. Which, incidentally, happened on the morning of Christmas Eve 2012. So essentially, the last 3 Christmas celebrations for us have been either crazy or just very low key. This year will hopefully be a great one!
I'm gearing up to do some major decorating, and planning for two parties we held annually until the recent break in tradition.
One is a wrapping party for my girlfriends where they come over in PJs/Yoga Pants - you know - COMFY clothes - and bring all the presents they can't wrap in front of their kids/spouses. I make food and we all listen to Christmas music, sip some wine, nibble and WRAP!
The other is a party for whole families to come over for dinner - served buffet style - and to just hang out. Depending on the weather we may light up the bonfire in the back yard.
I also have several things planned/scheduled for December evenings for just DH and DS and I. A night to decorate a gingerbread house, a night to watch a new Christmas movie while camping out under the tree, a night to bake Candy Cane cookies, etc.
I've not really done any shopping yet, but I do have several small gift items that I've been working on crafting all year. Once I get through our camping trip this weekend for Halloween, I will turn my attention to the shopping. But although I love seeing someone open up their gifts - more than opening my own! - it's all about the mood, the time together, the food, the music, the FUN!
I'm a Christmas addict. There, I said it! :)
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| ceejay48 |
Posted - Oct 23 2015 : 4:51:34 PM
I love Christmas! All of my family decided a few years ago to skip the gift buying for each other. None of us really needed anything and we decided we just wanted to SPEND TIME TOGETHER! Save money for any travel or special activities together . . . it's been wonderful!
I don't have small children any more and no grandkids so that makes it easier!
We do like to bake and cook special Christmas treats/meals though! Love the music and I usually do a LOT of decorating!
CJ
..from the barefoot farmgirl in SW Colorado...sister chick #665.
2010 Farmgirl Sister of the Year
Mother Hen: FARMGIRLS SOUTHWEST HENHOUSE
my aprons - http://www.facebook.com/FarmFreshAprons
living life - www.snippetscja.blogspot.com
from my heart - www.fromacelticheart.blogspot.com
from my hubby - www.aspenforge.blogspot.com |
| Bear5 |
Posted - Oct 23 2015 : 4:08:58 PM
My favorite holiday is, by far, Christmas. It's exciting just to read that it's only two months away. I'll start decorating November 26th!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
| hudsonsinaf |
Posted - Oct 23 2015 : 09:46:37 AM
YIKES! As much as I LOVE the Christmas season, I am WAY behind this year! Usually I have at least some of the kids' gifts ready... I haven't even really started them yet this year! I am trying, but am definitely behind!!!! Between the pregnancy, moving, Emi, and it being a c-section, the last few months/year has been a blur!!!! I did receive the fabric today, though, for all of our pjama pants.
~ Shannon
http://hudson-everydayblessings.blogspot.com/ |
| nndairy |
Posted - Oct 23 2015 : 08:50:29 AM
We've already started the Christmas music in our house :) And we've watched all 3 of the Santa Clause movies with Tim Allen. I can't even tell you how many cups of cocoa I've enjoyed while making gifts LOL!!! I'm glad to find more Christmas nuts to celebrate with :)
~Heather
Farmgirl Sister #4701
September 2014 Farmgirl of the Month
http://nndairy.blogspot.com/
"The purpose of life is to enjoy every moment" - Yogi teabag
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| Bonnie Ellis |
Posted - Oct 22 2015 : 9:48:50 PM
I was reading some old accounts of Christmas on the prairie and it's a fact that you were expected to have lots of popcorn balls to serve your guests. See, you're right in style.
I love Christmas too but I've had to do a lot of things just for me. Our grandchildren live too far to come and one of our sons can't come either so the season gets somewhat bitter-sweet. But my hubby and I still do many things. But I love the little kids at Christmas. We've got lots in church.
grandmother and orphan farmgirl |
| texdane |
Posted - Oct 22 2015 : 07:18:35 AM
Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!
;)
Farmgirl Hugs,
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
Farmgirl of the Month, January 2013
Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/
www.facebook.com/suburbanfarmgirlblogger |
| Pokeyfire |
Posted - Oct 21 2015 : 6:57:24 PM
Homemade popcorn in reusable buckets. That's what I'm talking about. Fantastic idea!
I have a few gifts done and wrapped and thought about making my card list. That is about it. And when I hear a Christmas song come on I have to walk away. Stillttoo early for me. I need to wait until I am sitting in a comfy chair with a belly full of thanksgiving turkey before I am really ready for Christmas.
Pokeyfire
Farmgirl #6712
Rain soothes the soul. Sunshine makes everything right. |
| Red Tractor Girl |
Posted - Oct 21 2015 : 3:58:26 PM
Annika, your gourmet popcorn gifts sound wonderful!! Oh my, I bet your popcorn is fabulous!
Winnie #3109
Red Tractor Girl
Farm Sister of the Year 2014-2015 |
| ClaireSky |
Posted - Oct 21 2015 : 12:54:09 PM
I usually wait until after Thanksgiving....
Julie
Farmgirl #399
May 2010 Farmgirl of the Month
Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. |
| Annika |
Posted - Oct 21 2015 : 12:47:10 PM
I'm not quite that bad off yet Julie. I'll wait 'til after Halloween before assailing my poor husband with Christmas tunes |
| ClaireSky |
Posted - Oct 21 2015 : 12:27:05 PM
Did you know that they are already playing Christmas music on the radio for the past week?
Julie
Farmgirl #399
May 2010 Farmgirl of the Month
Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Oct 21 2015 : 11:59:38 AM
Oh, ANNIKA!!! Didjahafta?! DidjaHAFta?! I can't BELIEVE we're almost at the end of October already! I haven't even decorated for FALL yet, and it's almost time to decorate for Christmas! Where did the time go???
But ya know... Like you, I'm in love with Christmas! I would have LOVED to sit in on that visit with your mother-in-law! That must've been such an awesome time!
It's actually funny you brought it up. The past few days and nights have been super chilly, and all I could think about was putting on some Christmas movies and snuggling under a blanket with a hot cup of tea to enjoy them! Alas, my guys wouldn't go for it, the poopers. They've got visions of turkey and football on the brain! LOL!
I just really want this Christmas season to be warm and special, you know? For me, it's all about family and atmosphere - music, sights, traditions... The GIFTS are the people and the precious time we spend celebrating the season - and its reason - together! :)
I absolutely LOVE your popcorn in food storage buckets idea! You know, when we were little, my brother received a HUGE tin of flavored popcorn from our aunt in the mail one year. He went ga-ga over it! It was SUCH a COOL gift! I think I might make some up for my foster grandkids this year, and include some inexpensive DVDs of movie classics! Maybe I could wrap their buckets like huge Santa sacs, using inexpensive holiday themed homemade hand-tied fleece throws, too! At the top, I could tie the sac together with inexpensive slipper socks as a bow! They can cozy up under their blankets, with their warm slippers on, to watch a movie and devour yummy popcorn... How cool is that?! Then they can re-use the empty buckets in their play room to store toys and other items, and even use them as extra seating when their friends come to play! I LOVE that idea! Thank you SO much for the inspiration! You are AWESOME!
Okay... I have to admit it: now I'm actually gladjadid! SUPER DUPER gladjadid! ;)
Big hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
www.papercraftingwithnini.ctmh.com
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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