Another Year Passes WithThe Child's Paper

It is that time again!

Another year passes on.
Dear readers, who have followed us through the past several years.
Thank you, for always dropping in and making our little place brighter!
Follow me through some of my favorite moments from this year 2009!

****

January
Queen Califia's Magical Circle Mosaic Garden.

***

February
Laughter Is Good Medicine.
We believe in laughter and being silly!

***

March
Home Sweet Home.
There is no place like home.
A peek at my art work.

***
April
Now This Is What We Call Vitamin D.
A little beach trip with the children.

***

May
Making Our Own Paper Dolls.
Fun things I do with my daughter.

***

June
A Mad Hatter Tea Party.
Our Mad Tea Party hosted by A Fanciful Twist.
My son as The Mad Hatter & My daughter as Alice.

***

July
The Perfect Pie.
MMMM! Just a tid bit of
our baking through the year!

***

August
A Nature Walk.
These are the moments
I treasure with my children.

***
September
A Sip Of Tea.
A tea cozy, a cup of tea and your
favorite person to drink it with.

***

October
Roman Soldier Boot Camp.
A walk through history.
My son all dressed in Roman gear.

***

November
Tales From The Dollhouse.
The stories my daughter & I make up for fun.

***
December
Wintery Love.
Frocks for my little girl.

May you have a wonderful, blessed New Year with your family.
My wish for you is to enjoy, slow down and take in every
moment you have with your children.
They grow too fast!
Happy New Year !!!

Handmade with LOVE....

It all began when my daughter & I were browsing through a catalog and we spied a sweet elephant purse. Well, I knew I didn't have anymore money for Christmas so I thought....
Gee I can make something like that.
It is sure good to be crafty & resourceful.

I gathered up some old vintage red wool, some fabric, trims and vintage buttons.
Sketched out an elephant and whipped it up in less than two hours.
I gave it to her on Christmas Eve.
Yes, she thought I ordered it...
I told her Mama made it with LOVE for her.
And that made her so HAPPY!

P.S. She loved the Pink Sugar Elephant doll I made her too !
( scroll down a couple posts about elephant doll)
She said it was her bestest gift!

Merry CHRIST-mas

We had a lovely Christmas Eve day together....
just the four of us.
The kids opened their stockings when they woke up.
We enjoyed each others company immensely.
I also made a yummylicious candlelit Italian dinner
and cookies for dessert.

Miss Freckles and I baked a special Birthday Christmas cake for Jesus!
It is a Christmas tree!

The children are now snuggled in their beds with
sugarplums dancing in their heads anticipating Christmas morn.

We wish you a Merry CHRIST-mas !
May your focus be on the true indescribable gift.
Christ our Lord!
****
Love came down at Christmas;
Love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Stars and angels gave the sign.
Christina Rossetti

Some Christmas Eve Magic....

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care.
But, this Christmas Eve morn my children
will find a bedpost stocking awaiting to be opened when they awake.
This will surely be pure joy to open their stockings in bed.
They can pull it under their covers, clasp the contents and furiously
unwrap each little package with glee.

( I captured this sweet photo of my daughter
sleeping away after I hung her stocking in her room...
she will be so surprised.
It was too dark in my son's room to get
a snapshot without a flash waking him up.
They will be so surprised...
Oh the anticipation of Christmas. How fun!)

And, what they will find is a magic recipe used by Victorians so long ago.
I am bringing it back!
This is what each will receive and will also give
an extra forty winks of sleep to Mom & Dad.
****
Something to eat,
something to read,
something to play with
and something they need!

Shhhhhhhh!

So, I told you the other day that I was working
on a special Christmas gift for my daughter!
I am revealing it here....
before she even see's it!

Especially for her...
A Pink Sugar Elephant.

Making The Christmas Apron

Got the popcorn, watching Christmas movies
and sewing away in the studio.
I am getting my Christmas apron all sewn up.

I am using an old vintage poinsettia table runner.
I love it so.
Just felt like it needed new life.

The colors are vibrant the print is gorgeous.
I can't wait to wear it Christmas morn while I cook Christmas breakfast!
There is a little something special also being worked on in the studio...
but will have to share it later.
It is a surprise for my little girl.
3 Days Till Christmas!!!!!

History of the Poinsettia

The poinsettia was cultivated by the Aztecs of Mexico long before the introduction of Christianity to the Western Hemisphere. During the 17th century, Franciscan priests in Mexico began to use the flower in nativity processions because of its brilliant color and holiday bloom, A favorite flower in many countries with its beautiful red, star-shaped flower. It is called the "Flame Leaf" in Central America or "Flower of the Holy Night". Poinsettias were first introduced into the United States in 1825 by Joel Robert Poinsett, the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico. Poinsett, a skilled botanist, had some plants sent to his home in Greenville, S.C. After establishing the plants in his own greenhouse, he began to send them to various botanical gardens and fellow horticulturists.

They eventually reached Robert Buist, a nurseryman, who first sold the plant as Euphorbia poinsettia, although a German botanist had already given the plant the botanical name Euphorbia pulcherima. The poinsettia, however, remains the accepted name in English-speaking countries. Most of the poinsettias now come from California.

Advent Feast... A Journey in Food & Faith

For the last Advent Sunday we spent the entire
day with our church family. First with a wonderful service then
advent time began outside the corridors.
The journey begins in the Exile from the Garden
where scripture was read, the first candle was lit and we sang together.
We then feasted on dried fruits such as figs, apricots
and pineapple as well as nuts and citrus.

Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to you, And you shall eat the herb of the field.

Then we all got into our cars and drove to our second destination.
The Exile in the Wilderness.
We gathered around as the second candle was lit, we read scripture, sang songs ,
fellow shipped and feasted on breads.

As it is written, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you.
And people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day,
that I may test them, weather they will walk in my law or not.

After an hour there, we got into our cars and
traveled to meet our Church family at our next destination.
Exile in Assyria.

The third candle was lit.
We read scripture and sang more songs.
Then a feast of soup was served.

As it is written, "
For the sacrifices of my offerings they sacrifice flesh and eat it,
But the Lord does not accept them."
"They shall not dwell in the Lord's land, but Israel shall return to Egypt,
and shall eat unclean things in Assyria."

The time came yet again to get into our cars
and drive to our next destination.

There we enter The exile in Babylon.
The Fourth candle was lit...
as we read scripture & sang songs.

Then the feast was presented to all who came.
We sat down and enjoyed a whole meal together.
It was wonderful and delicious might I add.

"Therefore we will hope in Him!
Though Judah was in Exile, hungry and in mourning,
she will return to her feast rejoicing."

After time of fellowship, and feasting, we went into another room for the last part of our journey. We enter the Restoration from Exile.
There the fifth candle was lit.
We all held glasses of champagne and apple ciders for the children to toast
Christ our Lord and His coming to earth in flesh.

This Son was born in fulfillment of all God had spoke to Israel concerning
His promise to send a Son of David to deliver them from exile.
For it is written concerning the child to come,
"He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest;
and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.
And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever,
and His kingdom there will be no end !"

Unto us , a son is given!
Christ is born, Alleluia!

Spreading Cheer With Friends

We had a little intimate Christmas cheer get together
last night with two families from Church whom
will be leaving for Christmas celebrations.
I worked all day setting the table, baking goodies and preparing dinner.

With all that...it took all day.
But well worth it.
We had a delightful time fellow shipping
with these wonderful families.

Meet the Taylor's.
Dear to our hearts and a hoot to hang out with.
There is always good conversation with them.

After dinner, treats and a night cap...
We played Team Scrabble.
It was hilarious watching our very
competitive friends, The Bennett's play.
This was serious business to them.
So much that they even won!

The night ended with victory. and little packages
of sweetness for our friends to bake later.

These will be memories treasured with dear friends...
spreading cheer for Christmas time.