Christmas Window Shopping....

Oh what fun is to go Christmas window shopping! Freckles tags along with me to all these shops as we spy some Christmas cuteness. This last weekend my darlin' SIL went out window shopping through a fun old shop. I captured a few Christmas goodies throughout my recent looking sprees... It sure has put me in the mood to dig out our Christmas decorations.

 


I got the boxes down from the garage as the kids put up the tree my Mom loaned us this year. We will put up the lights and choose the decorations that will adorn the tree this year. We have decided to make a Vintage Christmas in our family room while the front room will be a bit more Victorian classic.

 

It is so fun going through all the decorations. I pulled out my Santa collection as well...
I will show you pics. as we decorate. I love Christmas time!

 

The weather outside is still pretty mellow...The sun is shining yet, there is a chill in the air. We have been able to light the fireplace this last week....Perfect cozy nights and hot chocolate are in the forecast..... No snow in our area though. I have seen many blogging buddies are stuck in some early Wintery snow storms... I love seeing all the snowy pictures out there!

 

Can't wait to see all the Christmas goodies out there in bloggy land!
 We are off to pull out the lights!
Wintery blessings to you!

Giving Thanks....

 

We have so much to be thankful for. This year has been a really rough one with less money to live on. Through our hardest times God has always provided for us, in which I am so grateful for. We are now without income, yet there has been anonymous help which I can't even begin to tell you has been a tremendous relief. Though we will not be able to buy our children the latest things or new toys or clothes this year, I am thankful that I can use my own hands to make them a couple gifts to put under the tree. My Mom loaned us her faux Christmas tree this year so we have something to put our decorations on. Thanks Mom & Dad!!! Mr. Darling is going to Seminary full time...which each year food donations are given to the Seminary through a program called Starving students...We are so thankful for all the Thanksgiving foods and a huge turkey as well as basic pantry items and baking goods for Christmas which gave us the chance to fill our pantry...A bunch of food worth a couple hundred dollars for free! We were also able to get our fruits and veggies with some meats and bread for $26.00 through a program called Hope Food. What a blessing I tell you. Now my family will have food for a while without worry. I am so thankful for my children and my dear husband who has been working so hard in his studies and grateful to have such support through our family and Church Family....

Thanks be to God!
I pray that you too will have a blessed Thanksgiving from our home to yours!

A happy birthday in a Little Danish Town

This weekend we also celebrated Mr. Darlings birthday...His actual birthday is today! Happy birthday my dear love. We went to a small little Danish ton called Solvang in central California. the little town was built 100 years ago. They will be celebrating their centennial this 2011. We walked around and went into a few shops before heading home.

 

It was quaint...the streets filled with shops of all sorts, from little bakeries to Scandinavian Shops, museums, restaurants, pubs, specialty shops and parks...You got the sense of being in Denmark with windmills and old building built like the old stone buildings and cottages of it's Country.

We had a few laughs, but were rushed a bit since it was freezing outside...We were not dressed properly with coats. here is my little family....Aren't they funny characters?

My favorite sort of shops are those who sell authentic Scandinavian type products such as clothing and dolls.... My favorite was walking through The Jule Hus...Christmas All Year Round...

  

Handmade Christmas ornaments, linens and such adorned the shop... Christmas trees filled the floors with ornaments and lights. i adored the simplest little wooden dolls and trinkets. It was quite sweet. The shop keepers were also dressed in authentic Scandinavian dresses. I love that! 

 

 

It was short & sweet yet, it was time to head home.... We strolled through The Hans Christian Anderson park before driving off. if I ever go again I would like to see the Hans Christian Anderson museum.

 

Well, that was our little trip. I hope you enjoyed. don't forget to check out the post below...We walked through the stickiest eewy alley you will ever see. Happy Birthday my beloved Mr. Darling! We are off to celebrate Italian style with home made lasagna a green salad with rolls and New York cherry Cheesecake...my darlings favorite birthday meal!

Bubble Gum Alley

We got back from our little vacation.... It was interesting to say the least. We got side swiped by a car which took our mirror off and broke the mirror to pieces....there was no mirror to be found. Freckles and I were in the car waiting for Mr. Darling & Maestro to come out from the Book Shop and bam we were hit and the guy kept going...that was the the worst part. Other than that we had a great time together roaming around and swimming every night. Mr. Darling preached a wonderful sermon on Sunday out of Mark. Then we left on Monday and stopped off in San Luis Obispo for a little stroll and to see the historic Bubble Gum Alley. Then a short stop in Solvang... a little Danish town which I will share in my next post...

Now back to Bubble Gum Alley.... Mr. Darling was not so keen on seeing it since he thought it was ultimately gross...It is gross but a must see tourist attraction! Maestro and I left our pieces of gum on the wall but Freckles wanted nothing to do with putting her gum on it....



It was quit the art piece I must say....
This gum wall was started back either after World War II or in the 50's...
The City is not clear on the actual date of the beginning.
Several cleanings have been done in the 70's...
 but was not passed to be cleaned in the 90's...
looks like it is an attraction that the local shops will have to deal with.

 

 

Here is my little family with smiles...
Even though I know Mr. Darling is cringing inside!



Yet, Maestro and I are always up for something quirky....

 

 

The last photo is a collage of photos I took of different gum hearts I found throughout the walls.... Thanks for popping over...I know this was a strange post... We all got through it without getting sticky!