Sunny Simple Sunday

Our house. What can I say. Loud, crazy and yes, glasses wearing cats. This is my husband's big old boy, Sneakers. He put these funny glasses on him and he just sat there cursing us in his kitty mind I am sure. He used to let the kids push him around in the doll stroller. He is a great cat that drops dead vermin at our door regularly. Getting older, I hope he has many years ahead.

And this guy. Here he is doing what he often does in the house, decorating. It is his birthday today. He is working as he usually is on his birthday. Happy birthday to you. I could never give you a gift that could compare to the gift you gave me when you walked into my life. I am the lucky one.

Now for some highlights from last week:

Ash Tree Cottage always a delight with her charming cottage coziness. Never tire of her photos.

Rosemary and Thyme shared the cutest Christmas table setting. I wish I were invited to sit down and the darling table.

Family Home and Life shared this gorgeous scripture ornaments. They are so pretty. Love all the talented projects you find this time of year.

Okay so now share what you have been up to. Have a wonderful weekend. Link up anything family friendly.

Christmas Crocks

I think the hubby and I have a sickness. We seem to decorate every nook and cranny of our house for the holidays. Even the kids have a tree in their rooms. Small ones, but personal to their liking. I love making it special for them and those that visit my house during Christmastime.

Our little collection of crocks that found their way next to the dry sink is now home to some prim odds and ends. The scruffy snowman holds court over the mish mash but he seems happy there.

Sharing with Favorite Thing Saturday

Sat. Night Special

Sunny Simple Sundays will be up at 11:00 am. today.

Check Trim

I fell in love with this economical trim when I saw it at a friend's house. You can get it at any educational supply store.

I added some to my little glass front cupboard.

Even the phone station gets a little holiday cheer.

You can see Shelly's most adorable house at Christmas here and here.

Sharing with:
Farm Girl Friday

My Favorite Christmas Corner

Sharing my favorite Christmas corner. It is my little white shelf in the kitchen. 

Red and white is my favorite color combo and it is perfect right here.

An old tea set and Christmas greenery tucked in.

The only thing new is the check trim I bought at an education supply store.

Frosty's hat somehow landed on my little shelf.

Sharing with:
Home Sweet Home
Common Ground
BNOTP

Hot Cocoa Basket and Homemade White Chocolate Peppermint Mocha Latte

This time of year I like to add some Christmas cheer to the coffee station. I put a little treat out for the kids and their friends. I take a basket and load it with hot cocoa packets and a cheery jar of marshmallows.

Snow in a jar.

Here's how I did the basket in years past.

Also I want to share my recipe for my take on one of Starbuck's holiday drinks. Here is my recipe for my  poor man's white chocolate peppermint mocha latte.

Sharing with:
Home and Garden Thursday

Even the My Little Ponies Know...

The reason for the season. This morning this is what I found at our Nativity Scene. 

Our youngest wanted even her little ponies to pay honor to the New Born King. Love it! I think it will stay this way too!

Christmas Cozy

It has been raining and raining here. Where do I live again? It is nice though. I love rainy days. Perfect weather for decking the house out in Christmas decor. What evokes cozy more than dark days and sparkly Christmas lights?

This year I did my village a bit different. Threw out the messy old snow and layed down a runner and backed it with an old  lighted garland to hide the cords. I had to untangle and re-string the lights but no money spent. I love it. Never decorate the same two years in a row. That is half the fun of it.

The front room with our tree is going to be more woodsy and in more prim colors this year. Each of the kid's rooms has a tree now with all their ornaments. Not sure how they would take this but hey, hubby and I deserve to decorate the tree the way we want for once in 23 years.

Of course it is dark and not great for photos but the kitchen will always be for my bright red and whites. That  Santa was my mom's. She had it always. I treasure him. I just decorate using things I have.

Sharing with Tweak It Tuesday, Tabletop Tuesday,  Creative Cain Cabin and Down Home Blog Hop

Sunny Simple Sunday

I have been a busy Christmas elf. I am looking forward to a morning at my favorite store, Country General Store. They are having their Christmas open house. I don't need anything but my girlfriend and I are going just for the love of it.

Now onto some favorites from last week:

Cozy Little House shared how she chases off the winter cold with flowers and candlelight. I never ever tire of  her photos.

Pembrokeshire Lass shares her thoughts on living in the moment. Her words are very true.

Looks Like White shared the loveliest serene Edwardian cottage. You have to see the bathroom. My dream!

Hope you all enjoy this first weekend in December now share what you have been up to. Link up!!

Succulents in a Fountain

I had an unused fountain that I wanted to do something pretty with and was inspired by Ricki Jill of Art @ Home to plant it with succulents. That was last spring. I want to invest in more plants to fill lots of my patio pots. Succulents last a long time but require very little water. I maybe splashed water on these every two weeks.

I love how it has filled out and grown so beautifully. And this wall just bakes in the summer sun.

You cannot beat the color and texture of succulents. My new favorite plants. Here we can keep them all year as we do not have frosts very often.

Sharing with:
A Favorite Thing
Sat. Night Special

A Most Wonderful Day

Yesterday was one of those wonderful days where you put your mind to something and with little distraction you get loads of stuff done. I LOVE those days. I do NOT get many of them but that is okay. I love the hum of my busy family and would rather be mom than anything else.

My hubby is out of town for six days. Too long. I miss him so. I decided I would really get the house cleaned and hit the decorating. Usually we do it together but I don't want his one day off this week to be spent working. I want it done and nice for him when he comes home. I just feel so content after a productive day.
Walking in my kitchen, all decorated for Christmas, the glowing lights just fills my heart.

I love Christmas. It is magic time. I think my grandma started it all for me. She would come and visit and sleep in my room and just spoil me with attention. She was a grand lady.

My littlest is at the magical Christmas age. She is so excited and wondering every day if it is Christmas yet. Wanting to know how on earth Santa is going to fit down our chimney. The lies I am spinning to answer her questions but the joy I feel at the magic she sees with all the lights. Each house we drive by sends up the words, "Oh mommy look at this and that." Just magic. Turn off all your lights except the Christmas ones and you will see the magic too.

Sharing with:
Down Home Blog Hop

It's Started

I usually wait till December to start the Christmas decorating

 but I brought in one box and have started trimming the house.

This is my favorite wreath bought at a craft sale several years ago.

Of course the shelf has yet to be adorned but it is coming. My interior decorator is away for work this week. I rely on him to do most of the arranging. The wreath I could manage.

Here's is a  tour of my kitchen last Christmas.

Sharing with:
Home Sweet Home
Fantabulous Friday
Show and Tell Friday
Farm Girl Friday

Backyard Projects

We decided to use some items we had to fence in the chickens. Not the prettiest but free. We may put up something more permanent if we like this set up. Having them corralled is so nice. No poopies all over the patio. They seem content and they have plenty of room.

See this mess? Imagine it covering half my yard. We trimmed two big trees a couple of weeks ago. We were  so beat but we figure we saved hundreds of dollars doing the work ourselves. This is the last pile. Each week I tie up bundles to be picked up. I just chipped away at it several days a week. Plus think of all the exercise I got.

I mowed the back lawn today and hosed everything down and cleaned up toys. We are expecting rain so tomorrow I will work all day in the house. I love rainy days. See that bent part in the chicken wire? The first day I found my big dog, my ten year old dog, in the pen with the chickens. She jumped that fence and then jumped right back out when I yelled at her. She just wanted to check things out. She pays the chickens no mind so I am thankful for that.

The oranges are ripening and we still have flowers blooming. Our season is long here. Soon we will be making O.J. in the mornings.

Homemade Pie

Picked up this homey little sign on clearance. Thought it would match my clock perfectly and it does.

Who doesn't love homemade pie?

Linking to:
Wow Us Wed.
Heart and Home Link Up