Making A Merry Christmas.....

Good Morning girls....I am feeling a bit overwhelmed this morning ....actually ...I feel "Panic"...I HAVE NOT ONE BIT OF CHRISTMAS UP  YET....anyone that knows me knows how ....OVER THE MOON...I am at this time of year ...to get the box's out....put Karen Carpenter on in the background.... ....loud enough to hear throughout the house....crack open a new candle (Yankee of course)...and dive into making Christmas come alive in our home....

I haven't looked through any of my cookbooks to assign myself a  taste of something new for the family to enjoy....and YIKES .....I've still got the phone calls to make to invite everyone over for Christmas Dinner..

The one thing I have done is .... this......since it's  December second....I created my Christmas wish  for ....YOU....I found this wonderful clear glass ornament in Phyllis Hoffman's Holiday  magazine ... for all you ....

I will talk to my sweetie later this evening about ...(.Creating A Christmas Plan)....usually I just create Christmas while everyone is out of the house...so when they come home they walk into a wonderland of Christmas....this year...for the first time ....with  my back being  out....all the lifting...rifling through box's ....assembling our skinny Williamsburg Tree which is tall and thin sort of primitive looking is not possible to do alone....I am working really hard with some "SELF TALK" to stay calm and carry on....I have a Dr's appointment this morning at ten so I need to sign off for now...I am thinking of you girls ...in all of your cozy...warm...homes creating your own special ....CHRISTMAS MAGIC....blessings and big hugs to you .....till next time ......Karena

Tinsel Anyone.......????

Hi there girls....I woke up this morning thinking " It's time to decorate"....I love this time of year ....cradled between Thanksgiving and Christmas....to begin thinking about how I'd like to create Christmas ....I'm not sure why the first thing that came to me was whether or not you can still buy ."TINSEL"....I have wonderful memories of standing beside the tree with Marmie and my sister as we decorated our  tree it was always so thrilling ...we would work our way around the tree with the lights...then the ornaments....taking great care as we handled each one...I can remember asking where each ornament came from...some years there was garland....you know the aluminum kind ...in colors like gold, silver, green , or red....I was never a big fan....I thought it took up too much space on the tree...Marmie would step back now and then to observe our progress ...taking time to notice the "empty" spots on the tree....we took great pride as we chose each branch to make the tree look balanced as we chatted with on another...we always had Christmas music on the stereo ...Marmie said we needed it for inspiration....after all the ornaments , lights, and tree skirt were set the last step before hanging the star on the top of the tree was ....opening the box's of ...TINSEL...Marmie would tell us to do the bottom branches while she took care of the top....

Putting Tinsel on the tree has been a tradition for many years....

These Santa's look like they "embrace the tinsel"......

This picture is one I found online...I saved it because it reminds me of how our tree looked so many years ago...even the 1950's TV....the feeling of being 7 years old was overwhelming when I found it...so what do you think girls...do any of you have memories of ...hanging  tinsel on your trees ...

I'd love to hear your Christmas Memories....I know you all have some fabulous traditions I think we'd all enjoy ....It would be a thrill for me to hear some of them....I hope you have a good day today....by the way do you all have any special secret you use every year for placing your tree after it's in the stand...do you add anything to the water...like 7up...or aspirin....or ?....if you do I'd love to hear about it...I pray blessings on you all today....big hugs as well....till next time...Karena

What A Wonderful Day.....

Good Morning ladies....it's so nice to be in my posting chair again...I have been unable to sit still long enough to post anything...I am feeling much better with my back situation....the doctors have given me some ..."Happy Pills"..to help me while I heal...so on Thanksgiving Day I was a little spacey....a tad uncomfortable...but full of ...Joy....to be with our fam....all us together at our eldest daughters new house...BUILDING MEMORIES....

This is a picture hanging in the entry that I just love...it's so tranquil...

Everything looked so beautiful...my daughter and her sweetie had everything in the house ...."Just So"....they have almost all their box's unpacked even though both of them work 2 very demanding...somewhat consuming jobs...there were even these snaps blooming outside the dinning room window...

Our favorite cook book on the counter....GOOSEBERRY PATCH....always at the ready for assistance....

Allow me to introduce "Wilson"...he is always invited to every family gathering...looking out over the festivities as we laugh....eat...and enjoy one another...my daughters sweetie brought Wilson home 5 or more years ago after a hunting trip ...I think he's a very handsome mascot.....

We had every indulgence that day....apple slices to prepare a pie...

Cigars for the men folk ....some of them enjoyed a good smoke out on the patio after dinner...it was chilly but they all seemed to enjoy the moment anyway....

This is our ....BEAUTIFULLY BRINED turkey....yes the kids chose to use the exact Brine from William Sanoma I talked about in an earlier post...it was ....succulent....

So sweet friends how did you spend your... Turkey Day....I hope it was full of joy...fellowship....and lots of good food...I will be back soon ...I'm off today with a long list of things to take care of ....I will take it slow ...but it sure feels good to be able to move about ...to have the strength to take care of the simplest things....so till next time big hugs...I wish you countless blessings......Karena....by the way daughter thank you again for creating a wonderful memory for our family...you and PA are AWESOME....AND...I LOVE YOU...

Let The Eating Begin....

Wow ....here we are girls...it is .......THANKSGIVING DAY.......I am up with my sweetie  just took  my first sip of coffee...I bet a lot of you are standing in your kitchens getting your bird in the oven....making sure all your side dishes are planned so there's no baking overlap....I have the TV on waiting for the Macy's parade to begin...how fun it is to have that Holiday feeling...I am feeling much better with my back...it has been a learning experience...in fact tomorrow I go back to work...yes my first BLACK FRIDAY  since I was in my 20's....I am putting myself in the hands of my Heavenly Father...trusting him to give me rest from pain...and stamina to be a GOOD WORKER....

I pray each of you have a ....SPECTACULAR....Thanksgiving Day my friends....In our part of the country we will have  a sunny day in the low 50's.....PERFECT....turkey day temps...I will be back tomorrow God willing...as for what I'm thankful for....I am thankful for the freedom we have in our wonderful country to celebrate this day....which means being with our family's....celebrating more then good food....we all are going to be spending the day with our FAVORITE FACES...creating new memories....new stories to add to the long list of life experiences....so I say....ENJOY...GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU...till next time ....big hugs.....Karena

For Me It's All About....Tradition...

My Goodness time is flying by....the weekend was a whoosh.....Happy Monday to you all...my sweetie is home today he has a somewhat flexible schedule...it's a treat to be together on a Monday...kinda feels like were playing hooky ...I have been about the business of recuperating from this back issue...as I have been following the doctor's orders to rest ...I've had oodles of time to think about Thanksgiving this Thursday....

I was comforted by the list of  "Traditions" this time of year brings..Thanksgiving is a big deal to me.....I've always viewed it as the "Gatekeeper Holiday"...it is the beginning of the Holiday Season...time to get out our good plates ...inspect them for chips or cracks...time to think about how to set the table or tables in case you have to set up more then one..in my life growing up...my Italian family always took the "KIDS TABLE" seriously...that was our designated eating post....as I grew it was an unspoken job to help Marmie with the stuffing preparation ...that meant cutting celery...onions...soaking the day old loaf of bread making sure we had a can of poultry seasoning and of course her secret ingredient ..."Italian Sausage" sweet not spicy...cooked up ...cooled ..then cut into tiny pieces to add to the bowl ...then I would help hold the Turkey openings ...front and back so she could stuff that bird....she always said.."take your time Karena...use all the stuffing...pack it in really tight"...

Watching Macy's Thanksgiving day Parade is how we started the morning ...it came on early on the West Coast...to this very moment it is something I STILL LOOK FORWARD TO....

The floats were always fascinating to me growing up...so BIG...I can't wait to see what's in store for us this year...

My favorite time on Thanksgiving Day is when the whole family is called to the table...we all took our places...excited to see the "FINISHED PRODUCT" Marmie would walk down from the kitchen into our family room...holding the Turkey on her biggest tray....we would all ...ohhh and awww....then she'd place it in the center of the table...take her seat and ask my dad to pray....GRACE over our thanksgiving meal was my favorite part...we all held hands ..there were 12 of us when the whole family was together...after the prayer...Dad would carve the turkey...and say...LET'S EAT....

So girls...from my house to yours this week I pray you all are healthy...happy ...full of joy to be with ALL your "Special Faces"...I will be thinking of you...blessings and hugs till next time...Karena

...I Know ....I can have a cup of Tea....

 Happy Friday ladies....how are you all this morning...I am sitting in my  posting chair with my "special pillow" at my back for comfort...my computer is on a 1940's breakfast tray so I'm not putting undo pressure on my back...I woke up thinking what I could do to comfort myself....

 

The first thing that popped into my mind was a nice hot cup of apple cinnamon tea" Celestial Seasonings" has one I love...as I sunk into my favorite chair I thought how thankful I am to have the comfortable places in our home to sit and be about the business of... HEALING...

When I  find myself  in need....for whatever reason like my back  going out.... I realize I  have the power to do things for myself that will bring me comfort....peace...and ultimately healing...

I am learning that tender lesson in times of worry and pain that my heavenly father NEVER leaves us or forsakes us...that in the midst of crying out to him for relief ...change...healing...he has a heart for us....he has a plan...and as the Red Sea Rules tells us..."He has us exactly where he wants us"...

Sometimes ...I feel like I'm barely holding on....do you ever feel like this ...

It might feel like I'm going to CRACK IN HALF....like a dry twig...but that isn't the truth....

The truth is that Our heavenly father will find a way to ...comfort me....give me peace...the journey is NEVER how I think it's going to be....but I do know that with the Lord's mighty hand on my heart ...his loving watchcare over my life ...that the hard times do pass...a new day does come.... I know I can ...COUNT...on his faithfullness I hope you all have a splendid day today...God willing I will post again tomorrow....blessings and big hugs.......Karena

Popping in to say HELLO.....

Good Morning girls....I have missed sitting in my special chair to make my daily post's for some time now...I wanted to "pop" in quickly to say ....HELLO...and let you know I am okay.....I am on quite a journey to figure out what exactly is causing me to be in so much pain with my lower back....I have been to a chiropractor since I posted last....now I'm trying to find a physician near our home...

I've called no less then 6 or 7 offices to no avail....not one doctor can see me before January of next year....I remember when all you had to do was call the doctor tell him (or her) what ailed you and they'd make an appointment for the same day to be seen.....NOW A DAYS....not so much.....their schedules are full they have no time....as pooh would say...."OH BOTHER"....

So at this point I'm not sure what to do except continue with the treatments my Chiropractor is giving me twice a week while I keep searching  for a family doctor ....

I took these pictures yesterday after I got home from my appointment I thought the flowers looked so pretty...I hope you all are doing fine...I think of you every day ...praying your days are filled with happy preperarations for next Thursday...I will try to post again soon...but I don't think I'm up to everyday quite yet.......blessings and hugs till next time....Karena

Loved this flower arrangement I found in Phyllis Hoffman's Holiday magazine..."Celebrate Christmas"...