Author Archives: ~~Rhonda

Living in a small town, I share my life with my husband Russell (married in 1977), five children (one still at home), and six cats (one indoors, the others outside).

I teach an online class called “The Christmas Notebook” which is about all things holiday prep. The many facets of celebrating Christmas comprises one of my favorite hobbies. Other favorite things include gardening, reading, cooking, and scrapbooking.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles

This recipe is a crispy yummy ball of peanut butter goodness. We have open house guests who look for this particular goody each year. Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles 1 c. crunchy peanut butter 1/4 c. butter or margarine, softened 2 c. crisp rice cereal 1 c. powd. sugar 1 package (14 oz.) chocolate candy coating […]

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

If I could make only one kind of cookie for Christmas, this would be the one *everyone* would ask for. Sour Cream Sugar Cookies Cream: 2 c. sugar 1 c. shortening Add and mix well: 1 c. sour cream 3 eggs 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (or 1 tsp. vanilla or lemon, but almond is the […]

a good time was had by all

We really had a wonderful time at the open house yesterday. Many thanks go to all those who helped, especially my sister Genny who comes several times each year to help decorate, set up trees, cut greenery, etc. Though by Saturday I was wondering (as I do each year) if we would be able to […]

a great party

We had a wonderful time at the open house. I have been too busy prior to it to post, but will spend some time tomorrow putting up pictures and talking about the prep. Here are a few pics from around the house today. Cookie Buddies – my friends Laurie, Bethany, and Gary kept the kitchen […]

cleaning is almost there

Sunday is our annual open house and this week is always a busy whirl of “getting things done.” I wish I had more time to post about all our activities this week, but time is running too short for a long computer session. I’m having lunch right now and wanted to post an update. A […]

idea binders

I collect Christmas magazines and used to have about six feet of shelf space filled with them. It was only a few years ago that I could bring myself to pull out the pages showing ideas I like and put them into binders. I have about half the magazines done and will finish the rest […]

on to the library

The decorating is proceeding well. We’d be farther ahead if we hadn’t taken a week to visit those precious grandbabies, but one has to have priorities, doesn’t one? The downstairs is done except for the library (which functions as our family room) and the downstairs bath. The lights on the 9′ library tree had to […]

Saturday decorating

Today we managed to get the lights on the living room tree and put up the red beads and the popcorn and cranberry strings. This is a nine foot tree on an 18″ high box DH made. The ceilings in the living room are 12′. We made the popcorn and cranberries strings last Sunday/Monday. We […]

::waving hi::

Just want to let you know I plan to post this evening. We are knee-deep in decorating and I can’t take time right now. My sister is here this weekend to help. I am taking pictures and will post some of those later when I need a “sit-down” job.  TTYL!  ~~Rhonda

a new do

I had my hair cut last night. It has looked like this for as long as I can remember: New do: 🙂 ~~Rhonda