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.

chalkboard tree in progress

Genny and I worked on the chalkboard tree last weekend. It is a labor of love, that is for sure! It takes much longer than we think it will and that’s after doing a chalkboard tree the past three years. You’d think we’d have it figured out by now! In a previous post, I showed […]

menu plan monday ~ october 5, 2015

We had a busy weekend. Genny came down to open our Christmas decorating season. Yes, it’s early. No, we don’t mind. DH brought down three trees for the addition. The blue/silver tree, the downstairs bath tree, and the Putz tree. The Putz tree had yellowed a bit, so DH gave it some spray paint treatments. […]

chalkboard tree 2015

October is here and that means it is time to get ready for Christmas at our house. Don’t tell me it’s too early. We know what we’re doing! My sister Genny is my right hand elf at Christmas time. She comes down on weekends when she is able and helps put up the trees and […]

menu plan monday ~ september 28, 2015

I’ve been working on ornaments for an exchange I am taking part in this Christmas season. They are based on tart tins and then decorated with various embellishments. This one uses a picture I cut from a Christmas card. Those are keeping me busy as well as these, which I am foiling and soldering this […]

menu plan monday ~ september 21, 2015

As I always say, September and October have some of the most beautiful weather all year. Yesterday was proof of that. What a pretty day to be outside! Older Son and family came over for a late dinner of grilled meat and veggies. His wife was working, so not able to come. That was the […]

menu plan monday ~ August 17, 2015

Two of our kittens are enjoying their new homes. The two we are keeping are still hanging out together. Always nice to have a fuzzy, cozy buddy to nap with. Our yard is about three and a half acres, with a lot of plants, a low spot with a slow-seeping spring, and about an acre […]

history trip

Pa took Snow White, Rose Red and Middle Daughter to visit replicas of Christopher Columbus’ ships, the NiƱa and the Pinta. The night before, Rose Red admitted to Pa that she was a little nervous about going to see the ships. When he asked why, she said, “There might be sailors there!” Not sure why […]

menu plan monday ~ august 10, 2015

It was a long week. DH was at our presbytery’s summer youth camp, serving as Director, and I spent several days putting together the traditional camp yearbook. Middle Daughter took all the pictures. She came home each evening and would dump them all on my computer. Making the yearbook is a challenge, but a fun […]

menu plan monday ~ july 27, 2015

This week we are enjoying a visit from our younger son and his wife. It is a joy to have them here for a few days. They live in Seattle so are becoming reacquainted with the heat and humidity of the Midwest. It’s the kind of heat that slams you in the face and the […]

menu plan monday ~ july 13, 2015

It’s been a busy week. DH and my brother-in-law John bicycled across Indiana in the RAIN ride this past weekend. My sister spent the weekend here. We did a lot of chatting, a little crafting, a little movie watching. It was a lot of fun! Here’s the menu for this week. Monday Ham Sandwiches on […]