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.

ornament tutorial ~ bottle brush tree on a wooden spool

December 6, 2012 – 4:19 pm

Two of the {many} things I brought home from my mother’s house after she passed away last Christmas were her button and spool collections. I love them both and have been using them in my crafting. With the spools and some small bottle brush trees, I made these ornaments. Supplies needed: 2″ – 2 1/2″ […]

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menu plan ….. thursday ~ december 6, 2012

December 6, 2012 – 2:08 pm

It has taken me a few days to regroup after the open house. I have spent the time in my crafting room making ornaments and watching movies. Love me some Netflix! I also enjoyed the beautiful sunset on Tuesday evening. Did anyone else see it? In the meantime, it’s been “all hands fend for themselves.” […]

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open house report

December 3, 2012 – 1:17 pm

We had a wonderful Christmas Open House yesterday! It went by in a blur of friends, laughter and happy faces. We had about 170 guests. Many tell us the open house begins their Christmas season each year. Several weeks ago, I asked a young friend who is a great photographer to take a LOT of […]

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paper wreath

November 27, 2012 – 6:43 pm

I made a wreath for my older daughter’s door today. She is using a book theme for decorating her room for Christmas. No big surprise if you know her at all. For help with leaves for the wreath I used the tutorial on the blog The Red Thread, though I changed a few other things. […]

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menu plan monday ~ november 26, 2012

November 26, 2012 – 8:23 pm

Now that the living room tree is done, we can move on to other projects. The girls decorated the scrapbook room tree for me. I have a few smaller trees to finish and two trees that need some finishing touches. Other than that, the trees are done. Now on to other things. Like baking the […]

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decorating the living room tree

November 25, 2012 – 10:48 am

DH has the week off to help with the last of the Christmas decorating. We still have a ways to go, but I think we’re on track. The girls were a big help yesterday with the living room tree. It takes several days to complete it. A big job! Buttercup, our youngest daughter’s cat, wanders […]

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candy turkeys and a happy thanksgiving day

November 23, 2012 – 1:31 pm

We have much to be thankful for. God proves Himself faithful and generous in every way. This year, we are particularly grateful for the fact that our son and his family now live nearby. Thanksgiving Day started early. DH picked the twins up a bit after 8:00 and took them to church with him and […]

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menu plan monday ~ november 19, 2012

November 20, 2012 – 1:40 pm

We are grateful for the holiday set aside for thanking God for His many good gifts and blessings. We hope your Thanksgiving Day is one of joyful thanks and gratitude. Christmas decorating continues at our house. This week and next will be very busy. The household cats don’t seem to mind. Buttercup does not bother […]

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chalkboard Christmas tree

November 20, 2012 – 1:11 am

Genny was here this weekend, helping with Christmas decorating. She worked on the chalkboard Sunday and made an amazing Christmas tree. I found the idea at the blog “A Legg Up” which is no longer available. Our chalkboard starts about a foot above the floor and is just over eight feet tall. Genny began by […]

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popcorn and cranberries and little helpers

November 17, 2012 – 10:36 pm

This evening we started making strings of popcorn and cranberries for the living room tree. Snow White was entranced. She stuck with it until I told her it was bedtime. She told her great-aunt Genny, “I helped you because you needed lots of help!” By the way, she did her own hair-do, in case you […]

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