Kinda late-or maybe I'm early?

I thought I'd share a gift wrapping idea I've been using for a few years.

Start by opening the bottom of a pull-top can. Wash the inside and save until needed.

You can find various size cans which have the pop-top, but don't save Swanson's broth cans. I did that and gave two nieces their birthday gifts in them. We dropped off the first gift and didn't see it opened. When niece Vicky got hers, though, we were right there. It's quite embarrassing to realize in that setting that although the can has a pop-top, the whole lid doesn't come off. Then the other niece, who is also in attendance, tells everyone "Yeah, you gave me one of those cans, too. I had to use a can opener to get it open."

Learn from my mistakes. No Swanson's broth cans.

Place the gift inside the can, making sure it clears the bottom of the can. You don't want your gift catching between the can and the bottom. Run a little hot glue around the can.

Put the bottom of the can back in place on the hot glue.

Wrap it and you're done. Be prepared to explain to the first couple recipients that they can pop the top. Otherwise, people seem to wonder what to do-unwrap the paper or pop the top?

Since I'm still talking Christmas, I decided to include this shot of my tree skirt. My best friend made this for us several years ago. Isn't her cross-stitching just amazing? I love it and am awed every year by the amount of work it must have taken.

You may think I'm late with this tutorial but really, I'm early. You've got a three week head start on your gift wrapping for Groundhog's Day.

Allison's handiwork

Julianne wasn't the only little elf creating gifts this year. Allison also handcrafted a gift for Clarence and I for Christmas.



Allison isn't one to use patterns. She's far too free-spirited for that. But she has really enjoyed playing around with embroidery this year and decided to try cross-stitching something as a gift for us.

This is her first attempt at cross-stitch, using her own design.

Clarence and I were delighted to receive it. We do love their gifts from the heart. I am going to keep my eyes open for a new frame, however. This one would work for my mom, but isn't my favorite thing. Maybe I'll get Allison to help me find something a little less cherubic..and gold.

So much to say!

I'm back! I wasn't actually gone anywhere but just couldn't be here.

It is such a busy, but wonderful, time of year. That was part of the problem. The biggest reason I haven't been around, though, is that we lost our power very briefly early on Sunday morning. Thankfully, it came right back on but a couple hours later we realized that it wasn't full power. We continued to have flickering lights and brown outs until late Tuesday night.

We thought it best to leave the computer turned off.

Clarence and I both went through withdrawals, with tremors and all ;-)

So, to update a bit...We had a beautiful Christmas. Lots of love, family, food, and fun.

Oh, and I must tell you about Julianne's gift to me.



Last year, Clarence's mom had just taught Julianne how to read a crochet pattern and she was working hard at practicing her skills. She made me the small runner shown above to use on top of an old desk that belonged to Clarence's grandparents, which we now have. I was so touched.

This year she decided to try making me a table runner for the island. I'm told she had a plan.

Eight rows a day would get it done by Christmas Eve. Definitely doable, she decided.

Until she cut her thumb and couldn't crochet for a few days.

And then her mean mom grounded her from reading and crocheting until she got her room cleaned. Another day or two lost.

Then she found a mistake several rows after making it and had to tear out and re-do. She had to crochet like a maniac whenever she got a chance to make up for lost time. When we stopped at Walmart a couple weeks ago, Clarence gave her his phone and left her in the car crocheting until she got too cold to continue. She doesn't think she'll do that again. I tend to take too long when I get inside Walmart.

She did end up finishing it on Christmas Eve. I am amazed at her efforts and skill. And perseverance.

Here's a closer shot. This is her first attempt at fillet crochet.

I am a very blessed mama.

Merry Christmas!

The stockings are hung by the TV with care-we have a woodstove, not a fireplace so the TV stand ended up being where the girls put the holders. We're such non-conformists. But wait! Mom gave us one of those fire DVDs. So the TV really is the only fireplace we're ever gonna have in this house. So much for our non-conformity.

For the first time, I wrapped the gifts before Christmas Eve after the girls are in bed. What a relief to have that all done. I can actually go to bed before 1 a.m.

So all that was left to do was wish all my bloggy friends a wonderful Christmas, filled with love and laughter, joy and peace. And figgy pudding if you like it.

May the Christ child fill your hearts and homes with his love and peace as you celebrate his birth.

Tagged!

Mrs. Rabe from Creekside Cottage tagged me for a meme. I've never done one before and I'll apologize in advance for being boring.

Here are the rules:

*Go to the 6th picture folder in your documents.

*Find the 6th picture in your 6th folder.

*Pray that you remember what it is about.

*Blog about it.

*Tag 6 people to do the same.

I think I've already blogged about this box. It is a cheese box that I covered with wallpaper sample pieces to use as a container for a gift. The votive holder next to it is one that Julianne made. They were part of a gift for the girls' former piano teacher, who really likes lighthouses.

I have no idea who to pass this on to, so if you are interested in trying this or drawing a blank on what to post about today, consider yourself tagged!

Surviving the snow storm

I am so thankful Clarence was able to figure out what was wrong with his tractor recently and get it running again.



Although 8-12 inches of snow was predicted for our area, we seem to have ended up on the low end of the prediction. Whew!

Clarence started plowing last night after work. The tractor has lights but, as it grew dark, his tires were starting to spin on the ice that is under the snow. He decided to finish today, when he could put chains on the tires in the daylight.

Julianne was sweet and bundled up to take all these pictures for me. She knows my aversion to snow and cold. Plus, she likes being allowed to use my camera.

Clarence is still plowing now, trying to get the snow pushed as far out of the way as possible. We're supposed to get more tonight. And almost every day next week. The news said that we could have a whole year's worth of snow by Christmas. Be still my heart.

The Christmas story

You know how you notice an interesting sounding blog in someone's blog list? And you click on it to check it out? Then you see another one that sounds good on their sidebar? So you click again and pretty soon you have no idea what trail you have followed to land where you are-but you've enjoyed the journey, right?

That is how I ended up discovering a new blog this week. Today I went back to this new-to-me blog and the girls and I watched his video telling the Christmas story. I thought I should share it with any of you who haven't had a chance to see it.

Clicking over and watching it will allow you to see his Last Supper lunchbox, too. Who knew such a thing existed?

I guess I don't get out much.