And On The Farm They Had A Tree ~ EIEIO

I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We had a very nice day and wonderful weekend. Some of us have been a bit under the weather 'round these parts....but we are on the mend and preparing for lots of Ho~Ho~Ho's and jolly times.

So our family tradition, since the older siblings were in early grade school...is to go to a wonderful Christmas tree farm called Sleighbells on the day after Thanksgiving. Located in Sherwood, Oregon...we have gone to this place, on this day, for years and years. And good grief the world would cease to exist if we decided to go on another weekend....so this is what we do, and we love it and I wouldn't have it any other way...cha, cha, cha!

Welcome to Sleighbells...



Inside this ol' house is a gift shop, tea room, Halloween room,

free hot chocolate, homemade fudge, a wreath house....and....

Santa Claus!

Our third born....he was our " baby" for a long time

before the real baby of the fam came along 9 years later...

I couldn't be prouder of this handsome guy...a Specialist in

the U.S. Army....he deploys this coming year....that makes this Christmas

more important than ever...

And to think...it only took 45 minutes to pick one...

5 minutes to flag down the dudes with the chainsaws...

No words...just wet boots...

and some songs of delight...

This is what memory making looks like on the face

of an 11 year old...

There are some hot chocolates with your names
on 'em down yonder folks...notice the hats on these guys...one for Oregon St. Beavers (smile)
and one for University of Oregon Ducks....big time rivals...but still loving brother~in~laws...



Chubby tree 'o love...


Lights....now on with the ornaments...this, of course,
will take allllllll week...

The every changing view from the house...love it.

So on with my week of madness....the bazaar is this Saturday...and I
am having a blast preparing for it. As usual all of my good
ideas come at the last minute....frustrating and wonderfully, creatively,
yummy all at the same time.

I will share as the week goes on.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Smiles ~ Ramona

Almost Ready To Go Over The River...

Less than a week to Thanksgiving....and I am so excited! I have the "bones" of the menu ready to go....I just have to cross the "t's" and dot the "i's" and we will be ready to go over that ol' river and through the woods...well maybe not the woods....I just saw "Twilight" and I don't thinks I'll be hanging 'bout any woods any time soon...and that is all I have to say about that!

So tonight, as my Thanksgiving tweaking continues...how about a gathering of turkeys...

Or as I just discovered on Google ~ a rafter of turkeys...

Next weeks they will be vessels for gravy and soup and cranberries...

But today I used them for my amusement....

Do I seem amused....yep, I am amused...

So on a final note this fine Friday eve....take a gander at

Mr. Squirrely Fussy Pants....great mug shot...

this guy, single handed~ly {squirrel paw~ed~ly} turned

my Indian corn into lovely cobs....time to make some pipes!

Have a wonderful weekend...I am the mayor of Craft Central around these parts...the bazaar I am involved in is happening in two weeks....ready or not...and I will be ready and that there is a promise.

Start thawing your turkeys ladies!

Smiles ~ Ramona

If You Decorate It....They Will Come!

Our Northwest rain has finally passed by and we have
been left with sweet, sweet brisk and sunny

autumn days! Glory, glory...it is beautiful outside.

So counting today we have 15 days to go till we are basting big birds and planning trips to tree farms...I can't wait. I have not kept my promise to blog daily....unless writing blogs in your mind and virtually posting them count. I will step it up for the next couple of weeks and wrap my arms around this upcoming holiday and give it the hugs that it deserves.

Before I share a tid~bit or two....take a gander at what Mr. Squirrel Fuzzy Pants did to my Halloween display....

Remember this from a couple of weeks ago?

If you decorate it....

...they will come...

Now...I do not remember placing corn in the boxwood hedge...

I have big plans for these cobs....I think there is

a snowman in our future that may need a pipe...

And onto a bit of Thanksgiving putz~ing...my can
of brown spray paint and I make quite a pair...

No pumpkin can hide from the wrath of paint that sprays from a can...

Ripening acorn squash and stray pine cones ~ safe inside

from Mr. Squirrel...

The simple beauty and natural~ness

of this wee display really speaks

to the spirit of Thanksgiving...

and you can eat it too...

I am now off to paint some drop cloth remnants to use on

our Thanksgiving table...and but of course I will share...after all

that is what this season is all about.

Merry fall to all and to all a good weekend!

Smiles ~ Ramona

Corn~U~Copia...Yeah Baby!

Well, I am trying to post daily...but as the season continues on it's merry way I tend to get pretty scattered...and although it makes me a bit nuts and unorganized...I am filled with heavy doses of creativity and spirit and I wouldn't have it any other way. I will, however, try to gather pictures of my adventures this week and share with you all till the cows come home...and then some.

So as Thanksgiving grows closer...about 18 days to go or so...let me show you one of my turkey day, harvest~y, November loving decorations...a Cornucopia...and you too can make one for yourself and enjoy every horn~of~plenty minute of it.

Pop into a craft store and pick up a wicker cornucopia...

and stuff that puppy with a bunch of newspaper...

And then the fun ensues...start layering nuts and pine cones

and dried fruit and bits of old potpourri and do~dads of this and

that and the other thing...

A closer look...

This and that....

And the other thing...

I slipped in some magnolia leaves...just a thought, but

you could add paper or little turkeys or bits of ribbon or lace...

you are only limited by your imagination....remember the fun

of the juxtaposition factor...

And...Cha, Cha, Cha!

Thanksgiving delight....this old boy is about

five years old and every fall I just refresh it a tad...

Go nuts and happy corn~u~copia~ing to you!

Smiles ~ Ramona

For Fun And Giggles

So for fun I thought I would see if I could put together a fancy~pants Thanksgiving place setting....at the Dollar Tree! Here is what I came up with...

This was fun....

The details...

I found a super large plate...and decoupaged it with

the paper that they wrapped my items with....isn't it

purdy paper?

Instant charger!

I then placed another plate on top of the charger...

I found this little candle holder....cool huh?

I slipped an autumnal plaid dish towel into

a little circle~ly, loop~de~loo, thing~a~ma~jig that

I found in the the 80% off bin at Michael's...I let it join the party

even though I bought it atMichael's

because it was about 80 cent~olas...

Presto!

And the fun continues...I'll run to the grocery store in the morn and they will probably have a big freezer full of turkeys and I will sing a quiet zippy~do~da to myself....the prep for Thanksgiving is like my own little party...and I love every thankful minute of it....see you all tomorrow.

Smiles ~ Ramona

Christmas Cup Love

Ahhhh Starbuck's...

...I'm just saying...

Well....I spent all night watching election results...so for day 24 of our Thanksgiving countdown a simple tidbit...I offer you something that always gets my holiday mojo going...Starbuck's Christmas cups....I love, love 'em. It is one of the simple things that adds a smile to my holiday day~to~day~ness....grocery sacks with holiday pictures printed on them is another one...I am easy to please...

Tomorrow I have something fun to show you...until then...

Smiles ~ Ramona

Merry Tree Of Gratitude ~ Day 25

There is just something about a tree branch that begs to be adorned with little notes of gratitude and thanksgiving...that longs to stand proudly by your holiday table...that loves to dress fancy with glitter~y leaves and baby green apples....it is the tree that keeps on giving and then some...oh Merry Tree of Gratitude!

I love this idea....take a tree branch....add leaves and fruit and ribbon and glitter and whatever you like and set it in a sturdy base. Then paint some clothespins and add a bowl of note cards and a pen. As you prepare for Thanksgiving encourage your family to write notes of gratitude, little prayers of thanks or messages to each other and clip them to the tree. Thanksgiving Day read the notes.

Gather clothespins and some notes...I used little

tags I found in the dollar bin at Target~o~rama...

On closer inspection...the colors are perfect...

Clip ~ away...

A colorful tree in fall....

I am truly thankful for a family to nurture and serve...it is a blessing, it is a pleasure and it is my job....lucky

me.

So clip a branch and decorate the day~lights out of it with Autumnal wonderful~ness and be grateful for every minute of it.

Until tomorrow...

Smiles ~ Ramona

Thanksgiving Potpourri ~ Also Known As Project Number Twenty Six

While meandering through a shop...out of nowhere you see it....chunky cellophane bags of wonderfully scented leaves and baby pine cones and shells and pedals and twigs and this and that and the other thing and you say...nope, don't need that....but alas you can't resist....and you buy the dog~gone bag of joy, bring said bag home, lovingly pour it's contents into a bowl and YUM....you are so glad you went weak at the knees and bought the forest scented or sea shore scented or cookie shop scented bag of potpourri.

This little love~fest continues for a couple of weeks...but soon the intoxicating aroma fads and you are left with a bowl of interesting goodies...and so you enjoy that for a while...it is pretty to look at and while you enjoy pondering the combination of twigs and painted pods...you soon you grow bored with it as well...but you don't want to chuck the stuff...remembering you paid way too much for this concoction...so you save it...but for what you ask...well how 'bout for Day 26 of my count down to Thanksgiving?

So tonight, for your consideration, I offer ~ Thanksgiving Potpourri...cha, cha, cha!

What magic lurks within these drawers....let's take a peek~a~loo, shall we?

Oh my! Drawers full of old potpourri that lost their scent eons ago...

A closer peek...yep...lost their scent but not their magic...

Glean interesting do~dads, add words of thanksgiving,

sprinkle with a pine cone or two, and by all means tuck in

a Pilgrim buckle...after all it's Thanksgiving potpourri...

we're talking jux~ta~position my dear friends...

I found these Pilgrim buckles at the end of some old belts in my closet...

it is always the last place you look...

I attached words that express where my gratitude lies...

Enough said...

Buckle~love...add essential oils of choice if you like...

And there you have it...you could also add some turkey feathers, stones printed with words, let your imagination go nuts....oh, how about nuts?

Spread bowls of your own personal mix about your home and put some in little baskets or bowls to share with friends. Remember...one can never have too many friends, too much hope, or enough potpourri...now that's for sure.

Have a wonderful week ~ until tomorrow...

Smiles ~ Ramona