Merry Christmas to all our Protectors, especially one Great Woman....

 I made Christmas Stocking for my son and his family a few weeks ago you can see them here 
We have a Detective friend who now lives in the mountains of Georiga.  She grew up in Nome, Alaska and is a great fan of the Polar Bear.  When she saw the stockings I made my kids she loved them, especially the one with the Polar Bear on it...  Aleta is also like a sister to my son and they both have maintained a close bond since working together with the US Coast Guard up in Alaska.
The other day Aleta mentioned how much she loved the stockings and how she had a great attraction to the Polar Bear.

 Aleta is one of those wonderful women who has given her all to our country.  She retired from the US Coast Guard and then worked in law enforcement ever since.  She is my hero!  She also does things that I'm so afraid of doing.  Like ride through the borders with "Misha" her beautiful Officer K9.  

Or through the icy mountains of Alaska on her motorcycle or jeep.. she has done some pretty extraordinary  work and now works for the US Department of Veterans Affairs  helping keep the peace.    

 "Aleta is all I ever wanted to be and I'm so proud to call her my friend"
I'm happy to say she received her stocking yesterday, just in time to hang on her mantel for Christmas.  Our Country has so many great people like Aleta and I want to wish her and  all our protectors a wonderful.... "Merry Christmas"

My kitchen turned into a cookie making machine . . .

 One of my traditions  each year. I spend a day whipping out tons of Christmas Cookies.  First of all I love to bake and decorate and in light of the evil last week I thought this might be a good weekend to give my spirits a lift.
I  made cookie dough both from scratch and used the wonderful cookies mixes on the market.   I think I started at 6am and kept at it until 3 in the afternoon..  Had my Pandora Christmas music on the iPad,   My Starbucks Pumpkin Spice coffee  and away I went.

 I had cookies stacked everywhere while I decorated.  Having to laugh at myself as I looked at some of the cookies,  well like the little Gingerbread Men.. they looked scared.  Oh well, they taste good!  I tried something new with the Peanut Butter cookies.. I put a 1/2 cup of Nutella in the dough  and a little bit more flour and let me tell you, "they taste wonderful"!
This was the first year I did not have anyone helping me.. I put a notice on my FB,, calling all grandchildren to come help.  Had several response's to come eat them but no one came to decorate.  Oh well,  I had fun all by myself.

 All together I made 8 boxes that will be wrapped and given as gifts to neighbors.  Of course the Mr. has his own box and one for the nice people at his work. Oh and lets not forget my BFF Cardio Doc.. this man and his staff deserve so much more from me. I did pack some up and put them in the mail, for a friend. I sure hope she gets more than crumbs.

 "I love Christmas"

Tickled Pink 
Vintage Inspiration 
Make it Pretty Monday  

   

"Happy Birthday Dolly" Is the world really coming to an end tomorrow?

 Today is my sisters birthday and were going to spend the day in the Hard Rock Casino spending all our money.... Why leave it in the bank if the world will come to an end tomorrow?

"Oh Happy Day"

My "Little House" Christmas Ornament, for a special Daughter. . .

 While reading a few blogs I follow,  there was a cute "little House Ornament" made by one of my bloggie friends.  It gave me the inspiration to make my "Little House" for my daughter who bought her first home a few months ago.  Although Anita's little house is  totally different fabric and designs, well, you can see hers  Going a Little Coastal .  Anita also has a Son who moved into his first home and this gave me the idea. 
Her little house is so cute.

 My Cyndi's home is decorated totally Country so I pulled out my burlap scraps and created a small house with a Christmas theme.. Cyndi just put up her decorations on the front of her house so I did my rendition of her lights.

 I used DMC Floss to put lights on the Eves of the house,  just like Cyndi did on her home.  On the reverse side I added a few words to remember the date and event in her life.
I'm sure she will totally enjoy putting this little ornament on her tree.  

It's just her style.

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You know they say "Christmas is the best time of year" and I totally agree.

It brings people together and has us doing things we just don't do all year long.

We get so busy and then so stressed as the date,  Dec 25, gets closer but look how much fun it is.

I hope you all have your crafts finished and your shopping just about done.  At this point in time, "I think I'm finished"(?)

I'm sending all the good vibes I can muster to those in the little town of "Sandy Hook" for grace during this long healing process. 

Down Home Blog Hop 

We Did It Wednesday 

Create and Share 

Wow Us Wednesday 

Share Your Cup Thursday 

Under $100. Linky Party 

Linky Party 

It's Overflowing With Creativity 

Silence . . . .

Charlotte Bacon (2/22/06), 6 years old

Daniel Barden (9/25/05), 7 years old

Rachel Davino (7/17/83), Staff member, 29 years old

Olivia Engel (7/18/06), 6 years old

Josephine Gay (12/11/05), 7 years old

Ana M. Marquez-Greene (4/4/06), 6 years old

Dylan Hockley (3/8/06), 6 years old

Dawn Hochsprung (6/28/65), Principal, 47 years old

Madeleine F. Hsu (7/10/06), 6 years old

Catherine V. Hubbard (6/8/06), 6 years old

Chase Kowalski (10/31/05), 7 years old

Nancy Lanza, 52 years old (mother of shooter)

Jesse Lewis (6/30/06), 6 years old

James Mattioli (03/22/06), 6 years old

Grace McDonnell (11/4/05), 7 years old

Anne Marie Murphy (7/25/60), Staff member, 52 years old

Emilie Parker (05/12/06), 6 years old

Jack Pinto (05/05/06), 6 years old

Noah Pozner (11/20/06), 6 years old

Caroline Previdi (9/07/06), 6 years old

Jessica Rekos (5/10/06), 6 years old

Avielle Richman (11/17/06) 6 years old

Lauren Rousseau (June 1982), Staff member, 30 years old

Mary Sherlach (2/11/56), Staff member, 56 years old

Victoria Soto (11/04/85), Staff member, 27 years old

Benjamin Wheeler (09/12/06), 6 years old

Allison N. Wyatt (07/03/06), 6 years old 

This is Victoria. She died a hero. She hid her first graders in the cabinets and closets after hearing the gunfire. When the shooter came to her classroom, she told him that her students were in the gym. He then gunned her down and moved on. She saved the lives of all of her students. Please pass this on if you see it. She deserves to be remembered for her bravery