The Stone Rabbit

IT'S A WRAP

Our 2009 is ending in a white wrapping of snow.

We've had two additional snow events since The Christmas Eve Blizzard.

I don't mind shoveling snow. . . IF it's not miserably cold and IF it's not the really wet and heavy kind.  In fact, the kind of snow we've had has been the good kind.  Well, the HUGE amount we received in the first snowfall was more than I would want to handle with a shovel.  Snow blowers were in order for that amount.  However, the last two snow falls have been in the 2 inch range.  That's where I don't really mind taking the shovel to our driveway and working away for a bit.

If you're relatively healthy,  snow shoveling is a great way to get a  little exercise and also a perfect opportunity to get lost in some "thinking time".

However,  sometimes the best part of the job is just putting that shovel aside for awhile and . . .

 

taking up a little scoop of snow in your gloved hands.

Then after packing it into the perfect orb,

 you roll it along atop the ground,

watching as it grows and grows,

all the while recalling doing the same thing many years ago,

when your hands were small and covered with smooth, young skin.

Then, you repeat the process,

but stopping  sooner so it remains just a bit smaller.

After adding it to the first,

and with one more trip to the snow,

you create the perfect, final form.

When  placed on top of the other two. . . . 

and adorned with  some buttons and a carrot,

you have brought a snow person to life----- again.

 

Then you find yourself remembering similar days in years gone by. . .

days spent busily creating snow creatures of all sizes and shapes- - -

and igloos

and snow forts.

You remember how you spent HOURS in the cold with your friends and siblings. . .

building, fighting, and loving the white gift from above. 

You remember your own kiddos longing for it to snow

so they could use their new sleds

or wear their new snowsuits.

 

THEN you remember the first year your hubby got his snow blower attachment for his . . . . .

 

big ol John Deere lawn mower! 

What a glorious day that was for him!  (Hmmmm- just noticed the frozen garden hose on the driveway.  Tacky, tacky!)

Yep, snow can be rough and cause lots of problems for us, but it can also be a gift and . . . .

 bring us lots of fun

and good feelings and sweet memories!

It can also be a way to deliver a message. . . .

like this Happy New Year shout out THE STONE RABBIT, Frosty and I are sending to you!

We hope it's filled with fun,  happiness,  and good health!

AND that's a wrap to 2009!

 

DANA

MEMORIES OF CHRISTMAS 2009. . . . . Part One

Lately, posting on my blog has been very limited, however, I did want to make up, just a bit, for my recent lack of sharing by showing you some of  the great times I did experience during the days leading up to Christmas.  Better late than never!

As I was reviewing the tons of photos I took during that time, but had not shared on my blog, I realized what a wonderful two months I had prior to Christmas and how very lucky I am!

I guess I am probably posting these photos for a selfish reason, too.  I want to hang on to the magical time of The Season.

Brace yourself. 

There are a lot of photos on this post.  This collection  shows bits and pieces of the events that took place in my life during November of 2009. . . MOST of which helped to put the season in motion for me.

I will refer to this post as "The Holiday Season Begins"......

In my book, the "holidays" officially start when the shops in Greenwood, Missouri, have their Open House.  It is held on the first two weekends of November.   My friends (Bonnie, Patty and Marian) and I look forward to it and try very hard to attend this event every year.

Greenwood is located South and East of Kansas City, Missouri, and is the home of some of my favorite antique shops .

 

This building houses Vicky Hale's OLD GLORY, a shop that specializes in primitive and Americana as well as wonderful handpicked seasonal decoratives.

 

Across the street is the GREENWOOD ANTIQUE MALL and COUNTRY TEA ROOM.

 

This mall is packed with wonderful vendors.

For some reason, I wasn't busy taking photos of the awesome displays and the few I did take were blurry.  However, this  photo gives a little glimpse of a few of the tempting vintage decorations for sale.

Perhaps, I wasn't taking pictures of the booths because I could hardly wait for our lunch in the Tea Room!  Shari, the owner, always has a fantastic menu! 

This photo shows just inside the entry to the main dining room. . . our table was located across the room,  next to another fireplace.

 

Shari has three dining rooms within her Tea Room.  This year, the middle room was decorated in the most gorgeous PINKS and silvers.   

 

I  had to have a photo of my lovely plate!  The quiche and salad were perfect!

 

HOWEVER, the best part of the meal HAD to be the appetizer we shared. . . fried and seasoned sweet potatoes and green beans.  They were served with two types of amazing dipping sauces!  I think this meal was the beginning of my holiday weight gain!

 

After we visited the rest of the shops in Greenwood, we journeyed to the Independence Square, as their Holiday Open House was going on, too!

We first stopped in Sharleen's store. . . LUTICIA CLEMENTINE'S, then . . . .

 

we visited the rest of the shops that surround our newly renovated historic court house square! 

We visited Greenwood and the Independence Square on Friday, November 6th. 

On Monday, November 9th, my Breakfast Group traveled to the Briarcliff Village Shopping center in Kansas City North to celebrate Mary's birthday!  Besides lunch at The Cafe', we couldn't make a trip to that location without spending lots of time and money in. . . . . .

 

NELL HILL'S, the store owned by this lady, Mary Carol Garrity!  Mary Carol wasn't there that day for me to take her picture, but here is the next best thing!!!!

 

NELL HILL'S is totally a feast for the eyes......amazing decorating ideas and over the top displays are situated in and ON every square inch of the gorgeous store.

 

 

 

Patty and I loved this colorful wreath, however, we couldn't resist the temptation to . . . .

 

see how we looked in the elf hat we found on the bed !!!

I think Mary Carol leaves that hat out just so folks like us can have fun!

 

Cynthia, Patty's cousin, posed with us for our group picture.  She is on the front row, left side.  Cynthia is a designer at Nell Hill's and plays a big role in the amazing displays seen all over the store.

Pictured, left to right on the front row are:  Cynthia, Patty, Beth, and Dana (that's me!).  On the back row, left to right are:  Laura, Mary Ann and Mary The Birthday Girl!

 

I decided I wanted a photo with Mary Carol.......this was the best I could do on that visit.  I know if she had been there, she would have graciously been in our group shot, just like she did (HERE) last summer when fellow blogging pal, Jeanne of BACKYARD NEIGHBOR , paid a visit to Kansas City!

After we left NELL HILL'S, we  checked out a few of the other stores in the shopping center.  In one of them, we found this heartwarming sight.

Each year, Bonnie and I put up our "Country Living Tree" and fill them with vintage ornaments.  The tree is a live tree......a very scraggly kind that I can't recall the name of right now. 

THIS year, we decided we would each get a fake tree. . . one we could keep the lights on for storage and ease in decorating the following year.  We're getting old and tired.

We  looked at several stores, but couldn't find the tree we had in mind UNTIL we spied the tree of our liking for sale in one of the fall issues of   * "Country Sampler"  magazine.  We called in our order on Saturday and by Wednesday.....the boxes  arrived!

*  Sorry about the punctuation of "COUNTRY SAMPLER"....I couldn't get the italics editing thingy to work on the post!

 

My 8' tree came in three sections .  It looked very sad when I first put it together.  I truly had my doubts about the decision we had made. 

It took me two hours to "fluff" the tree (they use that word in the business of artificial florals....."fluff".....doesn't that sound funny?)   Let me tell you, there was nothing "fluffy" about that job.......those are some danged stickery branches! 

I stood back and thought the tree was beginning to look better.....maybe I was just getting sick of dealing with it......and it wasn't cheap.....it needed to be looking better!

 

I even bought special lights for that baby!  Vicky, who owns the shop OLD GLORY in Greenwood, was selling strings of mini-lights with brown wiring instead of green.  Since this tree has lots of brown mixed in with the muted green of the branches, I figured I'd be happier with that type of light.  It was a good choice.

I'll show you the decorated tree in a later post.

These next two photos don't have anything to do with Christmas.....except maybe more about how THANKFUL we should be.

This is the front end of our daughter's car. 

A few days after I took the pictures of the above tree.  This is what happened to her car when a deer ran in front of her (on a BUSY city street)!    She was very upset that there was deer blood on the side of her car and . . . .

THIS stuck in her headlight.

She said it just ran off.

We have so many deer/car accidents in our area during October to December--- their mating season.  She was so lucky that the deer caught her with just a rear leg.  Many of the accidents are very bad. . . we were thankful this one wasn't.

 

On Thanksgiving Day, with the help of my daughter-in-law and daughter, a scrumptious dinner was prepared and enjoyed by our little family. 

A little family that had grown by one this summer. 

A little that family sat together in our home and gave thanks for the many blessings that had come our way that year.

Over Thanksgiving weekend, we returned to the Christmas Tree Farm with our son and his family, where we had tagged our trees in October.

Santa had heard  I was coming and he asked if he could have a photo with me.  I happily obliged!  :)  You see,  Santa is a big MIZZOU fan, too! :)

We took off to the area where our trees were waiting!  Note the wagon load of folks ahead of us. . . it was full, so we decided to walk!

Walking was a good thing. . . the holiday pounds were coming at me right and left and I still had a month to go before Christmas!

I had placed a PINK lei of flowers on top of our tree, so I knew exactly which one was ours.  I'm smiling as my DIL was taking my picture.  Our son is attempting to cut our tree. 

The tree cutting is a story in itself.  I will try to remember to tell you about it on another post.  It's a good one.

This photo of me was actually taken December 3rd.   I am, dog tired.  Patty and I had just unloaded my van in preparations for setting up for my LAST sale of the fall season.

Once that sale was over, the real fun of the holiday season could begin for me!

One of the first things I decorated was my fireplace mantel.  I used two frosty swags I purchased at NELL HILL'S. 

Oh, and I HAD to have Mary Carol's newest book, too. . . . for inspiration!

THE STONE RABBIT finds it inspirational, too!  He just wasn't too keen on me making him pose in the middle of the "frosty swags". . . he has a delicate skin condition!

DANA

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY PINK SATURDAY!

As I type this post, it's Christmas Eve. . . we are just about ready to join forces with part of our family to celebrate this wonderful evening.  Sadly, we are under a BLIZZARD warning!!!  Our weather has been drippy all day.....first, with rain, then the temperatures started dropping and the rain kept coming.....so we had the beginning of icing!  NOW, we're experiencing heavy sleet....soon to be replaced with lots of snow....for awhile!  Ho, Ho, HO!!! 

It's OK...we have the traditional PINK strawberry daiquiris already blended....just waiting in pitchers on the front porch cuz they won't melt out there!

I find I am very guilty of losing focus about this Eve of Christmas. . . I get wrapped up in the "busy-ness" of the occasion and often ignore the "reason for the season".

Fortunately, many people share their belief in the birth of Jesus by setting up nativities in their yards.  This display is right up the street from us.

 

My mother-in-law always had lots of decorations depicting the Holy Family. . . such as this old Nativity, which I know is at least 41 years old. . . .

 

while I have lots of light up Santas and Christmas trees, she made certain the point of Christmas was not forgotten.

 

She even had this sweet little plastic Nativity that hung in her tree.....and it now hangs in ours.

 

For Christmas a couple of years ago, my daughter-in-law requested that I buy my little grand girl a Fisher Price Nativity with Little People characters of Joseph, Mary, the Baby Jesus, Wise Men, Shepherds and various animals. . . .it sets on their coffee table during the Christmas season and little hands enjoy making the characters come to life. . . .

 

sometimes, the Wise Men and a Shepherd take Baby Jesus for a ride----she knows that a car trip like that can calm a fussy babe!

 

THE STONE RABBIT  and I want to wish you all a very safe, merry and blessed Christmas and . . .

a terrific PINK SATURDAY.

Please visit Beverly's blog,   HOW SWEET THE SOUND,  starting on Saturday.  She'll have a long list of bloggers who all have PINKS to share!

DANA

A CHRISTMAS TRADITION

I don't recall for certain the year this particular Christmas Tradition of ours started, but I believe it was the Christmas of 1978 or 1979 or maybe 1980.  In fact, most likely, it just kinda "evolved" over the years. . .  until we just realized that our family actually had a Tradition.  I do know part of our tradition started during one of those years. 

My husband and I always celebrated Christmas Eve with his family and Christmas Day with mine.  We were lucky. . . his parents lived in the same city we did and my family was just an hour's drive away.  

Sadly, by Christmas Eve 1978, both of my husband's parents were deceased.  His dad had passed away in May of 1977 and his mother in September of 1978.  We were in our early thirties and the parents of their two year old grandson. 

I remember what a sad evening the Eve of Christmas was just three months after my mother-in-law had died.  We gathered, for the first time without one of their parents. . . .  at our townhouse with my husband's brother, his wife and their two tiny daughters . . . in our effort to continue the Christmas Eve Tradition of being with his family.

It was during one of those early Christmas Eves that we made our first "batch" of strawberry daiquiris to enjoy during our evening with his family.  That red indulgence was such a "hit", that we made them again the following year . . . and the year after that. . . and the year after that! 

We did, and still do, take turns hosting our family Christmas Eve gathering.  The rule of thumb is. . . . whoever hosts the evening is also responsible for making the Christmas Eve batch of strawberry daiquiris.

During the process of "dividing" my Mother-In-Law's  worldly possessions,  I "spoke up" for her crystal wine and champagne glasses.  I recalled how much she loved them....eight wine and five champagne.  Over the years, I continued to display them in our home in the very same manner she displayed them in her home. . . in the very same cherry secretary.  It had glass doors on top, which opened up to show three shelves.  Those shelves were the home of her crystal glasses.

I don't remember when I decided that our Strawberry Daiquiris should be enjoyed from her precious glasses . . . on the years  when we hosted Christmas Eve at our house, but I am so glad we did and still do.    I have to think that my MIL is "up above" and LOVING IT that her wonderful glasses are still  put "to use"  now and then.  

 

So, that's my special Christmas Tradition I wanted to share with you this week. . . simply put:  how we always fix a batch of Strawberry Daiquiris on Christmas Eve and how, on the years we host the evening, the drinks are served in my mother-in-law's special crystal glasses.

 

But I really thought you would get feeling of the  specialness of this tradition if you actually SAW how swell that daiquiri mixture looked when placed in one of those amazing glasses......so, THE STONE RABBIT and I decided to whip up a teensy little "batch" one afternoon this week to show you. . .

 

for "demonstration purposes" only. . . .

 

 how WONDERFUL a long time tradition can be. . . .

 

  like Beverly's tradition of hosting PINK SATURDAY week after to week, where she gives us the opportunity to share with others the greatness PINK.  So, visit her blog,  HOW SWEET THE SOUND!   She will have lots more wonderful Pink Saturday HOLIDAY links to share!

DANA

RED CAN TURN PINK . . . .

It's hard to believe that this is Twiggy's second Christmas with us.  

This week,  as I prepared to decorate the Christmas tree we cut down over Thanksgiving weekend, Twiggy was by my side- - - every step of the way.   I pulled out the strings of white tree lights and plugged them in while she checked each little bulb to be certain they were in working order!  She was such a big decorating help! :)

Once the lights had been positioned on the tree, I fetched the huge plastic storage box from the basement - - - the one that held my favorite Christmas decorations.

As I pulled out the many boxes of ornaments, I had to stop and reflect on THIS particular one.

My room-mate and I purchased these in 1967.

She and I  had been close friends during our first two years in college.  When we both decided to take a "break" from school at the same time, it was natural that we would end up sharing an apartment.  Before long, we'd both found jobs . . . she with a health insurance company and  me with a life insurance company.  Things were so much simpler in those days. . . finding a job was pretty darned easy.

That Christmas, we were twenty years old.   We had a swell apartment "within walking distance" of the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri. . . totally furnished with "rented furniture"  and outfitted with family cast offs!  We were on Cloud Nine.   We had it ALL - - -except for a Christmas tree. . . and lights and ornaments!  

Not a couple of gals to let a little issue of "lack of money"  stop us from doing what we wanted to do, we went shopping - - - without a credit card- - - but with just a small amount of "pooled funds". 

We  were able to purchase a couple of strings of multi-colored lights and three or four boxes of glass ornaments. . . all in RED!  Giddy with joy, we were set for some serious decorating!

To this day, I don't recall where we purchased our "real" tree that year.  However, I do remember what a beauty it was when we finished putting our multi-colored lights and red glass ornaments all over it.

The only thing wrong with that tree was the fact that we had our lights set on the "flashing" mode and couldn't figure out how to undo that.  The incessant flashing of the multi-colored lights nearly sent us into seizures a time or two, but during those occasions when we were most affected by the blinking light show, we would simply "squint" and endure it.  We were young and we were so excited about our first tree!

What made that Christmas and those ornaments even more special was the fact that I had met my "true love" that Summer . . . he was also working at the very same life insurance company that I was- - -and THAT particular Christmas, of 1967, was OUR  first Christmas together.

When my husband and I married, in June of 1968, my "former" room mate and I divided our "stuff". 

I latched onto the Christmas ornaments and flashing lights.

My taste quickly changed from "Multi-colored lights and flashing" to "White lights and steady".......

but I always loved the red glass ornaments.

Over the years, most of the "original"  glass ornaments met their end, often times thanks to one of the many Kitties who lived with us over these Forty Plus Christmases .

Sadly, we have  just the one container of "original" ornaments left from our First Christmas Together and I treat those ornaments with the utmost of care these days . . . positioning the precious few survivors near the top of our tree. . . out of the reach of our current kitties (thankfully, they don't scale the tree!) and the little hands of our Grand Kiddos.

Oddly enough, however, there is one thing  I noticed this year as I was pulling out the boxes of red ornaments that I had added to the original "collection" over the years . . . .

and that is "red can turn PINK"!!!

Yep, I realized that MANY of the red ornaments I'd purchased over the years had . . . . turned to PINK!

WHEN did they become that color?

Why did only SOME of them turn PINK?  Why didn't all of them end up like that?

Hmmmm. . .  I didn't have the answers to those questions, but I DID realize that had it not been for PINK SATURDAY and my new appreciation of all things PINK, I might not have seen the beauty in my changed ornaments.

That's right.  Had I not been walking this Pink Path for well over a year now, perhaps I would have just put those slightly different colored orbs on our tree without a thought. . . . or appreciation . . .as to how special they had become.   Perhaps I would not have realized how glorious it can be when the vintage RED ornaments take on the color of PINK !

 

 






For many more special PINK posts, please visit Beverly at HOW SWEET THE SOUND!

Happy Pink Saturday!

DANA

A CHRISTMAS MEMORY

As soon as the Thanksgiving table was cleared and the dishes were done, my mom would start thinking about Christmas decorations - - - and entertaining her three children over the rest of the long holiday break.  Our family didn't have a lot of money, but we had a mom who was able to take the supplies she had on hand and foster the creative spirit in her children.  She was also a wise mom who knew that busy children were less likely to fight with each other  when they were occupied.

Martha Stewart must have taken lessons from my mom, as she was a huge fan of gold and silver paint and glitter!  We learned that even the simplest objects became exquisite holiday decor when painted, then dusted with glitter.

Another decorative staple was aluminum foil.   While mom saved and reused foil (after she washed it, of course) we were allowed to pull it right off the roll . . . fresh and uncrumpled. . . for our decorative purposes.

 

I recall tracing stars on salvaged cardboard (usually old cereal boxes), cutting them out ever so carefully, then. . . .

with the fresh foil in hand, start the process of . . . .

of snipping and folding until . . .

 

a beautiful silver star was fashioned.  We would make them in all sizes. . . placing tiny holes in the top points and inserting  bits of thread to form  loops to use as hangers.  They would be positioned on our tree or in windows.  Then, we would make a large one to place on the very top of the tree.  In my eyes, they were magnificent items.

 

My mom was great about giving us the supplies, then letting us create on our own.

I clearly recall, when I was about eight or nine, coming up with the idea to make bells out of old cottage cheese cartons.  (We had a supply, cuz my mom saved ANYTHING that could possibly be reused at some future date.)  Also, in the Olden Days, when I was eight or nine, cottage cheese cartons weren't made of plastic.  They were formed out of waxed coated paper. . . like some milk containers we still see today.

Anyway, I clearly remember carefully draping the cartons with the treasured aluminum foil . . . then smashing and smoothing it to fit the containers.

 

The only ribbon I remember having around our home, when I was a kid, was curling ribbon. . . and I LOVED it because I could make even the smallest, unspecial looking gift a knockout by adding piles of curled, curly ribbon!

On to the next step.

I punched a hole in the bottom of the carton. . . which would be the top of the bell. . . then I inserted a long length of ribbon.  I knotted it several times on either side of the hole to keep the ribbon in place.

We always had a cat when I was growing up . . . I'm certain they loved to play with the curling ribbon just as much as little Twiggy does!

Next, I tied a glass ornament onto the ribbon inside the bell to serve as the clapper . . . making certain it was visible when I held up the the decorated carton.  For demonstration purposes, I selected a RED ornament, cuz Beverly said PINK is a derivative of RED!!!

I also decided to add a little greenery to this bell. . . it came from the Christmas tree we cut down last Saturday afternoon!

After I added the greenery, I formed a loop from the ribbon for the hanger, then I CURLED some of the ribbon!

I hung this bell on our front door, but I quickly realized it was just waaay too tempting for little Twiggy, so . . . . .

 

I relocated it to a spot less desirable for curious kitties!

I recall that the bell creation I made when I was a child was actually two bells which I had tied together, leaving one to hang slightly longer than the other.  Every Christmas for years, my mom hung them on a wall in our living room---in exactly the same spot each time.

Not only did she nurture our creativity, but she celebrated our attempts.  She always made me feel so good about my efforts.

THE STONE RABBIT was so impressed with my little Christmas memory that he decided to decorate his tree with little foil stars.  I promptly gave him my box of foil and the the rest of the cardboard.  Let me tell you, that little project kept him busy alllll afternoon! :)

Please visit Beverly, at HOW SWEET THE SOUND.  She has a long list of others bloggers with lots of sweet holiday memories to share with you!

DANA