IT'S RUDOLPH ! ( an element of fun )

I ordered this online from Target ( we no longer have Target in Canada but we can order online )

John says -  What exactly is that thing you have hanging on the ladder?
Suzan says - Well if you need me to tell you................
Suzan says - It's a stag head
John says - I know what it is but it's horrible !  It's bad enough we have an outdoor ladder in the living room now you want to dangle animal heads off it?
Suzan says - It's fun - the little ones will love it !
John says - It's going to give the little one's nightmares

He obviously did NOT pay attention to Mary Poppins............I took her very seriously

In every job that must be done
There is an element of fun
You find the fun and snap !
The job's a game

And every task you undertake
becomes a piece of cake
A lark !  A spree !
It's very clear to me

Just some leftover ribbon and a broken ornament
A broken ornament
A broken ornament
Justt some leftover ribbon and a broken ornament
Creates the most delightful deer !

John says - Well now it looks even more ridiculous

But it's staying - because I don't know any little ones that think Rudolph is ridiculous - he's the most famous reindeer of all :)
The Grinch will get used to it ................he always does !

Have a great one everybody
Hugs,
Me



LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION?
JOIN ME AT THESE FABULOUS PARTIES !

FLUSTER BUSTER                                                          THE ESSENCE OF HOME   
FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE                                    MY TURN FOR US
THE SHABBY ART BOUTIQUE                                     THE INTERIOR FRUGALISTA
LIFE ON LAKESHORE DRIVE                                       THE DIY SHOWOFF
REDHEAD CAN DECORATE                                         BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH
MY UNCOMMON SLICE OF SUBURBIA                    MY SALVAGED TREASURES
LEHMAN LANE

TODAY I'LL BAKE.................

I won't turn the t.v. on or listen to the radio because I simply can't absorb anymore of the grief the media keeps pounding into our brains.

I'll have my shower and head downstairs

I'll get out all my supplies and put my apron on

And I'll bake............

I'll bake for Ashley and Chris who have taken on the role of parents with such love and I'll just about burst for the little creation they brought into the world in September.

I'll bake for Gordie and Vanessa - and Vanessa's 2 little girls who have stolen my son's ( and ours ) heart away.

I'll bake for Lindsay and Tony - shaking my head and smiling because I can't use any animal products on those particular cookies - I tease her but I'm oh so proud of the stand she's taken. She walks the walk.

I'll bake for Annie and Mathew who fell in love as very young teenagers and have shown us the art of parenting with such grace that it can literally take our breath away.

I'll bake for James and Su who have been through so much and have come through it all on top of the heap
King ( and Queen ) of their world.

I'll bake for all the little ones...............and let them sneak one or two before Christmas dinner because that's what Lollys and Pops do.  And if their parents walk into the kitchen I'll hide them under the table or behind my back while they giggle out loud and I'll say loudly "  get out ! they're NOT in here ! "

I'll bake for Soda who always got little nibbles of the " throw aways " this is the first Christmas she's not with us in 16 years - it's been 2 weeks and nothing feels quite right yet.

I'll bake for all the in - laws of the above - because without them - our children's happiness could not be complete.

I'll bake for John who has never - not once - given up.
On anything.
But mostly me.
Because he loves me - as difficult as that can sometimes be - he loves me.
And my cookies.

I'll bake for all of the reasons above..........as I do every year.
And as I blend all the ingredients in I'll think of us - our big blended family.

But the truth is this year I have to put extra heart into it

This year what happened in Paris has totally devastated me and so I have to force myself into the kitchen.

Life does go on.
It doesn't stand still even when it's filled with those that seek to harm us.
And the only way I know to honor those whose lives were lost is to go on.

To keep my traditions.
To tell them your life was not in vain.............

And to assure their families that life will continue - our values will stay intact - they will not win.
They can create unspeakable sadness but they cannot destroy who we are.

I'll bake

And I'll bake

And then I'll bake some more

Until I feel nothing but comfort and joy
And then I'll wait for my favorite Christmas movie to come on - because despite it all - no - in spite of it all
It's a wonderful life.
It's also a precious and fragile one.
So for some reason it feels right that I be in my kitchen - working with my hands because that's where love begins for me.

As soon as I sign off on this post - I'll go downstairs - put some Christmas music on and preheat the oven.
And than I'll mix - beat - roll - sift my way clear into this next season.

We can talk about the world tomorrow..................
Today I'll bake.

Hugs,



LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION?
JOIN ME AT THESE FABULOUS PARTIES !

DWELLINGS - THE HEART OF YOUR HOME       BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH
AN EXTRAORDINARY DAY                                    FLUSTER BUSTER
SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE                                     THE ESSENCE OF HOME
LAMBERTS LATELY                                                 THE CHARM OF HOME
FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE                              MY TURN FOR US
THE INTERIOR FRUGALISTA                                 LIFE ON LAKESHORE DRIVE
REDHEAD CAN DECORATE                                   MY UNCOMMON SLICE OF SUBURBIA
LIVE LAUGH ROWE                                                 KATHERINE'S CORNER