Vee's December Note Card Party

I had no trouble selecting a theme for this month's note card party.  Longwood Gardens has provided the perfect note card fodder.  Albeit, I don't think they would appreciate my selling them for real.....it is fun to play around.

This is the table art in one large wing of the conservatory.

 The bows on the chairs were all done "just so". 

For some reason that just makes my heart happy.

Can you just imagine sitting down to this table?

Well, I can...sort of.

I'd fall into that water.

Better that I just enjoy it from a distance.

Come on over and enjoy Vee's Note Card Party.

Rules of the game are that you choose four photos

that you have previously shared on your blog

and make a "set" of note cards.

Then link up 

so that others can see your work.

Misty Morning

While out with the dogs I enjoyed these views

across the way.

Thought I'd share before I run to 

get Jonathan from his overnight shift 

and then take Georgia for her cataract surgery.

Have a great day.

 

From a Manger....To a Rolling Stone

Christmas Day is coming.
It's coming oh so quickly!

However, the Christmas season has been with us for a while.

We who have shops on Etsy have been planning our Christmas

products and sales since July....

most likely.

So then all of a sudden we are within nine days of 

this most beloved Holiday and I find myself 

finally able to turn my attention to the enjoyment

and celebrations which celebrate my Savior's birth.

Continued at the CAST TEAM Blog

where I am guest posting today.

Continue reading....

A Bake Sale, A Whale and Final Christmas Orders

It is a whirlwind around here.

Let me tell you!

On the surface I seem calm most of the time

but my family can tell you that I have a short 

fuse these days.

Poor Mom.

Poor Chelsea.

They have definitely seen the stress

fraying the edges here.

However, 

the end is nearly in sight.

Just two fundraiser orders to complete.

One ships to Michigan ~

the other is local.

Two custom fill orders

and some Etsy orders to complete.

Then I am good to go into Christmas mode

for our family.

Georgia has her cataract surgery scheduled for next week.

It is time to start checking the weather to see if we are 

going to have a blizzard or something.

This is the surgery that has been postponed twice so far.

Speaking of Georgia,

she has been such a blessing to Chelsea

in baking lots of cookies for Chelsea's bake sale.

This sale is happening at her work and will help 

raise the funds to get her home from 

Australia next year.

We were joking last night about the fact that 

Chels has about half of what she needs.

She earned it by working her regular job.

So, we figure she can get there......

we'll be raising the money to get her home

so she doesn't end up a permanent 

resident in Australia.

:-)

Chelsea and our friend, Sarah, have also been 

baking for the past couple of weeks.

Our freezer has been very full of all kinds 

of delightful treats.

I've been totally immersed in Sight and Sound's latest 

production this year.

Jonah is so amazing.

The cast is one of the best I've ever seen.

Of course it probably helps that we have gotten to 

know some of them

but I've really noticed an openness and heart for ministry

in this group that goes above and beyond.

Last evening we took advantage of a ministry 

opportunity and took a guest and her children.

We are praying that the message she saw

touches her heart which has been hurt

by "Christians".

May God speak to her and continue the healing

that has already begun in her life.

The whale tale is so much more than a tale about a whale!

(I know...big fish!)

I would appreciate your prayers as I am running on fumes.

I look forward to a clean house,

a kitchen without piles and boxes.

A dining room with a usable table.

A living room without more boxes.

And open horizontal spaces to dust.

Life is good.

No complaints.

Just prayer for the strength to finish 

a very rewarding candle season.

Exciting Announcement!

Although it is not quite ready to debut 

I just have to share my excitement.

I've been working with a soap maker

for the past few months

developing 

awe.some!

Hand Crafted soaps!

Husband and wife team, 

John and Bonnie 

have been making soap for their own 

family's use for a while

but were agreeable to work with me

to come up with a couple to 

match a couple of my most 

popular candle scents.

I've tested this soap

and let me tell you...

as someone who was not a fan of 

handmade soaps

I have been converted.

These lather beautifully,

leave your skin soft and happy.

The fragrances come out 

light and lovely.....

that lye smell that I really dislike is 

nearly nonexistent in the bar shown here.

It is the Citrus Infusion.

I'm so in love!!

We have a lot of details to work out

but I had to tell my best bloggy buds 

about this fun development.

Which of my candle scents would you most

like to see in soap?

For now we have perfected

French Lavender and Citrus Infusion.

The Christmas Tea

 Last evening was our annual Ladies Christmas Tea.

It was the first year that I was not involved in the planning.

Granted, my friend Mrs. Rabe, has always been the 

planner, decorator and hostess of this tea

but I was her trusty sidekick.

With the coming of more people to our congregation 

there are more people to share their gifts 

and our new friend, Amy, joined 

Deanna in the planning and presentation this year.

They did a wonderful job!

As someone who has been involved in just about 

everything that has happened at

Sonrise Christian Fellowship for the past 

twelve years it is amazing and wonderful 

to see this taking place.

Kind of like watching your child grow up 

and leave the nest successfully.

The decor was gorgeous as usual.

Georgia brought poinsettias 

which were put to very good use 

in the table decor.

Deanna and Amy brought lamps to 

warm the room.

No harsh overhead lighting.

New this year was something that needs to become tradition.

Young men served us.

And they cleaned up.

Yes, that includes washing all of the dishes.

 

 Anthony offers us an amazing tray of pastries.

After the food was served

we played a game 

involving 

ornaments.

I'm sure you've played that game

where you choose a gift and then the next 

person gets to take it or choose their own?

Well, we did it with unwrapped ornaments.

I'm not sure if Laura got to keep this one

or if it was "stolen".

In the background you can see Laura's oldest 

brother pouring water.

He has been a huge help to me this year

during my busy season as he has started 

playing the piano for worship

every other week.

He seems to love it

and does well.

I don't think I want him give me the boot

completely but it is soooo nice to 

get to be freed up for more opportunities to 

sing (I'm not so good at singing while playing)

 and to chat with my friends.

I find myself more involved with the other 

ladies now that I'm not 

"tied" to the piano.

I didn't realize how much of a difference 

it made.

But it does and I am enjoying 

the freedom.

 

This was a simply delightful evening.

Good times with family and friends.

Good eats.

Excellent mint tea was my tea of choice.

We kept those guys hopping!

That was fun!!

Bart Fire Christmas Bazaar and Jubilee

 Saturday was so much fun!

I did my annual craft show at Bart Fire Company.

I love seeing the familiar and friendly faces.

I struggled with envy as the lady across the way

sold greens by the boatload. 

She had done the same last year and I had

totally forgotten.

It was fun to get reactions to some new 

baby shower items.

The sugar shakers as candles.

They are cute and so much fun.

Everyone who checked them out

really liked them.

These kept being mistaken for soap.

Oops!

Making more and more tart melters all of the time.

 It was so much fun to display them in this little case.

 This is available for purchase in my Etsy shop.

$32.00 plus shipping.

 The candle is Candy Cane scented.

Here we go again...

roses that are wax, not soap.

These blueberry muffin tarts 

smell sooooo good and look very 

sweet in this vintage type tin.

 

It was a very full day.....

Saturday evening found Warren, Mom, Georgia and I 

at a concert by three amazing groups.

Greater Vision, Legacy Five and The Booth Brothers.

So much fun and entertainment

but with an excellent message.

 

 The theme of the evening was being faithful.

Wherever God has placed us.

If He calls us to the stage or television

to be faithful there.

If He calls us to be homemakers with a houseful

of young ones, 

If He asks us to work full time at 

a secular job...

or even as a stubborn candle maker.

To serve Him faithfully in all things.

A memory was shared of a man,

one of whom we can probably all relate.

He was the candy man at the church.

Every week he would 

fish those pieces of candy out of his 

deep pockets with a little phrase

about how much Jesus loved

the children who were the very happy 

recipients of these goodies.

 

 The life of Gerald Wolf was impacted by this man.

The message went deeply into his heart.

No one would have thought too much of the importance

of a simple man in bib overalls who handed 

out mints each week at church.

However, 

he was faithful.

And it mattered.

May God help me to be faithful.

Every day.