A BLOGGING ANGEL

I just got home from New York this morning very early. A package was waiting for me. George said it came on Christmas Eve. I just cannot believe what I found when I opened the box. Cindy, Onlymehere, made this wonderful doll for me. I am hoping you will be able to read the letter she wrote with it.
I left a comment on her blog once when she put a doll on and told a story about her daughters lost doll. I also had a lost rag doll so many years ago. Well, unknown to me, she was talking to Heidi and planning this wonderful surprise for me. I am so overwhelmed, I really don't know what to say to her. She is a wonderful person, it comes out in her blogging. I have not met her, but consider her a special friend.
I really hope you can read the letter she wrote to me. I don't often share letters people write, but she tells it so much better than I ever could.
Words cannot express my thanks to you Cindy. I wish you could have seen me when I opened that box. You are so special, thinking of others. I hope your time goes very fast while your Son is away on his mission.
By the way, Cindy, I wouldn't change a thing and I will treasure this doll.

GOING HOME TONIGHT

I have a ticket for tonight on Amtrak to head home. I am praying the weather holds. It was predicted a lot of snow to end at 6pm tonight, but right now it is sunny. The train is scheduled to leave Syracuse at 9:41pm. It is about an hour and a half to the train station, so hope the kids don't have awful weather to take me.
IF, and that is a big if, the train is ontime, I should arrive in Cleveland at 5:20 am. Not sure what the weather is like in Ohio. Yesterday morning it was icy I have heard. Hope it is clear now. I was going to go home tomorrow night, but the train had no seats available. Talk to you from Ohio soon.

IS THIS MY ERIC?

I made a label for a Santa hat on my embroidery machine. I wasn't sure he would want it. This is what they used to sing to him when he was in the Navy. You're a mean one Mr. Groetz.
This is my wonderful Daughter in Law, Becky. I made her one too. She loves Christmas. Her's says Naughty or Nice. She's nice.
Becky's mom told Eric the newest male member of the family has to be Santa. I
cannot believe he did it. He never did Christmas AT ALL. This is one more reason to love Becky.
Even Santa received a gift. He loves the Browns, no matter what they do, or don't do. LOL Becky's Mom made this for Eric.
He might actually be having fun. How many drinks did you have Eric?
I taught Becky to knit and crochet and she is now a machine. She made these hats and scarves for her nieces. I am soooooo proud of her. I am in New York, and they are in Toledo and I miss them. We had our Christmas before I left.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

In honor of my elf, Miss Pickles, I had to find a picture of her. I bet this is Jos helping her too.
She stays very busy during the Christmas season. No one loves Christmas more than my Heidi. I hope you have all have a wonderful Christmas.
Tonight, I will be going to Christmas Eve service with my Grandchildren. We should all remember the true meaning of Christmas.
Hope you have lots of good food, pies, cookies and laughter.

A PRINCESS BAKING COOKIES

I just got these pictures on Facebook, of Zoe baking cookies with her Mommy. I told her I just want to hug her.
I know they are having lots of fun together.

She looks very intent on her project.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILL

This is Bill at age 5 in Africa. His Dad was stationed at Wheelus AFB, Tripoli, North Africa. It wasn't easy riding on sand. There was no grass and no pavement.
That fence was around our house.
At age 18, on his birthday, he left for the Navy.
Now, this is a little more recent. He is 52 today. Happy Birthday Bill. Heidi just sang to him on skype, and Jos wished him a Happy Birthday. I made his favorite, Oatmeal cake and we will have another cake too. Eric and Becky are coming for dinner and I need to get to the store. LOL
If we get time, tomorrow we will be doing his favorite thing. Baking cookies. I am
going to New York on Monday at 5:30am on Amtrak. Mitch told Kristy to call me and tell me my Christmas present is a ticket to their house for Christmas. We are
having Christmas here on Sunday. Bill will be working double shifts on Christmas Eve and Christmas, and Eric and Becky will be going to Toledo. George has his Granddaughter coming home from Florida so he will be at his Son's and told me go ahead and go.

GIFT WRAPPING DAY

I wanted to get to my sewing machine, so I HAD to start gift wrapping. I felt buried in gifts and still I am not done. Did I buy too much, yes I think I did.
It would have been nice, if this guy would have showed up to help me.
Now, I have to tell you, my gifts do not look like these. It would be nice, but no. I have mostly snowman paper. Is anyone surprised, bet not.

LITTLE TOY VILLAGE

When Fawn was in grade school, she sang a song, LITTLE TOY VILLAGE. We love that song even now. Many years ago I started painting this village. I have added to it over the years.
This year, I put the village on a built in cupboard in the entry hall at my back door. Everyone uses this door. The large center is a cement gnome/mushroom house that I also painted. It is way to heavy to move, so it got covered with snow and stayed put. I guess it is okay for Santa to land on a mushroom. That Santa
was on Bill's birthday cake many years ago.
I have painted many of these villages for people. Heidi will have hers out soon. My pen pal in England says she has hers out already.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BECKY

Tomorrow, Monday, is Becky's birthday. We celebrated early since she goes with Eric and they had to go on the road today. She will be on the road during her real birthday.
Here she is, ready to open her gifts.
A sweater from George and me .
We had her party on Holland's Sint day, so I wrapped a gift for her in special Sint and Piet paper and we thought about Heidi, and wished she could be with us.
Bill managed to make her happy with an Ohio State purse for a REAL fan.
Eric gave her a very special necklace.
She asked, "did Eric really wrap this?" Yes he did.
This is what he wrapped and it is beautiful and she looks great in it. I didn't post a picture of her shirt from Eric that says Naughty but Nice. It is just too cute. We
had dinner, sang to her, and she blew out the candles on her cake. It was good too.
We love you Becky, have a great day tomorrow.

HAPPY SINT DAY TO MY DUTCH FRIENDS AND OF COURSE MY DAUGHTER AND SON IN LAW

Sint Day is tomorrow, December 5th in Holland. I know a certain Elf, named Miss Pickles, has been busy with running around with little gifts. She has fun with this.
Sint is a very impressive person, I know, I saw him when I was visiting Holland on a December 5th. He came right to Heidi's house to visit us. Sint fills shoes with goodies thoughout the season. He leaves yummy little ginger cookies. He comes to Holland on a boat from Spain, then rides his white horse. His helpers are Piets.
Feel free to hope on this blog and correct anything wrong Heidi. LOL. She has my password. I googled the following:

How is Sinterklaas celebrated in the Netherlands? On 5th December, the Dutch traditionally celebrate Sinterklaas. The children are told about a very old Spanish bishop called Sinterklaas, who is fond of children. This Iberian prelate visits the Low Lands every year by the end of November and leaves quietly after December 5th. The name Sinterklaas comes from Sint Niklaas, which is a variation of Sint Nikolaas (Saint Nicholas). On the evening of 5 December the children will sing special Sinterklaas songs. When the tension has built up sufficiently, a big sack or basket is brought into the home filled with presents for the children who have behaved themselves. When I was there, the gifts were lowered from the roof of the house.

A JUST BECAUSE GIFT FROM HEIDI

Some of you probably know that Heidi is doing giveaways on her blog. She is sending the winner handmade coasters. She made me six of these cute little snowmen coasters. They are really cute. Thank you Miss Pickles the Elf.
I also received a little package and inside was this cute sissor fob. See the little witch riding along on her broom. She had a long ride all the way from Holland.
I love it. Thanks again. If you pop over to All my scattering moment, from my friends list, you can read a story about this fob.
Many years ago, before I had four hundred (and I am not kidding) snowmen, she made this little quilted snowman. He is on the steps, center stage with all the other stuffed snowmen. They are all waiting to see if I decide to put up the snowman tree this year. First I have to decide where in the world I would put it.
It is getting colder in Ohio right now. I might get more in the mood.

CHEF ERIC HELPING ME OUT

This is what happened to a very old spoon, when Eric was mixing the stuffing in the next picture.
Using one of my four very old mixing bowls, he is stirring the stuffing and whoops.
The turkey is ready to come out of the roaster now, but it is falling apart so first the stuffing has to come out. He is hunting a strong spoon. LOL
Ok, he has it under control now with a stainless steel spoon, should be safer. Sorry, the picture is a little bit blurred.
Ok Heidi, Eric also made the chocolate pie, and here is one piece left just for you.
You better hurry, I think George might find it this evening. It is very good too.
Thanks Eric, for all you help.

THEY BROKE OUT AGAIN

They did it again. This one almost made it into the bedroom before he stopped.
This is what happens to naughty snowmen who do not wait to be helped down the stairs. Landing all it a pile, made for a soft landing though.
This group only made it part of the way down. They just opened the little attic door on the left at the top of the stairs, jumped out of the red and green totes and down they came. The bigger ones are smart and just stay up there.
Of course, then they expected me to organize them once again. They better behave this year. Maybe if they do, all of their other friends will come out to go on the tree.
Yes, they do have many more snow friends still in the attic. They are the ceramic ones that go on the tree, and others who sit on tables and even music boxes. I hope this year I have the energy to get them all out. Some of you probably remember last year when they stayed where they were. Yes Heidi, I hear you.