Christmastime At The Countryfolk Homestead...

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Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas...

and scoot on over and visit us at The Humble Arts for those last minute handmade gifts!

A Sneak Peek at My Humble Arts Offerin' For December...

Jamison the Gingerbread Man would love to sit next to your Christmas cookie tray when company comes to visit.

But I should mention he refuses to share the gingerbread man cookie he's holdin' on his lap.

Be sure to check out all our humble offerins' on The Humble Arts on December 1st!
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Puttin' On The Feedbag...

We had family over for a delicious Thanksgivin' dinner and man are we stuffed!

Hubs was in charge of the mashed taters. He's such a good helper.

I should have put that lil' chef hat I made on that sweet Charlie Brown noggin of his.

Dear Lord! Will ya look at the front of my shirt?! Well, I never claimed to be a neat cook. (That was the after effects of my gravy makin')

A big thank you to my sister for her kitchen clean up duty. Its so sparkly clean! Gee, I wonder if I can get her back in here a few times a week?! (I might be able to bribe her with my baked goods.)

Well, now that Thanksgivin' is over, its time to get back to my sewin' room.

But before I do, I think I need a turkey sandwich... *burp*
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A Thanksgivin' Reflection...

I took a walk around the ol' homestead this mornin'. It was so quiet, so peaceful so beautiful.

Whether you live in the city or in the country, take the time to stop and enjoy the beauty around you. Be thankful and grateful for it. I sure am.

Happy Thanksgivin' folks.
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Wishin' You And Your Kinfolk...

A joyous and blessed Thanksgivin'.

A Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Lord, so often times, as any other day
When we sit down to our meal and pray

We hurry along and make fast the blessing
Thanks, Amen Now please pass the dressing

We're slaves to the olfactory overload
We must rush our prayer before the food gets cold

But Lord, I'd like to take a few minutes more
To really give thanks to what I'm thankful for

For my family, my health, a nice soft bed
My friends, my freedom, a roof over my head

I'm thankful right now to be surrounded by those
Whose lives touch me more than they'll ever possibly know

Thankful Lord, that You've blessed me beyond measure
Thankful that in my heart lives life's greatest treasure

That You, dear Jesus, reside in that place
And I'm ever so grateful for Your unending grace

So please, heavenly Father, bless this food You've provided
And bless each and every person invited

Amen.
By:Scott Wesemann

Heck, I couldn't have said it better myself.
God bless...
:> )

You Might Be A Redneck If...

Sure, we've all snickered and sometimes shook our head at the stereotypical redneck jokes over the years. But it's time to take a reflective look at the core beliefs of a culture that values home, family, country and God. So...

You might be a redneck if:
It never occurred to you to be offended by the phrase, 'One nation, under God.'

You might be a redneck if:
You've never protested about seeing the 10 Commandments posted in public places.

You might be a redneck if:
You still say Christmas instead of "Winter Festival."

You might be a redneck if:
You bow your head when someone prays.

You might be a redneck if:
You stand and place your hand over your heart when they play the National Anthem.

You might be a redneck if:
You treat our armed forces veterans with great respect, and always have.

You might be a redneck if:
You've never burned an American flag, nor intend to.

You might be a redneck if:
You respect your elders and raised your kids to do the same.

You might be a redneck if:
You'd give your last dollar to a friend.

You might be a redneck if:
You know what you believe and you aren't afraid to say so, no matter who is listening.

Hmmm... Since I consider myself a Bible clingin', gun totin', flag lovin', small town American; that would make me a redneck too, correct? Then so be it. I wear the title proudly.

And to think I don't even sit on my front porch in a Barcalounger, smokin' my corncob pipe, playin' the banjo as my one toothed husband plays the spoons and drinks an Old Mil while lookin' for UFO's.

Jeb plays the jug.
Woofth-Woofth

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She's Good To Go...

Wild-eyed Gracie has decided to give Rachael Ray a run for her money.

She got her paws on the chef's hat I made and is now in my kitchen cookin' up a storm.

"Just a lil' EVOO and in two turns of the pan she's got a de-lish meal in thirty minutes."
"Yum-O!"

Rachael Ray Lingo Translation: "Just a little extra virgin olive oil and in just a bit she's got a delicious meal in thirty minutes."
"Yummy!"


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♪ Oh The Weather Outside Is Frightful... ♪

♪ But the fire is so delightful ♪

♪ And since we've no place to go... ♪
♪ (Except for drivin' around the back country roads, slidin' all over the place tryin' to take pictures because I really need my head examined) ♪

♪ Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!! ♪

♪ It doesn't show signs of stoppin' ♪

♪ And I've brought some corn for poppin'... ♪

♪ (Shoot! This kind of corn won't work!) ♪

♪ The lights are turned way down low ♪

♪ Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!! ♪

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Turn Your Volume Up...

and enjoy! Oh, but before you do, scroll all the way down and turn off my music.

I love how Santa's skinny lil' leg keeps time with the song! (My sister has those same legs)
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P.S.
No need to dream of a white Christmas in these parts, we got dumped on with the white fluffy stuff last night! YaY!

Fresh Out Of The Oven...

For some reason he has this obsession with The Pillsbury Doughboy.

He's insistin' on wearin' only a scarf and a puffy chef's hat and won't let go of that molasses jar until I agree.

I'm convinced all Gingerbread Men need therapy.

I'll keep ya posted...
:> )

Christmas Come Early...

Some of the artists in The Humble Arts participated in a Christmas ornie exchange!

Well you should have seen the box that was sittin' on my front porch!! Holy cow! That must be one mighty big ornie in there!!

I was so excited, I practically gnawed on the corner of the box hopin' to get a head start on openin' it. But dang it that packin' tape is so strong, I didn't make a dent. I finally kept my composure long enough to open the box.

OH MY!!! LOOK what sweet Elena of My Primitive Sistas sent me!!!

Everythin' was beautifully wrapped and it smelled heavenly too!!

Elena my dear Humble Arts sister, I can't thank you enough for all these wonderful goodies!!
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I'm On A Mission...

Many of ya might not know this... But I'm a mitten freak! No pair of gloves on this planet can keep your hands toasty and warm like a pair of mittens.

For years I have been on a "mittens mission." I am lookin' for a pair of red mittens with snowflakes on them similar to these.

I have searched the internet and our local malls but have come up with nothin'.
I have seen some really cute handmade ones on the internet; but they are the "glomitt" style. I'm lookin' for regular ol' fashioned style wool mittens.

"So your mission, should you decide to accept it is... If you happen to know where I could find a pair, please let me know.

This post will self-destruct in 5 seconds."
Not really, I'm just pullin' your leg.
:> )

My Butt Crack Babies Are Back...

Click here for details...
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She's Gettin' Nuttin' For Christmas...

Its just my luck, Baby Coralee has learned to climb today. I guess they call them ladder back chairs for a reason.

I have been tryin' to get her to sit still to get her picture taken but so far it hasn't work. She's like a lil' red headed spider monkey. Sigh.
I'll keep ya posted...

-------------------------------------------------------

Hubs and I drove into town this afternoon to do a lil' shoppin'. We stopped in the pet store and picked up some new Nylabones for our girls. Oh how they love those Nylabones!

As you can see, Hannah couldn't have been happier.

In fact she was so happy...

She fell asleep with it in her mouth.

(Hannah is a miniature Daschund, but she's a bit of a chunkerella)
:> )

The Boys Are Back In Town...

The Gingerbread Boys that is and they're dressed for some winter fun!

Just hop on over to my Countryfolk Keepsakes website and click on the "Four Seasons" button.

Spread the word around...
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Somethin' New...

Do ya have a patriotic person on your Christmas list?

I just listed these on the ol' Countryfolk Keepsakes website!

I'm workin' on more, so be sure to mosey on over and visit often...
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For Two Hundred and Thirty Two Years...

Brave Americans have been fighting for this country.

They served...

They sacrificed.

For you and I.

Have you thanked an American Veteran lately?

What are you waiting for?

To all my fellow Americans who are serving, have served, have loved ones serving or have lost loved ones who served...
Thank you and God bless you.

A One a And a Two a...

I can't believe I'm goin' to admit this but...
I love to watch old re-runs of the Lawrence Welk Show. There! I said it!
(I can hear ya laughin')

Yep, its true. When I was young, I would roll my eyes when my daddy had it on; now I look forward to 7:00 Saturday evenins' on PBS.

Is it because it was a time when television shows were simple, clean and fun? Or because I get the biggest kick out of the gals' spit curl hairdos and the fellers' brightly colored polyester leisure suits they wore? The answer is, both.

We have all become so desensitized to the vulgarity, sex and violence on the tube these days, haven't we? When we see a T.V. show like The Walton's or a Charles Bronson movie, we scoff at how unbelievably lame they are.

Man, I sound like an old fart, but I can't help it. I flip through the hundreds of channels and see our values and morals flyin' right out the window and its acceptable and "cool."

So if I have the choice between The Lawrence Welk Show or MTV's Sex... With Mom and Dad, I'm goin' with Larry.
Wunnerful, Wunnerful.
(Insert sound of a champagne cork bein' popped HERE)
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Ooooh, Lookie Here...

I know its a lil' early to be decoratin' for Christmas but when mama gave me this vintage tree stand; there was no way I could wait until after Thanksgivin' to display it.

Its a wooden picket fence style. Isn't it adorable?!

I knew our girls' Christmas tree would fit perfectly in there.

I have some old vintage children's toy like an ol' leather football and baseball glove that would look great tucked under there.

But many of ya know our miniature Doxie suffers from severe kleptomania and can no longer be trusted.

Remember "The Case of the Missin' Seam Ripper?" Inspector Hubs finally caught her red-pawed.

Nope, she can't be trusted...
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