If you know someone who loves to camp or has a wood burning fire place.....these little pine-cone fire starters are the best.
At the cabin we have over 200 pine trees....so there is an endless supply of pine cones....might as well make good use of them.
Just melt wax- which could be
spent candles (I scrap out old candles into a bucket and use as needed)
bees wax
parafin wax
I used an old metal bucket set inside another pot half filled with boiling water....simmer and melt your wax.
Wrap a cord around your pine cone.
Then it's just dip, dip, dip. (usually 3 times spaced a few minutes apart) I also like to hold a just dipped pine cone over the ones that are firming...just gives the pine cone a little more character.
They also look so cute in a basket, ready to use, or give as a gift. Merry Pine cone Christmas.
Putting the pine cone in a cupcake liner right from the wax bath...makes clean up easier ....plus they look cute.
This was a pinterest find....(smile) If you do these....put down wax paper everywhere....unless you like cleaning up dried wax.
One of my favorite gift to give- Mulling spices. I love how it makes a home smell and it is super pretty and simple....couldn't we all use a little simple right about now? (smile)
Mulling spices from World market
Little cutie
Cinnamon sticks
add ribbon and any other items you like to decorate.
Easy.... Your Welcome, Merry Christmas
When ready to use....add as much as you like to a pot of boiling water...than simmer...adding water and more spices if you like through out the day. (cut little cutie in fourths)
How we do Christmas- with five Children that are all married...instead of asking them to travel to us for Christmas...we travel to them.
(We don't want to put the added cost of travel on them at Christmas time...along with the crazy amount of packaging involved! When it is their turn to have us over they are always welcome to choose to come to us....but it is their choice.)
So, the kids take turns inviting us to their homes for Christmas.
Shannon had her home so welcoming and beautifully set for Christmas. Anna let us use her bedroom...which was so cozy with its own bathroom and they even set out treats for us by our bed....better than a 5 star hotel. =)
When we arrived the home was filled with the scent of freshly baking sugar cookies! Getting ready to frost that evening.
They were so yummy!
Each evening after dinner we sat together as a family and read a Christmas story and watched sweet Christmas videos...such as this one. It is so worth the time to watch!
Christmas Eve Day- We participated in their family Tradition of bowling with their friends! So fun!
after bowling we headed to Freddy's for lunch another tradition of theirs. (awesome custard and burgers)
Christmas Eve Shannon had prepared a wonderful dinner for us.
Along with a Christmas music horn band led by Scott.
The kids opened one package that evening....of Christmas PJ's ....stripes for the whole family.
They spent the rest of the night tracking Santa =)
Christmas Day
Lots of happy sounds .....the best way to spend Christmas
These children were a blessing for us this year. We loved hearing all their happy sounds and lots of hugs and thank yous through out the day!
What joy.
We rounded off the week with
a papa/ Grandson hot-dog eating contest....not sure who won...just know that there were lots of hot-dogs involved!
Payton loves chili cheese burgers....which even surprised him
We were so very happy to be part of their Christmas this year. We love them.
I love Christmas time-
for it brings together families
I love feeling the joy of giving
A time we give thanks to our Savior for the unmatchable gifts that he gave us that can allow us to have eternal life.
I just love it all.
Because of the Savior, we may have an assurance that we can go home not only at Christmastime but also to live forever with a family whom we love and who love each other.
I love my family.
Thank you Shannon and Family for taking us in and showing us love.
On our long drive home...we had to stop and check out Calico Ghost town....the kids were little the last time we stopped there. We didn't stay long....just long enough to stretch our legs.
Our favorite thing- the bottle house (Danny remembers it from his childhood)
The bottles act as a natural lighting source. Fun little quick stop...just 3 miles off the Hwy.
Thank you Shannon and family for blessing us with your love.
This Christmas season I wanted to make sure we took the time to reflect and act upon the blessings and opportunities we have because of the birth, life, Atonement, and Resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
With our Children grown and away from home. I have found it harder over the years to "get in" and keep the real meaning of Christmas. When the kids were home it was easy, because we were always talking and teaching our Children about Christ at Christmas time.
Now ....I find we don't talk about it as much .... We live it sure, we hear the lessons at Church...but this year I wanted to talk more about Christ and Christmas with just the two of us at home....teaching each other.
Here is my plan.
Each night we plan to read a scripture about the events leading up to and about the Saviors birth.
After, we will share thoughts, feelings and testimony with each other.
Here is a list of Scriptures we plan to use- one for each day leading up to Christmas.
We also plan to go to this site to pick out some old favorites to sing.
We can do this .....there is no better time then now....empty nest and all... to remember Him, talk about Him, sing praise to Him....
Because He came to earth, we have a perfect example to follow. I'm hoping as we strive to become more like Him, we will have joy and happiness and more peace each day of the year. It is His example which, if we follow, will stir within us more kindness and love.
Filling our Empty nest .....Merry Christmas
What do you do to fill your "nest" with the Christmas Spirit?
Now that Christmas is over and all the gifts have been opened.....thought I would share what I made for our children that went along with our Homemade Christmas theme-
Gift Number one-
First- hold your breath ladies....yes, I cut up my Wedding dress
I wanted to make a special little envelope for my Daughter, daughters in law and my granddaughters. Something special for them to use in the Temple. My dress had been sitting in the closet for over 35 years...so it was time to do something with it.
Shannon being my only daughter...received my wedding veil in a shadow box. I was able to make 10 envelopes from my dress. .... I included my personal testimony of Temple work and a picture of me wearing the dress. (I was able to soak my veil to help it return to white...but the satin on my wedding dress ...not so much...so they received vintage satin and lace envelopes}
Gift number two-
Over a few years I collected Dans old work jeans- and turned them into picnic blankets for the kids-
30 pairs of jeans, 500 squares, 5 picnic blankets = lots of sewing.
Each was given a large picnic bag- filled with bamboo plates, spoons and forks- wreck jars for food, a cheese cutting board, and a few fun extras
Signed- Love always Mom and Dad.
With a gift note saying we plan to help with a project they want done around their home.
Raw seams- meaning I washed a few times before wrapping....it took some time to trim all the threads. Happy Day
I plan on taking a vacation from the sewing machine for awhile. =)
Gift Number three-
Each of our children received a shadow box with something sentimental in it.
Denver received his "blankie" back....see note.
I saved all Sam's swimming ribbons ...to remind him how awesome he is.
Shannon received my wedding veil
I forgot to get a picture but Kent and Mason received a shadow box with coins in them....They were some 1960's Kennedy Half dollars.....Danny's Dad had carried them around then gave them to Danny when he was a boy....they went to Kent & Mason.
While I was preparing these gifts, I kept thinking how blessed I am....it really is a wonderful life.
The grand-kids received a gift from their wish list.
My Blog began in 2005- I write about "whatever" I am doing- about my husband (Danny) and our 5 grown children and grandchildren. I write about the things I love...from creating a new room to playing with my grand-kids...I share my blessings and my testimony about my Mormon Faith.{The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints} I love finding ways to be happy and enjoy the blessings I've been given....come what may.....Happy Day
