The wish book....

As I am finishing up the decorating of the house today my mind is swirling as to what today's blog is going to be about. I'm also doing some dusting & cleaning and really need to sort through and start throwing away the enormous amounts of catalogs that clutter up my house. Remember when there was just 1 catalog at Christmas time...the almighty Sears & Roebuck Christmas Wish Book. You peddled your bicycle extra fast up the lane back to the house the day it arrived! The catalog in itself was somewhat of a toy at our house. Hours & hours were spent thumbing through the catalog, circling the items you wanted Santa Claus to bring to your house.

Here are some of the gifts Santa so carefully wrapped and placed under our tree...

LUCKY LOCKET

I teeny bodied doll with a very large head that lived in a plastic locket that was worn around the neck. And for when you weren't wearing the locket you simply removed the chain and sat it on your dresser using the easel on the backside of the lid. I had a collection of these and hands down was my favorite doll ever! Any Lucky Locket Lovers out there???

BARBIE DOLLS

It seemed that a new Barbie was always in need each year. Did I ever mention that I spent most of my childhood pretending? Yep, pretended I was a beautician. My Barbies always sported a fresh, short haircut!

VELVET

This doll was just the ticket for me, no need to get the scissors out to play beautician....nope just turn the wheel on her back to make Velvets hair long or short. Velvet also had a sister or maybe it was a cousin named Crissy that had brown hair....can anyone please clarify what the relationship of Velvet to Crissy was?

Velvet had her very own carrying case and a spot for hanging her clothes. Older sister Linda kept me well stocked with hand made clothing for Velvet.



THE SPIROGRAPH

While this game seemed to look pretty cool in the catalog, I must say I never really mastered the art of Spirographing....I'd try my hardest to keep the little teeth lined up just so, & then there was the challenge of keeping track of the small little tacks so they wouldn't end up in dad's feet!

DANCERINA

Dancerina was a pretty amazing doll Santa brought one year. While my Dancerina had blond hair, if my memory serves me correctly, she did wear the same pink tu tu. She wore this magical crown on top of her head and with just the pull of the crown would make her do various ballerina moves. This is another one of those toys that I was always in fear of dad taking apart to "see how that thing works".

FLATSY DOLLS

Ahh yes, the Flatsy doll...another favorite gift from old Santa. These dolls as you might imagine were flat and you could bend their bodies in all strange sorts of poses! They came in a cute little picture frame which was their "home". I had a small collection of these as well....the pretend beautician in me loved those big bushy pony tails!

OUIJA BOARD

While this isn't a game we actually owned at our house, it was circled in the wish book a time or two. Mom must have told Santa we didn't need this game...I'm sure she had good reasons for that! Our neighbors had this game though and on rare, very rare occasions my older sisters and the neighbor girls would let me play this game with them....I just remember how scared this game made me!



CREEPY CRAWLERS

There was also another version to this...more fitting for girls. I cannot for the life of me remember the name of it. The shapes were flowers & lady bugs...better suited for girls. The lady bug was my favorite design. The bug fit perfectly on the end of a paper clip or on the tops of pencils. The neighbor girls and I sold these on the back of the school bus to & from school to any interested buyers.


FURRY HATS

On occasion Santa did bring clothing if we were in need of hats, mittens, pj's or boots.
I don't know if these hats had a name but they were very cool! I have vivid memories of taking the strings and whipping the poms around and around. While my hat was white it did look just like the black one above. If anyone knows if these hats had a name, please let us know!


FASHION BOOTS

Dear Santa brought these one year to my sheer excitement, although mine were black. Mine didn't seem to fit my skinny legs as nicely as the model above. Mine were usually down around my ankles by the end of the school day...very attractive!

I will leave you on this note as I need to take on my mountains of catalogs & finish my holiday decorating.

Please leave a comment as to what your favorite Christmas toy was. All names who comment will go into a drawing for a free $50.00 dollar shopping spree on http://www.countrystitchesonline.com/

Drawing winner will be announced on Sunday December 20th.

Until tomorrow,

brenda

Bow Making 101

At our house we make all of the bows for our presents at Christmas time...we call them the Gervais Jewelry Store bows. Let me explain.... My father in law owned/operated the Gervais Jewelry Store in Jackson, Minnesota for many many years.

Gervais Jewelry was known for their exquisite gift wrapping...you always knew if your gift came from there, just by the wrapping & the hand made bow. The bows were made by the 2 women that worked there. I spent lots of time watching these women work their magic with the beautiful colored ribbons and learned the bow making, just by watching, I guess...

After school my friends and I would walk up town for a coke and french fries at the Mayflower Cafe. Then it was across the street for a quick visit, some flirting or whatever you want to call it at the jewelry store where my high school sweetheart Dave worked. Dave helped his Dad in the backroom of the jewelry store engraving friendship bracelets (had one of these), sizing promise rings (but REALLY wanted one of these) or washing windows in exchange for some pocket change and most important the use of the family car for a Friday night date.


Many years later, the high school sweetheart is now my husband of almost 29 years. Dave's dad is no longer with us. The jewelry store is no longer there. But the tradition of this simple bow making technique continues on in our family at Christmas time.

Last year when daughter Erin & husband Rob came home for the holidays her gifts had the infamous bows on them as well...she too had watched her mother as a youngster and picked up this bow making unbeknownst to me! It was at that moment last year that I realized just how special these bows really are. They will always remind us of Grandpa Bud, and how fitting...he was so kind & giving.
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LET'S MAKE A BOW!

You will need:
Various colors & widths of ribbon
Roll of white curling ribbon
Scissors


Wrap ribbon around 4 fingers that are slightly spread apart...wrap around fingers 8 times. Cut ribbon.

Slide off fingers and fold bundle in half.


Cut off each side at an angle at the fold, forming a V.

Here is where you really could use a 3rd hand, so I use my mouth to hold the still folded cut bundle while I cut about 12" of curling ribbon.
Slide curling ribbon in between folded bundle and tie tightly around ribbon in a double knot.
Now is the fun part. Beginning on the inner most loop, begin pulling the loops outward towards the center of the bow in a twisting fashion; alternating from left to right as you pull the loops out. Remember, it is important that you twist as you bring the loop to the outside and use of some force will hold loops into place.





Now turn the bow and do the same for the other side in the same fashion.


Tie a long piece of ribbon around your box. Tie in a knot to secure.


Tie bow to the ribbon on your box with the long ends of the curling ribbon. Tie in a double knot to secure.
Curl the ends of the curling ribbon with scissors.



Trim any loose ends of ribbon to a desired length if necessary.

Make any adjustments to the loops on the bow & wahlah...you have just made a Gervais Jewelry Store Bow! Wasn't that easy & fun?


Until tomorrow,
Brenda

Brrrrrrr........

You know it is cold outside when you wake to windows that look like my kitchen windows looked today! I must say mother nature does make some beautiful art...don't you think?

You know it is cold outside when you hear the snow crunching.

You know it is cold outside when your garage door doesn't want to open...such is the case of mine this morning!


You know it is cold outside when you see rainbows on each side of the sun and it isn't raining out....we call these sun dogs here in the cold parts of the country.

My how quickly can the weather change? We enjoyed upper 40's on Saturday and today we are in the icebox at minus 8 degrees (30 degrees below zero with wind chill)! I must say if you are baking and need to chill any dough today it is fastest just to set it out in the garage...it is chilled in a lickety split!

Today we are going to spend some time in the kitchen making some quick and easy holiday snacks. Quick & easy...that is what I like!

HOT PARTY NUTS

Make up a batch of these and put into a glass container, topped off with a big red ribbon for a quick & easy gift for your office gift exchange or secret santa gifts. Attach the recipe too, if you'd like!

3/4 pound nuts (I use whole cashews & almonds)

1 egg white (beat until frothy)

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon oregano

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Toss nuts into egg white and stir thoroughly. Sprinkle seasonings over nuts and stir to mix evenly. Bake at 300 degrees for 25 minutes.

ROLO TURTLES

1 Rolo + 1 Pretzel + 1 Pecan = Delicious!

"A little sweet, a little salty & a little gooey & a little crunchy....a perfect combination!"

Rolo Candies
Round Pretzels

Pecan Halves

Directions:
Preheat oven to 250 degrees and line a cookie sheet with foil. Place pretzels flat on the foil-lined cookie sheet. Place 1 Rolo on each pretzel. Place in oven for 4-5 minutes or until Rolos become soft. Immediately after removing pretzels from oven, place a pecan halve on each Rolo and very lightly press down to spread chocolate/caramel over pretzel. Let stand or place in refrigerator until chocolate/caramel hardens.
Goodies will keep for a good while in an air tight container.

Tomorrow we are going to take a break from the kitchen & we are going to wrap gifts....see you tomorrow,

Brenda

It's a cookie bakin' day....

Welcome back to day 2 of the 12 Days of Christmas!

The weather outside today is cold, snowy & windy...a good day to put on a Christmas CD and spend the day in the kitchen baking Christmas cookies.

CHERRY CHOCOLATE KISSES
"The pretty pink color comes from the cherries and cherry liquid; no food coloring is necessary. They taste like chocolate covered cherries....delicious!"

1 cup butter (no substitutes), softened

1 cup sifted powdered sugar

1/8 tsp salt

2 teaspoons maraschino cherry liquid

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup maraschino cherries (chopped) I prefer mine chopped quite fine, so I run them through my small food processor

granulated sugar

48 Hershey's chocolate kisses

Heat oven to 325 degrees F. Beat butter in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add powdered sugar and salt; beat till combined. Beat in cherry liquid and almond extract till combined. Beat in flour until thoroughly mixed and them add cherries; mix well.

Shape dough into 1" balls and then roll in sugar. Place balls 2" apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 12 minutes. Remove from oven; press an unwrapped candy kiss on each cookie. Return cookies to oven and bake an additional 2 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned on the bottom. Transfer to wire racks; cool. Makes 48.

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CANDY CANE SPRITZ
"These cookies are so easy to make & will receive rave reviews from your family & guests."

1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
1 package (3-ounce) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon pure peppermint extract (can substitute vanilla or almond if you prefer)
2 cups all-purpose flour
Red paste food coloring

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In large bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar and vanilla and beat until fluffy. Reduce speed to low; gradually beat in flour until blended. Transfer half of dough to small bowl; stir or knead in enough red food coloring to tint dough a deep red.

Form each section of dough into a log about the length of your spritz gun. Now cut each log in half lengthwise. Put a cut red and white log together and gently twist the two sections together in a candy cane fashion and then place into your spritz gun fitted with the star tip or a piping disk.

Press dough in 5-inch strips, 1 1/2 inches apart, on ungreased large cookie sheet. (For "finished" ends, cut off each strip from tip of cookie press with paring knife.) Bend 1 end of each strip to shape into candy cane.
Bake cookies 12 to 14 minutes or until lightly browned on bottom. Cool on cookie sheet on wire rack 3 minutes. With pancake turner, carefully transfer cookies to wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough. Store cookies in tightly covered container at room temperature up to 2 weeks, or in freezer up to 3 months

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COOKIE DO'S & DON'TS

"You can ensure cookie baking success by choosing high-quality ingredients and using them correctly. Here are some tips about ingredients."

*Use the right fat option. When a recipe calls for butter it is important to use butter. Many margarines contain considerable amounts of water and will yield undesirable cookies. Butter gives cookies wonderful flavor and ensures good results.

*If you want to use margarine instead of butter, use only stick margarine that contains at least 80 percent vegetable oil. Margarine will produce a softer dough, requiring a need to chill it longer then directed. Spreadable tub margarines contain more water than oil and should never be used for baking.

*There is no need to sift flour when making cookies, just simply stir the flour before measuring. Accurate measuring will ensure good texture of your goodies. Always measure flour in nested type metal or plastic measuring cups. Do not pack the flour, but gently spoon scoop the flour into the measuring cup. Level off the top with a straight edge of a metal spatula.

*When making cut out cookies, work with half the dough at a time. Keep the other half refrigerated. Roll dough on a pastry cloth with a stockinette-covered rolling pin. Use powdered sugar rather then flour on your cloth as necessary to prevent sticking. The use of flour can toughen cookies.

*Dip the cookie cutter into powdered sugar between cuts to keep dough from sticking to it.

*Handle the dough as little as possible. Combine dough scraps into thick "pancakes", and chill before re rolling.

*Decorate cookies with colored sugar immediately after rolling and cutting. Once the surface dries a bit the sugar won't stick as well.

*Wait until cookies have cooled completely before icing them.

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HOST A COOKIE EXCHANGE

"A good reason to simply get together with friends & neighbors for a holiday party."

Here's how it works:

*Pick a date and send, phone or email invitations.

*Ask guests to bring one kind of special homemade holiday cookie (no store-bought sweets allowed). Specify the number of cookies each person must bring; three dozen is probably the minimum to ensure that each guest takes home a good sampling.

*Suggest that everyone bring extra containers for transporting their cookies home in.

*Ask the guests to provide copies of their recipes and share the origins or some other story about the cookie recipe.

*The number of cookies guests take home is based on the number they brought. "no bakee, no takee".

*Also ask that the guest brings a separate plate of cookies for a tasting buffet. Depending on the time of day, consider serving a salad luncheon or a potluck supper.

*Turn your cookie exchange into a fund-raiser for a favorite charity. Ask guest to bring a gift for a sponsored family or local food pantry.

*Combine a holiday activity, such as caroling, sledding or ice-skating with a family cookie exchange.

Until tomorrow,

brenda

The decorating begins....

Welcome to the 12 days of Christmas decorating, baking & cooking on my blog!

I am just starting my Christmas decorating today...I'm not one that has to have my Christmas decorations up the day after Thanksgiving. I prefer to do it a couple weeks before, so my tree still looks & smells fresh on Christmas day.

I make my annual trip up to Spencer to Del's Garden Center to purchase tree, roping, wreaths, spruce tips & whatever great things they have for holiday decorating the first Sunday after Thanksgiving. The scent of fresh pine fills the nostrils as you open the door of the garden center. Inside the building you will find several woman feeding fresh cut pine into a noisy machine that staples, twists and whatever else it does and out the other end comes the freshly made pine roping. Pretty neat to see your pine roping made right before your very eyes! Their wreaths are hand made there as well and are always nice & plump....just the way I like them!

I hang 5 wreaths on our house, 1 on the front door & one for each big window.

This year I am using a candy cane ribbon...sort of stepping outside of the box here!

The weather was a very mild 30 something degrees today...warm enough to be outside in just a big warm & woolly sweater.

A perfect day to start the Christmas decorating on the outside of the house. Come along with my to my backyard as I add some Christmas decor to the outdoors...

Big red bulbs are simply hung in our young Service Berry trees throughout the yard. A quick & simple way to add some Christmas cheer to the yard!
So far the squirrels haven't been too curious about them & have left them alone! See all the squirrel tracks in the snow? I was hoping the bulbs might be a diversion for the squirrels and they would leave my bird feeders alone....

I like to add a touch of Christmas to my gardens as well. Here an old wheel barrow that contains flowers in the summer has spruce tips simply tucked into the dirt. Plan to tuck an old pair of ice skates in the barrow tomorrow.

And don't forget about your birdhouses...they look great decorated for the season as well! Here I simply wired fresh pine and a bow to the base of the house. This church birdhouse is one of my favorite birdhouses and is handcrafted by a local Iowa artisan, Ken Bose of Skeeter Creek Fabricators.

Check his website out, his birdhouses are absolutely wonderfully handcrafted & the detail is amazing!

I enjoyed the company of Mr. Cardinal this afternoon as I was outside doing my decorating. He just sat up in the tree and took in what I was doing & would blurt out a chirp every now & again.



Again more fresh pine and viburnum berries picked from our hedge & simply tucked into the snow on my old bench. A great natural holiday vignette for the birds to enjoy.




Here is a piece that I receive as a gift that I have fun with each season. In the summer I line it with a coconut liner and fill in with annual plants. In the fall it was filled with bittersweet and 3 various colored pumpkins. Here I have simply tucked fresh pine and rose hips in it for a cheery holiday planter.

The dried rose hips that I bought from Del's Garden Center are exceptionally big this year...

Aren't they wonderful!

I'm hoping to have our tree (a 9 foot partially sheared Fraser Fir) brought into the house this evening. It is on my honey do list for tonight. I will let it set overnight and the decorating begins on the inside of the house.....

CANDY CANE COCOA
"A great drink to warm the kids up after a day of sledding or snowman building."

4 cups whole milk

3 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate, chopped

4 peppermint candy canes, crushed

whip cream in a can

2 to 3 extra candy canes

In a saucepan, heat milk until hot, but not boiling. Whisk in the chocolate and 4 crushed candy canes until melted and smooth. Pour hot cocoa into mugs and garnish with whipped cream. Serve each with a candy cane for stirring.

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After a day spent outdoors placing garland, hanging wreaths etc, this is what greeted me as I came in the door....our "fur child" Agassi!

Yep, I could use a catnap myself!

Happy Holidays,

brenda

The 12 Days of Christmas...

Join me right here on my blog as I bring you 12 days of Christmas recipes, decorating ideas & tips, holiday traditions, holiday history and a surprise as well! So....starting Saturday December 13th there will be a new post each day for 12 days, with the last to be on Christmas Eve. Please join me each day as we celebrate the Christmas season.

Holiday blessings,

brenda

Soups On!

We eat lots of home-made soups at our house during the cold, chilly winter months. One of my favorites is Chicken Tortilla Soup.... so I thought I'd share this recipe with you today.

The ingredients are.....

Chicken Tortilla Soup

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 onion, chopped

3 Tablespoons butter or margarine

2 Tablespoons flour

Three 14 oz. cans chicken broth

4 cups half & half

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 cup salsa

1 (15 oz.) can creamed corn

Rotisserie cooked chicken from the grocery store (chopped)

2 teaspoons cumin

1 packet dry fajita seasoning

2 teaspoons dried cilantro

8 oz. shredded Monterrey Cheddar cheese

Bag of tortilla chips (we like the hint of lime ones)

In a large pot over medium heat, saute the garlic and onion in the butter or margarine for 5 minutes. Add flour and stir well, cooking for 1 minute more. Add the broth and half & half. Bring to a boil and reduce to low heat.

Add the soup, salsa, corn, chicken, cumin, fajita seasoning, cilantro & half of the bag of cheese. Stir and continue to heat on low temp for 30 - 45 minutes.

Ladle into a bowl and top with crushed tortilla chips & grated cheese. Serve with additional chips for dipping. Enjoy!

until later,
brenda

NEW 3 strand floss from Valdani!

- Tea Dyed Stone-

-Dark Antique Gold-

-Golden Moss-

-Yummy Pumpkin-

-Earth Shades-

-Muddy Bark-

-Golden Browns-

The much anticipated 7 beautiful new colors of 3 strand embroidery floss from Valdani arrived yesterday. Oh, once again I feel like a child with a new box of crayons! This floss works beautifully for punch needle embroidery...if you haven't tried this floss yet you really should! These colors are now posted on our website and are available for purchase.

My next design cycle will be for punch needle...can't wait to use these beautiful new colors from Valdani. I am currently working on my punchneedle design that will be featured on our 2009 calender. Further details on this to follow.

happy stitchin',

brenda

The Fisher Girls

Anybody else out there in blog land enjoy old photos? I spend lots of time on ebay looking at old photos...I love old portraits & snapshots. Not sure whether it is the clothing styles, the hairstyles or the frumpy smiles some of the woman possess...I just love old photos! I'm not certain of the age of this picture, but judging from the hairstyles these lovely ladies are sporting I am guessin the late 50's early 60's. My mother had this same hair style in some of our family photos when I was a small child. BUT I could be wrong...not sure if Mom stayed current and up to date with her hairstyles!!

One day while doing my "old pictures" search on ebay I stumbled upon the above picture and new I HAD to own it...so the biddin' began! You see I have 2 sisters and this picture just said "The Fisher Girls" all over it. Fisher is my maiden name by the way. We seem to always be called "The Fisher Girls" when we are at home for any home town gathering...not sure why, but I'm guessing it is because they can't remember who is Brenda, who is Sandra or who is Linda!

You all know that I spend most of my life doing needlework. AND my sister Sandra (aka Sandy ~Pieces from my Heart) spends most of her life quilting AND sister Linda who is the bank pres spends her spare time sewing business suits. So this picture was so "us"... fast forwarded many many years of course!! We have just taken up our newest form of needlework, crocheting doilies, and it appears we are having a great time. Don't you think?!! Be sure to click on the photo so you can zoom in on us!

After the picture arrived I had the pleasure of deciding who was who in the photo. I am the youngest sister and I felt the lady on the left appeared to look the youngest, so we'll call her Brenda. Don't you love my new saddle shoes? My sister Sandra is the middle child in the family and is the skinny one of the bunch, so we'll call the thinner lady in the middle Sandra. Sandra would also be the one to be wearin' bobby socks! Linda is much much much older then I so we'll call the older lady on the right Linda. Linda would certainly have rick rack sewn on her dress, complete with a brooch pin! Oh this is getting fun...sorry sisters!

Off to crochet,

brenda

Happy Holidays from Country Stitches!

All orders placed between now and December 23rd totally $10.00 or more will receive the above cross stitch pattern FREE! This early style table runner is stitched on osnaburg and backed with a red civil war reproduction fabric. Fill the pocket with vintage pipe cleaner candy canes, sweet annie or fresh pine. This is a project that you can easily get done in a weekend.

Holiday Blessings,

brenda

P.S. Don't forget tomorrow Monday December 1st is FREE shipping day (Cyber Monday)...read below post for details!

Cyber Monday & Free Pattern!

Come shop with us on Monday December 1st as Country Stitches is taking part in the ceremonial kick-off of the holiday online shopping season (Cyber Monday). We will be offering free shipping on all online orders placed on Monday December 1st between the hours of 10:00 am - 9:00 pm CST. This offer is good on orders shipped within the United States. No exceptions...thanks for understanding!

ALSO.... all orders placed between November 28th & December 23rd will receive our annual "FREE PATTERN" give away. The free pattern is a new cross stitch design of mine and has never been sold or will be sold as a pattern.

Happy Thanksgiving,

brenda

Back Home & Back to Work

Beckham all snuggled up in his Teddy Bear Fleece & ready to leave the hospital. He is not quite 48 hours old in this picture. Just as content as could be!

I spent a few days with Baby Beckham, Mommy & Daddy and had the time of my life! Being a grandparent is a wonderful experience. It gives you warm fuzzies watching your own children become these wonderful & loving parents...a neat experience in itself! Beckham is very very fortunate, he has great parents! I just couldn't get enough of those darling little fingers & toes... I took lots of pictures and they are printed off...need to buy my "BRAG" book today, oh how fun!

Wishing everyone a very Blessed Thanksgiving!

Lots to be thankful for,

brenda

Look who's here!

Beckham Christian was born Thursday, November 20th at 8:30 pm. He tipped the scale at 7 lbs. 15 oz & 20" tall. Mother and baby Beckham are doing good & he is a very content baby so far. I am spending this week away from the office so I can enjoy this time and help Erin in any way that I can.

Until later,
brenda

It's Done!

The "Snowy Meadow" cross stitch pattern is now done! This piece features Parson Brown out on a winter wonderland skate...won't you come join him? Lace up those skates!! This piece is worked on Dirty Edinboro linen using 2 strands over 2 threads. Piece shown above is framed in an 8" x 10" frame. Stitch count is 114 wide by 154 high. We will have this pattern & also pattern/fabric/floss kit posted this evening on our website for purchase.

Stay warm,

brenda

Coming Soon!!

Here is a sneek peak at a new cross stitch pattern design that is in the works & is close to being complete. I am just showing you a snippet of this design. This finished size of this design is approximately 6" x 8 1/2". Stay tuned as updates on this guy will be posted right here on this blog.

Baby UGGS & bursting with excitement....

Our daughter Erin & husband Rob are expecting their 1st baby & our 1st grandchild. Ultra sound due date says November 27th and actual due date is December 2nd. So you see, the count down has begun here at grandma's house....hmmmmm am I going to be Grandma, or Grammy (this is what I called my Grandmother), or Granny Brenda??? A brand new baby just in time for Christmas...how exciting!

One day shortly after we got the the exciting news from Erin & Rob a Hanna Andersson catalog was in my mail box. I LOVED Hanna Andersson and I sort of forgot about this company. I ordered clothing from them when my children were young. These clothes were some of the last ones I parted with as the kids outgrew them (there may even be a few pieces in a box around this big old house of mine, for all I know;-). I was amazed....how did Hannah Andersson know I was approaching grandmother hood? Do you suppose they have a way of keeping track of how old we are really growing? Once we reach that "grandparent" age, we magically become part of their mailing list again. Hmmm....perhaps this is why I haven't received a Victoria's Secret magazine in some time!!

Well about an hour after the magazine arrived, I had several little "boy" items ordered online. They even have UGGS...can you believe it!!??? I couldn't resist, I had to order a pair! Oh how warm would these little fuzzy, fur lined UGGS keep a babies feet? Does this sound like a grandma-to-be who is trying to convince herself that it IS okay that she just spent 50 bucks on a pair of baby booties? The UGGS were on back order for what seemed like an eternity. They finally did arrive and I am know realizing that they will fit the baby in about August...the heat of summer! So they do need to be returned for a larger size some day, but in the mean time I have enjoyed peeking at them in their precious little shoe box!!

The nursery is now done & is just waiting for the arrival of this little one. Dave & I spent last weekend at their home putting the finishing touches on the room. They have chose the MONKEY SEE MONKEY DO theme from Pottery Barn for the nursery, far from the "safe" mint green color schemes that I used in my day. The ultra sound says boy...crossing our fingers it is correct as this nursery says "boy" all over it. They decided they would like the stripes and letters on the wall above the crib just as pictured in the catalog. Of course no one at Pottery Barn could tell us if these stripes were a wall paper border or simply painted on...after some thought we decided that for all we know the stripes were computer generated and just simply copy & pasted onto the photo!

We decided we'd give it a try, and paint the stripes on the wall. We used a masking tape called Frog Tape and it worked great...I highly recommend this tape! I was quite concerned of any goof ups made during the stripe painting process due to the fact that we had little or no wall paint left. Any mess ups would mean buying more wall paint and starting over. No pressure on Grandpa Dave (the painter in charge) at all! The stripes of bright white, orange & chocolate brown turned out perfect and looked great on the powdery blue wall. Really brought the whole room together with the sheets & quilt. The wooden letters that spell out the babies name were also hung that evening before we left. Now when guests come to visit they must run upstairs & take down the letters as they are trying to keep the name a secret. :-) We joked a few times and wondered what girls name we could come up with using the letters from their chosen boys name if the ultra sound was misread. I think there was one possibility for a girls name....

I have thoroughly enjoyed this whole pregnancy of my daughters and have gained a wealth of knowledge about products that I didn't even know exist. Oh my, how things have changed! (I think I remember my Mom saying this...oh know, isn't there some mirror mirror on the wall saying?) Today's strollers are no longer the Umbrella type that I used. Today's strollers are not only a stroller, they are the car seat & the infant carrier too! Playpens are now Pack N Plays. Then there is the device that warms the wet wipes so they aren't cold on the little ones bottom. There is also a waste basket of sorts contraption that holds something like 180 dirty diapers....not sure of this & really don't see a need to keep 180 dirty diapers in my house, stink or no stink! Then have you ever wondered how these cute, young pregnant woman are still wearing their regular jeans?? It is the belly band...what a great idea, whomever came up with it! It is a tube of knit fabric that you wear around the waist of your regular low-rise jeans. Your jeans are unzipped and this belly band simply holds everything together and keeps your pants from falling off! And baby booties are now called UGGS!

2 weeks and counting,

brenda