Relaxing

 Greta and her Dad are relaxing in a warm foot bath.  Then she painted her nails.  Don't know if she painted his or not, but he would probably joined in as he is a very good father.

My Blog has been inching along recording our comings in and goings out for 10 years.  Not as many goings out for me.

Year is closing down.  Hope my family is blessed in 2017.

Russian Tea Recipe

 Larry's Mom used to make this Russian Tea in the winter.  It says to use 3 Tablespoons per cup.  That is way too much 3 teaspoons to a cup is plenty.  For me I just use one and add a teaspoon of honey.  Here is recipe that we used Erin:
1 cup instant tea  plain not sweetened
2 cups tang drank mix
2 pkgs. of unsweetened lemonade kool aid
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves

Mix this up in a large bowl and then transfer to pint jars.  I measured the tang drank (I did not buy tang brand) and seems like there was 3 cups so I altered the other ingredients to use all the tang.  It called for lemonade mix but Laura and I just used the packs of kool aid.  Looks like below.

Here is a better picture of my new table.  I think it is beautiful.

 Helen sewed rag for me to make her rag rugs.  One finished and one to go.  This one really looks nice.  Hope next one will, also.

Making Space

Astrid's closet is the smallest of the three downstairs closets in the bedrooms.  For Christmas she requested a closet organizer.  Laura bought this one off the internet.  Pop had to help saw some of the metal off as it was too long.  Before Astrid only had one long rod and she has this much space.  You can see the color of her doors.  I bet Helen likes it as it reminds me of Helen's kitchen color.

She painted these mountains on her wall and outlined them with lights.  The paint is chalk paint.  She can write on it.

Hand Made Gift Exchange

 Ingrid and Sigrid decorated Sugar Cookies for our Christmas Eve dessert.  They were yummy.

 We had a baked potato bar--both sweet and white potatoes and a pot of chili.  I had hot dogs in the chili and some made a chili dog.

 Pop got my name.  He made me a hand crafted sofa table.  The top is cedar and the botton yellow pine.  I love it.

 Sigrid made Greta a bow hanger for her new room.  Pop assisted Sigrid.

 Sigrid threw in all her old hair bows...bunches of them.  This was a special gift.

 Greta gave Ingrid a hand made tree ornament and a picture she created.

 I crocheted Greg a throw.

 Greg craved Sigrid a rolling pin.  Sig loves to cook.  It is carved from hickory.

 Astrid made her Dad super hero signs for his room.

 Laura painted a Bible verse on this rock from Falling Water for Erin.  It is from Psalms--Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.

 Erin made Astrid a first aid kit with special instructions from a special nurse and these dried green beans and maybe dried???peas???

 Clayton molded Laura a chicken on a nest from clay!  Double meaning there.

 And he made this cross.

Greta with one of her bows.

 Eric mad Clayton a checker board and the pinup game.  Clayton was pleased.

 Ingrid decorated Pop a change bowl to put his change in and also roosted him some peanuts.  He is relishing the peanuts now.  Below are the super hero designs Astrid made for her Dad.  His room at school is decorated with super heros.

Thankful for all my family this Christmas--loyal, loving husband, level headed daughters, supportive son in laws, and the best grands in the world.  Praise be to my Father!

Devotional is coming to the last pages, but Larry ordered me a new one last night.

Reverie is the Sunday of the mind.  Rest awhile.  Time so spent is not lost.  Walk through the fields.  The fisherman can not be losing time when he is mending his nets.

The little cares that fretted me
I lost them yesterday
Out in the fields with God.
Gen. 24:63
Isaac went out to meditate in the field at eventide.

Christmas Eve

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve.  We are meeting at Laura's for gift exchange.  We drew names Thanksgiving.  Our gifts had to be hand made.  Can't wait to see what everyone made.
Astrid has gotten to work several days at the dress shop.  She has modeled some of the items.  She called this a mustard colored dress.  Surely, looks nice on Astrid.

Greta Is Talented

Elmwood Baptist Church Christmas Program

Sorry for the sideways pictures of Greta but csn't seem to turn them.  Erin shared these with me and I want to recall them later.  Clayton loves the parts where he gets to dress in costume.

Corgi

Astrid is getting a new puppy when she is ready to leave her mother.  She is a Corgi.

A Little Christmas Joy

Trust and Rest

Ps. 37: 5  Trust also in Him.
From my Devotional yesterday.
Trust is the heart word of faith.  Let us trust in Him through all of the delays, in spite of all of the difficulties, in the face of all denials.   Trust and He will bring it to pass.  The way will open, the cloud will be lifted and the end will be peace.

Trust and rest when all around thee

Puts thy faith to sorest test; 

Let no fear or foe confound thee,

Wait for God and trust and rest.

Trust and rest with heart abiding,

Like a birdling in its nest,

Underneath His feathers hiding,

Fold thy wings and trust and rest,

My devotional was written in 1928, Streams in the Desert,  by L. B. Cowman.

Larry got it for me last Christmas.  Final pages are turning.  It has been a present help to me all of 2016.

Merry Christmas From the Basketball Team

Astrid is on the far right in gray shirt.

Paper Plate Christmas Band

Clayton helped ring in the Christmas season yesterday at his school.

Finished

I finished my project for the name drawing gift exchange this morning.

 Sigrid and Marlie attended manners class yesterday.

Helen flew out to AZ for Christmas.   She said it was 75 degrees yesterday.

New Leaf

Why do I never learn?  Every year when Laura goes back to school, I tend to almost quit walking until I decide to walk here at the house and then I am off again.  I just hate getting all bundled up and driving 6 miles to walk.

So...today I walked here almost an hour.  Don't want to let my knees freeze up and that is what they do when I sit around.  Last year, I started walking here by late October.  This year it is December 11.  Hope next year I remember what to do when it get cold---walk out the door and take off down the lane.

Partying With Ingrid

 Ingrid picked triple layer delight for her birthday cake.  It has a pie crust powdered sugar bottom, cream cheese layer, chocolate pudding layer and cool whip on top.  Laura doubled the chocolate pudding layer.  She put two big boxes of instant pudding but withheld a cup of the milk.  Ingrid does not like nuts so no pecans.  Of course, it was delicious.  I slipped  back and got a second (half) piece.  As I say often, I really enjoy what I don't fix.

 Blowing out the candles!

 We got Ingrid some Zephora eye makeup. She really loved it.  When we got over to her house,  Laura said she was putting on mascara.  You can see she has on an old tee shirt and shorts....but that makeup makes a teen feel "dressed".

 Here she is trying the palette.  She sure has beautiful eyes!