Or On A Rainy Day...

There are a million or more puddles to splash through here in the Pacific Northwest and my new houndstooth rubber boots are just the ticket to stomp through each and every one that I can find. (The boots are courtesy of Brittany. A Christmas present that came late. Boy, was she fussing and fuming looking out the window for that UPS truck!)
Riff is wise enough to know that I am cooped up inside with my Puddle Ducks all week and need an outing. He suggested that we take a drive somewhere tommorrow. I'm always up for a drive, come rain or shine. The hard part is deciding which way to go ~ north, south or east. We can't go west from here ~ unless we have an ocean-going boat, which we do not. So many choices and beautiful places to go. I still have hours to decide, but which ever way we choose, you can bet your hinnie that I will be wearing those houndtooth boots!
May you all be blessed with weekend adventures...and puddles....

Happy Happy Day After...

Merry Merry Christmas from our house to yours...
We had a wonderful day ~ was able to talk to all of our kids, sisters and brothers and parents except for my brother Joshua in New York. Our phone calls stretched from our home on the Oregon coast to our state's biggest city, Portland, on to the Blue Mountains in the far corner of our beautiful Oregon, forward to the plains of Northern California, rushing through the high desert of Wyoming, and finally to the wintery town of Baumholder in Germany. Christmas would not be Christmas for us without the connection of all of our loved ones near and far.


Noah was a very excited little guy. His eyes were all bugged out as Mommy was opening his presents for him. He was trying to grab all that pretty paper and put it in his mouth just as quickly as possible. He was looking around as if to say "WHAT is going ON?!!" Very funny and cute.


I was handing out gifts madly when I paused for a moment and noticed that Muffin had snuck her way upstairs and was happily engulfed in paper, ribbons and boxes. What a silly pooch!


Remember those gy-normous stockings that I knit and felted for Dustin and Shilo? They didn't think Santa could fill them, but fill them he did. Their smiles were just as gy-normous...


Boy did I ever have a hard time keeping up on my "daily" Christmas trivia! The picture above represents the gift that will be coming the lucky winners way ~ I just don't know for sure what that gift is yet ~ could be made from the fabric ~ could be made from the yarn. The next week will tell the tale. Jeni and Stacey will be getting packages in the mail before the end of January. Thanks to everyone for playing along and for all of your information you added with your answers. I really enjoyed playing the game.

I hope all of you had the Merriest of Christmases this year!

Frosty The Snowman

The answer to yesterdays trivia question is:
"Frosty the Snowman". This snowman is one that Shilo and her friend David built when we had a big-for-us snow here last winter.

Today's trivia question is:
In The Nutcracker what is the godfather's gift to Clara?

Leave your answer in my comments for another chance at the after-Christmas drawing.

Merry Christmas!

A Steamer...

Yesterdays trivia answer:
In Holland, Santa arrives on a steamer (or ship). But Jodi went another step and told us that he arrives by ship then makes his rounds in a sleigh. Thank you, Jodi!

When I was a kid, Santa came to our house on an evening night the week before Christmas in a firetruck. Such a special memory. He would come running into the house (any house in our tiny town with the porch light on) with paper bags stuffed full of nuts, chocolate drops, gumdrops and an orange for every kid there. Even after we moved to our country home, we would go into Grandma Simmons house for this special evening. The light is still shining in my eyes....

Todays trivia question is:
What song contains the line "There must have been some magic in that old silk hat they found." ?

Leave your answer in my comments to be entered in the after-Christmas drawing.

Noah is feeling much better today. His temperature spiked up to 102 during the night, but the doctor said that his lungs and ears are clear, just a viral infection. He is doing so much better already. Our little grandbaby is smiling again. Yah!!

Merry Christmas~

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke...

The answer to yesterdays trivia question is:
The two Gospels that tell the most complete Biblical Christmas story are the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Read them for yourselves. It's beautiful...

Todays question:
In Holland, does Santa use a sleigh or a steamer for transportation?

At our house, our Christmas preparations are winding down, just waiting for the big day. There are no presents under the tree at this point. I thought the temptation for the little puddle ducks hands would just be to great, so instead all of our past Christmas stuffed animals and our little kid Christmas books are hanging out under the tree. Santa is there, along with Rudolph, Bullwinkle dressed up as Santa, a teddy bear dressed up as a reindeer, a gingerbread man and a few other Christmas creatures setting alongside Christmas in the Big Woods, Winter Poems, A Cranberry Christmas, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. The little ones are loving to hear these stories almost daily and all have their favorite stuffies that they grab when they come through the door.

Our tiny Noah is sick for the first time. The Doctors office couldn't get him in today, as two of the Doctors were out sick, so he has an appointment in the morning. Poor little guy has a fever and a very rattly chest. I'll give you an update tomorrow...

Merry Christmas!

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus...

(originally uploaded here )
The answer to yesterdays trivia question is:
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. An oldie AND a goodie!

Todays trivia question is:
What two Gospels tell the most complete biblical Christmas story?

Leave your comment for another chance in the after-Christmas drawing.

Lots of Christmas coming from my craft room today, but, nope, I'm not going to show you yet. Too many sneaky eyes out there...
Merry Christmas!

Blizzard!

(originally uploaded here )
The answer to yesterdays trivia question is:
In Laura Ingalls Wilders book, The Long Winter, the Christmas barrel was late in arriving due to a good old-fashioned prairie blizzard. When we were kids my mom read all the Laura books to us out loud in the evenings. I have read them to my children as well, and we have started Brittanys collection of the set.

Todays trivia question is:
What song features a child sneaking downstairs and catching his mommy in a compromising situation?


Be sure to leave your answers in my comments for a chance to win the after-Christmas drawing!

Cindy Lou Who...

(originally uploaded by Nick )
The answer to yesterdays trivia question is:
Cindy Lou Who is the little girl who mistook the Grinch for Santa Claus. She caught him stuffing all the presents and the Christmas tree up the chimney. He told her that he was only taking the tree to fix the lights that were out. What a mean old Grinch. His heart hadn't grown 3 sizes yet....

Todays trivia question is:
In The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder, what weather condition delays the delivery of the Christmas barrel?

Leave your answer in my comments for another chance to be entered into the after-Crhistmas drawing for something fun and handmade!


I participated in the Secret Santa Swap hosted by Donna at Chookyblue this year and received this fabulous quilt wall-hanging from Lynda at Heavens to Bettsy
Isn't this fantastic? She did such a beautiful job and I absolutely love it! The colors are just perfect and would fit in almost all of the rooms in our house. I have hung it in my dining room for now, but think that it may find it's way to our bedroom after I paint sometime this winter. Thank you, Lynda. I love it! (yes, I opened it as soon as it came. I'm kind of like a little kid, you know. Can't wait!)
Merry Christmas!