Sunday, November 10, 2024

The Chapman Christmas Den is DONE!!!

 Summer headed back to Arkansas Friday morning!
She was such a blessing to us while she was here - getting the truck inspected on the down low - this is a sensitive thing since LD doesn't drive anymore and she just saved us a lot of anxiety by getting this done while I was with Louis Dean at his eye doctor - whom Summer knows and recommended!
She and I had a great time together watching Christmas movies and talking and catching up!


I love my daughter and she is so special to me....I guess your first born child always is AND she and I are both Baby Boomers! I was born in 1948 and she in 1965 - we are just 15 years apart! We still connect in an unique way - saying the same thing at the same time and even our mannerisms.


On her way out of town - Summer did one last thing for us.
She took our Spectrum equipment back and closed our account.
We went back to Frontier and will stay! They ran all new lines and set up and we are loving it!


I'm painting a little bit every day when possible - trying to finish the Santas for my grandsons.
I want to gift them by Thanksgiving or shortly thereafter.
How cool is that - my grands asked for paintings????


I went with my collection of Santa ornaments and I think that was the right decision.


I've been working in the den for over a week but I do believe it is DONE!


Or mostly, anyway!


Nita is always in my heart and on my mind.


Decorating for me - or for any season - is like basing in the canvas - and then putting in all the details.

Saturday was a beautiful one and we were out in the front yard picking up pecans - praising God for a harvest after the last three years of nothing!


We had a few helpers from next door!
Stephanie and Mark and their adorable grands all pitched in to help us!

Sunday morning I woke up just in time to watch Fellowship Church online before getting ready to go watch the Bell grand girls play hockey!


Louis Dean was out picking up more pecans when I was leaving.


He is such a sweetheart!
LD loves shelling pecans and I love baking with them!
Tomorrow I will be making him not one but TWO pecan pies!
One to serve Louis Dean and one for the freezer!

The two grandmas dressed up for the game!


Mike's mom and me!


Just look at these girls and their mom!
The game was so fun and all THREE girls scored goals!!

I was thinking about meals on my way home. 
LD has not been impressed with the last couple of menus but I remembered he mentioned we hadn't had Subway in awhile.


I fixed that!!
We ate and watched football - I'll say no more about that!
Then I took a nap and got up to put the finishing touches on the den.


It's roomier since I took out the game table chairs and added two smaller scale ones.





More Santas will be going here on the baby grand - as soon as I can find them!


I still need to decorate this fifth tree in the den!
Maybe in small red bulbs?


I'm loving this room!


Hallmark Christmas movies are always playing when I'm in here.


Comfy and cozy!


This one room is such a blessing to me.


The rest of the house is trashed - you have no idea!


Tomorrow I will get up and finish the kitchen!
When I get tired I will take a break in my Christmas den and rest.
Decorating for fall and Christmas/winter is a huge undertaking and at 76 years of age - I am grateful I can still do this.
I am using the changing of the seaons to sort, purge and simplify things.
Summer will be here in a couple of weeks to pick up several tubs of Christmas 'debris!'
I'm parting with all my western themed decorations and most of my snowmen collection.

I am not using the handpainted ornaments I have made this year.
For some reason I am feeling the need for change.


My Knight in Shining Overalls is amazing.
He is always there to do whatever I need him to do.

Did you know it's 44 days to Christmas??

My  Christmas cards and canvasses have been shipped and should be here on Tuesday! Then the addressing shall begin!!


An early Merry Christmas greeting!