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!
All of your decorations look beautiful and you make the perfect choice with the Santas on the tree. So adorable. I am pretty sure that if I were your grandchild, I would ask for one of your Santa paintings as well. Doesn't it make you feel so good knowing that your grandsons value your paintings? Daughters are very special and yours sure must be...This was so sweet of her to take care of the things you all needed taken care of... Wishing you a fun-filled week...
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely looking like Christmas in your home, Linda, and the den is especially inviting to sit and watch holiday movies. We will put up our tree before we leave to visit family and friends in NJ for Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteWeill it's all just beautiful Linda....the family is going to love coming home for Christmas.....I love your green suited Santa...your grandson is going to treasure this painting!
ReplyDeleteI adore your Santa paintings, and your whole sense of decorating, love it. I want to get my Christmas things out now! Also, I was born in 1965, your Summer looks way younger than I do, she's lovely. :). (My oldest daughter is only 19 years younger than I am, we are closer in age than she is with the youngest, they are 22 and a half years apart, my oldest and youngest. Sorry, I go off on tangents.) I love reading your blog though, and I am so impressed with pecan trees, and your cozy home. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSanta won't have any trouble finding your place! It's lovely and I like the use of Santas.
ReplyDeleteI never thought of using pecans from the pecan tree - dah.
I love your paintings - very sweet the boys wanted that.
You have a terrific family.
I borrowed a poem from one of your posts and am posting it tomorrow - thanks by the way.
I plan to start the decorating this week. We will not be having Thanksgiving Dinner here so I will take my time and put something out every day.:) Oh fresh pecans are the best!! So glad you had your sweet Summer with you for a week. She is a spirit lifter for sure.
ReplyDeleteYou are the real enerjizer bunny!
ReplyDeleteI always clean my decorations out before the season too - and then donate them to a childrens shelter!
ReplyDeleteIt's a Holly Jolly, Chapman Christmas House! ta da!!! love the santa in snow at the end and Amber is no longer the tallest female. love that photo of the four of them.. you could not decorate the bathroom in your country home with what I own in Christmas decorations and I am about to purge all but 1 plastic container, I have 4 and never use but one. next year I might fit it all in a shoe box. he he he... except of course the 17 inch and 20 inch Trees... I am about ready to tackle putton one strand of fairy lights on each tree and keep putting it off. wish I had Summer or a daughter like her. ha ha ha ha ha
ReplyDelete44 days??? Yikes. I will not stress/I will not stress! 🙀
ReplyDeleteFirst off, love your den. What a cozy place to watch Christmas movies or listen to Christmas music. It looks so festive.
See LD string up the lights, just reminded me, we need lights this year and it’s probably too late! I better get cracking or we’ll only have one strand.
You made me laugh when you said, “ The rest of the house is trashed - you have no idea!” trust me, I know! Been there, done that. My house is small and when decorating for Christmas I have to put stuff somewhere while decorating! Ugh! The main thing is you enjoy it, it brings you and Louis Dean closer and you still have the energy to get it done!
You are amazing Linda!!! I wish I had some of your energy. I know just decorating gives you the added boost. The Den is Gorgeous and boy would I love to sit in it and visit with a cup of coffee and one of your famous treats,
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that your Knight in Shining Overalls is so helpful and enjoys doing things for you. You definitely are a match made in heaven.
Love all your Santas and that last greeting could be a future painting.
Sue
I love your Christmas Den! It’s a happy place! I’m so glad I got to meet Summer and you in person a few years ago! She is a kind, caring person!
ReplyDeleteYou and Mike’s mom are adorable at the girls game! Dressed warm and stylish!
I’m so grateful LD is doing well, too! What a blessing you are to each other!
Love you!
Deanna Rabe
The den is a total Santa den!! And I do think red bulbs would be perfect to fit in with the Santa theme. The Quads are so grown that I really have a hard time recognizing them now, except for Harrison! Both grandmas are wearing ponchos!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful home you and Louis Dean have created! So sweet of Summer to help you out. I hope she is feeling well and enjoying life.
ReplyDeleteLoving you Christmas decorations! I know you must have been pooped after all that work! Enjoy the week!
ReplyDeletehugs
Donna
Your home is glittering with Christmas joy! Very festive! We harvest pecans here and we quickly found out about the " pecan picker-uppers"!!! It's, Iike a round cage type thing on a long handle and you push it on the grass and it quickly picks up all the pecans!! Then you just empty the pecans into your bowl or bucket. Kind of like vacuuming the grass!!--- not sure if yall have seen these but it makes the job so much quicker and easier here on our little farm , we love ours, saves our backs! LOL . The feed stores carry them here.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed seeing all the decorations and activities around you and your family and your beautiful Christmas den! And then to smell the pecan pies baking, using your very own pecans! What a treasure that is! I love to just eat the pecans as they are, fresh out of the shell! I wish we could grow them here, as they are so expensive to buy anymore! I love seeing your Santa paintings and ornaments, and how wonderful your grandsons will each have a piece of your special artwork for their very own! I know they will treasure them forever! Enjoy your days ahead, but take time to just rest and enjoy those naps when you can! I can't get through the day without one anymore! And I don't do half the stuff you do! (but you're older than I am! How come?? LOL. ) I enjoyed this post as always. Have a lovely rest of your week.
ReplyDeleteYou always inspire me to get going on my decorating the season! Love all your Santa paintings. So great that your girls each scored a goal and you were there to cheer them on! Enjoy the week!
ReplyDelete