Keeper's Christmas Party....

We had our final keeper's meeting of the year.

This is a picture of our keepers. 

 

We played some really fun games, had some great food, and thoroughly enjoyed each other's company.

 





In this game we had to shake the ping pong balls out of the tissue box without using your hands. Hmmm...looks like someone might be cheating?

 

 

The next game had everyone in stitches! The goal was to pick up a roll of toilet paper with the handle of a plunger. The catch is that the plunger is held between your legs, the toilet paper roll is held between another persons legs, while you're backs are turned to each other. Oh, and you can't use your hands. This was a challenge, but so much fun, as you can see.

 

We also had lots of giveaways, so everyone went home with something nice.

 

 

 

Janice was our host for our little celebration. Her house was decorated so nicely for the Christmas season.

 

 

 Thank you Janice!

Merry Christmas Keepers!

I hope you all have a lovely Christmas filled with family and friends!

 

Blessings,

Julie

 

 

 

 

 





Willie's New Owner is....

                                                                

 

 

"Brandy"

 

Congratulations!! Willlie is all yours.

 

Thank you everyone for your wonderful posts. I enjoyed them so much! I love this time of year and all the magic that it brings.

 

I hope you all have a very blessed Christmas season!

 

Blessings,

Julie

A Winter Giveaway.....

How has your week been? Ours has been busy and full of grandchildren.  I love when they call and on the other end of the phone I hear, "Meme, I just need you". Something I never tire of hearing!

 

On Friday Piper and I started the day at the Menonite bakery buying some homemade donuts and cranberry pecan bread. This has become our Friday tradition together. Then she and her dad and I did a bit of shopping. When school got out, we picked up her brother and headed home. They tell me that tomorrow (Saturday) we have to make cookies....pumpkin ones! I can't wait!

Well, I thought that since I did a fall giveaway, I really should do a winter one, too. I have a special little someone just waiting for a home. His name is Willie.

 

 

Isn't he cute? He is 12" tall and his nose is 3 1/2" long. He's pretty heavy, too. His bottom is weighted to keep him sitting nice and tall. To win Willie all you have to do is be a member of my blog or become a new one, don't worry your information will not be shared. Then just leave me a comment telling me all about your favorite Christmas memory. I just love this time of year and I'm sure you have lots of stories to share, but it'll only take one to put yourself in the drawing.

 

I love getting comments from all my readers and really appreciate you taking the time to read my ramblings.

 

You have until midnight on Friday~December 7 to enter. I will announce the winner on Saturday. Best of luck to everyone!

 

Blessings,

Julie

Craft Class Week 7....

Last night was the last crafting night for our class. We do have one more class left, but it will be a show and tell. I have asked everyone to bring in something they have made outside our class, and show us how they made it. We'll also have a little Christmas party celebration that night. It'll be so much fun!

 

Okay, so here is a picture of last nights craft....

 

 

It's a table riser. I love them. I have another one in a mustard color.

They are perfect to use on your table, countertop, hoosier, bakers table, endless....

One of my students is using hers as a lasagna board. I love it!

 

 

This is what the bottom looks like. I just used some wood laths, doubled them and screwed them to the bottom. Simple!

 

 

 

I think the best part of the night was when everyone was distressing their boards. They really got into it. Some used a hammer, while others used the desk or even a paper clip.

This picture shows the edge of my board. I used a meat cleaver too get this look, and I really love how it turned out.

 

Well....this is the last of the crafts. I hope you enjoyed all the great things we made, and maybe you could even try making a few of them yourself. Any one of them would make a great gift for that prim person in your life.....even yourself!

 

Blessings,

Julie

 

 

 

 



Craft Class Week 6...

 

I'm still here! 
My husband and I, along with our youngest son and his girlfriend, went away last weekend. We had a great time. I just love that our 23 year old son still likes to have his parents hanging around. That will account for one of the reasons I haven't posted for a bit.

The other reason would be the Thanksgiving holiday. We had my family over for dinner this year. I believe there was 20 in all.
It was a wonderful day of thanks for our many blessings the good Lord bestows on us daily, and it was also our first Thanksgiving without my dad who passed away earlier this year.
So you can see it has been a very busy week.

Well time is definitely flying by, because I can't believe we only have 1 more craft class left!

This past week we made pantry jars.

 

These are really easy to do and they look great in a primitive decorated home.

Here's a look at some of the pictures I took at last Tuesday night's class...

 

 

 

Gimme a big smile, Jean!

 

 

Janice is putting the last coat of paint on her "Christmas gifts".

 

 

Hmmm....which labels should we pick?

 

 

 

As always, the results were prim-fection!

 

Enjoy your day!

 

Blessings,

Julie 

Craft Class Week 5...

 

This was last nights project. We made hanging signs from osnaburg fabric, stencils, a stick and some jute.

I think everyone enjoyed themselves. Here are a few photos I took during class...

 

 

 

Denise will be a pro at sewing by the time she's done!

 

 

 

 

 

Say cheese, Talia!

 

 

 

 

 

They did a great job, didn't they? So many unique ideas. I wish I had gotten more pictures of their finished craft. I don't know what I was doing...

 

Another thing that I like to do is bring in some type of decorating idea or another small craft idea to share with everyone. One that they could easily whip up at home in no time at all.  It's always so nice to have something on hand for the unexpected. Here are a couple of the ideas I shared with them....

 

It's pretty much the same idea as the signs we did, but I made it into a pillow instead. I just love little pillows tucked here and there, don't you?

 

 

 

These are a bit of twist on the snowglobe idea, and so easy to make.

Just an upside down mason jar, or any jar really, and some village accessories. Fun and inexpensive!

 

I hope you enjoyed your visit with me, and that you come back again. I do enjoy hearing your thoughts and comments.

I'd like to give a BIG WELCOME to all of my new members, too!

 

Blessings,

Julie

Some Great News!......

We recently found out that we are going to be grandparents again!
This time it's our middle son who will be blessing us with a new little bundle of joy.

 

Baby's first picture! Due date is June 1st.

 

 

I think they are going to make wonderful parents!

 

It doesn't seem like so long ago that Thomas was born. Oh, how time flies! Now he is 24, and has a family of his own. Danielle has been such a great addition to our growing family. We took to her instantly! She is currently finishing up her last year of nursing school, and will graduate in May. She'll make a great nurse and mommy!

 

Blessings,

Julie

 

 

She's Finally Home...

My sister, Major Tracy Coffin, is finally home after a long tour in Afghanistan!

 

We are so proud of her! Our mom flew down to Texas to be there for her homecoming at Fort Hood.

 

 

It sure has been a long tour for her, as well as all of our soldiers who have been serving overseas.

 

 

This picture was taken a couple summers ago when my sister was promoted to Major. Dad wasn't able to travel to Texas, but wanted to be able to attend the ceremony, so the General graciously offered to fly all the way up here with Tracy to surprise dad (and boy was he surprised!). The ceremony was performed in front of all our friends and family. This picture shows dad and the General pinning Tracy with her new rank. Dad was so proud of Tracy. Sadly, dad passed away in January just before Tracy was deployed.

 

 

Words cannot express how proud I am of my baby sister!

 

 

KABUL -- 7/7/12 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visited Kabul International Airport while enroute to Japan to greet Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen and Marines along with their NATO counterparts.   This is a picture of her shaking hands with my sister.

 

 

This is Tracy recieving an award. It is a medallion that represents the traditions and values of the Army Medical Department.

 

 

Apparently it snows in Afghanistan, too! My sister is the second one from the left.

 

 

 Unfortunately, our freedom is never free. It comes at the cost of many moms, dads, sons & daughters. I look forward to the day that all our soldiers are able to come home to stay.

The next time you see a soldier, don't forget to say thank you!

 

Blessings,

Julie 

November Keeper's Meeting.....

Last night was our November keepers meeting. We had so much fun, but because of the nasty weather not everyone was able to come. It is getting to be that time of year, isn't it?

 

Just for you, I took some pictures of our evening.....

 

 

Such concentration!

 

 

 

We had a drawing for a couple dvd's.....

 

 

...and Sheila won! This was a good thing! LOL!

 

 

The other dvd went to Luann, but she graciously re-gifted it

to Denise....Also a good thing! (wink)

Congratulations ladies!

 

 We missed all of you who were absent, but as always it was a great evening!

 

If you would like to try your hand at making your own rag rug, please visit Lora at Rags to Rugs. She has many beautiful fabric bundles to choose from at really great prices. Thank you Lora!

 

Blessings,

Julie