What a Way to Start a New Year!

Here's Jordan with his grandma when he graduated earlier this year. He joined the Army and left for basic training this week. We wish him the best as he starts this new adventure. Can't wait to see him again!

Saturday Night Bouquet

Reading Update

The Buffalo Soldier by Chris Bohjalian: One of my favorite authors. A couple lose their twin daughters, then take in a foster child. Throw in an affair and a near-divorce, but such a good ending! Which was unexpected, after what he did to us with Double Bind.

Testimony by Anita Shreve: Another good one from AS. A story about some kids in a private school who mess up really bad, the events that led up to it, and its aftermath. Turns out the kids weren't the only ones who messed up. This one got to me. I was just sick about what happened, and kept having to remind myself that it was only a novel. Whew, thank goodness!

I still have the 19th wife, but Mark gave me a Kindle for Christmas so I'm going to find something to read on it. Something light for a change!

Another Boxwood Tree

I love making these and they are getting better with practice. Next year, I won't make them too early tho. Closer to Christmas is better, then you don't feel so bad about throwing it away when it's past its prime. They last a week to ten days, depending on the flowers used. Everybody loved them at Lee Ann's party.

Another Kind of Chrismas Tree

Rachel and I found this little catering shop a few weeks ago in London. Yummy food inside and these cool "trees" outside. What a fun day! I want a tree like this for next year.

Merry Christmas

I'm Dreaming

http://aroundmd.com/whitechristmas/

Monday Monday

Thursday

As my mama says, try to put sticks in everything!

Leah posted a fab design on her blog!

http://bomelogio.blogspot.com/

Breakfast with Betsy

Sympathy Final

A standing easel. Amy ordered orchids for us! I didn't get a chance to take pictures of everybody else's arrangements, but they were beautiful. I was in a hurry because Mark was in the car, waiting to take me to see Betsy!

What's In There??

I have so many shots of Betsy--and most of them are just a blur. She's a busy girl!

Apple Barn Wreath

V and I went to the Apple Barn the other day and look what we found! They have snowflakes, trees, and hearts too. Phyllis decorates them with ribbons and ornaments and dresses them up right. It was hard to decide which one to bring home!

V's Tree

Flower Tree

Another One with Sticks

Sympathy Class

Cindy and I made this one in last night's class.

Wreaths

This first one was my favorite--wild and messy and wonderful. By Petals & Co. I think that's the florist in Rochester. I want to go see her!

I have to find out who this Illinois Costume Lady is. She did several designs for the show.

More Tomorrow

I'll post the wreaths tomorrow--they were my favorites.

It's been great having Isaac home. Ben stopped by today. We had italian beef sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies.

Now I'm going to get back to my Wally Lamb book. I stayed up reading last night til 3 am! Yes, it's that good.

We thought Betsy might have liked these. There was a cute little girl in a black velvet dress looking at the Curious George tree, but she got away before I could take her picture.

Blue Ribbon

This one got a designer's best-in-show ribbon for 7-foot trees.

Loved this one with the copper tubing.

This was the Jr. League's tree.

This one made us think of Lori and the great thanksgiving we had the year she and Todd came to Springfield. We think they should come back again next year!

Festival of Trees

FOT is Memorial Medical Center's yearly fundraiser. V and I went on Thanksgiving afternoon and had fun looking at all the work everybody did. The place was packed and there wasn't a hint of scary news about the economy! A very nice Thanksgiving afternoon for us while the guys watched football.

Happy Thanksgiving

We have so much to be thankful for this year. I'm up early to start baking pies--apple and pumpkin. We have a nice Amish turkey for the Nesco. And Isaac is here! We haven't seen him yet, but he's in town. After we eat and wash the dishes, I'm going to start reading that new Wally Lamb book. And no TV news about the economy today!

Painted Pumpkins in a Basket

Saturday Vase

Love the seeded eucalyptus with grandma's vase. And almost everything goes with orange tulips! It's just amazing to me that we can have tulips in November. . . Wonder what grandma would think about that?

Make-Up Assignment

I missed our class on memorial designs, so I put this one together as a make-up. This is one of my favorite pictures of Nellie. She was such a good dog. Thank goodness for our Lilla and G dog who keep us company these days.

Beautiful Bras

PJ and I went to see the Beautiful Bra show while she was here visiting in October. It was fun to run around with my sister--something we don't get to do very often.

This entry won the most votes. Easy to see why, , ,

Definitely not a boring purse! She must have been a great friend.

Flea Market to Fabulous--fabulous, of course!

True Colors

Susan Wilkey, FloraScape

We loved this one, like we love everything else Jan Parkes does.

Monday Pansy

November Pumpkin