Thought

 

Let this be your mantra as you enter the new year.

Gone Fishin'

Perch in the Pail

Ready for the knife

Richie after a hard day ice fishing!

Christmas Blessing

TTFN -
Babs

Swedish CoffeeCake

Check......done!

For Christmas morning with coffee.
Merry Christmas to all.
Babs

Christmas Eve

 

My hope is that by now everything is done and that you are able to sit by the fire, relax, sip on a little wine or a little Bailey's.  Relax and take in the moment.....reflect on what this season is really all about.

In 24 hours (ish) it's over.  So enjoy!

Almost time to put it all away for the year~

Babs

Perogi

Mix, roll, cut, fill, seal, boil!

Fry and eat tomorrow - Christmas eve.  Done for another year!
TTFN - Babs

Project for 2011

I really like these trees. I found then in a window of a yarn shop locally. They are made from various yarns. She had fourteen of them in the window. All done in whites,creams and taupe. All varied fibers. Absolutely stunning.

I picked one up thinking they were stryfoam cones but there were made from card stock.

Gall we make some? Tell me what you think of them.

Please excuse the reflection(s) in the last photo.  It was difficult to photograph.
TTFN - Babs

This is what is in store for me this week

Our Christmas eve tradition.

Making periogi.  (Click on link).
TTFN - Babs

A Pretty Christmas Tree

I enjoyed an evening with a few friends.  She served Dirty Martini's.  I tried one but......I'm not that hardcore.  I had to go back to my ole standby - a Cosmopolitan.

A lovely evening......

Babs

Two of Three

Maggie and I baked today -- it took a while.  The Blondies are very exact....all ingredients have to be weighed in grams.  But......believe me.....worth the 2 lbs of brown sugar and pound of butter.

And the Cuccidati:

In process

And the finished product:

Tomorrow it's onto the Cranberry Bliss Bars.

Simon didn't care much for the cookie baking marathon.  He'd rather be enjoying the outdoors.

TTFN - Babs

Last Hurrah

I plan on spending the weekend doing some baking.

Cranberry Bliss Bars, Blondies and a new cookie, cuccidati

 I refuse to go even remotely close to a store this weekend.

Home sweet home is where I'll be!

TTFN = Babs

Just an Update

I have been busy this week - though I thought initially I had a free week.  Monday was way cold here so I pretty much stayed inside all day.  Tuesday - went to Grand Rapids to do some shopping for a friend and mother (and perhaps myself).  Spent the majority of the day shopping.

Oh, Monday night had friends over for dinner.

Today, ran some errands and the day is gone.

Jacob's birthday tonight - he is 16 years old - heading over for birthday cake but not til 8:30p - that's nearly my bedtime .

Just playing with my Christmas/Birthday/Valentine's present......yes an iPad.  I will admit, I am very spoiled.  Very delighted too.  It's so fun.

TTFN - Babs

An Equation

Sunday + Winds gusting to 40 mph + Snow =  Cappucino Melts

To be added to our collection of Christmas cookies.  The yummies are starting to pile up.

I don't think I shared with you my Christmas tree.  Yes this is it.  Just a few bare branches from the woods in a cute little galvanized bucket and viola'.  Add some colored balls, a few mercury balls and bingo!  I happen to really like it.

This upcoming week isn't going to be as busy as last week, thus I hoping to get a good grip on what has to be done yet for Christmas.  Hopefully, it won't be long and I can put  my feet up and sip on a Bailey's by the fire.
Have a great week!
TTFN - Babs

Simon

Simon rules!  To know him is to love him

Si is the family dog.  He is 8 years old (we debate that subject often).  Simon loves everyone.  He is the best dog.  He doesn't lick, bite, jump,  - he is just as mellow as can be.  All he wants in life is food and to be loved.  He isn't much of a guard dog.  I can walk up to the door and he may be sleeping against it and he doesn't budge.  Simon loves to be by your side.  He loves to run in the woods, swim in the lake, and go wherever Maggie goes.  A better companion can't be found.

And to wrap up the Carlson's - here is a synopsis minus Simon.

Maggie, Jacob, Leah, Tucker and Lenny

Jacob "Jake"

Jacob is the youngest in the family of four.  He actually turns 16 on December 15 - just a few days away.

I love Jacob.  He always has been sweet to me.  I can always get him to sit down and talk to me.  I usually am able to get out of him whatever I need too.

He is a good guy.  He is a great soccer player and lives to play.  He has been on the varsity soccer team since he started high school.  He is in the process of trying out for nationals.  He made the first cut and is hoping to make the second.

Jake has lots of friends, both male and female.  When he was a bit younger - he always had a trail of girls behing him or they were gathered around him.

I hope he continues on the path of being a good kid.  I try to instill good traits - always be kind, don't say mean things to people.  He is so cute and I don't want it to go to his head.

TTFN - Babs

Leah Barbara Carlson

Leah is 17.  She is the only girl in the family with three boys.  Poor thing - she has had to fight to be heard all her life.  Her older brothers are so protective of her (Lenny and Tucker).  She is pretty close to Jacob - the youngest but they both hate to admit it.

Leah is ambitious.  She is a good student, she works, and seems to always be busy with friends.  She plays soccer and likes to run.  She is a senior this year and high school and isn't quite sure about college yet.  She wants to be an English teacher but that can change - not too long ago she wanted to be an anesthesiologist.

She loves all of her cousins.  She is very close to them and looks to them for direction.  Leah is so good about always giving us hugs when she comes and goes.  She is a great gal - just needs some direction from time to time.  She definitely has a mind of her own, very strong willed,  and is very independent.

Last and not least will be the youngest of Maggie's kids - Jacob.

TTFN - Babs

Outside Elegance

The deck needed a little something - it was boring.  This looks so lovely when night time falls - we sit at the dining table for dinner and look out at this prettiness that glows into the night.

TTFN - Babs

Holiday Get Together

Before it gets too crazy, Jessie is coming over tonight for a little holiday cheer!  Maggie, Jess and I will probably indulge in a little cocktail to bring in the season.

I love all the ideas I find on  my blogs - this wrapping is really a fun one.
 

Enjoy your holiday celebrations!
TTFN - Babs

Princess Diana

My mother, sister Maggie and I visited the Grand Rapids Art Museum today for the Diana exhibit.  It was very well done.  I, personally, enjoyed seeing her beautiful tiara.  Also seeing Diana's grandmother's jewels - they were stunning.  About 20 some of her waqrdrobe pieces were on display.  The gowns were gorgeous.

Before the exhibit, we dined at a lovely Italian resturant across from the museum.

We stopped for a cappucino at a little coffee house after the exhibit - oh and Mother stopped into Van Hook's and bought a cute pair of shoes.  A really nice day spent with mother.
TTFN - Babs

RIP

I admired Elizabeth Edwards for her strength, dignity and courage.  May she rest in peace.

Estate Sale Find!

Score.  Check these lovely sterling candlestick holders and globes.  $5.00/pair.  Yep - that's right~  just a little polish and viola!

Please excuse candles - they have the wave - my hand must have moved when I hit the "shoot" button.
TTFN - Babs

Baby It's Cold Outside

Mr. Richard has been out twice snow blowing.    The prediction is snow everyday this week~!

New Shop

Remember Jessie?

She recently opened an Etsy shop featuring her creative photography.  Please check it out - some great Gift ideas!    www.etsy.com/shop/spennerphotography  Jessie does amazing work.

Thanks for your support.
TTFN - Babs

Holiday Nature Walk

One thing I really enjoy creating is my pots on the sides of the garage door.  All I had to do was take a little nature walk and snippers to create something I think looks spectacular.  Mother Nature provides all the items.
Snow included.

It's snowing on and off today.  We just caught our "Local on the 8's" and snow is predicted everyday this week.  I think today we will just stay tucked in.  Lots of crafty things to do and heat up the house by turning the oven on for dinner - roasted chicken breasts, sweet potatoes, fresh squash. Yum!

Have a good day and good week.  Remember to take a few moments to be still and just relax!~
TTFN - Babs

Reasons Why I Need This

Ipad

 

 

I went to the Apple store today in the Grand Rapids Woodland Mall.  The place was packed.  I couldn't resist looking at and learning more about the IPAD.  Now that I have seen the real thing and learned more about it, I want/need it really bad.  The hubby can't quite understand it.  Why do I need it, he states.

Well,

1.  I could be so in touch with everything and everyone at any given moment.
2.  I could use it as a learning tool.  There is so much to learn about it.
3.  They (Apple) offers classes on how to use it, so I could easily learn so much about it.
4.  I feel a need to not get lost in the technology world (which I already somewhat am).
5.  I want to stay abreast with what's going on with technology.
6.  I think it's so cool.
7.  I don't want to fall behind the times.  I want to stay up with all the kids!
8.  I just plain want it!  Isn't that reason enough.
9.  I am hoping I could get the husband into the 21st century with it.
10.  Again, I just plain want it really, really bad.!!!

The hubby will say "get a job" and you can buy whatever you want!  Ugh!
Oh well, I will have to work on him.

Have you seen the Ipad?  Any reasons you know of why I shouldn't get one?
TTFN - Babs

Back to my roots

My polish heritage has been calling our name.  It's time to master this thing.  Kolachki.  They are polish/czech cookies.  I tried making the previously, but they kept coming apart.  This year, Maggie and I vowed that we would master these if it killed us.  She found the perfect recipe.

We started with chilling the dough:

Next you roll it out thin and cut into two inch squares.  Fill the squares with raspberry filling, almond paste, and we used nutmeats as well.  Pinch together (the hard part).  This is what they look like at this point.

Bake, cool and sprinkle with powdered sugar.  Taste!  Divine!!!!!  Worth the work. 

Hope there are some left by Christmas.
TTFN - Babs

The White Stuff has arrived

It did hold off until December 1st.  We're that much closer to spring!

Simplicity.  My theme for this holiday season.  Care to join me?

TTFN - Babs

Benjamin Tucker "Tucker"

My Tucker.  Maggie's second oldest.  Tucker is 21/22-ish.  He lives in Colorado - Denver to be exact.  He loves it there!  He started college this past semester and is really enjoying it.  He is ready to learn and is determined to do something with his life. 

Tucker, too, is an outdoors person.  He loves the snow - can't wait to go snowboarding.  He likes to hike the mountains.  He loves the solitude of nature.  He is great at soccer and has joined several adult teams in the area in which he is residing.  I think because he and his brother Lenny were born in Wyoming - they have the
 mountains in their blood.

Tucker is a very likeable person.  He has a great personality and an awesome smile.  He has gone through a lot .....trying to figure out who he is, losing a really close friend to cystic fibrosis rather unexpectedly, and trying to find his place in life.  He tends to be somewhat of a loner - sometimes lost in his solitude.  However, I witnessed this summer that Tucker has grew by leaps and bounds.  He has this new found confidence,  he's happy, and is going after what he wants in life.  He has blossomed.  How that makes me happy. 

I think he is in a really good place right now and I have so much faith in the fact that he's going to go great places in life.  He has a new found strength and am really excited for him.  To know Tucker is too love him!
TTFN - Babs