Moving Slowly into the Christmas Season

photo credit: Elena Ferrer

It's taken a while for me to slowly move into the Christmas season this year. Some seasons are like that, it just takes time for it to feel right.

After a busy Thanksgiving followed by some pretty nasty colds/viruses/bacterial infections that ran the gamut through the family, we are slowly recovering and getting into the Christmas spirit.  The tree is up and finally decorated.  One daughter is ordering gifts online, one is crafting away, and one is baking Christmas cookies.   'Tis the season at last.

I love the photo above, with the simplicity of the fresh greenery and the gingerbread cookie reindeer ... Won't work for chairs in my home since we have a big, furry, white dog that would surely eat the cookies as quickly as they were tied on, but I'm thinking maybe cinnamon applesauce ornaments instead and used as a window garland ... or maybe along the mantel

I've got a ton of ideas all tucked away neatly on my Pinterest Christmas board.  I thought you might like to take a look, there might be just the thing you are looking for pinned there.  I'll never make or do all I have collected, but I do love to have lots of options and ideas to choose from.  

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I've also got a whole list of simple, herbal gifts to make.  I will share a few of those with you very soon.

What is your favorite gift to make and give at Christmas?

Pretty in Pink via Pinterest

Some pretty pink pins from my Pinterest boards I thought you might enjoy ...

Pink roses and books ... be still my heart-

Source: flickr.com via Catherine on Pinterest

If I ever have a barn, I want it to be just like this-

Source: Uploaded by user via Catherine on Pinterest

Vintage and perfectly pink, what more could a girl ask for?

Source: flickr.com via Catherine on Pinterest

A sweet seat if I ever saw one-

Source: chateaudefleurs.blogspot.com via Catherine on Pinterest

Pink posey perfection-

Source: vintageisforlovers.com via Catherine on Pinterest

I do love a great pin, don't you?  Especially if it is PINK!


What is your favorite color?  
Pink is obviously one of mine, though I do also love robin's egg blue, and green ... 
Choosing a favorite color is rather like choosing your favorite cookie.  There are just too many delicious options to pick from to choose just one! 
 My favorite cookie (today) is anything with ginger and/or chocolate in it :) .  

Prayer Flags Project and More Winter Fun

Some of you asked about the prayer flags ...

Source: rhythmofthehome.com via Catherine on Pinterest

Yes, Jennifer I will share my completed project, but in the meantime (it may take me a while to finish them), you can see what inspired me!  

I loved this project when I first read about making prayer flags at rhythm of the home.  I pinned it to my Winter Fun board at Pinterest along with some other ideas to occupy hearts and hands during cold weather-

Source: bystephanielynn.com via Catherine on Pinterest

I have my fabrics prepared, supplies gathered, and a few prayerful words chosen:

FREEDOM (FREE is my word for 2012!)
PEACE
JUSTICE
MERCY
FAITH
HOPE
LOVE


I think seeing a string of prayer flags blowing in the breeze outside my window will be a wonderful call to prayer.

If you decide to join in and make your own prayer flags, please let me know!  I'd love to see what words and designs you choose.

 Weekend Blessings kind friends!

Simple Holidays

It is time for holiday crafting and baking at our house. 
I've marked lots and lots of goodies at Pinterest that I'd like to make.  Obviously, time and energy won't allow for all these, but I hope to create a few of them this year, if not there's always next Christmas!  I am determined to keep it simple this year.

Here is a link to  my favorite simple Christmas cookie recipe:
Simple Christmas Cookies (Scotch Shortbread)

Also on the To Bake list are:

Ginger Cookies
Sugar Cookies
Fudge Crinkles

What is your favorite Christmas cookie?  (I'm always looking for new recipes for the Recipe Pile!)

And now ... back to Pinterest to add more goodies to my Christmas board! 

Blessings,
Catherine :)