Three or More of Christmas Decor

Happy Tuesday to one and all...can you believe we have gotten even more snow since the last time I posted?

It has snowed off and on, mostly on it seems, for the past week.  Just when the clean up crews got all of the streets in the city cleared, down it came again.  Kudos to our city workers, though, they do a fantastic job.  You will see a whole crew of them going at it at one time, perhaps two loaders, two graders and a couple of dump trucks to haul the snow away, will be seen going down the streets day and night.  That is the blessing of living in a Northern area, people are prepared.  Now, it's a different story if you live in the Vancouver, BC area.  You can forget about getting any snow cleared.

I am joining "The Gypsy's Corner" again today for Three or More Tuesday.  My three or more is of more Christmas decor.  I stuck some fresh greenery from my fir tree in amongst my red and gold, giving it a different look.

Be sure to go over to The Gypsy's Corner and look at her Christmas mantles, they are so pretty, you might find some great inspiration there.

Love and hugs,

Cindy

Lazy Snow Day

I started making bread first thing this morning...

...then started a crock pot of chili.



It's been snowing all day long...

I didn't even go outside to take the photos, I'm such a wimp today.

I just want to get into something more comfy and read a book, what better thing to do on a snowy day?

Supper's ready!

Wherever you are, whatever your weather, I hope your day is as wonderful as mine~

Smiles and Hugs,

Cindy



Winter Wonderland!

I am so happy that Winter is here.  It's so beautiful.

My daily walk takes me along the Red River, it already has ice on it.  I am going to try to take photos as time goes by, it will be interesting to document how long it takes for this large river to freeze over.  In the photos below you can see the ice forming already.  Click on the images to make them larger.

The wind was blowing so hard that I was having a difficult time keeping my hands steady, so I hope they are not blurry.

The forecast is calling for more snow tomorrow, it is only minus 3 Celsius right now, so it is perfect weather for another walk with my camera.

I am joining Outdoor Wednesday over at A Southern Daydreamer.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my American friends and family.

Love and hugs, Cindy

Holly Jolly Decorating Fun!

Winter descended upon us last Friday and since then we have received about ten inches of the delightful white stuff!  With more coming tomorrow!  It was minus 15 Celsius when I woke up this morning and it is only up to minus 13 now, at 11 am.  For my lovely American friends, that translates to eight degrees Fahrenheit.  It is chilly!!!  Not cold, just chilly.  It will be minus 40 at some point this Winter and then we can say that it's COLD!

Snow always somehow brings the Christmas spirit with it, don't you think?

I have put my Christmas village in the kitchen this year above my sideboard.

I am joining The Gypsy's Corner today for Three Or More.  This is a great place to find recipes, Christmas decor and so much more today.  Thanks to Tam for hosting it.

I'm looking forward to my grandchildren coming over, they always love to see my Christmas village displayed.



This will be my first Christmas in 33 years that I have not been with one of my children for Christmas.  My two kids are getting together this year.  My son is driving his family out to the state of Washington to have Christmas with my daughter and her family.  My two step-daughters live on the West coast of BC and they will be together.

 It is going to be very different around here.  But, I will not let it dampen my spirits, I love the joy and serenity that envelopes us at this time of year and nothing will destroy that for me. 

My peace comes from my relationship with God, not from circumstances.

So if everything is not as you would like it to be, I truly hope that you are able to step back from what's happening and find joy in the Christmas Season. 

Jesus is the Reason for the Season

and he's the reason that I have Peace and Joy in my life all year round.

Love and Hugs,

Cindy

Granddaughter's Bedroom

I am going to fall back into Fall just for today.

I have never shown you my granddaughter's bedroom. 

I showed you the window treatments that Carolyn made, last Winter, but she has finished the painting of the walls as well.  I am loving the bright girlie colors.



The chandelier is so pretty, too.

My daughter's family a couple of months ago.

Thanks to everybody for your thoughts and ideas yesterday regarding the Grain Sack.  For now it is on my foot stool, I'm loving really loving it there.

Have a great weekend my friends.

Hugs, Cindy

I'M A WINNER, WINNER, WINNER!

Good Thursday morning to all of my dear blogging friends.  Can you see me doing the happy dance?  Well, I am.  I'm celebrating today because...

A few weeks ago I entered a giveaway over at Gracie's Cottage for a chance to win one of three freshly-laundered authentic American "farm-used" grain, seed & flour sacks that are 60-80 years old.  And I WON!  I am so excited!  I have been wanting one of these, but I have never seen them anywhere here in Canada.  And this grain sack is huge, it's about 20" x 40".  I took the photo below to try and give you an idea of how large it is. 

Now I am wondering what to do with it.

If I had an old wooden bench, I would put a body pillow in it and use it that way.

But, I don't, so I am looking for ideas.  Should I cut it up and cover pillows with it?

Should I use it over the back of one of the cushions on my sofa like it is in the first photo?  HELP!  I really want to use it to it's greatest potential.  Just tell me what you would do with it if it was yours.

Thanks so much.

And a very special ThAnKs goes out to Gracie.  Check out her blog and her etsy shop when you get a chance, too.

It is wonderful, though, isn't it!?

Love and Hugs, Cindy

~What I Am Loving Today~

Happy Monday everybody!!!

The image above is how I feel today!  My trusty old lap top has packed it in, so I can't show you what I am doing right now.  Instead I will show you something entirely different.

(Country Living)

I have been perusing European blogs recently and I am so in love with their simple, uncluttered style.  I really could use the touch that some of these people have.  Here are some images of what I am loving.

(Biskopsgarden)

Go to Biskopsgarden's to see more of these beautiful images.

(Biskopsgarden)

(Dreamhouse)

Go to Dreamhouse to see more of Camilla's gorgeous house.

(Dreamhouse)

Is this sweet or what?  These are just some of my favorite European blogs.  Check them out if you are looking for uncluttered eye-candy.

I hope you are having a sweet and blessed Monday.

All the best!



Hugs,  Cindy

Last, but not least, this great old farmhouse in New York, yes, back in good old North America.



The Badlands of North Dakota, USA

Happy Wednesday everybody, I am slow getting this done today, because I have been working on Christmas presents.
 
Did you know that North Dakota has a Painted Canyon?  It is in the Badlands and it is just north of South Dakota's Mt. Rushmore.  It is breathtakingly beautiful.  When we drove through it last August I had never seen it before and I was mesmerized by it's beauty.  I hope you are able to see what I mean with the photos that my husband took.

It is a huge canyon, while driving on the interstate you are able to see it for miles and miles.  Manitoba is just north of North Dakota, so we are about a days drive from some very beautiful landscapes.

I found some photos online for South Dakota's badlands, take a look.

It's a stunningly beautiful area of the United States.

I am joining Outdoor Wednesday over at A Southern Daydreamer.

Hope you enjoyed!

Hugs, Cindy

~How to Have a Good Day~

How to have a good day...

wake up early (after getting at least 8 hours of sleep)

get ready for your day, slowly

have a nutritious breakfast

take time to pray and reflect

take a 30 minute brisk walk

sing in the shower

focus on the good things of God

SMILE

be kind and friendly to others

be grateful, positive and joyful

see your work as a privilege (remember the folks who are out of work)

think positive and happy thoughts

ask for things sweetly, with a smile

sing

praise some one's efforts

overlook small mistakes

eat a light nutritious lunch

 breathe deeply

take a break, relax

leave all your work at work

smile sweetly

let tomorrow take care of itself

be flexible and thoughtful

eat a delicious, homemade, nutritious meal

hug your kids (if you are so blessed as to have any)

go to bed with happy thoughts and a smile on your face.

Php 4:8 Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious--the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. (The Message Bible)

Today I am joining "The Gypsy's Corner" for Three or More.

I have moved the picture of the bird and put a small wooden plaque there that reads, "Feder Mensch hat seinen" and it has a small bird on it.  I'm guessing the words are German.  Caroline, if you are reading this would you be so kind as to translate that for me?  Thanks so much.  Caroline is a new friend that I have recently met through my blog.  She lives in Germany and runs a lovely shop from her home and has a sweet blog, simply called Caro&Line.  Go over and check it out.

I hope you have enjoyed my three things and my suggestions for having a good day, now go have a really GOOD day.

Love and hugs,

PS  About the cobbler yesterday, I made it for a huge potluck that a friend in our church had.  It went quickly and I did not eat one bite of it.  That took self-control, my friends, because I LOVE Chocolate Cobbler!  In case you missed that recipe, it is HERE.