Cross Stitch & Embroidery

For Bella

her Rudolph ornament

DMC floss, 16 ct dyed aida

back of Rudolph ornament

with beaded edging and hanger

Bella's 1 year hand print

embroidery for I Spy quilt

Bella's 1 year foot print

I did manage to get the quilt top put together a couple of days before Christmas. Now for Mom to have the time to sew on the ruffle and backing.

Bella sitting in front of the stove with her hair blowing in the wind. She loves to sit here after the fan kicks on. She had a huge smile on her face after she heard the camera click for the picture!

Merry Christmas

From Our Family to Yours - We hope you have a Very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.

Ready for Winter

Water Garden

this summer

so pretty and Bella loves the fish

Thanksgiving weekend bargain

to clean the bottom of the stock tank

cleaned and ready for winter

Lowe's had that ShopVac on sale Thanksgiving weekend. After Bella's parents got home from work I ran right down there to buy mine and don't you know there had already sold out. The guy said they couldn't get them unloaded fast enough since it was such a great bargain, regular $79.99 and on sale for $29.99. I called 3 other stores before I found one and they offered to hold it for me so off I went to get it.

I used it this past weekend since we had rain coming for a couple of days and that way the tank could get refilled after I cleaned it. That is the most fun I've had in the garden in a long time. It works like a charm.

Supposed to be close to 70 today and more rain tomorrow so I will be playing with the ShopVac once again.

Opryland Hotel

Christmas Opry Style

Us and Ms Nancy in front of

one of their many poinsettia trees

nativity scene in front of the hotel

one of the many waterfalls

plenty of poinsettias

teddy bear

puss n' boots

only 1 of 2 characters for the kids

Bella liked him from a safe distance

lights & ornaments hanging from the ceiling

fountains galore

love the lion head

poinsettia tree in the Magnolia Lobby

lights as we are leaving in the front of the hotel

poinsettia tree in the front of the hotel

The hotel is such a beautiful place, especially at Christmas. The decorations are plentiful hanging from the ceilings and the flowers are beautiful. It didn't seem as if there were as many decorations to appeal to children as in the past. I remember taking Jennifer when she was little and how excited we all were with the huge nutcrackers and many statues placed around along with the carollers they had. In previous years we have always parked at the Opry Mills Outlet and walked to the hotel through the Grand Ole Opry area since their parking is free. They now have fences up so you can't cut through there any longer and everyone now has to pay to park. This year their charge is $18.

Hats

Isabella doesn't like anything on her head and it has been hard to get pictures of her in the adorable hats my friend Deb made.

have to be fast to get a picture

but then again, if the flower comes off

she doesn't care how long the hat stays on

Last of the Roses Before Winter

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Thanksgiving

Before the Freeze

Our Neighbors Have Animals

These are Bella's views out the living room bay window. She sits in the window seat and watches the cars go by while waiting for the big dog & chickens.

their big dog - a great pyrenees

he just finished cleaning out the cat food bowl

Bella loves to see him and starts

hollering big dog, big dog

he is a beautiful dog and so friendly

and loves

cat food!

their chickens

on the front porch

cleaning up

the bird seed

and leaving lots and lots of poop

coming out from under the hydrangea bushes

at least Bella now knows what a real

chicken looks like

own own hens and chicks

appear to love their new home

Mom's pink camellia

loads of blooms this year

impatiens were doing great

until the freeze this past weekend

these were at the corner of our patio

lone iris still blooming

I've seen on many blogs the wonderful chicken houses being built and how many eggs they are getting and it all looks and sounds so wonderful.

But we live in the country more or less and chickens can and do run wild at times. This summer is the first time we had chickens visit our garden and there were only a couple of them. No big deal we thought. Then those 2 decided to bring their friends and this past week we had at least 7 at one time digging and scratching up everything they could. Mom mulched the new hydrangeas one morning and by the time I got home in the afternoon all the mulch was in the driveway where the chickens had moved it. Amazing how well they can clean the ground but so very frustrating also.

So Mom called our neighbors and she said yes her husband had been having trouble keeping them in their pen this summer but they would try fix the problem. Her husband stopped by to talk while we were re-mulching Saturday afternoon and said we could have fresh chicken for supper if they stayed a problem. Alan will be thrilled I'm sure, NOT.

While growing up we city kids would visit our grandparents farm in TN every summer. One of the highlights were picking up eggs from the hen house until we found our first chicken snake. It was at least 6' long and I swear our feet didn't touch the ground all the way back to the front of the house. Pape took a hoe and dragged him out. Us city kids were scared spitless!

Then there was the summer they decided to get the chickens ready to eat. Pape wrung their necks and we yelled and screamed while headless chickens flopped all over the back yard. Then it was time for grandma to do her thing and we didn't even watch that. One of my brothers still does not like to each chicken. haha

Playing in the Leaves

We've just had a gorgeous weekend, yesterday and today is going to be even better. Sunny and in the 70s. After such a hot, hot summer this fall is absolutely perfect. Alan started blowing leaves and Mom was raking them onto her blueberry bushes getting ready for winter so Bella wanted to play.

what have you done to me Momma Sandy?

am I supposed to enjoy this?

I can move around?

I can scatter them?

I can move my body?

Oh boy - so many to eat!

I don't want to get out!!!!!!!!!!!