Christmas Traditions

I love looking at all the Christmas decorations that are around our town.  Some of these decorations/items have been around for as long as I can remember.  The two things that mean a lot to me from my hometown is the mini church that is now housed at the museum here in town. As a kid this was sitting outside the Otto Giese funeral home. I am not sure who but a member of the Giese family made this little church.  There was benches that you could stand on, on all sides of this so you could see inside.  I wish that the pictures would have turned out so I could share what it looked like inside.  There are pews full of people of all nationalities inside. There is a choir that comes from the back of the church up the middle aisle and sings many different Christmas carols. The inside is just beautiful.  It is a tradition to go see this church every year. When I was a kid my family would bundle up and head to town to look at all the lights and then before going home we would stop at this church and didn't matter how cold it was outside we would stand there for a long time and just gaze inside.  This happened every year growing up.  When I had children of my own we did the same thing. Then the funeral home closed and the church was removed.  I wasn't able to see it for many years but my understanding is it was being restored.  Well now I can continue this tradition and go see it during the Christmas season at the museum.  I still feel like a kid and I no longer have to stand on the benches but I do look through every single window and just smile.

The other decoration that has been around for a long long time is the huge Santa that stands on the courthouse lawn.  I think I was probably a teenager when this was put up for the first time. But it still brings smiles to my face when I see it go up.  This is something my children still love seeing and now my grandchildren and great granddaughter love seeing it. My great granddaughter Randi just beams when she sees Santa standing on the courthouse lawn as we drive downtown.  She is not keen on seeing the real Santa and won't go anywhere near him. But this Santa she loves seeing. 

My mother found this 10 1/2 ft Christmas tree at the pawn shop near our home.  It was pretty scraggly looking and only 1 set of lights worked, but my mother thought she could rescue it.  They wanted $10 for it but while talking to the sales lady and talking about how the lights didn't work, the lady offered to reduce the price to $5. My mother was happy with 10 but hey 5 works.  We got it home and my mother worked her magic.  Turns out the lights worked except for a very small area in the middle.  They just didn't have them plugged in right.  My mother fluffed this tree all up and WOW it is just beautiful and looks so grand in her living room.  She has always wanted a tall tree for the living room due to having the tall ceilings that could hold it.  The other 2 trees she puts up in the family room and back porch are 6ft trees but are just as beautiful. 

Last night I was able to get a new tote made for myself.  I can use it through January for the winter season.  I am happy with it.  I am already on the hunt for some placemats for Valentines Day, Easter, and anything else that looks cool to turn into totes. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas season. And spend lots of time with family and friends.  In light of the recent tragedy in CT  take the time as often as you can to tell your family and friends how much you love them. Give lots and lots of hugs especially to your children, grandchildren and family/friends because you never know when that will be the last time you have that opportunity.  I am still in shock and just don't understand but am keeping everyone involved in my prayers. 

A little update on what this month has been like :)

Once again I have been busy. I enjoy being busy for the most part. But lately it seems I really really have been busy but am enjoying myself.  I still have a lot of projects to get done before Christmas plus still get some shopping done.   Here is more or less a picture view of what I have been up to since the last time I posted. 

The top picture is a pile of about 30+ snowflakes I have made so far to take to church to be hung from the ceiling for our Christmas party that is on Friday.  The next picture is what the snowflakes actually look like. I have posted a tutorial on how to make these very easy snowflakes.  They are made from 6 pieces of computer paper or whatever paper you desire.  They take no time at all to make but really make a nice decoration.

I made a tote like this last month for a friend a church to carry her manuals and scriptures and when my sister and my aunt saw it they each wanted one to give away as a gift.  So I made 2 more just like this over this past weekend.  They are made from 3 placemats.  2 for the tote and then one cut up for the handles and the pocket that is inside. The possibilities are endless on the different types of totes you could make.  I have a snowman one I will be making for myself tomorrow.

My oldest daughter is going to have a baby boy in a little over a month, Jan 22 is her due date.  I made her a car seat cover/blanket this evening.  These are so nice and easy to make and really protects the baby from wind, sun and even strangers from reaching in and touching.  It is lined with flannel so will give some extra warmth. 

We had a baby shower this past Saturday for my daughter and it went very well.  Spent most of the day on Friday cooking the food for the shower and then heading over to church to set the room up for the shower.  I took some pictures of the room and of course her and her ever growing baby bump :)  but my computer is having issues for some reason whenever I put my SD card in from my camera to download the pictures I took.  It won't let me download the pictures without freezing up my computer, UGH!!! will have to have that checked out. 

The Young Women I teach at church wanted to make a Scripture Advent calender for Wednesday night activity this past week.  I cut out 480 felt squares then glued them together, I sewed the 4 pieces of felt for the background and the tabs to hang the calender before hand. We only have an hour and half to get a project done so I needed to get as much done as possible for the girls to be able to go home with a finished project.  The girls that came that night had a good time putting these together. They really seemed to enjoy themselves and I think the calenders turned out great.  This coming up Wednesday night we are frosting and decorating cookies for the Christmas Party on Friday. We really have a great and beautiful bunch of Young Women at church. They are always willing to help in whatever we ask them.  I love working with these girls.

Well that is pretty much it for what I have been up to since my last post.  When I get the rest of my sewing/crafting done I will again post.  I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday season.