New Years Eve Day 31

 Happy New years eve friends n family!

 Can't believe this is the last day for  2015. 

This is my view the last day of the year,

walking the fence line of our house.  

Sorta wish we could keep the lights up year round.

They do warm up a heart on gray days.   

So; do yall have big plans tonight?

How will you be welcoming in a brand near year?

Myguy retired from his old job this past year and so he'll be home with me.

He worked nights for about three decades  so usually I was alone on New Years eve.  

Not this year!  I have a feeling we'll be piled up in bed with two pembroke welsh corgis 

and an Australian shepherd to see in 2016!  

 I believe it was four days ago I shared this little present with yall.

I can now tell you what was inside!

This gift is from our Tony and Michelle and we were instructed  

to open it together.  

"Grandkids are the best presents"

What???!!!

We're havin a little baby Star!  

2016 is lookin really good already!  

We feel so blessed and can't wait to be a Grama and Grampa! 

Ohmygosh... I just got goosebumps writing that yall. 

A lil baby... we're havin a baby!!... 

It's kinda strange coz today I just feel this urge to go buy

a teddy bear, lil bitty blue jeans... boots... boots boots boots...

and a pony... yeah we'll need a pony.  

Definitely feelin it yall... 

We love him/her so much already.

Okay I'll stop goin on n on...

but ... 

(whispering)... we're havin a baby.  

(Thankyou Lord!)  !!!!!!  

Alright friends,

Be safe tonight.  

God bless each and everyone of you

and Happy New Year!!!!  

Day 30 A Few Things I Learned in 2015

With regret; 

Why didn't I  write out personal goals at the beginning of last year? 

I looked in my journals and books and while I've wrote about them along 

the way; I didn't exactly put them to paper and  why?

Maybe  I associated them to resolutions???

So for today's post I thought I'd record a few things learned this past year: 

I learned of  loss and divorce through a daughter in law and her

three kids whom my whole family loved as our own. 

I learned if you hurt my child.. by default I turn  into a mother Lion.   

I learned trusting after you've been burned to a crisp ...

it just might take a lifetime.  

 I learned today is the time to take a stand for Who and what I believe... 

I learned Myguy " loves my soul to the bone forever." 

I learned how devastating and embarrassing it feels if you don't have  teeth.

And I learned I want to help and encourage others who are afraid to go through what I have.  

I learned my one word "perspective" can be actually felt when seeing with my heart. 

I learned I have a passion for watercolors, fountain pens and planners.  

And I learned no matter how I try to fill out my planner for the day-

God surely is directing my steps. 

I learned having two alpha females in one house can be 

a growling bloody mess and it can take a chair to 

separate them without getting bitten yourself.

I learned there are people who will give an award for courage to a man dressed like a woman.

and I learned evil will chase and terrorize people right out of their homes and land.   

I learned my friend would get cancer again no matter how hard I prayed she wouldn't.  

I learned sometimes when we don't know what to do... 

-to do the next thing. 

I learned it really is  the little things in life to me that mean the most.

I learned  

I  really kinda like the show Blindspot. 

I learned I'm finally okay with letting this hair go gray.  

I learned to not say maybe

when I really want to say no.  

I learned to ask for water instead of a diet coke.

I learned  today that you can open presents at the same time with your 

friend while on different sides of the world. 

-- and laugh alot.   

__________________________________

I want to keep writing... 

but Myguy will be home soon and 

I've yet to start supper!

So I'll toss this to yall... 

--What's a thing or two you learned this year?

  

Day 29.... Chocolate and Keeping Christmas..

Day 29 Prompt: chocolate...

Some people think chocolate can fix  just 

about anything- lol

I've heard it can cure the blues,

the  common cold,

constipation,

anxiety,

boredom..

it's even a love potion to some.

Who knows if it really cures anything 

it does seem to make some things  better. haha   

Cute prompt though and Myguy's KISS 

made for a sweet little  photo shoot.

It's about time  to start some supper for my hubby 

and turn on those  Christmas lights.  

Usually I'm in a big fat  hurry to take the tree down and 

put it all away until next year.    

Honestly, it's a dreaded chore that I don't much like doing.

It's fun to decorate... but not to undecorate. 

However.... 

The reason to leave it out a little longer is 

to finally get to enJOY it all.

A friend talked with me about this just today- 

She said, that all through the month of December she  gets so busy

with the hustle and bustle of things that she doesn't really have

time to relax around her tree.  So she herself keeps it out til 

after January 1st.  

  I so relate.  .

Maybe a new tradition will  be starting  at our house 

to just savor it all a little longer.

The more I think about it... the more

inspired I am. 

It's a wonderful,

ordinary Tuesday.. 

a perfect evening 

to turn on the twinkle lights 

make some cocoa 

and who knows... 

maybe even rustle

up the 

mistletoe. 

Have a wonderful night yall,

xoxo  

Day 28

Hi friends,

Today's prompt is:  What I got.  lol  

  Must say; I  really enjoyed

reading a few other December dailys  shared on this.  

Some of the things people get for Christmas will sure surprise you!!!  haha   

Tonight I'm thinking of the gift of time. 

Time spent with family and friends.

I wonder if as we age; this is  what most of us learn  to value most? 

Could it be that  

Time takes  love

and love takes time. 

Like the time Myguy sacrifices for me so he can  come to my dentist appts... 

The time he has to work longer hours - to make up for it...

Time spent bringing flowers ... just because...

Time spent with olde friends passing through on their way to Kentucky.

The time she spent painting a wall hanging purple and stenciling our names on it 

then  adding bling... coz she remembers Lydia.

Time another spent mentoring... 

Time shared across the big Pond,

Time lifting, encouraging, pointing uP,...

Time leaning in for a headscratch... coz it's Christmas Momma,

Time and love  not merely 

spent

but 

   

invested.

-Time pruning

to grow.

This little box also shared a priceless gift.  

Love planted.  

I'll have to share more about it 

next year.  

Don't you love a cliffhanger?  

Stay tuned...

xoxo

Day 27 New Studies and Soaking Wet...

Good evening friends,

Perusing the book store this afternoon I finally found some studies!!  

I picked up three by the same author and found an online one as well to start the new year.

Now to get journals ready and decide on a new 

one word 

and anchor verse to start 2016.  

I have the word but will wait to share it until the 1st.  

The forecast sure was right about torrential rain.

It's a royal mess. 

We're having a bad problem with flooding in one side of our barn and 

one pen of silkies have a creek running through their pen.  

I keep piling up shavings in there to give them something to stand on that's not just 

a puddle.  If it gets much worse I'll have to open the door and let them have the alley way

but I worry a predator could get them.  

Oh what to do? 

Bout like the olde woman 

who lived in a shoe

-had so many Roos she didn't know what ta do??

yep ...(that's me) 

 Think we've had about 7" so far.... 

This was the little creek by the park in Lamar today.

This was driving down one of the streets in town there.  

I'm so thankful our old farmhouse is on a hill.

Warm and dry... so far. 

Alrighty friends, 

Time to let the dogs out one last time and 

hit the hay.

Sweet dreams, 

Leaon mary

Day 26 Oh The Weather Outside Is Frightful...

(Today I'm veering from the prompt as we don't have boxing day here.)

It was tempting to just  pack a bag today and head to the mountains.

Myguy didn't have to work and both of us have been  missing

snow.  In four or five hours we could have driven far enough 

to find a place to throw snowballs, and do a few donuts.

But then we'd have to drive all the way back; so we opted 

to just head to Ft Smith and run around for awhile. 

With Chris Tomlin playing on a cd, we did what I guess thousands

of other people decided to do.  

Yall... it was a madhouse.  

With the new year just around the corner I've been on a mission--

A mission to find a bible study.

 I really hoped to find one today at Lifeway.  

 After much browsing;  didn't get one thing.  

Nothing  seemed to fit at all.... ????

Are any of you starting something new? 

Please share if you are.  

After Lifeway, we stopped by another bookstore,

Michaels, Harbor Freight, Sears, a Liquor store

to get bourbon for a new brew of  homemade baking vanilla and then...

before heading back we stopped for a bite to eat at our favorite

restaurant. 

This salad is such a treat for me. 

We don't have this restaurant in our neck of the woods and both like to eat there.

This salad not only is always beautiful but tastes so dadgum good.

Then we made the trek back.

Going into the big town is fun once in awhile but 

sure am thankful we live in a very rural area.  

Traffic is  just not my cup of tea.

Thanks for stopping by the shed.

Your visits mean a lot to me.

If you have any suggestions of a study to share please

leave me a message either in the comments or 

email.  Thankyou!

Leaon mary xoxo

Christmas Day

Merry Christmas friends!

I hope you've all had a special day 

celebrating our Savior's birth.  

I'm ready to brew a hot cup of tea and enjoy the twinkle

of the Christmas tree lights awhile in the dark.

Speaking of dark; last night was one I hope to never forget.

Recently we got a new camera to try out so since the weather was 

so mild we found ourselves on a blanket on our backs

moongazing on Christmas Eve.  It was soooo ...

beautiful. 

The clouds were moving so fast... 

There's just something about star gazing,

moon gazing...

and watching the clouds go by... 

I think more than anything it's taking the time

to just look uP  for awhile.  

How can you not just marvel at God's awesomeness 

while looking up at His creation?  

What a memory I'll treasure for years to come.

(Think I love the new camera too. ) 

Waking up Christmas morning,

this was where I started the day.  

Now that Christmas was here, ...

I didn't want it to end.  

It's hard to explain the feeling inside.  

It churned as I realized there were no more doors to open

on the potting shed advent calendar.  

And again opening day 25 in the Advent book I've followed along in.  

there was no more... it was just me 

and Him at the table.  

I felt ashamed ... the sadness I felt.  

Why do I feel like this Lord?  

I really don't know what to do now?  

It was so quiet... 

I kept looking up at this ornament.  

And I remember how just the day before a gal on Instagram shared this very word

as her one word for 2015.  

Believe.   

Advent means "coming." 

He came for us.  

And one day He'll be coming again.  

 John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Thank You Lord for coming.

So the rest of our morning was spent getting things ready.

Threw a spiral cut ham in the oven...

Peeled potatoes,

set up a cardtable to extend our table,

found extra chairs...

made coleslaw,

put the dogs up,

did chicken chores... 

you know; the usual stuff... 

The kids all made it in.

 Our youngest son's fiance made the big cake this year!

It was so beautiful.... 

 a cake for the King of the Universe.

 It was a good day.  

Breaking bread together 

in celebration.  

After opening gifts, our oldest son stepped over the obstacle course of 

gifts, wrapping paper, boxes 

and bows to sit beside  me.  

"It's Christmas Momma," he said as he leaned in.

In Trento Bean lingo that means, 

"Please could  you scratch my head?" 

happysigh...

As a Momma... you just have no idea what that does for this heart.

Thank You Lord for this man child and every soul in this room. 

Thank You for the love here of family and friends,

and ...every person reading this too.  

Thank you for coming to earth 

to love us all the way to the cross.

Thank you for that quiet this morning... 

that stirred me up inside... even the sadness I could feel. 

May I  remember to look uP

 ... more Lord.

Happy birthday  dear Jesus,

love, Leaon mary

Day 24 Christmas Eve... A Few Photos Of The Day

 Happy Christmas eve friends,

Late posting tonight; 

but here are a few pics of this beautiful day.

Breakfast with Myguy before he headed to work.

 Lunch with the donks and Gracie.

Doesn't Ruthie look like she's putting a pout on here?

No wonder at the barn I found myself whistling

You better watch out
You  better not cry
You  better not pout
I'm a  telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town.

.....Smile Ruthie... 

Olde Santa's a watchin.  

Don't want to find a bucketful a coal in the mornin darlin.

 This afternoon I had to bake a little  more.

I swear you can never have too much pumpkin bread

in this olde house. 

 Then this evening I went to the cemetery for awhile.

Have done it for 8 years now.

Guess it's  become another tradition.  

It's different now than it used to be.

Did a lot of remembering because we always spent Christmas together.

Happy memories..

 I really thought I'd see someone else there today but

 It was just me and this dragonfly kiss. 

Noticed the lily bloomed today.  

Just in time for Christmas!

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Thanks for stopping by the shed sweet friends,

Merry Christmas Eve... 

Peace

xoxo

Day 23 Socks....

 Funny; I usually buy Christmas socks for gifts but

this year; didn't have  any for myself.  

A sweet friend of mine sent these to me 

just this week though.  

Just in time  for today's photo prompt:

socks! (Thankyou Sue! I love them! 

Don't these two olde feet look 

Happy now?!!!  

 While we're on the topic; I thought I'd share a couple other 

stockings hanging near our tree.  

This one was made from an olde cutter quilt, vintage

buttons and lace.  

And these two were made by the famous Granny Trace; 

embroidered by her own sweet lil hands.  I look forward to bringing 

them out every year.  

It's her woolie JOY!

Before signing off for the day,

I thought I'd share one more photo of these happy socks 

in a new scripture picture.  

Ya just never know what God will use to inspire you.  :)  

This photo is  the one I'll be printing  out to go with today's prompt.  

Until tomorrow then;

and it will be Christmas eve!

xoxo

  

Day 22 Essentials....

 Reading today's prompt I started to stack up all the "stuff" I like

and tend to think I just have to have.  

But really... it's just stuff.  

Stuff I get very caught up in.  

Spending time with God I know is thee most essential thing of my life.  

More than air, food and water.  

TRUTH

Dec 21... Prompt: Green.... JUST BECAUSE

 After supper, Myguy pushed his plate back and said, 

"I got ta gooo." 

"Where you off to?" I sorta whined. 

Those eyebrows of his raised and then all mysterious he says

"I have some Christmas shoppin to do."  

So off he trotted and left me alone for the evening.  

Chris Tomlin's new cd "Adore" kept me company and after 

dishes were done, I spent the next couple of hours wrapping gifts.  

As I wrapped and listened to carols I wondered where Myguy had headed off to?

Hmmmm... what's he up to?  

I imagined places he might be going... 

He's a great listener and pays alot of attention to things I say and he takes notice 

when I mention things I like. 

His time is my favorite thing he gives me though and as busy as he is he tries very hard 

to make as much time for me as he can.  

We've both realized over the years that often it's the little things people do 

for eachother that really are the big things afterall.  

It's cookin him  sausage, hashbrowns and eggs for breakfast and 

 running out to start his big Diesel on cold mornings while he's getting dressed.

It's warming his work clothes up in the dryer coz ... well; I know he's cold blooded and a 

little rickety of the mornin.

It's how he turns the heating pad on and puts it on my pillow

before we turn in for the night, every night. 

It's how I clean his glasses every day coz he forgets.  

And it's how he goes out of his way to carry feed to the barn

coz he thinks they're too heavy for me to be doin it.  

It's caring... 

pleasing, 

and lovin no matter what.  

Last night when he got home I heard the key in the door.  

I was taping up the ends on the last gift to wrap.  His actually.  

My back was to the bedroom door  and he slips in behind me and hands me a 

pretty bouquet.

"These are just because," he said.  

Just because

He loves me.

What a gift he is Lord.

After 32 years, we love 

each other more every day.  

It's really amazing  how love

can  keep growing... 

year after year.

day by day.

moment by

moment.    

So  for today's post, I thought I'd make a scripture picture and 

share this token of  love

.  

Love each other.  

And may we never forget that

it's the little things

that really are 

 the big things.  

Day 20 Glitter....

 How's your weekend been friends?

In just four more days it's Christmas eve!  

You excited?  

Last night my whole family went to a party together.  

It was so much fun.  

Especially when the 80 year old Grandma there nabbed the 

Craftsman screwdrivers when we all played dirty Santa.  

Every guy there was a real man's man ... who mechanics and loves tools etc... 

and lo and behold  the Grandma got the Craftsman tools. lol  

Hilarious.  

She reeeeally wanted them too!  

It was good food, good company, and made some new memories.  

So today's prompt is glitter... 

Glitter to me  is ... -well... it's like 

Craftsman or SnapOn to my guys. 

A tool of the trade.

Plus it  sparkles...so  I like it!  Alot!  

Glitter takes me back to Valentines day... and making that special box to hold  your precious valentines.  There is no such thing as too much glitter in my book. 

Surprisingly enough; the  deer up above was glittered just today.  

Think I'll put a couple gluedots on him and just stick him to the wall near the 

table in this art porch.  

 When I first discovered mixed media art,

I went nuts for 

German glass glitter.

Alot of the German glitter  I bought on Ebay, has a very vintage 

patina to the shimmer.  

I started shaking it on everything.

 Having a fondness for vintage shakers and bottles;

the two just went together like 

peanut butter n jelly or 

salt n 

 pepper.

No matter if lids are a little rusty or

crusty... 

It just adds to the charm.  

Here are a few little bottles of new glitter.  

I haven't used the Martha Stewart ones much but the Ranger Stickles

is awesome.  No tellin how many bottles of it I've went through in the past.  

Last but not least is one of my most favorite:

A vintage jar of glitter.  Can't remember anymore where I found it?   

But it's such a pretty silver.  

Digging through boxes of vintage craft supplies in thrift shops is so much fun.

You never know what you might find.  

Bakelite buttons,  cards of mop buttons, sequins, 

I've even found really cool olde hatpins,

Tomato pin cushions too - which is another thing I've collected over the years,

But glitter I see pretty often.  

It's kind of hard to resist.  

It's like diamonds... but you know... for a quarter. 

Alright friends, 

time to get busy.  

There are little cakes to bake in jars today...

How will you be spending your afternoon?

  

  

Day 19 Oh Christmas Tree....

How's your weekend going friends?

It is thee most gorgeous day here.  

Really doesn't feel like Christmas time; it's so warm.

With today's prompt being "tree"-

Addie Doodle and I tinseled up this little tree growing right in front

of the shabby olde potting shed.  

It's been a good two or more years ago now that Debra Dear 

of Sparrowgrass introduced me to these cute little ever greens.  

The name has escaped me; but how happy I am that she shared them with me

and that they were available for sale in our neck of the woods.  

Three were planted; 

but this one has grown the most.  

This is a short post today.  

I'm baking cookies for a party, and you know one of my very few rules:

Never blog and bake.  

My family likes soft chewy cookies and 

I don't want to disappoint them!

So until tomorrow,

xoxo 

ps.  To "keep it real" The tree, wreath, and bow were decorated for this post only.  

I had to rob Peter to pay Paul with the decorations, and  it's already back on the front porch and in the house.

eeeek... THE COOOOOKIES!  

BYE!

18... Ho Ho Ho....

 Here we are; - the last Friday before Christmas  day.  

Unreal isn't it?
I'm really really tired today.
Feelin like a walkin zombie.
Still have some cards to fill out, but I'm just tappin out the rest of the day.
The hustle and bustle is catching up to me.
Thankfully, we finished our shopping last night... as in DONE.  
And just saying that... that thought comes; ... but I shoulda got ___ more... or
I should have done this or that.  More. More More.  Better... Not enough.
Oh dear calgon take me away.
Do yall ever do that too?
Time to crank up the song, "I need a silent night."  


Had a big dentist appt today and Myguy came along.
It really interfered in his work day I know; but he's awesome moral support.
I'm sooo grateful.  
We're fiiiinally gettin down to the wire of getting  these implants finished.
Had a wax try in today.  But it wasn't quite right.
So ... my dentist is tweaking it and Monday they'll send it off to the lab to try again.
I've been singing "All I want for Christmas is my new top teeth," ... but
it's not looking too promising.  There's only 7 days til Christmas and that's weekends involved.
Ohwell... "Patience," Momma said.
"Learn Patience."
You know; it's funny.  When all this mess started I was so embarrassed about it all there's no way
I'd have ever written that outloud like this but...
I heard a TRUE quote recently, that goes like this:
Don't be ashamed of your story.
It will inspire others.
There is absolute truth in that;
--I've seen how that works myself.
Both sides of it.

Moving on... Today's prompt is Ho Ho Ho.
Anyone else break into "Santa Baby" when you read that?
Oh come on. You can do it.  
Give it your best Marilyn voice.
(giggle)

-- Did I digress?
I warned yall I'm so tired.
Oh yeah; the photo. (ha)
My step Dad Don gave this olde Santa  to me several years ago.
He's  an oldie.  (The Santa that is; well, my Stepdad sort of is too lol)
Anyways, I just picked the doll  up to read his tag and guess what?
It has my name on it!!!!
Hang on... I'll add another photo...

The Rushton Company
Atlanta Ga.

 Rushton Star creation.
Well I'll be!!!  
I just looked them up on ebay.
And ... we could  add another
Ho Ho Ho!!!

Alright friends,

-- startin to get giddy..

I know; it doesn't take much sometimes. 

Have a great night,

Leaon Merry  (wink)

Out N About, Dedicated To A Scottish Lassie

 Wandering out back; the three Musketeers 

came to the fence wanting their afternoon snack. 

So I ran back inside and filled my pockets with range cakes. 

The sack of cakes is kept just inside the kitchen door- 

Afterall, you never know when a friend will sing you a song for

 his or her supper.  

 Too bad I only had the camera in my phone.

This warm hug could have been captured better.  

 I told Olde Violet she looks like a llama 

when she stands up tall like this.  

 She smiled, ...  

then threw her head back and laughed 

right out loud.  

Donkey love,

Leaon Mary