My 2012 List

Happy New Year

from "Out in the Fields"!

1. Be more kind

2. Admit I'm wrong immediately

3. Challenge myself creatively

4. Take better care of my health

5. Live with purpose

I try to look back on each year that passes

and see in which areas I may have not done 

the best I could and work on those 

through the next year....

not as resolutions but as more awareness

in my daily life,

more willingness to see the teachable moment,

and more growth towards the future.

New Fave Color Combo

I never thought I would like gray and yellow

as a color combo, but after 

seeing it used here and there in bedding 

and decor I decided I like it a lot.

This is a tunic I made...

 And this is an outfit I thrifted, including

the jeans:)

My only problem is not to go overboard

and then get sick of it and have to empty

my closet AGAIN!

I think I might try it in my laundry which is already 
painted a soft yellow, so just adding
some white and gray might freshen it up.
 I never seem to be done in that room
so I might as well like it!

Sewing for Two

For Christmas this year I got some ideas

for sewing for My Grand kids-

Boy and Girl.

I wanted them to coordinate,

but still look girly and boyish.

However the jury is still out on the jammies

and purple outfit for Pierce...His Daddy isn't sure

if they are quite "manly" enough!

 Then I came up with some ideas just for the little man...

What do you think?

Christmas 2011

It was a day of joy...

because of what it means

and how we spend it

and who we share it with.
And the addition of Grand Babies
adds that special wonder to it all
once again, like the quote
says "Christmas is for children because
the author of Christmas was a child
Himself."

I hope you were all blessed with a wonderful
season, as I was!

Christmas Eve 2011

It was just us 3 home for

Christmas Eve this year...

But I wanted it to feel special anyway,

so I put out a little spread

using wrapping paper as a table cover

and pretty dishes.

Just thought this free printable from
one artsy mama 

was so lovely and went with the blue theme.

 so it was in a frame on the table too.

 Resting for a few winks before more prep
for Christmas Day!

 And the best part of every year...

I highly recommend this movie,
it makes me cry every year.
Mary and Joseph were just very ordinary people
that were asked to believe and be obedient
to something they did not understand, because
they trusted God.
I also like that it gives us a glimpse into
Joseph and his part in Jesus life
without embellishing too much.
The greatest Story ever told...

A Blessed Christmas to All

Rose of Bethlehem
by Lowell Alexander

There's a Rose in Bethlehem
With a beauty quite divine
Perfect in this world of sin
On this silent, holy night.

There's a fragrance much like hope
That it sends upon the wind
Reaching out to every soul
From a lowly manger's crib

Oh, Rose of Bethlehem
How lovely, pure and sweet
Born to glorify the Father
Born to wear the thorns for me.

There's a Rose in Bethlehem
Colored red like mercy's blood
Tis the flower of our faith
Tis the blossom of God's love

Though its bloom is fresh with youth
Surely what will be He knows
for a tear of morning dew
Is rolling down the Rose.

Oh, Rose of Bethlehem
How lovely, pure and sweet
Born to glorify the Father
Born to wear the thorns for me.

May He be your All in All
this Christmas
and always!
Karen

Making Cookies

There's something extra special about

having a little someone helping 

to make Christmas cookies this year.

Love those busy little fingers 

putting sprinkles "berry carefully".

Cinnamon Rolls

I'm linking up with

Jiffy Cinnamon Rolls

(recipe from All Recipes.com)

I found this recipe for a non- yeast

cinnamon roll so I could make them GF.
(It's very hard to make anything roll out that
is made with yeast and GF)

They were delicious when they came from

the oven and okay the next morning.

Obviously they are not the same as 

yeast rolls, but worth making if 

you are in a hurry.

Pittock Mansion 2011

I made my annual drive out

to the lovely misty hills of Portland

to the Pittock Mansion

which is yearly decorated for Christimas.

 This year the theme was

"Christmas Around the World"

Each room was set up with typical 

decor and ideas for that country.

I found it to be very interesting how many countries 

do not give gifts until Jan 6, 

which is related to Epiphany,

when the wise men came,

and not for Christmas.

 I think it would be an excellent year to take

children and let them hear and see

how other countries do things 

at this season.

As Americans we often think that

everyone else does things as we do, but if

you think about it we are a very "young"

country and our traditions are 

quite new:)

The Pittock Mansion is still decorated

into the new year so if you have time...

It's worth the drive.

Relaxing before Christmas

My man and I took a little jaunt

up to the Skamania Lodge for a night

(courtesy of my husbands staff).

It's one of those places that feels like it

just belongs to the Season and the 

40 foot real tree they put in the Great Room

is always stunning.

By the time I had a hot stone massage, sat by 

the fire reading my favorite Christmas stories,

(and crying into a kleenex:)

drank hot apple cider, and drowsed 

in a rocking chair while carols played,

I could hardly move I was so relaxed!

Highly recommended for the 

week before Christmas:)

It's My Party!

Finally got the pictures up for 

the Party that happened earlier

this month:)

I have to say that my whole idea

and printables came from

Sweet Scarlet Designs

 This little guy was not in the mood to be a
prince or wear a crown!

It was a super easy way to put together a
party and I highly recommend doing
a downloadable one...

Coffee Toffee

I'm linking up with the

 Coffee Toffee with Chocolate and Pretzels

2 c. sugar

1/2 c. water

1/8 c. corn syrup

8 oz butter

1 c. almond slivers

1 c. chopped pretzels -divided

2  tsp. instant coffee powder

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/4-1/2 c. chocolate chips

Grease a 9x13 pan.

Combine sugar, water and corS syrup 

in sauce pan and boil 

until temp reaches 280*. Stir in butter. 

Cook until temp reaches 315*, 

stir in almonds and half of pretzels.

Cook back up to 315*

Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and 

coffee. Pour into pan.

Let cool for 10 minutes,

sprinkle choc chips on top and when melted, spread over top.

Add remaining pretzels and push down

gently into chocolate.

Cool completely and break into pieces. 

Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

This is very crunchy and tasty!

If you don't like coffee flavor 

you could just leave the coffee

powder out and it would still be delish!

I used GF pretzels and it turned out great.

Holiday House Walk

I'm linking up with the Holiday House Walk 

over at Jennifer Rizzo

Come on in the coffee's hot!

Front Porch
Keepin' it Simple...

Entry Way

Den

Great Room
(the tags hanging on the mantel are from
Miss Cutie Pie)

Master

Dining Room

Thanks for stopping by to visit!
Come again soon...