HAPPY NEW YEAR and PINK SATURDAY TOO

Yep, this is my family and we would love to wish all of you a very Happy New Year!!
We did something this year that we don't usually do: we took down the Christmas tree.....:( I miss it already! We generally don't take her down until AFTER the New Year, but it just seemed right to do it today, so she's gone for another year.

We usually spend a very quite New Year's at home and are in bed before midnight. With this being said, I have been working to restock my website Someplace in Thyme and so this is what I am sharing with you this week.
This is a romantic strawberry sachet that I just completed and listed. I hope you enjoy her.
I have also started a new line of Romantic Pocket Sachets and the one below is the first one in the new series. Each sachet will come with a pocket on the front to place a love note, gift tag or whatever you would like for a keepsake.

I usually do not showcase my work on this blog, but instead use my biz blog. If you are not familiar with my biz blog or would like to see what I have been up to, you can find me at Someplace in Thyme2. 
As always, I welcome your comments.
My wish for you tonight is to be safe, have fun and most of all HAPPY NEW YEAR. I look forward to chatting with you all in 2011!!
Thank you so much Beverly for being the best hostess with the mostess. You have made Pink Saturday a treat for us all.....THANK YOU!!

Our Trip To Cabo

For the past three years, my hubby's boss has given us a week's vacation at his villa in Cabo....I know, I know, it's rough, but someone has to do it!!  We feel very grateful to be able to get away for some time alone, and just love it there. I don't think I will ever want my sweet hubby to retire! HA HA, don't tell him I said that!!

There is a fountain in the courtyard when you enter the front door. Lovely to hear the water splash at night.

The villa is located on a hillside over looking the pacific ocean.

We even have our own heated swimming pool just off the bedrooms downstairs.

The upstairs patio has a hot tub, so when you want to relax at night, this is the place to do it.

You can sit and watch the boats as well as the cruise ships go by. If you love to travel, or just get away, Cabo is perfect.

I love the ocean and the sound and smell of the surf.

And of course, romantic sunsets......ooh, I have to close my eyes now and dream........to be continued.

Happy Pink Saturday And Merry Christmas

We just returned from a week long trip to Cabo San Lucas. This was the tree in the lobby of the hotel and it was beautiful.

One of the gorgeous sunsets over the Pacific Ocean.
My heart is full of gratitude to all my followers and the friends I have met while blogging. Each of you has become an important part of my life. I have met bloggers that have touched me in ways that I will never forget.
I thank you for all your lovely comments, your support and hope you have a very Merry Christmas full of love, peace, family, friendship and most of all, our Lord. May Peace be with you always.
Thank you Ms. Beverly for all you do and have a Merry Christmas. See you for the New Year.

LIFE IS GOOD

You just can't have a bad day when you see these sweet faces.
These are my grandchildren. Allie is five, her sister Jenna is two and the twins, Jack and Kyler are three.
Yes, I am so blessed and life is good.
I want to let you know that I have had some trouble with my computer, had it cleaned up and now am trying to get everything back to normal. I haven't been able to leave comments, I don't know why, but my blogger friends that have the comment boxes at the bottom of a post are the ones I am having trouble with. I am so very sorry, you are not being neglected by me, as I am visiting and seeing what you have been up to.
I am trying to work out the kinks but I think I may need some assistance.
I will be away from the computer until closer to the Christmas Holidays and so I wish all of you the Merriest Christmas full of love, warmth and of course, family and friendship.

HOW COULD I HAVE FORGOTTEN??

When our daughter was in kindergarten, I learned to smock. I loved it and thought smocked dresses were so cute. This was the first sundress I ever smocked.

What I learned on this dress was how to smock borders and create tiny flowers.

This is a close up, not perfect, but I was on my way. Our daughter is now in her early thirties and I have to tell you, she looked so sweet in this dress!!

My second attempt was another sundress, only this one has little mice across the front. I remember we used to get so many compliments on this dress when we were out.

The mice even have little whiskers. As I look back, I have to ask myself, "how did I ever do this?"

Moving on to something a little harder, I tried my hand at sheep......so cute, oh why do they grow up so fast?! :)

I can remember making this, but I can't remember HOW.

It doesn't look that hard does it? Little sheep with tiny yellow flowers....

Every little girl loves butterflies, so here they are.

This pattern was loved by all and I don't think it was hard to do.

Kirstin's Easter dress and my first attempt at sleeves.

This so cute pattern begins with an egg and progresses until you have a sweet chick!!! Now tell me, how cute is this??!!

This was the last dress I ever smocked. It was Kirstin's Christmas dress. She used to wear red or green under the dress and it was adorable on her. This dress has a Santa and his reindeer.

The top and the bottom border are little green Christmas trees. I kept these dresses all this time thinking that I would pass them on to my grand daughters. As faith would have it, Kirstin has twin boys!!!!!
Luckily for me, our son and daughter in law have two girls, so, I cleaned the dresses and ironed them, and passed them on to two very lucky little ladies.....
Now, if only I could remember how and what I did back then, I would love to create more.

Priceless Ornaments

I think most people must have a favorite ornament, or ornaments that they value over all others. This is mine. A simple shaped tree, cut out of paper. On one side you will find birdseed and what is left of some legumes. Why is this one so special you may ask? The answer is simple, it was made by my son when he was in kindergarten about 28 years ago. I have done everything in my power to make it last, but time is slowing taking it's tole. I am thinking of having it laminated so the paper will not decay anymore than it has. It was the first one he made for me and I am sure he never knew or realized the love it would bring to my heart every year that I unwrap this priceless gem.

There were more ornaments handmade with love, such as these beaded wreaths made in cub scouts. I think if my memory serves me right, they were meant to be napkin rings for the holiday table, but I choose to put them on the tree instead.  As my son grew older, the making of ornaments became a thing of the past, making each creation more and more special and much more valuable to me.

This silver gem was made by our daughter when she too, was in kindergarten. She lovingly glued on the macaroni pieces and then the teacher spray painted the piece.  This always has an up front place on the tree.
I have many more keepsakes from our children, but not enough time to share them all. I think you get the hint tho, my tree and my holiday is all about family and the collections we have amassed over time.
My husband sent 30 years in the Air Force, proudly serving his country and we were so blessed with the opportunity of travel. Along the way, I picked up some pieces that take me back to when I found them. Here is a little example of treasures I found.

This is one of a collection of six. Hand carved from wood and hand painted, we picked her up while on a trip to Moscow.

I have about four of these hand made icicles. I came across them while in a crystal shop in England.

Hand made and hand painted, these are cloud babies from Colorado Springs, made by the Simpich company. Sadly no longer in business, but you can google them and find out their history.

Each piece was cast, faces and hands hand painted, all clothes were sewn by hand as well. This company was a family company and when they decided to close, they didn't want to compromise their work by selling to another company. I miss them, but cherish each piece that I have.
I hope you enjoyed a little peek into my holiday decorating and maybe I will share more with you at a later day.

UNBELIEVEABLE GRATITUDE

There just is no explaining it.....some people's hearts are so big that they overflow with generosity. That is exactly what happened to me this week. I was the very lucky recipient of a give a way from Stephanie of Queen of Dreamsz. Never did I expect to receive so many beautiful and lovely items in one box. Just look at the card! Even it is over the top beautiful.

I know by now that most of you have discovered the love that bloggers have for one another. On any given day, there are gorgeous give a ways out there. I wish I could win them all, but many I don't enter. Not because I wouldn't love to have what is being offered, but because I find if a favorite blogger is also a favorite seller and creates along the lines that I do, I will probably let the give a way pass. I'm crazy, I know. I usually am not a lucky person. I don't win anything, at least, that is what I used to say. I can't say that anymore, can I? HA!

When I peeked inside the box, I really didn't know what to expect, but I think I had to pick my mouth up off the floor because Stephanie blessed me with so many gorgeous things and I can't wait to begin to use them. There's pretty fabrics, trims, lace, and so much more. What fun awaits little ole me.

My mind is going in a hundred different directions wanting to just dig in and begin the creative process. Look at those wonderful trims.....and....

and all the gorgeous ribbons!!!

This makes me want to visit The Queen of Dreamsz and play in her workroom. I just know she has lots of hidden treasures waiting to be found.

Button, button, who's got the button??!!

Vintage keys too.

Wonderful flowers for scrap booking and making tags......yummy!

Oooh la la, yo yos and velvet leaves, what fun await me.
THANK YOU Stephanie for a win that I will not forget. You were over the top on this one my friend and I am very grateful.
Please visit Stephanie's blog at Queen of Dreamsz and see what she has been up too. You won't be sorry.

OUR LITTLEST ANGEL

The holidays mean so much to so many, but this picture of our grand daughter steals my heart. We were in the process of  trimming  the tree, when we had a sleep over and some extra help.
Our littlest angel, what a doll baby and doing such a great job too.

Just look at that face, yep, she's an angel!