Good Bye 2009

  Time to say farewell to 2009. An eventful year here at Frippery Farmhouse.  High School

graduation, off to college, a new apartment, job loss, business start ups, a new dog and cat added to the menagerie, the never ending redecoration of our home, the general ups and downs of life. 

I love the sharing of life that goes on in Blogland. I feel for your lows and rejoice in your highs. You occupy so many phases of life, bringing memories or letting me know there is much to look forward too. Very often it is just the fact that we are all in this together and our experiences of life are much the same, that makes blogging so worth while.

Sisters and brothers on the same journey taking many different paths, but united in our humanness. 

I so savor the time I spend learning from you, sharing with you, hearing how you are doing and what is happening in your part of the world. Connection is so important. Of course we all have beloved friends and family. But I consider you friends as well, and relish the hours spent here.

As we close the door on 2009 I just want to say thanks for the inspiration, joy and sorrow, and just good old laughs. 

Good Night friends. Turn out the lights, tomorrow is a New Year.

Have a day of celebration, P.

A New Toy, the Buddha Board

  My lovely SIL Diana and her family arrived from Chicago yesterday bearing gifts. I will post her estate sales finds for Joe and I later. At the moment I am obsessing on Sadie's gift. Have you ever seen a Buddha Board?

We had not. Now I am thinking of ways to steal this from Sadie. (KIDDING! I think.) It is this amazing little drawing board that can be used over and over.

This is seriously awesome! With a bamboo watercolor brush and water , you can sketch away on the absorbent surface.

When you do, it appears as an ink wash painting that slowly fades away. Very freeing. No mistakes. Paint what you feel. Sadie played last night.

Shapes turn to faces. Just water! Can you believe this?

Then watch as your work fades away.


I finally got my hands on it this morning and cannot stop playing.

Just keep adding as the drawing fades.

I simply have to have one for myself! (greedy thing)

 This is so addicting. I did manage to pull myself away to share it with you my dears! 
OK, back to the drawing board. Literally.


Have a Zen day, P.

Capturing Time

 I was inspired by Jodie to play with my camera. I wanted to capture a bit more Holiday before it is time to pack it up for another year.

How long do you leave your decorations up?

Do you save some to leave scattered about for winter?

Do you wait for Epiphany to take down the Nativity if you have one?

Are you ready for a fresh New Year?

Or do you find it hard to say good bye to this season?

I think I feel a little bit of both.

 

I really will try to honor Christmas in my heart and keep it all the year.


Have a day of quiet joys, P.

Merry Happy Day

 Since I posted a photo of my kitchen window on Christmas, all nice and clean, I thought I would post a few "real" Christmas pictures. Just the four of us on Christmas morning. Then we hosted dinner for my brother and family, my Mom, some of our oldest friends, Barb and Mike and family and friend Kathy. Joe's girlfriend, Jena, joined us later as well.

 The quintessential "It's too early for picture taking!" pose on Christmas morning. (Don't kill me for this Sadie.)

 Joe and Dad enjoying a morning chess game using Joe's chess timer from Santa. (Dad won and Joe is still in a state of shock!) That will teach him to doubt his elder's abilities, tee hee.

What, no room for Manny? Maybe Santa should have brought dog beds. Nah, why bother, they would still use the "people furniture."

                                                         O.K. That is more like it!!!

Grandma and grandsons, Dylan and Shane. (BTW Dylan has decided on a career change, instead of working in a Pancake House he wants to be a Naturalist. My SIL feels this could be a great blow to the pancake world.)
Notice the broom and dust mop by the window. Gifts for "little" Joe's new apartment, along with a space heater, some under door draft blockers and new towels. Wow, Christmas at 22 is so practical! That's what you ask Santa for when living in a turn of the century building with 12 foot ceilings.

Black and white photos remind me of all my grandmother's pictures of Christmas past. I just had to play with this one of Sadie and cousin Jake.

Right out of early 60's? Maybe?
Now we are gearing up for our New Years PJ Party and my hub's sister and family's arrival from Chicago tomorrow. Party on!

Hope you had a beautiful Christmas surrounded by loved ones.

Have a relaxing Sunday, P.

Be Merry

 "I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year."  Charles, Dickens 

Have a merry one, P.

Merry Christmas To All and To All a Goodnight!

  I am almost sad to open the last of these beautiful match boxes. It means this year's journey is coming to an end.  Marsi Bennet is the artist behind this gorgeous Christmas colored creation.

The true feeling of the season is displayed in this tiny box. A darling holly berry button is the cherry on top.

Inside is a lovely beaded angel charm. What a fitting end to this amazing display of talent and love for this most blessed of seasons.

I wanted to share how I decided to display my Advent calendar. I have had a vintage crib in my garden awaiting an herb garden. I took the spring section from the bottom and placed it on my entry wall.

I love the rustic look of this piece. I may keep it here after Christmas and just leave it bare.

For now it is just such a joyful reminder of Silver Bella and all the talented women involved.

It will become a wonderful keepsake to count down the days to Christmas yet to come.

A beautiful reminder of the passing years and friendships old and new.

My tiny kitchen tree displays the treasures found inside. I hope you have enjoyed sharing these bits of artistry with me. Have a beautiful, blessed Christmas surrounded by loved ones and the memory of those who can't be with you. This is indeed the most wonderful time of the year.

Let the wonder fill your heart.

God's grace has bestowed friends like you on me and I am so grateful. Have a joyous Christmas.


Be Merry, P.

Day 23, Just Wonderful!

 No. Really? Embroidery and fabric and glitz. This match box calendar is the most amazing group of miniature art pieces I have seen! Day 23 is by Kelli Flitton of My Lovely Life. Her match box is lovely indeed.

Inside, you ask? Just as darling as the outside! A tiny snowflake wand. I am bowled over by all the creativity. Speaking of creative. You have got to see Kelli's Pottery Barn paper wreath knock off. I am going to tear mine up and start over. As Trash would say, "I swan!"

 Have a wonderful day, P.


P.S. Debbie, I hope I used your saying appropriately. You know I want to be a Texan, or at least southern!

Another Beautiful Match Box

 Today we open Hope Ellington's beautiful, calm and elegant match box. Day 22 consists of a earthy green fabric tree with black and white and a touch of silver glass glitter.

I love the rick rack tree trunk.

Inside! A beautiful soldered ornament containing a glittery star.

Like I said before, can they get any better?
Simply lovely. 


Have a merry and bright day, P.

Frippery Door Decor

Today I have no matchbox to share. There was no number 21 included in the swap and we all decided we would make one of our own. I really meant to get to that. I still may, at least before I pack my calendar up for next year.

I still needed a post for today so I am sharing my simple, no cost, front door decor. A few years ago I chose this Christmas card because it vaguely resembled Frippery farmhouse. (At least in my dreams). I kept one and framed it to display.

  

This year I was looking for something less fussy to hang on the front door. I have been trying to simplify, as many are, this Christmas. Why not a picture of our home as I would like to envision it? I gathered bits and pieces I already had on hand from my boxes

of Christmas decor.

Some greenery and a plate holder (Dollar Tree) from last year. I cut the back leg of the stand off so I could hang the stand on the door.

I just slipped the green swag through the bottom section of the stand.

Then added one of those wonderful 3M hangers that are removable later. Oh, I just love these.

I slipped my framed card into the plate holder and hung it beneath the window on my front door.

A touch of ribbon, and I have a new, old bit of front door decor. Simple and easy. I may remove the ribbon after Christmas and leave it there until February.

Please ignore the scratched paint. Our lovely dogs "knock" on the door with their claws to let us know when they want to come in. It has been too cold to touch up the paint lately. (For the thousandth time) Bad dogs!

Have a simply lovely day, P.

Just When It Seemed...

I thought these matchboxes couldn't get any cuter. Then I opened this one!Sue at My Mother's Pearls created this gem. Look at this little snowman charm! I almost dropped my waffles and blackberries. Sue, I love it! Aren't you all jealous?
Have a peaceful day, P.