Random Post Today

December was full this year and included a camping trip.  Hubby and I went to Trailer Trash Christmas in Anacortes.  It was fun to see our camping peeps in the winter. I had fun dressing up Annie and Hubby for the holidays.

 I loved seeing everyone celebrate Christmas.

 We enjoyed being home and cozy too.

 I celebrated another birthday.

The Pie Pals came for lunch and a craft.

Girls night! Always fun and a long standing tradition! 2023 will be our 40th anniversary and I think we should start planning.

Sam and Katie made their exciting baby news public. Thank goodness because this grandma was about to burst!

Camping Mimi has been buying a few things. We get to find out if it's a boy or a girl this month.

Boy or girl, every newborn needs a camping outfit. Sam weighed over ten pounds so if baby is like Daddy they will wear newborn sizes for a hot minute. Breaking that info to Katie carefully.

 I put up three trees this year, and used a lot of neutrals. Our living room tree didn't have the shiny brites year. it was easier and calming.

Hubby rocked my Dad's Santa suit and we crashed Bill and Jodi's family party. Alex and Serena, I am sorry but therapy for Rory is your own expense.

 Sam and Katie and Max and Kassie came home for Christmas. We celebrated with Danny and Jess in MI over Thanksgiving and with face time.

 Why is there always one boy that has to wind up the chandelier and his mama like a top?

 Sam is pretty exited about he hatchet, not sure if we should be worried.

 We had a nice Christmas and I have the photos to prove it but i am still having photo/blog woes.

In January one of my walking buddy's son got married and we helped her. A beautiful and fun wedding for a special couple.

Hubby and I went to Ikea to get some things to organize our home.  I added some blush to our bedroom. Hubby is liking it too.

And then the weather... I love the snow as much as I despise the wind.  So far, we have had power and that is huge.  The last two years we lost power for 4+ days and I got cranky.

I am incredibly lazy during blizzards.  School snow days and it feels like the world stops so I do too.

Let's chat about Netflix. I finished Mrs. Maisel, and season 3 didn't feel as good as seasons 1 and 2 but still good. I binge watched the new season of Good Girls.  I am muddling through season 3 of The Crown.  Is anyone else struggling with the older actors?

What are you watching? I need something new. I'm thinking about Ozarks but it may be too scary for me.

I read The Mother in-Law and really enjoyed it.

I'm not on a diet but I should be. Wish I cared.

The blogging/photo issues are makin' me craycray!

What I am looking forward to:

Rio and Bee's wedding this weekend and seeing Rene' and Jeremy. 

A Sisters on the Fly event next weekend. Hubby gets to go too. Shelly!

My brother and Caroline are getting married February first!

New devotions for 2020.  First 5.  It's an app.

Holding a newborn baby and smelling its head. Not weird

2020 is a Hawaii year and we are going to the big island.  I haven't been there since I was a nanny. Ten glorious night, eek! Toes in the sand.

My sisters/cousins have a Palm Spring trip planned and I am giddy!

Finding out if our grand baby is a boy or a girl. I think Sam wants a girl.  He always wanted a baby sister and when we got Hawley (our dog) he had a flash of disappointment because he thought we'd adopted a baby girl. I still laugh about that. Sam will be happy with a healthy boy or a girl, so settle down.

I have a lot of camping reservations and have over 50 nights away from home reserved for 2020. I know. I know. That's a lot but it's all great trips!

Have a good weekend my friends!

Vintage and Present: Beautiful Women and Their Christmas Trees

 I shared on face book a series of photographs of women with their Christmas trees.  They were from the 50's, 60's and early 70's.  So many of you loved those photos that I asked my sister, that is a Snapsister, Jodi, to help me bring it back. 

First, let's take a look at some of the beautiful vintage photographs of women and their trees.  Oh, the dresses are gorgeous and the tinsel is used with wild abandon.  Just how I like it!

The Lady in Red

Her dress is so pretty and I love the fir bough above her window. She looks like my Mom or her cousin, Janet.

 Can We Be Friends?

This woman looks like we could be besties.  She has paper whites, tinsel, a dog and a cocktail, absolutely, my kind of gal! Her taste is impeccable! She looks comfortable in her gorgeous dress and shoes and with herself.  Confidence is beautiful.

Come Hither, Darling

Speaking of confidence, she's got it!  Wearing her baby doll nightie, she loses her scary, school secretary look that she wears during the day.  You go girl!

On the Floor and Not Happy About It

Her tree, her red dress, her red shoes, the lamp shade, the wreath in the window, the dog, her side table with an espresso and ashtray and lastly, her pearls, are perfection.  She has impeccable taste and style, just no smile.  Looking happy is beautiful, my friends.

S.T.Y.L.E

 Sweetie, I have more style in my pinkie than you'll ever have in you whole, miserable life. 

I know what she's thinking and honestly, she's not wrong. I am coveting her dress and gloves and possibly her eyeliner.

 JustWhatIAlwaysWanted

Who wouldn't be happy to open that stunning jacket on Christmas morning?

Hey Santa Baby

 Her elf outfit is cute and she looks like she'd be fun.  Her dishes and stemware are beautiful as is her tree.  Those ornaments are huge and I haven't seen them before.  What disturbs me is the chamber pot next to her feet. Ours is not to wonder why.

 One More Perfectly Wrapped Package

Mad wrapping skills, pretty tinsel and a red dress, she nailed it. She looks like my Aunt Shirley.

 Give Me All The Tinsel

For a shy gal, she sure knows how to put on the tinsel.  It makes me wonder what she's really like.

 On Friday afternoon Jodi and I hit the road to capture women and their beautiful Christmas trees. I asked some friends and family to send me their photos.  Ladies, I am proud of you!  You out did yourselves and everyone one of you is gorgeous, talented and fun loving!

KrisMas

Kris sent me her photo. Just another day in the life of a spiced rum swilling cat lady.  Kris is a lot of fun and this photo proves my point.  hee hee

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas

Our first stop was at Holly's house.  Christmas is her jam.  She has many trees, a lot of beautiful decorations, yet it isn't overdone.  I always feel like I just stepped into a County Living magazine when I visit Holly at Christmastime.  Holly chose to wear a classic look. She looks just as beautiful and timeless as her tree.

Merry Marjean
Marjean has a sparkling personality.  Her joy is infectious.  I love how her dress caught the lights from her Christmas tree. It's a tall, gorgeous tree.  Everything about Marjean and her tree reflect happiness.

Oh Rosie

Leslie is a berry farmer's wife, so we went out to the farm to take her photo.  She loves animals, we included Rosie in the photo shoot. Leslie came to the door in a gorgeous cocktail dress, sparkly jewelry and heels.  Wow! 

I've heard Leslie say, Oh Rosie, many times because what else can you say about a naughty dog?

MoM

Janna is a busy Mom of three little girls. When I asked her if we could stop by for a picture, she was game.  If you have small children then you know that not only did she have to get herself ready, but she probably also had to herd toys and girls to the play room.  She was working on her Christmas plans and drinking a LaCroix when we came to her house. Janna was meeting girlfriends that evening and was ready to celebrate Christmas wearing the prettiest plaid shoes ever. Janna lives on Front Street so her tree is in the front bay window for everyone to enjoy.

 Beep Beep

Doreen's tree is on top of her VW bug.  She uses her car to go to her beach cabin in the summer and in the winter it is a perfect prop for some front yard Christmas decorating. Doreen has an outfit for every occasion and she didn't disappoint. A fun, hip Grandma, Doreen wore a Christmas sweater that she wore when expecting her girls.  Vintage fun! Poinsettia leggings? Yes, indeed!

Dreamy

Vonda wore a little black dress with teal heels for a pop of color. I always love a little black dress paired with bright, pretty heels.  It's unexpected and pretty.  Every time.  Just like Vonda's Instagram account.  If you don't follow @vondavhoef you are missing out on a pretty flowers, yummy desserts and her sweet family. Vonda is pictured with her pup, Ferris.

Wishing Everyone a Groovy Christmas
My little sis, Jodi is a Bond girl in her other life.  The velvet dress, boots and her bouffant hair do with a Christmas corsage are groovy. Of course, her corgi, Duchess, was in on this photo shoot. Holly helped Jodi flock her tree this year and it is pretty. Can you believe this Bond girl is a grandma?

Beautiful Christmas Sweater Winner

 My sister, Kathi took home first place at an ugly sweater contest this year so she knew what she wanted to wear for her picture.  There is nothing ugly about it. She looks adorable in her Christmas dress!  And she's ready to pop the champagne for guests at her beautiful, new, waterfront home.  Let's all pop by for bubbly, shall we?

Honey, I'm Home

Jodi caught me right at 5:00 when I am ready for Hubby to walk in the door. I've freshened up, put on my Christmas apron, mixed drinks, dinner is in the oven, his slippers are warming by the fire and I've turned on the Christmas lights for the evening. Just your typical week night at the Stone House.

I don't think I have posed by a Christmas tree by myself since 1961.

Thank you to all the beautiful women that agreed to my crazy idea. Women are usually behind the camera instead of in front of it.  The vintage photos were so fun to see and the women were beautiful, I knew we needed to bring it back. It was so fun to see everyone dressed up standing proudly by their trees.  Every tree was beautifully decorated by the women that stood next to it.  It made me sad when they apologized and seemed unsure of themselves when we came to their homes.  We are so hard on ourselves. 

 It was heart warming to celebrate some of my beautiful friends and sisters at Christmas.

Special thanks to Jodi for photographing.  It was a really fun afternoon.

Jodi and I  talked about our Mom, we don't have any pictures of her next to her tree.  It would have been unlike our Mom to have a photo by herself.  That and she had three of her children in December so she was often pregnant or had a newborn at Christmas time. It's our first Christmas without our Mom and we wished we had a photo of her standing next to one of her beautiful trees.

I'd love for more of you to send me pictures of you by your tree.  I'll add them as I receive them.
Merry Christmas!

Kat's Bridal Shower

 Yesterday my sister, Kathi and I hosted a bridal shower for our nephew, Levi's fiancee, Kat. I've always wanted to set up one long table and have a party in the pasture. So that is what we did.

Entertaining takes a village.

This shower is brought to you by Kathi and I and my daughter-in-law, Kassie and the gardens at Shelly's farm.  All flowers are from Shelly's gardens! Thank you Shell!

Hubby helped with set up and tear down. 

 I made the balloon installation.  I saw it on Pinterest and thought, "how hard can it be? I can do that."

When fools rush in...and Amazon helps.  Anyway, I won't be quitting my sub job to create balloon art but it did turn out okay and Kassie and I got in the tree.

 We used our tiki bar for the mimosas and champagne cocktails.

 A million thanks to Kassie for pouring and refilling and yeah, helping me set up.

I love her!

 The bride and her sister, Brooke. Twinning much?

 Kat with her future sisters-in-law Hana and Serena and Serena and Alex's Baby, Aurora.

 Kat and my sister, Jodi.  Kat is getting a wonderful mother-in-law and Jodi is getting a wonderful daughter-in-law. It's a win win.

 The mimosas made everything so pretty!

 Everyone enjoyed the brunch. Kathi and I tried new recipes.

 I love my sissies!

 I can't wait for the wedding! Not because Levi and Kat are getting hitched but because Brooke gets to make a speech with a microphone. Aren't sisters the best?