Thursday, December 08, 2005

Making a List and Checking it Twice


The "Big" weekend is almost here. I am suppose to leave tomorrow morning for Lexington to pick up Sharon and then we will head for the mountains to spend the night with my middle daughter Melody and her family. Megan will meet us there early early Saturday morning and we will go to Tennessee to Maggies. I have my Christmas dinner items all packed in the van ready to go. The gifts are all wrapped and packed except for one I have to finish making for Megan.My clothes are packed.The automatic feeders are filled for the dogs and cats. I even set up the litterbox for the cats to use while I am gone. (They go to the door and cry when they need to go out to potty). Bud's feeder has been filled and all the animals have their auto water thingies. Plus my neighbor Fran will be checking in on them. I can't wait to get to our annual Christmas Weekend! Brian is suppose to call us saturday night while we are all together. Wish he could be there instead of being in Iraq but he will be home soon.This will be our Christmas without Mother but we will have lots and lots of good memories to share about her. Since I know the girls won't be reading this before they open them I will share 2 of the gifts I made them. Last summer I got to walk back in the mountains to my mothers old homeplace with 2 of her brothers. They showed me where the house, garden, etc use to be. While I was looking around I found some broken pieces of pottery, a piece of an old childs boot, a matchbook cover dated 1939. So I took a picture I had of my grandparents standing in front of the old home , made copies and put them in shadow boxes. I divided up the items I had found at the homeplace and used velcro to attach them inside the shadow box next to the picture. Each girl has something from Nannies home and their great grandparents. My mother had a huge box of handwritten recipes. She and all her granddaughters got together every year before Christmas to make candy and cookies. I made copies of her handwritten recipes and put them in 3 books with a picture of her in front of each. Wrapped the books up and put the girls name on the tags and added with love from Nannie. I know they will be so happy getting as I was making them. Our theme this year was homemade or second hand shopping( meaning thriftstores or flea markets) so with those gifts I think I kept with the theme. Of course being mom I have to give a few gifts that I couldn't resist getting for them, their hubbies and my grandchildren. Its going to be a wonderful weekend and I will have lots of pictures and stories to tell when I get home. If the weather doesn't get too bad. Right now its sleeting and its suppose to continue all night but stop in the morning. Hope so ... We will end saturday night with a Happy Birthday Jesus cake and story. Sunday morning after stockings and gifts we end our weekend with Christmas pancake breakfast. I have to make red and green pancakes its a tradition! So everyone have a great weekend, enjoy your family, relax and stay warm or cool (depending on where you are) and I will see you Monday.

13 comments:

Shell said...

Oh, have a wonderful time! The shadowboxes and the recipe books sounds like absolutely amazing gifts. I wish everyone was as thoughtful as you - what wonderful heirlooms these will be. I'm sure your family with love them.

Spock said...

But, but, but, how will my girlfriend blog????? Mom says have a safe & wonderful trip & you will be in her prayers.

Alice said...

I hope it's not too late to wish you a wonderful weekend with your family. Your gifts from Nannie are truly inspired and I'm sure your girls will truly treasure them. God bless you all and keep you safe in your travels.

Anonymous said...

You have some great Christmas fun and spirit going on here.

Thanks for the visit and for sharing your words. I was very touched by them.

Miss Robyn said...

oh Peggy - the whole weekend sounds wonderful _ from the bits n pieces found at the homestead to the recipes and the snow ! have a fabulous time. Just cannot wait to see all the pictures. safe travels to you & yours XOX

Anonymous said...

Have a great weekend!
Love and many blessings to you and your family!
Love Jeanne

eyes_only4him said...

I hope you have a great time..cant wait to hear all about it:)

Rachel said...

Have a wonderful time!!

Finn said...

Have an absolutely marvelous time Peggy, can't wait to hear all about it!! Hugs, Finn

Maggie Ann said...

Your gifts are so very special...I'm sure they will be treasured, what a great Mom you are Peggy! Happy Christmas to you and yours!

Judypatooote said...

I love it.....what a great Christmas gift.....I can just imagine how excited you where when you found the little treasures at your old homestead.....I hope you have a safe trip (it's Sat. now) and a safe trip home.....Blessings friend........

I love the homemade, or flea market idea......my 4 kids have always picked a name and made that person (just out of the 4 of them) a homemade gift.....this year is the first year that they are not doing it....Probably because of losing Ali, .....but i hope they will return to that tradition next year.

eyes_only4him said...

i changed my address...just so u know

Perri said...

have a great weekend with your family