THE GERMAN POW NATIVITY

Welcome, hope you are enjoying a great day.  It seems appropriate this Sunday to share this.

  This time of year I have my heart interest is in  Nativity Sets.  I've several I have collected thru the years and display all of them during the Christmas season.

We have taken our grandchildren to visit this and will continue to do so when they visit on Christmas.  It truly is the "Reason for the Season".

There is a very nice write up about  the German POW Nativity located in the town close to us where we do most of our local shopping.   Here is a website to read the unique story.
http://mojotraveler.com/german-pow-nativity-in-algona-iowa/

It took a small group of German prisoners of war in Algona more than four months to construct a nativity scene with 65 figures at half of life size. It is on display annually in December at the Kossuth County Fairgrounds.

Earlier weeks this towns Historical Society featured many beautiful OLD Nativity's people let them display for others to visit.  I took my mother for an afternoon of fun.  But I forgot about taking photos.... Nativity's were displayed from all corners of this world.  So very unique.

This one was taken from our church, a few years back.  It is old and I will try to find out the date this started to be displayed.  I remember as a child, my grandfather took me up to the very front of church to see it up closer and gave me a quarter to put in a small little dish as an offering.  I remember it as clear as yesterday.

Here is a post I did of a Nativity I created for my mother and now have in our home:
http://littletreasures-sylvia.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-nativity.html
And maybe before the season ends this year I can photo the rest of my collection and share with you.

Hope you stop by the website and read about the  German Prisoners of War that were in Algona
Thanks for stopping by.

Christmas Tags

Welcome,  thanks for taking time to visit.  We've had lots of rain and no sunshine so I've been downstairs, listening to Christmas music and enjoying my crafty space.
Sometimes it seems the projects I make get put aside in photo shoots for my blog as our days have been so gloomy and photos don't turn out well.

Our Bunco group meets once a month and we had an ornament exchange and I made tags for each one of the girls attending.

The back has a large snowflake and stamped  "Merry Christmas"  I placed them in waxed bags with a holiday sticker.

I made my annual yearly Christmas letter and sent cards, letters out this week.  I've yet to make a few ornaments.  So things are falling into place.   Thanks for visiting, have a wonderful weekend.

WOYWW #341

Welcome Wednesday deskers !   Julia at the STAMPING GROUND hosts this weekly adventure.
Hop over she has info if you are new to this.

My desk..............cleaned off.  I am working on getting the guest area cleaned up for my family coming for Christmas Day.

I made up my Bunco tags, which I will post after tonights Christmas game. This is STIK IT, by Ken Oliver..very handy for positioning your paper and cutting out the intricut dies (words etc) then just apply it to the card or project...no gluing tiny spots.  I had to order it online. A few small punches and some holiday ribbons.  Even washed my craft mat.

Finished up painting 2 older narrow stands...my new color.  I forgot a before on the back one but the piece on the floor is part of the unfinished top.

 Top one will hold my Essential Oil defuzzer and my cell phone recharger on the bottom shelf. The color was hard for the paint shop man to come up with, but he did great, it matches closely to the new carpet.

This one turned out too big for the same room so will use it in our office. Have yet to hang the large picture in the background. Our walls are not easy to hang anything..I bought the new command strips so hoping they will do the job.   My shelf in the bathroom fell during the night. A miracle nothing broke but scared the cats right off the bed.  Watched a video...on hanging things, as our studs are not in line with the brackets on the shelf.  So have to pick up the mollies to finish that project.

Thanks for stopping by, Have a wonderful WOYWW kind of day.

ANYTHING GOES is the CHALLENGE at CRAFTY SECRETS

 It has been awhile since I took time to enjoy a good challenge.  With our rainy weather I have enjoyed time downstairs, listening to Christmas music, a great cup of hot white chocolate and my crafty space.

Kathy at CRAFTY SECRETS HEARTWARMING VINTAGE is having a Linky Challenge and offering a couple of nice images from their Retro Christmas CD for your use.
So stop over and enjoy a great blog on some fun items to be creative with.

I have had this image from their Merry Christmas Creative Scraps. This adorable little angel image reminds me so much of my 10 year old grand daughter, so I had to use it for her. I embossed a red frame, added a music background, this special image and a few sparkly snowflakes and a little red ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by.  Enjoy a lovely weekend.

#149 Friday Smiles

Oh Annie at A STITCH in TIME  hosts Friday Smiles.  I don't get to play each week but it's always a fun visit.

This week I had a few things I did smile about:

My sister in law found this precious little kitten along side the road on her way to the city. It had mattered eyes and was so afraid out in the rain and cold day.  She took it to the vets, had it cleaned up and kept it as could find no owner.  Punkin  fits right in and I thought this photo was a perfect smile.

Then my two little granddaughters age 5 and 4 with their mother and sister almost 2, at a holiday party

Just treasure the photos, they always live so far away.

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy a wonderful weekend.  Here in the states our snow is gone and we are enjoying unusual 40 degree days. Our grass is still green and only 1 frost so far.

WOYWW #340

Welcome, it's time to play with host Julia at the STAMPING GROUND. A day to visit others and share our desks.  She has all the updates on how to be involved, so stop over to her blog.

These weeks just fly by.  I've accomplished a lot while pampering this right thumb. Made this card for his Aunt's 90th birthday on Saturday. Will be a fun party with lots of relatives we haven't seen in a while.

I have more fun making a tag or card that is not mailable. I like layers and odd shapes.

My desk, well started to make some ornaments, but tried to organize then got called away.

Went to be with mom, as she needed a haircut and won't do it without me being there.
Then we worked on her Christmas cards for all the grandkids and a few close friends. I like her to write a short note and sign them.  I made mailing labels, took stamps and return address labels so it's a slow process.  But enjoyable,  She has dementia so there is a lot of repeating. Then she insisted I have lunch also and that worked out well, as DH had to be gone today, helping our city with a project.  I think she will be taking a nap this afternoon.....I did,   but who knows, if there is a 500 card game she probably played. She's  a sweet precious mother and I value my time with her.

Have a wonderful week. Thanks for stopping by and I love reading your comments.

WOYWW #339

Welcome...it's been awhile, but things here were topsy turvy for a while. But happy to be back. Actually I am scheduling this post as I don't know if I'll be around on Wednesday. 
We are having ice and snowfall, schools are closed and roads are icy.  Our last 12 inches 2 wks ago all melted. Grass still green and flowers still blooming, but I'm sure with this round most of that will change. 

It is view the desk day, WOYWW  hosted by Julia at STAMPING GROUND and she has all the updates on her blog.  I really haven't been at my desk the past few weeks. Got my house back in order from cleaning the storage area. As I thought I would have company over Thanksgiving. But the weather put a cabosh to that.  Did some painting, dealing with a bad shoulder, possibly my left rotor cuff  and a right thumb issue.  Just too much lifting I think. 

Today I had to get a few things out as I need to make a few December birthday cards.  And it is time I take time to enjoy peace and quiet.  I've some Christmas decorating yet to do but I'll be able to finish that up in a week or so. 

 This is a card I made before my last post, a few weeks ago. My bother in law lost his sister to pancreatic cancer. And as they were dealing with that at her home my sister said a white feather appeared.  A website that talks about Feathers and A look at what feathers mean.
http://www.ask-angels.com/spiritual-guidance/angel-feathers-meaning-finding-feathers/
So I made my sympathy card to reflect that memory for them. My sister has been in Dallas Texas helping since August, and they will remain there to finalize her estate.

In the post just below this, is a photo of my curtain toppers made with my new machine,  and my new color for decorating. 

I've missed visiting and sharing, but hopefully things have settled a bit. I've most of my online and local shops  shopping finished. Need to mail some of the gifts so have to finish that up quickly.
Have a wonderful week.  Hope the world is treating you all well.

FUN THINGS

It has been a while since I have made a post.  Quickly checked others blogs here and there but just not the time or upbeat happenings, with all that I was trying to accomplish.

I thought I was having company over Thanksgiving,  so needed to get the family room and company bedrooms back in order.  But the bad weather over Thanksgiving  put a cabosh to that.  I needed to get the store room things put back after sorting or discard them. Once that was finished I completed the toppers for my living room windows below.   I  also  got some painting done.

And changed my grapevine tree into shades of aqua for the holidays.

I finished up my online Christmas shopping and shopping at local stores, as I need to mail 1/2 of my gifts. I dislike wrapping so have my DH helping with that and after the weather clears we can mail them.  We had rain, snow and icy roadways today. Most of the Christmas decorating is done, except for one more tree and the nativity.   So hoping I have more time today to make December birthday cards.

With all of that I have no doubt created a shoulder problem (roto cuff) and a dislocated thumb. So if roads clear up no doubt will have to schedule a doctors apt.  Using ice, heat, Advil and medicated rubs.  This getting old is for the birds. Just glad to have a day to take it slow and easy. 

Have a fun week ahead.

John Wayne "Taps" An American Tribute to Veterans

It's Veterans Day here in the States.  A day to Honor the men and women who sacrificed so much. So many gave their lives for our freedom down through the ages.I always honored the day, enjoyed it as a holiday,  and went to some of the day functions held in their honor. Until my son did his 2 tours of Iraq,  and was away....this day got to be a lot different in my eyes.

 My dad did not serve, at his young age he was allowed to stay home and help his ailing father with the farm work.  World War 1, World War II, and the  Korea  war had people we knew fighting and dying from our little area.

Most of my classmates were Viet Nam Veterans and we didn't seem to be aware of what they all went through..I think a lot was Media wasn't like it is now.. They came home battered and bruised both mentally and physically.  So many gave their lives. It was a wake up call to Americans. Wars weren't the same, the media showed use hard core photos and videos. Most were so young and  plucked out by the government calling their number and off they went to foreign lands. They were scared, they seen things they never would have had a clue about. They lived in circumstances they could not control or we could not imagine.  Hot days, Cold days, Wet days,  Death, Fear, Loneliness, Bombings, not being able to trust, and Praying to be able to come back home.   American was awakened. Those men came home needing help. They made LIFE time sacrifices.

Now with my son still serving as a career... this day is always a sad hard day. The songs, the photos, all mean something different.  Families changed forever.  Military men and women sacrifice so very much. And so do their families. And from the bottom of my heart I pray for all of them and thank them.

We must be thankful for our freedom, it isn't free.  Wishing there could be PEACE around the world and  APPRECIATION for what we have and take for granted every single day.

WOYWW #336

Good day to you, thanks for stopping by.  Julia at the STAMPING GROUND   is hosting another fun Whats On Your Workdesk Wednesday.   Visit, she explains it, partake, or just click on the name's playing along and see what they are up to.

My desk has an accumulation of things from a cupboard I moved into the storage room. I think I was going to make pincushions out of the little shoes.   My storage area is taking shape..But taking a 2 day break, have other things to catch up on.

My adventure of taking excess Christmas to the resale shop was fun. 3 adorable shops in a row. I didn't bring home more than I took but...with the carpet redo I've kept my eye out for my new accent color of Aqua.  Was hard to get a good color on this carpet. This looks like a faded blue, but it tends to be more of an aqua  And they had just what I needed. 

To the left a NEW Queen size reversible bed spread with navy..$30.  .2 pillows aqua...$2 and the new afagan $10 in navy and aqua

 Below is the fabric I will be making toppers with $8 on sale...my sofa is navy and my living room carpet is white and walls are a marble pattern of whites. Hoping to do a small Christmas tree either in the golds or making aqua balls from the string technique with a balloon.

Temps are in the 60's yet and sunny today. Storms and terrible winds forecast  for tomorrow.

A nice steady rain would be good, so dry and so dusty here in the country. 

Have a wonderful day, Always enjoy your comments. 

WOYWW #335

Welcome...so happy you stopped by. It's Julia's party for What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday.
Her blog the STAMPING GROUND  has all the info, and ways you can tour the world's crafters workspace.  A BIG variety of fun things people do.

I spent time with mother this week and on my way home stopped at our local thrift store. That's where these 2 cute little cups came from.  And top left another little ink storage shelf unit. I made a card this week for my sister & DH, (share next week) His sister died from Pancreatic cancer.

I've no battery life left in my camera...so don't have a photo nor one of the new carpet today either.
It's not the gray I thought it would be, but I like the color, good thing, as they cut a big piece into to small ones to fit the 2 rooms.  Moral of story...don't plan on your naked eye for the right color in a warehouse...needs natural light.  My husband was concerned I might not like it. BUT it worked out.
Guess in my old age I've become FLEXIBLE !

I've my van loaded to take excess Christmas to a resale shop in a few minutes, I'm cleaning out the storage room YET.   We will have 70's again today and Thursday. Possible rain Friday. My flowers are still blooming and tomatoes galore in the garden..VERY UNUSUAL for this area.

Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy a lovely day.

WOYWW #334

Welcome, It is an early 4 A M here in the states. Why I'm up so early is beyond me. I watched the 1st game of the World Series. It went into extra innings 14 to be exact. With the Kansas City Royals winning over the N Y Mets.  Exciting to the end. !
It's been a busy week, but wanted to partake in the WOYWW #334 hosted by the lovely Julia at the STAMPING GROUND.  If your new to this, she has all the info on her blog about partaking and visiting others workspaces.

A once in a life time view. My DH office desk. The room is emptied out as we are getting new carpet in our office/computer space and also in the small bedroom identical to this. Small rooms 11x9.  The house is total chaos.

We still have bedroom furniture to move out of the other room before the carpet layer gets here and have to tear out the carpet and pad.

I took all of my rubbermaids containing Christmas, out of the basement storage, to bring up to the garage to sort so my normal workspace is buried also.  I need to weave thru the mess and a make a couple of sympathy cards. My brother in law's sister passed from her bout with pancreatic cancer. She lived in Texas, so I must get them mailed and flowers ordered.

Our weather was so beautiful up until yesterday, it became cold and damp, rain in the forecast for today and 45 MPH winds.  We were able to finish up all the outside work, mowing, leaves, and putthings in storage in the garden shed on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. That is a good feeling.
Also got the garage swept out and rearranged to make room for "those" rubbermaids. I think there are 14 of them. Even vacuumed the inside of the vehicles.

I am hoping my patience and body can work thru this mess, but I have several of you going thru construction so I keep telling myself "this is an easy peasy compared to what some are doing".


Have a wonderful week and I'm off to do some visiting after I make myself some coffee. Thanks for stopping by.

FRIDAY SMILES #142

Happy Smiling Friday to You..


Annie is the host for this fun day of sharing smiles.  You can play along or visit more smiley blogs at
A STITCH IN TIME

I saw this adorable photo on Facebook:

All seat belted in and just waiting for their owner to finish a fabric/craft hoarding shopping spree.



And this could be me ~!~~

Have a wonderful weekend.

WOYWW #333

Good day to you......running a little late with my post.  Found the camera  !~  so I can partake in  Julia at the  STAMPING GROUND my workspace.   I had intentions of rearranging more of this area yesterday, but when I popped my head out doors, it was 74 degrees and I decided I better get the outside things put away into the garden shed or I'll be caught in freezing temps doing it.

It was a great day to clean the garage and move things indoors. But boy oh boy, does the old body feel it today.

 My desk shows a muffin tin I want to redo. A lacy paper pumpkin, I still need to get Halloween cards made and mailed for my grandkids.   And my special MR. Sweater Pumpkin who's been there waiting for activity quite a while.  I promised I'd make a friend for him but..........

The repainted buffet back in place. See the corner at the left....hoping after to paint that also but may be after the holiday.s  I'd like to do all the little cubbies too, but I would rather use a spray paint and I'm not the best using that.  DH is great...no drips on his projects. Will have to do a little conniving!

Well thanks for stopping by. We have 2 more days of great weather and then a much needed rain is forecast. No moisture here for a month, very dusty, but it helped the farmers finish up the harvest.

Have a great WOYWW day.

#332 at WOYWW

Good Morning...I can't believe I haven't posted for a week.  Julia at the STAMPING GROUND has made it a ritual for me to share my workspace.  Hop over she has all the info to partake or just to connect to others spaces.  It's addicting.

Well my space. A COMPLETE DISASTER. I decided with the horrible winds I needed to paint in my studio..His dads old buffet, and a few small wooden accessories.  Then I moved things and now I must put it all back together, after I sort and merge.. It's overload and I am tired of walking in a weaving motion to get around.

BEFORE...I had to sand the top, too much build up of old dust and varnish.
The new look....I'm trying to have a white/pink/ and that sage green when I am done.

This is my desk...buried.  AND every corner of this area looks like this. A BIG sorting job ahead. And I have one other big piece to do in white, but will have to wait until I can get this back in order.

But I do have my sewing machine, the cutting table and my ironing board sort of grouped together now. Project of curtain toppers about ready to begin.  If I can load the new thread/bobbin in this new machine !  

 It is cooling off here in the evenings, 40's,  but I watered all my outside flowers today. We have not had rain for quite some time. This is the latest I have had flowers since I moved her 17 years ago.
Our day time temps have been 60's to 85 on Sunday. Very unusual.  So glad you stopped by, enjoy a lovely week.

WOYWW #331

A good day to you. Another week flew by so fast.  It's fun at STAMPING GROUND always on Wednesday. Our host Julia gives us all the opportunity to share and visit others workspaces. Lots of fun things on every ones spaces.

 Making a few cards. In between taking my DH to another field. So glad we are having good weather

Making a few fabric pumpkins on my sewing table

This little trio was for a classmate.  Each year our towns Class of 64 gals try to get together. This year it was one of my friends birthday,  We had a delicious lunch at The Lady Bug Bistro in Clear Lake.
If anyone has a recipe for :Sauerkraut Soup, can you share it with me ?  It was a delight.

 Menu was.   It changes each day.
Soup ( today was SauerKraut )& Salad...Sandwich...mine was Chicken salad on a Crescent roll with homemade chips,  Brat, or BLT,   choice of fruit, coleslaw, or (my choice) manga salsa with chips....and desert  I had bread pudding..other choices were Pumpkin Spice cake with cream cheese or Layered Chocolate Mouse. All for $10.  This place was a converted Flower Shop with lots of different decor and many nook & cranny rooms for their eating area.  And I forgot to take photos.  But I'll be back.

Thanks for your visit.  And thanks to all who left comments last week. Have a lovely day.