I will dedicate today’s post to our party yesterday, which was wonderful. We all feel so blessed and grateful for each other, and for God giving us the opportunities to be together and enjoy the fellowship. I’ll catch up with the other activities(from Saturday and Sunday) through the week.
Holly, Aunt Joan, Gail
(Connie had left and Colleen was taking photo)
Thankfully, the day was comfortable for driving even though it was cloudy. No snow is always a blessing as once you get past Indiana (PA) the roads get more twisty and narrow as you go. Safe travels for all of us is always a big plus! Kath and I made a few stops on the way out, including the Amish bulk food store where Kath had to get chocolate. We arrived at Colleen’s exactly on time at 2pm.
Colleen’s home was beautiful as always. It’s like walking onto a Hallmark movie set. It’s truly ‘modern’ but authentic farmhouse style. She has a flair for decorating for the holidays, even to changing the pictures on the wall, curtains, rugs, and of course the seasonal enhancements! I love just walking around looking at everything. I don’t even think I took any photos of the décor or the rooms themselves.
Our first project (and again, Colleen was SO organized, confident, and capable) was our button bracelets. We all brought buttons, either newly purchased or from a family collection. Colleen gave us a piece of black elastic, and we took our chosen buttons from each person’s offerings and stitched them on our bracelet. Some we overlapped and some we doubled, but when we were done we had a friendship/family button bracelet. Kathy had to help most of us thread our needles – and she is the one with the tricky eye-sight! She also helped Gail sew on her last few buttons so she didn’t have to take them home to finish. I was pleased with mine, even thought that isn’t one of my stronger skillsets. I’m sure I will wear it often!
Photos of the group!
After the button project, Gwen went next door and got her mom (Aunt Joan) and brought her over for games, conversation, and supper. Connie had a questions game that her son Richard had found for her, and she asked the questions. If you got the question right you chose a gift (and there were quite a number of them!). You could take one from the basket or one that another player had already won. It came out pretty even in the end, and everyone got at least one gift. I got a holiday box and a shadow box, plus two Christmas saucers (which I will give to Peyton because there is a truck on them).
Dinner was cheesy potatoes, Sloppy Joe’s, Jello pretzel salad, and Oreo ice cream. There were crackers, pretzels, M&M’s, and various cookies for snacks all afternoon. I started with the pretzel salad and really could have been done eating at that point – but of course I wasn’t! Everything was delicious. Karen V made a yummy punch with sherbet which was so refreshing! We even had a vintage post card ornament at our place as a gift.
I read my two mini-stories after dinner – one about baking cookies with my girls when they were very much younger, and one about Grama Crooks. The Grama Crooks ones are always the best received – we all like to share our memories of Grama!
We got home about 10:30pm, and I was tired but happy, glad to have spent a safe and contented day with some of the people that I love most in the whole world (second only to my kids/grandkids!). I am thankful and blessed to know that these are my people; we are there for each other all the time. OH! And Gwen announced that she is going to be a Grama herself in June! I’m pulling for the 18th, of course! So many blessings!
Holly, Aunt Joan, Gail
December 11- Were you ever in a church or school Christmas or Holiday pageant? “At Davis School I was always in the Christmas plays. From first grade up to 8th grade. My sister Hazel & I sang a song together one year. We had Christmas plays when I attended the Church of God. They were fun. Russel Wilson was our pastor & we liked him very much. He was drafted into the army in WWII.”
Calendar Inspiration –
Quote –
Scripture –
Random Photo –
Back: Danny, Allen, baby Mark, Susan, Marge, Perry
Front: Kathy, Beth, Colleen, Gwen, Holly
(Notice I had shorts on? It was all the rage!!!)Either Grama Crooks or Aunt Hazel made the dress Beth is wearing!)
This is in Grama Crooks’ living room.
Birthdays: Today is my cousin Mark’s birthday and my niece Hannah’s birthday. Mark is a great dad, a great guy, helpful, hard working, kind and giving. Have a wonderful day and may your next year be better yet!
(photo from a few years ago)
Hannah is a wonderful mother, teacher, wife, friend, daughter – and she loves to run, especially with her select group of friends. Wishing you a great day, Hannah, and a beautiful 2023!
Happy birthday, Hannah!
TOMORROW December 12th is:
I like Poinsettias! I think I made a Snoopy gingerbread house with the kids one year. Tomorrow is a doctor’s appointment in the morning, then work after that. Have a happy day! God bless….
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