With Cardboard, Hot Glue, Tape and a Yogurt Container

Abby was flipping through my old magazines and came across this idea in an old Martha Stewart Kids and set right to work.

a car and truck garage

It is amazing how much play it is getting.   She made multi-levels, with ramps and that yogurt container with the evergreen branch in it is the car wash.  There is a gas pump too.

It has been getting lots of use.

Warm wishes,

Tonya

Handmade Holiday - 2010

a purse made of scraps from Laura of Getting There

Needle Felted Gifts from Belle + Bee

pear chutney from The Blessed Hearth

wool ornament from The Knitty Gritty Homestead

Visit Our Somewhat-Urban Homestead to see this hand knit Gandalf the Grey from the Lord of the Rings and ideas for making truffles.

crocheted pony reins from Earthboys

Visit the growing list of participants here.

Warm wishes,
Tonya

The Season of Advent

Some preparations have been made to mark tomorrow as the first Sunday in advent.

We made a holder for our advent candles in a birch branch from a fallen tree.  I still have to add a white candle for the center for Christmas day.

This Sunday we will light one candle and burn it each night with our supper.  Next Sunday we will add another candle and burn two with our nightly meal, and so on.  Each candle represents the following words.

Candle of Hope - the hope we have in Christ.

Candle of Peace - a reminder of the peace that God brings to us by forgiving our sins.

Candle of Joy - represents the joy that God brings into our lives.

Candle of Love - represents God's love.

Warm wishes for a peaceful Sunday,
Tonya

Thanksgiving

As the day winds down I reflect about the beauty and joys the day has brought.

It was with much satisfaction that most of our food was either grown in our gardens, our neighbors gardens, or bought local.

We had our own butternut squash, local organic carrots, the potatoes we dug ourselves and purchased from our neighbors.  I bought stuffing. (in a box... I know... uggg).  Next year my goal is to make my own.  I also purchased canned jellied cranberry sauce.  (again, double ugggg).  Dear husband loves this, but next year I am going to at least buy organic and see about buying some cranberries and making my own.

Our pumpkin pie came from our local pumkins with whipped cream from a farm in our town. 

The turkey was fresh, 23 pounds and also came from a farm in our town.  We are planning to raise our own next year if we can hire or barter with someone who will help us with the processing.

cutting the turkey

pumpkin cooking

finished pies

our table with birch bark napkin rings and birch branch candle holders

I couldn't resist these two wines with the chicken and rooster labels.

It was special visiting with family.



dear husband with his father and brother

As I was washing dishes, I started to get a bit sad thinking of how much we have and of those who do not.  We had just shared in an amazing meal, are warm and have the joy of being surrounded by family.

On my way to town the other day, a church had a quote in their sign that read
"Gratitude is saying thanks and sharing the gifts with others."

Happy Thanksgiving.
Warm wishes, Tonya

Daily Work

In between the daily baking

And playing

And creating

I have been having fun wood buring ornaments for our shops here and here.

Warm wishes for a beautiful day.  For us it is filled with Thanksgiving preparations, house cleaning, and some last minute market shopping as well as driving the boys to help setup for the free Thanksgiving meal at the Elks Club.  The snow is falling and we are in for a blustery couple of days, but it will make it feel even more cozy in our little home.
I will share our partly handmade and homemade Thanksgiving tomorrow or Friday.
Happy Thanksgiving.
~Tonya



Finished Sarah's Hat

Sarah posing for me in her new hat from a free pattern here.  It did come out too big, but she is such a good sport and has worn it whenever we go out anyway.  I love the style, though, the full coverage with the button closure.  It is fairly easy to knit and I look forward to knitting more.

Warm wishes, Tonya

Handmade Holiday - 2010

Handmade Advent bags from Moment to Moment

from Not the Office Type

Handmade Ornaments from Groovy Moments

Lots of Handmade Holiday making going on at Blue Skies Dragonflies

Apron tutorial from Spiraling

A Wool Felted Spiral Advent Mat from Heirloom Seasons

Warm wishes,

Tonya

(If you requested to be added to the list of Handmade Holiday participants and don't see your blog there, please email me.  I am in between my lap top and a very old desktop as my laptop isn't working on our dial up connection right now.  I apologize if I lost someone's request.)