The Gingerbread House

As most of you know, I participated in The Gingerbread House Arts and Crafts Show this past weekend. First, let me thank those of you who stopped by and complemented me on my display and merchandise. You will never know how much an encouragement you are to me. Your encouragements give me much needed confidence in what I am doing.

Second, I had a great time doing this show. Although it was a success for me, I don't have any other experience with this craft show to compare it. So, I have reserved the same booth for next year. I sold alot but have a good bit of inventory left. I prepared for a bigger crowd than I think came, but still alot of shoppers. Several experienced vendors with this show said that this year was a slow showing and it appeared that there wasn't as many shoppers as last year. But most still felt it was successful. They all encouraged me to come back and be apart of it again next year, so he we go.

As a beginner in this business, I am learning so much. The what to do's, how to do it, what not to do. I am learning what sells the best, what people want more of and what attracts more viewers. And I am sure as the year and shows go by, I will continue to learn more that will better prepare me for the next show.

As with the last show, I must thank those that helped me. First without Christ NONE of this would be possible to do. He has blessed me with the ability to learn all the new software, machine, and the creativeness to do this job. He has also blessed JB and I with blessing of me being able to stay home. Without this ability, I wouldn't even have the option of doing this "home job". Second, I also could not do this without the help, sacrifice, and encouragement of my family. As with the last show, they humbly and sacrificially gave their time to help me.

JB helped with the boys on the nights and weekends that I had to devote to sewing. I am blessed with such a husband that makes it a priority to be as good of a father as a husband.

My mom also helped keep the boys a few days so that I could devote full, uninterrupted time to sewing. She also gave up her Saturday and Friday to be there at my booth with the encouragement that only mothers can give and I love her more for it.

My dear daddy also helped in his own special way. He came over a few days to help with the boys so that I again could have uninterrupted time to sew. He also loaded up that huge shelf and transported it to the show and back home. He devoted his whole Friday to help me set up my display along with staying to man the booth til my mother could get there. He is such a special daddy to have.

My sister, my friend. She, too, helped watch the boys a few days so that I could sew. She also gave some of her time to help set up my display. I was in such a frazzled state on Friday trying to set up and arrange my display. Tiffany came to the rescue. She has the gift of being able to "take over" and get it done. She, like my mother, can imagine in her mind and make it happen which is a gift that I do not have. She also gave most of her Saturday to help man the booth even when she had to work that evening.

My mother in law, Paula, gave up her Friday and Saturday to come over and keep the boys for me. It's nice to leave them with someone and not have to worry. There's definitely no bribing or begging to get her to come over. She's in the car and ready to come on the words "will you?".

Again, without each of these family members, I could not have done this. They each are so special and I am truly blessed to have them.

Until next time, HB

MeMe and Pappaw's Pride & Joy!

Last Friday, we took a visit to my sister's to me their new dog, UGA (blog regarding UGA to come later). The boys wanted some strawberry milk, so while Tiffany and I were fixing all the kids drinks we had the little ones on the countertop. Alex came in and decided to join...."kodak moment". So, here's to Meme and Pappaw...your pride and joy! They love you!

PS...Dad, make sure Mom sees this blog, please. You know she says she's from the "lipstick generations, not the internet generation".

Until next time, HB

The Power of Makeup

It's amazing what make-up can do for women. If you don't believe me, just look at the following pictures.

I got this through an email...thanks, Denise. Thought some might enjoy it, I'm sure there are others who won't find it quite as funny, oh well.

O' Christmas Tree, O' Christmas Tree

Don't you just love our tree? JB and the boys worked hard cutting it down, loading it, and getting it home. It's the tree of all tree's.

Seriously, this past Saturday, we dragged our artificial tree down from the the attic. We had forgotten last year just how small it looked in our vaulted ceiling den. We even had to put it on a table to elevate it to give it a little more height.

After looking at our "twig" of a tree, JB announced that we would venture out to look for a live tree. We went to a local tree farm, actually the same farm as the pumpkin patch in hopes of finding that perfect tree for our family. Our mission was accomplished with JB and the boys sawing down the tree we picked out. It is a Leland Cypress that stands about 6 to 7 feet tall.

So far, all we have put on it is lights, but that is what's the most impressive to the boys. They get up wanting to turn the "ights" on and don't dare turn them off before they go to bed.

I'll have to post the fully decorated tree later. But for now, at least we have a tree.

“Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.”~Larry Wilde

CB and JB ahead of BB and me trekking out to the trees.

Little Paul Bunyan's with their equipment on a mission to cut down the ultimate Christmas tree.

Little Paul Bunyan's in training.

Until next time, how lovely are your branches...HB

The City of Lights

This past Thursday night, JB and I took the boys to see the Christmas lights attraction in a nearby town. It was very pretty and festive. There are 1000's of lights that light up the town square and its area stores. The boys enjoyed running around seeing the "ights". Christmas is gonna be fun this year as the boys have finally reached the age to notice the decorations, Christmas trees and the uniqueness that comes with this season. We have already enjoyed looking at the "ights" in our neighborhood and can't wait to explore again when more "ights" are blinking closer to Christmas.

A few more pictures follow, hope you enjoy.

“That quest for something pretty. Flowers and Christmas lights, it's what we're programmed to love.” ~ Chuck Palahniuk

Lost

We backed out of our driveway Thanksgiving morning heading to visit family for the traditional festivities. If you remember, Thanksgiving Day was rather cool to point of needing some "bundling" when playing outside. As we traveled down the road about 3 miles, we ran up on 3 cars that had stopped.

While getting closer to the cars, I realized what the situation was. A little boy about 2 years old was found wandering in the road...North Old Canton Road, mind you. Those who had stopped had not even had time to get him out of the road as he was skeptical to approach them because they were strangers. JB and I stopped to offer any help. The one lady that had stopped picked the little boy up and was trying to get him to talk, to no avail. He had a shy face which gave no clue to where he may have come from. Luckily, he had on a heavy coat as if he had been playing outside.

While one of the men was talking to a 911 dispatcher, JB and I turned around to knock on doors of the nearest neighborhood. As we pulled into the neighborhood, we saw a girl about 10 years old running down the street calling his name. We asked her if she was looking for a little boy about 2 years old. With tears in her eyes, she said yes and ask where he was. I told her that he was fine but we needed to know where his parents were. She directed us to her house where 2 adults were getting in there car to search for him. We told them the little boy was up the road about 100 yards. The immediately jumped in their car.

At this point in the story, I need to make note of some things that I observed. I in no way want to judge the adults but found some circumstances questionable. (I call them adults because I don't know if they were his parents.) The lady appeared to possibly be his mom but the man that was with her looked quite younger than she. One of the situations that I observed was that the little boy was dressed in a heavy coat. However, none of those that were looking for him were dressed in warm clothes at all. The young girl and the Mom were dressed in shorts and a t-shirt with no shoes, while the young man was dressed in blue jeans and a t-shirt. I mention this to point out, that none of them were dressed to have been outside with this child. Also, this child had wandered at least 100 to 150 yards away from the house. I wonder at which point they realized he was missing. The little girl was searching the opposite way of where he was. She also had walked a good way in looking for him, while the adults were still at the house. Again, I don't judge nor am I speculating any kind of abuse or neglect. I too know how quickly children can get away from you especially when trying to keep my eyes on 2 toddlers. My heart stops every time I can't find one for a split second and then realize they are only behind a tree or my vision of them is blocked by something else.

The adults raced to the little boy where she hugged him while crying. They never took the little girl, I assume she stayed at the house. JB and I didn't stop to find out the circumstances, instead we just drove on by. The police had not yet shown up and I don't even know if they cancelled the call.

I cried for the next few miles just imagining if that had been one or both of my boys. This child was wandering on a very busy road. It's literally a miracle of God that he was not hit and killed. People do not obey the speed limit in that area as it goes from the city limits to the county. For that very reason, it tends to be ignored by the police and sheriff's department. It is also a miracle that some crazy sex offender or some crazed citizen didn't kidnap him to which no one would have been witnessed to.

This situation further enforced in me the guard that I must keep when my boys are playing outside or playing anywhere that they can easily walk away. I can't imagine this situation happening to me.

I post this situation to also make parents aware of just what can happen, even in our "little, safe" town that was named one of the top 10 cities to live in the USA.

Until next time, keep watch, HB

This Year's Thanksgiving Experience

I'm ashamed to say that I don't even have a picture of us from our Thanksgiving festivities. I left my camera, which is a rarity, at home. Regardless, the memories are still just as personal and sentimental.

Wednesday night, I had my parents, Tiffany and her family over for our traditional Taco Thanksgiving. As you will read, I am an advocate for non-traditional food at traditional holidays. We had a great time enjoying each other's company as the "little ones" played.

We left about 9:00 Thursday morning heading to eat with JB's grandparents, Granny and Grandaddy. We always meet them at their closest Cracker Barrel for Thanksgiving lunch. This is actually rather nice. There is no rush and stress in fixing a huge meal of turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, and all other fixing that we feel are a necessity in order to have a successful Thanksgiving meal. We actually walked in, waited about 5 minutes and were then seated to eat. The food was good and the fellowship was better. There is no cleaning up afterwards and wondering what to do with the leftovers that eventually get thrown out. We then went to Granny and Grandaddy's house and spent most of the afternoon. The boys wore GiGi out as she usually spends every moment they are awake playing with them. After our visit with them, we left for Nonna's.

We actually rode around for awhile to allow the boys a power nap since they did not take one at Granny and Grandaddy's. We arrived at Nonna's about 5:30 and was greeted with hugs from JB's extended family that we usually only see about 2 to 3 times a year. Some of the men were hunting and didn't arrive until about 7:00. The traditional meal at Nonna's is soup, chili, and sandwiches. Again, I love this tradition. I guess since I grew up eating the traditional meal, I got a little burned out and enjoy the non-traditional meals. We left Nonna's at 9:00 which made for a long ride home. We didn't get home until midnight.

The next morning the boys and I got up and headed to my grandmother's, Mammaw. We visited there for most of the afternoon and returned to my parents about 6. The boys took a nap on the way home. I must admit by this time, I was exhausted. My parents, the boys and I went out to eat Friday night to avoid the clean up that comes along with eating at home. Lazy? You bet, especially by this time. I don't mind admitting it...the easiest way out. Sometimes it pays to "pay" for convenience.

JB left Friday morning heading back to his family for a weekend of hunting. He didn't kill one deer but enjoyed his visit, regardless, with the exception of seeing the Tide get rolled on by the Auburn Tigers. Sorry for the loss to my Tide family.

I have to add, Go Dawgs!

Until next time, I hope those who Gobbled til you Wobbled had a great Thanksgiving, HB