Update

You might want to check back to see photos of our trip to the Rose Bowl. Breanne's boyfriend has given his laptop to use on the trip. Hopefully we will have some quick pics!!!

California Here We Come

This will be my last post till we get back from the Rose Bowl. The cameras are packed just need to pack clothes ect. A Penn State flag will be coming along to hang from our balconey at the hotel(hopefully we will have a balconey!) We saw lots of them in Florida at he Orange Bowl 2005.

Have a Happy New Year! Go Penn State - Beat USC

Christmas

Josh and Whitney recieved their cross stitch stockings made by Aunt Joyce!

Christmas morning, getting ready to open gifts!!

Merry Christmas

The Corner Cupboard

The corner cupboard that we made from an old door
The very top has a santa and snowman I made.

I made the snowman that is in a great old sleigh i found in an antique store a couple of years ago and a crazy quilt santa I found at the Junke Shop

Peace on Earth

In the meadow we can build a snowman

Reason for the Season

Attic Babie Santa with the original GPS known as the Global Positioning Sphere

Snow People

My favorite snowman I ever made, over 10 years old now. I made and sold alot of these guys in my craft show days, would have made more but no longer could find the very heavy flannel fabric I made them from.

My group of snow people, all given to me by friends and family. Maybe someday I will take photos of real people!!

Saturday The 2nd Annual Cookie Day

Last year, Whitney wanted to come over to make Christmas cookies. So this year she wanted to do it again, so a tradition has started. We made 4 different kinds, Drop Sand Tarts, Peanut Butter Blossoms, Oatmeal Raisin, and Chocolate Chip. Oatmeal Raisin did not make it in the photo, they are Josh's favorite, so I told her to take them all. I'll make Dave some another day, they are his favorite too.

Coconut Kisses, I made these the night before so I could take them to work. Only I never made it to work, had a bad headache again so I decided to go to the doctor. I thought it was maybe a sinus infection and I wanted it cleared up before the holidays and out trip. Well, it wasn't a sinus infection, turned out to be high blood pressure. Now back to the cookies, these coconut cookies are the easiest cookies to make and if you like coconut or know someone who does you got to make them.

Coconut Kisses

14 ounces shredded coconut

14 ounces sweetened condensed milk

Mix together, drop by teaspoon on greased cookie sheet and bake 350 degrees till golden brown, let them cool 10 minuets on the cookie sheet before removing them.

A Couple Other Ornaments

Breanne's ornament last year, Lucy and Charlie Brown looking at comics from the newspaper! I thought it was cute considering she works for the newspaper, but I didn't know about Charlie Brown last year! haha

Cat Ornaments

One of Breanne's 25 Hallmark ornaments
Another one, she has one from every year since she was born.

She gave this ornament to her dad last year.

The Tree

The tree at night, with tripod. Can you see the cat?

T'was Last Night

Just a quick shot of the house at night, handheld the camera with flash.

Christmas 1985

Twenty three years ago Josh was born, and started my 24 days of Christmas. What is the 24 days of Christmas? Well, in 1982 Breanne was born 12 days after Christmas and in 1985 Josh was born 12 days before Christmas. It was a very busy time back when they were little, with presents and parties with Christmas thrown in the middle of it all. Happy Birthday Joshua David!

Santa

My Santa scene on top of the TV cabinet

We Are... Rose Bowl Bound

It's official, we got confirmation from the college travel agency!!! The game, parade, behind the scene float making, Santa Monica beach!! Breanne did the image above from a photo she took of roses she got from her boyfriend.

Wire Tree and Vintage Ornaments

I first saw this wire tree on Margos Junkin Journal blog and thought it was really cool to hold your vintage ornaments, I kinda thought it was old and I would never find one, shortly after that I saw one at a local antique mall and it said not for sale. So, I knew then you could probably find them and they probably aren't old. I looked on ebay and found a bunch and bought one!

Some of these I bought at a trift store some were my parents.

The Stockings Were Hung...

In the sunroom with care! We have no chimney!!

Christmas Close-Ups

Breanne's stocking made by her Aunt
My stocking

Santa, A 2 foot tall, painted wood by my neighbor.

A snowman found at a unique Junke Shop, close to Cross Keys.

A snow lady found at the same place, a couple of years ago.

Ornament

I took this last year and added some effects to it.

I still didn't get out the Christmas decorations, we did manage to get some more lights for outside on the front porch. Last night when I went into the attic I straightened some things up, moved stuff around and threw stuff out. Now I am ready to get the Christmas stuff.

While Doing Your Christmas Cards

I recieved this e-mail and thought I would use it in my blog to reach more people.When you do your Christmas cards this year, take one card and send it to this address. If we pass this on and everyone sends one card, think of how many cards these wonderful special people who have sacrificed so much would get! When you are making out your Christmas card list this year, please include the following:

A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
Washington,D.C. 20307-5001

If you want to, pass it on.

Door Decoration

I made this a couple of years ago from old childs ski's I found at a yard sale , painted them and screwed them together added greens and a snowman I already had.

Starting to Decorate

Josh took this photo of Stinker
Breanne took this one.
Stink, loves to climb in the wreath and swag box. I had some other greens laying on the floor after Dave put out the swags and he made himeself at home, sitting in side the nest we made him, Breanne took some first then when Josh and Whitney came he had to give it a try. Stink usually hisses at him.

NHRA Maple Grove Speedway

John Force

John Force's funny car.

Tony Schumacher, above won in the car below.

This was a challenge to photograph cars going over 300 mph, a really fast shutter speed along with panning and continuous shooting helps.

Bulidings

Downtown Boalsburg

A Mailpouch barn (shed) near Bellefonte.

A Mailpouch barn close to the other one

Another building at the Star Barn

Star Barn in Harrisburg

The abandoned migrant workers camp close to our house.