Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

I have been busy assisting my DH with cleaning the house in preparation for my family gathering on Christmas Day. 

I'm pretty proud of myself that I have sewn 21 items to give as gifts this year. 

They are not big, but I hope the recipients will enjoy using them.

My maid of honor Claire gave us this nativity for a wedding present 22.5 years ago.

This picture is prior to Nermal breaking the Angel.  Fortunately DH was able to fix her wing.

I had a cookie exchange this past Tuesday and tried out a new recipe.

It calls for cinnamon, peanut butter and chopped peanuts.

They look good enough to eat don't they!!

The Christmas Tree has ornaments!!

In preparation for putting up the tree I decided it was time to wash the front picture window.

I had not realized that Garfield and Nermal had marked it with their 'nose prints'. 

The tree has been standing for one day now!!

We received some large unbreakable ornaments so I added those to the tree.

Jim is frustrated because our 1000 light tree is slowing losing lights.

Nermal still thinks he should climb it daily!

While Garfield lies beneath it.

Merry Christmas from Darlene, Jim, Garfield and Nermal

Will the Christmas Tree have more than one ornament this year?

We are preparing to put up the Christmas Tree and setup the Nativity.  The question will be can we put ornaments on the tree this year?  For the last 3 years our tree has had only lights on it and one ornament.

The first couple years the ornament was named Garfield.

Now Garfield lays under the tree and has become a present!

Last year the ornament was named Nermal.

I'm hoping that Nermal isn't interested this year.  We will wait and see what happens.

Van Stolen Tuesday, December 15th

Have you seen this van?

This large custom van was at the corner of State Rd and S. River Rd. E. in (Geneva) Harperfield Township, Ohio yesterday.

Now it's gone!  The thieves came in and took it out on a big truck the evening of Tuesday, December 15th.

If you saw anything please contact the Ashtabula County Sheriff Department.